Iran News - Yahoo!News

http://news.yahoo.com/iran/ en-USCopyright (c) 2012 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reservedSun, 23 Dec 2012 14:45:48 -05005http://news.yahoo.com/iran/ http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gifDUBAI (Reuters) - Iran welcomed on Sunday initial results that showed the approval of an Islamist-backed constitution in Egypt, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported. The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, which propelled Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi to power in a June election, said an unofficial tally showed 64 percent of voters backed the charter after two rounds of voting that ended with a final ballot on Saturday. ...http://news.yahoo.com/iran-welcomes-approval-constitution-egypt-194548654.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 14:45:48 -0500Reutersiran-welcomes-approval-constitution-egypt-194548654<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-protestors-block-highway-jordan-syria-125258969.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Do5ynSowcrRZNFav6bTT6A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/35a537e4056b8624240f6a706700bbdf.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Protesters chant slogans against the Iraq&#039;s Shiite-led government as they wave national flags and hold posters of Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi during a demonstration in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, who draws support from the area. The Khulafa al-Rashideen mosque is seen at right. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)" align="left" title="Protesters chant slogans against the Iraq&#039;s Shiite-led government as they wave national flags and hold posters of Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi during a demonstration in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, who draws support from the area. The Khulafa al-Rashideen mosque is seen at right. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)" border="0" /></a>FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) ? Thousands of protesters demonstrated Sunday in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, briefly blocking the main highway linking Baghdad with neighboring Jordan and Syria.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-protestors-block-highway-jordan-syria-125258969.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 10:06:17 -0500Associated Pressiraqi-protestors-block-highway-jordan-syria-125258969<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-protestors-block-highway-jordan-syria-125258969.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Do5ynSowcrRZNFav6bTT6A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/35a537e4056b8624240f6a706700bbdf.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Protesters chant slogans against the Iraq&#039;s Shiite-led government as they wave national flags and hold posters of Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi during a demonstration in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, who draws support from the area. The Khulafa al-Rashideen mosque is seen at right. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)" align="left" title="Protesters chant slogans against the Iraq&#039;s Shiite-led government as they wave national flags and hold posters of Sunni Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi during a demonstration in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, who draws support from the area. The Khulafa al-Rashideen mosque is seen at right. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)" border="0" /></a>FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) ? Thousands of protesters demonstrated Sunday in Iraq&#039;s western Sunni heartland following the arrest of bodyguards assigned to the finance minister, briefly blocking the main highway linking Baghdad with neighboring Jordan and Syria.</p><br clear="all"/>Iran's oil minister claimed Sunday his country has successfully overcome sanctions on the sale of its oil, state TV reported.http://news.yahoo.com/iran-claims-overcome-sanctions-142349300.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 09:23:49 -0500Associated Pressiran-claims-overcome-sanctions-142349300DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iranian businessman named by the European Union for breaching sanctions against Iran denied any wrongdoing on Sunday, saying his bank and other companies did not work for the Iranian government. "This is a mistake," Babak Zanjani told Reuters, speaking in his office in a high-rise tower in a financial district of Dubai a day after the sanctions came into force. Neither his Malaysia-based First Islamic Bank nor his more than 60 other companies had done anything wrong, he said. ...http://news.yahoo.com/iranian-businessman-denies-eu-sanctions-busting-accusation-141202697.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 09:12:02 -0500Reutersiranian-businessman-denies-eu-sanctions-busting-accusation-141202697<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-war-battered-pound-floats-rebel-funds-130143419.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QThVgxm7RnyCmCr1VQzd7Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-23T130143Z_1_CBRE8BM108D00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-CURRENCY.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A cashier counts Syrian currency notes in Amman" align="left" title="A cashier counts Syrian currency notes in Amman" border="0" /></a>AMMAN (Reuters) - In Syria&#039;s eastern town of Deir al-Zor, a rebel commander flush with cash was swapping his dollars for Syrian pounds to pay fighters battling President Bashar al-Assad&#039;s forces. Money changers said that influx of foreign currency earlier this month helped push the pound&#039;s black market rate in the impoverished town up by at least 10 percent. Hundreds of kilometers away in Damascus, panicked Syrians bracing for more violence sold pounds for dollars, driving the pound, which has lost half its value since the anti-Assad uprising erupted in March last year, the other way. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-war-battered-pound-floats-rebel-funds-130143419.