Category Archives: Top 10 News Stories

12/31/11

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* New Year’s Eve 2012: Celebrations start in Pacific Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012.

* Iraq celebrates U.S. withdrawal Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared a new dawn on Saturday as Iraq celebrated the departure of American troops.

* Short spring, long winter One year ago, Tunisian street vendor Muhammad Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest social and political injustice in his country.

* Libya’s Army Tries to Reassert Itself as Militias Have Their Way The drenching rains and whipping winds off the Mediterranean Sea were not enough to keep Major Anwar al-Mishri in his Toyota pickup truck.

* Iran denies test-firing long-range missiles in Gulf Iran has denied reports by state media that it test-fired long-range missiles during military exercises in the Gulf.

* Syrian opposition fears failure of Arab mission The Syrian opposition is pessimistic about the chances that Arab League monitors now visiting the country can halt President Bashar al-Assad’s 9-month crackdown on anti-government protest.

* Ethiopian troops capture Beledweyne from Somalia militants Ethiopian forces have captured the central Somali town of Beledweyne from al-Shabab Islamist militants.

* Gold’s 10 percent gain in 2011 extends run to 11th year Bullion posted a gain of 10 percent for 2011, its smallest annual rise in three years.

* China unveils ambitious plan for space exploration China plans to put laboratories in space, collect samples from the moon and prepare to build space stations over the next five years.

* EU open to talks with Iran, without preconditions The European Union is open to meaningful talks with Tehran provided there are no preconditions on the Iranian side.

12/30/11

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* PLO Plans to “Disengage” From Israel In the latest sign that the 1993 Oslo Accords are moribund, PLO officials say they plan to completely disengage from Israel.
* Palestinian film: Jihad drove Israel away from Strip New movie recreates 2005 shooting attack near Kissufim checkpoint, suggests terror led to Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Director reveals some footage obtained through IDF officer
* IDF Chief: Nuclear Iran a threat to entire region, not just to Israel Benny Gantz says Israel, international community can meet challenge of nuclear Iran through “proper preparations”.
* Iran announces long-range missile test amid Strait of Hormuz row with US Ten-day Iranian military drill overshadowed by Iran-US verbal row over an Iranian threat to close the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, through which 40% of the world’s ship-borne crude oil is passed.
* Senior Ministers: Future Abductions Will Trigger War The forum of eight senior ministers said the next abduction of an Israeli soldier will lead to war.
* Syrian masses hit streets Hundreds of thousands of Syrians rally across nation; forces kill more protestors
* Fox TV poll on Facebook: Do you think the Jews killed Jesus? Popular news networks’ Latin America outlet Poll apologizes for poll asking readers who they think is responsible for the death of Christ: Pontius Pilate, The Jewish People, or the High Priests.
* Denmark to battle for European unity Denmark takes over the six-month EU rotating presidency on Sunday (January 1), kicking off what is expected to be another traumatic year for the eurozone and its single currency.
* Hundreds of Iraqis cheer departure of US forces Hundreds of Sunni Muslims gathered in Baghdad Friday to celebrate the withdrawal of American forces, but Shiite Muslims did not join the event.
* Army rabbi: IDF is no place for mistreating women Brig.-Gen. Rafi Peretz vows to keep extremist Jewish behavior out of IDF ranks; PM speaks out against exclusion of women.

12/29/11

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* Iran warns US over Strait of Hormuz A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander said on Thursday that the United States was not in a position to tell Tehran “what to do in the Strait of Hormuz”.

* Peres: It’s still possible to make peace with Palestinians President Shimon Peres told top Christian clerics in Israel he still believes it is possible to achieve peace with the Palestinians.

* Syria monitors visit Damascus amid continuing violence Activists say at least 29 people were killed by security forces on Thursday.

* US warns Iran over threat to block oil route The US Navy has said it will not tolerate disruption to a vital oil-trade route, following an Iranian threat to close it.

