News Archive - 31 August 2014

>* Iraqi, Kurd forces gain on Sunni militants* Libya output rises to 700,000 bpd* Russia-Ukraine tensions rise; EU prepares new sanctionsBy Jacob Gronholt-PedersenSINGAPORE, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Brent crude held steady above $103 a barrel on Monday, as a recent rebound in oil prices was checked by fresh data suggesting...

>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel announced on Sunday a land appropriation in the occupied West Bank that an anti-settlement group termed the biggest in 30 years, drawing Palestinian condemnation and a U.S. rebuke. Some 400 hectares (988 acres) in the Etzion Jewish settlement bloc near Bethlehem were declared "state land,...

The new round of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran is “outrageous” while talks on Tehran's nuclear energy program continue between the Islamic Republic and six world powers, an analyst tells Press TV.

>BAQIRTA Iraq/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After their lightning takeover in June, flag-waving Islamic State militants paraded through the captured Iraqi city of Mosul in looted U.S.-built Humvees, armored cars and pickup trucks mounted with heavy machine guns. Today, many have ditched military-type vehicles that could make them easy targets...

>* PM Renzi loyalist has little government experience* Seen as low-profile hard worker* Critics fear she is soft on RussiaBy Gavin JonesROME, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Federica Mogherini must show she has the experience and clout to succeed as the European Union's new foreign policy chief, just as her predecessor...

Iran has categorically dismissed the interfering allegations of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) with regards to the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.

An analyst tells Press TV that the Zionist lobby's pressures have been behind fresh sanctions imposed by Washington on Tehran.

>DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's possible response to new U.S. sanctions could "not be pleasant", its foreign minister said on Sunday, raising the prospect of tit-for-tat retribution against the Islamic Republic's old adversary weeks ahead of fresh nuclear talks. Iranian leaders reacted with dismay to Friday's announcement that Washington was...

IRBIL, Iraq — With U.S. warplanes opening a new front against Islamic State extremists, Iraqi forces and Shiite Muslim militiamen on Sunday broke the militant group’s nearly three-month siege of the northern town of Amerli as beleaguered residents greeted them with cheers.

He is 23-year-old Horr Jaffer, from Chechnya, and he is an Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber. Under questioning he admits that he joined IS in Syria after his father, mother and six family members were killed there. He says they had moved from Chechnya to Pakistan before going to Syria.

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (PTI) India has earmarked USD 100 million for upgradation of Chabahar port in Iran so as to improve trade with Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries, Afghan envoy to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali has said.

Iran has renewed calls on all parties involved in the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan to sort out their differences through peaceful means.

>INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares wobble in early trade, euro sinks* Oil higher on Ukraine tensions, data, but posts second monthly fall* Palladium extends winning streak to 4th session on supply fears* MIDEAST STOCKS-Dubai's Emaar surges ahead of unit's IPO; most markets rise* KOGAS says starts commercial crude oil production in...

How did you react to the earthquake? It actually felt kind of nice, like someone was rocking me. Growing up in Iran, we'd have bad quakes and I would panic.

SEVILLE - United States and Spain both collected their second straight win at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday while Croatia fought off tough Argentina and Senegal picked up a historic victory.

U.S., Shia militias, Iraqi army and Kurds push on Islamic State in town of Amerli, as countries drop supplies for beleaguered villagers

France picked up a nice win over Argentina.

Sept. 1, 2014, 11:30 a.m. Against the glittering backdrop of the lagoon and the domes and belvederes of the world heritage city glowing golden in the morning light, Warwick Thornton has succumbed to the allure of the double espresso. "I haven't had coffee for a long time," he says.

The United States continued their bright start to the FIBA Basketball World Cup with a 98-77 win over Turkey on Sunday.

A sluggish United States team needed a strong final quarter to overpower Turkey 98-77 in the basketball World Cup and European champions France celebrated a dramatic 74-73 win over dark horses Serbia on Sunday (local time).

Having learnt nothing from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Australia is ready to do Washington’s bidding – once again.

The circular debt has crossed the Rs500 billion mark; thanks to increasing power sector receivables.

Seville (Spain) (AFP) - United States and Spain both collected their second straight win at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday while Croatia fought off tough Argentina and Senegal picked up a historic victory.