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 08:01:43 -0500Reuterssyrias-war-battered-pound-floats-rebel-funds-130143419<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-war-battered-pound-floats-rebel-funds-130143419.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QThVgxm7RnyCmCr1VQzd7Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-23T130143Z_1_CBRE8BM108D00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-CURRENCY.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A cashier counts Syrian currency notes in Amman" align="left" title="A cashier counts Syrian currency notes in Amman" border="0" /></a>AMMAN (Reuters) - In Syria&#039;s eastern town of Deir al-Zor, a rebel commander flush with cash was swapping his dollars for Syrian pounds to pay fighters battling President Bashar al-Assad&#039;s forces. Money changers said that influx of foreign currency earlier this month helped push the pound&#039;s black market rate in the impoverished town up by at least 10 percent. Hundreds of kilometers away in Damascus, panicked Syrians bracing for more violence sold pounds for dollars, driving the pound, which has lost half its value since the anti-Assad uprising erupted in March last year, the other way. ...</p><br clear="all"/>TEHRAN,Iran (AP) ? Iran's oil minister claims his country has successfully circumvented sanctions on the sale of its oil.http://news.yahoo.com/iran-claims-circumvented-sanctions-121154244.htmlSun, 23 Dec 2012 07:11:54 -0500Associated Pressiran-claims-circumvented-sanctions-121154244<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-political-rally-kills-9-pakistan-155554817.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UkzlcOS_DE9tjANPVRs_Kw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/7eb131b3ec097023240f6a706700b746.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Pakistani rescue workers and local residents gather at the site of a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed several people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said. (AP Photo/Sohail Iqbal)" align="left" title="Pakistani rescue workers and local residents gather at the site of a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed several people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said. (AP Photo/Sohail Iqbal)" border="0" /></a>PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed nine people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-political-rally-kills-9-pakistan-155554817.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 16:18:07 -0500Associated Pressbombing-political-rally-kills-9-pakistan-155554817<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-political-rally-kills-9-pakistan-155554817.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UkzlcOS_DE9tjANPVRs_Kw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/7eb131b3ec097023240f6a706700b746.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Pakistani rescue workers and local residents gather at the site of a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed several people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said. (AP Photo/Sohail Iqbal)" align="left" title="Pakistani rescue workers and local residents gather at the site of a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed several people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said. (AP Photo/Sohail Iqbal)" border="0" /></a>PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed nine people including a provincial government official at a political rally held Saturday by a party that has opposed the Taliban, officials said.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-central-issue-next-term-netanyahu-203446990.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dophdtu8MDqzMd_PpXvRVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T205217Z_1_CBRE8BL1L6000_RTROPTP_2_ISRAEL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Israel&#039;s Prime Minister Netanyahu pauses during the delivery of joint statements with Bulgaria&#039;s President in Jerusalem" align="left" title="Israel&#039;s Prime Minister Netanyahu pauses during the delivery of joint statements with Bulgaria&#039;s President in Jerusalem" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran&#039;s perceived nuclear threat against Israel will be the central issue concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#039;s government if he is re-elected in a month&#039;s time, the Israeli leader said on Saturday. Netanyahu has set out a mid-2013 &quot;red line&quot; for tackling Iran&#039;s uranium enrichment project. The West says this programme is aimed at developing the means to build atomic bombs. Tehran denies this, saying it is enriching uranium for civilian energy. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/iran-central-issue-next-term-netanyahu-203446990.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 15:52:17 -0500Reutersiran-central-issue-next-term-netanyahu-203446990<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-central-issue-next-term-netanyahu-203446990.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dophdtu8MDqzMd_PpXvRVQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T205217Z_1_CBRE8BL1L6000_RTROPTP_2_ISRAEL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Israel&#039;s Prime Minister Netanyahu pauses during the delivery of joint statements with Bulgaria&#039;s President in Jerusalem" align="left" title="Israel&#039;s Prime Minister Netanyahu pauses during the delivery of joint statements with Bulgaria&#039;s President in Jerusalem" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran&#039;s perceived nuclear threat against Israel will be the central issue concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#039;s government if he is re-elected in a month&#039;s time, the Israeli leader said on Saturday. Netanyahu has set out a mid-2013 &quot;red line&quot; for tackling Iran&#039;s uranium enrichment project. The West says this programme is aimed at developing the means to build atomic bombs. Tehran denies this, saying it is enriching uranium for civilian energy. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-lauds-kerry-nomination-u-secretary-state-job-191806222.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9_fPdMZErGv444SEcGtiNg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T191806Z_1_CBRE8BL1HMD00_RTROPTP_2_OBAMA.