Iran leader gets the clicks with Facebook rumor

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Facebook page purportedly created by Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attracted nearly 10,000 followers on Tuesday although the site’s content and style raise serious questions about its authenticity.

Iranian authorities had no immediate comment on the site, which apparently went online last week but only recently gained prominence among social media watchers. Despite the possibility that it is a hoax, the page has generated at least 170 comments — laudatory and derogatory, and nearly all in Farsi — that highlight the deep political divisions in Iran and possibly opposition fervor from expatriate Iranians.

One post compared Khamenei to a celebrated ruler of ancient Persia, Cyrus the Great, who significantly expanded the Persian empire 2,500 years ago.

Another wrote: “Mr. Khamenei, how are you visiting this page? With proxy?”

It was a reference to Iran’s blocking of Facebook and many other Western social media sites, and the efforts to bypass the restrictions using proxy server links from outside Iran.

The U.S. State Department said Monday it will keep tabs on the page, but had no comment on whether it was genuine or not. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland joked that Washington is curious how many “likes” the Khamenei page receives.

But much about the page — including an informal photo of Khamenei riding in a car — suggested it was not sanctioned by Iran’s top leader. It is also highly unlikely that Khamenei would endorse a banned outlet such as Facebook.

The Net is not unknown territory for Iranian leaders, however. Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and others have official websites. Also, some senior Iranian clerics issue religious opinions by email.

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“The Office” head Greg Daniels sells tennis comedy to Fox

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – “The Office” might be preparing to close up shop, but the series’ creator is most definitely still open for business.

Greg Daniels, who birthed the American version of “The Office” – which is preparing to wrap up its run at the end of this season – has sold a half-hour comedy to Fox via Universal Television and his own Deedle-Dee Productions.

The project was sold through Daniels by Tom Gormican (“Are We Officially Dating?”) and Richie Keen (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), who are also writing.

The as-yet-untitled project will revolve around Richie, a so-so tennis pro who returns to his college town to get a fresh start on life. There, Richie finds himself torn between living the carefree life with his bar-owning brother and growing up to pursue Kristen, the love of his life.

Daniels will executive-produce the project via his Deedle-Dee Production, along with Gormican and Keen.

Deedle-Dee’s Howard Klein and Tracy Katsky are also executive-producing, along with Oly Obst.

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Saudi Arabia bans Brazil beef imports on mad cow doubts

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has suspended imports of Brazilian beef, Brazil‘s agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, and became the largest country to stop purchases after confirmation of a 2010 case of atypical mad cow disease.

The decision, confirmed by a ministry press official in Brasilia, follows Egypt‘s ban of beef on Monday from Parana state, where a cow that died two years ago had developed atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Egypt will continue to import from other states.

Between January and October, Saudi Arabia imported 31,300 metric tons of beef, putting it among the top 10 largest importers from Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter.

But top buyers Russia, Hong Kong and Egypt – which took more than half of the 896,000 metric tons of beef that Brazil has exported this year through September – continue to import its beef, suggesting the impact could be limited.

Prior to Saudi Arabia, only Japan, China and South Africa had halted imports of all Brazilian beef since Brazil announced on December 7 that a 13-year-old cow that died in 2010 in Parana tested positive for the protein linked to the development of BSE.

The countries are all minor importers of Brazilian beef.

The cow, which was kept for breeding purposes, never developed BSE and died of other causes. But it tested positive for the causal agent for BSE, a protein called a prion, which can arise spontaneously in elderly cattle.

A similar case of atypical BSE occurred in the United States in April. Like the Brazilian cow, that animal never entered the food chain and there was no major effect on U.S. beef exports.

Brazilian companies like JBS SA,, the world’s biggest meats producer, as well as rival Minerva SA and food processor Marfrig Alimentos SA have played down the impact of the case on their operations.

After it confirmed the case of atypical BSE, the World Animal Health Organization issued a statement maintaining Brazil’s status as a low-risk country for mad cow disease.

“This classification has been followed by important countries, blocks and consumers,” Minerva said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that sales to Saudi Arabia accounted for approximately 2.5 percent of gross sales so far this year.

(Reporting by Patricia Monteiro and Roberto Samora; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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TSX may open higher on “fiscal cliff” hopes

(Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index looked set to open higher on Tuesday, tracking global markets, fueled by expectation that U.S. lawmakers might reach an agreement to avoid looming tax increases and spending cuts that threaten to hurt the world’s biggest economy.

TOP STORIES

* The differences over how to resolve the “fiscal cliff” narrowed significantly Monday night as President Barack Obama made a counter-offer to Republicans that included a major change in position on tax hikes for the wealthy, according to a source familiar with the talks.

* Knight Capital Group’s board was split between two competing offers for the firm after a meeting on Monday where suitors Getco Holding Company LLC and Virtu Financial LLC presented their sweetened bids to Knight’s directors, sources involved in the talks said.

* British inflation defied forecasts in November to hold at its highest rate since May, reducing the scope for the Bank of England to inject more cash into the struggling economy.

