1/30/10

* Ahmadinejad: Whoever controls ME controls world's 'wealth' Iranian president quoted as telling Teheran audience "In terms of economic issues, the world hegemonic system ... is no longer powerful from the military aspect."

* 'Assassins came to Dubai with Landau' Hamas promises retaliation for alleged assassination of operative in UAE.

* 'Iran may lash out at Israel' US President Barack Obama's national security adviser on Friday cited a heightened risk that Iran will respond to growing pressure.

* 'Turkey could host Israel-Syria talks' Turkey is ready to try again to broker a peace agreement between Israel and Syria if both countries agree to resume the stalled initiative.

* Russia announces Libya arms deal worth $1.8bn The contract is worth nearly a quarter of the Russian state arms exporter's entire sales last year, which were put at $7.4bn.

* Iraq inquiry hears defiant Blair say: I'd do it again Tony Blair has said the Iraq war made the world a safer place and he has "no regrets" about removing Saddam Hussein.

* China protests US arms sales, warns of 'serious' impact China on Friday protested the US decision to sell 6.4 billion dollars in weapons to Taiwan and warned of "serious" damage to relations and cooperation with Washington.

* Netanyahu Declares City of Ariel 'Jewish Capital of Samaria' Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday completed his week-long campaign to reaffirm Israel’s claim on major Jewish population centers in Judea and Samaria.

* Iraq inquiry: Tony Blair slated for Iran threat claim Tony Blair's claims that Iran now poses as serious a threat as Saddam Hussein's Iraq have been dismissed as a "piece of spin" by the British ambassador to Tehran.

* Libya's Qaddafi May Plunge African Union Summit Into Conflict Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi may run for a second term as chairman of the African Union.

01/29/10

* Blair denies 'covert' deal with Bush to invade Iraq Tony Blair has denied striking a "covert" deal with George Bush to invade Iraq at a private meeting in 2002 at the US president's ranch.

* Israel Signals Tougher Line on West Bank Protests For more than a year, this village has been a focus of weekly protests against the Israeli security barrier.

* Hamas military commander 'assassinated in Dubai' A senior Hamas military commander has been assassinated by Israel in Dubai, the Palestinian Islamist group claims.

* Israel set to launch new spy satellite In an effort to beef up intelligence gathering in the face of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear power, will send a new spy satellite into space in the coming months.

* Obama: Israel's Right hinders peace Israel's rightist camp and Hamas are hindering the renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, US President Barack Obama says.

* 'Bin Laden' blames US for global warming A new message said to be from al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has blamed global warming on the US and other big industrial nations.

* Russia tests stealth fighter jet built by Sukhoi A new stealth fighter has made its maiden flight in Russia's far east.

* Pentagon to detail new 'don't ask, don't tell' steps The Pentagon will unveil steps next week that the military will take to lay the ground for a repeal of its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which permits gays to serve in uniform as long they hide their sexual orientation.

* India vs. China: Which Economy Is Better After Recession? In the inevitable comparisons that economists and businesspeople make between Asia's two rising giants, China and India, China nearly always comes out on top.

* Right plans east J'lem counter-protest "We won't be deterred from residing in any part of Jerusalem," organizers say.

01/28/10

* Iran's leader predicts Israel's destruction Iran's supreme leader predicted the destruction of Israel in comments posted on his Web site on Wednesday.

* 'J'lem will be Palestinian capital' Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said that the Palestinians would not accept Abu Dis.

* Lebanon: Conflict widens to Syria Any future strike at Hizbullah that does not take into account its status as a client of Syria, is unlikely to land a decisive blow.

* At Davos, Sarkozy Calls for Global Finance Rules France wants to use its presidency of the Group of 20 next year to create a new international monetary system, President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday.

* Al Qaida still focused on WMD strike as 'worthy follow-up to 9/11' Al Qaida has become the only insurgency group advancing toward an unconventional weapons attack capability against the West.

* Training Afghan Forces Will Take Years, Karzai Says Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain opened an international conference on Afghanistan here on Thursday, saying international efforts to end the eight-year-old war had reached a "decisive time."

* Galactic Partnership: NASA and Israel Space Agency NASA and the Israel Space Agency have signed a joint statement of cooperation.

