Terrorists' Demands in Judea and Samaria Threaten Truce
Hamas and other terrorists groups have stated they will unilaterally extend their halt on terrorist attacks to Judea and Samaria - but may consider IDF counterterrorist measures there a violation of the Gaza agreement that went into effect Thursday morning.
DM Barak: Deal With Hizbullah Around the Corner
Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli reporters Thursday that a deal with Hizbullah regarding the jihadist group's ransom demands was around the corner. The proposed deal with Hizbullah for the release of two kidnapped IDF soldiers will be presented to the security cabinet on Sunday for approval. On Friday, Barak will visit the families of the missing men.
'Ball of fire' if Iran attacked: IAEA chief
UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned that any attack on Iran would transform the region into a "ball of fire," in an interview with Al-Arabiya television broadcast on Saturday.
His comments come after US media reported that Israeli jet pilots trained for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
Should a strike be carried out, he told the Dubai-based channel, he would find it impossible to continue as head of the IAEA.
Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce
"We cannot talk about stopping smuggling because it is something beyond our ability as a government and we did not give a commitment in this regard," Haniyeh told worshippers before Friday prayers in Gaza City.
Haniyeh also said Hamas would not to impose the truce by force on other Gaza militant groups, but added that other groups had agreed to the deal voluntarily.
Middle East "Quartet" to meet in Berlin on Tuesday
The quartet of Middle East peace mediators will meet in Berlin on Tuesday for their first gathering since Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. State Department said.
Indonesia to host international conference on Palestine
Indonesia will host a ministerial- level conference for Asian and African countries to discuss technical assistance for Palestine and to plan for its future independence, local press said Saturday.
Hamas leader denies military aid from Iran
Khaled Meshaal, in an interview with Euronews.net, said that the claim of an axis between Iran, Gaza and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon is an American vision. Meshaal lives in exile in Syria.
There isn't any military support, he said. There is however financial support to the Haniyeh government from certain Arab countries. What is the problem? It's the Palastinian people's right.
Chavez refutes US Hezbollah charges
Chavez says the United States is using accusations that the Venezuelan government is supporting the Lebanese group Hezbollah to "see if the world will make a move" against him.
China-Saudi relations at best stage ever
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is due to arrive here Saturday for an official visit at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.
Xi's visit comes at a time when bilateral relations are at their best stage ever, and is expected to further boost the friendly, cooperative relationship between China and Saudi Arabia.
EU endorses new border security rules
European Union leaders want their nations to fingerprint all foreign visitors and take other new steps to keep out illegal immigrants as part of a sweeping security overhaul proposed Friday.
Irish premier sorry for treaty 'no' vote
Ireland's prime minister said Friday he regretted that Irish voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty, a result that has plunged the EU into political crisis.
An EU survey released Friday found that the main reason the Irish voted "no" was that they did not understand the treaty.
Russia urges US to delay missile plan
Russia's foreign minister urged the U.S. on Friday to postpone the planned deployment of missile defense sites in Europe and called for a delay of NATO's eastward expansion to mend frayed ties.
Sergey Lavrov said the level of trust in Russian-U.S. relations is now lower than during the Cold War. He warned that by ignoring Russia's objections, the U.S. and its allies would further damage already tense relations.
UN nuke chief urges Syria to cooperate
The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief urged Syria on Friday to show "transparency" and cooperate with inspectors from the world agency visiting the Mideast country this weekend.
It marks the start of an international fact check of U.S. and Israeli assertions that Damascus had tried to build a plutonium-producing facility under the radar of the international community.
U.S. steel wins trade case against China
U.S. steel pipe manufacturers, who have been battling a surge in imports from China, won a major victory Friday when the International Trade Commission cleared the way for the imposition of stiff penalty tariffs for the next five years.
Saudi summit aims at oil prices
The world's largest oil producer, worried the escalating cost of crude will dampen demand, is convening a special meeting on Sunday to seek solutions.
