02/29/08

* Israel prepares for assault on Gaza Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the Foreign Ministry on Thursday began preparing both Israeli and world opinion for the possibility of a large-scale incursion into Gaza.

* Hamas: Israel will flounder in Gaza like it did in Lebanon Hamas and the residents of Gaza closely followed reports of IDF forces assembling in and around the Strip ahead of a possible large-scale ground operation.

* UNSC to vote on new Iran sanctions Britain and France said they expect the Security Council to vote Saturday and approve new UN sanctions against Iran.

* Turkish troops 'move out of Iraq' Iraq's foreign minister has said all Turkish troops have left northern Iraq after mounting a controversial ground offensive against Kurdish rebels.

* US sends 3 warships to Mediterranean as tensions mount The US Navy is sending at least three ships, including at least one amphibious assault ship, to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

* Putin seeks big election turnout Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged voters to take part in Sunday's presidential election, which his chosen successor is expected to win.

* 1st Temple seal found in City of David An ancient seal bearing an archaic Hebrew inscription dating back to the 8th century BCE has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David.

* Bush rules out talks with Iran US President George W. Bush on Thursday ruled out direct talks with Teheran during his remaining months in office.

* 'Chemical Ali' execution approved The execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and henchman "Chemical Ali" has been approved by Iraq's presidency.

* 'Israel foils attack on Dimona reactor' Israel recently foiled a terror attack on the Dimona nuclear reactor.

02/28/08

* Abbas: 'Armed resistance not ruled out' PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said that he does not rule out returning to the path of armed "resistance" against Israel.

* Gates pressures Turkey on Iraq Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he told Turkish leaders on Thursday that Ankara should end its offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

* PM: Palestinians 'testing our patience' "The Palestinians are testing our patience to the limit and are pulling us to the limits of our tolerance," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said.

* Iran 'number one world power': Ahmadinejad President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared on Thursday that Iran was the world's "number one" power.

* UN criticised over 'Darfur silence' The UN security council's silence over the crisis in Darfur has been labelled as "shameful" by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

* Kenya rivals agree to share power Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have signed an agreement to end the country's post-election crisis.

* Cash-Rich, Publicity-Shy, Abu Dhabi Fund Draws Scrutiny Abu Dhabi has about 9 percent of the world’s oil and 0.02 percent of its population.

* Sadr anger over Iraq law setback The faction loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has reacted angrily to the rejection by Iraq's presidency council of a draft law on regional powers.

* Barak: Hamas will pay Over 60 Qassam rockets have landed in Sderot, Ashkelon and the western Negev over the past two days and the barrages continue.

* Sizing up Medvedev, the next Russian president Dmitri Medvedev, the man chosen to be the next Russian president, sat surrounded by soldiers.

02/27/08

* Obama: Israel's security sacrosanct Senator Barack Obama on Tuesday night voiced unreserved support for Israel, but clashed with Senator Hillary Clinton over campaign tactics and the war in Iraq.

* Euro hits record high against dollar The euro climbed to a record high of $1.5070 in midmorning European trading on Wednesday as sentiment increased that the U.S. Federal Reserve would continue its rate cut campaign.

* IDF W. Bank chief: Hamas could take over in days "Without the massive IDF presence in the West Bank, Hamas would take over the institutions and apparatuses of the Palestinian Authority within days."

* US to seek end to Turkey assault US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said Turkish operations in northern Iraq must end as soon as possible.

* Abbas: Qaida, Hamas cooperating in Gaza Al-Qaida operatives are cooperating with Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

* Hamas Kids' TV Rabbit: We Will Kill the Danes A Hamas-run children's TV program aired recently encouraging hatred of Denmark, the West and Israel.

* Israel, Japan to cooperate in space research Israel and Japan signed a joint statement Wednesday, which includes Japanese support for the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, but no reference to Iran.

* Kenya opposition calls off protests Kenya's opposition has called off planned street protests intended to pressure the government into agreeing to a power-sharing deal.

* Gold Rises to Record; Silver at 27-Year High on Dollar's Slump Gold rose to records in London and New York and silver gained to a 27-year high as the dollar's all- time low spurred demand for precious metals as a hedge against inflation.

* Automated killer robots 'threat to humanity': expert Increasingly autonomous, gun-totting robots developed for warfare could easily fall into the hands of terrorists and may one day unleash a robot arms race.