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Senators in Washington" align="left" title="Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Senators in Washington" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday welcomed the appointment of his personal friend John Kerry as U.S. secretary of state and described him as &quot;a known supporter of Israel&#039;s security&quot;. President Barack Obama nominated Kerry on Friday, calling the veteran U.S. senator the &quot;perfect choice&quot; as America&#039;s top diplomat. Netanyahu said in a statement: &quot;I congratulate John Kerry on being chosen for the position of U.S. Secretary of State. Kerry is very experienced and is a known supporter of Israel&#039;s security. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-lauds-kerry-nomination-u-secretary-state-job-191806222.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 14:18:06 -0500Reutersnetanyahu-lauds-kerry-nomination-u-secretary-state-job-191806222<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-lauds-kerry-nomination-u-secretary-state-job-191806222.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9_fPdMZErGv444SEcGtiNg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T191806Z_1_CBRE8BL1HMD00_RTROPTP_2_OBAMA.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Senators in Washington" align="left" title="Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Senators in Washington" border="0" /></a>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday welcomed the appointment of his personal friend John Kerry as U.S. secretary of state and described him as &quot;a known supporter of Israel&#039;s security&quot;. President Barack Obama nominated Kerry on Friday, calling the veteran U.S. senator the &quot;perfect choice&quot; as America&#039;s top diplomat. Netanyahu said in a statement: &quot;I congratulate John Kerry on being chosen for the position of U.S. Secretary of State. Kerry is very experienced and is a known supporter of Israel&#039;s security. ...</p><br clear="all"/>MUSCAT (Reuters) - Hoping for jobs and democratic change, voters in Oman cast ballots in their first municipal election on Saturday, a sign of modest reform in response to protests inspired by the Arab Spring. The small Gulf oil producer, ruled since 1970 by Sultan Qaboos, sits opposite Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for nearly a fifth of globally traded petroleum. Its only other elections are for the Shura Council, a body that has some limited legislative powers. ...http://news.yahoo.com/omanis-hope-first-local-vote-stepping-stone-towards-191232664.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 14:12:32 -0500Reutersomanis-hope-first-local-vote-stepping-stone-towards-191232664DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has seized 20 bombs and other explosives on its border with Pakistan, a police official was quoted as saying on Saturday. He called on Islamabad to control its border regions properly. Iran's impoverished southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan, faces serious security problems including bombings and frequent clashes between police and drug dealers and bandits. "Border agents learned that subversive groups wished to enter our territory," said Ahmad Reza-Radan, Iran's deputy police chief, according to the Mehr news agency. ...http://news.yahoo.com/iran-says-seizes-explosives-pakistan-border-152455428.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 10:24:55 -0500Reutersiran-says-seizes-explosives-pakistan-border-152455428<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-defense-minister-says-nato-missiles-harm-turkey-061052749.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/EJf1h5v5Tk.BOp3pjcLthw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T145405Z_2_CBRE8BL0H6900_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-IRAN.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A damaged tank is seen at the Free Syrian Army controlled infantry college in the country side in Aleppo" align="left" title="A damaged tank is seen at the Free Syrian Army controlled infantry college in the country side in Aleppo" border="0" /></a>DUBAI (Reuters) - The installation of Patriot anti-missile batteries sent by NATO members to bolster Turkey&#039;s defenses against a possible missile attack from Syria will only harm Turkey&#039;s security, Iran&#039;s defense minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. NATO approved Turkey&#039;s request for the air defense system earlier this month, in a move meant to calm Ankara&#039;s fears of being hit by Syrian missiles. Iran has strongly supported its Arab ally President Bashar al-Assad of Syria as he attempts to suppress a 21-month-old uprising against his rule. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/iran-defense-minister-says-nato-missiles-harm-turkey-061052749.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 09:54:05 -0500Reutersiran-defense-minister-says-nato-missiles-harm-turkey-061052749<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-defense-minister-says-nato-missiles-harm-turkey-061052749.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/EJf1h5v5Tk.BOp3pjcLthw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T145405Z_2_CBRE8BL0H6900_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-SYRIA-CRISIS-IRAN.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A damaged tank is seen at the Free Syrian Army controlled infantry college in the country side in Aleppo" align="left" title="A damaged tank is seen at the Free Syrian Army controlled infantry college in the country side in Aleppo" border="0" /></a>DUBAI (Reuters) - The installation of Patriot anti-missile batteries sent by NATO members to bolster Turkey&#039;s defenses against a possible missile attack from Syria will only harm Turkey&#039;s security, Iran&#039;s defense minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. NATO approved Turkey&#039;s request for the air defense system earlier this month, in a move meant to calm Ankara&#039;s fears of being hit by Syrian missiles. Iran has strongly supported its Arab ally President Bashar al-Assad of Syria as he attempts to suppress a 21-month-old uprising against his rule. ...