Hundreds set to turn out for anti-Israel demo in NY

NEW YORK – Nearly a thousand people are expected to turn out for a large anti-Israel protest outside a fundraiser for the Israeli Defense Forces on Tuesday in New York City.

UN: Asia-Pacific lags on women's rights

NEW DELHI — Nearly 100 million women across Asia have "disappeared" because of a huge and growing gender gap that has fatally deprived them of access to health care and food and has led to widespread abortions of female fetuses, according to a UN report released Monday.

30 terrorists, soldier killed in Pakistan; UK boy kidnapped

Dozens of terrorists armed with assault rifles attacked a security checkpoint in Pakistan's volatile northwest, sparking a gunbattle that left 30 insurgents and one soldier dead, officials said Thursday.

Arab League backs indirect talks

CAIRO — Arab nations gave the green light Wednesday for Palestinians to enter indirect negotiations with Israel for a preliminary four-month period, a decision that likely breaks the months-long deadlock over resuming Mideast peace talks.

Dubai: Israeli arrivals to be detected by looks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Following the assassination of a Hamas arch-terrorist, Dubai police will attempt to identify Israelis traveling on foreign passports by assessing their physical features and manner of speaking upon arrival, the police chief said Monday.

Kerry backs 'biting' sanctions against Iran's energy sector

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee head meets with PM, says sanctions on Teheran's energy were "of particular importance" and that US and Israel were "talking from the same page" on Iran. 

Trilateral meeting in Damascus

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah met Thursday evening in Damascus along with their senior advisors, and discussed regional developments and “the zionist threat,” it was revealed Friday.

Ahmadinejad craves Zionist-free ME

The United States should pack up and leave the Middle East and stay out of regional affairs, Iran's president said Thursday during a visit to Damascus that follows a string of US efforts to break up Syria's 30-year alliance with Teheran.

Lavrov announces high-level ME talks

A high-level meeting of the Middle East quartet will take place in Moscow next month, Russia's foreign minister says. Sergey Lavrov said the March 19 meeting would be at the ministerial level.

'Real German passport used in Dubai hit'

BERLIN - Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that the passport of German citizen Michael Bodenheimer used in the killing of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh is authentic. An Israeli with the name Michael Bodenheimer applied for a passport in Cologne, and was issued a German passport in 2009, the newsweekly wrote.

'Britain knew about Mossad hit'

The British MI6 intelligence agency was tipped off by Mossad that Israeli agents were going to carry out an 'overseas operation' using fake UK passports, the Daily Mail reported Friday morning.

Dubai 99% sure Mossad killed Mabhouh

Dubai police chief said he was 99 percent certain that the Mossad was responsible for the assassination of top Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh , Gulf News reported on Thursday.

Russia: S-300 delivery delayed

The Interfax news agency on Wednesday cited a top Russian defense official as saying that S-300 air defense missiles will be delivered to Iran once unspecified technical problems are resolved.

Clinton warns of Mideast nuclear race

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has told college students in Saudi Arabia that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Clinton said that could in turn create problems that she termed "quite dangerous."

25 dead in Belgian train crash

BRUSSELS — Two commuter trains collided head-on at rush hour in a Brussels suburb Monday, killing as many as 25 people, Belgian rail officials said. Other officials said the death toll was lower.

US-Israel cooperation: Mullen to visit J'lem, TA

In another sign of growing cooperation between Israel and the US ahead of a new round of sanctions on Iran, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen will arrive in Israel on Sunday as the guest of IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

Iran: We can enrich uranium to 80%

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Thursday that the Islamic republic had produced its first package of highly enriched uranium just two days after beginning the process. "We have the capability to enrich uranium more than 20 percent or 80 percent, but we don't enrich [to this level] because we don't need it," he said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

Cambridge allows event with supporter of suicide bombing

LONDON – A Hamas supporter who condones suicide bombing spoke at Cambridge University on Monday evening, days after a talk by Ben-Gurion University professor Benny Morris was canceled after he was accused of Islamophobia and racism.

'I wouldn't cry if he was killed'

The prolific author has put together a petition denouncing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, signed by some 50 other Nobel prize winners, which will run as a full page advertisement in newspapers such as the New York Times.

ADL gives Obama an ‘F’ for failing to deliver in ME

Two-and-a-half weeks after US President Barack Obama completed his first year in office, observers both in Israel and the US on Sunday gave his Middle East policy largely failing grades for efficacy.

Ban's report pleases Israel

“Israel is satisfied that the secretary general of the United Nations accurately reflected the Israeli document submitted this week,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published Friday afternoon.

'Celikkol never wanted re-assignment'

The Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv denied radio reports on Tuesday that Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, who was publicly hazed by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon last month, has asked to be reassigned elsewhere.

Berlusconi tells PM he 'dreams of Israel joining EU'

At Jerusalem meeting with Italian counterpart, Netanyahu says glorious past of Italian, Israeli culture obligates cooperation today between Jerusalem and Rome governments. 

'Netanyahu pushing his coalition'

Obama says Israel is a strong US ally, but Palestinians also need solution. US President Barack Obama said Thursday that he's working to get the Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace talks.

North Korea resumes firing artillery amid tension

Fired several artillery shells early Thursday that are believed to have landed in its waters, an official at 's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity citing department policy, said did not respond but was closely watching the North's maneuvers.

Crying wolf on Iran

Only the mullahs know if Iran is "hell-bent" on starting a nuclear war. Jerusalem opposes Iran's quest for atomic weapons not only for what the regime might do, but because of what it is - religiously fanatical, violently autocratic and dangerously myopic.

IDF team to return from devastated Haiti Thursday

Mati Goldstein, a 31-year-old haredi father of four whose profession and hobby are rescuing people, subsisted on water and kosher energy bars and finally kosher US Army food during his 10-day stay in Haiti saving victims of the earthquake.

Ethiopian plane crashes off Beirut coast, 90 on board

An Ethiopian Airlines plane with 90 people on board crashed into the sea early Monday just minutes after takeoff from Beirut, the country's transportation minister said.

Stolen Auschwitz sign to return to museum

Polish official says police to hand damaged 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign over to museum Thursday. Conservation experts to determine how best to repair it

Iran: Reformist student sentenced to 8 years

Majid Tavakoli, who called President Ahmadinejad a 'fascist', Ayatollah Khamenei a 'dictator' sentenced to eight years imprisonment

Being a Chabad emissary

400 Chabad emissaries in Israel participate this week in annual conference in Nir Etzion, receive reinforcements on spreading Torah in Israel’s cities. Ynet reporter takes part in some of workshops offered, learns how to integrate into community, and learns difference between mission in Mumbai and mission in Maccabim; gains insight into what went wrong in Ramat Aviv

Iraq wants to turn ancient Jewish tomb into mosque

Israeli professor informed Iraqi authorities engaged in erasing Jewish characteristics off Prophet Ezekiel's tomb located south of Baghdad

Haiti: Looters break into UN warehouses

Attempts to feed at least two million people affected by earthquake made difficult by looting, bad roads, ruined port and overwhelmed airport

Ahmadinejad: Scientist killed in 'Zionist style'

Iranian president blames Israel for killing nuclear physicist, says deed shows 'depth of enemy grudge'

3 Israelis feared missing; delegation departs to Haiti

Group of experts head to Caribbean nation in order to coordinate arrival of Israeli aid delegation following devastating earthquake. 'Survivors can be traced in first 24 to 36 hours,' says delegation head

Iranian nuclear physicist killed in bombing

Professor Massoud Mohammadi, described as 'staunch supporter' of 1979 Islamic Revolution, dies in explosion of bomb-rigged motorcycle outside house in Tehran. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB says bomb planted by "Zionist and American agents'

Wiesenthal Center urges German, French TV to remove 'anti-Semitic' Egyptian station

The anti-Semitic content of Egypt's Al-Faraeen television channel prompted the European branch of the Simon Wiesenthal Center over the weekend to urge French and German TV stations to cease "cooperation agreements" with the broadcaster.

Iran opposition leader Karroubi's car 'hit by gunfire'

Basij militiamen surround opposition leader's car in northern town of Qazvin, where leader was attending memorial ceremony for slain opposition protesters

US police: Man threatening Jews taken off flight

Police arrest Florida airline passenger Mansor Mohammad Asad who witnesses say proclaimed 'I want to kill all the Jews'

Time to face reality

Syrian-Iranian-led alliance’s clear aim is to destroy all regional democracies

Dubai opens world's tallest tower

At 2,717 feet, Burj Khalifa, renamed last minute after Abu Dhabi leader who bailed emirate out of financial crisis, is tallest building in the world

Kenya to deport Jamaican Muslim cleric

Intelligence officials fear Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal's speeches will encourage radicalism. Police: He has known terrorism links

Iran denies secret deal to import Kazakh uranium

Tehran's UN rep says 'such fabrications of news are part psychological warfare by hegemonic powers

Analysis: Beginning of the end for the ayatollahs?

In mid-June, about a week after the presidential election in Iran and at the height of the protests on Teheran's streets, Mossad chief Meir Dagan appeared before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and predicted that the riots would not escalate into a revolution.

US seeks to relaunch Mideast peace talks

US Mideast envoy to deliver two letters of guarantee to both Netanyahu and Abbas in hopes of relaunching peace negotiations. Netanyahu: PA running low on excuses

Vatican defends move on wartime pope

Vatican issues statement saying move bringing Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood should not be obstacle to dialogue between Jews, Catholic Church

Report: Auschwitz sign was on way to Sweden

Polish radio reported that the suspects planned to smuggle Arbeit Macht Frei sign to Swedish citizen. Unclear whether said citizen acted as middle man or if he commissioned theft. Three arrested suspects already confessed

Police: Auschwitz sign thieves not neo-Nazis

Polish police say five men detained over theft of 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign from Nazi death camp do not belong to neo-Nazi groups, 'their intent was undoubtedly robbery-related'

Obama: Hanukkah struggle inspires us

US President Barack Obama and his wife hosted a candle-lighting ceremony at the White House on Wednesday night.

Brown tells Livni: You're welcome in Britain at any time

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown telephoned opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Wednesday afternoon, and expressed his total objection to the arrest warrant a UK court issued against her. 

Germany: Rightist party campaigns against mosques

Anti-Islamic party in North Rhine-Westphalia says mosques are symbol of 'Muslim occupation of land'

Attacker hurls statuette, bloodies Berlusconi face

  ROME – An attacker hurled a statuette at Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, striking the leader in the face at the end of a rally Sunday and leaving the stunned 73-year-old media mogul with a broken nose and bloodied mouth

10 Israeli UAVs headed for Afghanistan

Ten new Israeli-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will debut in Afghanistan in the coming weeks, after the Israel Aerospace Industries made the first delivery of the Heron UAV to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on Thursday.

Obama defends war as he accepts Nobel Peace Prize

US president receives Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, says use of force sometimes justified; calls for tough action against countries breaking international laws

Minister: Iran to hit Israeli nuke sites if attacked

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi quoted as saying his country will strike back at Israeli weapons manufacturing sites, nuclear installations if Jewish state attacks Islamic republic's nuclear facilities

Saudi 'hands missing Iran nuclear scientist to US'

Mehr news agency quotes Tehran Foreign Ministry as saying "Shahram Amiri, Iran's nuclear scientist who had gone to Hajj in Saudi Arabia, was handed over to Washington'

Egypt: Algeria must say sorry and pay

After Egypt withdraws ambassador to Algeria following last month's soccer riots, Shorouk newspaper quotes Egyptian minister as saying, 'We will not return Egyptian ambassador to Algeria until there is an apology, compensation for damage

Iran will inform IAEA on new nuclear sites when ready

Senior diplomat, involved in nuclear talks with West, says Islamic republic has no intention to cooperate with UN nuclear watchdog beyond its safeguards

Miliband wants to renew dialogue with Hezbollah

In wake of new Lebanese government British foreign secretary calls to consider possibility of resuming contacts with Islamist group. Israeli diplomatic sources dismiss distinction between military, political wings within Hezbollah

Ahmadinejad: Israel can't do 'damn thing' against Iran

Iranian president says International Atomic Energy Agency's decision to rebuke his country over its disputed nuclear activity is 'illegal.' He rejects option that Jewish state could attack Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities  

Demjanjuk accused of sharing Nazi ideology

Former guard at Sobibor death camp heads back to court, where prosecutors accuse him of playing active role in Nazis' machinery of destruction. 'Some see in him an old, sick man. I see the man who chased Jews into the gas chambers,' says Holocaust survivor

Swiss voters approve anti-minaret bill

Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on minarets on Sunday, barring construction of the iconic mosque towers in a surprise vote that put Switzerland at the forefront of a European backlash against a growing Muslim population.

