* Tony Blair: West must prepare to confront Iran Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the west to confront Iran with force in order to face the "looming and coming challenge" from Iran.
* Protesters demand Jordan's government step down Thousands of Jordanians calling for their government to step down marched in several cities Friday in an outpouring of anger over economic hardship.
* Ashton: World powers 'disappointed' with Iran's stance in nuclear talks The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced Saturday that nuclear talks with Iran have ended with no agreement.
* Shalom says 'Iranian government' in Lebanon possible Druze leader Walid Jumblatt's decision to join forces with Hezbollah against Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri increases the risk that an "Iranian government" will be established in Lebanon.
* Ban Ki-moon: Settlements are illegal, hamper talks United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized the continued building of settlements in the West Bank.
* Hizbullah said to stage coup rehearsals in Beirut The Iran-sponsored Hizbullah organization, which recently collapsed the Lebanon coalition government by withdrawing, is said to have simulated a coup in Beirut.
* Algerian democracy rally broken up Several people have been injured after police broke up a banned pro-democracy demonstration in the Algerian capital, Algiers.
* Muslim World: Iran's execution binge In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 15 in the isolated and overcrowded Urumiya prison in western Iran, the authorities hanged one of their opponents.
* Abbas: We will not make unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ruled out a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
* Afghan Lawmakers Fail to Reach Compromise With Karzai Afghan lawmakers met with President Hamid Karzai on Saturday, trying to resolve a looming constitutional crisis sparked by his decision to delay the newly elected Parliament's opening.