* 'No obstacles over Iran arms deals' Russia still considers Iran a valuable customer for its weapons, a top arms trade official said Thursday.

* Arab League chief presses for Palestinian state Arab League chief Amr Moussa said Wednesday that if a Palestinian state is not established soon there will be a single state for Israelis and Palestinians.

* Israel developing micro-satellites for better intelligence Israel is expected to invest hundreds of millions in developing small satellites that can be launched from an airplane.

01/27/10

* Al-Qaeda seeks WMD, US unprepared The United States has not done enough to protect the country against the threat of weapons of mass destruction even as Al-Qaeda appears intent on staging a large-scale attack.

* PM to connect Iran nukes, Holocaust Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who wrote in the guest book of the Warsaw Uprising Museum on Tuesday that "the people of Israel have learned their lesson," is expected to draw analogies between the Holocaust and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

* 'Holocaust education important to Israeli educators, pupils' The Holocaust is one of the most meaningful and unifying areas of study within the Israeli school system.

* Peres: Ahmadinejad preventing peace President Shimon Peres told his German counterpart, Horst Koehler, that Iran desires to take control of the Middle East and destabilize the other regimes in the region.

* Europe and Israel cement relations at Holocaust solemnities Sixty five years after Soviet troops liberated the German death camp in Auschwitz, Poland, European leaders will on Wednesday (27 January) pay tribute to Jewish suffering during the Holocaust.

* EU presidency reconsidering China arms embargo The Spanish EU presidency has indicated it is willing to reconsider the bloc's arms embargo with China.

* Hebrew: Why Netanyahu wants Israelis to send a 'misron,' not a text Tucked into a leafy corner of a campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Academy of the Hebrew Language has the challenging job of trying to preserve and promote one of the world’s oldest living languages.

* Barak meets with Mubarak in Egypt Defense Minister Ehud Barak was at Sharm e-Sheikh on Wednesday for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

* Abbas associate: No peace talks before settlement freeze The Palestinian Authority has no intention to succumb to US and Israeli pressure and won't resume peace talks while construction in West Bank settlements continues.

* Global meeting on Yemen to begin in London The UK is hosting a high-level meeting intended to galvanise international support for Yemen.

01/26/10

* 'Iran to unveil new missiles in Feb.' Just one day after a Der Spiegel report which claimed that new intelligence acquired by Germany's BND offered conclusive proof that Iran's nuclear program had a military angle, a Revolutionary Guards commander on Tuesday declared that the country planned to inaugurate "several new missiles and arms projects".

* PM at Yad Vashem: Stop evil Prime minister says on eve of International Holocaust Memorial Day, 'There is evil that can spread, which threatens security of Jews.

* 'Israel could face earthquake similar to Haiti one' Chairman of inter-ministerial committee for earthquake preparation says in special Knesset debate that Israel isn't prepared for earthquakes due to ongoing building failures.

* Moscow mayor calls gay pride march 'Satanic' The mayor of Moscow, known for his overtly homophobic statements, said Monday that he would never allow a gay pride parade in the city, calling it "Satanic".

* Barak: Biggest threat is Palestinians among us Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday explained his political-diplomatic doctrine in light of the situation in the Middle East.

* The search for aliens should start on Earth not outer space, says scientist Professor Paul Davies, a physicist at Arizona University will tell a meeting at the Royal Society that the best way of proving that extra-terrestrial life exists elsewhere in the universe is to use evidence from earth.

* China scientists lead world in research growth China has experienced the strongest growth in scientific research over the past three decades of any country.

* Israel accuses Turkish PM of inciting anti-Semitism Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's humiliation of the Turkish ambassador earlier this month seriously offended Turkey.

* EU unclear about next move on Iran European Union foreign ministers on Monday (25 January) left a Brussels meeting without a clear picture as to what should be the bloc's next move.

* 'Jews exploit Holocaust as propaganda' The Holocaust only gets media coverage because of affluent Jews' financial backing, military might and lobbying fronts, presenting a skewed version of events to the world.

01/25/10

* PM urges world to act against those who threaten Jewish state On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu urged the international community to fight anti-Semitism by warning that those who hate Jews and want to destroy Israel will eventually move on to the rest of the world, too.

