* Iran launches massive naval maneuver Iran launched a large-scale, six-day naval maneuver in the Sea of Oman on Tuesday.

* EU and Russia resume treaty talks Senior EU and Russian officials will on Tuesday (2 December) resume talks on a new treaty in Brussels, with the simmering conflict in Georgia low on the agenda.

* US panel warns bio attack likely by 2013 The United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013.

* Hebron protests turn violent Following rumors that security forces are set to evict the disputed house in Hebron late Monday night.

* Obama: Iran and Israel-PA peace to top agenda President-elect Barack Obama named the Iranian threat and the effort to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians as two of the top three issues facing the incoming US secretary of state.

* PLO Agees to Proceed to Statehood Without Waiting for Gaza Palestine Liberation Organization officials said Monday they are willing to move forward with the two-state solution as proposed by U.S. President George W. Bush at the Annapolis summit, regardless of the situation in Gaza.

* Halevy: Europe heading to major cultural clash Europe is heading towards a major cultural clash with an ever-growing Muslim population that does not want to adopt European culture.

* Iraqis to Restore Baghdad’s Army Canal With flags flying and dirt shoveled into a brass-colored pipe, Iraqi government officials Monday symbolically broke ground on a multi-million dollar project that will create thousands of jobs and “change the face of Baghdad.”

* Taliban ready to defend Pakistan against India Pakistan’s Taliban have indignantly criticised what they said were India’s “unfounded” threats against Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai assault.

* Pirates fire on US cruise ship in hijack attempt Pirates chased and shot at a U.S. cruise liner with more than 1,000 people on board but failed to hijack the vessel as it sailed along a corridor patrolled by international warships.