02/26/08

* Abbas: Peace in 2008 or never Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged the US on Monday to make good on its promise to work for a Middle East peace settlement by the end of the year.

* Khamenei hails Iran 'nuclear win' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has hailed Iran's "great victory" over its nuclear program.

* France, Gulf states begin war games under Iran's eye France, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have begun joint military drills in the shadow of the crisis over neighboring Iran's nuclear program.

* Gaza's Christians fear the future Fourteen masked gunmen burst into Gaza City's YMCA library last week, overpowered two guards and laid explosive charges.

* 'Al-Qaida entered Gaza during breach' Al-Qaida operatives managed to infiltrate the Gaza Strip after Hamas breached the border with Egypt in January.

* Iraq denounces Turkish offensive The Iraqi government has denounced a Turkish incursion into northern Iraq in some of the strongest terms heard since the operation began last week.

* Costa Rica recognizes 'Palestine' Israel has postponed a planned meeting with Costa Rican officials over the Central American nation's decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

* Yasser Arafat commemorative center inaugurated A ceremony will be held in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday evening to mark the inauguration of an institute for the preservation of former Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's legacy.

* Mughniyeh's widow points finger at Syria The fact that the Syrian government is not allowing an extensive investigation of Imad Mughniyeh's assassination proves that Syria was involved in the killing.

* Pakistan lifts the ban on YouTube Pakistan's telecoms regulator has lifted the restrictions it imposed on video-sharing website YouTube.

02/25/08

* Russia pledges support to Serbia The man tipped to become the next Russian president has vowed his country will "stick to" its support for Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence.

* Military Technology Changes the Rules The Israeli Air Force has acquired upgraded weapons systems that have improved its ability to strike terrorists with minimal or no collateral damage.

* US urges short Turkish campaign US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has urged Turkey to keep its military campaign against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq as short as possible.

* Could Russia's "dream team" turn into a nightmare? Some Kremlin-watchers have described it as a dream team: Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin moves into the prime minister's job and his protege Dmitry Medvedev takes over as head of state.

* Raul Castro named Cuban president Raul Castro has been unanimously selected to succeed his brother Fidel as leader by Cuba's National Assembly.

* A spry Farrakhan sings Obama's praises In his first major public address since a cancer crisis, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said Sunday that presidential candidate Barack Obama is the "hope of the entire world".

* Thousands of Darfuris 'desperate' More than 50,000 people are suffering in the latest cycle of violence in Sudan's West Darfur region, says the UN humanitarian affairs agency, Ocha.

* Gaza's 'human chain' a few links short Despite concerns that Palestinian demonstrators against the continued blockade of the Gaza Strip would attempt to storm the border with Israel during a "human chain" demonstration Monday.

* Leading Scientists and Yeshiva Students Working Together Students of the Mei HaShiloach Yeshiva High School in the Jordan Valley, together with leading scientists, are researching new possibilities for growing strawberries.

* Franco-German summit postponed amidst speculation of rift A planned meeting between the leaders of France and Germany for 3 March has been postponed until June.

2/23/08

* Iraq warns Turkey over incursion Iraq's foreign minister has warned that any escalation of Turkey's operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq could destabilise the region.

* Serbia: U.S. to blame for violence Serbian prosecutors said Saturday they were hunting rioters who targeted the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade leaving one person dead while a senior Serbian minister reportedly blamed Washington for the violence triggered by Kosovo's breakaway.

* Putin warns West over Kosovo dispute Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a sharp warning to the West on Friday about the consequences of recognizing Kosovo's independence, saying the decision would "come back to knock them on the head."

* Arab leaders: Peace initiative in danger Arab officials are warning they could withdraw their landmark offer of peace and full ties with Israel in exchange for a return of Arab lands, unless Israel explicitly accepts the initiative.

* 'Israel's disappearance inevitable' Hizbullah head Hassan Nasrallah on Friday said Israel's "disappearance" is an inevitable fact.

* Volleys fired on Baghdad Green Zone Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone has been hit by mortar bombs or rockets, but there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

* Barroso to open 'Noah's Ark' for seeds Next week will mark the official opening of what has been referred to as both the 'Doomsday Vault' and more optimistically as the 'Noah's Ark' for seeds.

* Rice: UN has strong case for sanctions The United States wants quick action to punish Iran for refusing to roll back its disputed nuclear program, and a new report by the UN nuclear agency strengthens the case for additional sanctions, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday.

