News Archive - 7 January 2013

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>(Reuters) - After toppling NBC's "Today" show in the morning show ratings for overall viewers for the first time in 16 years, ABC is now taking aim at NBC's iconic "Tonight Show" franchise. The network, owned by the Walt Disney Co, launches on Tuesday evening its most ambitious - and...

>VREDEPEEL, The Netherlands (Reuters) - Dozens of camouflaged military trucks streamed out of an army base in the southern Netherlands on Monday carrying Patriot missiles to defend Turkey from what the Dutch defense chief called the real threat of missile attack from Syria. Five convoys totaling 160 vehicles ferried two...

Vietnam veteran and former Senator Chuck Hagel is the ideal man to serve as Secretary of Defense. In the small world category, I've known him for over 30 years. In all of that time, I have consistently regarded him as a man of high moral character who puts service...

>DUBAI Jan 7 (Reuters) - Iran's earnings from oil have slumped by 45 percent since last March and are not likely to rise over the next three months, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told a parliamentary budget committee on Monday, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.Qasemi has until now...

>* Republican Chuck Hagel faces confirmation fight* Brennan's previous CIA tenure under scrutiny* Moves would fill out reshuffled national security teamBy Matt SpetalnickWASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday will nominate Republican Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to head the...

>* Ruling could inflame tension in Gulf Arab state* U.S. wants to help restore calm in ally* Case has drawn international criticismBy Rania El GamalDUBAI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Bahrain's highest court upheld prison sentences against 13 leaders of the 2011 uprising on Monday, a defence lawyer said, a...

>Assad's speech on Sunday was billed as the unveiling of a new peace plan but the president offered no concessions and dismissed the prospect of negotiations with Syrian opposition groups, which described it as a renewed declaration of war.Iran has steadfastly backed Assad's rule since an uprising began almost...

>* Seeking to raise crude imports from LibyaBy Orhan CoskunTRIPOLI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Tupras, Turkey's sole oil refiner, will extend purchases of crude oil from Iran when the company's contract expires in August but won't increase imports, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.Turkey is seeking to raise crude imports...

Tough fight ahead WASHINGTON Digging in for a fight, President Barack Obama riled Senate

Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, tapped by President Obama to serve as the next Secretary of Defense, is coming under fire from conservatives for his past positions on Israel, Iran and Iraq. Elliott Abrams is one of the critics. Abrams served in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and...

TEHRAN, Jan. 8 (MNA) – An Iranian plane carrying humanitarian aid for the displaced Rohingya Muslims landed in Yangon airport in Myanmar on Sunday.

A former Iraqi soldier and prisoner who brought one of the world's oldest stringed instruments back into the spotlight is set to end his exile and take his haunting songs back home.

COLUMBIA -- New U.S. Sen. Tim Scott said Monday he's leaning against supporting President Barack Obama's nominee to lead the Department of Defense, but said he wants to hear more before forming a final opinion on Obama's new candidates.

Republican Senators have expressed concern over the views of Chuck Hagel, nominated by President Barack Obama as his next Defence Secretary, on several key issues, as the White House defended him saying that he is in “sync” with the President’s policies.

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Barack Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense is causing jitters in Israel, where some circles view the former Nebraska senator as unsympathetic or even hostile.

BEIRUT (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed disappointment with Syrian President Bashar Assad for rejecting the most important elements of an international roadmap to end the country's civil war — a political handover and establishment of a transitional governing body.

Hatch raises ‘serious concerns’ with Hagel nomination by Thomas Burr The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 7, 2013 06:59PM MDT Washington • Sen. Orrin Hatch says he has “serious concerns” with President Barack Obama’s nominee for secretary of defense, though the Utah Republican didn’t indicate Monday whether he would ultimately...

About a dozen U students have received letters from the bank, which cites federal sanctions.

Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Israeli Aerospace Industries have had a long and mutually productive relationship, with IAI building the smaller Gulfstream G150 and G280 business jets in Tel Aviv.

Hagel and Brennan face sharp US Senate questions on a range of contentious issues, including policy on Israel and Iran.

Jeremy Hindley, who trained around 700 winners in a 17-year career which ended in 1987, has died at the age of 69.

It could become even more politically potent than liberals' worries about drones or torture tactics.

Tiga pemain muda Sarawak kini menjalani latihan bersama skuad muda kebangsaan KUCHING: Tiga pemain bola sepak junior Sarawak [...]

The 113th Congress' most pressing defense-related concern will be the military's budget, despite the previous Congress having averted the so-called "fiscal cliff." Come March 1, automatic spending cuts will begin slicing $500 billion from the Pentagon's budget over the next 10 years — and prompting layoffs for as many...

WASHINGTON - Despite Republican misgivings, President Barack Obama announced Monday he will nominate former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary, calling him "the leader our troops deserve." He also chose White House counterterroris...