* Assad, Gaddafi say Arab countries must unite against Israel Syrian president, Libyan leader meet ahead of Arab summit to discuss 'oppressing siege impose on the Gaza Strip and the Israeli obstacle to peace'

* EU must push for Mideast talks within 1 year Foreign minister of EU president Spain says he feels both Israelis, Palestinians want to negotiate but need encouragement

* Signs of Oil in the Negev A joint venture near the Negev city of Arad has produced “preliminary indications” of an oil reserve, the drillers announced.

* Sea of Galilee Declared No-Fishing Zone for Two Years Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simchon has announced a ban on all fishing in the Sea of Galilee for two years.

* PA warns EU against legitimizing Hamas The Palestinian Authority over the weekend expressed concern over Hamas's growing attempts to gain recognition from the international community and warned EU representatives against engaging in dialogue with the extreme Islamist movement.

* Turkey Belongs In Europe - EU President Spain European Union president Spain feels that Turkey belongs in the 27-country bloc, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said.

* Iraqi capital Baghdad rocked by deadly triple blast At least 36 people have died in three large explosions apparently targeting hotels in the heart of Iraq's capital.

* Spain champions Turkish membership in EU 'family' The Spanish EU presidency has strongly advocated Turkey's entry into the union, but most Europeans would say No if asked in a referendum.

* Greek deficit 'endangers' euro, EU commission says Soaring public deficits in euro countries such as Greece weaken the credibility and "endanger" the cohesion of the common currency, according to a leaked European Commission paper.

01/23/10

* 'Sarkozy: Israel may act against Iran' French President Nicolas Sarkozy assessed that Israel "would not stand by while Iran develops nuclear weapons."

* Likud minister: Another conflict with Lebanon is 'inevitable' Another military conflict between Israel and Lebanon is "inevitable," Minister-without-Portfolio Yossi Peled (Likud) Saturday at a Beersheba event. .

* Haiti quake victim rescue operation declared over Haiti's government has made the "heartbreaking" decision to declare the search and rescue phase for survivors of the earthquake over, the UN says.

* ABC: Female bombers may target US Al-Qaeda is training female suicide bombers in Yemen, including at least two who do not look Arab and carry Western passports.

* Simulators Prepare Soldiers for Explosions of War A Humvee bumps along a dirt road fringed by mountains, their snowy peaks glinting in the sun.

* Russia: Arms talks with US to resume in February Russia and the US will resume stalled talks on a replacement nuclear arms reduction treaty in early February.

* With Mideast peace talks stalled, activists fear a new intifada US peace envoy George Mitchell met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to try to break a diplomatic impasse that some say could give rise to a new Palestinian uprising, or intifada.

* Venezuela oil 'may double Saudi Arabia' A new US assessment of Venezuela's oil reserves could give the country double the supplies of Saudi Arabia.

* US envoy George Mitchell continues Mid East peace push US Envoy George Mitchell has met Palestinian leaders a day after holding talks in Israel in his latest push to restart peace talks.

* Markets fall after Obama sets out new bank rules Stock markets have fallen sharply in response to far-reaching plans by US President Barack Obama to curb the activities of the biggest US banks.

01/22/10

* Mitchell holds talks with Abbas as hopes for ME peace fade The US envoy to the Middle East was holding talks with the Palestinian leader on Friday afternoon, even as hopes are fading that Washington could restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations anytime soon.

* Israel hopes NIE will pressure Iran Israel is anxiously awaiting the publication of an updated United States National Intelligence Estimate on Iran.

* More names on Iraq election ban Iraq's election commission chief has said more candidates are likely to be banned from running in parliamentary elections on 7 March.

* Hezbollah on high alert for fear of Israeli attack Hezbollah has raised the alert level among its fighters due to maneuvers conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in northern Israel.

* US welcomes EU's new foreign policy powers US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has welcomed the upgrading of EU foreign policy under the Lisbon Treaty at a meeting with the union's recently-anointed foreign relations chief, Catherine Ashton.

* Clinton urges Internet freedom, condemns cyber attacks U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called for an unfettered worldwide Internet and urged global condemnation of those who conduct cyber attacks.