</p><br clear="all"/>MUSCAT, Oman (AP) ? Oman says more than 1,400 candidates are competing in the Gulf nation's first municipal elections, a concession following Arab Spring-linked unrest.http://news.yahoo.com/oman-holds-first-municipal-elections-110407179.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 06:04:07 -0500Associated Pressoman-holds-first-municipal-elections-110407179<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/tougher-eu-sanctions-against-iran-come-force-104036477.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/psaaH6ccsH3bRaR6vwLz0g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T105837Z_2_CBRE8BL0UFG00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-EU-IRAN-SANCTIONS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Alistair Burt, British Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, speaks during a news conference in Algiers" align="left" title="Alistair Burt, British Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, speaks during a news conference in Algiers" border="0" /></a>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rigorous new sanctions against Iran&#039;s banking, shipping and industrial sectors took effect on Saturday, as part of the European Union&#039;s effort to force Tehran to scale back its nuclear program. The sanctions, agreed in October, entered EU law with their publication in the European Union&#039;s Official Journal on Saturday. The toughest EU measures yet, they include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas, adding to earlier bans, including on the OPEC producer&#039;s oil. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/tougher-eu-sanctions-against-iran-come-force-104036477.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 05:58:37 -0500Reuterstougher-eu-sanctions-against-iran-come-force-104036477<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/tougher-eu-sanctions-against-iran-come-force-104036477.html"><img src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/psaaH6ccsH3bRaR6vwLz0g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-22T105837Z_2_CBRE8BL0UFG00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-EU-IRAN-SANCTIONS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Alistair Burt, British Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, speaks during a news conference in Algiers" align="left" title="Alistair Burt, British Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, speaks during a news conference in Algiers" border="0" /></a>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rigorous new sanctions against Iran&#039;s banking, shipping and industrial sectors took effect on Saturday, as part of the European Union&#039;s effort to force Tehran to scale back its nuclear program. The sanctions, agreed in October, entered EU law with their publication in the European Union&#039;s Official Journal on Saturday. The toughest EU measures yet, they include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas, adding to earlier bans, including on the OPEC producer&#039;s oil. ...</p><br clear="all"/>QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) ? An official says gunmen have killed eleven Pakistanis and Afghans in a border town of southwestern Pakistan as they were trying to cross to Iran to travel on to Europe as illegal migrants.http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-kill-11-pakistanis-afghans-sw-pakistan-072028546.htmlSat, 22 Dec 2012 02:20:28 -0500Associated Pressgunmen-kill-11-pakistanis-afghans-sw-pakistan-072028546<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-fight-strategic-town-hama-province-095210843.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/DMeVfznPFh5FHI_39arFkA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T203822Z_1_CBRE8BK1KJB00_RTROPTP_2_SYRIA-CRISIS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Free Syrian Army fighters are seen at a front line during fighting with Syrian forces loyal to President Assad at Bustan al-Qasr district" align="left" title="Free Syrian Army fighters are seen at a front line during fighting with Syrian forces loyal to President Assad at Bustan al-Qasr district" border="0" /></a>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&#039;s attack was another sign of the growing confidence of rebels who are also fighting an offensive in the central province of Hama, pursuing a string of territorial gains to try to cut army supply lines and pressure the capital Damascus to the south. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-fight-strategic-town-hama-province-095210843.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 15:38:22 -0500Reuterssyrian-rebels-fight-strategic-town-hama-province-095210843<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-fight-strategic-town-hama-province-095210843.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/DMeVfznPFh5FHI_39arFkA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T203822Z_1_CBRE8BK1KJB00_RTROPTP_2_SYRIA-CRISIS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Free Syrian Army fighters are seen at a front line during fighting with Syrian forces loyal to President Assad at Bustan al-Qasr district" align="left" title="Free Syrian Army fighters are seen at a front line during fighting with Syrian forces loyal to President Assad at Bustan al-Qasr district" border="0" /></a>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&#039;s attack was another sign of the growing confidence of rebels who are also fighting an offensive in the central province of Hama, pursuing a string of territorial gains to try to cut army supply lines and pressure the capital Damascus to the south. ...</p><br clear="all"/>BRUSSELS (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad's military has fired more Scud-type missiles inside Syria, NATO officials said on Friday, more than a week after the Western alliance first detected such arms being used on rebel targets. "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. ...http://news.yahoo.com/nato-detects-scud-type-missile-launches-syria-source-095210765.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 15:31:47 -0500Reutersnato-detects-scud-type-missile-launches-syria-source-095210765In a home in a Shiite neighborhood in southern Beirut, images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah share mantel and wall space with the Virgin Mary.http://news.yahoo.com/hezbollah-stronghold-lebanese-christians-respect-stability-175748191.