* Super-speed Internet satellite blasts off in Japan Japan launched a rocket Saturday carrying a satellite that will test new technology that promises to deliver "super high-speed Internet" service to homes and businesses around the world.

* Ramon: Push forward 'evacuation-compensation' for settlers east of fence Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon says 'evacuation-compensation' for West Bank settlers east of security fence will prove to world, Palestinians that Israel is serious about peace.

02/22/08

* Turkish troops enter north Iraq Turkish ground forces have rolled across the border into northern Iraq to target Kurdish rebels said to be sheltering there, Ankara has said.

* Tear gas fired at Serbs in Kosovo protest Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia provoked fresh violence Friday as U.N. police reportedly fired tear gas at Serb demonstrators in northern Kosovo.

* Sadr declares new Iraq ceasefire Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has ordered the renewal of the ceasefire his powerful militia has been observing for the past six months.

* World-Renowned Bernard Lewis Delivers Concluding Lecture The Jerusalem Conference concluded Wednesday night with a packed-house lecture by Bernard Lewis.

* State official: Act against Tehran before it's too late Israel will seek to call a session of the United Nations Security Council to demand the tightening of sanctions against Iran.

* Bhutto party meeting to pick PM The party of Pakistan's late former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, is to meet to pick the next prime minister after its victory in Monday's polls.

* Worried Rice to discuss Gaza with Olmert in Japan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while both are in Japan next week.

* China defends arms sales to Sudan China has defended its sale of weapons to Sudan, amid growing criticism of its alleged failure to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

* McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother A little while after the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, a group of Israelis visited Senator John McCain in his office.

* EU ministers consider Kosovo security forces amid unrest EU defence ministers are discussing the possibility of building a special security force in Kosovo.

02/21/08

* Ashkenazi warns of war on the horizon IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi warned the army on Wednesday to be ready for a new conflagration in the region.

* Saudi Arabian Bankers Fueling Global Islamic Jihad Rachel Ehrenfeld, Director of the American Center for Democracy, said at the Jerusalem Conference Tuesday that Saudi Arabian bankers are the main financiers of global terrorism.

* Barak to Assad: We'll escalate fight against Hizbullah Defense Minister Ehud Barak conveyed a message to Syria during his visit to Turkey earlier this month, stating that Israel might escalate its military battle against Hizbullah and Hamas.

* Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Hadad has warned that the "countdown to Israel's destruction has begun."

* Map pinpoints disease 'hotspots' A detailed map highlighting the world's hotspots for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) has been released.

* Lebanon crisis threatens Arab League summit A conference of the Arab League scheduled for next month may be jeopardized if the power vacuum in Lebanon is not resolved.

* US 'confident' over satellite hit The US is confident that its shooting down of a disabled spy satellite with a missile managed to destroy its potentially toxic fuel tank.

* MEPs vote in favour of EU treaty Deputies in the European Parliament have voted strongly in favour of the EU's latest treaty.

* Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says The recent earthquake that was felt across Israel was the result of the "homosexual activity practiced in the country".

* Serbian FM says he is ashamed by EU's actions on Kosovo Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic has spoken to the European Parliament about the disappointment Serbs feel about the EU member states.

02/20/08

* Palestinians 'may declare state' A senior Palestinian official has said the Palestinians ought to unilaterally declare a state if peace talks with Israel do not succeed.

* Olmert: Jerusalem Not Discussed; Abbas: It Was Is the future division of Jerusalem being negotiated and discussed between Israeli and PA negotiating teams, or isn't it?

* Ahmadinejad: Israel filthy bacteria In yet another verbal attack against Israel, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the Jewish state a "filthy bacteria".

* Musharraf rules out resignation Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he has no plans to resign, despite a sweeping victory by the opposition in the country's parliamentary elections.

* Netanyahu: Olmert planning to divide Jerusalem "Israel must not, under any circumstances, withdraw from Jerusalem and allow another terrorism base to be established in the heart of the country."

* US envoy warns over Iraq pullout The US ambassador in Baghdad has cautioned of the dangers of over-hasty withdrawals of military forces in Iraq.

* US ship prepares for satellite shot A US warship is moving into position in the western Pacific in preparation to shoot down an out-of-control spy satellite.

* Saudi journalist lambasts Nasrallah In an unprecedented vitriolic attack on Hizbullah, a Saudi journalist on Wednesday called into question the Arab world's approach to the organization's chief.