* Obama Administration Lifts US Ban on Muslim Brotherhood Leader The Barack Obama administration has decided to lift a ban preventing Muslim Scholar Professor Tariq Ramadan from entering the United States.

* 4 Israeli women work tirelessly to save Dead Sea Scrolls For the past two and a half months, Tania Treiger, a conservator with the Israel Antiquities Authority, has been pouring over a piece of parchment about 20 centimeters square.

* EU mandarins drafting blueprint for diplomatic corps Senior figures in the EU Council and the European Commission have filled the majority of seats on a committee responsible for designing the EU's diplomatic corps.

* New EU-Mediterranean club opens in Barcelona A new club of regional and local officials from European, North African and Middle Eastern countries - "Arlem" - was inaugurated on Thursday (21 January) in Barcelona.

01/21/10

* 'No Israeli presence in our state' Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday rejected a call by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for an Israeli presence in a future Palestinian state, calling the demand "absolutely unacceptable."

* 'Hamas accepts Israel's right to exist' Hamas has accepted Israel's right to exist and would be prepared to nullify its charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel, Aziz Dwaik.

* Pakistan snubs US over new Taliban offensive Pakistan's army has said it will launch no new offensives on militants in 2010, as the US defence secretary arrived for talks on combating Taliban fighters.

* Russia responds to U.S. missile plans for Poland Russia will strengthen its Baltic fleet in response to U.S. plans to deploy Patriot missiles in Poland.

* Elon: Real Danger to Jerusalem as Israel's Undivided Capital Leading PA and Norwegian diplomats met for a high-level meeting in Jerusalem on Monday.

* China economy sees strong growth China has said its economy expanded by 8.7% in 2009, exceeding even the government's own initial expectations.

* Knesset Speaker Rivlin and MK Eldad to Be 'Tried' in Jordan The Jordanian prosecution authorities have given the green light to a criminal proceeding in Jordan's courts against Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and MK Aryeh Eldad.

* Voice of Israel Angry at Radio Israel's New Name A new local radio station that is supposed to serve the residents of Judea and Samaria – an area known in Hebrew by the acronym Yosh – has changed its name from Radio Yosh to Radio Israel.

* US to seek world cyber crackdown after Google China row The US is calling for tough action against people and states that carry out cyber attacks, following an alleged attack on search giant Google in China.

* Russia: Iran nuclear plant to start up this year The chief of Russia's state nuclear corporation said on Thursday that the country would start up the reactor at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant by the end of this year.

01/20/10

* Time to get to work, says Sen.-elect Brown Republican Scott Brown says his Senate victory in Massachusetts sends a powerful message and he hopes to get to work right away.

* Iran to unveil three new home-built satellites Iran will unveil three new satellites in February, a report said Wednesday, amid Western concerns that Tehran is using its nuclear and space industries to develop atomic and ballistic weapons.

* Mitchell: Lebanon key to ME peace US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said Wednesday that Syria and Lebanon were key to achieving peace in the Middle East.

* Yadlin: Turkey moving towards Islamic radicals Iran has not been deterred from its march to the nuclear bomb, and one-time ally Turkey is drawing closer to the side of Islamic radicals and further from Israel and the West.

* Nigeria religious riots 'kill 200' in Jos At least 200 people have been killed in violence between Christians and Muslims in the Nigerian city of Jos, says the monitoring group.

* Vatican paper: 'ME conflict driving Christians out' A Vatican document released Tuesday blamed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the "occupying" of lands for fomenting most of the conflicts in the Middle East, driving Christians out and making life difficult for those who remain.

* Iran in billion-euro gas deal with Germany Iran has signed a one-billion-euro (1.44-billion-dollar) deal with a German firm to build 100 gas turbo-compressors.

* 'Large number of Wahhabis' streaming into Bosnia-Herzegovina Muslim terrorists in the Balkans have established a terrorist training camp in northeast Bosnia-Herzegovina.

