Sanctions

Foreign ministers of European Union member states are meeting in Brussels on Monday to finalize new sanctions against Iran. As Iran's second-largest trading partner, Germany has a responsibility — and great leverage over Iran. Germany should lead the way, as an issue of conscience, in making sure these sanctions have teeth — and that the Islamic Republic feels their bite. "Germany, with its anti-Semitic past, is now the biggest supporter in Europe of this anti-Semitic regime — it's a scandal," said Ulrike Becker, a founding member of Stop the Bomb, a human rights organization of German and Austrian intellectuals and activists dedicated to preventing the mullahs from acquiring nuclear weapons.

WASHINGTON - The United States and five other countries have agreed to offer a joint proposal to Iran at a high-level meeting next week in an effort to open a path for negotiations to curtail Tehran's disputed nuclear program and to ease the threat of war. When they meet in Baghdad on Wednesday, the six powers will offer to help Iran fuel a small reactor used for medical purposes, and to forgo seeking further United Nations economic sanctions....

After years of worldwide outrage over suffering in Darfur, the Obama administration will soon launch a new policy that could soften some longtime U.S. sanctions against the Sudanese government implicated in the large-scale killings and displacement of African tribespeople. White House officials say that specific conditions would have to be met before sanctions would be lifted, and that Sudan could face even tougher sanctions if its leaders act in bad faith.

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration took aim Monday at what it called "digital guns for hire," unveiling new sanctions against Syria and Iran for using the Internet, social media and other technology to track and target dissidents. The governments of those countries and some telecommunications companies working with them have used technology to "facilitate grave human rights abuses," the administration said. "These technologies should be in place to empower citizens, not to repress them," President Obama said in announcing the sanctions at a speech at the U.S.

My question to President Reagan is: If economic sanctions won't work in the South African situation, why would they work against Libya? DANIEL T. DEVINE Hollywood

In a long-awaited response to allegations that former basketball star O.J. Mayo received improper cash and gifts while in school, USC will penalize its team by forfeiting victories and money, forgoing postseason play and curtailing recruiting. "When we've done something wrong, we have an obligation to do something about it and that is exactly what we are doing here," Athletic Director Mike Garrett said in a statement on Sunday. The action comes as USCalso faces allegations that two prominent football players -- current tailback Joe McKnight and former tailback Reggie Bush -- accepted improper benefits.

The Obama administration imposed tighter oil sanctions on Iran on Friday in hopes that the threat to its economy would force the country to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program. That's in addition to the European Union's sanctions, which begin July 1. But is an economic threat persuasive enough? It all depends on who you ask. "The Iranian regime can live without its nuclear program," writes Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian Israeli Middle East analyst, in a piece on CNN's GPS. "But it can't live without its economy, and the recently imposed sanctions, if continued, could turn into an existential danger for the Iranian regime by precipitating an economic collapse.

Tightened international sanctions meant to punish Iran for its nuclear program may be strengthening the country's hard-line elite, as blacklisted firms linked to the powerful Revolutionary Guard manage to circumvent and even profit from the embargo. Businesspeople, officials and analysts inside and outside the Islamic Republic describe the sanctions as taking a toll on the economy and ordinary citizens, increasing the cost of everything from the production of medicine to the manufacture of baguettes.

U.S. and European officials considering new sanctions against Iran have decided to set aside some of the harshest of the measures as they seek broader international agreement in United Nations Security Council negotiations, said diplomats involved in the talks. In particular, U.S. officials and their allies have decided to drop any attempt to impose a ban on the export or import of refined petroleum products, concluding that such a measure would be rejected by Russia, China and possibly other members of the Security Council, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

BEIRUT - The United States and European Union slapped Syria with additional sanctions Monday, as international pressure and a United Nations-backed peace plan have failed to quell the violence in a 13-month uprising. Despite the presence of U.N. monitors in the country, President Bashar Assad's forces have continued to shell cities and shoot at protesters, killing dozens of people Monday, activists said. A day after a small team of observers visited the city of Hama, tanks shelled neighborhoods while security forces and snipers opened fire in other areas where there were protesters.

