JPost.com – Headlines: www.jpost.com
Former IDF chief of General Staff Dan Halutz announced Wednesday night that he will support Shaul Mofaz in the run for Kadima Party leader.
The two spoke earlier in the day when Halutz told Mofaz of his decision, after which he also updated Opposition leader Tzipi Livni.
The two spoke earlier in the day when Halutz told Mofaz of his decision, after which he also updated Opposition leader Tzipi Livni.
TOKYO – Japan is in final talks with Washington on an agreement on cuts in Iranian crude oil imports that could amount to more than 20 percent a year, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday, as Tokyo seeks to win waivers from US sanctions.
Japan and the United States will reach a basic agreement by the end of February, sparing Japan’s three main banks that currently handle payments to Iran from penalties, the Washington-datelined report said, without citing sources.
Avoiding sanctions is essential to protect the Japanese financial sector’s operations abroad, but cutting oil imports could pose a risk to Japan’s economy.
Japan’s trade and foreign ministers said on Tuesday Tokyo was close to an agreement with Washington but gave no indication of the size of the cuts in crude imports from Iran. Another Japanese newspaper had earlier reported the two sides would settle on 11 percent.
Cuts of 20 percent would therefore be much larger than anticipated, with Japan’s reliance on imports having grown since a 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered the Fukushima radiation crisis. That led to most nuclear reactors at Japanese power plants being shut down.
Japan and the United States will reach a basic agreement by the end of February, sparing Japan’s three main banks that currently handle payments to Iran from penalties, the Washington-datelined report said, without citing sources.
Avoiding sanctions is essential to protect the Japanese financial sector’s operations abroad, but cutting oil imports could pose a risk to Japan’s economy.
Japan’s trade and foreign ministers said on Tuesday Tokyo was close to an agreement with Washington but gave no indication of the size of the cuts in crude imports from Iran. Another Japanese newspaper had earlier reported the two sides would settle on 11 percent.
Cuts of 20 percent would therefore be much larger than anticipated, with Japan’s reliance on imports having grown since a 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered the Fukushima radiation crisis. That led to most nuclear reactors at Japanese power plants being shut down.
UNITED NATIONS – An Iranian research center that has been investigated by UN nuclear inspectors appears to have played a key role in Tehran’s atomic program, which Western powers fear is aimed at producing weapons, according to a new report released on Wednesday.
The study by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) will likely cast further doubt on Tehran’s denials that it is seeking atomic bombs as the UN nuclear agency prepares to publish a new report on Iran in the coming days.
Iran’s Physics Research Center was established in 1989 „as part of an effort to create an undeclared nuclear program,“ according to ISIS’s president David Albright, a nuclear expert and former inspector for the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as Andrea Stricker and Paul Brannan.
„Although Iran has admitted that the PHRC was related to the military and had a nuclear purpose in the area of defense preparedness and radiation detection, its actual nuclear role appears much more extensive,“ the ISIS report said.
The study by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) will likely cast further doubt on Tehran’s denials that it is seeking atomic bombs as the UN nuclear agency prepares to publish a new report on Iran in the coming days.
Iran’s Physics Research Center was established in 1989 „as part of an effort to create an undeclared nuclear program,“ according to ISIS’s president David Albright, a nuclear expert and former inspector for the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as Andrea Stricker and Paul Brannan.
„Although Iran has admitted that the PHRC was related to the military and had a nuclear purpose in the area of defense preparedness and radiation detection, its actual nuclear role appears much more extensive,“ the ISIS report said.
WASHINGTON – Three members of the US Congress have received threatening mail containing a suspicious powder later found to be harmless and law enforcement officials on Wednesday warned that more may be coming.
Another US law enforcement official said letters sent to television personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert threatened biological attacks on US senators.
Other letters to a number of news organizations and postmarked Oregon warned that 100 letters had been sent to the Washington or home-state offices of US senators and that 10 of those contained a deadly pathogen, a law enforcement source said.
At least two of the letters already received – one to the home-state office of a senator and the other to the district office of a member of the House of Representatives – contained a powdery substance.
Tests found the substance to be harmless, according to a statement by Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, the chamber’s chief law enforcement officer.
Another US law enforcement official said letters sent to television personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert threatened biological attacks on US senators.
Other letters to a number of news organizations and postmarked Oregon warned that 100 letters had been sent to the Washington or home-state offices of US senators and that 10 of those contained a deadly pathogen, a law enforcement source said.
At least two of the letters already received – one to the home-state office of a senator and the other to the district office of a member of the House of Representatives – contained a powdery substance.
Tests found the substance to be harmless, according to a statement by Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, the chamber’s chief law enforcement officer.
The United States said Wednesday that settlement construction does not help the peace process, AFP reported. Washington’s comment came in response to Israeli plans to authorize the Shvut Rachel outpost and 180 homes in the Shiloh settlement, both located in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.
