* Syria reiterates demand to put Golan on Annapolis summit agenda Syria is holding firm on its demand that the Golan Heights be among the items on the agenda of the upcoming Middle East peace conference.

* Ahmadinejad: 3,000 centrifuges running Iran has achieved a landmark, with 3,000 centrifuges fully working in its controversial uranium enrichment program.

* Russia suspends arms treaty Russia’s parliament has voted to suspend Moscow’s support for a key treaty limiting the deployment of armed forces along its border with Europe.

* Gillerman: UN human rights panel is a ‘monster’ Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman slammed the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday for failing to deal with human rights violations around the world.

* Defiant Iraq Kurds sign seven new oil contracts Iraq’s Kurdish region has defiantly signed seven new foreign oil deals in a move sure to anger Baghdad.

* Beijing ‘planning space station’ China intends to launch its own space station in 2020, according to one of the country’s leading space experts.

* Peace Now says West Bank settlements still growing Israel is expanding most of its West Bank settlements despite a commitment to stop doing so as it tries to resume peace talks with the Palestinians.

* Oil passes $98 on weaker dollar The ever-weakening dollar and fresh worries about winter fuel supplies have sent US oil prices past $98 a barrel.

* Israel reports jump in Jerusalem Arabs seeking Israeli citizenship The number of East Jerusalem residents seeking Israeli citizenship has risen sharply in recent months.

* Euro climbs to fresh dollar peak The euro has hit a fresh high against the dollar, as negative views of the US economic outlook continue to take their toll on the US currency.