Majority of IAEA board votes to censure Iran's nuclear defiance

The UN nuclear agency's board censured Iran on Friday, with 25 nations backing a resolution that demands Teheran immediately mothball its newly revealed nuclear facility and heed UN Security Council resolutions calling on it to stop uranium enrichment.

IAEA chief: Iran probe at 'dead end' due to lack of cooperation

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday that his probe of allegations that Iran tried to make nuclear arms is at "a dead end" because Teheran is not cooperating.

Florida Jews enraged over Passover election date

Jewish community in Florida wants congressional election moved because it falls on holiday

State Prosecution: Saadat a threat to society

State refuses to remove terror group leader from confinement, claiming he will give orders from cell

Lawyer: 9/11 defendants want platform for views

The five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of US foreign policy, the lawyer for one of the defendants said Sunday.

Wedding refugees

Between five to 10 Israeli couples fly to Cyprus every day because the Jewish state does not allow mixed marriages. Some ideological Jewish couples make the trip because they object to lack of separation between state and religion in Israel. A German reporter visiting Israel accompanied two of these couples on happiest day of their lives

Official: Major powers to discuss Iran sanctions on Friday

Six major world powers will meet in Brussels to discuss what measures could be applied against Teheran for its refusal to halt its nuclear enrichment program, an EU official said Thursday.

Muslim extremists recruiting from UK jails

Two of Britain's most notorious Muslim extremists have been given free rein to recruit fellow inmates in prison and are spreading propaganda from behind bars, a think-tank founded by two former Islamic radicals said Monday.

Obama: Iran, N. Korea have a choice

US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao emerged from hours of intense talks Tuesday determined to marshal their combined clout on crucial issues, but still showing divisions over economic, security and human rights issues that have long bedeviled the two powers.

British TV program to examine UK's 'powerful Israel lobby'

The UK Jewish community is bracing itself for the screening of a television documentary that questions the work of community organizations and individuals, implying they are part of a "powerful" and "influential" pro-Israel lobby.

'France must act,' says Assad as meeting with Sarkozy begins

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad kicked off in Paris on Friday afternoon. Prior to the meeting, Assad stated that the talks would center on issues relating to Mideast peace, adding that "France must act" to ensure progress in the region.

Spain tries 11 over alleged Islamic terror plot

Eleven suspected Islamic extremists of South Asian origin went on trial Thursday over an alleged plot to stage suicide attacks on the Barcelona subway system on orders from the Pakistan Taliban.

Blackouts darken Brazil's 2 largest cities

A massive power failure blacked out Brazil's two largest cities and other parts of Latin America's biggest nation for more than two hours late Tuesday, leaving millions of people in the dark after a huge hydroelectric dam suddenly went offline. All of neighboring Paraguay also lost power, but for only about 20 minutes.

Two decades on: Berlin celebrates reunification

Even though it's been 20 years, East Berliners Kai and Dorlene still vividly recall the night the wall that divided their city fell and they were finally free to visit its western part.

Assad: Resistance of the occupation is a national duty

Syrian President Bashar Assad continued to sway from peace overtures to threats of war on Monday, stressing that resistance might be used to "return" the Golan Heights.

Texas shooter reportedly a Palestinian

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a US military psychiatrist suspected of going on a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 in a US army base in Texas, is believed to be of Palestinian origin, ABC News reported on Friday.

Israeli journalists union to rejoin int'l federation

The rift between the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Federation of Israeli Journalists (NFIJ) following the Israeli union's expulsion from the international group in June, has been mended by an agreement reached at an emergency meeting held in Tel Aviv this week.

Vietnam storm death toll rises to 87

In the hardest-hit province of Phu Yen, 26 more deaths were reported as information trickled in from isolated areas, bringing the death toll there to 65, disaster official Dang Thi Lanh said Wednesday. An additional 13 people were missing.

Norway's second-largest university to vote on Israel boycottlargest

Academics in Israel and worldwide are fighting against a proposed academic boycott against Israel by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway.

Suicide bomber kills 35 near Pakistan's capital

A suicide bomber killed 35 people outside a bank near Pakistan's capital Monday, as the UN said spreading violence has forced it to start pulling out some expatriate staff and suspend long-term development work in areas along the Afghan border.

Blair's bid for EU president falters at summit

Blair's charisma and international cachet may be working against him, too. In a race where no one has formally declared candidacy and the job is still ill-defined, there are as many nations that want a low-key technocrat as those that want a towering figure who can go head to head with other global powers.

Police dismantle Sheikh Jarrah protest tent in east Jerusalem

Police and Border Police officers dismantled a tent in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah on Wednesday morning, set up to protest the August eviction of one of two families in the neighborhood's Shimon Hatzadik section.

91 dead, 200 hurt in Pakistan car bomb

A car bomb tore through a busy market in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 91 people as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the country and pledged American support for its campaign against Islamist militants.

Ahmadinejad: 'Zionist regime is a threat to all nations'

"The Zionist regime is a threat to all nations ... it cannot tolerate the existence of any strong country in the region," said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday, according to Teheran news agency PressTV.

Mottaki: 'Zionist entity' at its weakest, will not attack Iran

"The Zionist regime doesn't dare to attack Iran because it is currently in its weakest position," said Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday, emphasizing that any concessions on Teheran's part did not imply fear of an Israeli attack.

Envoy to Vienna talks defiant even after Russian confirmation

The Islamic Republic said it was awaiting a "positive and constructive" response from world powers to its proposal on providing nuclear fuel for a Teheran reactor producing medical isotopes, state television reported.

Demjanjuk loses appeal, trial to begin next month

Demjanjuk, a retired Ohio auto worker, is charged with being an accessory to the murder of 27,900 people at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, where prosecutors allege he served as a guard. His trial is due to start Nov. 30.

ElBaradei: Iran agrees to consider deal on nuke program

Iranian negotiators on Wednesday agreed to consider a draft deal that - if accepted by the Teheran leadership - would delay its ability to make nuclear weapons by sending most of the material it would need to Russia for processing, diplomats said Wednesday.

Mottaki: Our right to nuclear power is 'legal and obvious'

Ahead of the second day of the second round of talks meant to persuade Iran to send most of its enriched uranium abroad, and thus delay its potential to make a nuclear weapon, Teheran reiterated that it would never abandon its "legal and obvious" right to nuclear technology nor will it stop uranium enrichment.

Iran, six world powers convene for second round of nuke talks

Iran's ability to break out of its peaceful nuclear program and make a weapon could be delayed at talks opening Monday that will test Teheran's willingness to make good on a tentative deal reached earlier this month.

UNHRC endorses Goldstone's Gaza report by large majority

Despite Israeli lobbying efforts against the Goldstone Report, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva endorsed the document on Friday, a move that will send it on to more powerful UN bodies in New York for action.

Turkish TV producer: Our show is not about Israeli soldiers

In an interview full of contradictions, Turkish television producer Selcuk Cobanoglu, whose anti-Israeli TV drama led Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to summon the Turkish envoy for a meeting, told Israel Radio on Thursday that the soldiers depicted in the drama "are not Israeli soldiers" and stressed that all of the program's staff love the Israeli people.

NGOs lead Israel's relief efforts in Philippines

Over the last four days, a delegation of six Israeli volunteers has treated over 600 typhoon victims for water-related diseases in the Philippines, coordinated by IsraAID, a coalition of Jewish and Israeli NGOs providing relief work and education abroad.

Palestinians: Enough support for UNHRC Goldstone debate

Palestinian diplomats in Geneva say they have gathered enough support to call a special debate in the UN Human Rights Council on alleged war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza last winter.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki to bid for 2020 Olympics

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue announced on Sunday that they will form a joint bid committee. The mayors are founding members of the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign, which advocates for a global ban on nuclear arms.

US President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

US President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

Australian court: Alleged Nazi can be extradited to Hungary

A court ruled Thursday that an 88-year-old accused of killing a Jewish teenager during World War II is eligible for extradition to Hungary, rejecting the man's appeal but giving him two weeks to lodge another.

Polanski loses first round in extradition battle

Roman Polanski lost the first round Tuesday in his battle to avoid extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

Croatian NGO plans monument to Nazi collaborator Ante Pavelic

Croatian extreme right-wing NGO The Croatian Cultural Movement (HUP) has announced plans to erect a monument in honor of former Croatian president Ante Pavelic in Zagreb, Croatia, this December.

Analysis: US backs Israel, but leaves door open for external Cast Lead probe

The address last week by US Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner to the UN Human Rights Council on the Goldstone Report must have been music to Israel's ears. Posner said almost exactly what Israel has been trying to say, without much success, ever since the report was published last month.

Indonesian quake toll climbs to 1,100

Some, like Malina Utami, had already realized the worst. She was just looking for the shoes missing from her dead daughter's body, found in the rubble of a four-story school that was flattened within seconds.

Iran ready to discuss nukes in return for global disarmament

Iran is willing to discuss every aspect of its nuclear program, including all military aspects and the facility at Qom, recently revealed by US President Barack Obama ahead of a UN General Assembly meeting last week but monitored by several intelligence agencies over the past three years.

Scores dead, missing in Pacific islands tsunami

A powerful earthquake in the South Pacific hurled massive tsunami waves at the shores of Samoa and American Samoa, flattening villages and sweeping cars and people out to sea, leaving at least 82 dead and dozens missing.

Israel congratulates Merkel on election victory

Israel on Monday night warmly welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's reelection victory on Sunday, even as some officials expressed reservations regarding Guido Westerwelle, the man expected to be her next foreign minister.

Iran has revealed existence of 2nd enrichment plant, says IAEA

Iran has revealed the existence of a secret uranium-enrichment plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday, a development that could heighten fears about Teheran's ability to produce a nuclear weapon and escalate its diplomatic confrontation with the West.

Hosni's loss at UNESCO quietly pleases Israel

While Israel remained officially neutral on the campaign for the new head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a senior Israeli official said in the wake of the vote that government officials were pleased that the frontrunner in the race, Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni, was defeated.

Iran welcomes nixing of Europe defense shield

"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes any act that causes a reduction in the conventional arms race," Hassan Qashqavi, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, was quoted as saying by Iranian PressTV news agency.

UN prepares for week with Gadhafi and other new faces

Among the world leaders gathering this week at the United Nations to tackle problems ranging from climate change to the spread of nuclear weapons will be many new faces, including the presidents of the United States, Russia and China.

Obama: Jews overcame extraordinary adversity

"As members of the Jewish faith here in America and around the world gather to celebrate the High Holidays, I want to extend my warmest wishes for this New Year. L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu - may you have a good year, and may you be inscribed for blessing in the Book of Life," Obama said in the greeting.

Australian charged with raping daughter for 30 years

Senior officials described the allegations as shocking but would not confirm the details because the case was before the courts. Police said they were not giving any details about the case because of a court suppression order.

Jimmy Carter: Wilson anti-Obama comments 'based on racism'

Former President Jimmy Carter said that a congressman's outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president.

Anti-Israel rally moved due to threats

Police made the decision to move the annual Al Quds Day demonstration in London - an annual anti-Israel event held at the end of Ramadan to oppose Israel's control of Jerusalem - following the call from far-right organization the English Defense League (EDL) for its supporters to oppose the event.

Venezuela gets $2.2B in credit for Russian arms

Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give US troops greater access to its military bases, Chavez said.

Iran's 'proposals' published - no mention of nuclear program

Iran's new proposal for talks with the West promises wide-ranging negotiations but does not provide details of the country's disputed nuclear program, according to a copy of the document published by an investigative group.

Lebanese PM-designate resigns after failing to form cabinet

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said Thursday he is abandoning efforts to form a new government after the Hizbullah-led parliament minority rejected his list for a national unity cabinet.

Afghanistan: NYT reporter freed in raid; Brit commando killed

British commandos freed a New York Times reporter early Wednesday from Taliban captives who kidnapped him over the weekend in northern Afghanistan, but one of the commandos and a Times translator were killed in the rescue, officials said.

Egyptian minister's candidacy to lead UNESCO sparks controversy

The heated race to lead the UN's educational, scientific and cultural agency got underway in Paris on Monday, with the leading contender - Egypt's Farouk Hosny - embroiled in a controversy over anti-Israel comments.

Rioters invade Budapest's Jewish Ghetto

A crowd of 500 demonstrators, including neo-Nazis and skinheads, rampaged in Budapest's Jewish district. Hungarian riot police deployed tear gas and baton charges Saturday against the vociferously xenophobic crowd as it tried to disrupt Hungary's annual Gay Pride parade.