* Oil prices retreat in Asia after closing above $100 a barrel Oil prices retreated Wednesday in Asia after closing above $100 a barrel for the first time overnight.

* Kadima officials call for national unity gov't Key officials in the Kadima Party voiced support for a national unity government.

02/19/08

* Musharraf foes triumph at polls The main party backing President Pervez Musharraf has admitted defeat in Pakistan's elections.

* Fayad says talks moving along too slowly for 2008 deadline Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are making little progress.

* Fidel Castro announces retirement Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power.

* Livni: I think of Temple Mount prayers during negotiations "The tears of the paratroopers at the Western Wall and the Temple Mount prayers accompany me in the negotiations room," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said.

* Russia warns US over Kosovo move Russia has warned the US that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia endangers international stability.

* EU fudges Kosovo independence recognition EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday (18 February) adopted a common text in reaction to Kosovo's proclamation of independence.

* Admiral: Al Qaeda in Iraq 'killing off' former allies Video provided to CNN shows an al Qaeda in Iraq firing squad executing one-time allies -- fellow Sunni extremists -- who were not loyal enough to the terror organization.

* Saboteurs may have cut Mideast telecom cables: UN agency Damage to several undersea telecom cables that caused outages across the Middle East and Asia could have been an act of sabotage.

* PM Olmert, PA's Abbas Meeting in Jerusalem Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the leader of the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria, Mahmoud Abbas, are to meet Tuesday evening.

* Israel: UN official's remarks encourage terrorism Israel accused UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes on Monday of encouraging terrorism.

02/18/08

* Iran: 'Cancerous growth' Israel will soon disappear "The cancerous growth Israel will soon disappear," Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Muhammad Ali Jafari wrote to Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the FARS news agency reported Monday.

* 'A J'lem pullout will hasten our demise' The current Israeli government is pursuing a "virtual peace" rather than a "genuine peace" and by advocating a withdrawal from east Jerusalem is bringing Israel closer to the possibility of being forced out of the region, Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday.

* Abbas: J'lem talks mustn't be delayed "Peace talks are going very slowly and I cannot say that there has been any progress in the peace process," Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday.

* Kosovo pushes for global recognition Kosovo on Monday began its campaign for global recognition a day after declaring independence from Serbia, but bitter divisions in the European Union and United Nations raised the specter of conflict over the Balkan territory.

* Split EU meets to debate Kosovo EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to seek a joint position on Kosovo's independence declaration.

* Election count begins in Pakistan Ballot counting has begun in Pakistan after a key election which it is hoped will help end the country's crisis.

* Official: Africa likely target for Hizbullah Israeli and Jewish institutions in Africa are likely targets for Hizbullah, which is working to avenge last week's assassination of the group's operations officer, Imad Mughniyeh, a senior defense official said Sunday.

* Rice in Kenya for peace push The US secretary of state has arrived in Kenya to bolster efforts aimed at ending the African nation's post-election crisis.

* PA Defies Israel, Re-Opens PLO Headquarters in Jerusalem The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ignored the government's decision to extend the closure of PA institutions in the capital this week, and partially reopened Orient House, the official headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem.

* Longest landing field in Middle East to be constructed in Nevatim Israel Air Force base soon to be converted into transport base, complete with 2.5-mile airstrip allowing planes to take off, land with far greater ease.

02/16/08

* Lebanese daily: Hizbullah raises alert Hizbullah has raised its alertness in southern Lebanon to a "high level" following Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah's threat to avenge Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh's assassination.

* Deadly blast at Pakistan meeting A suicide bomber has killed 37 people after a meeting of supporters of murdered ex-PM Benazir Bhutto's party, Pakistan's interior ministry says.

* Qurei: J'lem talks won't be postponed "The issue of Jerusalem will not be postponed until the end of negotiations," Ahmed Qurei, head of the Palestinian negotiating team was quoted.

* Lebanese PM: 'Open war' on Israel would harm Hezbollah Lebanon's western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said that Lebanon has no interest in declaring an "open war" on Israel.

* Kosovo's PM in independence nod Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has given the clearest indication yet that the province will declare independence from Serbia on Sunday.

* Oil prices approach 100 dollars per barrel World oil prices advanced on Friday towards 100 dollars per barrel, briefly topping 96 dollars.

