* Assad: Arab world ready to join fight against Israel Syrian president says Russia committed to military deals, claims that government forces are gaining upper hand in fighting rebels.
* Iraq violence: May was deadliest month for years - UN The United Nations says more than 1,000 people were killed in Iraq in May, the highest monthly death toll for years.
* Merkel and Hollande call for full-time euro President One day after he rejected EU "dictates" on economic policy, French leader Francois Hollande and Germany's Angela Merkel have called for the creation of a full-time euro "President."
* Memo to Sec. Kerry: The emerging Middle East matrix is less hostile to Israel The Iran of the Shah was friendly to Israel, but the theocracy that overthrew it is not.
* Turkey protests continue; Erdogan says police use of force excessive For second day in row, protesters clash with police in Istanbul in anti-Erdogan demonstrations; police use tear-gas, pressurized water to disperses them as protests spread around country, while Erdogan claims protest are not organic, result of 'game' some circles in country are playing.
* PM indicated to Putin: 'Well destroy your missiles if you deliver them to Assad' After Netanyahu made clear he would not allow the S-300 anti-aircraft weapons to go into service, the Russian president reportedly suggested Israel buy them instead.
* Asteroid 1998 QE2 flies past Earth An asteroid that measures nearly 2.7km (1.7 miles) across has flown past the Earth.
* Tehran says US, not Iran, sponsors terror Spokesman for Iran's UN mission rejects US State Department report that claims terror activity highest since 1990s.
* In a hospital parking lot, Israel prepares for chemical war Maximum speed, minimum contamination are the watchwords, as Jerusalem drills for a devastating WMD strike.
* Russia to send nuclear submarines to southern seas Russia plans to resume nuclear submarine patrols in the southern seas after a hiatus of more than 20 years following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Saturday, in another example of efforts to revive Moscow's military.