By: Richard Norton-Taylor – The Guardian Unlimited

Information chips implanted in the brain. Electromagnetic pulse weapons. The middle classes becoming revolutionary, taking on the role of Marx’s proletariat. The population of countries in the Middle East increasing by 132%, while Europe’s drops as fertility falls. “Flashmobs” – groups rapidly mobilised by criminal gangs or terrorists groups.

This is the world in 30 years’ time envisaged by a Ministry of Defence team responsible for painting a picture of the “future strategic context” likely to face Britain’s armed forces. It includes an “analysis of the key risks and shocks”. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, head of the MoD’s Development, Concepts & Doctrine Centre which drew up the report, describes the assessments as “probability-based, rather than predictive”.

The 90-page report comments on widely discussed issues such as the growing economic importance of India and China, the militarisation of space, and even what it calls “declining news quality” with the rise of “internet-enabled, citizen-journalists” and pressure to release stories “at the expense of facts”. It includes other, some frightening, some reassuring, potential developments that are not so often discussed.

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* Ahmadinejad: Iran has joined club of nuclear nations Iran on Monday announced that it has begun enriching uranium with 3,000 centrifuges, dramatically expanding a program that the United Nations has demanded it halt.

* Shiites burn US flags on regime fall anniversary Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shiites burned and trampled on US flags in the holy city of Najaf Monday at an anti-American rally called by firebrand cleric Moqtada Al Sadr on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein.

* UK calls for Iran to suspend enrichment UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in response to Iran’s announcement that it had begun enriching uranium using 3,000 centrifuges that he hoped Iran would “engage in dialogue”.

* Ukraine’s rival leaders battle on Supporters of Ukrainian PM Viktor Yanukovych are keeping up their protest outside parliament in Kiev against his rival, President Viktor Yushchenko.

* Lebanese Security Officers ‘Aiding Hizbullah Rearmament’ A senior Lebanese politician has said that Lebanese security agents are helping Hizbullah smuggle weapons across the country’s border with Syria.

* Islam’s rapid rise giving Russia growing pains Ask Khadji Gasan Gasanaliyev, imam of an independent mosque in this North Caucasus city, what is wrong with Russia, and he tells how a three-year-old held a gun to his head.

* Russian Experts to Visit Bushehr NPP to Discuss Project Financing According to Russia’s nuclear power plant construction company Atomstroyexport, a group of Russian experts will visit the construction site of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant to ensure progress in talks aimed at breaking a stalemate over project financing.

* Terror attack foiled A major suicide attack on Tel Aviv was prevented this Passover, as Shin Bet and IDF forces arrested 19 Hamas members in the West Bank city of Qalqilya for planning to detonate a car bomb containing some 220 lbs of explosives.

* Chad army ‘attacked from Sudan’ Heavy fighting between the army and anti-government forces in eastern Chad has left “many” dead.

* Internal violence flares in southern Gaza In Gaza, a gunbattle between two warring families in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday killed three people, including a bystander.

* Iraqi Shias protest in holy city Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shias have demonstrated in the holy city of Najaf, calling for US-led troops to leave Iraq.

* Russian General Says U.S. Continues Preparations for Iran Strike The release of the 15 British sailors and marines captured by Iran has robbed the U.S. of a pretext to attack Iran.

* Iran ‘enters new nuclear phase’ Iran has entered an “industrial stage” in its production of nuclear fuel, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.

* Nasrallah vows Hezbollah will stay armed to offset Israel Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, on Sunday vowed that Hezbollah will keep its weapons until a strong Lebanese army capable of defending the country against Israeli attacks is established.

* Pope: ‘Nothing Positive’ From Iraq In an Easter litany of the world’s suffering, Pope Benedict XVI lamented that “nothing positive” is happening in Iraq.

* China calls for change on Darfur Sudan’s key ally China has urged it to show greater flexibility in discussions over its war-torn Darfur region.

* Revolution, flashmobs, and brain chips. A grim vision of the future Information chips implanted in the brain. Electromagnetic pulse weapons. The middle classes becoming revolutionary, taking on the role of Marx’s proletariat.

