News Archive - 4 September 2013

>WASHINGTON/AMMAN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's effort to win legislative backing for military strikes against Syria passed its first hurdle on Wednesday when a Senate committee voted in favor, but the narrow margin of victory showed the depth of U.S. caution. In a possible sign of internal...

>WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Prowling the skies of Pakistan and Yemen, armed drones are America's weapon of choice in its war against al Qaeda, but they are unlikely to play a major role in any U.S. strike against Syria, underscoring the limitations of unmanned aircraft. Drones do not...

>* U.S. crude oil stocks likely fell last week -poll* Coming up: API weekly oil stocks 4:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday* Coming up: EIA oil data at 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday (Adds details; updates prices; changes byline; changes dateline from LONDON)By Jeanine PreziosoNEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters)...

>DUBAI (Reuters) - If one thing could scuttle Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's big plan - to fix Iran's economy by winning some relief from Western sanctions - a U.S. strike on Tehran's ally Syria is it. Rouhani's June election landslide won him the cautious backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah...

>LONDON (Reuters) - Former world champions Italy and Germany are among seven countries who could confirm their places in next year's World Cup soccer finals in Brazil when the qualifying tournament swings back into action after a three-month break. The Netherlands, three times finalists, could also qualify from Europe with...

>Defending France's call for military action against Bashar al-Assad, Ayrault told French parliament any response should be "strong, quick and targeting specific objectives", but ruled out any French troops being sent on the ground."To not act would be to put in danger peace and security in the entire region.

>On Tuesday evening, President Barack Obama boarded Air Force One, departed for Sweden and left behind a looming political disaster. Despite the endorsement of Republican and Democratic House leaders, many members of Congress remain deeply skeptical about the president's proposal to carry out cruise missile strikes in Syria. And they...

Even if everything Secretary of State John Kerry says about chemical weapons in Syria were true, the evidence would prove only that Bashar al-Assad committed crimes against civilians. It would not prove that the U.S.

AS Doctor Fox, the MP for North Somerset, is so keen for us to get involved with attacking Syria, I think he was in the wrong job, defence secretary, before he resigned.

Scandal! Caught playing iPhone game at 3+ hour Senate hearing - worst of all I lost!" That was a tweet from Senator John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and former presidential candidate, after he was .....        

Scandal! Caught playing iPhone game at 3+ hour Senate hearing - worst of all I lost!

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Wednesday justified the Socialists' determination to punish Syrian regime on the alleged chemical attack to pave the way for a political end to the years-long conflict.

Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, is in a spirited debate — with himself.

As the summer comes to a close, we reflected on the many insights and perspectives shared these past few months on Skoll World Forum. Here are our top 15 most provocative quotes on accelerating human progress around the world—in no particular order—from some of the world’s leading authorities on development,...

They're weighing whether to order Hezbollah to launch rockets at Israel or target U.S. warships in the Mediterranean. Or they could send shadowy groups for suicide-bomb attacks against Israelis and Americans. Or, as one blogger has called for, they could try kidnapping families of American military officers in far-flung...

By engaging with Iran, could the United States help bring about peace in Syria and could an attack on Syria damage such prospects?

Bekas Pengerusi PKR Pulau Pinang, Datuk Seri Mohamed Zahrain Hashim (gambar) bakal dinamakan sebagai duta Malaysia ke Indonesia yang baru, dan pelantikan itu dilihat sebagai habuan kepadanya kerana menyokong Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13). Sumber memberitahu The Malaysian Insider bahawa Datuk Seri Najib Razak...

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine gave his opinion about military strikes in Syria at the Portland International Jetport on Wednesday after returning from Washington, D.C. He said senators are struggling with authorizing the strikes President Obama seeks. King said he is weighing the message that would be sent...

Rep. Luke Messer became the first Indiana lawmaker Wednesday to back military action against Syria for its reported use of chemical weapons.

It is a melancholy object to those who view videos of Damascus, when they see the streets, the roads, and doorways, crowded with the bodies of those reportedly killed with the wrong weapons by the wrong people.

Jewish New Year does not stop for wartime in Israel

The hacker group known as the Syrian Electronic Army is getting more ambitious and sophisticated, experts say.        

>INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks cautiously firmer; BOJ, India eyed* Oil lower as Syrian strike seen limited* MIDEAST STOCKS-Mkts hit multi-week lows as U.S. nears action on Syria* Gold climbs, but stays below key level as U.S. data dents appeal* U.S. Senate panel approves resolution on Syria military...

>* Diesel price hike of 5 rupees per litre may be on the cards* Refiners must buy dollars from central bank to ease pressure on rupeeBy Jo Winterbottom and Manash GoswamiNEW DELHI/SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - India's top oil official is grasping at desperate measures to cut the country's oil...

“F ool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” – so the British parliament decided that it didn’t want to be shamed by following another prime minister into another unwinnable war on the basis, yet again, of shoddy intelligence reports.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court held on Wednesday that since matters of defence, security of the country and foreign policy did not fall within the judicial domain, interference by the high courts was not warranted.

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) - The White House has reached out to Minnesota Eighth District Congressman Rick Nolan, following his clear, public stance yesterday, against any form of a U.S. strike on Syria.

Raed Jaser had been convicted for fraud

ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected a call for deployment of army in Karachi to rid the city of terrorism, lawlessness and an endless wave of targeted killings.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chris Murphy voted against President Barack Obama 's plan to take military action against Syria and warned that such an attack could involve the U.S. in the civil war "in a way that will be difficult to untangle."

EXCLUSIVE : The genre-leaning production company founded as The Woodshed in 2010 by Elijah Wood , Daniel Noah, and Josh C. Waller has undergone an identity change. The outfit has been rebranded SpectreVision and has also added a music division, teaming with Redbird Music Management’s Tim Husom to form SpectreVision...

U.S. RESPONSE: A limited ‘shock and awe’ missile attack isn’t the correct strategy

Former TVA Vice President 58-year-old Masoud Bajestani plead guilty to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Iranian Transactions Regulations, and two counts of filing false income tax returns.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes 10 to 7 to authorize a punitive missile attack. The House appears far more reluctant. WASHINGTON — The Senate took a crucial step Wednesday toward authorizing a punitive strike on Syria but deep reluctance was evident in the House, where lawmakers questioned whether the...

Latest VideoSeptember 4th, 2013     Members of Majlis opposed to move to other building to let necessary reparation to be done Majlis did not approved to move elsewhere and let the building to contractors  for reparation  , therefore necessary reparations will be made during 2 week summer holiday beginning two...

Two South Carolina Republican congressmen are refusing to support military strikes against Syria, in part because they say no one has been punished for the 2012 attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The Syrian situation has little to do with Bashar Assad committing war crimes. It has everything to do with how we deal with Iran and North Korea.

Poland's chief rabbi said the constitutional court had been asked to overturn the 2002 law because the ban threatened to undermine Jewish life in the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with the Associated Press. / Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia (AP) - President Vladimir Putin warned the West against taking one-sided action in Syria but also said Russia "doesn't exclude" supporting a U.N. resolution on punitive military strikes if it is...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, urged House colleagues Wednesday to give President Barack Obama the go ahead to launch a limited military strike against the Syrian government. “Miracle of miracles, I am in support of the president’s call for action in Syria,” said Cotton, who is typically...

Sen. Marco Rubio believes the US must intervene in Syria. But backing Obama on military strikes would have been politically costly. So he found a way to vote no.

Just about every muscle-flexing activity known to man – and woman – has jostled to climb aboard the Olympic Games bandwagon. From angling to arm-wrestling, chess to cheerleading, bog-snorkelling to ballroom dancing, darts to dominoes, all seem to think they deserve to share the spotlight of the five-ring circus.  ...

>SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Furious about a report that the U.S. government spied on her private communications, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may cancel a planned White House visit and downgrade commercial ties unless she receives a public apology, a senior Brazilian official told Reuters on Wednesday. A Brazilian news...

Latest VideoSeptember 4th, 2013     Foreign minister Zarif explain Hassan Rohani schedule for nuclear issue and UN genral assembly in New York After cabinet meeting on Wednesday 4 September , the foreign minister Javad Zarif confirmed Hassan Rohani trip for attending general assembly of United nation in New York and...