* Obama's lost senate seat is a victory for Netanyahu The Republican upset in the race for the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly half a century by liberal Edward M. Kennedy reflects a huge victory for opponents of U.S. President Barack Obama - and also for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

* Airport security tops EU and US home affairs meeting US home affairs chief Janet Napolitano will join EU interior ministers gathering in Toledo to discuss enhancing security in European airports.

01/19/10

* U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes Coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company.

* Israel resumes airlifts of Jewish Ethiopians Israel has restarted an immigration scheme for Ethiopians of Jewish descent after halting it for more than a year.

* Why America and China will clash Google’s clash with China is about much more than the fate of a single, powerful firm.

* 'Iran ordered attack on Israeli convoy' Last week's failed attempt on the lives of Israeli diplomats in Jordan was apparently carried out on instructions from Teheran.

* Danon: Obama gets 'F' for Mideast policy On the eve of a four-day visit to the United States, hawkish Likud MK Danny Danon on Monday launched a blistering assault on President Barack Obama's Middle East policies.

* Palestinians: Probe Hamas for war crimes Eleven Palestinian human rights groups have asked Hamas to conduct a credible internal investigation into allegations it committed war crimes during last winter's war with Israel.

* Russia says population up for first year since 1995 Russia has registered the first population increase since the chaotic years which followed the fall of the Soviet Union.

* Israeli government convenes for 1st time in Berlin Israel's government convened for the first time in Berlin, the former heart of the Nazi regime.

* MI chief: Iran won't give up nukes without pressure Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin gave a security briefing to members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday and warned that Iran's nuclear program continues to advance.

* Iran says may hit Western warships if attacked Iran's defense minister warned on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic could strike back at Western warships in the Gulf if it were attacked over its nuclear program.

01/18/10

* Haiti quake: Death toll may be 200,000, US general says The leading US general in Haiti has said it is a "reasonable assumption" that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday's earthquake.

* Afghan capital Kabul hit by Taliban attack Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers have attacked buildings in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking gun battles.

* Planning a New Strategy for Judea and Samaria Public figures, residents of Judea and Samaria, politicians and academic figures gathered in the Judean region of Gush Etzion on Sunday for a conference.

* Netanyahu and cabinet in Berlin for session with Merkel's gov't Israel's government convened for the first time in Berlin, the former heart of the Nazi regime, for a special joint session with the German government highlighting the nations' bond six decades after the Holocaust.

* Computer Network Terrorism New World Threat “A fleet of fighter planes is not necessary to attack a power station; a keyboard is sufficient, according to University of Haifa Dr. Yaniv Levyatan, an expert on information warfare.

* Vatican worked to save Jews from Nazis Pope Benedict XVI defended his predecessor Pius XII against Jewish critics Sunday, telling the audience at a Rome synagogue that the Vatican worked quietly to save Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

* Turkey and Israel share interests In a joint press conference with visiting Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Ankara, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that Israel and Turkey would remain strategic allies as long as their interests force them to do so.

* Abbas: Only Difference from Hamas Is that Fatah Is in Power Palestinian Authority PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech Sunday that his party’s being in power is the only difference between it and the rival Hamas terrorist faction.

* Islamic Solidarity Games cancelled after Iran insists Gulf is 'Persian' A Saudi-based body organizing the world's second Islamic Solidarity Games has cancelled the sports event planned for Iran amid a dispute over whether the Gulf waterway is "Arab" or "Persian."

* Al Qaeda Threatens New Strikes Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula issued fresh threats Monday against the U.S. and its Mideast allies, promising to retaliate against a surge of strikes launched in the past month against its leaders and safe havens in Yemen.

01/16/10

* Security fears in quake-hit Haiti There are mounting security concerns in Haiti's earthquake-hit capital as distribution problems continue to hamper getting aid to survivors.

* Six powers to discuss Iran's defiance Top diplomats from six key powers are scheduled to meet in New York on Saturday to discuss Iran's reaction to their proposal to defuse global fears over its nuclear program.

* Is Israel prepared for the worst? On Tuesday, the tropical country of Haiti experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale. Statistically speaking, Israel is likely to experience an earthquake of similar magnitude.

* Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt elects new leader Egypt's outlawed opposition Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has named a conservative figure, Mohammed Badi, as its new leader.