* A boiling pot waiting to explode The IDF assesses that Hamas is not interested in a major conflict; its main concern is the stability of its rule in Gaza.

* U.S., Israel Discuss Triggers for Bombing Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure The Obama administration is trying to assure Israel privately that it would strike Iran militarily if Tehran’s nuclear program crosses certain “red lines”.

* North Korea hails Kim Jong-un as leader North Korea has hailed late leader Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, as “supreme leader of the party, state and army”.

* Mossad chief: Nuclear Iran not necessarily existential threat to Israel A nuclear-armed Iran wouldn’t necessarily constitute a threat to Israel’s continued existence.

* Israel’s population stands at 7.8 million with 2012 around the bend Israel’s population stands at 7.836 million, the Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) indicated on Thursday as part of its year-end survey.

* US Pushing Israel to Free Barghouti The Obama administration is trying to convince Israel to release arch-terrorist and mass-murderer Marwan Barghouti.

12/28/11

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* Haniyeh: Our Objective is to Eliminate All of Israel As the Hamas terror group recently marked the 24th anniversary of its founding, its leader in Gaza used the opportunity to remind everyone of his group’s real goals.

* Iran threatens to block Strait of Hormuz oil route Iran says it may close a vital oil-trade route if the West imposes more sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.

* Kim Jong-il state funeral held in North Korea North Korea has begun two days of funeral services for late leader Kim Jong-il with a huge procession in the capital, Pyongyang.

* ‘US won’t allow disruption in Hormuz’ The US Fifth Fleet said on Wednesday that it will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

* ‘If necessary – IDF ready for Gaza op’ Three years have passed since Operation Cast Lead and the IDF says that the operational goals set in 2009 have been largely achieved.

* Israel, U.S. discuss triggers for military strike on Iran Israel and the U.S. are discussing “red lines” in Iran’s nuclear program.

* Iranian president to visit Venezuela, Cuba Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to visit Venezuela and Cuba as part of a four-nation Latin America tour in the second week of January 2012.

* Zardari issues rallying cry for democracy in Pakistan amid coup fears The embattled president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, on Tuesday used a speech on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of his wife.

* “Nothing frightening” seen in Syria protest hotbed: monitor The second day of monitoring hit a snag when locals in the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr, that has been pounded by tanks in a military crackdown on popular unrest, refused to speak with the observers in the presence of a Syrian army colonel.

* Beginning to harness the desert’s light When I first saw the sea of blue panels amid the scorched desert sands, driving along Highway 90 this June, I knew that Ketura Sun was a crucial.

12/27/11

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* Jordanian Media: Settlers Stormed Temple Mount Jordan publishes an unusually inciting report that the monthly recital of Psalms in the Old City was a “storming of the Temple Mount.”

* Iran: We will cut oil flow if West imposes economic sanctions Iran’s first vice-president warned on Tuesday that the flow of crude will be stopped from the crucial Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf if foreign sanctions are imposed on its oil exports.

* ‘Arab world must stop Israel’s Judaization of J’lem’ Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh made an urgent call Tuesday on the international Arab and Muslim community to stop what he called Israel’s “Judaization” of Jerusalem.

* Saar: ‘The Love of Our Bible Must Be Taught’ Education Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday said The Bible is the broad base of our national culture.

* Sadr bloc calls for early elections in Iraq The head of the political bloc of anti-American Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on Monday for new elections in Iraq.

* U.S. focusing on Kuwait after pullout from Iraq The Congressional Research Service has reported that U.S. aid was improving the military of Kuwait.

* Planned Old City Tourist Center Likely to Anger West and PA The “City of David” neighborhood, home to a major archaeological dig and located across the road from the Western Wall, plans a new tourist center.

* If Abraham Were to Come This Year, Temple Mount Would be Closed “If Jesus were to come this year, Bethlehem would be closed”, the London Guardian reported this week.

* Potentially explosive movements on a volatile Asian chessboard A new era of increasing instability is opening in East Asia.

