* Assad to Sarkozy: If Netanyahu is sincere, let us resume talks Following his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, Syrian President Bashar Assad called for an immediate resumption of peace talks with Israel.

* Syria urges firm US plan on Middle East peace Syrian President Bashar Assad said that US President Barack Obama should come up with a firm plan of action to renew peace talks between Syria and Israel.

* North Korea Issues New Threat After Naval Clash North Korea threatened on Friday to take “merciless military measures” along a disputed maritime border with South Korea, escalating tensions as President Barack Obama began a weeklong trip to Asia.

* Turkey warm to storing Iranian uranium Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Friday that if asked, his country would be willing to temporarily store Iran’s enriched uranium.

* Golan Heights Mayor: We’re on the Alert Wary caution is the order of the day in the Golan Heights, in light of Netanyahu’s apparent readiness to enter into negotiations with Syria.

* IDF chief on Goldstone Report: Terror should not be rewarded IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi spoke to high school students in Beersheba on Friday and addressed such issues as the Goldstone Report, Hamas’ rocket launching capabilities and the Iranian threat.

* Top official: U.S. won’t accept partial settlement freeze The United States does not accept continued Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, a senior U.S. state department official has said.

* Eastern states counter EU’s secretive nomination process Eastern Europe is chipping away at the secretive nomination process for new EU posts created under the Lisbon Treaty.

* Hamas calls off Independence Day declared by Arafat Hamas authorities have called off annual Palestinian Independence Day celebrations in the Gaza Strip.

* Medvedev wants Russia to go hi-tech In his annual state of the nation speech Thursday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev painted his vision for the country’s future, saying that “modernization” was the key to its “very survival.”