US Salmonella outbreak illnesses climb to 552
U.S. food safety inspectors will head to Florida and Mexico this weekend to examine tomato farms and distribution chains, hoping to pinpoint the source of a widening Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 550 people, officials said on Friday.
At least 17 killed as Typhoon Fengshen sweeps through central Philippines
Flash floods and landslides killed at least 17 people in the southern Philippines on Saturday as heavy rains from Typhoon Fengshen inundated the region, causing widespread damage.
Court Ruling Strengthens Text Message Privacy
A federal appeals court ruling issued Wednesday aims to clarify limits on firms seeking access to workers’ electronic communications. In particular, the new ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco could make it more difficult for companies to monitor workers’ communications on wireless devices.
NASA Confirms Ice Found on Mars
Scientists rejoiced on Friday after learning NASA's Phoenix Lander dug up underground ice on the plains surrounding the North Pole of Mars, but said they have more to accomplish before the summer ends.
Using mini chemistry labs on the spacecraft, they hope to determine whether the frozen water excavated with the lander's robot arm, as well as nearby soil, contains the chemical building blocks of life.
Thousands revel at Stonehenge for summer solstice
The summer solstice drew thousands of revelers to Stonehenge to watch the sun rise over the ancient monument Saturday for the first time in the new season.
Beating drums and wearing rainbow cloaks, the celebrants walked through light rain Friday to talk, dance and meditate as they awaited the start of the event.
Anti-spanking bill passes Canadian Senate
Liberal Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette said that the passage of her anti-spanking bill through the Senate will "send a signal so that people who use violence in a repeated way will no longer feel protected." She added: "It is not to arrest everyone who gives their child a tap on the arm.”
Presbyterians Ready for Debates, Major Changes
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s highest governing body will tackle overtures, or resolutions, on the long-debated issue of ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians and a more flexible polity. Other overtures delegates may consider include the definition of marriage and a stronger pronouncement of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Gideons emerge victors in Florida case
A Florida law that was used to arrest two Gideons for handing out Bibles on a public sidewalk has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.
Hamas and other terrorists groups have stated they will unilaterally extend their halt on terrorist attacks to Judea and Samaria - but may consider IDF counterterrorist measures there a violation of the Gaza agreement that went into effect Thursday morning.
DM Barak: Deal With Hizbullah Around the Corner
Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli reporters Thursday that a deal with Hizbullah regarding the jihadist group's ransom demands was around the corner. The proposed deal with Hizbullah for the release of two kidnapped IDF soldiers will be presented to the security cabinet on Sunday for approval. On Friday, Barak will visit the families of the missing men.
'Ball of fire' if Iran attacked: IAEA chief
UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned that any attack on Iran would transform the region into a "ball of fire," in an interview with Al-Arabiya television broadcast on Saturday.
His comments come after US media reported that Israeli jet pilots trained for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
Should a strike be carried out, he told the Dubai-based channel, he would find it impossible to continue as head of the IAEA.
Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce
"We cannot talk about stopping smuggling because it is something beyond our ability as a government and we did not give a commitment in this regard," Haniyeh told worshippers before Friday prayers in Gaza City.
Haniyeh also said Hamas would not to impose the truce by force on other Gaza militant groups, but added that other groups had agreed to the deal voluntarily.
Middle East "Quartet" to meet in Berlin on Tuesday
The quartet of Middle East peace mediators will meet in Berlin on Tuesday for their first gathering since Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. State Department said.
Indonesia to host international conference on Palestine
Indonesia will host a ministerial- level conference for Asian and African countries to discuss technical assistance for Palestine and to plan for its future independence, local press said Saturday.
Hamas leader denies military aid from Iran
Khaled Meshaal, in an interview with Euronews.net, said that the claim of an axis between Iran, Gaza and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon is an American vision. Meshaal lives in exile in Syria.
There isn't any military support, he said. There is however financial support to the Haniyeh government from certain Arab countries. What is the problem? It's the Palastinian people's right.