From wars and elections to scandals and triumphs, here’s a look back at the highlights of the Jewish year 5773.

While some have speculated about the possibility that the ongoing Syrian Civil War may be connected to the End Times, many theologians are skeptical.

Furious about a report that the U.S. government spied on her private communications, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may cancel a planned White House visit and downgrade commercial ties unless she receives a public apology, a senior Brazilian official told Reuters on Wednesday.

As Congress prepares to debate whether or not the U.S. should attack Syria, one local Congressman is speaking out. Congressman Bill Owens said his decision will depend on several factors. YNN's Brian Dwyer reports.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved a resolution authorizing President Barack Obama to use military force in Syria, with Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio voting against the measure. But Rubio sought to differentiate himself from other opponents of the Syria resolution — including Kentucky Sen. and potential 2016 GOP...

Now that the Philippines will finally return to the world stage in basketball, let’s take a look at how the other Asian teams that qualified in the FIBA World Championships performed in previous years. Teams from Europe and the Americas … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee showed division over a possible military strike on Syria as President Obama's security team explained it.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s hopes of winning congressional backing for a military strike against Syria received a huge lift on Tuesday when two top House Republicans announced their support of taking military action against Syria.

Syria's neighbors have all felt the impact of the country's war, and they will be keeping a close eye on any U.S. military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons. But, says Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, "the reality is that...

Even if everything Secretary of State John Kerry says about chemical weapons in Syria were true, the evidence would prove only that Bashar al-Assad committed crimes against civilians. It would not prove that the U.S. government has either the moral or legal authority to commit acts of war.

By Steve Pond LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - A handful of movies went up the mountain to Telluride and came down anointed Oscar contenders. Another few navigated the canals in Venice and were celebrated Italian style. But now it's time for the Big One. The Toronto International Film Festival, which...

Israelis happily welcomed the Jewish New Year on Wednesday despite uncertainty and turmoil brewing on both its northern and southern borders.

Wholesale gold fell back below $1,400 per ounce for the third day running Wednesday lunchtime in London, dropping to $1,393 and trading 1.7% below yesterday's high as crude oil and world stock markets both fell 0.5%.

>The British parliament's refusal to countenance military intervention in Syria, and President Barack Obama's decision to delay a strike until Congress approves it, point to a larger, even more dangerous contradiction of the mass destruction age. That is, parliamentary democracy and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) sit ill together. Each...

WASHINGTON — In an impassioned appeal for support both at home and abroad, President Barack Obama said Wednesday the credibility of the international community and Congress is on the line in the debate over how to respond to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

I’m still away, but the news never stops. Actually, I finished an article on Melissa Chiu’s vision for the Asia Society Museum before I left the U.S., and it was published in today’s Wall Street Journal . Headlined A Society Evolves , it is pegged to the opening this...

By Alexandra Hudson BERLIN (Reuters) - A Hezbollah official has said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered a poison gas attack last month and that it considered the move a mistake which showed he was losing his grip, according to German intelligence. Participants at a confidential meeting of German lawmakers on...

Deputy Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Gholamreza Khadem Biqam says the Islamic Republic has proposed the establishment of an international organization to fight pirates.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund has approved a $6.7 billion loan for Pakistan to help the country avert a financial crisis and to support structural changes in the economy aimed at boosting investment and growth.

Israelis celebrate Jewish New Year, amid turmoil brewing on its borders        

PARIS, France - French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault urged lawmakers on Wednesday, September 4 to back military action against the Syrian regime in response to "the most massive and terrifying use" of chemical weapons this century. Opening a fiery debate on France's reaction to the alleged deadly gas attack, Ayrault...

All right Melbourne, you win this round. Again. The world's most liveable city , although given the company you're keeping up there - Vienna, Calgary, Adelaide - it's pretty clear that liveable doesn't necessarily translate to interesting.        

"The Daily Show's" long, Jon Stewart-less summer has come to an end. The beloved host returned to his chair on Tuesday night after a three-month hiatus - a long enough stretch of time that Stewart needed some help getting back in his groove. It seems that after spending the summer...