* Quake lifts Solomons island out of the sea The seismic jolt that unleashed the deadly Solomons tsunami this week lifted an entire island metres out of the sea, destroying some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs.

* Gas producers ‘to discuss cartel’ Ministers from major gas exporting countries are meeting in Doha, Qatar, amid speculation that they may be planning to set up a cartel.

* Five rival faiths share Easter in Jerusalem church Thousands of worshippers from five Christian faiths Sunday celebrated Easter at the traditional site of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection – Jerusalem’s contested Holy Sepulcher Church.

* Salah urges Muslims to defend al-Aksa Sheikh Raed Salah called for thousands of Muslims to rise, unite and defend Jerusalem and al-Aksa mosque.

* Iran seeks goodwill over captives Iran’s ambassador to London has said Britain should respond “in a positive way” to the release of the 15 Royal Navy personnel held for 13 days.

* Moscow to Get New Air Defense System in August According to a senior air defense commander Russia plans to put new air defense systems on combat duty around Moscow in the end of August.

* Mashaal: Hamas policies won’t change Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal denied on Saturday that there had been any change in his organization’s policies, and declared that Hamas would neither abandon “armed resistance” nor agree to give up an “inch of Palestinian land.”

* Thousands of policemen deploy in J’lem for ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony Thousands of police deployed on Saturday in the old city of Jerusalem and volunteers helped prevent automobiles from entering the Old City in preparation for the ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony held in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday afternoon.

* Top US envoy on Somalia mission The top US diplomat for Africa is in Somalia to urge the interim government to create a lasting truce, as violence threatens to derail reconciliation.

* Israel launches deadly raid in Gaza Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian fighter and wounded two in what is believed to be the fiercest exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters since a ceasefire agreed in November.

* Forecaster Blasts Gore on Global Warming A top hurricane forecaster called Al Gore “a gross alarmist” Friday for making an Oscar-winning documentary about global warming.

* Sneh: Settlers to be removed from Hebron building within two weeks Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said Friday that settlers occupying a vacant Palestinian building in Hebron will be removed from the structure by April 19, one month after they entered the site.

* Iraq powers plan Egypt conference Iraq’s government has announced that Egypt is to host an international conference on the situation in Iraq.

* PA fears UN may order all aid workers out of lawless Gaza Palestinian Authority officials on Thursday expressed fear that the United Nations may formally declare the Gaza Strip a dangerous zone.

* UK halts Gulf boarding operations Britain has suspended boarding operations in the Persian Gulf and launched a review into the circumstances that led to 15 military personnel being captured by Iranian forces last month.

* Thousands of Christians gather in J’lem Christian pilgrims from around the world filled the narrow cobblestone streets of Jerusalem’s Old City on Good Friday.

* Russian official: Iran capable of repelling possible U.S. air strike Iran would be able to repel a possible United States air strike using advanced Russian air defense systems.

* Sneh: We’ll remove settlers by April 19 A contentious Hebron home will be evacuated by April 19, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said.

* Jordan’s King to convene parliament on draft nuclear law Jordan’s King Abdullah II has summoned parliament to convene for a special session to vote on bills that include a draft nuclear energy law.

* And Iraq’s big oil contracts go to … Despite claims by some critics that the Bush administration invaded Iraq to take control of its oil, the first contracts with major oil firms from Iraq’s new government are likely to go not to U.S. companies, but rather to companies from China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

* Spectacular Hubble Image Of Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1672 The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has delivered an unrivalled snapshot of the nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672.

* Iran: US ‘supporting terrorists’ The United States is supporting anti-Iranian groups operating out of Pakistan’s remote border regions, the speaker of Iran’s parliament has said.

* Turkey to block ‘insulting’ Web sites A parliamentary commission approved a proposal Thursday allowing Turkey to block Web sites that are deemed insulting to the founder of modern Turkey.

By: The Washington Post

HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that “Israel was ready to engage in peace talks” with Syria. What’s more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to “resume the peace process” as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. “We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria,” she said.

Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message. “What was communicated to the U.S. House Speaker does not contain any change in the policies of Israel,” said a statement quickly issued by the prime minister’s office. In fact, Mr. Olmert told Ms. Pelosi that “a number of Senate and House members who recently visited Damascus received the impression that despite the declarations of Bashar Assad, there is no change in the position of his country regarding a possible peace process with Israel.” In other words, Ms. Pelosi not only misrepresented Israel’s position but was virtually alone in failing to discern that Mr. Assad’s words were mere propaganda.

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By: Teresa Küchler – EUOBSERVER

Despite recent enlargement, the biggest EU states – France, the UK and Germany – have increased their power over EU decision-making, a Swedish study suggests. But Italy is punching below its weight, while sheer charisma helps some small EU countries boost their influence.

The overcrowded negotiating table in the European Council – EU leaders’ meetings which normally take place four times a year – has made the bloc’s big players more eager to pool their powers in coalitions and bilateral agreements where size really matters, the report “Bargaining power in the European Council” says.

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* Assad will mediate in release of captured troops Syrian President Bashar Assad made a promise to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he would make efforts to bring about an agreement between Hizbullah, Hamas and Israel regarding the release of kidnapped IDF soldiers.

* ‘No deal done with Iran’ – Blair Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted no deal was done to free 15 Royal Navy crew members, as they arrived at Heathrow after being held in Iran.

* Temple Mount loyalists protest near site Members of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement arrived at the Kotel Thursday in order to prepare for their Pessah demonstration.

* UN warns of Darfur ‘catastrophe’ The new United Nations humanitarian chief has warned of the “crying need” for political action to bring peace to Sudan’s Darfur region.

* Dahlan warns against IDF incursion Palestinian Authority National Security Advisor Muhammad Dahlan on Thursday warned Israel against conducting a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip.

* Chechnya’s new president sworn in Chechnya has sworn in its new president, despite past accusations by rights groups that he was involved in the murdering and kidnapping of civilians.

* Nancy Pelosi’s foolish shuttle diplomacy House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad.

* ‘Strong Possibility’ Gas Will Rise to $4 For the past two weeks, Iran has not just been holding 15 British soldiers captive; it’s been holding the world’s oil markets hostage, too.

* Israeli objections delaying U.S. arms sale to Arab countries Israeli objections are delaying a major arms-sale package that the Bush administration is planning to offer Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf allies to deter Iran.

* Big EU states gaining power despite enlargement Despite recent enlargement, the biggest EU states – France, the UK and Germany – have increased their power over EU decision-making.

By: Hillel Fendel – Israel National News

For Saudi Arabia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the main issue; it is rather Iran – and the West’s inaction vis-a-vis the Iranian threat. So writes former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold in a brief for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs’ Institute for Contemporary Affairs.

“What is shaping Saudi Arabia’s new diplomatic activism,” Gold explains, “is the rapidly expanding Iranian threat and the weakness of the Western response.”

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* Pelosi tells Assad: Israel ready to talk Syrian President Bashar Assad is willing to resume peace talks with Israel, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

* Iranians release British sailors Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says 15 British naval personnel captured in the Gulf will be freed.

* Saudi source: No talks before Israel accepts Arab peace plan Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that Israel must first accept the Arab peace initiative before it would agree to any direct talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

* PA upset over Merkel’s pro-Israel stance Palestinian Authority officials have accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of “offending the Palestinians’ feelings”.

* Hamas Warns Israel Against Possible Anti-Terror Offensive In separate statements this week, Hamas spokesmen threatened disaster for the Israeli military.

* Olmert not ready for ‘serious’ peace talks, Palestinian FM says Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not ready for “serious negotiations” with the Palestinians and other Arab leaders on efforts to forge peace in the Middle East.

* Gold: Western Inaction Pushing Saudi Arabia to Hamas, Hizbullah For Saudi Arabia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the main issue; it is rather Iran – and the West’s inaction vis-a-vis the Iranian threat.

* Feared ex-rebel wins absolute power in Chechnya Former rebel Ramzan Kadyrov will complete his ascent to power in Chechnya Thursday.

* Deadlock in Ukraine power struggle Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Kiev to protest against the Ukrainian president’s decision to dissolve parliament and call for elections.

* U.N. council begins considering Kosovo independence There is “considerable support” within the U.N. Security Council for supervised independence for Kosovo.