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 12:57:48 -0500Christian Science Monitorhezbollah-stronghold-lebanese-christians-respect-stability-175748191WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Treasury Department is blacklisting four companies and one Iranian executive for their links to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.http://news.yahoo.com/us-penalizes-4-companies-linked-iran-arms-162249620.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 11:23:19 -0500Associated Pressus-penalizes-4-companies-linked-iran-arms-162249620? A daily summary of global reports on security issues.http://news.yahoo.com/syria-fires-more-scud-missiles-refugee-projections-climb-134600225.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 08:46:00 -0500Christian Science Monitorsyria-fires-more-scud-missiles-refugee-projections-climb-134600225<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqs-sunni-leaders-accuse-pm-crackdown-085505430.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/2zW.Rc1SfXwZVGeS33.64g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T154242Z_2_CBRE8BK103A00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-IRAQ-POLITICS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Iraq&#039;s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks during the opening ceremony of the Defence University for Military Studies inside Baghdad" align="left" title="Iraq&#039;s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks during the opening ceremony of the Defence University for Military Studies inside Baghdad" border="0" /></a>BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq&#039;s Sunni leaders accused Shi&#039;ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of a political crackdown after troops raided the finance minister&#039;s office and home, threatening to reignite a crisis a year after the last American troops left. The raids and detention of the Sunni minister&#039;s staff came hours after President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who often mediated among the fractious Sunni, Shi&#039;ite and Kurdish blocs, left for Germany after suffering a stroke that could end his moderating influence in Iraqi politics. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/iraqs-sunni-leaders-accuse-pm-crackdown-085505430.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 03:55:05 -0500Reutersiraqs-sunni-leaders-accuse-pm-crackdown-085505430<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqs-sunni-leaders-accuse-pm-crackdown-085505430.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/2zW.Rc1SfXwZVGeS33.64g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T154242Z_2_CBRE8BK103A00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-IRAQ-POLITICS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Iraq&#039;s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks during the opening ceremony of the Defence University for Military Studies inside Baghdad" align="left" title="Iraq&#039;s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks during the opening ceremony of the Defence University for Military Studies inside Baghdad" border="0" /></a>BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq&#039;s Sunni leaders accused Shi&#039;ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of a political crackdown after troops raided the finance minister&#039;s office and home, threatening to reignite a crisis a year after the last American troops left. The raids and detention of the Sunni minister&#039;s staff came hours after President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who often mediated among the fractious Sunni, Shi&#039;ite and Kurdish blocs, left for Germany after suffering a stroke that could end his moderating influence in Iraqi politics. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-allies-lose-socialist-patron-venezuelas-chavez-goes-060547967.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/q9_oGQyXSxZX4CoZhnZ3fA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T060547Z_1_CBRE8BK0GXT00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-VENEZUELA-CHAVEZ-WORLD.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A supporter of Venezuelan President Chavez holds a picture of him, as she attends a ceremony to pray for his health in Caracas" align="left" title="A supporter of Venezuelan President Chavez holds a picture of him, as she attends a ceremony to pray for his health in Caracas" border="0" /></a>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&#039;s FARC guerrillas to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Ernesto &quot;Che&quot; Guevara, the images and slogans on teeming slopes above Chavez&#039;s presidential palace hail socialist revolutionaries the world over. Beside them are tributes to Chavez himself - testimony to the Venezuelan leader&#039;s bid to place himself at the front of global &quot;anti-imperialism&quot; in his ever-controversial 14-year rule. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-allies-lose-socialist-patron-venezuelas-chavez-goes-060547967.htmlFri, 21 Dec 2012 01:05:47 -0500Reutersanalysis-allies-lose-socialist-patron-venezuelas-chavez-goes-060547967<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-allies-lose-socialist-patron-venezuelas-chavez-goes-060547967.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/q9_oGQyXSxZX4CoZhnZ3fA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-21T060547Z_1_CBRE8BK0GXT00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-VENEZUELA-CHAVEZ-WORLD.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="A supporter of Venezuelan President Chavez holds a picture of him, as she attends a ceremony to pray for his health in Caracas" align="left" title="A supporter of Venezuelan President Chavez holds a picture of him, as she attends a ceremony to pray for his health in Caracas" border="0" /></a>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&#039;s FARC guerrillas to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Ernesto &quot;Che&quot; Guevara, the images and slogans on teeming slopes above Chavez&#039;s presidential palace hail socialist revolutionaries the world over. Beside them are tributes to Chavez himself - testimony to the Venezuelan leader&#039;s bid to place himself at the front of global &quot;anti-imperialism&quot; in his ever-controversial 14-year rule. ...