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Iran warns region against any ‘dangerous’ stance on Hormuz
US ‘fully prepared’ for confrontation with Iran: Panetta
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Indian-origin Congressional candidate faces racist attacks
Lithuanian man charged with Birmingham murders
Car bomb kills seven at Afghan airbase
Pervez Musharraf
‘Spy rock’ in Moscow was genuine: Former UK official
Phone hacking: Murdoch pays 37 people to settle claims
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Iran warns region against any ‘dangerous’ stance on Hormuz Ankara, January 19 Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, used for a third of the world's seaborne oil trade, if pending Western moves to ban Iranian crude exports cripple its lifeblood energy sector, fanning fears of a descent into wider Middle East war. European Union foreign ministers are expected at a meeting on Monday to agree on an oil embargo against Iran and a freeze on the assets of its central bank, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said, confirming diplomatic leaks. Saudi Arabia, the world's number 1 oil exporter, riled Iran earlier this week when it said it could swiftly raise oil output for key customers if needed, a scenario that could transpire if Iranian exports were embargoed. "We want peace and tranquility in the region. But some of the countries in our region, they want to direct other countries 12,000 miles away from this region," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in English during a visit to Turkey. The remark was an apparent reference to the alliance of Iran's Arab neighbours with Washington, which maintains a big naval force in the Gulf and says it will keep the waterway open. "I am calling to all countries in the region, please don't let yourselves be dragged into a dangerous position," Salehi told Turkey's NTV broadcaster. He added the United States should make clear that it was open for negotiations with Tehran without conditions. He referred to a letter Iran says it received from US President Barack Obama about the situation in the Straight of Hormuz, the contents of which have not been made public. "Mr Obama sent a letter to Iranian officials, but America has to make clear that it has good intentions and should express that it's ready for talks without conditions," he said. "Out in the open they show their muscles but behind the curtains they plead to us to sit down and talk. America has to pursue a safe and honest strategy so we can get the notion that America this time is serious and ready." The United States, like other Western countries, says it is prepared to talk to Iran but only if Tehran agrees to discuss halting its enrichment of uranium. Western officials say Iran has been asking for talks "without conditions" as a stalling tactic while refusing to put its nuclear programme on the table. — Reuters Ominous threat n
“Don’t get dragged into dangerous stance,” says Iran n
Message appears directed at Gulf Arab oil exporters n
France sees EU imposing oil sanctions on Iran on Monday
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US ‘fully prepared’ for confrontation with Iran: Panetta
Washington, January 19 “We always continue to make preparations to be prepared for any contingency,” Panetta told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. Panetta was asked whether in the face of Iran’s threat to close the straits in retaliation to the new international economic sanctions, Washington was adjusting American forces in the region. “We are not taking any special steps at this point in order to deal with the situation. Why? Because, frankly, we are fully prepared to deal with that situation now,” he said. Comments of the Defence Secretary came as Washington is reportedly tightening its naval presence in the mouth of the Gulf in response to the threats by Iran. — PTI
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Indian-origin Congressional candidate faces racist attacks Chicago, January 19 Krishamoorthi, 38, one-time advisor to President Barack Obama, encountered unexpected attacks after his appearance at the TeaCon 2011 Convention last autumn. Tea Party groups from around the country gathered for the TEACON 2011 convention in Schaumburg, Illinois, an event which saw speeches from tea party notables such as Glenn Beck, Andrew Breitbart, and former Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain. Krishamoorthi decided to participate in a previously planned protest outside the event to show his opposition to Tea Party grandstanding and demonstrate his commitment to protecting the interests of his constituents. During the protest, Krishamoorthi was singled out by Tea Party activists, who later published his profile on the conservative blog "biggovernment. org". While the profile labels Krishamoorthi as a communist, the comments on the page go much further, showing distinct racist undertones and stereotyping the Indian-American community. — PTI
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Lithuanian man charged with Birmingham murders London, January 19 The West Midlands Police said that the suspect, named Rimvydas Liorancas, will appear before magistrates in Birmingham tomorrow morning. The bodies of Avtar Singh, 62, and Carlole, 59, were found by their police officer son, Jason, from their house last Wednesday in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham. Of the other two people detained in connection with the murders, a 41-year-old man has been released without charge, and a 24-year-old man is on police bail. The police said that forensic post-mortem examinations have been conducted, which confirmed that both the deceased died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. Both had been struck a number of times. — PTI
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Car bomb kills seven at Afghan airbase Kandahar, January 19 "Six civilians were killed in a suicide attack close to the gates of Kandahar airport today," said Kandahar police chief General Abdul Razeq. The Taliban, the militia leading a 10-year insurgency against the Afghan government and tens of thousands of NATO troops, claimed responsibility. Spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the target was "the bullet-proof vehicles of foreign forces". The army commander for southern Afghanistan, General Hamid Wardak, said earlier that three civilians died in the attack, which was "on foreign special forces at the entrance gate of Kandahar international airport".— AFP
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Musharraf delays plan to return to Pakistan Islamabad, January 19 Leaders of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League told the media that he had delayed his plans to return to Pakistan later this month after consulting friends and party leaders. "Musharraf may not return to Pakistan this month," said Muhammad Ali Saif, the former President's spokesman. "Close friends are advising him against returning now," Saif told reporters. He sought to put a positive spin on the development by saying that Musharraf had been advised by his aides that his return at this juncture would provide "relief" to the government which is grappling with several crises. — PTI
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‘Spy rock’ in Moscow was genuine: Former UK official
London, January 19 Britain initially laughed off accusations from Moscow that spies had been caught "red-handed" using the fake rock to contact agents and download sensitive information. — IANS
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Iran's foreign minister warned Arab neighbours on Thursday not to put themselves in a "dangerous position" by aligning themselves too closely with the United States in the escalating dispute over Tehran's nuclear activity.
A suicide attack killed at least six people today at Kandahar international airport in southern Afghanistan, one of the deadliest flashpoints in a 10-year war, police said.