* Syria 'to name Mughniyeh killer' Syria has said it will soon present "irrefutable" proof of who was behind the killing of Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh in the capital, Damascus.

* Peacekeeping head in Darfur plea More troops must be deployed in west Darfur, even if they don't have their full equipment, the Sudanese area's peacekeeping force commander has said.

* Missile Defense Future May Turn on Success of Mission to Destroy Satellite The order by President Bush for the Navy to launch an antimissile interceptor to destroy a disabled satellite before it falls from orbit carries opportunity.

* Islamic Movement blames Israel for quake-induced hole on Temple Mt. The 5.3-magnitute earthquake that jolted Israel on Friday shook open a large hole on the Temple Mount plaza.

02/15/08

* Hezbollah chief threatens Israel Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has warned that the militant group is ready for "open war" with Israel, after the killing of one of its leaders in Syria.

* 'The issue of Jerusalem will not be postponed in talks' "The issue of Jerusalem will not be postponed until the end of negotiations."

* Serbian president Tadic vows to preserve Kosovo Boris Tadic was sworn in as president of Serbia on Friday, two days before Kosovo declares independence in Serbia's most traumatic moment.

* Earthquake felt along Israel's coast The earth shook in many areas in Israel at 12:37 p.m. Friday. The quake was felt mainly in coastline cities, including Haifa, Tel Aviv, Nahariya.

* France to push for intervention force created by EU big six French president Nicolas Sarkozy is spearheading an initiative to create an elite defence force made up of the six EU biggest states.

* 'Assassination ruined hopes of peace' Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Thursday said that Syria will "prove beyond any doubt" who is responsible for the assassination of the Hizbullah arch-terrorist.

* Iran's FM meets Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders in Syria Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met in Damascus on Friday with the leaders of two radical Palestinian groups.

* HIV vaccine research hits impasse Scientists are no further forward in developing a vaccine against HIV after more than 20 years of research, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist has said.

* In a First, Ahmadinejad To Visit Iraq Next Month Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will travel to Iraq next month in the first such visit by a leader of the Islamic Republic.

* Israel helps find new solar system A "twin" of our solar system has been discovered by an international team of scientists that includes astronomers from Tel Aviv University.

02/14/2008

* Tension high for Beirut memorials Thousands of people from rival camps are taking part in key memorials amid heightened tension in Beirut.

* Ashkenazi to IDF: Be prepared in North IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Gabi Ashkenazi on Thursday issued a statement ordering the Navy, IAF and ground forces to be prepared.

* Putin repeats threat on missiles Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeated his threat to target missiles at neighbouring states if they site parts of the planned US missile shield.

* 'Assassination a severe blow to Hizbullah' Syria and Hizbullah accused Israel of being behind the assassination of the top Hizbullah operative Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus and vowed to avenge his death.

* UN holds special Kosovo meeting The UN Security Council will hold a closed meeting on Thursday to discuss Kosovo, which is expected to declare independence from Serbia within days.

* 'Iran's centrifuges processing gas' Iran's new generation of advanced centrifuges have begun processing small quantities of the gas that can be used to make the fissile core of nuclear warheads.

* Russian president Putin says he will have sufficient powers as PM President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he has no reservations about becoming prime minister under Russia's next president.

* Strong earthquake strikes Greece A strong earthquake has struck southern Greece, shaking buildings over an area from the southern Peloponnese region to the capital, Athens.

* US 'not satisfied' with Egyptian efforts to scrap tunnels Egypt is falling short in its efforts to stop Palestinians from allegedly trafficking weapons to the Gaza Strip through tunnels from Egypt.

* EU Kosovo mission to start Saturday morning The European Union has given its final "operational" go-ahead to the 1,800-strong mission of policemen, prosecutors and judges to be deployed to Serbia's breakaway region of Kosovo.

02/13/08

* Bomb kills top Hezbollah leader Lebanese group Hezbollah says one of its top leaders, Imad Mughniyeh, has died in a bombing in Damascus, and has blamed Israel for assassinating him.

* 'J'lem talks on and under table' Hatem Abdel Qader, the Jerusalem affairs adviser to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, confirmed Tuesday that Jerusalem is one of the issues currently being discussed by Israeli and PA negotiators.

* Livni shows foreign diplomats realities of Qassam fire Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni toured Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities Wednesday, along with 70 foreign diplomats.

