* ‘Israel reaches strategic decision not to let Iran go nuclear’ Israel will not agree to allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons and if the grains start running out in the proverbial egg timer, Jerusalem will not hesitate to take whatever means necessary to prevent Iran from achieving its nuclear goals.

* Iraq’s Sadr extends militia truce Iraq’s influential Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, has indefinitely extended a ceasefire being observed by members of his Mehdi Army militia.

* Iran supplied Hizbullah with advanced missiles Iran has supplied Hizbullah with advanced missiles which can accurately hit extensive targets inside Israel.

* Sarkozy: EU’s Man of the Hour Sarkozy, who was elected two years after French voters gave a resounding referendum “No” to the EU’s draft new constitution, has now emerged as the most Europe-minded of the EU leaders.

* Germany and Russia threaten EU-Ukraine relations Germany’s close relations with Russia are the main obstacle to signing a major EU-Ukraine treaty at the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit in France.

* Israel: Assad not serious about peace Syria’s rush to take advantage of the conflict in Georgia and the Russia-US rift to cozy up to Moscow seems to indicate that it is not interested in serious negotiations with Israel.

* Russia hits back at G7 criticism Criticism by the G7 group of nations of Russia’s actions in Georgia is biased and groundless.

* Mideast Powers, Proxies and Paymasters Bluster and Rearm The war of words between Israel and Iran, and their proxies and paymasters, is becoming more belligerent as the Middle East’s two arch-enemies display their military prowess.

* EU sanctions would be ‘grave mistake,’ Russia says As the European Union considers imposing sanctions against Russia over its recognition of independence for Georgia’s rebel regions, Moscow has said that any punitive measures would be a “grave mistake.”

* Obama launches historic campaign Barack Obama has accepted the Democratic Party’s historic nomination to run for president of the US in front of a crowd of some 75,000 people.