Obama must put U.S. safety before Israel's safety.

West Texas Intermediate crude fell for the third time in four days as the U.S. debated a military strike on Syria and Russia raised objections to intervention, clouding the prospects for an attack.

Fbs Blog Sept 3 What will happen in Syria

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As of 4 September 2013, international road transport operations under TIR will resume, to, from and across Afghanistan, after more than 30 years of interruption. ...

Baghdad, Sep 4 (IANS) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Wednesday launched a new peace initiative to end the Syrian crisis and called on the Arab countries and the world to back his plan.

>* Refiners to deepen crude run cuts due to weak margins* High oil prices on Mideast troubles to keep lid on profitsBy Ron BoussoLONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - European refineries will cut output by about 10 percent in the next two months through maintenance and reduced operating rates, but it...

>GALKYNYSH GAS FIELD, Turkmenistan (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping helped inaugurate the world's second-largest gas field in Turkmenistan on Wednesday, showing Beijing's growing clout in Central Asia as it seeks resources for the Chinese economy. The start of production from the Galkynysh field was also a major development for...

>A relatively moderate cleric, who has said he wants to ease tensions with the West, Rouhani will give three speeches there, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying.Rouhani's predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speeches at the General Assembly included questioning the Holocaust and the U.S. account of the...

Ajman travel to Dubai to take on Al Nasr later on Wednesday as they begin the defence of their UAE League Cup.

The crisis in Syria should remind us of three important truths: (1) if the prevailing rule is anything goes, pretty soon anything does; (2) rules have little impact unless someone is willing and able to enforce them; and (3) predators are more likely to strike when they sense weakness and...

Lobbying on Syria has inspired coalitions of the unlikely, aligning President Barack Obama with Sheldon Adelson, the Republican billionaire who spent about $70 million trying to defeat him last year, in the push for a military response to the use of chemical weapons.

The Commission on Appointments confirmed, on Wednesday, the nomination of 16 ambassadors to various diplomatic posts abroad, including that of an engineer who has been tapped to represent the country’s interests in war-torn Iraq.

(MENAFN) Iran's aluminum output in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar started March 21 reached nearly 150,000 tons, Tehran Times reported. The county's three smelters, Iranian ...

The NSA runs a massive, full-time hacking operation targeting foreign systems, the latest leaks from Edward Snowden show. But unlike conventional cybercriminals, the agency is less interested in hacking PCs and Macs. Instead, America's spooks have their eyes on the ...        

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will consider supporting UN-backed strikes against Syria if it is proved that President Assad used…        

President Obama and Congress face no good options when it comes to taking action in Syria. Read more...

ABU DHABI - The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Emirate’s environmental regulator, is highlighting several of the UAE’s ground-breaking contributions to sustainable falconry practices at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), which opened today.

Asylum seekers who are in Australia on bridging visas are watching the election as closely as voters, as their futures also depend on who is elected this Saturday.

Latest VideoSeptember 4th, 2013     Hassan Rohani adviser on TV : Land allocated to Ahmadinejad university in Qeshm island is illegal Former minister of defense and special adviser of Hassan Rohani talk about disastrous situation of healthcare and  claim on that  land allocated to Ahmadinejad university  in Qeshm island  ,...

Iran's 84 Kg taekwondo player Youssef Karami tamed Park Kyeong Hoon from South Korea 4-3 in a nail-biting final at the 15th Asian Games here Saturday.

President Barack Obama won the support of important lawmakers Tuesday in his campaign for a military response to the Syrian government’s alleged use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21, which killed 1,400 Syrians according to the Obama administration.

Obama administration officials are making their case for action in Syria, with several Cabinet officials appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Secretary of State John Kerry argues that the U.S. needs to hold Bashar Assad's government accountable for the use of chemical weapons.

The French parliament will debate Wednesday whether the nation should launch strikes against Syria, though France's president says he will wait for a decision from the U..S. Congress on possible military action against Bashar Assad's regime.

WikiLeaks founder could follow example of Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi by making video-link appearance WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to join the jury for this year's Raindance film festival . Raindance revealed the high-profile addition on Twitter . Assange remains at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has claimed political asylum...