* Aksa Martyrs Brigades: Truce over Fatah’s armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, announced Tuesday it would no longer honor understandings reached with Israel.

* Iraq PM hits back at US criticism Iraq’s PM Nouri Maliki has rejected US criticism of his administration, saying “no-one has the right to place timetables” on its performance.

* Iran has remote-controlled launch pads Preparing for a possible American or Israeli strike on its nuclear installations, Iran has developed a remote-controlled launch system that can be used to operate dozens of unmanned Shihab ballistic missile launchers in underground bunkers.

* Mideast countries speed up nuclear development projects Several Arab countries in recent months have boosted their nuclear programs.

* ‘Baghdad Jews must run for their lives’ Eight Baghdad Jews who represent the remnants of that city’s Jewish community are facing security threats so grave that they need to flee the country.

* UK Typhoons shadow Russian bomber Two new RAF Typhoon jets shadowed a Russian bomber heading for Britain, the Ministry of Defence has said.

* Russia steps up military expansion Vladimir Putin announced ambitious plans to revive Russia’s military power and restore its role as the world’s leading producer of military aircraft yesterday.

* Vatican plans flights to shrines The Vatican is to launch a low-cost charter flight service to transport pilgrims to holy sites worldwide.

* Knesset conversion proposals slammed by Orthodox, Reform The report submitted to the prime minister on Monday on the state of conversion in Israel managed for once to unite nearly all religious authorities.

* Google Earth given celestial view The constellations of Andromeda, Hydra and Vulpecula are now just a mouse click away for amateur star-gazers, following the launch of Google Sky.