Chavez refutes US Hezbollah charges
Chavez says the United States is using accusations that the Venezuelan government is supporting the Lebanese group Hezbollah to "see if the world will make a move" against him.
China-Saudi relations at best stage ever
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is due to arrive here Saturday for an official visit at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.
Xi's visit comes at a time when bilateral relations are at their best stage ever, and is expected to further boost the friendly, cooperative relationship between China and Saudi Arabia.
EU endorses new border security rules
European Union leaders want their nations to fingerprint all foreign visitors and take other new steps to keep out illegal immigrants as part of a sweeping security overhaul proposed Friday.
Irish premier sorry for treaty 'no' vote
Ireland's prime minister said Friday he regretted that Irish voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty, a result that has plunged the EU into political crisis.
An EU survey released Friday found that the main reason the Irish voted "no" was that they did not understand the treaty.
Russia urges US to delay missile plan
Russia's foreign minister urged the U.S. on Friday to postpone the planned deployment of missile defense sites in Europe and called for a delay of NATO's eastward expansion to mend frayed ties.
Sergey Lavrov said the level of trust in Russian-U.S. relations is now lower than during the Cold War. He warned that by ignoring Russia's objections, the U.S. and its allies would further damage already tense relations.
UN nuke chief urges Syria to cooperate
The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief urged Syria on Friday to show "transparency" and cooperate with inspectors from the world agency visiting the Mideast country this weekend.
It marks the start of an international fact check of U.S. and Israeli assertions that Damascus had tried to build a plutonium-producing facility under the radar of the international community.
U.S. steel wins trade case against China
U.S. steel pipe manufacturers, who have been battling a surge in imports from China, won a major victory Friday when the International Trade Commission cleared the way for the imposition of stiff penalty tariffs for the next five years.
Saudi summit aims at oil prices
The world's largest oil producer, worried the escalating cost of crude will dampen demand, is convening a special meeting on Sunday to seek solutions.
US Salmonella outbreak illnesses climb to 552
U.S. food safety inspectors will head to Florida and Mexico this weekend to examine tomato farms and distribution chains, hoping to pinpoint the source of a widening Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 550 people, officials said on Friday.
At least 17 killed as Typhoon Fengshen sweeps through central Philippines
Flash floods and landslides killed at least 17 people in the southern Philippines on Saturday as heavy rains from Typhoon Fengshen inundated the region, causing widespread damage.
Court Ruling Strengthens Text Message Privacy
A federal appeals court ruling issued Wednesday aims to clarify limits on firms seeking access to workers’ electronic communications. In particular, the new ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco could make it more difficult for companies to monitor workers’ communications on wireless devices.
NASA Confirms Ice Found on Mars
Scientists rejoiced on Friday after learning NASA's Phoenix Lander dug up underground ice on the plains surrounding the North Pole of Mars, but said they have more to accomplish before the summer ends.
Using mini chemistry labs on the spacecraft, they hope to determine whether the frozen water excavated with the lander's robot arm, as well as nearby soil, contains the chemical building blocks of life.
Thousands revel at Stonehenge for summer solstice
The summer solstice drew thousands of revelers to Stonehenge to watch the sun rise over the ancient monument Saturday for the first time in the new season.
Beating drums and wearing rainbow cloaks, the celebrants walked through light rain Friday to talk, dance and meditate as they awaited the start of the event.
Anti-spanking bill passes Canadian Senate
Liberal Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette said that the passage of her anti-spanking bill through the Senate will "send a signal so that people who use violence in a repeated way will no longer feel protected." She added: "It is not to arrest everyone who gives their child a tap on the arm.”
Presbyterians Ready for Debates, Major Changes
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s highest governing body will tackle overtures, or resolutions, on the long-debated issue of ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians and a more flexible polity. Other overtures delegates may consider include the definition of marriage and a stronger pronouncement of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Gideons emerge victors in Florida case
A Florida law that was used to arrest two Gideons for handing out Bibles on a public sidewalk has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.