</p><br clear="all"/>WASHINGTON (AP) ? The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.http://news.yahoo.com/house-approves-633-billion-defense-bill-235236936--politics.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 19:04:51 -0500Associated Presshouse-approves-633-billion-defense-bill-235236936--politicsWASHINGTON (AP) ? The House pushed to complete a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.http://news.yahoo.com/house-pushes-complete-633-billion-defense-bill-182659008--politics.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 17:35:57 -0500Associated Presshouse-pushes-complete-633-billion-defense-bill-182659008--politicsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly condemned North Korea, Iran and Syria on Thursday for widespread human rights abuses and all three countries rejected the separate resolutions adopted by the 193-member world body, slamming them as politicized. The resolution on Syria, which was co-sponsored by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Britain, France and other Arab and Western states, received 135 votes in favor, 12 against and 36 abstentions. ...http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-condemns-rights-abuses-iran-north-korea-192740456.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 14:27:40 -0500Reutersu-n-condemns-rights-abuses-iran-north-korea-192740456Arguing that further sanctions "are unlikely to stop Iran's nuclear pursuits," a group of Iran experts and senior former officials are calling on the White House to pursue realistic, "serious, sustained negotiations" with Tehran that they say are the best chance to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.http://news.yahoo.com/pressure-mounts-obama-change-tactics-iran-171507880.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 12:15:07 -0500Christian Science Monitorpressure-mounts-obama-change-tactics-iran-171507880DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? The U.S. State Department says it is in contact with the family of a man described by activists as an Iranian-American Christian pastor jailed in Tehran.http://news.yahoo.com/us-aware-report-jailed-pastor-iran-163202394.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 11:32:02 -0500Associated Pressus-aware-report-jailed-pastor-iran-163202394<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russia-hopes-six-power-nuclear-talks-iran-next-140048248.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/JpFUHrYZHrcbrPtJfsW7mQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-20T152458Z_1_CBRE8BJ16TP00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-ISRAEL-PUTIN.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Russian President Putin speaks before a state dinner with Israeli President Peres in Jerusalem" align="left" title="Russian President Putin speaks before a state dinner with Israeli President Peres in Jerusalem" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hopes the next round of six-power talks with Iran to resolve a protracted dispute over its atomic program will take place in January, RIA news agency reported on Thursday. The agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying the world powers - the United States, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and China - were still negotiating with the Islamic Republic on a possible date and venue for the talks. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/russia-hopes-six-power-nuclear-talks-iran-next-140048248.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 09:45:33 -0500Reutersrussia-hopes-six-power-nuclear-talks-iran-next-140048248<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russia-hopes-six-power-nuclear-talks-iran-next-140048248.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/JpFUHrYZHrcbrPtJfsW7mQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-20T152458Z_1_CBRE8BJ16TP00_RTROPTP_2_RUSSIA-ISRAEL-PUTIN.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Russian President Putin speaks before a state dinner with Israeli President Peres in Jerusalem" align="left" title="Russian President Putin speaks before a state dinner with Israeli President Peres in Jerusalem" border="0" /></a>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hopes the next round of six-power talks with Iran to resolve a protracted dispute over its atomic program will take place in January, RIA news agency reported on Thursday. The agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying the world powers - the United States, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and China - were still negotiating with the Islamic Republic on a possible date and venue for the talks. ...</p><br clear="all"/>BRUSSELS/GENEVA (Reuters) - Fighters from around the world have filtered into Syria to join a civil war that has split along sectarian lines, increasingly pitting the ruling Alawite community against the majority Sunni Muslims, U.N. human rights investigators said on Thursday. The deepened sectarian divisions in Syria may diminish prospects for any post-conflict reconciliation even if President Bashar al-Assad is toppled. And the influx of foreign fighters raises the risk of the war spilling into neighboring countries, riven by the same sectarian fault lines that cut through Syria. ...http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-warns-foreign-influx-sectarian-syria-war-140930325.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 09:09:30 -0500Reutersu-n-warns-foreign-influx-sectarian-syria-war-140930325<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/troops-gone-u-increasingly-sidelined-iraq-121245585.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9eaK.Bo7OsHMPUCnsy8zdA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-20T124206Z_1_CBRE8BJ0ZA800_RTROPTP_2_IRAQ-VIOLENCE.