05/02/13

* Global cyber defense experts take on hackers Defense firms and armies around the world are in a race against time to identify vulnerabilities that allow hostile hackers to gain access to a variety of military platforms.

* Hamas arrests Islamists in Gaza over rocket theft The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip on Thursday said it had arrested six militant extremists suspected of stealing weapons and plotting terrorist attacks.

* Inside the Ring: Russia builds up, U.S. down As the Obama administration prepares to launch a new round of strategic nuclear missile cuts, Russia's strategic nuclear forces are undergoing a major modernization, according to U.S. officials.

* Erdogan: Assad using chemical weapons in Syria Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the regime of Syrian President Basher Assad has used chemical weapons in his fight against opposition forces.

* Knesset committee cancels Temple Mount tour Likud MK Miri Regev on Wednesday canceled the Knesset Interior Committee's planned tour of the Temple Mount.

* Don't arm rebels before vetting them, Israel urges US Israel opposes arming Syrian rebels unless they are carefully vetted beforehand, Jerusalem's ambassador to the US said Wednesday.

* Khamenei: West's fall due to 'devilish sexual rules' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alleged the impending demise of the West was rooted in "the devilish sexual rules" that reign in its society.

* Somalia famine 'killed 260,000 people' Nearly 260,000 people died during the famine that hit Somalia from 2010 to 2012.

* 40 percent of Palestinians hold suicide attacks are justified Four out of ten Muslims in the Palestinian-controlled territories are of the opinion that suicide attacks against civilians in defense of Islam are justified.

* Israeli PM says he'd want referendum on peace deal Israel's prime minister said Thursday that any peace deal reached with the Palestinians on his watch would be subject to a national referendum, backing a contentious step that could hinder peace efforts.