* Gulf states seek Israeli 'umbrella' Persian Gulf nations believe Israel will strike at Iran's nuclear facilities rather than allow Teheran to develop nuclear weapons capabilities.

* Kosovo independence 'within days' The province of Kosovo plans to declare its independence from Serbia within days.

* Olmert: Shas won't quit coalition Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he did not believe Shas would quit the coalition over reports that Jerusalem was already on the table in talks with the Palestinians.

* Major Danish newspapers republish Muhammad cartoon Denmark's five major daily newspapers republished on Wednesday one of the 12 drawings of the Prophet Muhammad which angered Muslims around the world.

* Africa war zones' 'rape epidemic' Sexual violence is spreading in African conflict zones like an epidemic, the United Nations has warned.

* Israel denies involvement in Mughniyeh assassination In a first official Israeli reaction to the killing of Hizbullah's terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday rejected Hizbullah's claims that Israel had assassinated the arch-terrorist.

* Sarkozy pleads for 'coherent' EU space policy French President Nicolas Sarkozy has added planet Mars to the already long 'to-do' list.

02/12/08

* Olmert: Germany backs IDF operation to stem rocket fire "Germany understands that Israel reserves the right to respond to terror attacks," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday.

* IDF Ready for Large Operation in Gaza, Waiting for the Order The army is ready for a large-scale counter-terrorist operation in Gaza, but is waiting for the government to give the go-ahead.

* Iran plans to launch two more rockets into space Iran is to launch two more rockets into space in the next few months, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced.

* Pakistan nuclear staff go missing Two employees of Pakistan's atomic energy agency have been abducted in the country's restive north-western region abutting the Afghan border, police say.

* Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers, including one that buzzed an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend.

* Israel plans new settlement homes Israeli housing minister Zeev Boim says tenders will soon be issued for construction of more than 1,000 new homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.

* PA TV Bunny Rabbit Threatens to 'Eat the Jews' The latest TV character created to incite Palestinian Authority children to anti-Semitism, Islamic triumphalism and violence has debuted on a popular show produced by Hamas.

* Hoenlein says 'concerned' by atmosphere surrounding Obama campaign The head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Malcolm Hoenlein, expressed concern Tuesday.

* EU warned against turning Kosovo into a 'protectorate' A well-known Balkans analyst has warned the 27-nation bloc against turning the province into an EU "protectorate", whose self-governing powers would be almost non-existent.

* Krakow church holds service against 'k-kes who spit on us' This was not a program, but it was close. Sunday's incident in Krakow at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was rife with overtones of hatred.

02/11/08

* Ahmadinejad: We'll never give up nuclear program Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Monday that Iran would never give into Western pressure to give up its disputed nuclear program.

* 'IDF ready for large-scale Gaza op' The IDF is prepared for a number of possible responses to the continued barrage of Kassam rockets on the western Negev, including a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

* PA official reports progress over Jerusalem in secret talks A senior PA official in Ramallah told the Jerusalem Post on Saturday that the Palestinian negotiating team headed by former PA prime minister Ahmed Qurei had been holding secret talks with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and other government officials in the past few weeks.

* Blair: Arab view of deal close to Israel's The Arab world truly wants the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolved urgently, and many Arab leaders back terms for a permanent accord "very close to what Israel is wanting," Quartet peace envoy Tony Blair told The Jerusalem Post over the weekend.

* Hamas warns of new border breach Palestinians will breach the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip again if the blockade of the coastal territory continues, a senior Hamas member warned Monday, defying an Egyptian threat to "break the legs" of anyone who violates the frontier.

* Attorney-General: Let same-sex couples adopt In a landmark decision, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday handed down a legal opinion that homosexual couples may adopt children in Israel "in the proper circumstances and when it is in the best interest of the child."

* Ramon: Agreement of principles, not full peace deal, likely in 2008 Vice Premier Haim Ramon on Monday appeared to scale back expectations for reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians this year, saying instead that Israel hoped the two sides would reach a declaration of principles and not necessarily a final agreement.

* Olmert's career barely surviving Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's political career has managed, by the skin of its teeth, to survive the recent Winograd Report, which lambasted the Israeli government and the Israeli military's handling of the second Lebanon War in 2006.

* Ritual of Dealing With Demons Undergoes a Revival This wind-swept village is bracing for an invasion of demons, thanks to a priest who believes he can defeat Satan.