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Residents gather at the site of a bomb attack in al-Mouafaqiyah, a village near Mosul" align="left" title="Residents gather at the site of a bomb attack in al-Mouafaqiyah, a village near Mosul" border="0" /></a>BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When a group of Americans and their heavily armed guards arrived at the Turkish embassy for a party in September, Iraqi police outside blocked their path. Unless they surrendered the weapons held by their security detail in accordance with embassy policy, the Iraqis said, the delegation of U.S. diplomats would not be allowed in. What exactly happened next, two sources who were guests at the event say, is not entirely clear. At least one shot was fired, likely a warning shot by the Iraqi police. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/troops-gone-u-increasingly-sidelined-iraq-121245585.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 07:42:06 -0500Reuterstroops-gone-u-increasingly-sidelined-iraq-121245585<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/troops-gone-u-increasingly-sidelined-iraq-121245585.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9eaK.Bo7OsHMPUCnsy8zdA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-20T124206Z_1_CBRE8BJ0ZA800_RTROPTP_2_IRAQ-VIOLENCE.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Residents gather at the site of a bomb attack in al-Mouafaqiyah, a village near Mosul" align="left" title="Residents gather at the site of a bomb attack in al-Mouafaqiyah, a village near Mosul" border="0" /></a>BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When a group of Americans and their heavily armed guards arrived at the Turkish embassy for a party in September, Iraqi police outside blocked their path. Unless they surrendered the weapons held by their security detail in accordance with embassy policy, the Iraqis said, the delegation of U.S. diplomats would not be allowed in. What exactly happened next, two sources who were guests at the event say, is not entirely clear. At least one shot was fired, likely a warning shot by the Iraqi police. ...</p><br clear="all"/>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? An Iranian newspaper says prison authorities have allowed the former press adviser of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to leave jail for medical treatment.http://news.yahoo.com/jailed-adviser-iran-leader-given-medical-leave-112126330.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 06:21:26 -0500Associated Pressjailed-adviser-iran-leader-given-medical-leave-112126330MUSCAT (Reuters) - Omanis vote in their first municipal election on Saturday, a modest opening apparently designed to stem discontent about graft and lack of jobs in what is normally one of the Arab world's quietest corners. Stability in the small Gulf oil producer and U.S. ally is important because it sits opposite Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for almost a fifth of petroleum traded worldwide. ...http://news.yahoo.com/oman-stage-first-local-poll-unrest-102036498.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 05:20:36 -0500Reutersoman-stage-first-local-poll-unrest-102036498DUBAI/GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran is becoming increasingly creative in dodging Western sanctions, managing to sell a rising volume of fuel oil to generate revenue equal to up to a third of its crude exports, which have been badly hit by restrictions. Compared with the first half of the year, Iran has on average exported more fuel oil per month since July, when European Union oil and shipping insurance sanctions came into effect and more than halved its crude exports. channeled into a nuclear program that Iran says is for peaceful purposes but the West fears is to enable it to make weapons. ...http://news.yahoo.com/iran-sidesteps-sanctions-export-fuel-oil-092214390.htmlThu, 20 Dec 2012 04:22:14 -0500Reutersiran-sidesteps-sanctions-export-fuel-oil-092214390TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian prosecutors detained three former senior officials and the head of a power company on Wednesday, widening an investigation which the opposition says is a political witch-hunt by the new government. More than 20 ex-officials have been arrested and some charged with abuse of power since a coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is now prime minister, ousted the party of President Mikheil Saakashvili in an October 1 election. ...http://news.yahoo.com/georgia-detains-three-former-state-officials-bribery-204837439.htmlWed, 19 Dec 2012 15:48:37 -0500Reutersgeorgia-detains-three-former-state-officials-bribery-204837439<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ubs-pay-1-5-billion-over-rate-rigging-085714168--finance.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QoZikYXv6pkDvMOwIAIjAA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a5009b179cd61f23240f6a7067006bca.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - The logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich, Switzerland, in this Dec. 18, 2001 picture. UBS reported a first quarter net profit of 2.42 billion Francs ($1.89 billion) in this May 4, 2004 file photo. Swiss bank UBS announced Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 to pay 1.4 billion Swiss francs (US$ 1.53 billion) in fines to resolve investigations that it helped manipulate the benchmark LIBOR interest rate. (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt, File)" align="left" title="FILE - The logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich, Switzerland, in this Dec. 18, 2001 picture. UBS reported a first quarter net profit of 2.42 billion Francs ($1.89 billion) in this May 4, 2004 file photo. Swiss bank UBS announced Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 to pay 1.4 billion Swiss francs (US$ 1.53 billion) in fines to resolve investigations that it helped manipulate the benchmark LIBOR interest rate. (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt, File)" border="0" /></a>GENEVA (AP) ? Swiss bank UBS agreed Wednesday to pay $1.5 billion in fines for trying to manipulate a key interest rate that affects borrowers around the world.</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/ubs-pay-1-5-billion-over-rate-rigging-085714168--finance.htmlWed, 19 Dec 2012 12:56:17 -0500Associated Pressubs-pay-1-5-billion-over-rate-rigging-085714168--finance<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/ubs-pay-1-5-billion-over-rate-rigging-085714168--finance.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QoZikYXv6pkDvMOwIAIjAA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/a5009b179cd61f23240f6a7067006bca.