* US images show how Osama Bin Laden may look The US State Department has issued digitally-altered photos showing how Osama Bin Laden may look now, aged 52.

* Lebanon says will coordinate UN activity with Iran Lebanese President Michel Suleiman told visiting Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi that the two countries must coordinate their positions efforts within the UN Security Council.

* Egyptian paper calls Mossad chief 'Israel's superman' Egypt's Al-Ahram reported Saturday that Iran was being prevented from developing staggering nuclear capabilities by Israel's Mossad chief, Meir Dagan.

* Israeli team's field hospital begins operating in Haiti The Israeli aid delegation to Haiti began operating its emergency field hospital in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince Saturday evening.

* Mitchell to arrive in Mideast this week with no plan, no agenda U.S. envoy George Mitchel will arrive in the region this week without a new agenda for renewing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

* Ayalon threatens to expel ambassadors Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who caused a diplomatic crisis with Turkey this week, on Saturday implied that the country's ambassador could be expelled.

01/15/09

* China seen basing troops in Mideast this decade to secure oil access China is expected to deploy military forces and bases in the Middle East in the coming decade as part of an effort to protect its access to valuable resources like oil.

* US sending 10,000 troops to earthquake-hit Haiti Up to 10,000 US troops will be on the ground or off the coast of Haiti by Monday to help deal with the earthquake aid effort.

* Russia, Turkey sign pact on nuclear station, increased trade The warming trend in Russia-Turkey ties increased as the two nations signed a nuclear energy cooperation accord.

* Erasing Ezekiel's Jewish identity For centuries Jews, Christians and Muslims came to Al-Kifl, a small town south of Baghdad, to visit the tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel and pray.

* Arrests made in Israeli diplomat attack Jordanian security forces have arrested several suspects in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Israeli diplomats.

* 'Erdogan will speak differently now' A day after Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was forced to apologize for his undiplomatic treatment earlier this week of Turkish Ambassador Oguz Celikkol, sources in his office said on Thursday Ankara would be more careful in the future.

* Iraqi election commission bans 500 candidates Iraq's election commission has barred almost 500 candidates from running in national elections on 7 March.

* Gay pageant 'cancelled by police' in China A Chinese gay pageant, said to be the first held in the country, was ordered by police to close an hour before opening.

* PA Chief Says Israel Trying to Kill Him Fatah head Mahmoud Abbas, current chairman of the Palestinian Authority, claims that Israel is trying to assassinate him.

* Austrian nominee promises to be tough but fair on EU regions Austria's commissioner nominee for regional affairs, Johannes Hahn, told MEPs on Thursday he saw himself as a father-figure for the regions.

01/14/09

* US rushes troops to Haiti earthquake zone The US is sending up to 3,500 soldiers and 2,200 marines to Haiti to help rescue efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

* 'Credible threat' from al Qaeda in Yemen The United States is closely monitoring a "credible threat" from al Qaeda in Yemen against the U.S. homeland.

* None injured as bomb explodes near Israeli embassy convoy A bomb exploded near a small convoy of vehicles belonging to Israel's embassy in Jordan on Thursday afternoon.

* Media condemns Israel over Turkey spat Israel's apology to Turkey over its treatment of the Turkish ambassador has failed to convince many pundits in the Middle Eastern media.

* US military urged to act over extremists in its ranks Two leading US senators have urged the Pentagon to take steps to combat the threat of Islamist extremism within the ranks of the US military.

* China gives first response to Google threat China has said that foreign internet firms are welcome to do business there "according to the law".

* Tourism Soars With Record Set in December 2009 Israeli tourism is soaring higher than the planes that bring it.

* Hamas calls prayers for rain to ease Gaza water crisis The Islamist group Hamas held prayers in the Gaza Strip on Thursday to ask God for rain.

* EU foreign relations chief tests new powers in earthquake response The EU's response to the earthquake in Haiti has given a first glimpse into how the bloc's new foreign relations set-up is to work in practice.

* White House Adviser Criticizes Evangelist's Remark A senior White House adviser says evangelist broadcaster Pat Robertson's remark that Haiti has been ''cursed'' doesn't express the spirit of the American people or the president.