According to the AFP report, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he „was not familiar“ with the construction plans approved Wednesday, but stated that the US government opposes such moves because they do not help to resume negotiations.
„We want to see clearly a comprehensive settlement that delineates borders and resolves many of these issues,“ Toner reportedly said.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report
Read the full story here
According to the AFP report, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he „was not familiar“ with the construction plans approved Wednesday, but stated that the US government opposes such moves because they do not help to resume negotiations.
„We want to see clearly a comprehensive settlement that delineates borders and resolves many of these issues,“ Toner reportedly said.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report
Read the full story here
TACOMA, Wash.- A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that a Washington state rule requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives against their religious beliefs is a violation of their constitutional rights.
In a decision with national implications for the exercise of conscience and moral choices in the workplace, US District Judge Ronald Leighton also reinstated an injunction blocking enforcement of the regulations.
In a decision with national implications for the exercise of conscience and moral choices in the workplace, US District Judge Ronald Leighton also reinstated an injunction blocking enforcement of the regulations.
Iran is ready to cooperate in identifying the bombers in Thailand, state-run IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast as saying Wednesday.
Mehmanparast „expressed Irans readiness to cooperate in identifying the culprits behind Thailand explosions and to introduce them to the international community,“ according to IRNA.
Mehmanparast denied any Iranian involvement in the bombings, blaming „US and Zionist officials“ for „fabricating“ such claims.
Read the full story here
Mehmanparast „expressed Irans readiness to cooperate in identifying the culprits behind Thailand explosions and to introduce them to the international community,“ according to IRNA.
Mehmanparast denied any Iranian involvement in the bombings, blaming „US and Zionist officials“ for „fabricating“ such claims.
Read the full story here
LOS ANGELES – The late Whitney Houston was unable to oust Adele from the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart, and the British singer’s 21 replaced The Bodyguard as the longest running No. 1 album by a woman.
Boosted by her six Grammy awards and performance comeback, Adele’s 21 saw its biggest sales week yet in 52 weeks on the US chart, selling 730,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.
That gave Adele her 21st week at the top spot, beating the record held by Houston with her 1992 „Bodyguard“ album. 21 which features hits like „Rolling in the Deep“ and „Someone Like You“ has now sold more than 18 million copies worldwide since its release in February 2011, Adele’s Columbia Record label said.
The 23 year-old singer and songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album, 19, which sold 87,000 copies.
Boosted by her six Grammy awards and performance comeback, Adele’s 21 saw its biggest sales week yet in 52 weeks on the US chart, selling 730,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.
That gave Adele her 21st week at the top spot, beating the record held by Houston with her 1992 „Bodyguard“ album. 21 which features hits like „Rolling in the Deep“ and „Someone Like You“ has now sold more than 18 million copies worldwide since its release in February 2011, Adele’s Columbia Record label said.
The 23 year-old singer and songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album, 19, which sold 87,000 copies.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai said on Wednesday that manufacturers must bear the cost of lowering prices.
Only tackling manufacturers’ pockets, he said, will lead to cheaper products.
„Israel should advance in legislating the removal of barriers on importing products from abroad and lowering taxes on local consumers,“ Yishai said.
„Opening the market in all areas, under supervision, will lead to lower prices.“
The comments address a controversy over Israeli candy products being sold more cheaply abroad than in Israel.
Only tackling manufacturers’ pockets, he said, will lead to cheaper products.
„Israel should advance in legislating the removal of barriers on importing products from abroad and lowering taxes on local consumers,“ Yishai said.
„Opening the market in all areas, under supervision, will lead to lower prices.“
The comments address a controversy over Israeli candy products being sold more cheaply abroad than in Israel.
ALEXANDRIA – A US judge on Wednesday ordered a Moroccan man to be held on charges that he planned a suicide bombing attack against the US Congress, believing he was working with al-Qaida militants when in fact his contacts were undercover agents.
Amine El Khalifi, 29 and an illegal immigrant, was arrested last week and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against US government property, intending to detonate a bomb and to shoot people.
He was arrested just blocks from the US Capitol and had been the subject of a lengthy undercover investigation by the FBI who said the public was never in danger because he was monitored and only given weapons that were inoperable.
El Khalifi popped up on law enforcement authorities’ radar in January 2011 when a confidential source told authorities that he met with others in Virginia and agreed with statements that the group needed to be ready for war, according to court documents.
Amine El Khalifi, 29 and an illegal immigrant, was arrested last week and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against US government property, intending to detonate a bomb and to shoot people.
He was arrested just blocks from the US Capitol and had been the subject of a lengthy undercover investigation by the FBI who said the public was never in danger because he was monitored and only given weapons that were inoperable.