Evangelicals join March of the Living for first time

During the first two weeks of August, Christians United for Israel brought 34 students to Poland and Israel to take part in a rite favored by thousands of Jewish students in recent years: to witness and remember the Holocaust firsthand.

UK foundation to distribute textbook that lauds Muslim world's scientific and cultural heritage

An educational foundation in the UK has announced plans to distribute to high schools a free book that highlights the scientific and cultural legacies of Muslim civilization.

Obama hosts Ramadan dinner at White House

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised American Muslims for enriching the nation's culture at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Iran's nuclear negotiator: We are ready to resume talks

Iran's top nuclear negotiator said his country is ready to hold talks with world powers to ease fears over its nuclear activities and has prepared a revised package of proposals for Western countries, state TV reported Tuesday.

Solana: Syria ready to resume talks

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Monday told President Shimon Peres that he got the impression during his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad that that latter was interested in resuming negotiations with Israel.

US seen easing settlement halt demands

The Obama administration appears to be backing down on its insistence that Israel halt all settlement activity as a condition for restarting peace talks with the Palestinians.

'There's an offer on the table; Iran needs to respond positively'

In a joint press conference held between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday afternoon, Merkel expressed the need to put harsher sanctions against Iran in order to force it to abandon its nuclear program, and was also adamant in the demand for a halt in West Bank settlement construction.

Peres: Kennedy death a loss to entire world

Israeli leaders pay tribute to last surviving brother in enduring political dynasty, one of most influential senators in history. 'He was one of Israel's greatest friends,' says PM Netanyahu

'Iran freezes no. of centrifuges enriching uranium at Natanz'

Iran's output of enriched uranium is stagnating, diplomats said Tuesday, suggesting that Teheran may be running short the material needed for producing nuclear fuel or the fissile core of warheads.

Iran wants West to resume 'interaction'

Iran wants the West to change its nuclear policy of sanctions and resume "interaction" with the Persian nation, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi said on Monday.

Germany: Settlements major impediment to peace

German Foreign Ministry calls for urgent progress on settlements in order to advance peace

Election violence leads to low voter turnout in Afghanistan

Taliban threats appeared to dampen voter turnout in the militant south Thursday as Afghans chose the next president for their deeply troubled country. Insurgents launched scattered rocket, suicide and bomb attacks that closed some polling sites.

Assad in Iran to congratulate Ahmadinejad, free academic

Syrian President Bashar Assad opened talks with Iranian officials Wednesday in a visit expected to include an appeal to free a French academic accused of plotting to overthrow the Islamic regime.

British teachers attend Yad Vashem education class

A group of teachers from across the UK began an intensive eight-day program of Holocaust education at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem this week.

'US shouldn't tell Jews where to live'

Former Arkansas governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee says the US has taken too harsh a stance against Israel on the issue of settlements.

Beirut braces for Hizbullah rally marking 'victory over Israel'

Hizbullah will mark three years since the "victory over Israel" in the Second Lebanon War with a rally in the Dahiya neighborhood in south Beirut on Friday evening.

Former terrorist to testify in support of Scottish anti-Israel activists on trial

Leila Khaled is set to give a personal testimony as a witness for the defense in the trial of five activists from the radical fringe group Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) who have been charged with racially motivated conduct.

Iran speaker denies prisoner rape

Iran's parliament speaker on Wednesday denied allegations made by a defeated pro-reform presidential candidate that protesters detained after the disputed election were raped by their jailers, state media reported.

Boston area Jews split on Nadav Tamir

Boston's Russian Jewish community is urging Jerusalem to recall Consul-General Nadav Tamir, following the wide circulation of a cable in which Tamir said the government's policies were hurting Israel's relationship with the US.

Mudslide buries 100s in Taiwan mountain village

Typhoon Morakot dumped up to 80 inches (two meters) of rain on some communities over the weekend before moving on to China, where it forced the evacuation of nearly 1 million people along the east coast. Earlier it had struck the Philippines, leaving at least 22 dead.

Pakistan's Taliban chief reportedly killed in CIA missile strike

Pakistan's Taliban chief, who has led a violent campaign of suicide attacks and assassinations against Pakistan's government, has been killed in a CIA missile strike and his body buried, three Pakistani intelligence officials said Friday.

Obama hails US journalists' release

US President Barack Obama proclaimed the US government "extraordinarily relieved" Wednesday over the release of two American journalists and praised former US president Bill Clinton and former US vice president Al Gore for their roles.

Ahmadinejad sworn in for second term

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in Wednesday for a second term in office as president of Iran, appealing for national unity and denouncing foreign interference in his inauguration speech before parliament.

MI chief: From end of '09, Iran will have ability to build bomb

From the end of 2009, an Iranian nuclear bomb will be a matter of a decision on Teheran's part, rather than a matter of technological ability, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of Military Intelligence's research division, said Tuesday.

'Times': Iran could have nuke in a year

Iran could complete the manufacture of an atomic bomb within a year, and is just waiting for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to give the go-ahead, according to intelligence sources quoted in a report by The Times on Monday.

Iranian soldier 'killed in custody'

A young Iranian soldier, arrested late last week for allegedly stealing weapons for opposition groups, was killed in custody and his body returned to his family on Saturday, sources in Teheran said.

Iranian FM: Western countries to blame for deaths of protesters

Those who were killed in the bloody crackdown on Iranian demonstrators who protested the results of the controversial presidential election held in June were the victims of Western "interventionist countries," and not abusive riot police or militiamen, the Iranian foreign minister declared on Friday.

Mousavi prevented from attending memorial for victims

Iranian police prevented hundreds of people who gathered at a Teheran cemetery Thursday from holding an event to commemorate those killed in the violent clashes with the regime last month.

'Russia, Iran to hold naval maneuver'

For the first time, Russia and Iran will hold a joint naval maneuver in the Caspian Sea, The Iranian Mehr News Agency reported Wednesday.

'Terror cell planned attacks in Israel'

A father, his two sons and four other men living in North Carolina are accused of military-style training at home and plotting "violent jihad" abroad, including against targets in Israel, federal authorities said Monday.

British MPs want gov't to engage Hamas

British legislators on Sunday urged the government to engage in talks with "moderate elements" within Hamas, saying that the Quartet's policy of shunning the Palestinian group until it accepts previous understandings with Israel, renounces violence and comes to terms with Israel's existence, had proven to be counterproductive.

Anti-Semitic crimes double in UK

The number of anti-Semitic hate crimes against the Jewish community in Britain reached an unprecedented high in the first half of 2009, according to figures released on Thursday by a Jewish community organization.

Romanian mayor regrets Nazi uniform

Romanian mayor has apologized for dressing up in a Nazi uniform with a swastika insignia, saying in an open letter Thursday that he is not a fascist or anti-Semite.

Obama means what he says

Israeli leaders say they're bewildered by the Obama administration's "obsession" with West Bank settlement growth.

'Terror cell plotted attacks against UN forces in Lebanon'

The Lebanese army on Tuesday said that it had revealed a terror network that had been planning to carry out a series of attacks against its troops, as well as a UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

European court: Israel boycotts are unlawful discrimination

Israel finally won one last week in an international human rights court.

Rafsanjani: Clear up election doubts

Top Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani criticized hard-liners at the main Islamic prayers Friday, urging them to free opposition supporters arrested in the post-election crackdown and to clear up doubts over the disputed vote.

Top Mitchell aide meets with Syrian FM

A top aide to George Mitchell, US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Thursday in Damascus, in what could potentially be a bid to revive stalled peace talks between Syria and Israel.

UK think tank: EU far-Right party has neo-Nazi ties

On the day before two British National Party (BNP) members take their seats in the European Parliament following last month's election victory, a London-based think tank has published a report showing the party's natural affinity with Nazi ideology.

Int'l project seeks to inscribe Bible in 100 languages

Thousands of people from around the world are taking part in an interfaith effort to hand-inscribe 100 Bibles in their native languages and display them at a Jerusalem museum.

Demjanjuk charged with 27,000 counts of accessory to murder

German prosecutors formally charged John Demjanjuk on Monday with 27,900 counts of being an accessory to murder at Nazi death camp Sobibor during World War II.

Mounting concern over neo-Nazi terror

Britain's Jewish and Muslim communities are reacting with consternation, but not surprise, to a recent warning issued by UK police following the uncovering of a network of far-right extremists.

Egypt arrests militants plotting Suez attacks

Authorities arrest 25 people linked to al-Qaeda on suspicion they plotted attacks on pipelines and ships in Suez Canal

Border crossing to Jordan to open 24/7

A ministerial committee responsible for ameliorating the economic situation of Palestinians in the West Bank decided Wednesday that the Allenby Bridge border crossing between Israel and Jordan will be open 24 hours a day.

Obama: 'Absolutely' no green light for Israel to attack Iran

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday strongly denied that the United States had given Israel an approval to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Asked by CNN whether Washington had given Israel a green light for such an attack, Obama answered: "Absolutely not."

Obama's diplomacy being tested in Russia

US President Barack Obama opened his first Moscow summit with confidence on Monday, predicting "extraordinary progress" out of meetings set to test his diplomatic skills on important priorities such as nuclear arsenal reductions and the fight in Afghanistan.

EU weighs recalling envoys to Iran due to UK embassy arrests

The European Union on Friday called Iran's decision to put detained British Embassy staff on trial "not acceptable" and was considering a British request to recall EU ambassadors from Teheran to protest the detentions of local embassy staff.

Hardliners call for Mousavi to be prosecuted

Iranian parliament member among several lawmakers preparing to write to judiciary complaining about defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi's activities after disputed elections says 'those who hold illegal rallies should be legally pursued'

Iran shuts newspaper challenging Ahmadinejad

The crackdown on the opposition in Iran continued on Wednesday, with authorities banning a newspaper allied to presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi after he denounced Iran's government as "illegitimate" because of claims of voting fraud in last month's election, a reformist political group said.

Spain closes Gaza bombing case against Israeli officials

Spanish Judge Fernando Andreu cannot investigate the IAF bombing in Gaza on July 22, 2002 that killed Hamas terrorist Sheikh Salah Shehadeh and 14 others, Spain's National Court ruled Tuesday.

Rafsanjani calls for fair probe of vote

As the former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani added his voice Sunday to demands for a probe of the contested June 12 presidential elections, riot police clashed with up to 3,000 protesters in north Teheran on Sunday, using tear gas and truncheons to break up Iran's first major post-election demonstration in five days.

UK Jewish school admissions policy is racist, court rules

The British High Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday against the admissions policy of a Jewish school, saying it "discriminated unlawfully" by using the faith of the mother as an admissions criteria.

N. Korea vows 'nuclear firestorm' if attacked

North Korea upped its rhetoric on Thursday, vowing to enlarge its atomic arsenal and warning of a "fire shower of nuclear retaliation" in the event of a US attack. The jingoist statements come as the regime marked the 1950 outbreak of the Korean War.

Analysis: The Iranian crisis at the clerical level

The clergy is affecting the situation in Iran on two levels. The first level is that of the clergy vis-à-vis the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, the volunteer paramilitary force. The second is the personal relationship between Sayyid Ali Husayn Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader and former president, and Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Bercow becomes first Jewish speaker of UK House of Commons

Conservative MP John Bercow was elected as the first Jewish speaker of the House of Commons in the 302-year history of the British parliament's lower chamber on Monday.

Mousavi: People entitled to protest lies

Thousands of riot police and members of the Basij militia lined the streets of Teheran on Sunday, and numerous helicopters clattered overhead, yet protesters continued to defy the regime by holding sporadic peaceful marches and gatherings denouncing the Iranian leadership and mourning the victims of Saturday's bloody crackdown.

Somali security minister killed in suicide bombing

President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed accused al-Qaida of being behind the bombing, which also killed a senior Somali diplomat. He did not offer any evidence, but the attack appeared to be another indication that Somali Islamic militants are adopting two tactics long used by al-Qaida: suicide attacks.

Guard who returned fire shaken by Holocaust Museum shooting

After retiring from a 27-year career as a D.C. police officer, Harry Weeks thought working security at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum would provide a quieter way to make a living. A typical day involved greeting visitors and analyzing images of handbags as they passed through a magnetometer.

Iranian soccer team wears green bands at World Cup qualifier

Green has become the color associated with supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi who lost Friday's election to incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a vote many Iranians believe were rigged by the authorities. Since the election results were announced Saturday, the country has been in turmoil.