01/13/09

* Jordan wants Dead Sea Scrolls back from Israel Jordan has complained to the United Nations in a bid to acquire the Dead Sea Scrolls from Israel, saying the Jewish state seized the ancient texts during the 1967 Six-Day War.

* Turkey may recall ambassador Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's apology for the "hazing" of Turkish ambassador Oguz Celikkol on Monday failed to calm the waters.

* Turkish producers working on anti-Israel film A Turkish news site reported Wednesday that the company, Pana Film, that produced the TV series "Valley of the Wolves" is already working on a film version of the show called "Valley of the Wolves - Palestine."

* Massive biological attack drill begins Days after an acid attack in downtown Hong Kong, and in preparation for a non-conventional attack on Israel, the National Emergency Authority (NEA) will hold the largest-ever exercise to train security forces how to respond to a citywide biological attack.

* Haiti earthquake: Thousands feared dead Haitian President Rene Preval has said thousands of people are feared dead following a huge quake which has devastated the country's capital.

* Doomsday clock to be moved by world's top scientists tomorrow It was created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, two years after the U.S dropped the first atomic bombs on Japan in World War II.

* Ayalon issues second apology in Turkey row Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon sent a letter of apology Wednesday night to the Turkish ambassador to Israel.

* Islamic Movement leader: Not afraid to go to jail for sake of al-Aqsa Mosque The head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel on Wednesday said he did not recognize the prison sentence handed down to him by a Jerusalem court earlier in the day.

* Enlargement nominee backs Turkish EU membership Planting his flag firmly in the pro-Turkey camp, the European Commission's incoming enlargement and neighbourhood policy chief, the Czech Republic's Stefan Fuele, said Turkey could one day could become a full EU member.

* Turkey PM Erdogan in Russia for gas talks Turkey's growing strategic importance as a gas transporter is the focus of talks in Russia between the countries' leaders.

01/12/10

* Israel and US behind Tehran blast - Iranian state media Iranian state media have accused Israel and the US of being involved in a bomb attack which killed an Iranian physicist in Tehran.

* 'Hizbullah, Lebanese army the same' Israel has launched a diplomatic campaign to impress upon countries providing military assistance to Lebanon that any equipment and technology it provides the Beirut government is likely to fall into Hizbullah's hands.

* Ankara summons Israeli envoy for talks Amid yet more diplomatic tensions, Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Gabby Levy was called in for a clarification meeting in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon.

* Islamists loot and burn protestant church in Algeria Islamists looted and burned a Protestant church in Algeria, the congregation's leader said Monday, suggesting they were inspired by a recent wave of religious intolerance in the Arab and Muslim world.

* Baidu hacked by 'Iranian cyber army' China's most popular search engine, Baidu, has been targeted by the same hackers that took Twitter offline in December.

* Vatican says 'Avatar' is no masterpiece The Vatican newspaper and radio station have called the film "Avatar" simplistic, and criticized it for flirting with modern doctrines that promote the worship of nature as a substitute for religion.

* Israeli Robots Remake Battlefield Israel is developing an army of robotic fighting machines that offers a window onto the potential future of warfare.

* Russia to lease nuclear submarine to India - report Russia will lease one of its newest nuclear-powered submarines to India in the second half of this year.

* Netanyahu: Israel will never share Jerusalem with Palestinians Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that Israel would never cede control of united Jerusalem nor retreat to the 1967 borders.

* EU's new top diplomat remains cool under fire The EU's new foreign relations chief, Catherine Ashton, was tough on Iran but cautious on Israel and Russia in a lively hearing with MEPs on Monday.

01/11/10

* Erdogan: Israel threatening ME peace Turkey's prime minister accused Israel on Monday of threatening peace in the Middle East and using disproportionate force against Palestinians.

* Assad's new regional strategy creates fresh options For some time now, Syrian President Bashar Assad has skillfully developed a new regional strategy.

* Why China matters Stepping out of the airport in Harbin in northeast China, you are greeted by a giant castle made completely of ice.

* Met to withdraw images of Muhammad Images of Islam's prophet Muhammad may soon disappear from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent display, in a move aimed to avoid offending Muslims.