BEIRUT - The United States and European Union slapped Syria with additional sanctions Monday, as international pressure and a United Nations-backed peace plan have failed to quell the violence in a 13-month uprising. Despite the presence of U.N. monitors in the country, President Bashar Assad's forces have continued to shell cities and shoot at protesters, killing dozens of people Monday, activists said. A day after a small team of observers visited the city of Hama, tanks shelled neighborhoods while security forces and snipers opened fire in other areas where there were protesters.

USC will try to bounce back from two years of NCAA-mandated bowl bans to the top of college football next season. Times college football reporter Gary Klein chatted with Noah Coslov of Cinesport about the Trojans' prospects. Amongs the topics covered: The scholarship limit improsed in the sanctions could hurt the team's depth for the next two or three years. The offense is very thin at tailback, with only Curtis McNeal a seasoned performer and D.J. Morgan having limited experience.

NCAA sanctions will limit USC to 75 scholarship players the next three seasons, so any matter regarding depth is an issue for the Trojans. Still, several media outlets are expected to rank USC as a leading contender for the Pac-12 Conference title, and possibly the national championship, when the Trojans begin training camp in August in preparation for their Sept. 1 opener against Hawaii. "It would be pretty hard for me to pick a team preseason No. 1 that's going to play with at least 10 players less than everybody else does," Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday during a teleconference with reporters.

ISTANBUL, Turkey - The stakes will be high when diplomats from six world powers meet with Iranian officials here over the weekend to discuss the Islamic Republic's nuclear program: War or peace, the global economic recovery and a U.S. presidential election may ride on the outcome. Expectations are much lower. It will be enough for the diplomats if there is sufficient common ground with Iran to keep talking. As recently as a week ago, there were doubts that the long-delayed talks would even take place.

Tennessee enacted a law Tuesday that critics contend allows public school teachers to challenge climate change and evolution in their classrooms without fear of sanction. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam allowed the controversial measure to become law without his signature and, in a statement, expressed misgivings about it. Nevertheless, he ignored pleas from educators, parents and civil libertarians to veto the bill. The law does not require the teaching of alternatives to scientific theories of evolution, climate change and "the chemical origins of life.

The Obama administration imposed tighter oil sanctions on Iran on Friday in hopes that the threat to its economy would force the country to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program. That's in addition to the European Union's sanctions, which begin July 1. But is an economic threat persuasive enough? It all depends on who you ask. "The Iranian regime can live without its nuclear program," writes Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian Israeli Middle East analyst, in a piece on CNN's GPS. "But it can't live without its economy, and the recently imposed sanctions, if continued, could turn into an existential danger for the Iranian regime by precipitating an economic collapse.

USC announced Sunday it had placed the following sanctions on its basketball program because of rules violations relating to the recruiting of former player O.J. Mayo by school "booster" Rodney Guillory: Vacate all 21 of its victories from the one season Mayo played for the Trojans, in 2007-08. Return an undisclosed amount of money it received from its participation in the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Will not play in the 2010 Pacific 10 Conference postseason tournament or NCAA tournament.

  Syrian First Lady Asma Assad, a glamorous, British-born ex-banker once thought to be at the vanguard of change in her adopted land, was hit by European sanctions Friday after embarrassing reports about shopping sprees as her husband's forces were accused of killing civilians. The latest round of European Union sanctions against President Bashar Assad's inner circle came as demonstrators across the country marched to the slogan "Damascus, here we come. " The rallying cry signaled the opposition's intention to take its campaign to oust the president to the Syrian capital, largely insulated from the unrest sweeping the nation.

  Syrian First Lady Asma Assad, a glamorous, British-born ex-banker once thought to be at the vanguard of change in her adopted land, was hit by European sanctions Friday after embarrassing reports about shopping sprees as her husband's forces were accused of killing civilians. The latest round of European Union sanctions against President Bashar Assad's inner circle came as demonstrators across the country marched to the slogan "Damascus, here we come. " The rallying cry signaled the opposition's intention to take its campaign to oust the president to the Syrian capital, largely insulated from the unrest sweeping the nation.

For three years, the New Orleans Saints secretly doled out cash rewards to players for hits on opponents — $1,500 for knocking someone out of the game, $1,000 for getting a player carted off the field. On Wednesday, the league landed its own knockout blow, suspending the Saints' coach without pay for a year and meting out suspensions to their general manager and two other coaches. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in going further than any previous commissioner, sent a clear message to professional football: The league is getting more violent and bounties won't be tolerated.