Sandy Victims Mad as Hell at Congress
TEHRAN (FNA)- After victims of Hurricane Sandy expressed outrage at the 112th Congress' failure to pass the $60.4 billion disaster aid package, the US House and Senate on Friday approved a $9.7 billion portion of the measure. ( 14:11:46 - 2013/01/05)

Tunisians Hold Anti-Government Protests in Southwestern Governorate
TEHRAN (FNA)- The residents of al-Radif city in Southwestern Tunisia have continued protests for more than a week in opposition to the national assembly's recent decision to exclude the name of the city's martyrs and wounded people from the list of the Revolution martyrs whose families receive specific privileges. ( 13:55:33 - 2013/01/05)

Bahrain Forces Attack Anti-Regime Rally with Teargas Canisters, Rubber Bullets
TEHRAN (FNA)- Bahraini security forces attacked demonstrators protesting the Al Khalifa regime's ongoing crackdown on peaceful protests. ( 13:53:17 - 2013/01/05)

Germany against NATO Military Intervention in Syria
TEHRAN (FNA)- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle rejected talk of a possible NATO military intervention in Syria. ( 13:52:26 - 2013/01/05)

Muslim Brotherhood Dismisses UAE Accusations against Egyptian Nationals
TEHRAN (FNA)- Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimun) Spokesman Mahmoud Ghazlan rejected the accusations raised by the UAE government against the Egyptian nationals as "unreal and illusions". ( 12:53:40 - 2013/01/05)

Actress Bardot Threatens to Become Russian if French Authorities 'Kill' Elephants
TEHRAN (FNA)- French actress Brigitte Bardot has threatened to follow her colleague Gerard Depardieu and apply for Russian citizenship - though for a different reason. ( 12:47:53 - 2013/01/05)

Madrid Subway, Bus Service Workers on Two-Day Strike
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Madrid subway and bus service workers went on a two-day strike on Friday, January 4th. ( 12:44:18 - 2013/01/05)

Saudi Unemployment Rate Above 12 Percent
TEHRAN (FNA)- The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia has reached 12.1 percent in 2012, according to new numbers published by the Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI). ( 12:43:16 - 2013/01/05)

Israeli Analyst Sees Assad's Terminal Phase as "Unlikely"
TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Israeli Analyst dismissed speculations that Bashar al-Assad's government has reached its terminal phase, and stressed that the Syrian army is still fighting like a united force and the main corps of the body politic is still loyal to Assad and is aligned behind him. ( 11:26:12 - 2013/01/05)

Indian Woman Jumps from Train to Escape Rape
TEHRAN (FNA)- A young woman is in hospital in critical condition after throwing herself off a moving train in an attempt to escape molestation. ( 11:21:30 - 2013/01/05)

Venezuela May Postpone Chavez Inauguration Ceremony
TEHRAN (FNA)- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez could be sworn into office by the Supreme Court later, if he misses his inauguration next week as he struggles to recover from an operation to remove cancer, Venezuela's vice president said Friday. ( 10:59:17 - 2013/01/05)

Tasmania Wildfires Force Thousands to Flee
TEHRAN (FNA)- Wildfires on the Australian island of Tasmania forced thousands of people to flee and destroyed at least 80 homes. ( 10:59:12 - 2013/01/05)

Senior Bahraini Cleric Blasts Al-Khalifa Regime for Suppressing People
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Bahraini cleric lashed out at the Al-Khalifa regime for its large-scale suppression of the country's peaceful protests and demands, and reiterated that the people will not bow to pressures. ( 10:24:35 - 2013/01/05)

Haniyeh Congratulates Abbas on Fatah Anniversary
TEHRAN (FNA)- Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh called President Abbas on Friday to congratulate him on the occasion of Fatah's 48th anniversary, a statement by Hamas said. ( 10:24:22 - 2013/01/05)