* Iran's supreme leader denies nuclear report claims Iran's supreme leader has denied it is developing nuclear weapons, after a new report from the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, sparked an international outcry.
* U.S. Engaging Syria - a Terror State - on Anti-terror Concerns Reversing yet another policy of former President George W. Bush, current U.S. President Barack Obama announced this week that he would nominate career diplomat Robert Ford to become Washington's first ambassador to Syria since 2005.
* Abbas to renew talks with Israel next week Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are to be renewed next week.
* IAEA suspects Syrian nuclear activity at bombed site Uranium particles found at a Syrian desert complex allegedly bombed to ruin by Israel in 2007 point to possible covert nuclear activity at the site.
* Census discovers 5,000 marine species A preview of the Census of Marine Life has revealed that the project has discovered over 5,000 new species.
* Saudis brace for decline in worldwide oil demand Officials said Riyad has been discussing options ahead of forecasts that demand for crude oil would peak over the next decade.
* Group: We Demand a Jewish Presence in Jericho In 1994, Jericho was the first city in Judea and Samaria ceded to the newly created Palestinian Authority.
* PM's List of Heritage Sites Does Not Include Cave of Machpelah The Chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (the Yesha Council), Danny Dayan, asked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Thursday to make a last minute change in the list of heritage sites that the government intends to promote and enhance.
* Ashton tackles Serb tensions on maiden voyage to Balkans EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton took aim at Serbian nationalist tensions in the western Balkans in a speech on her first trip to the region.
* China anger at Dalai Lama-Obama meeting A visit by the Dalai Lama to Washington has "seriously undermined" relations between the US and China.