Palestinian human rights group to challenge UK on Israel in High Court

Britain's High Court of Justice is set to consider a charge presented by a Palestinian human rights group this week accusing the UK government of failing to meet its obligations under international law following Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

American voters' support for both Israel and PA declines

Support for Israel among American voters dipped slightly over the first half of 2009, but this was not accompanied by a rise in the single-digit backing for Palestinians, a new poll has revealed.

Hundreds attend reopening of DC's Holocaust museum

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum reopened its doors Friday to crowds of visitors who came to pay tribute to the latest victim of the racial intolerance the institution is dedicated to opposing, and to call for its work to continue despite the threats it faces.

Tamir to appeal court ruling to demote him

Former Gaza Division commander Brig.-Gen. Moshe "Chico" Tamir plans to appeal a military court decision on Thursday to demote him to the rank of colonel for permitting his underage son to drive an IDF dune buggy and attempting to cover-up a subsequent accident.

Air France CEO 'not convinced' sensors caused crash

Air France's CEO said Thursday that he is "not convinced" faulty speed monitors caused the crash of Flight 447, which went down on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with 228 people aboard.

Japanese favored in vote to lead IAEA

A veteran Japanese diplomat emerged as the favorite to succeed Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the UN nuclear agency, as most agency board member nations backed him against four other candidates in an informal poll Tuesday.

Mitchell: US and Israel 'remain close allies and friends'

US envoy George Mitchell began a new swing through the Mideast on Tuesday by calling for a rapid resumption of peace talks and stressing Washington's commitment to Israel's security.

Hizbullah: Our weapons are off limits

The Western-backed coalition defeated Hizbullah and its allies, according to official results Monday that dealt a stunning setback to the Iranian-backed group and set the stage for renewed political deadlock in the volatile nation.

Obama calls for redoubling of efforts toward 2-state solution

Prodding the international community, President Barack Obama called Friday "for all of us to redouble our efforts" toward separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "The moment is now for us to act," he declared.

'Gov't shares Obama's wish for Arab-Israeli reconciliation'

The Prime Minister's Office responded to US President Barack Obama's address to the Muslim world on Thursday by expressing hope that it would help lead to reconciliation between the Muslim world and Israel.

French: No sign of problem with Air France jet

A French accident investigator said Wednesday there were no signs of problems with Air France Flight 447 before takeoff and it was unclear whether the chief pilot was at the controls when the plane plunged into the Atlantic Ocean.

Brazil's air force finds wreckage at sea

The Brazilian air force found signs of plane wreckage about 600 kilometers off coast Tuesday afternoon, after an Air France passenger jet disappeared Monday. Earlier, investigators were mulling several theories as to why the plane carrying 228 people disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean.

Missing Air France jet 'hit by electric fault'

An Air France plane missing over the Atlantic with 228 people aboard reported electrical problems in stormy weather before it lost contact, the airline said Monday, describing the loss as a "catastrophe."

NY students urge Red Cross to visit Schalit

Some 1,000 students demonstrated outside the New York headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday, urging the humanitarian group to visit kidnapped IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit.

Official: Car bombing kills about 30 in Pakistan

Gunmen detonated a car bomb near police and intelligence agency offices in Lahore on Wednesday, killing about 30 people and wounding at least 250 in one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks this year, officials said.

Obama picks Sotomayor for US high court

President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated a Hispanic judge, Sonia Sotomayor, to the US Supreme Court - a choice unlikely to shift the ideological balance on the country's highest judicial panel.

Woman in 50s is NY's 2nd swine flu death, US' 11th

The World Health Organization, as of Friday, had tallied more than 12,000 swine flu cases worldwide, with more than half of them in the United States. It counted at least 86 deaths, with 75 of those in Mexico.

Brazil police disrupt neo-Nazi bomb plot

Police seized Nazi literature, knives and three homemade explosive devices earlier this week they said were to have been set off at least two synagogues in the city of Porto Alegre, according to police Inspector Paulo Cesar Jardim.

Spain to limit judges' jurisdiction; includes probe against Israelis

The move follows pressure from foreign governments such as the US, China and Israel, which has strongly criticized Judge Fernando Andreu's ongoing investigation into the 2002 assassination of Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh in Gaza, in which 14 others were also killed.

UN official: Gaza probe goes on without Israeli okay

The head of a United Nations inquiry team said on Wednesday he hopes to visit Gaza and southern Israel in early June, and also aims to hold public hearings in the region on alleged war crimes committed there.

Jewish educator in Queens dies of swine flu as virus spreads in NY

A Jewish educator in New York has died from complications of swine flu, as city officials moved to contain the spreading virus by closing schools in Queens and Brooklyn where students and teachers have come down with flu-like symptoms.

Lebanon says two suspected spies have escaped to Israel

Two Lebanese citizens suspected of spying for Israel have fled the country and crossed the heavily fortified border into Israel, a senior Lebanese security official said Monday.

Activists protest German energy company's trade with Iran at its board of directors meeting

German and Iranian human rights activists bought shares in The Linde Group, the gases and engineering giant, and posed tough questions to the Linde board of directors on Friday at the annual stockholder meeting about the company's controversial trade relationship with Iran.

At end of Mideast trip, pope says peace is possible

Pope Benedict XVI assured his followers in the Holy Land that peace is possible, as he ended his Mideast visit Friday by putting aside the contentious issues he has confronted and coming as a pilgrim to the site of Jesus' crucifixion.

Analysis: The German media see the past, not the future

The extradition of suspected Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk to Germany on Tuesday took place against the backdrop of Pope Benedict XVI's visit in Israel and the controversy surrounding the Bavarian-born pontiff's failure, according to many Israeli critics, to confront head-on Nazi Germany's role in organizing the Holocaust.

German doctors: Demjanjuk fit to remain in prison custody

Demjanjuk is being held on suspicion of acting as an accessory to the murder of 29,000 people at a Nazi death camp and doctors at Stadelheim found him fit enough to remain in detention there, the prison said.

UN Security Council committed to 2-state solution

The United Nations Security Council unanimously endorsed a statement Monday calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and pushing for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations in Moscow this year under the auspices of the UN's Middle East Quartet.

Pakistan: Up to 700 Taliban militants killed in offensive

A major Pakistani military offensive in the northwest has killed up to 700 militants in the past four days, and the operation will proceed until the last Taliban fighter in the area is ousted, the country's top civilian security official said Monday.

Netanyahu can be a peacemaker, says Quartet emissary Blair

Quartet emissary Tony Blair on Thursday offered a strong endorsement of Binyamin Netanyahu's capacity to achieve peace, backing the prime minister's focus on fostering West Bank economic growth and bolstering the Palestinians' security capacity.

Syrian FM: There's no need to amend Arab peace initiative

Syria's foreign minister on Thursday rejected amending an Arab peace offer to Israel to make it more acceptable to Jerusalem, saying there's no justification for making another concession.

Blair: Quartet to present new strategy for peace negotiations

The US-led Quartet of Middle East mediators is working on a new strategy for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and is expected to present it in five to six weeks, Quartet envoy Tony Blair has said. The plan is being devised by the Obama administration, with input from others, Blair told Palestinian reporters.

Israel blasts UN report on Cast Lead as 'patently biased'

Israel on Tuesday rejected as "patently biased" a UN inspection committee report which alleged that the IDF had intentionally attacked UN installations during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip and called on the UN to reassess its modus operandi in "the complex reality.

Mexico criticizes 'repressive' quarantines abroad

Mexico rebuked China declaring the swine flu epidemic was no reason for "repressive and discriminatory measures," after the Asian nation seized and quarantined at least 70 of its citizens.

Workers rally in European cities to mark May Day

Workers rallied Friday in European cities to mark May Day, with tens of thousands of demonstrators across Russia supporting or slamming the government amid growing unemployment and economic troubles.

Car hits crowd during Dutch parade; TV says 2 dead

Dutch television said two people were killed and about a dozen injured, but police in Apeldoorn declined to confirm the casualty toll or to say whether the incident was a deliberate attack on the royal family.

Official confirms first US death from swine flu

A 23-month-old US toddler became the first confirmed swine flu death outside of Mexico as authorities around the world struggled to contain a growing global health menace that also spread to Germany and Austria.

Health Ministry confirms first case of swine flu in Israel

Officials said that Tomer Vajim, who has been in quarantine for several days, tested positive for the virus. Vajim, 25, was in excellent condition, they said, adding that a decision would soon be made on whether to keep him quarantined at Laniado Hospital in Netanya.

Europeans told to avoid non-vital travel to Mexico, US

Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic. "We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be," US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday.

Czech PM tells Peres he'll work to strengthen Israel-EU ties

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek met with Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, and reiterated his country's commitment to strengthen ties between Israel and the European Union. "We will work so that the voices in Europe calling to slow down or freeze the promotion of relations to Israel won't get what they're after," Topolanek told Peres.

UN kicks Jewish, Iranian groups out of racism conference

The United Nations expelled three Jewish and Iranian groups from a global racism conference for what it called unacceptable behavior connected with the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad.

Clinton: Stopping Iran from getting nukes a top US priority

Stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is an imperative for the United States, which is taking a more active role in pursuing that goal, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday.

House member denies interceding in Israel spy case

California Democrat Rep. Jane Harman's office said she "never contacted the Justice Department about its prosecution of present or former AIPAC employees, and the Justice Department never informed her that she was or is the subject of or involved in an investigation."

Britain to attend Durban II conference

"We will have plans in place so that if it becomes clear that the conduct of the proceedings is degenerating and is getting to a point that we saw back in 2001 in Durban then of course we will be ready to consider a range of options, including up to walking out of the conference," a British Foreign Office official said on Friday.

Anti-Israel NGOs get head start in Geneva ahead of Durban II

Geneva was abuzz with activity over the weekend, as NGOs from around the world began preliminary activities and side-meetings in the run-up to the Durban Review Conference, which will begin Monday in the Swiss city.

Pressure Israel to accept two states, Palestinians urge Mitchell

The US must hold Israel to previous peace commitments and pressure it to accept the principle of Palestinian statehood, Palestinian leaders told US President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy in Ramallah on Friday.

Mitchell reiterates 2-state commitment

US envoy George Mitchell on Thursday reiterated that the US remained committed to Palestinian statehood, countering comments by Israeli ministers to the effect that the new government was not bound to a two-state solution.

Several countries issue travel advisories for Thailand

Japan urged its nationals to avoid wearing the politically charged colors of red or yellow in Bangkok, while France and Britain advised citizens to stay indoors as rioting spread Monday in the Thai capital and countries worldwide issued travel advisories.

4 Lebanese soldiers killed, 1 wounded in grenade ambush

Gunmen ambushed Lebanese troops in the east of the country on Monday, spraying their military vehicle with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, a senior military official said. Four soldiers were killed and an officer was wounded in the attack.

Egyptian parliamentarians: Try Nasrallah for encouraging terror

Egyptian parliamentarians and legal experts called to issue a warrant for the arrest of Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and to put him on trial for "encouraging terror activities in an attempt to destabilize the [Egyptian] state," the Saudi-based Al Arabiya television network reported Sunday.

Death toll in Italy quake up to 250; Israeli still missing

An Israeli man studying medicine in central Italy was among 15 people still missing on Tuesday after a powerful earthquake struck the area a day earlier. The death toll in the quake has risen to 250, officials said Wednesday, as strong aftershocks cause further fear among residents sheltered in tent camps.

EU envoy not quick to judge new gov't

EU special envoy Marc Otte, unfazed by the policy review currently under way in the new Netanyahu government and comments against the Annapolis process by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, recommended patience Monday, saying the new government had been in power less than a week.

Abdullah: Israel holding Mideast hostage

Jordan's King Abdullah II said Monday that an Arab peace initiative offers a solution for peace in the Middle East, adding that Israel should seize the opportunity or risk ongoing conflict in the region.

UN names Jewish judge to lead Gaza war crimes investigation

The United Nations on Friday appointed a widely respected South African judge who is a trustee of Hebrew University to lead a high-level mission to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead.

Report: North Korea fueling rocket for impending launch

North Korea has begun fueling a long-range rocket for an impending launch, a news report said Thursday, as President Barack Obama warned the liftoff would be a "provocative act" that would generate a UN Security Council response.

European Parliament conference vows to fight anti-Semitism

The mother of Ilan Halimi, a 23-year-old French Jew murdered in a brutal attack in 2006, told a conference on anti-Semitism held at the European Parliament on Monday about the importance of fighting anti-Semitism so that her son would not become a "detail of history."

