12/15/14

* THREE DEAD IN BLOODY END TO SIEGE Two hostages feared dead and Muslim gunman killed as police storm Sydney cafe with assault rifles and stun grenades moments after hostages fled.

* Historian Says War with Hezbollah is Imminent Aryeh Yitzhaki thinks Russian reaction to latest IAF strike in Syria shows something sinister is brewing.

* Germany says it will help finance four new Israeli warships The mass-circulation Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday that Berlin had earmarked up to 115 million euros for the warships -- which would cost around 1 billion euros in total.

* Israel's New Chief of Staff Has Tough Stance on Hezbollah Says Israel will not hesitate to use 'disproportionate force' .

* Hamas Burns Temple Model in Anniversary Rally In honor of 27th anniversary, Hamas puts out new propaganda video and parade showcasing its "successes" over Israel.

* Russian rouble falls to new low against US dollar The Russian rouble has dropped to a new low against the US dollar, as falling oil prices and Western sanctions continue to weigh on the country.

* Turkey media arrests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the European Union after it criticised the mass arrest of opposition journalists at the weekend.

* Germany tense over anti-Islam 'Pegida' march in Dresden A march against "Islamisation of the West" is due to take place in Dresden, with turnout expected to reach about 10,000 in the eastern German city.

* Revitalized Turkey drifts away from Europe and towards Eurasia Along with Russia, Turkey lies at the confluence between Europe and Asia. A peripheral European power, like Russia, it is following Moscow's lead and also looking east.

* IS beheaded 4 Christian children, says "Vicar of Baghdad" Speaking from Jerusalem, Anglican priest Andrew White recounts murder of youths who refused to convert to Islam.