08/04/12

* Muslim Brotherhood establishes militia inside Syria The Muslim Brotherhood has established its own militia inside Syria as the country's rebels fracture between radical Islamists and their rivals.

* PA to renew statehood bid at UN General Assembly Following failure of September 2011 statehood bid, the PA will file a new application next month, says the PA foreign minister.

* U.S. Discreetly Plans for Post-Assad Syria Even with fighting raging in Syria and President Bashar al-Assad digging in, the State Department and Pentagon are quietly sharpening plans to cope with a flood of refugees.

* Japan Concerned By Chinese Buildup And Use Of Military Muscle The Japanese Defense Ministry, in its report for 2012, expressed alarm at the growing Chinese buildup and the thirtyfold escalation in defense spending in the past 24 years.

* An Attack on Iran 'Within Weeks or Months' Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash, former head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, predicted on Friday that an Israeli attack on Iran could take place in the near future.

* Coptic Church head slams Egypt's new government Egypt's new government fails to fairly represent Christians, the acting head of the Coptic church said on Saturday.

* For the United Statelets of Europe Alfred Heineken did more than just brew beer. He also thought about things, like the future of Europe and how best to proceed.

* Iran Tests Missile with New Guidance System Iran's defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, says that Tehran has tested a new version of its Fateh 110 short-range missile.

* Assad Transfers Missiles to Lebanese Border Syrian President Bashar Assad has transferred a battery of advanced missiles to the al-Masna border crossing.

* Iran Under a Threat from a 'Soft War', Says IRGC Chief The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, admitted on Friday that the main threat to his country is the "soft war" being waged against it.