* French military jets over Libya French military jets are preventing forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi from attacking the rebel-held city of Benghazi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says.

* Power hopes rise at Japan plant Workers are close to restoring power to cooling systems at a quake-hit Japanese nuclear power plant, officials say.

* Israel strikes Gaza after massive mortar barrage on south Hamas claims responsibility for 10 of the more than 50 mortars fired on southern Israel earlier in day; Gaza medics say five Hamas officers and boy injured in Israeli air strike.

* World leaders meet to discuss coordinated military action in Libya Clinton, Cameron, Sarkozy meet Arab leaders, EU officials to discuss preparing rapid UN-mandated action; sources say strikes could start straight after the meeting.

* Libya: Gaddafi forces attacking rebel-held Benghazi Pro-Gaddafi forces have attacked the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi and their tanks have entered the city, a BBC journalist witnessed

* Tensions high as Egyptians vote in first post-Mubarak referendum Polls open on Saturday for the some 40 millions Egyptians who are eligible to vote on a bulk of constitutional amendments.

* Radical Islam on the move in U.S. but multicultural elites say it’s no one’s business Radical Islam threatens American democracy. It is slowly subverting America from within and without.

* Ahmadinejad: God has chosen my successor Iranian president tells council heads in Tehran, ‘Future has already been determined. God knows who will come after me’.

* EU unlikely to call on Bahrain regime to step down An escalation in the government crack-down on pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain and the incursion of 1000 Saudi troops on the island, has spooked European capitals, which had not expected the tiny but geostrategically important state to be destabilised in the wake of the ongoing regional uprisings.

* Netanyahu: Only fear of possible strike could stop Iran’s nuclear progress In wide-ranging CNN interview, Prime Minister says Palestinian unity government with Hamas would kill off Mideast peace chances.