* Round 2 of Cairo’s Arab Spring: 23 Dead, 1,500 Wounded Round Two of the Muslim Arab uprising in Egypt rages for the third straight day, with a death toll of 23 and 1,500 wounded.

* Dozens of US spies captured in Lebanon and Iran Current and former US officials concede that CIA suffered difficult blow; sources say Lebanon informants were compromised by meeting CIA agents at a Beirut Pizza Hut.

* Al-Assad – Syria will not bow down Officials sparred over a proposed plan to send observers into Syria as the nation’s president warned against military intervention.

* Russia says West fanning flames of Syria conflict UK defense minister: “Behavior of Syrian regime is appalling and unacceptable,” working with Arab League against Assad.

* King Abdullah Visits Abbas on Eve of Hamas Unity Deal Jordan’s King Abdullah visits Ramallah for the first time in 11 years – and two days before Abbas and Hamas are to from a unity government.

* Iran Begs Israel to Attack and Be Buried A bluff or a threat? A top Iranian commander begs Israel to attack so Iran can throw the “enemy” into the “trash can of history”.

* China vice premier sees chronic global recession A long-term global recession is certain to happen and China must focus on domestic problems, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan has said.

* Criticism of Israel at bay as IAEA opens first meet on nuclear-free Mideast Israeli representatives report relative calm at Vienna conference, after chief of UN’s nuclear watchdog urges Mideast nations to focus on fresh thinking.

* Spanish elections: 5th EU government to fall due to crisis With markets putting Spanish bonds in the cross-hairs, voters dismayed by the country’s economic situation are expected to eject the incumbent government in parliamentary elections.

* Abbas: No signs of resumption of peace talks PA president tells Jordanian king settlement halt is not a pre-condition but rather an obligation, in Ramallah meeting; PA foreign minister: Abbas told Abdullah most pressing issue is reconciliation with Hamas.