WASHINGTON — Despite Republican misgivings, President Barack Obama announced Monday he will nominate former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary. He also chose White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

Thirteen years into the third millennium and the much-anticipated personal jetpack remains as elusive as ever. So, what technology developments and trends CAN IT leaders expect over the coming 12 months?

A decorated Vietnam veteran acutely aware of the limits of military power, Chuck Hagel is likely to favor a sizable drawdown in Afghanistan, more frugal spending at the Pentagon and extreme caution when contemplating the use of force in places like Iran or Syria. Click here for the rest of...

It may take a little more motivation to complete workouts in the winter in the great outdoors than other times of the year.

Chuck Hagel was blunt-spoken in the Senate, even when bucking fellow Republicans. Now opponents in his own party and elsewhere are using Hagel's words against him.

BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda's front group in Iraq has claimed a wave of attacks across Iraq in the run-up to Shiite mourning rituals on New Year's Eve that killed 23 people, the SITE Monitoring Service said on Monday.

* Seaway Pipeline expansion in focus * Manufacturing in United States, China expanded in December * Traders eye ECB meeting this week (Adds comment from analyst, paragraphs 4, 5) By David Sheppard NEW ...

Republican Senators Monday expressed concern over the views of Chuck Hagel, nominated by US President Barack Obama as his next defence secretary, on several key issues, as the White House defended him saying that he is in "sync" with the president's policies.

Tablet computers for asylum seekers on Manus Island have had their camera functions removed days after Fairfax Media published photographs of life in the island's camp.

TORONTO (Reuters) - Pakistan's top court has ruled against Canada's Barrick Gold Corp and Chile's Antofagasta Plc in a long-running dispute with a provincial government over their right to develop a $3.3 billion (2.0 billion pounds) copper-gold deposit. Related Stories Balfour Beatty CEO stepping down, deputy to take...

>* Official says US banks may shy away from RussiansBy Arshad MohammedWASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Major Russian banks should beware dealing with two blacklisted Syrian financial institutions, a senior U.S. Treasury official said, saying U.S. and other banks could shun them as a result.The U.S.

Chilean state television says a man shot at crowd with a pellet gun in the Chilean port city of Valparaiso and injured seven people.

In a sign of his full-on awareness of the wave of criticism already trailing former Senator Chuck Hagel, President Obama nominated his next Secretary of Defense with a simple defense Monday afternoon: Hagel's top qualification? He's a Vietnam vet. Hagel would be the first former enlisted man to serve as defense...

US President Barack Obama has nominated former Republican senator Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to head the CIA, potentially setting up a Senate confirmation battle on two fronts and establishing a tough tone to start his second term. read more

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas gave orders Sunday for work to begin on new passports, ID cards, drivers’ licences and stamps reading “State of Palestine,” official media said.

WASHINGTON—U.S. President Barack Obama today nominated Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency—two potentially-controversial picks for his second-term national security team.

Recently, the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has been looming. Such an attack could evolve into a major shock for the global economy, with serious geopolitical consequences.

VIENNA (AP) - The head of the U.N. nuclear agency appears on track to stay in office for a second term, with his organization saying no other candidate has stepped forward to challenge him.

Here’s a look at the ten films most likely to make the Oscar shortlist.

SSL security is supposed to protect users, though once again an SSL certificate authority (CA) has proven to be a weak link in the chain of trust.

Iran is reportedly developing "intelligent software" that will allow government officials to control access to social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter , letting Iranians access those networks in a government-approved fashion. The idea of the controlling software seems to be allowing Iranian citizens to use social media for...

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin). President Barack Obama walks with daughter Malia on the first family's return from vacationing in Hawaii, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013.

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A case against a Hagel nomination, and more recommended reading from around the web.

HILVERSUM, the Netherlands, January 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - International curiosity for Iranian human-interest stories - Stories ranging from the difficulties of logging-on in Tehran to the experiences of an Iranian environmentalist The third …

President Barack Obama is expected to nominate former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary.  Ridge View High School students dance for a good cause.

President Barack Obama plans to announce former Sen. Chuck Hagel as his nominee to become the next defense secretary and Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan as the nominee for CIA director on Monday, administration officials told CNN. Two sources close to Hagel have also been told to expect...

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Belkin, creator of people-inspired consumer technology products, and Vans®, creator of “Off the Wall” original footwear, apparel and accessories, today announced a multi-year licensing partnership.

The 54-year-old Serb, who led the team from 2004-06, coached CSKA to a league title in 2005.

>* Morgan Stanley sees limited near term upside for oil* Manufacturing in U.S., China expanded in December* Focus on ECB meeting this week (Updates prices, adds quotes)By Alex LawlerLONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Oil eased to under $111 a barrel on Monday as some investors booked profits after...

>Prices at factory gates in the 17 countries using the euro fell 0.2 percent in November from October, the EU's statistics office Eurostat said on Monday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected no month-on-month change in industrial producer prices.Compared to the same month a year ago, the producer...