* Germany’s government is considering cutting its forecast for growth in Europe’s largest economy next year from its current estimate of 1 percent due to a weak half year over the winter, Deputy Economy Minister Bernhard Heitzer told Reuters.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

* Canada stock futures traded up 0.26 percent

* U.S. stock futures,, were up around 0.40 percent <.n></.n>

* European shares <.fteu3>, <.stoxx> were up <.eu></.eu></.stoxx></.fteu3>

COMMODITY PRICE MOVES

* Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB Index <.trjcrbtr>: 295.92; was up 0.13 percent</.trjcrbtr>

* Gold Futures: $ 1,699.3; up 0.06 percent

* US Crude: $ 87.70; up 0.54 percent

* Brent Crude: $ 108.23; up 0.55 percent

* LME 3-month Copper: $ 8,028.25; fell -0.43 percent

ANALYST RECOMMENDATIONS

Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian companies reported by Reuters.

* AuRico Gold Inc. : BMO resumes coverage with market perform rating, raises price target to C$ 9.50 from C$ 9, after the company completed the sale of its Ocampo project and announced a share buyback program

* First Majestic Silver : Raymond James cuts target price to C$ 26 from C$ 26.75 after the company said it would acquire Orko Silver Corp in a share and cash deal worth C$ 345 million

* Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. : CIBC cuts target to C$ 9 from C$ 15 citing the challenges at the company’s Macassa operations and its greater-than-expected outlook cuts

* Primero Mining Corp.

: RBC cuts target to $ 8.50 from $ 9 after the company said it would acquire Cerro Resources, giving it an element of growth in 2015

* Sun Life Financial Inc. : Canaccord Genuity cuts to sell rating on valuation while CIBC ups target to C$ 26 from C$ 25 after the company said it would sell its U.S. annuities business for $ 1.35 billion

ON THE CALENDAR

* No Major Canadian economic data scheduled for release

* Major U.S. events and data includes Redbook, NAHB index and SEMI book/bill

(Reporting by Kishan Nair)

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Iran media: Son of ex-president released on bail

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian media say the son of influential former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been released on bail.

Several papers, including the pro-reform Etemad daily, say Mahdi Hashemi was released late Sunday and immediately went to his father’s home.

Authorities arrested the younger Hashemi in late September, a day after he returned to Iran from Britain.

He is held on charges of fomenting unrest in the aftermath of Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election that brought President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term in office. Hashemi also faced corruption charges.

His arrest came days after his sister, Faezeh, was taken into custody to serve a six-month sentence on charges of making propaganda against Iran’s ruling system.

Since Rafsanjani backed Ahmadinejad’s reformist challenger in 2009, his family has come under pressure from hardliners.

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Modern Etiquette: A bit of netiquette will keep Christmas real

LONDON (Reuters) – Christmas is a convivial time of year when people get together for celebrations and conversation. It’s all about human contact so it’s important that you’re discriminating about how you use your digital devices.

It’s fine if they’re used to facilitate get-togethers and spread seasonal cheer. But Christmas is a real, not a virtual event, so it’s important to discard the phones, tablets and computers and enjoy festive celebrations in the real world.

Christmas cards are still an invaluable and personal way of keeping in touch with far-flung friends and relations.

In these straitened times, however, you might want to cut down the number of cards you send, so it’s fine to explain to your nearest and dearest that you won’t be sending them cards – a personalized seasonal message by text, phone call or email, sent out to individuals, is quite acceptable.

Avoid sending out generic e-cards. They’re lazy and impersonal, and many people will find them lacking in Christmas spirit or just baffling.

If you’re emailing instead of sending a Christmas card, make sure that you send out unique – and individual – messages to each of your recipients. Group emails, like round robins, are to be avoided.

It’s fine to put general seasonal messages on social networking sites, but avoid posting compromising photos.

This is the time of year when we all let our hair down, but not everyone will appreciate the evidence being posted for all to see in cyberspace.

Don’t get too carried away with seasonal cyber-cheer. Spamming your friends and followers with endless Christmas wishes and updates will soon get tedious.

Christmas Day is all about socializing with family and friends, and enjoying good food and good conversation. So don’t spend the big day glued to your phone, rather than interacting with your family.

Ban all phones from the Christmas table.

Eating together is all about sociability and it’s a real insult to the host and/or cook to be transfixed by your texts rather than the turkey and table talk.

Be a good digital host.

Technology is part of our everyday life and Christmas is no exception. If you have friends or family staying in your home, make sure that you have your WiFi password to hand. Offer them access to your network, and hope that everyone adheres to good festive netiquette.

Christmas is the perfect time to make a video call, but choose your timing carefully. Nobody wants to be talking to virtual visitors during lunch or present opening.

Remember the power of the written word.

If you are the lucky recipient of a generous present or lavish hospitality, then hand-writing a proper thank you letter is a much more elegant gesture than texting or emailing, and will be noted and appreciated. It is fine to email or text your thanks for small presents.