El Khalifi popped up on law enforcement authorities’ radar in January 2011 when a confidential source told authorities that he met with others in Virginia and agreed with statements that the group needed to be ready for war, according to court documents.
MOGADISHU – Ethiopian and Somali troops seized on Wednesday the strategic city of Baidoa from Islamist militants who deserted their positions but vowed to avenge the loss with „fire and explosions“.
Losing control of Baidoa is a major blow for the al Qaeda-backed al Shabaab rebel group which is also battling Kenyan troops to hold on to territory in southern Somalia and against African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) around the capital.
The Ethiopian-led offensive came as the UN Security Council voted to expand the African Union peacekeeping force by almost half to almost 18,000 soldiers, and on the eve of a conference in London to tackle Somalia’s turmoil.
Losing control of Baidoa is a major blow for the al Qaeda-backed al Shabaab rebel group which is also battling Kenyan troops to hold on to territory in southern Somalia and against African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) around the capital.
The Ethiopian-led offensive came as the UN Security Council voted to expand the African Union peacekeeping force by almost half to almost 18,000 soldiers, and on the eve of a conference in London to tackle Somalia’s turmoil.
Over 90 people were killed in Syria on Wednesday, the majority of which died in Homs, Al Jazeera reported, as the Syrian government continued its violent campaign to quell opposition.
At least 60 people were killed during the Syrian army’s bombing campaign in the city of Homs, and especially in the restive neighborhood of Baba Amr. Among the dead were two foreign journalists who died when a the house they were staying in was shelled.
An additional 32 Syrians, mostly civilians, were killed in cities across the country, according to Al Jazeera.
It is impossible to verify the veracity of death tolls in Syria due to the lack of foreign journalists there.
At least 60 people were killed during the Syrian army’s bombing campaign in the city of Homs, and especially in the restive neighborhood of Baba Amr. Among the dead were two foreign journalists who died when a the house they were staying in was shelled.
An additional 32 Syrians, mostly civilians, were killed in cities across the country, according to Al Jazeera.
It is impossible to verify the veracity of death tolls in Syria due to the lack of foreign journalists there.
PARIS – France holds Syria responsible for the safety of its citizens there, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Wednesday, after a French photographer was killed in a Syrian army bombardment of a rebel stronghold.
Juppe said that a Syrian army ceasefire in order to give rapid access to humanitarian aid was „imperative“, adding that the response by the Syrian government to the wounding of a second French journalist who was reportedly in danger of dying from her wounds was insufficient.
„This situation is horrific,“ Juppe told reporters. „France holds the Syrian authorities responsible and accountable for the lives of our citizens, for the lives of our injured.“
US journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik died when 11 rockets hit a building where they were staying, and freelance French journalist Edith Bouvier was in a critical condition in a poorly equipped field hospital.
Juppe said that a Syrian army ceasefire in order to give rapid access to humanitarian aid was „imperative“, adding that the response by the Syrian government to the wounding of a second French journalist who was reportedly in danger of dying from her wounds was insufficient.
„This situation is horrific,“ Juppe told reporters. „France holds the Syrian authorities responsible and accountable for the lives of our citizens, for the lives of our injured.“
US journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik died when 11 rockets hit a building where they were staying, and freelance French journalist Edith Bouvier was in a critical condition in a poorly equipped field hospital.
WASHINGTON – The White House on Wednesday criticized Iran over the failure of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s latest mission, saying it again showed Tehran’s refusal to abide by its international obligations over its nuclear program.
White House spokesman Jay Carney also said the United States was continuing to evaluate Iran’s intentions after it sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton last week, raising hopes for the prospects of renewed talks with world powers.
„This particular action by Iran suggest that they have not changed their behavior when it comes tot abiding by their international obligations,“ Carney told reporters, expressing US regret that the IAEA mission had ended in failure.
White House spokesman Jay Carney also said the United States was continuing to evaluate Iran’s intentions after it sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton last week, raising hopes for the prospects of renewed talks with world powers.
„This particular action by Iran suggest that they have not changed their behavior when it comes tot abiding by their international obligations,“ Carney told reporters, expressing US regret that the IAEA mission had ended in failure.
KHARTOUM – Sudanese security services have suspended the independent al-Tayar newspaper, an editor said on Wednesday, two days after agents confiscated an entire edition in a crackdown against the media.
Sudan’s constitution guarantees press freedom but journalists have complained of increasing pressure from government, particularly since the politically sensitive secession of South Sudan in July.
Tayar’s Deputy Editor Abdulbaqi al-Thafir told Reuters the head of the security services had telephoned in the afternoon to inform the newspaper it would be closed.
„We haven’t seen it in writing yet,“ he said.
Sudan’s constitution guarantees press freedom but journalists have complained of increasing pressure from government, particularly since the politically sensitive secession of South Sudan in July.
