* Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda leader, dead – Barack Obama Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has been killed by US forces in Pakistan, President Barack Obama has said.

* EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Compound Where Osama Bin Laden Was Killed An exclusive look inside the Pakistani mansion where the world’s most notorious terrorist, Osama bin Laden, was killed.

* Egypt’s al-Zawahri likely to succeed bin Laden For years, Osama bin Laden’s charisma kept al-Qaida’s ranks filled with zealous recruits.

* Bin Laden leaves behind network linked by Internet Raid against al Qaida leader is vital psychological milestone, but the war will continue for years to come.

* Hamas Praises Bin Laden, Condemns US While most of the free world praises the United States for having rid it of arch-terrorist Osama Bin Laden, the Hamas organization condemned the act.

* One Root of Bin Laden’s Terrorism: Hatred of Jews Hatred of Jews and claims that the US “attacked” Muslims by “helping Jews occupy Palestine” were one of the reasons for Bin Laden’s anti-American terror.

* IDF chief: Army ready to protect Jewish people In Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, Lt-Gen Benny Gantz says IDF has historic commitment to precede any threat to Jewish people wherever they are.

* Netanyahu: I doubt world has learned Holocaust lesson Benjamin Netanyahu launching Holocaust Remembrance Day, says world finds it easier to talk of lessons of the past rather than project them on present day

* EU cheers reported killing of Osama bin Laden A US-ordered strike which killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has been met with “relief” and talk of a “safer world” by EU leaders.

* US, Israel, Baghdad deny report of IAF jets in Iraq Iranian report says Israeli jets massing at US air base in Iraq for strike on Iranian nuclear program; Pentagon calls the report “ridiculous.”

* Libya: Gaddafi offers talks with Nato Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has called for a ceasefire and talks with Nato to stop the coalition’s air strikes against his country.

* Pro-Palestinians hack into Israel Beiteinu website Picture of Palestinian flag with Egyptian pyramids in background posted on party’s site by hackers who call Lieberman a “criminal.”

* Massacre in Syria: Dozens killed Syrian forces fire at thousands of villagers protesting in Deraa, scores hurt, activists say; official news agency says four soldiers killed in attack on checkpoint in restive city.

* Egypt warns Israel: Don’t interfere with opening of Gaza border crossing Rafah’s opening would be a violation of an agreement reached in 2005 between the U.S., Israel, Egypt, and the EU; Israel official tells the Wall Street Journal developments in Egypt could affect Israel’s national security.

* Israeli official: We are troubled by developments in Egypt Official tells ‘WSJ’ Rafah opening “can affect Israel’s security at strategic level”; Egyptian official to Israel: Don’t meddle in our internal affairs.

* Barak to UN chief: Hamas must recognize Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak tells UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the world should only support a joint Palestinian government if it accepts the Quartet’s conditions.

* Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood set up new party The formerly banned Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s best-organised movement, announced on Saturday that it has formed a non-theocratic party that will contest up to half of parliament’s seats in September elections.

* How Israel Should Deal with PA’s Intention to Declare a State How should Israel deal with the Palestinian Authority’s intention to declare, with United Nations General Assembly support, a state in all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza this coming September?

* Royal wedding watched by 24.5 million on terrestrial TV More than 24m viewers in the UK watched the royal wedding on the BBC and ITV, industry body Barb estimates.

* ‘Mubarak could face death penalty for fire on protesters’ Egyptian justice minister: Only former interior minister’s testimony that Mubarak gave order to fire could secure conviction, ‘Al-Ahram’ reports.

* Iran’s president and supreme leader in rift over minister’s reinstatement MPs call for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be impeached after his refusal to back Khamenei’s judgment

* West Fails to Condemn Syria Largely due to the efforts of Russia, China and Lebanon, the U.N. Security Council has failed to agree on opposition to Syria’s violence against protestors.

* US: 61% Support Defending Israel A poll shows that 61percent of Americans support defending Israel if it is attacked – more than those who support defending all but three other countries.