New Balad MK praises Iranian quest for nuclear weapons

New Balad MK Haneen Zuabi, the first woman to be elected to the Knesset as a representative of an Arab party, has welcomed Iran's growing influence on Palestinian affairs and praised Iran's quest for a nuclear weapon as a means of offsetting Israel's regional military edge. Having Israel as the region's sole nuclear power, she said, was "dangerous to the world."

Foreign Ministry mum on Chinese cyber spy ring

Foreign Ministry officials said on Sunday they were unaware of a Chinese cyber spy ring whose existence was revealed over the weekend. It reportedly hacked into classified documents from government and private organizations in 103 countries.

Erdogan says Turkey ready to resume Israel-Syria mediation

Turkey is ready to resume mediation between Israel and Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Friday. The Turkish prime minister said the negotiations could recommence if both countries desire, stressing that it would also depend on the approach of the new Israeli government.

Sudanese minister: US planes carried out strike on convoy

The bombing of a convoy of trucks that was reportedly carrying weapons bound for the Gaza Strip through Sudan during Operation Cast Lead was carried out by American aircraft, according to Sudanese State Minister for Highways Mabrouk Mubarak Saleem.

Yadlin: Iran's decision to pursue low-grade enrichment strategic

Iran attained control of enriching fissile material and has thus crossed a technological threshold necessary for building a nuclear weapon, Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin said Wednesday.

Prosecutors submit scam e-mail with Madoff victim letters

Forget an eye for an eye - in the case of financial fraud Bernard Madoff, at least one person thought it would be worth trying to extract justice via a scam for a scam.

Mumbai gunman tells court that he is from Pakistan

The only gunman charged in last year's terror attacks in Mumbai told an Indian court Monday, the first day of court proceedings, that he would agree to a government-provided lawyer and also repeated that he was a Pakistani national.

Deported former Nazi won't be tried

Austria does not want him in the country and is trying to send him on to Poland, an Austrian embassy official told The Jerusalem Post, but said he would not be able to be prosecuted in either country due to the statute of limitations.

Austria: Josef Fritzl sentenced to life in prison

A jury has convicted Austrian incest father Josef Fritzl of homicide and sentenced him to life imprisonment in a secure psychiatric facility. Fritzl also was convicted of enslavement, rape, incest, forced imprisonment and coercion for holding his daughter captive for 24 years and fathering her seven children.

Russian media: Defense official confirms S-300 sale to Iran

Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday that a top defense official confirmed Russia had indeed signed a contract to sell S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran, but that none of the weapons had been delivered.

Fritzl admits incest, pleads innocent to murder

An Austrian who fathered seven children with a daughter he held captive in a squalid cellar for 24 years refused to even speak to her for years, coming only to rape her, often in front of the youngsters, a prosecutor has said.

EU warns Netanyahu on hawkish government

The European Union urged Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday to craft a government that embraces the long-standing goal of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.

Madoff pleads guilty to $65b. swindle

NEW YORK - Bernard Madoff's freedom came to an end Thursday with the definitive "click-click" of handcuffs closing around his wrists, just moments after he pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of $65 billion in a transatlantic pyramid scheme.

Analysis: By going public, Katsav hopes to plant doubts in judges' minds, experts say

At a press conference scheduled for Thursday, former president Moshe Katsav hopes to delegitimize the expected indictment against him and to present it as a product of misplaced considerations of ego and prestige, leading media consultant Eyal Arad told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

Accused swindler Madoff in court ahead of expected plea deal

Madoff, 70, was brought to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan under tight security from the Upper East Side apartment where he has been under house arrest since December.

N. Ireland police chief defiant after 2nd fatal attack

Irish Republican Army dissidents fatally shot a policeman in the head as he responded to an emergency call, just 48 hours after the killing of two soldiers, Northern Ireland's police commander said Tuesday.

North Korea threatens 'war' if satellite is shot down

North Korea put its armed forces on standby for war Monday and threatened retaliation against anyone seeking to stop the regime from launching a satellite into space in the latest barrage of threats from the communist regime.

Mauritania expels Israeli mbassador and his staff

Mauritania has expelled the Israeli ambassador and his staff from the overwhelmingly Muslim West African nation, Foreign Ministry officials confirmed Friday afternoon. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the Foreign Ministry had yet to release details. Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor would not immediately comment.

Iran: We can hit Israeli nuclear sites

"All the nuclear facilities in different parts of the land under the occupation of the Zionist regime are in the reach of Iran's missile defenses," Jafari was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying.

Clinton calls for urgent action to break ME cycle of violence

Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her first foray into Middle East politics as US secretary of state, called for urgent action by Arabs, Israelis and the international community to break the cycle of Mideast violence and to move toward a comprehensive peace in the region.

Sri Lankan cricket team attacked in Pakistan

A dozen masked gunmen armed with rifles and rocket launchers attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team as it traveled to a match in Pakistan on Tuesday, wounding several players and killing five police officers, officials said.

Bangladesh: Hundreds of fleeing border guards detained after revolt

Security forces have detained hundreds of fleeing border guards and set up roadblocks across the country since a bloody two-day revolt against military officers left at least 22 people dead, officials said Friday.

The Iran-Israel nuclear endgame is now much closer

In recent days, four key developments have clicked in to edge Iran and Israel much closer to a military denouement with profound consequences for American oil that the nation is not prepared to meet.

Gaddafi: Foreign forces, including Israel, behind Darfur conflict

The International Criminal Court is set to due to announce on March 4 whether it will issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir over allegations that he masterminded genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.

Dutch news show slammed for anti-Israel bias

Yochanan Visser, a monitor of Dutch media for the Israel Facts organization, spent the entirety of the Gaza war watching The Nos Journal's methods of reporting on Operation Cast Lead.

Seoul: N. Korea has deployed new ballistic missile

North Korea recently deployed a new type of medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching northern Australia and the US territory of Guam, South Korea's Defense Ministry said Monday.

Analysis: Turkey's shift toward Iran, Syria is no short-term blip

Last weekend, a conference held under the title "Gaza the victory" took place at hotel near Istanbul's Ataturk airport. The conference brought 200 Sunni clerics and activists together with senior, Damascus-based Hamas officials.

US commander: Troops 'stalemated' in Afghanistan

The top US commander in Afghanistan offered a grim view Wednesday of military efforts in southern Afghanistan, warning that 17,000 new troops will take on emboldened Taliban insurgents who have "stalemated" US and allied forces.

Stimulus bill gives $1 billion to Jewish social service providers

The economic stimulus bill enacted by President Obama will provide $1 billion to Jewish nursing homes and social service agencies, according to the United Jewish Communities.

US reaches out to Jewish leaders on 'Durban II'

Senior White House and State Department officials held a conference call with American Jewish leaders Monday to reassure them over the administration's decision to participate in preliminary discussions about the United Nation's World Conference Against Racism conference in Geneva this April.

Chavez wins vote to scrap term limits

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won a referendum to eliminate term limits Sunday and vowed to remain in power for at least another decade to complete his socialist revolution. Opponents accepted defeat but said Chavez is becoming a dictator.

Venezuelans decide whether Chavez can run indefinitely

Critics say removing term limits would distort democracy by enabling a president to stay in power for decades, while Chavez - first elected in 1998 - said the proposed constitutional amendment would deepen democracy by giving voters more choice. He pointed out that Franklin Roosevelt was elected US president four times.

Plane crash in New York state kills 49 people

A Continental Airlines plane crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York, late Thursday, killing all 49 people aboard and a person in the home, authorities said. "This is easily the saddest day in the history of our airline," said Philip Trenary, CEO of Colgan Air, which operated the flight for Continental.

Pope: Holocaust denial unacceptable

Pope Benedict XVI said Thursday any minimization of the Holocaust was unacceptable, especially for a priest, as he met with Jewish leaders in hopes of ending the rancor over a bishop who denied 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis.

US press pay scant attention to election

Avigdor Lieberman may have made the front page of Sunday's New York Times, but if Tzipi Livni, Binyamin Netanyahu or Ehud Barak wanted similar attention in the US media, they should have considered manufacturing scandalous cell-phone camera pictures to get it.

Australian official: Wildfire deaths will pass 200

Authorities searching for answers to the carnage from the worst wildfires in Australia's history said Tuesday they would rethink policies that allow residents to decide for themselves whether to evacuate their homes. An official said he expected the death toll to exceed 200.

PA foreign minister: 'Hamas wants instability in the region'

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki accused Hamas on Monday of trying to influence the outcome of this week's Israeli election, pointing to the continued Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.

Israeli ship cargo unloaded in Durban despite union boycott.

The Port of Durban has turned to non-union workers to unload an Israeli ship that docked on Thursday, circumventing a boycott of Israeli shipping declared by the South African transport workers union on Wednesday.

Gilad to Cairo as truce talks break down

The Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau chief Amos Gilad was dispatched to Cairo on Thursday afternoon following the Hamas announcement that truce talks in Egypt had failed to reach a breakthrough.

UN: Hamas raided warehouse in Gaza, seized blankets, food

Hamas police in Gaza broke into a warehouse full of United Nations humanitarian supplies and seized thousands of blankets and food parcels, UN spokesman said, raising the possibility of a rupture between the organization that cares for most of Gaza's residents and the territory's rulers and threatening the flow of badly needed aid.

Spain may amend war crimes law

The Spanish government is considering a proposal to amend a controversial war crimes law that would allow a Madrid court to investigate Israelis over the killing of Palestinians, a Spanish diplomat said Monday.

IAEA head: Enough time to address Iran bomb concern

Nuclear watchdog chief says even if Tehran decides to eject inspectors, leave Non-Proliferation Treaty, reconfigure production to refine uranium to degree needed, process will take between two to five years. 'There is a concern, but don't hype concern,' he says.

Peres: Outburst won't hurt Israel-Turkey ties

President says his heated public exchange with Turkish PM Erdogan was not personal, defends his unusually passionate speech as called for in response to verbal assaults on Israel over Gaza.Peres defended his unusually passionate speech at a session of the World Economic Forum Thursday night.

ElBaradei nixes interview with BBC

Mohamed ElBaradei, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement that the BBC's decision to ban the charity appeal "violates the rules of basic human decency which are there to help vulnerable people irrespective of who is right or wrong."

Top UN official skips Holocaust ceremony

A spokesman for Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, the president of the UN General Assembly, had said the Nicaraguan diplomat - who has drawn fire for calling on the international community to boycott Israel over Gaza and for embracing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - would attend.

Canadian journalists castigated by media watchdog

Holocaust comparisons are definitely becoming more commonplace in the media, according to Mike Fegelman, executive director of HonestReporting Canada (HRC), a pro-Israel media watchdog.

Universities cancel study abroad in Israel in wake of Gaza op

Natalie Leichtman was all but packed for a spring semester abroad in Israel, when she opened up her e-mail and saw that the program had been canceled.Published 1.26.09, 09:20 AM"I had been working through all the paperwork for most of the semester" the 21-year-old Rutgers psychology student told The Jerusalem Post from Jerusalem on Sunday.

Scottish group accused of hijacking Holocaust Memorial Day

The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, an anti-Israel fringe group, is hosting an event titled "Resistance to Genocide and Ethnic Cleaning: from Europe in the 1940s to the Middle East Today" to mark the UK's Holocaust Memorial Day.

Obama signs order to close Guantanamo in a year

President Barack Obama began overhauling US treatment of terror suspects Thursday, signing orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, review military trials of suspects and ban the harshest interrogation methods.

Obama begins presidency with traditional national prayer service

Barack Obama made his first formal appearance as US president on Wednesday at a traditional post-inauguration prayer service presided over by an ecumenical assembly of religious leaders that included three rabbis.

Analysis: Glimpses, sans poetry, into his program

To a nation, and indeed a world, accustomed by now to the soaring oratory of US President Barack Obama, his inaugural speech probably won't be remembered as his finest. True, there were some fine turns of phrase, such as "A nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.

UK paper: Can Israel be compared to Nazis?

A British newspaper has issued an apology after receiving complaints about a poll published Monday in which it asked if Israel can be compared to the Nazis. Metro, a free morning paper distributed across the UK, asked the question, "Can Israel be compared to the Nazis?" in its daily poll.

Jewish community gets on the Obama bandwagon

President-elect Barack Obama completed his whistle-stop tour from Philadelphia to the US capital on Saturday night for his inauguration this week, where he is being greeted by millions of Americans, a packed schedule of festivities and even the occasional "Shalom!"

UK Muslims call to curb anti-Semitism

More than 20 prominent British Muslim leaders have signed a letter denouncing the rise in anti-Semitic attacks resulting from Operation Cast Lead and calling on Muslims to help prevent attacks on Jews in the UK.

Disabled jet ditches into NY River; all rescued.