(This story has been refiled to fix dateline)

(Jo Bryant is an etiquette advisor and editor at Debrett’s, the UK authority on etiquette and modern manners (www.debretts.com). Any opinions expressed are her own. Debrett’s “Netiquette” is a definitive guide to digital dilemmas and outlines a code of manners for modern communication.)

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

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Amy Winehouse inquest to be heard again

LONDON (AP) — Officials in London say the inquest into the death of soul singer Amy Winehouse was overseen by a coroner who lacked the proper qualifications and will be re-heard next month.

Camden Council says a new hearing will take place on Jan. 8.

Winehouse was found dead in her London home in July 2011 at age 27. An inquest in October 2011 found the “Back to Black” singer had died of accidental alcohol poisoning.

Assistant deputy coroner Suzanne Greenaway, who oversaw the inquest, resigned the next month after her qualifications were questioned. She had been appointed by her husband, Andrew Reid, the coroner for inner north London.

Reid was suspended, and resigned earlier this month.

Winehouse family spokesman Chris Goodman said Monday that family had not requested a new hearing.

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Enzon Pharma to explore sale of company

(Reuters) – Biotechnology company Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc said it would explore a possible sale of the company or its corporate assets.

The company also said that based on clinical data it plans to suspend development of its prostate cancer program, which is being tested in an early-stage trial, to conserve capital.

Enzon had total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $ 288.7 million as of September 30.

The company said it has retained Lazard as financial adviser for the review of the potential sale of one or more corporate assets or the entire company.

Enzon, in which activist investor Carl Icahn has a 13.29 percent stake, has two drugs in mid-stage trials and a number of others in early-stage studies.

Shares of Enzon, which has a market capitalization of about $ 200 million, closed at $ 4.57 on Friday on the Nasdaq. The stock has lost a third of its value so far this year.

(Reporting By Vrinda Manocha in Bangalore; Editing by Roshni Menon)

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Oil below $87 as US fiscal concerns drag on

The price of oil hovered below $ 87 a barrel Monday as uncertainty over a deal on the U.S. budget overshadowed expectations of economic stimulus in Japan and China.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for January delivery was down 7 cents to $ 86.66 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract ended up 84 cents Friday at $ 86.73.

In London, Brent crude was down 36 cents at $ 107.82 on the ICE Futures exchange.

Oil prices were kept in check by the lack of agreement in Washington on the U.S. budget, as concerns grew that tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect next year if no deal is reached will hinder economic growth and demand for crude.

Analysts, however, said that if the “fiscal cliff” can be avoided, commodities like oil could make gains.

“If U.S. fiscal cliff issues can be resolved soon, a strong and broad-based rally across commodities is possible, as investors are under-exposed,” said a report from Barclays in London.

Meanwhile, hopes grew that Japan’s new government would offer stimulus to boost growth. Weekend elections delivered a resounding victory to the Liberal Democratic Party, returning it to power after a three-year hiatus. Leader Shinzo Abe has called for aggressive steps to break Japan out of its 20-year economic decline.

In China, new Communist Party leaders are promising reforms aimed at reducing reliance on exports and more spending, if needed, to prop up a shaky economic recovery. In the first statement of their economic goals since taking power in November, the new party leaders pledged continuity Sunday with long-term plans aimed at nurturing self-sustaining growth and raising income.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex:

— Wholesale gasoline was down 0.23 cent to $ 2.6585 a gallon.

— Heating oil retreated 0.42 cent to $ 2.9727 a gallon.

— Natural gas added 4.4 cents to $ 3.358 per 1,000 cubic feet.

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Nigeria governor, 5 others die in helicopter crash

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A navy helicopter crashed Saturday in the country’s oil-rich southern delta, killing a state governor and five other people, in the latest air disaster to hit Africa’s most populous nation, officials said.

Nigeria‘s ruling party said in a statement that the governor of the central Nigerian state of Kaduna, Patrick Yakowa, died in the helicopter crash in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta. The People’s Democratic Party’s statement described Yakowa’s death as a “colossal loss.”

The statement said the former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi, also died in the crash. Azazi was fired in June amid growing sectarian violence in Nigeria, but maintained close ties with the government.

Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, said four other bodies had been found, but he could not immediately give their identities.

The crash occurred at about 3:30 p.m. after the navy helicopter took off from the village of Okoroba in Bayelsa state where officials had gathered to attend the burial of the father of a presidential aide, said Commodore Kabir Aliyu. He said that the helicopter was headed for Nigeria’s oil capital of Port Harcourt when it crashed in the Nembe area of Bayelsa state.

Aviation disasters remain common in Nigeria, despite efforts in recent years to improve air safety.

In October, a plane made a crash landing in central Nigeria. A state governor and five others sustained injuries but survived.

In June, a Dana Air MD-83 passenger plane crashed into a neighborhood in the commercial capital of Lagos, killing 153 people onboard and at least 10 people on the ground. It was Nigeria’s worst air crash in nearly two decades.

In March, a police helicopter carrying a high-ranking police official crashed in the central Nigerian city of Jos, killing four people.

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