Iranian Navy warships take part in maneuvers during the "Velayat-90" navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran. Tensions in the Gulf could reach a breaking point as a senior Iranian official said Iran would “definitely” close the Strait of Hormuz if an EU oil embargo disrupted the export of crude oil, the semi-official Fars news agency reports. The announcement came in response... 

Croatians voting in this weekend’s referendum have given the green light to the country’s accession to the European Union in July 2013. However with only 47 per cent of those eligible turning out to vote, enthusiasm for the initiative seems muted. With nearly all ballots counted, Croatia’s state referendum commission said that about 66 per cent of those who took part in the referendum answered... 

Protesters waving Romanian flags shout anti-president slogans atop a monument in the central University Square in Bucharest on January 22, 2012. Romanian protesters have taken to the streets of the capital Bucharest for a tenth consecutive day to demand the resignation of the government over its austerity measures. Scores of protesters again gathered in the capital’s central University Square... 

The EU will immediately ban new oil deals with Iran and implement a total boycott of Iranian oil in July 2012, under sanctions discussed by the 27 Foreign Ministers today. Sanctions could also target the activities of a number of Iranian companies, individuals and financial institutions, including the country’s central bank. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the measure was part of... 

A new international project is scheduled to be launched to assess the threat posed by asteroids or comets and look for solutions to protect Earth from an impact. The new European-led NEOShield project will calculate any threat posed by Near Earth Objects (NEO) and figure the best possible way to shield the Earth. The project initiated by the German space agency’s (DLR) Institute of Planetary... 

Samsung unveiled its transparent 46-inch LCD Smart Window panels at CES 2012 show, Vesti.Ru reports. The lighting, which is an inseparable part of any LCD display is only used during the dark time of the day. During the daytime, the panel uses the light that comes from the sun or from the room illumination. The South Korean electronic giant promised to establish the production of such transparent... 

A disturbing report prepared by the Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE) in Moscow that is circulating in the Kremlin today warns that the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Chiapas region of Mexico yesterday is a ‘potential precursor’ to a ‘megaquake’ of at least 7.5-8.3 expected to hit the US-Mexican Pacific coastline within the next fortnight (+/- 7 days). According to... 

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr A prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia has warned the kingdom against the brutal crackdown on protesters amid ongoing anti-regime demonstrations in Eastern Province. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who is Friday Prayers leader of Saudi eastern town of Awamiyah, also called on Al Saud regime to stop bloodshed. He predicted that the Saudi regime would be toppled if it fails to end the month-long... 

Crowd boos and jeers, demands Paul be allowed to answer. A remarkable scene unfolded during last night’s CNN hosted South Carolina debate when not once but twice, the audience had to intervene to ensure that Ron Paul be included in questions, as host John King attempted to skip over the Congressman following answers from the other three candidates. Even more remarkable was the fact that both times... 

Britain has revoked the press license of Iran-based English language broadcaster Press TV, accusing it of violating press regulations. But some say the decision was really motivated by British geopolitical interests. ­The Office of Communications (Ofcom), a government-approved watchdog overseeing broadcasting and telecommunications in the UK, says the channel does not control its content. It also... 

South Carolina Primary News. Ron Paul is currently raising funds for South Carolina, if you wish to help mr. Paul, please visit his website. • Ahead of the South Carolina primary taking place tomorrow (Saturday), four conservative State Senators in South Carolina have come forward to endorse Ron Paul in what continues to be a movement back towards liberty– much more than just a campaign for elected... 

India's Ambassador to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri The permanent representatives of China and India to the United Nations say the US-led sanctions on Iranian oil sector are neither logical nor economically viable. Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Li Baodong said that US officials should reconsider their move on sanctioning Iran’s oil sector since these requests are irrational and contrary to other... 

The Internet was awarded a major victory Friday morning as US Congress announced that they will indefinitely postpone voting on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The win, while a major success viewed in the eyes of advocates for a free and open Internet, is for the meantime, however, only a momentary one. Lawmakers hope that revamped legislation will be penned while... 

Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, sits in a police cell in Uganda's capital Kampala on January 19, 2012. Ugandan police have arrested Kizza Besigye, the president of the country’s main opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), as he was preparing to lead an anti-government protest against spiraling living costs in the East African nation. Besigye, a one-time advisor to... 

Anti-government protesters shout slogans in the Romania capital Bucharest on January 19, 2012. Romanian police have fired teargas canisters at demonstrators protesting against the government’s austerity measures in the Romanian capital Bucharest. On Thursday, the police arrested about 50 people, who allegedly threw bricks and bottles and other materials at them. Earlier on the day, thousands...