A US Airways pilot ditched his disabled jetliner into the frigid Hudson River in full view of New York City skyscrapers on Thursday after a collision with a flock of birds apparently knocked out both engines. Officials said rescuers pulled all 155 people on board into boats as the plane sank. One victim suffered two broken legs, a paramedic said.

Austrian groups protest against Hamas terror

Israel supporters in Vienna protest Hamas terror in a rally that drew some 500 people.Vienna's small Jewish community and the political group Cafe Critique staged a rally on Monday evening on the Judenplatz (Jewish Square) under the motto "Against the terror of Hamas and for Israel's right to self-defense."

Clinton expresses determination to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Recalling the many failed attempts - including her husband's - to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton declared during her confirmation hearings Tuesday that "we cannot give up on peace."

Venezuela not seen as wanting to break diplomatic relations despite expelling Israeli ambassador

Israel is considering whether to send a charge d'affaires back to Venezuela, after Hugo Chavez's government made clear that although it wanted to expel Israel's ambassador, it did not want to close the embassy or cut off diplomatic ties.

Guess who's coming to the presidential inaugural?

President-and vice president-elect Barak Obama and Joe Biden will be there - and so will Ariel Lang, a 22-year-old resident of a small settlement near Jerusalem, who has been officially invited to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20.

UN Human Rights Council votes to condemn Israel on Gaza op

On Monday, the Human Rights Council's 47 members voted 33 in favor and 1 against the resolution that also accuses Israel of systematically destroying Palestinian infrastructure and of targeting civilians and medical facilities. European Union countries abstained and Canada voted against the resolution.

Obama won't deal with Hamas, 'Post' told

President-elect Barack Obama "has repeatedly stated that he believes that Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, and that we should not deal with them until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements," said Brooke Anderson in a statement to the Post.

A response to a Euro-Mediterranean appeal

An appeal regarding the developments in Gaza was circulated a few days ago to people involved in EuroMeSCo, an extensive network of policy and security-oriented research institutes from the Euro-Mediterranean region, of which the Institute for National Security Studies is a member.

European Jews launch series of pro-Israel rallies

The next pro-Israel demonstration is expected to be held in Rome's Parco dei Principi on Saturday night, followed by Sunday rallies in London, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin. The London rally will be held at Trafalgar Square and will be titled "End Hamas Terror: Peace for the People of Israel and Gaza.

US seeks cease-fire formula, backs op

The United States is working with its allies on a cease-fire agreement that would end Hamas rocket fire, open Gaza's border crossings and deal with the tunnels in which goods are smuggled from Egypt into the coastal strip, the US State Department said Monday.

Int'l Gaza ceasefire plan taking shape

Officials, diplomats say Israel taking seriously international proposal for ceasefire that would involve sending a special force, including military engineers, to Gaza-Egypt border to prevent Hamas from rearming.

Sarkozy pushes Syria to pressure ally Hamas

French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Syria on Tuesday to exert pressure on its ally Hamas to help end the fighting in the Gaza Strip between the militant Palestinian group and Israeli forces. But his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, did not respond to Sarkozy's call to intercede with Hamas.

Merkel: Cease-fire only when Israel's security guaranteed

A day after speaking to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and urging a cease-fire in Gaza only when Israel's security could be guaranteed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Diplomats converge on Israel in push for truce

Israel consolidated its hold on parts of the Gaza Strip on Monday, seizing high-rise buildings on the outskirts of the territory's biggest city as a stream of world leaders headed for the region to press for a truce.

Muslims around the world protest Gaza assault

Similar protests have been held daily across the Middle East since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. But these gatherings held mostly after Friday prayers were larger — mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional gathering opportunity for Muslims/

Crew fight off pirates with water jets off Somalia

Crewmen fired high pressure water jets to fight off heavily armed Somali pirates trying to board a Greek oil tanker in the dangerous Gulf of Aden on Friday in the fourth such attack since the start of the year, authorities said.

Fifty-nine killed in Bangkok nightclub fire

At least 59 people, including a number of foreigners, died when a fire swept through a high-class nightclub jammed with as many as 1,000 New Year's revelers in the Thai capital, police at the scene said Thursday.

World bids a relieved adieu to a rocky year

Fireworks exploded in a kaleidoscopic shower of light over Sydney's shimmering harbor Wednesday, as the world's first major city to ring in 2009 celebrated the end of a decidedly rocky year with cheers, beers and a sense of relief.

Hundreds in Mich., NYC, LOS protest Gaza attack

Israel's military strikes on the Gaza Strip prompted pro-Palestinian protests in America, with marchers denouncing the violence in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, New York City and Los Angeles.

200 protest Gaza op at Israeli Embassy in London

The demonstration followed a 700-strong demonstration at the embassy in Kensington on Sunday yesterday that saw nine people arrested for public order offenses, including one for assaulting a police officer, a police spokesman said in a telephone interview.

Iranian group registers volunteers to fight Israel

A prominent Iranian conservative political party is registering volunteers to fight against Israel in response to the air assault against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The party, the Combatant Clergy Society, announced it was looking for volunteers on its Web site.

Israel launches well-coordinated PR blitz to garner support for Gaza action

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and spokespeople from the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and the IDF Spokesman's Office took to the airwaves - including the Arab satellite stations - with the message that Israel has been patient up until now, but could not tolerate the unending attacks, and that Hamas was the party responsible for the suffering that would incur.

Russia to supply missiles to Syria

Russia plans to supply air-defense missile systems valued at $250 million to seven countries including Syria, Libya and Venezuela, Vedomosti reported, citing an unidentified Russian Technologies Corp official.

3 Chinese navy ships leave for Somalia

Chinese warships — armed with special forces, guided missiles and helicopters — set sail Friday for anti-piracy duty off Somalia, the first time the communist nation has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting so far beyond its territorial waters.

Officials: 19 dead in Ukraine apartment gas blast

An explosion tore through an apartment building in southern Ukraine, killing at least 19 people and leaving dozens more trapped under the rubble, emergency officials said Thursday. Up to 700 rescuers were searching for survivors in the wreckage of the collapsed five-story building in the Crimea peninsula resort of Yevpatoriya 

Ahmadinejad to address UK on Christmas

Merry Christmas, "bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers." Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver a Christmas Day broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 television, occupying a slot used to provide an often controversial counterpoint to Queen Elizabeth II's traditional annual message, the station said Wednesday.  

Group declares Guinea coup after dictator's death

A military-led group seized control of the airwaves in Guinea and declared a coup Tuesday after the death of the mineral-rich West African country's longtime dictator, but the prime minister insisted he remained in charge.

Suspected US Missile strike in Pakistan kills 8

Suspected U.S. missile strikes killed at least eight people Monday in volatile northwest Pakistan, officials and witnesses said. Bakht Janan, a local security official, said an unmanned drone aircraft began circling over the village of Kari Khel around 3 a.m. and fired missiles at two vehicles several hours later.

Passenger jet goes off Denver runway; 38 hurt

A Continental Airlines jet taking off from Denver veered off the runway into a ravine Saturday night, forcing passengers to evacuate on emergency slides as the plane burned, officials said. Two people were critically injured and 36 others were taken to hospitals.

Remains identified as those of Caylee Anthony

Orlando authorities said Friday that DNA tests confirm the skeletal remains recently found in the woods belong to missing toddler Caylee Anthony, who had been missing since June. A county medical examiner said at a news conference that the remains match Caylee’s DNA profile, and that the death is considered a homicide.

President Bush: Automakers to get $17.4B

The Bush administration came to the rescue of the U.S. auto industry Friday, offering $17.4 billion in loans in exchange for concessions from the deeply troubled carmakers and their workers.

Jews of Yemen reportedly to be relocated in wake of deadly attack

President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is planning to relocate Yemen's Jews from the Amran district and the city of Raidah to the capital, Sana, where each Jewish family will receive a plot of land.

Death toll tops 1,100 from Zimbabwe cholera

The death toll from a cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe has soared to 1,111, the United Nations said on Thursday, adding to pressure for a quick solution to the crisis in the southern African country. South African ANC leader Jacob Zuma backed a diplomatic push as the way to end political deadlock and rejected any suggestion of sending troops.

U.S. Jews ponder 'catastrophic' effects of Bernard Madoff affair

The Hebrew word for charity is "tzedakah." But it means something more, too: doing the righteous thing. Many of the investors allegedly swindled by Wall Street money manager Bernard Madoff are, like him, Jewish, and for many of them, contributing to Jewish causes is a crucial part of their culture. The effect of their losses on the Jewish philanthropic world is being seen as nothing less than catastrophic.

British-Iraqi doctor gets life sentence for terror plot

Bilal Abdulla, 29, had been convicted Tuesday of conspiring to murder hundreds of Britons and conspiring to cause explosions in two botched terrorist attacks last year. Justice Colin Mackay gave Abdulla a life sentence Wednesday, ordering him to serve a minimum of 32 years concurrently on each count and telling him he was a "religious extremist and a bigot."

Greek youths take over TV, radio stations

Greek protesters pushed their way into television and radio studios Tuesday, forcing broadcasters to put out anti-government messages in a change of tactics after days of violent street protests.

Plane en route to NY with 11 on board is missing

A plane en route to New York with 11 people on board disappeared after taking off from the Dominican Republic, authorities said Tuesday. The Atlantis Airlines plane, which was expected to make a refueling stop in the Bahamas, sent an emergency signal before disappearing from the radar 35 minutes after takeoff on about 3:30 p.m. Monday, said Jose Tomas Perez, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute.

US anti-kidnapping expert kidnapped in Mexico

A U.S. anti-kidnapping expert was abducted by gunmen in northern Mexico last week, a sign of just how bold this nation's kidnapping gangs have become. U.S. security consultant Felix Batista was in Saltillo in Coahuila state to offer advice on how to confront abductions for ransom when he was snatched by unknown assailants on Dec. 10, said Charlie LeBlanc, the president of the Houston, Texas-based security firm ASI Global LLC., where Batista is a consultant.

Bush's Iraq-Afghan farewell tour marred by dissent

President George W. Bush wrapped up a whirlwind trip to two war zones Monday that in many ways was a victory lap without a clear victory. A signature event occurred when an Iraqi reporter hurled two shoes at Bush, an incident the president called "a bizarre moment."

Scottish pro-Palestinian group 'fabricates' story of Israeli boycott

A local council in Scotland has emphatically denied the allegation made by a pro-Palestinian fringe group that it had been pressured by the group to boycott and terminate a contract with an Israeli mineral water supplier. West Lothian Council called the claim made by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), that they were responsible in part for the termination of contracts for water coolers with Eden Springs, "a total fabrication."

Cop: Remains 'linked' to Caylee Anthony home

A medical examiner found evidence among a child’s remains that link them to the home of a missing toddler, the county sheriff said Friday, offering the strongest indication yet that the remains may be those of Caylee Anthony.

Jew shot to death in Yemen by 'disturbed extremist'

Moshe Yaish-Nahari, the brother of a prominent rabbi in Yemen was shot to death on Thursday in Rida, Yemen, located north of the capital Sana'a, the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

Iran summons French enoy after Sarkozy rules out shaking Ahmadinejad's hand

The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the French ambassador to Tehran over remarks this week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy about his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian media and France's foreign ministry said Thursday.

Greek-inspired demonstrations spread

As Greece suffered through its sixth day of violence Thursday, there were troubling signs of unrest spreading across Europe. Angry youths smashed shop windows, attacked banks and hurled bottles at police in small but violent protests in Spain and Denmark, while cars were set alight outside a consulate in France.

Obama wants to reboot America's image in the Muslim world

President-elect Barack Obama says he will try to "reboot America's image" among the world's Muslims and will follow tradition by using his entire name - Barack Hussein Obama - in his swearing-in ceremony.

Nobel Peace Prize winner urges Obama: Focus on Mideast peace

Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari urged US President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday to start his term by giving "high priority" to the Middle East conflict, calling it the world's most challenging peace-building project.

Clashes, looting rock Greek cities for 4th night

Masked youths and looters marauded through Greek cities for a fourth night Tuesday, in an explosion of rage triggered by the police shooting of a teenager that has unleashed the most violent riots in a quarter century.

Accused 9/11 plotters say they want to confess

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men charged with coordinating the Sept. 11 attacks say they want to enter guilty pleas, apparently challenging the U.S. government to sentence them to death before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

Massive riots cripple Greece's main cities

Gangs of youths smashed their way through central Athens and Thessaloniki on Monday, torching stores and buildings after the fatal police shooting of a teenager sparked Greece's worst rioting in decades.

