News Archive - 21 December 2012

>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels warned on Friday they will target the international airport of the northern city of Aleppo after firing at an airliner preparing to take off, the first direct attack on civilian a flight in the 21-month-old revolt. Thursday's attack was another sign of the growing confidence...

>* Kerry has long coveted job of America's top diplomat* Rice's withdrawal cleared the way* Pragmatic streak, but not personally close to ObamaBy Matt Spetalnick and Tabassum ZakariaWASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday nominated John Kerry to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, calling the...

>"I can confirm that we have detected the launch of Scud-type missiles. We strongly regret that act," NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, calling the launches "acts of a desperate regime approaching collapse".A NATO source said there had been multiple launches of Scud-type missiles inside Syria on Thursday morning.

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress approved the final version of the annual defense policy bill on Friday, authorizing $633 billion in defense spending for 2013, tightening sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and beefing up security at U.S. embassies. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 81-14 in favor...

The US today sanctioned four Iranian companies, including one accused of providing weapons to the Syrian regime’s crackdown.

Where we stand regarding the "fiscal cliff."

TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) – The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected recent UN resolution on Iran human rights records as ‘indicating dysfunctional mechanisms of human rights in UN and western double standards’.

Regarding “Bringing Iran around” (Nov. 3 editorial), let me start by defining who we are dealing with when talking about the Iranian leadership. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a fanatic as someone who is “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.”

TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) – the Syrian Opposition has rejected Iran’s plan to peacefully solve the Syrian crisis. The leaders of the Syrian National Coalition denounced Iranian plan, hailed for in international arena, as ‘Iran’s desperate attempt to save Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad’.

Macau (The Nation/ANN) - The 55th Asia Pacific Film Festival was held in Macao from December 13 to 16 at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. This glamorous event celebrates Asian filmmakers, actors, actresses and other cinema talents from the region.

DUBAI (Reuters) - The installation of Patriot anti-missile batteries sent by NATO members to bolster Turkey's defences against a possible missile attack from Syria will only harm Turkey's security, Iran's defence minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. Related Stories Obama nominates John Kerry as next secretary of state China...

WASHINGTON: A major $633-billion defense spending bill was awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature Saturday after the US Senate gave it its stamp of approval, tightening penalties on Iran, funding the war in Afghanistan and boosting security at US missions worldwide.

The September quarter essentially mirrored the conditions witnessed in the first two quarters of the year. A feeble economic recovery in the U.S. and persistent recessionary conditions in

WASHINGTON (AP) — With reverential words and warm memories, President Barack Obama on Friday led the admirers paying tribute to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, a war hero and senator for 50 years who was hailed for his leadership and modesty, and for championing causes important to the...

Watch Video | Listen to the Audio JUDY WOODRUFF: And now to the analysis of Shields and Gerson. That's syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson. David Brooks is off tonight. Gentlemen, it's good to have you with us. MARK SHIELDS: Good to be with you. JUDY...

Too big to jail? Execs avoid laundering charges Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 2:22 pm, Wednesday, December 19, 2012 NEW YORK (AP) — When the Justice Department announced its record $1.9 billion settlement against British...

Also: Justin Bieber may be banned from the Philippines; Mila Kunis target of slur; Ben Affleck doesn’t deny Senate aspirations

() WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, the former U.S. senator believed to be President Barack Obama's leading choice for defense secretary, apologized Friday for remarks he made in 1998 about an openly gay nominee for an ambassadorship.

The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) meeting in Dubai has ended – and thanks to your efforts we have held off the attack on the open Internet, at least for now.

THE recently concluded Freestyle Full Contact Fight Championship (F-3 Championship) at the Cheras Badminton Stadium saw exciting match-ups in the field of Muay Thai, mix martial arts and boxing.

WASHINGTON Congress sent President Barack Obama a $633 billion defense bill for next year that would tighten penalties on Iran to thwart its nuclear ambitions and bulk up security at diplomatic missions worldwide after the deadly Sept. 11 raid in Libya.

Should the Bush administration have been better prepared for the national security threats that were crystallized in the attacks of 9/11?

Margaret Thatcher is recuperating at an unnamed hospital after the former British prime minister underwent a bladder operation.

Spitzer: Democrats do best when they stand up to the GOP - WATCH VIDEO

Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 in part because of his pledge to end the war in Iraq and shift the Pentagon's attention to Afghanistan. He has won a second term in part by promising to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan - as quickly and as securely...

Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalism are competing ideologies that have driven Turkey's foreign policy for many years. Neo-Ottomanism is focused on promoting 'soft power'- ensuring Turkey is well-placed diplomatically, politically and economically to take on a larger role in the Middle East and beyond. Kemalism seeks to preserve the secular legacy...

The celebration of the cosmic dawn began with a fumbling of the sacred fire meant to honor Friday's end of the Mayan long count calendar. More >>

The Treasury Department is blacklisting four companies and one Iranian executive for their links to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

NRA's LaPierre: "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"

NRA calls for an armed police officer in every school.

NRA blames media for allowing violent culture to come into children's homes.

New Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen says he will be a "fly on the wall" during Rose Bowl preparations.

>LONDON Dec 21 (Reuters) - Marketing production is more associated with technology and entertainment than grubby industrial raw materials like oil. But marketing is set to become more important as the oil market moves into surplus and struggles with an increasingly diverse range of crudes. Crude marketers need to convince...

>* Not all sold yet; buyers wary on price, quality-sources* China to increase 2013 Iraqi purchasesBy Alex LawlerLONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Iraq is sharpening a push to sell its swelling crude output and sit at oil's top table with Saudi Arabia, sweetening terms for contract buyers next year, its...

>* Reduction likely from 10 to 20 percent from this year's level* Cuts may result in a further loss of $5 bln for the year for Iran (Updates with latest import numbers for China, South Korea and India)By Chen Aizhu and Manash GoswamiBEIJING/SINGAPORE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Asian buyers of...

The top geopolitical tragedy in 2012 is bound to remain the top geopolitical tragedy in 2013: the rape of Syria.

With huge rise in its oil output, Iraq has become one of world's fastest growing economies.

Political and religious divides between Sunnis and Shiites have relegated local Arab Spring protests to little more than a memory in Bahrain. But some are trying to bridge the differences.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Sunni leaders accused Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of a political crackdown after troops raided the finance minister's office and home, threatening to reignite a crisis a year after the last American troops left. Related Stories U.S. Marine convicted of urinating on corpses of Taliban...

Five Iranian soccer teams have managed to cruise through to the quarterfinals of Iran’s Knockout Hazfi Cup.

Over the past 21 months of the uprising against the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, there has been much debate over its methods within opposition ranks.

A deal worth £2.5bn has been completed between British defence manufacturer BAE Systems and Oman.It will see BAE provide the Gulf state with 12 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and eight Hawk training jets.As ...

Two Iranians arrested after a botched bomb plot that allegedly targeted Israeli diplomats say they're innocent and are stunned to discover explosives in their Bangkok home, a lawyer says.

> Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News...

>* Stokes worries about demand from world's biggest oil consumer* Brent's target at $111.45 aborted -technicals* Coming Up: U.S. durable goods orders, weekly; 1330 GMT (Updates prices)By Florence Tan and Manash GoswamiSINGAPORE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Brent crude fell below $110 a barrel on Friday after talks in...

>CARACAS (Reuters) - Murals adorning a Caracas slum that has given militant backing to President Hugo Chavez over the years are a virtual pantheon of international radicals. From Colombia's FARC guerrillas to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the images and slogans on teeming slopes above Chavez's presidential...