ANKARA, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – Turkey has grounded two Syria-bound Iranian planes over the past month to search for weapons following Israeli intelligence that Iran is supplying rockets to Hezbollah, officials and media reports said Thursday.
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan said two Iranian cargo planes were forced to land in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir "in line with international rules" to search for rockets and other military equipment.
WASHINGTON, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – The United States will move quickly for UN Security Council action on sanctions against Iran if Tehran refuses to halt uranium enrichment by the end of the month, a senior State Deparment official said Thursday.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s rejection this week of a UN resolution demanding that Iran suspend all uranium enrichment activity by August 31 was "not surprising."
He said the UN Security Council will take up sanctions under resolution 1696 if the deadline is not met.
"We would want to move very quickly," he told reporters, adding that the United States would press for a decision in the first part of September.
PARIS, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – Iran’s ambassador to Paris reaffirmed Thursday that international calls for his country to halt uranium enrichment were "not acceptable", after Tehran said it would be prepared to discuss a freeze.
"The suspension demand is one that has absolutely no legal basis. It is a political demand that is not acceptable by our public opinion or by parliament," Iran envoy Ali Ahani told French radio RMC.
Emirates Today, August 17 – Demand for gold in the UAE fell by 21 per cent in the second quarter of 2006 at 25.9 tonnes, compared with 32.9 tonnes during the same period last year, as high prices and sagging local markets kept consumer splurges in check.
DOHA, Qatar, Aug. 14, 2006 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has been selected by Qatar Shell to design and implement the integrated process automation and control system for one of the world’s largest Gas to Liquids (GTL) plants.
PARIS, Aug 17, 2006 (AFP) – Iran’s ambassador to Paris reaffirmed Thursday that international calls for his country to halt uranium enrichment were "not acceptable", after Tehran said it would be prepared to discuss a freeze.
"The suspension demand is one that has absolutely no legal basis. It is a political demand that is not acceptable by our public opinion or by parliament," Iran envoy Ali Ahani told French radio RMC.
"We do not believe in nuclear weapons at all because we do not think they can guarantee our security, but we insist on the use of these technologies for peaceful ends," he said.
Reuters, August 16 – The man who made the Statue of Liberty appear to vanish may soon claim to do the same for unsightly bags and wrinkles.
Master illusionist David Copperfield says he has found the "Fountain of Youth" in the southern Bahamas, amid a cluster of four tiny islands he recently bought for $50 million.
AP, August 16 – Socialite, tabloid fodder, reality star, yes. But Paris Hilton the singer? As she promotes her new album, "Paris," Hilton says she understands the confusion over her transformation. But she urges a look past the stereotypes.
Asharq Al Awsat, August 16 – High global oil prices are driving rapid economic growth in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain), yielding substantial external surpluses and stimulating an investment boom, according to a report released today by the Institute of International Finance (IIF).
Azzaman, August 13 – The University of Diyala has suspended post-graduate studies at two colleges for lack of staff.
Iraqi professors are fleeing the country and many universities are short of teachers.