02/09/08

* Palestinians grow by a million in decade The Palestinian population in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem has reached 3.76 million, up from 2.89 million a decade ago, according to census results released Saturday.

* Turkey eases ban on headscarves Turkey's parliament has approved two constitutional amendments easing the ban on women wearing Islamic headscarves in universities.

* Egypt boosts troops on border Egypt boosted troop security along the volatile border with Gaza on Friday.

* Sudan agreement over Darfur force UN-led peacekeepers in Darfur are to be allowed full unrestricted movement in a deal agreed with Sudan's government.

* PA official: Peace talks at a standstill "Final status talks between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams have reached a severe standstill, due to Israeli stubbornness,".

* French parliament backs EU treaty France's parliament has voted to adopt the EU reform treaty, three years after a French No dealt a fatal blow to the European Constitution.

* Putin accuses West of starting new arms race Russian President Vladimir Putin lambasted the West for its military expansion toward Russia's borders and laid out an ambitious agenda for his successor to restore the country's economic.

* Archbishop 'must quit' in Sharia row The head of the Anglican Church has tried to damp down controversy surrounding comments he made suggesting that some aspects of Muslim Sharia law could become part of British law.

* UN warns of 'full war' in Darfur Senior UN officials have said that the situation in Sudan's western Darfur region has sharply deteriorated.

* Creationists seek foothold in Europe After the Sunday service in Westminster Chapel, where worshippers were exhorted to wage "the culture war" in the World War II spirit of Sir Winston Churchill, cabbie James McLean delivered his verdict on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

02/08/08

* Iran helps Syria develop missile that can target Israel better Syria has successfully developed a new surface-to-surface missile that would enable it to target Israeli installations such as airports, ports and factories with greater accuracy.

* Iranian diplomat says Tehran building second atomic power plant Iran has started building a second atomic power plant in an oil-rich region near the border with Iraq.

* Putin vows 'arms race' response Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns.

* Fayad: No peace agreement by end of '08 Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad predicts that a final peace agreement will not be signed by the end of 2008.

* French parliament backs EU treaty France's parliament has voted to adopt the EU reform treaty, three years after a French No dealt a fatal blow to the European Constitution.

* '1,000,000 dollars to bring down Olmert' Unidentified Right-wing figures in the US and Israel are willing to pay big money to anyone who comes up with evidence against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

* UK PM rejects special laws for Muslims he UK's leading Christian leader has drawn fierce government criticism after he suggested that Islamic -- or Sharia -- law be used to resolve financial and domestic issues between UK Muslims.

* Shas preparing for elections it expects will be held this year Shas chairman Eli Yishai has begun preparing his party for elections, believing they may be held before the end of the year.

* Iran Qods Force infiltrates Iraq New information was brought to light Thursday revealing "an overwhelming amount of intelligence indicating a political-military buildup by Tehran's mullahs.

* OSCE cancels election observation mission to Russia The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday announced it would abandon a planned monitoring mission.

02/07/08

* 'Anyone who violates our borders will get his legs broken' Egypt's foreign minister said that no further violations of its borders would be tolerated in the wake of a 12-day breach on its frontier with Gaza.

* West warned over Afghan failure Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said the failure of Nato's mission in Afghanistan could result in terror attacks in Western countries.

* Hamas source: Extremists poured into Gaza Thousands of Arab men have flocked into the Gaza Strip from Egypt in the past two weeks.

* Nato 'at risk over Afghanistan' US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned the future of Nato is at risk due to differences over Afghanistan and that it may become a two-tier alliance.

* Barak: IDF ops to grow even stronger If Palestinians continue to fire Kassam rockets into Israel, they will suffer the consequences of IDF operations of increasing strength.

* World 'divided on globalization' A BBC World Service survey of 34,000 people has found sharp divergences in attitudes to the pace of globalization.

* EU envoy warns Gaza could become the next Somalia Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip are likely to turn the territory into Somalia.

* 'Al-Qaeda boys' in training video US and Iraqi forces have issued video footage which they say shows children under the age of 11 being armed and trained by al-Qaeda.

* Russia attacks 'illegal' EU mission to Kosovo Russia has warned the head of the United Nations against approving the EU's plans to launch a police and civilian mission to Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo this month.

* UN presses Kenyan rivals for end to crisis Kenya's political rivals pushed ahead with crisis talks on Thursday amid new deaths and increased UN Security Council pressure to end weeks of bloodshed.