* Hamas celebrates 22nd anniversary since founding Tens of thousands of Palestinians have turned out in the Gaza Strip to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the Islamist group Hamas.

* Haniyeh: Gaza just a step toward the liberation of all Palestine In a long, defiant speech on Monday afternoon, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said that gaining control of the Gaza Strip was “just a step toward liberating all of Palestine.”

* Iran working on key A-Bomb component Iran is working on development and testing of a neutron initiator, a key final component of a nuclear weapon.

* Israel would risk ‘earthquake’ with misuse of Turkish airspace, PM warns Israel would risk ‘earthquake’ with misuse of Turkish airspace, PM warns

* New Asian gas line to weaken Russian influence A landmark pipeline carrying natural gas from Central Asia to China began working Monday in a development that will loosen Russia’s grip over the region’s vast energy resources.

* Al-Qaeda No. 2 blasts Obama, US Arab allies Terror group’s deputy leader accuses US president of cheating Arab world by failing to advance Mideast peace talks, urges Muslims to wage war outside Israel, Palestinians territories

* Copenhagen Talks Enter Final Phase International climate talks have reached a boiling point.

* Oil executives gird for work in risky Iraq They sped into the Oil Ministry in armored convoys, flanked by muscled guards and men in dark suits, but oil executives marked a milestone this week when they attended an oil auction outside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone.

* Turk PM calls for unity over party ban, Kurds protest Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for national unity after a court ban on a Kurdish party caused angry protests and plunged the country into political uncertainty.

* Houston biggest US city to elect openly gay mayor Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.