Pakistan arrests suspected Mumbai plotter

Security forces overran a militant camp on the outskirts of Pakistani Kashmir's main city and seized an alleged mastermind of the attacks that shook India's financial capital last month, two officials said Monday.

Canada defends Saudi policy of shunning tourists who visited Israel

The Canadian government has come to the defense of Saudi Arabia, telling The Jerusalem Post that the desert kingdom's policy of barring entry to Canadian citizens whose passports bear an Israeli visa or border stamp is "accepted practice."

Economy lost another 533,000 jobs in November

Skittish employers slashed 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, catapulting the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, dramatic proof the country is careening deeper into recession.

Suicide blasts kill 17 as Iraqi council OKs pact

Suicide bombers killed 17 people — including two American soldiers — and wounded more than 100 in a string of blasts in two Iraqi cities Thursday as a timetable for withdrawing all U.S. troops won final government approval.

Iraqi council gives final approval to pact with US

Iraq's presidential council on Thursday approved a security pact that sets out a three-year timeframe for U.S. troops to leave, a spokesman said, the final step for the agreement to replace a U.N. mandate that expires Dec. 31.

Rice in India: Pakistan must show 'resolve and urgency'

S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Pakistan must show "resolve and urgency" as she called Wednesday for international cooperation in the investigation into the Mumbai attacks. Rice arrived in New Delhi as part of a US effort to ease tensions in the region after a three-day terrorist attack killed 171 people in India's financial capital.

Nations sign cluster-bomb ban, US and Russia refuse

Nations began signing a treaty banning cluster bombs Wednesday in a move that supporters hope will shame the U.S., Russia and China and other non-signers into abandoning weapons blamed for maiming and killing civilians.

Thai gov't falls after court bans PM; airport seizures to end

Thailand's prime minister resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests that paralyzed his government and closed the capital's airports. Cargo flights resumed and protesters promised to lift their siege by Wednesday.

Thailand: Protesters move to besieged airports

In a switch of tactics, the People's Alliance for Democracy told its members occupying the prime minister's office compound for the last three months to leave and join compatriots at the airports, which they seized last week in their push to oust the government. Following the call, the number swelled to about 6,000 people at the two airports.

6th Chabad House victim was meant to make aliya this week

The sixth victim of the terrorist attack on Mumbai's Chabad House has been identified as Mexican citizen Norma Shvarzblat Rabinovich, 50, according to Jewish Agency spokesperson Michael Jankelowitz.

'Five Chabad House hostages appear to have been killed'

An Indian official was quoted by Sky News as saying the operation was still ongoing, but in its final stages. Two gunmen were also killed in the operation against Islamic terrorists that had holed themselves up inside the building, Sky News quoted Indian National Security Guards chief J.K. Dutt as saying.

'10-15 Israelis held in Chabad House and Mumbai hotel'

Indian commandos and police were evacuating civilians and cordoning off the area apparently in preparation to storm the Chabad House in Mumbai, India, where a rabbi, his wife and several other Israelis were being held hostage, according to IBN, an Indian news agency.

Iran: More than 5,000 centrifuges are now up and running

Iran now has more than 5,000 centrifuges operating at its uranium enrichment plant, Iran's nuclear chief announced Wednesday, in the Persian country's latest defiance of UN demands that Teheran halt the controversial program.

Two Israelis sentenced to death in Thailand for drug dealing

Alon Mahluf, 37, and Vladimir Agronik, 34, were arrested a year ago in a drug bust on Bangkok's Kao San Road, a destination popular with Israeli tourists. They were charged and later convicted of possessing some 23,000 ecstasy pills which Thai police said were destined for Italy and the US.

US: Administration change gives Iran new chance for talks

The chief US delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that the change in administrations in Washington would be a good opportunity for Iran to enter new negotiations to end its uranium enrichment program.

Obama names Geithner new treasury secretary

President-elect Barack Obama turned his focus to the teetering US economy, as he outlined a plan to create 2.5 million jobs and transition officials said he would name on Monday a respected Federal Reserve official to the post of treasury secretary.

Bush signs jobless benefits extension

With no end in sight to economic bad news, President George W. Bush on Friday ensured that millions of laid-off workers will keep getting their unemployment checks as the year-end holidays approach.

'Iran already has enough nuclear material for one atomic weapon'

Iran has produced approximately enough nuclear material to assemble an atomic weapon, according to several nuclear experts quoted in the New York Times Thursday. The experts, who were analyzing data from the latest UN atomic watchdog's report on the Iranian nuclear program.

Al Qaida No. 2: Obama guilty of betraying Muslim roots in backing Israel

Al Qaeda's second-in-command urged Muslims to continue attacks on "criminal" America and slammed U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for vowing to back Israel during his campaign.

Clergy invited to Auschwitz to mark 70 years since WWII.

The invitation was extended by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former secretary and close confidant of Pope John Paul II, on the opening night of the 21st annual international, inter-religious meeting of the Italian Catholic Community of St. Egidio, organized in Cyprus this year.

New fighting in Congo despite rebel pledges

Congo's army has engaged in heavy fighting with with rebels their leader's pledge to back a cease-fire, the United Nations and witnesses said Monday. The two sides fought in the small town of Rwindi, about 125 kilometers (75 miles) north of the eastern provincial capital of Goma, The Associated Press reported.

Thousands evacuate as fires destroy California homes

A wind-blasted wildfire tore through Los Angeles' northern foothills early Saturday, sending thousands of residents fleeing in the dark, forcing a hospital to evacuate and destroying an untold number of homes.

Obama's entry shuffles the congressional seats

As US President George W. Bush prepares to yield the seat of power behind his Oval Office desk to President-Elect Barack Obama, the impending move has already set off a round of musical chairs in Congress.

US rejects scrapping missile defense plans

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview with French journalists broadcast Thursday that Moscow was willing to reconsider deploying Iskander missiles in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad if Washington did not place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic.

Kremlin reportedly rejects US missile defense offer

official source said Russia could not accept a new set of proposals last week put forth by US President George W. Bush's administration last week to assuage Kremlin concerns over plans to base parts of a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.  

World marks end of 'war to end all wars'

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, Britain's Prince Charles, German parliament Speaker Peter Muller and Australia's Governor General Quentin Bryce held a joint remembrance ceremony at Fort Douaumont, where more than 300,000 men were slaughtered over 300 days during the Battle of Verdun.

Delayed executions of Bali bombers fueled sympathy

Indonesia helped fuel sympathy for the 2002 Bali bombers by repeatedly postponing their executions and allowing them to rally supporters from behind bars, experts said Monday, after hard-liners welcomed home their bodies with calls for revenge.

U.S, EU officials meet with Arab representatives on Iran

The official said foreign ministers from several Arab countries met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at the Red Sea resort of Sharm e-Sheikh.

Barack Obama elected 44th president

Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American president of the United States.

Obama seems close to historic victory, McCain undaunted

Democrat Barack Obama appeared close to victory in his historic bid to become the first black US president Tuesday, while an undaunted Republican John McCain battled to win an upset as voting began in the epic struggle for the White House.

Obama, McCain battle in campaign's final day

Aiming for a last-minute upset, Republican John McCain embarked on a grueling odyssey through seven swing states Monday while Democrat Barack Obama was headed toward three longtime GOP bastions that have become Democratic-leaning battlegrounds in the historic presidential contest.

Death toll in northeastern India blasts rises to 76

The level of sophistication in the bombings that killed at least 76 people in northeastern India indicate that local militants had help from other terrorist groups to carry out the attacks, officials said Friday.

Report: Iran trying new nuclear experiments

Iran has recently tested ways of recovering highly enriched uranium from waste reactor fuel in a covert bid to expand its nuclear program, according to an intelligence assessment made available to The Associated Press.

Wave of coordinated bombings kills 61 in India

A series of coordinated blasts tore through India's volatile northeast on Thursday, killing at least 61 people, wounding more than 300 and setting police on a frantic search for any unexploded bombs, officials said.

'Great destruction,' 150 dead in Pakistan quake

With some roads blocked by landslides, officials said army helicopters were ferrying hundreds of troops and medical teams to villages in the quake zone and had set up a field hospital in Quetta, the Baluchistan provincial capital, 50 miles from the epicenter.

Plot to Kill Obama Uncovered, Feds Say

Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

Poll: Israel votes McCain in US elections

Survey finds 46% of Israelis would vote for Republican nominee if given chance to elect US president; Democrat Barack Obama receives 34% of votes. Almost half of those polled believe McCain would better impact Jewish state

North, South Korea to hold military talks Monday

Ties between the two countries, which are still technically at war, have soured since South Korea's pro-US conservative president, Lee Myung-bak, took office in February with a pledge to get tough with North Korea.

Sikh MP joins British parliamentary group against anti-Semitism and hate crime

A former cabinet minister and Sikh MP has been drafted into the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Anti-Semitism. Parmjit Dhanda, formerly community cohesion minister, agreed this week to join the parliamentary group to continue his hard work in combating anti-Semitism.

Palestinian challenges UK's policy on arms exports to Israel

Through the Birmingham-based group, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), and Al-Haq, a Ramallah-based human rights organization, Saleh Hasan, a Palestinian who lives in Bethlehem, will challenge the British government's decision to grant export licenses for selling weapons to Israel.

9 Afghan soldiers die in 'mistaken identity' airstrike

A US-led coalition airstrike hit an Afghan army checkpoint early Wednesday, killing nine soldiers and wounding three, Afghan officials said. The strike hit a fixed checkpoint in the Sayed Kheil area of eastern Khost province, said Arsallah Jamal, the province's governor.

Austrians praise deceased Nazi admirer Haider

"He was a remarkable person" and one should "pay tribute to him," was how Social Democratic Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described right-wing extremist politician Joerg Haider at Haider's funeral ceremony in Klagenfurt, Austria on Saturday.

Israel expects U.S.-Iran talks under Obama

Israel expects the U.S. to initiate direct talks with Tehran if Senator Barack Obama is elected president, in which case a critical Israeli interest would be to condition any talks between the West and Iran on halting uranium enrichment, according to a senior government source.

Bush: Measures to help economy will take time

President Bush gave a pep talk on the U.S. economy Friday morning, giving the nation a more detailed explanation of what the government is doing to battle the worst financial crisis in more than a half-century.

McCain goes on the attack in final debate

Republican Sen. John McCain launched a heavy assault on Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s judgment and experience Wednesday night, making a last-ditch effort in the final presidential debate to change the course of a campaign moving decidedly in his opponent’s favor.

Canada's Conservative Party wins re-election

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the first major world leader to face voters since the global financial meltdown, led his Conservative Party to victory in Tuesday's election but fell short of a majority in Parliament.

Europe puts $2.3 trillion on line for banks

European governments overcame their differences to put $2.3 trillion on the line Monday in guarantees and other emergency measures to save the banking system in their most unified response yet to the global financial crisis.

World markets soar after government aid plans

A rally late Friday on Wall Street, overnight gains in Asia and coordinated attempts by European and U.S. authorities to prop up the banking system brought a measure of relief to markets after investor panic sent world equities markets spiraling downward last week.

Crisis squeezes NY property market

Property developers and financiers - including Israeli companies that have invested heavily in everything from trophy office buildings to Brooklyn residential renovations - are being whiplashed by the spreading credit crisis, which has brought New York's real estate market to a screeching halt.

'Black Friday' as World Markets Plunge

Wall Street appeared headed to a sharply lower open Friday, extending a global sell-off on concerns that even low interest rates won't help end the worsening credit crisis. Dow Jones industrials futures plunged 282 points ahead of the opening bell in New York.

Obama threatens dire consequences if Iran doesn't change ways

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience at the second U.S. presidential debate on Tuesday that he would deliver a tough and direct message to Iran that if they did not change their behavior there would be dire consequences.

China says US arms sale to Taiwan harms ties

A planned multibillion dollar U.S. arms sale to Taiwan threatens China's national security and has cast a pall over military relations between Beijing and Washington, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Earthquake kills at least 72 in Kyrgyzstan

The 6.6-magnitude quake near the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hit the remote village of Nura hard, bringing down dozens of buildings and injuring more than 100 people in addition to the confirmed deaths, Emergency Situations Minister Kamchybek Tashiyev said.

Report: North Korean leader appears in public

North Korea's state news agency reported a public appearance by reclusive leader Kim Jong Il for the first time in nearly two months, an absence that prompted speculation he was seriously ill. Kim watched a university football game, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday. It did not say anything about his health condition or when he made the appearance.

Chinese snoop on Skype, but are they alone?