* Israeli archaeologists uncover first artifact confirming written record of Temple worship Israeli archaeologists have uncovered the first archeological find to confirm written testimony of the ritual practices at the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

12/24/11

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* Thousands gather to celebrate Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Thousands of pilgrims, tourists and local Christians gather in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday to celebrate Christmas Eve.

* Mashaal: Hamas Will Focus on Arab Spring-Style Protests Hamas will focus on holding Arab Spring-style mass protests against Israel.

* Moscow protest: Thousands rally against Vladimir Putin They passed a resolution “not to give a single vote to Vladimir Putin” at next year’s presidential election.

* U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Pays Homage to Obama—But Not Jesus The 63-foot Sierra White Fir lighted at the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Dec. 6 as the official 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree includes a prominently displayed ornament paying homage to President Barack Obama.

* Baghdad blasts: Hashemi accuses government over attacks Iraq’s Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi has said Iraq’s government was behind Thursday’s series of bombings that killed nearly 70 people in Baghdad.

* Islamists battle for votes in rural Egypt Already they have won nearly a quarter of the vote, and now the election has moved to an area that is fertile territory for their blend of politics and religion.

* Oil price near $100 on global security concerns Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel Friday as worries over global security issues outweighed weak economic data in the U.S.

* Iran launches 10-day naval drill The Iranian Navy has launched a 10-day exercise east of the Strait of Hormuz, the official news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.

* Thousands attend funerals for Syria bomb victims Thousands of mourners carrying Syrian flags and pictures of the dead took part in a mass funeral Saturday for 44 people killed in twin suicide bombings.

* Nuke expert: Time to attack Iran A former special adviser on Iran policy to the Obama Administration said that a US-perpetrated strike on the Islamic Republic on is the “least bad” option in dealing with its nuclear threat.

12/23/11

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* Hamas will focus on popular protests in struggle with Israel, group chief says Khaled Meshal says unarmed protests have ‘the power of a tsunami,’ although indicates Hamas will not renounce violence against Israel.
* Baghdad Bombings Carry ‘Political Message’ Iraqi officials say the bombings that killed 69 in Baghdad on Thursday are ‘political’ as the country faces a deepening sectarian crisis.
* Egyptians rally against army after woman beaten Protesters demand swifter military handover of power; Muslim Brotherhood, Islamist parties stay out of demonstration.
* Palestinian Authority gives Mideast peacemakers an ultimatum The Palestinian Authority gave the Quartet an ultimatum: it will resume its campaign for statehood recognition if there is no movement in the peace process in the next month.
* If Abbas embraces Hamas, he is walking away from peace Prime Minister’s Office slams deal paving way for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other radical groups to join PLO.
* Israel Freezes Equipment Sales to Turkey Defense Ministry orders the cancellation of the sale of advanced intelligence equipment to Turkey.
* Baghad blasts: Hashemi blames Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki Iraq’s Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi has said Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is to blame for a sudden surge of violence in the country.
* Tunisia Presents New Coalition Cabinet Moderate Islamist party to run most of Tunisia’s ministries in new Cabinet.
* Egypt Islamists want to stick to army vote timetable Muslim Brotherhood opposes protesters’ desire for swifter army handover of power before July.
* Turkey is not Faring Well in the US and Europe Turkey, despite its pivotal role in the region, is assailed in Europe and the US for mistreating Armenians, Christians and Journalists.

12/21/11

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* ‘IDF must be vigilant on northern front amid Syria unrest’ The situation in Syria is unstable and the IDF needs to keep a watchful eye on daily developments along its northern front.

* US General: We Can Successfully Attack Iran Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said Tuesday that the United States can successfully attack Iran, if necessary.

* Israel police, Arab youths clash near Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre Arab youths and border police clashed in Jerusalem’s old city, near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on Wednesday.

* As Americans leave, Iraq faces domestic crisis In the annals of coalition disputes, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s government is setting new standards.