Because a sense of humor is essential when facing the mysteries and miseries of a foreign culture.

Entering Day 2 of competition in Group A at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Serbia-France looked to be the game of the day. And it didn’t disappoint, as France came back from an 11-point deficit to pick up a much-needed 74-73 win in the final seconds.

A sluggish United States needed a strong final quarter to overpower Turkey 98-77 in the basketball World Cup and European champions France celebrated a dramatic 74-73 win over dark horses Serbia on Sunday. Hosts Spain overwhelmed Egypt 91-54 and talented Croatia, looking for their first World Cup medal, sank Argentina...

U.S. Works With European Officials to Align Russia Sanctions

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja following a meeting in the capital Tehran, on Sunday.

Italy started the Men's Volleyball World Championship with a surprise 3-1 defeat to Iran on Sunday.

Les Etats-Unis ont annoncé, hier, des sanctions supplémentaires contre l'Iran, visant des entités, entreprises et individus accusés de favoriser le programme nucléaire controversé de Téhéran et de soutenir le "terrorisme".

MANILA — After a gallant stand against Croatia, the Philippine national team faces European powerhouse Greece Sunday night in the Group B stage of the 2014 Fiba World Cup at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo in Seville, Spain. The game is at 8 p.m. in Spain (2...

A FEW weeks ago, America’s biggest bank was hacked.

Decline in heroin use, unrecorded cybercrime and greater civility are some of the reasons suggested for the drop in offending On the south side of Northampton, a town an hour's drive north of London, stands a former cinema that is now the home of a discount sofa warehouse called The...

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By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In what can only be described as a plague on both your houses, an UN investigative panel has issued a specific and sickening verdict on the ongoing violence in Syria’s civil war. The […] The post Syria’s sickening crisis — China, Russia, Iran...

Thirty seven people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed Humvee military vehicle into a construction site used by the army and police, according to two police officers and a medical official.

>VENICE (Reuters) - The Venice Film Festival has earned a reputation over the decades for tackling controversial political and social issues head on, and this year has been no exception. German-born Turkish director Fatih Akin's "The Cut", shown on Sunday, is a harrowing fictionalized look at the destruction of the...

Prince Saud Al-Faisal addresses the meeting in Jeddah. Officials from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states expressed concern at the escalating terror attacks in the region during a meeting held in Jeddah.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Sunday that eastern Ukraine is under direct attack by Russia and that Western allies should seriously consider military assistance, although not troops on the ground, to repel President Vladimir Putin's designs in the region. If the U.S. and its allies...

The increasing lure of Islamic terrorism is a challenge Australia can't escape from dealing with.

Comment Having learnt nothing from Iraq, Afghanistan wars, we're again ready to do America's bidding.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah hari ini secara rasmi mengambil alih jawatan Presiden Persekutuan Hoki Asia (AHF) bagi penggal 2014-2018 pada Kongres AHF 2014.Tengku Abdullah sebelum ini merupakan calon tunggal untuk memenuhi kerusi itu selepas kemangkatan Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. Tayyab Ikhram dari Macau pula dilantik...

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Tehran, Aug 31 (AP) Iran's foreign minister said today he is ready to meet his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the sidelines of next month's UN General Assembly and to visit the Gulf powerhouse later this year.

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It is the biggest offensive success for the Iraqi government since militants led by the Sunni Islamic State (IS) jihadist group overran large areas of five provinces in June, sweeping security forces aside. The breakthrough came as America carried out limited strikes in the area, the first time it has...

Jailed Bahraini activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja has been on hunger strike for a week seeking release, his lawyer said on Sunday, adding that authorities have arrested his daughter at the airport. "Abdulhadi is continuing with the hunger strike he began on August 25" in Jaw prison near Manama, said lawyer Mohammed...

Muslim leaders have reportedly issued a fatwa condemning Britons who fight for extremists in Iraq and Syria. The fatwa, which The Sunday Times newspaper said had been issued by imams, is the strongest denunciation yet by the Muslim community of UK citizens who join militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State,...

Tehran, Aug 31 (IANS) Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Sunday said the new sanctions imposed by Washington on Tehran in some cases violate the agreement reached last year between the Islamic republic and the world powers during the Geneva nuclear talks. "The measure taken by the US is unconstructive...