* Three more churches attacked in Malaysia in Allah feud Firebombs were thrown at two more churches in Malaysia early Sunday and another church was splashed with black paint, the latest in a series of assaults on Christian houses of worship following a court decision allowing non-Muslims to use "Allah" to refer to God.

* Why we are here Cast your mind back to before Muhammad destroyed the Jewish tribes of Arabia; before Islam expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula reaching Jerusalem in 638.

* UK's Ashton seeks 'more credible' EU The EU is now in a position to assume a "stronger, more credible role in the world," the nominee for the EU's top foreign policy post says.

* Egypt tombs suggest free men built pyramids, not slaves Tombs discovered near Egypt's great pyramids reinforce the theory they were built by free workers rather than slaves.

* Pope says gay marriage threat to creation In address to diplomats, Benedict XVI slams laws that 'strike at biological basis of difference between sexes.'

* China set to take top export spot China looks set to overtake Germany as the world's largest exporter, with fresh customs data showing the Asian superpower sent goods valued at $1.2 trillion overseas in 2009.

01/09/10

* Ahmadinejad: Iran will not fall on its knees before the world Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed continued defiance to the threat of further sanctions on his country.

* Islamic Jihad: Israel provoking us A spokesperson from Al-Quds Brigades warned early Saturday morning that armed Palestinian groups would not hesitate to confront Israel if strikes on the Gaza Strip continue.

* US, Jordan pressure Israel, PA on peace The Obama administration on Friday laid out a bold shift in its Mideast peace strategy, stepping up pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to resume stalled talks.

* Arab World: Battleground Yemen US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday described the current situation in Yemen as "a threat to regional stability and even to global stability."

* Spain to push for binding EU economic goals Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said the EU's new 10-year economic plan, set to be agreed over the coming months, should have binding goals.

* Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations The driver and two non-playing staff have died. Two players were shot and injured in Friday's attack in Cabinda.

* Palestinians downplay Hillary Clinton push for peace Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has played down hopes of a resumption of peace talks with Israel.

* U.S. Has Few Resources to Face Threats in Yemen As the Obama administration confronts the latest terrorism threat in Yemen, its diplomatic and development efforts are being constrained by a shortage of resources.

* King David Era Pottery Shard Supports Biblical Narrative A breakthrough in the research of the Hebrew Scriptures has shed new light on the period in which the Bible books of the Prophets were written.

* Blair to Haaretz: Global terror is one battle, one struggle Without a doubt, it was Iraq that ended his career at 10 Downing Street.

01/08/10

* US chief of staff: Iran strike could destabilize Middle East Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Thursday that a strike on Iran could be "very, very destabilizing" and have unintended consequences for the Middle East, adding that diplomacy was crucial.

* US preparing for possible Iran conflict The US does not want to see confrontation with Iran but is still preparing its military for that possibility.

* J'lem rejects 2-year peace deadline Israel doesn't want to see deadlines imposed on the negotiating process with the Palestinians, even as the US is endorsing the idea of a two-year time frame.

* Inscription indicates Kingdom of Israel existed in the 10th century BCE A breakthrough in the research of the Hebrew scriptures has shed new light on the period in which the Bible was written.

* Settlement activists meet to debate how to fight the freeze "Don't serve in the army. Don't pay taxes," Eviathar H. Ben-Zedeff said on Thursday night as he and other right-wing activists and settlers debated the best strategy to combat the 10-month moratorium on new settlement construction.

* Al Qaida targeting Palestinian camps Al Qaida is reportedly targeting Palestinian refugee camps for indoctrination and recruitment.

* Churches Attacked in Malaysian 'Allah' Dispute Three Christian churches were attacked with firebombs Friday as tensions rose in a dispute over whether Christians could use the word "Allah" in this largely Muslim nation.

* Iranian Students: Khamenei's Family Has Fled to Russia Pro-democracy activists in Iran reported Wednesday that family members of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been secretly flown to Russia.

* Blair to Haaretz: Terror is one struggle with many arenas Without a doubt, it was Iraq that ended his career at 10 Downing Street.

* Van Rompuy makes debut at Turkey-sceptic gathering Herman Van Rompuy on Thursday (7 January) delivered his first official speech as president of the EU council at a party gathering of Bavarian conservatives.