January 23 News international

Monday 23 January, 2012.

TOP STORY EU agrees unprecedented oil embargo on Iran The European Union agreed on Monday to slap an embargo on Iran's oil exports as the West ramped up pressure on Tehran's suspect nuclear drive and urged it to return to the negotiating table. HEADLINES Memo issue: Ijaz not coming to Pak due to fear of arrest  Fearing arrest, Pakistani- American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the central figure in the memo scandal, on Monday said he would not visit Islamabad to depose before a judicial panel probing the matter and wants his testimony to be recorded either in London or Zurich. EU agrees to begin lifting sanctions against Myanmar  EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to begin easing sanctions against Myanmar to encourage reform but will await further positive signals before calling an end to restrictive measures, diplomats said. Syria rejects Arab League call for power change  Syria on Monday rejected an Arab League plan for President Bashar al-Assad to transfer power to his deputy and make way for a national unity government, calling the initiative a "flagrant interference." IAEA holds meeting with Japan nuclear agency over safety tests  A delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency tasked with reviewing the adequacy of Japan's safety tests for nuclear power plants held its first meeting on Monday with Tokyo's nuclear safety agency. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Egypt's Islamist-led Parl to hold first session today Syria rejects Arab League call for power change Gingrich jolts Republican race with South Carolina win Srilanka orders 161 Foreign Islamic clerics out Sri Lanka frees 73 rehabilitated ex-LTTE members Death toll rises to 162 in northern Nigeria attack