Tayar’s Deputy Editor Abdulbaqi al-Thafir told Reuters the head of the security services had telephoned in the afternoon to inform the newspaper it would be closed.
„We haven’t seen it in writing yet,“ he said.
UNITED NATIONS – UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos will head to Syria soon in an attempt to secure access for aid workers seeking to deliver emergency relief to people trapped in the country’s conflict zones, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would dispatch Amos to Syria „to assess the humanitarian situation and renew the call for urgent humanitarian access.“ He said there was no date set for her trip.
„We expect the Syrian government to respond positively,“ he said.
It appears that Amos’ visit to Syria already has the blessing of Russia.
UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would dispatch Amos to Syria „to assess the humanitarian situation and renew the call for urgent humanitarian access.“ He said there was no date set for her trip.
„We expect the Syrian government to respond positively,“ he said.
It appears that Amos’ visit to Syria already has the blessing of Russia.
UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council on Wednesday boosted by nearly one half an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, seeking to press home a military offensive against Islamist rebels in the Horn of Africa country.
A resolution increasing the AMISOM force to 17,731 from 12,000 troops and police passed the council unanimously on the eve of an international conference in London to discuss measures to tackle instability in Somalia and piracy off its shores.
AMISOM has until now consisted of Ugandan and Burundian troops. The new increase to a large extent is accounted for by bringing under its command Kenyan forces that entered Somalia independently last October to fight the al Shabaab rebels, blamed by Nairobi for attacks and kidnappings on Kenyan soil.
Other troops are expected to be brought in from Djibouti, diplomats said, to bolster AMISOM, which although not a UN force receives authorization and much of its funding from the United Nations.
The force, which first entered Somalia in 2007, has claimed a series of recent successes against al Shabaab’s fighters who had seized much of the east African country’s center and south. Last August, AMISOM wrested control of the capital, Mogadishu.
A resolution increasing the AMISOM force to 17,731 from 12,000 troops and police passed the council unanimously on the eve of an international conference in London to discuss measures to tackle instability in Somalia and piracy off its shores.
AMISOM has until now consisted of Ugandan and Burundian troops. The new increase to a large extent is accounted for by bringing under its command Kenyan forces that entered Somalia independently last October to fight the al Shabaab rebels, blamed by Nairobi for attacks and kidnappings on Kenyan soil.
Other troops are expected to be brought in from Djibouti, diplomats said, to bolster AMISOM, which although not a UN force receives authorization and much of its funding from the United Nations.
The force, which first entered Somalia in 2007, has claimed a series of recent successes against al Shabaab’s fighters who had seized much of the east African country’s center and south. Last August, AMISOM wrested control of the capital, Mogadishu.
MOSCOW – The presidents of Russia and Iran said on Wednesday that the crisis in Syria must be resolved peacefully without foreign intervention, the Kremlin said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke by telephone a day after the United States appeared to open the door to eventually arming Syrian rebels.
„The sides spoke out in favor of Syrians themselves overcoming the crisis as swiftly as possible through exclusively peaceful means, without foreign intervention,“ Medvedev’s press service said in a statement.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke by telephone a day after the United States appeared to open the door to eventually arming Syrian rebels.
„The sides spoke out in favor of Syrians themselves overcoming the crisis as swiftly as possible through exclusively peaceful means, without foreign intervention,“ Medvedev’s press service said in a statement.
Former journalist and neophyte politician Yair Lapid said on Wednesday he is not interested in running for Prime Minister, Army Radio reported.
Speaking at a hightech conference at Tel Aviv University, Lapid said, „I am new, and in the meantime just trying to be a politician.“
Instead, his party’s focus is to gain a substantial number of Knesset seats so they can set the agenda, he said.
Speaking at a hightech conference at Tel Aviv University, Lapid said, „I am new, and in the meantime just trying to be a politician.“
Instead, his party’s focus is to gain a substantial number of Knesset seats so they can set the agenda, he said.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu moved swiftly Wednesday to name Lior Dan as his new communications director, following the resignation of Yoaz Hendel over the Natan Eshel Affair.
Dan, who was brought in by Hendel in August to head the PMO’s media and spokesman’s unit, will be Netanyahu’s fifth communications director since coming to power in 2009. Hendel only lasted six months in the job.
In a statement issued by the PMO, Netanyahu said he agreed with Hendel about the termination of his services. He thanked Hendel for his „many contributions“ to Israel public diplomacy.
Dan, who was brought in by Hendel in August to head the PMO’s media and spokesman’s unit, will be Netanyahu’s fifth communications director since coming to power in 2009. Hendel only lasted six months in the job.
In a statement issued by the PMO, Netanyahu said he agreed with Hendel about the termination of his services. He thanked Hendel for his „many contributions“ to Israel public diplomacy.