A Canadian researcher has discovered that a Chinese version of eBay Inc.'s Skype communications software snoops on text chats that contain certain keywords, including "democracy."

US envoy extends Korean stay for nuclear talks

U.S. diplomat Christopher Hill went to North Korea on Wednesday to meet with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Kye Gwan, at the reclusive nation's invitation, U.S. officials said. He stayed the night, and the two sides were holding more talks Thursday, officials said.

US tightens vigil on arms ship hijacked by pirates

U.S. warships and helicopters on Monday surrounded a hijacked cargo ship loaded with Sudan-bound tanks and other arms to keep the weapons from falling "into the wrong hands," an American Navy spokesman said.

The end of Austrian-Israeli relations?

Sunday's Austrian election could mean a break in diplomatic relations between IsraelAustria if extreme right-wing parties enter a coalition government. Heinz-Christian Strache, who leads the Freedom Party, took part in paramilitary activities with neo-Nazis in the late 1980s and has been known to use the Nazi salute.

German police seize terrorist suspects on plane

German police boarded a plane at Cologne-Bonn Airport and arrested two terrorist suspects Friday just before the plane took off for Amsterdam. Police said they decided to act after finding a suicide note that claimed the men wanted to die in a terror attack.

Protests as U.S. ship docks at new Japan home

Slogan-shouting protesters lined the harbor and flag-waving supporters crowded the dock as the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived at its new home port just south of Tokyo on Thursday.

N. Korea bars inspectors from nuclear reactor

North Korea barred U.N. nuclear inspectors from its main nuclear reactor on Wednesday and within a week plans to reactivate the plant that once provided the plutonium for its atomic test explosion, the chief U.N. nuclear inspector said.

Official: Finnish gunman was quizzed by cops

A student killed 9 people after opening fire during an exam at a college in Finland on Tuesday. Police said the gunman was wounded after shooting himself. The country's interior minister said the school gunman was questioned by police on Monday about YouTube videos showing him firing a weapon but was later released.

Nearly 53,000 Chinese children sick from milk

The number of children in China sickened by dairy products tainted with the banned industrial chemical melamine has jumped to 53,000, the government said Sunday as it vowed to crack down on those responsible for one of China's worst food safety scandals.

Death toll from Pakistan hotel blast reaches 53

Rescuers pulled more bodies from the shell of the truck-bombed Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital on Sunday, pushing the death toll from one of the country's worst-ever terrorist strikes to 53, including the Czech ambassador.

Stocks surge on bank-rescue proposal

Wall Street opened with a huge rally Friday after the U.S. government said it is creating a plan to rescue the nation’s troubled banks from their souring debts. The Dow surged more than 350 points.

More arrests in China's tainted milk scandal

Police arrested 12 more people Thursday as China expanded a crackdown in a scandal involving tainted milk powder as a fourth death was announced and more than 6,200 other babies were sick from the powder.

Clinton cancels spot at Jewish groups' anti-Iran rally over Palin invite

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has canceled an appearance at a New York rally next week after organizers blindsided her by inviting Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, aides to the senator said Tuesday.

World markets tumble after Wall Street turmoil

Financial stocks across Europe took a pounding for the second day running as the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers and credit downgrades of American International Group Inc., the world’s largest insurer, stoked investor fears of wider financial and economic damage.

Houston battered, thousands in shelters after Ike

With glass from shattered skyscrapers littering the streets, the nation's fourth largest city didn't open for business as usual Monday, and thousands of people faced long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike.

Jewish family of 4 among dead in Russia plane crash

A Hevra Kasdisha representative left Moscow with Russia's Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar on Sunday to the site of a plane crash which left 88 people dead, including a Jewish family of four. The parents and their two children were residents of Perm, where the aircraft went down.

Death toll from China landslide tops 150

A landslide that unleashed a three-story wave of mud and iron ore waste at an illegal mining operation has killed at least 151 people and authorities fear the death toll could climb by hundreds more, state media said Thursday.

Nation marks 7th anniversary of terror attacks

The nation paused Thursday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a heartfelt ceremony at ground zero and other solemn remembrances around the country. Relatives of victims killed at the World Trade Center gathered at ground zero in lower Manhattan for readings from dignitaries and a recitation of the names of the dead.

Atom smasher fired up in 'God particle' hunt

Scientists applauded as one of the most ambitious experiments ever conceived began today. The Large Hadron Collider -- designed to simulate conditions of the Big Bang -- was switched on this morning. Skeptics claim the experiment could create a black hole capable of swallowing the Earth.

Fears grow of terrorist with ‘an American face’

“Al-Qaida is identifying, training and positioning operatives for attacks in the West, likely including in the United States. These operatives include North American and European citizens and legal residents with passports that allow them to travel to the United States without a U.S. visa.”

Venezuela to host Russia navy exercise

Several Russian ships and 1,000 soldiers will take part in joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea later this year, exercises likely to increase diplomatic tensions with Washington, a pro-government newspaper reported on Saturday.

Hanna bears down on Southeast as Ike weakens

In Wilmington, N.C. tropical storm watches or warnings were extended to areas just south of New York City on Friday as states along the Atlantic braced for Tropical Storm Hanna. And forecasters said Hanna could still become a hurricane before its expected arrival on U.S. shores after roaring past the edge of the Bahamas on Thursday.

Sarkozy warns Iran it risks Israeli strike on nuke program

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran on Thursday it was taking a dangerous gamble in seeking to develop atomic weapons because one day Israel could strike to foil its nuclear aspirations.

Huge ice sheet breaks loose in Canadian arctic

A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.

Hurricane Gustav largely spares New Orleans

A still-largely deserted New Orleans prepared to take stock of damage from Hurricane Gustav on Tuesday after rebuilt levees appeared to hold off a repeat of the flooding caused by Katrina three years ago.

North Korea begins reassembling nuclear facility

North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, media reported. It cited sources in Beijing close to six-party nuclear talks on North Korean, which involve Japan, South Korea, Russia and China, as well as North Korea and the U.S.

Bush heads to Texas as Gustav menaces

As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast, President Bush is out to show the nation that his government has learned the haunting lessons of Katrina and is ready to act. That includes a rapid response by Bush himself, who will be planted near the danger zone even before the storm hits home.

New Orleans orders mandatory evacuation

Residents were ordered to flee an only partially rebuilt New Orleans Sunday as another monster storm bore down on Louisiana nearly three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina wiped out entire swaths of the city.

Gustav threatens Caymans after Jamaica

Deadly Tropical Storm Gustav drenched Jamaica and menaced the Cayman Islands on Friday, setting off alarm from Cuba to New Orleans. Gustav ripped off roofs, downed power lines and pounded rain into Jamaica, triggering landslides and flooding but no reported deaths. At least 67 people died earlier in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Jamaica issues alert as Gustav changes path

Jamaica's government issued issued a hurricane warning Thursday after Tropical Storm Gustav unexpectedly jogged to the south and appeared likely to pass near the southern coast of the Caribbean island.

Deadly Gustav may reach Category 3 strength

Eight people died in a landslide in the Dominican Republic, authorities in that country said on Wednesday, raising Tropical Storm Gustav's death toll to 11. As of 2 a.m. ET Wednesday, Gustav's maximum sustained winds had decreased to 60 mph with higher gusts.

Spain mourns

Three days of mourning have begun for the 153 people who died when a jetliner crashed after takeoff in the nation's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years. Fourteen bodies have been identified. The jetliner that crashed in Madrid experienced overheating in an air intake valve before a first attempt at takeoff.

U.S., Iraq close to deal on pullout by end of 2011

Iraq and the U.S. pushed close to a deal Thursday setting a course for American combat troops to pull out of Iraqi cities by next June on the way to broader withdrawal from the long and costly war by 2011. Subject to final approval by the top Iraqi leadership, the exit date for U.S. troops would be December 2011.

68 die, 22 survive airliner crash in Kyrgyzstan

A passenger jet carrying 90 people, including a Kyrgyz high school sports team, crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday near the Kyrgyz capital, killing 65, government officials said. The Boeing 737 was headed to Iran when it crashed near Bishkek's Manas International Airport, said government spokeswoman Roza Daudova.

Clinton to take stage, then step aside for Obama

For a moment, the spotlight will be back on Sen. Hillary Clinton as she takes the stage Tuesday for her last solo "hoorah" of the 2008 presidential election. Even though she's not Tuesday's keynote speaker, all the attention will be on her as she steps into a role that's a far cry from her original convention dreams. "Tuesday night is Hillary night,".

Top Russian general names Israel as Georgian arms supplier

Russian Deputy Chief of General Staff Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn accused Israel in a Moscow press conference on Tuesday of arming the Georgian military with mines, explosive charges, special explosives for clearing minefields and eight kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Tropical Storm Fay moves in on Florida Keys

Some Key West stores were shuttered Monday while others stubbornly remained open as rain and wind gusts from Tropical Storm Fay began to lash at south Florida after the storm killed at least eight people in the Caribbean. 

Visitors evacuate Florida Keys as Fay nears Cuba

Visitors of the Florida Keys began evacuating early Sunday as Tropical Storm Fay prompted forecasters to issue a hurricane watch for the area. Fay could be near hurricane strength when it reaches central Cuba on Sunday night, according to the 8 a.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Russia: 'Forget' Georgian territorial integrity

Russia's foreign minister declared that the world "can forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity on Thursday and Georgian and Russian troops faced off at a checkpoint outside the key city of Gori, calling an already shaky cease-fire into question.

Russian convoy heads into Georgia, violating truce

A Russian military convoy thrust deep into Georgia on Wednesday and Georgian officials said Russian troops bombed and looted the crossroads city of Gori, violating a freshly brokered truce intended to end the conflict.

Georgia president signs cease-fire with Russia

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Friday he signed a cease-fire agreement with Russia that protects the former Soviet republic's interests despite concessions to Moscow. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she had been assured that Russian President will sign an identical document.

Georgia says attacks continue despite pledge

Death toll said to reach 2,000 as Russia's president announces halt in action TBILISI, Georgia - Russian forces are continuing their offensive despite an order from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to halt the attacks, Georgia officials said Tuesday. Russian officials denied Georgia's claims.

Renewed Russian blitz sparks fears of second Georgian front

Russia rejects latest Georgia truce bid, as fighting in breakway territory continues for fourth day.  

Georgian breakaway city in ruins

Tskhinvali, the capital of the separatist Georgian province South Ossetia, lay in smoldering ruins Sunday after three days of fighting between Georgian troops and Russian forces

Beijing begins Olympics with massive show

Opening Ceremony features about 15,000 performers, 29,000 fireworksBEIJING - Once-reclusive China commandeered the world stage Friday, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open a Summer Games unrivaled for its mix of problems and promise.

Hiroshima mayor urges nuclear ban

Hiroshima's mayor urged the next U.S. president to support a proposed ban on nuclear weapons.

Dutch survivor of K2 avalanche describes ordeal

Blinded by the glare off the snow and ice, attempting a perilous descent down K2 to save his life, the Dutch mountaineer came upon three Korean climbers.

Amid Beijing's boom, a Jewish community blooms

The world's Jews have been coming to take part in the rapid transformation and surging economic development of its most populous country.

'Rioters' Kill 16 in Attack on China Border Station

BEIJING — Two men rammed a truck into a clutch of jogging policemen and tossed explosives, killing 16 officers Monday in an attack in a restive province of western China just days before the Beijing Olympics, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese plea for politics-free Games

A week before the start of the Beijing Olympics, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that the caliber of athletic competition and enhanced friendship among nations, not political disputes, will determine whether the games are a success.

Bush Meets 5 Dissidents From China Before Games

WASHINGTON — President Bush held private talks with five prominent Chinese dissidents on Tuesday, and urged China’s foreign minister to relax restrictions on human rights, as part of an intensifying White House effort to put pressure on Beijing before Mr. Bush travels there in a little over a week for the summer Olympic Games.

China says breaks up terrorist cell ahead of Olympics

Shanghai police report raids on international terror group planning attack on upcoming football preliminary match. In other Olympic news – Iraq confirmed banned from participating in Games.

Obama meets with Afghan president

U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday - a leader the Democratic senator has criticized for not doing enough to rebuild the war-torn nation.Sen. Barack Obama said Sunday that United States needs to focus on Afghanistan in its battle against terrorism.

Man arrested after spraying graffiti on Berlin's Holocaust memorial.

Israel to free Lebanese prisoners in swap

JERUSALEM - Israeli prison authorities moved four Lebanese captives to a new facility on Monday, placing them with a convicted Lebanese killer in preparation for a swap with the Hezbollah guerrilla group later this week.