* US battleships cross Suez Canal Eleven American battleships and an Israeli one crossed the Suez Canal Friday en route to the Red Sea.
* 'Next flotilla will be stopped' A letter declaring Israel's intent to stop a new flotilla of ships being organized in Lebanon to break the naval blockade of Gaza was sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
* Medvedev sees chance for new world order Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said Moscow was bidding to help lead efforts to build a new world economic order after the old system collapsed in the global financial crisis.
* Medvedev Pushes Ruble Reserve Currency to Cut Dollar Dominance Russia wants the ruble to be one of the world’s reserve currencies as President Dmitry Medvedev renews his push to reduce the dollar’s dominance.
* UN launches $71m appeal for Kyrgyzstan refugee crisis The UN has announced a $71m (£48m) flash appeal for Kyrgyzstan, where it says some 400,000 people have been displaced by inter-ethnic fighting.
* Israeli intel: Hamas will use cement shipments for military purposes Israel will expand the import of cement and building materials to the Gaza Strip.
* Violence Up Sharply in Afghanistan, Report Finds With an average of an assassination a day and a suicide bombing every second or third day, insurgents have greatly increased the level of violence in Afghanistan.
* Erdogan: We won't remain silent Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Ankara does not intend on sitting idly by following the Navy's raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla.
* Poll: Globe backs Iran strike The residents of several Arab countries, headed by Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, support tough sanctions against Iran as well as a military effort to curb Iranian nukes.
* Israeli minister hits back: Erdogan is the enemy, not Turkey Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov slammed Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, saying that while Turkey isn't Israel's enemy, Erdogan is.