Iran has criticized the latest round of sanctions aimed at pressuring the country to curb its nuclear program. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that the new sanctions imposed by the European Union are “inhumane” and will not affect Iran’s nuclear work. The EU measures announced Monday ban financial transactions with Iranian banks unless […]
Clinton Takes Responsibility for Diplomatic Security
Posted October 16th, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is taking responsibility for a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya last month, saying it is her job to be in charge of security for State Department employees working around the world. Clinton said in television interviews during a visit to Peru Monday that President Barack Obama […]
EU Imposes Tougher Sanctions on Iranian Industries
Posted October 15th, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
EU foreign ministers have agreed to impose tough new sanctions on Iranian industries to try to pressure Tehran into negotiating an end to its sensitive nuclear activities. After meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, the top diplomats of the 27-nation bloc released a statement saying the tougher sanctions are in response to what they call Iran’s […]
EU Hits Iran With Stronger Sanctions
Posted October 15th, 2012 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
The European Union on Monday slapped Iran with increased sanctions over its controversial nuclear program. The package of sanctions adopted by EU foreign ministers centers on finance and trade, curbing EU business with Iran’s banks and companies dealings with oil and gas imports. The EU is expected to release a list of blacklisted companies on […]
Libyan Lawmakers Select New Interim Prime Minister
Posted October 15th, 2012 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
Libyan lawmakers have selected a new interim prime minister, a week after giving a vote of no confidence to their former pick for failing to present an acceptable Cabinet. Libya’s General National Congress on Sunday elected Ali Zidan, a former career diplomat who defected in the 1980s and became an outspoken critic of former leader […]
Israeli Warplanes Kill 5 Palestinain Militants in Gaza
Posted October 14th, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli warplanes carried out several raids on Palestinians suspected of firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, killing five militants, including the head of a Salafist group linked to al-Qaida. Gaza medics said the first Israeli air strike killed Salafist commander Hisham Saidani, who was in his 40s, and a fellow militant as the […]
Tunisia Agrees to June Elections in Islamist-Secular Compromise
Posted October 14th, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Tunisia’s Islamist-led Cabinet has agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next June as part of a compromise aimed at balancing governmental powers between the president and lawmakers. In a statement, the Cabinet led by the Islamic Ennahda Movement said general elections will be held on June 23, with a presidential runoff scheduled for July […]
Israeli Cabinet Approves January 22 Early Election
Posted October 14th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Israel’s Cabinet has agreed to hold a national election January 22, speeding up a vote that polls say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to win. Israeli ministers approved the early election date in Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. Mr. Netanyahu said Tuesday he wants to hold the vote eight months before his mandate expires because […]
Syria Bans Turkish Airline Overflights
Posted October 13th, 2012 at 9:25 pm (UTC-5)
Syria says it is banning Turkish civilian flights from its airspace. A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said the ban was to take effect at midnight Saturday and comes in response to a Turkish move to ban Syrian flights. The Syrian announcement comes three days after Turkey intercepted a Syrian passenger plane traveling from Moscow to […]
Syria Bans Turkish Airline Overflights
Posted October 13th, 2012 at 7:10 pm (UTC-5)
Syria says it is banning Turkish civilian flights from its airspace. A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said the ban was to take effect at midnight Saturday and comes in response to a Turkish move to ban Syrian flights. The Syrian announcement comes three days after Turkey intercepted a Syrian passenger plane traveling from Moscow to […]