* Mexico Mayan region launches apocalypse countdown Only 52 weeks and a day are left before Dec. 21, 2012.

* Kim Jong-il death: ‘Five million’ mourn North Korea leader More than five million North Koreans have so far turned out to pay their respects to late leader Kim Jong-il.

* Egypt elections: Run-off votes held after deadly clashes Nine of Egypt’s provinces are voting, mainly facing a choice between Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist candidates.

* North Korea’s military to share power with Kim’s heir North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after last week’s death of Kim Jong-il.

* Activists say at least 100 killed in Syrian town Syrian troops assaulting a northwest town with machine gun fire and shelling have killed at least 100 people.

* Doubts increase over usefulness of new fiscal treaty Just a few days into the making of a new intergovernmental treaty on fiscal discipline, serious questions are being raised about whether the slight draft offered to date is either useful or necessary.

12/20/11

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* Saudi King Calls for Arab Super State King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia formally called for the formation of a Gulf Union on a backdrop of regional unrest and growing tensions with rival Iran.

* So, What is the Miracle of Chanukah Really About? One days’ worth of olive oil lasting for 8 days, was indeed, miraculous… but there is so much more to this holiday than meets the eye.

* General: Protesters Should be “Thrown Into Hitler’s Ovens” The head of public relations for Egypt’s caretaker junta called protesters in Cairo “delinquents who need to be thrown into Hitler’s ovens.”.

* US commander visits Israel to finalize missile drill Israel is moving forward with plans to hold the largest-ever missile defense exercise in its history this coming spring.

* North Korea leader lies in state Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack caused by overwork and stress at the age of 69.

* Indian Missile Launch and US Meeting Elicits Chinese Rebuke The Indian press fussed about an editorial in the Chinese Communist Party organ, the People’s Daily, that expressed concern over the forthcoming February launch of India’s new Agni-V missile.

* US Will not Let Iran Make Nuclear Bomb, Says Panetta Iran is a year or less from “N-Day,” but the United States will stop it – no matter what.

* ADL lists Top 10 2011 issues affecting Jews The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday released a list of the top 10 issues affecting Jews in 2011.

* Gulf Arabs back unity after hinting at Iran threat Gulf Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed Saudi King Abdullah’s call to form a “single entity” after hinting at Iranian threats.

* Factbox: In 1919, ‘Palestine Part of Arab Syria’ The Palestinian Authority is furious at Newt Gingrich for calling “Palestinians” an “invented people,” but a short history shows that Arabs in the British Mandate and modern Israel never considered themselves a people.

12/19/11

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* North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies “of heart attack” North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has died of a heart attack at the age of 69, state media have announced.
* Last US troops withdraw from Iraq The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
* Syria Signs Arab League Proposal as Carnage Continues Assad’s troops continued to kill opponents Monday while he agrees to an Arab League proposal to send observers.
* Israel Not Optimistic on North Korea despite Kim Jong’s Death North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il’s death still leaves the country “distant and dangerous” for Israel, a Foreign Ministry spokesman says.
* “Hundreds” of North Korean Nuke Scientists in Iran Hundreds of nuclear scientists from North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong-il died Saturday, are in Iran, South Korean media report.
* Hamas Encouraged by Shalit Deal, Promises More Kidnappings As the second phase of the Shalit deal is implemented, Hamas is already planning the next kidnappings of soldiers.
* Egypt’s Islamic Extremists Claim Landslide Win Egypt’s largest Islamic extremist parties claim they won nearly 70 percent of the votes in the second round of elections.
* Egypt violence: Cairo clashes go into fourth day At least one person has died in fresh clashes between protesters and troops in the Egyptian capital Cairo, bringing the death toll since Friday to 12.
* Saudi Prince Buys Three Percent of Twitter Oil-rich Arab Muslims continue to invest in Western companies.
* EU foreign policy must not become a casualty of the euro crisis We are seriously concerned about the impact that the current eurozone debt crisis is having on the external relations of the Union.