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="FILE - The logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich, Switzerland, in this Dec. 18, 2001 picture. UBS reported a first quarter net profit of 2.42 billion Francs ($1.89 billion) in this May 4, 2004 file photo. Swiss bank UBS announced Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 to pay 1.4 billion Swiss francs (US$ 1.53 billion) in fines to resolve investigations that it helped manipulate the benchmark LIBOR interest rate. (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt, File)" align="left" title="FILE - The logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich, Switzerland, in this Dec. 18, 2001 picture. UBS reported a first quarter net profit of 2.42 billion Francs ($1.89 billion) in this May 4, 2004 file photo. Swiss bank UBS announced Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 to pay 1.4 billion Swiss francs (US$ 1.53 billion) in fines to resolve investigations that it helped manipulate the benchmark LIBOR interest rate. (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt, File)" border="0" /></a>GENEVA (AP) ? Swiss bank UBS agreed Wednesday to pay $1.5 billion in fines for trying to manipulate a key interest rate that affects borrowers around the world.</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/key-issues-may-persist-iran-u-n-nuclear-141649994.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/5Pru4rnxrYDNqzH9g8BNUg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-19T151603Z_1_CBRE8BI16EU00_RTROPTP_2_IRAN-NUCLEAR-FUEL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="General view of Bushehr nuclear power plant, 1,200 km south of Tehran" align="left" title="General view of Bushehr nuclear power plant, 1,200 km south of Tehran" border="0" /></a>VIENNA (Reuters) - The United Nations nuclear watchdog and Iran may have made headway in talks on Tehran&#039;s disputed atomic activities but important points remain to be settled before a deal can be clinched, diplomats said on Wednesday. Both the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran said progress was achieved at a meeting last Thursday towards an agreement the IAEA says would allow it to resume a long-stalled inquiry into suspected atom bomb research in the Islamic state. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/key-issues-may-persist-iran-u-n-nuclear-141649994.htmlWed, 19 Dec 2012 09:16:49 -0500Reuterskey-issues-may-persist-iran-u-n-nuclear-141649994<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/key-issues-may-persist-iran-u-n-nuclear-141649994.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/5Pru4rnxrYDNqzH9g8BNUg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-19T151603Z_1_CBRE8BI16EU00_RTROPTP_2_IRAN-NUCLEAR-FUEL.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="General view of Bushehr nuclear power plant, 1,200 km south of Tehran" align="left" title="General view of Bushehr nuclear power plant, 1,200 km south of Tehran" border="0" /></a>VIENNA (Reuters) - The United Nations nuclear watchdog and Iran may have made headway in talks on Tehran&#039;s disputed atomic activities but important points remain to be settled before a deal can be clinched, diplomats said on Wednesday. Both the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran said progress was achieved at a meeting last Thursday towards an agreement the IAEA says would allow it to resume a long-stalled inquiry into suspected atom bomb research in the Islamic state. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/arab-spring-energizes-gulfs-stateless-141107372.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/.qQrEhtuJWlc0QcFGjeCoA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-19T141107Z_1_CBRE8BI13EO00_RTROPTP_2_GULF-STATELESS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="File photo of Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, a stateless rights activist from UAE, speaks to Reuters during an interview in Bangkok" align="left" title="File photo of Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, a stateless rights activist from UAE, speaks to Reuters during an interview in Bangkok" border="0" /></a>DUBAI/KUWAIT (Reuters) - When Ahmed Abdul Khaleq started campaigning for the rights of his fellow stateless people in the United Arab Emirates, he was well aware he was risking something most activists were not - his home. He was right. After two months in jail for what he said was his human rights activism and campaigning for the stateless, he was given a choice: life in jail or deportation. &quot;It was a really difficult decision. ...</p><br clear="all"/>http://news.yahoo.com/arab-spring-energizes-gulfs-stateless-141107372.htmlWed, 19 Dec 2012 09:11:07 -0500Reutersarab-spring-energizes-gulfs-stateless-141107372<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/arab-spring-energizes-gulfs-stateless-141107372.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/.qQrEhtuJWlc0QcFGjeCoA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-12-19T141107Z_1_CBRE8BI13EO00_RTROPTP_2_GULF-STATELESS.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="File photo of Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, a stateless rights activist from UAE, speaks to Reuters during an interview in Bangkok" align="left" title="File photo of Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, a stateless rights activist from UAE, speaks to Reuters during an interview in Bangkok" border="0" /></a>DUBAI/KUWAIT (Reuters) - When Ahmed Abdul Khaleq started campaigning for the rights of his fellow stateless people in the United Arab Emirates, he was well aware he was risking something most activists were not - his home. He was right. After two months in jail for what he said was his human rights activism and campaigning for the stateless, he was given a choice: life in jail or deportation. &quot;It was a really difficult decision. ...</p><br clear="all"/><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/medical-teams-iraq-help-treat-talabani-112426531.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yBZUS3cqsZkeZKuDWpZJsg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9ODU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeed

Source: http://rss.news.yahoo.com/rss/iran

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