* Embattled Arab Leaders Decide It’s Better to Fight Than Quit Arab leaders facing public revolt have increasingly concluded that it is better to shoot to kill, or at least to arrest and imprison, than to abdicate and flee.

* Obama’s Pentagon and CIA Picks Show Shift in How US Fights Obama’s decision to send an intelligence chief to the Pentagon and a four-star general to the Central Intelligence Agency is the latest evidence of a significant shift over the past decade in how the United States fights its battles.

* Palestinian unity deal could be barrier to statehood President Peres calls burgeoning Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement a ‘fatal mistake,’ saying he expected a future Palestinian vote to result in Hamas’ rule of the West Bank.

* Syria secretly tried to build nuclear reactor IAEA secretary general unequivocally confirms suggestions made in previous watchdog reports that the structure hit allegedly by Israel in 2007 could have been a reactor under construction.

* Two Kurdish officers killed by Iraqi soldiers in disputed oil capital The Iraq Army and Kurdish forces engaged in a violent clash in the northern city of Kirkuk on April 25.

* “We prefer Hamas over Israel” Top Fatah official Tawfiq Tirawi says Palestinian people prefer unity over peace deal with Israel.

* Egypt sending team to Gaza to help implement Palestinian deal Egyptian security source says team will help ‘settle and organize the internal security situation there,’ after Hamas and Fatah reach historic agreement.

UN chief on Lebanon truce mission UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel, PA consider int’l force at Karni Israel and the Palestinian Authority are deliberating over an international observers force that may be stationed at the Gaza Strip’s Karni Crossing.

Lebanese army boosting forces along Syrian border Lebanese newspaper reports that five units have started deploying along border with Syria.

Would Turkish troops in Lebanon be neutral? With relative quiet prevailing in Lebanon, the question now is which countries will send peacekeepers to enforce order in the country.

Annan to visit Iran amid dispute UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to visit Iran next Saturday.

Iran test-fires sub-to-surface missile A A day after Ahmadinejad inaugurated a heavy-water plant that could be used to produce plutonium, Iran test-fired a sub-to-surface missile in the Persian Gulf.

Amnesty warns of potential catastrophe in Darfur The build up of Sudanese troops in the war-torn western Darfur region could lead to a human rights catastrophe unless UN peacekeeping troops are sent to the region soon.

‘Gaza caught in anarchy and thuggery’ “When you walk in the streets of Gaza City, you cannot but close your eyes because of what you see there: unimaginable chaos, careless policemen, and young men carrying guns.

Car bomb targets Iraq interior ministry A bomber in a car has blown himself up outside Iraq’s interior ministry in Baghdad.

Nasrallah: I would not have kidnapped troops had I known the outcome Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV interview Sunday that he would not have ordered the capture of two Israeli soldiers had he known it would lead to such a response.

Eiland: Iran leadership poses threat Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, if he ever became the supreme decision maker in his country, would “sacrifice half of Iran for the sake of eliminating Israel.”

France boosts Lebanon peace force President Jacques Chirac has pledged an additional 1,600 French troops to the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon.

Israel gives up on disarming Hizbullah Israel has essentially given up hope of Hizbullah being disarmed, and instead is now concentrating on ensuring that an arms embargo called for in UN Security Council resolution 1701 be implemented.

Iran set for a showdown at UN Iran appears to be heading for a showdown at the UN Security Council next week over its nuclear program.

Israel feels US will not attack Iran There is growing consensus within the defense establishment that the United States will not attack Iran.

Pluto vote ‘hijacked’ in revolt A fierce backlash has begun against the decision by astronomers to strip Pluto of its status as a planet.

Most Israelis want Olmert to quit A majority of Israelis think that Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, should resign.

Annan to press EU nations over Lebanon peacekeeping force UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was today trying to persuade European nations to contribute troops to the United Nation�s expanded peacekeeping force for Lebanon.

Pro-Nasrallah song popular in W. Bank They were struggling in a boy band, working the West Bank wedding circuit and dreaming of stardom.

Islam poses a threat to the West, say 53pc in poll The alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners and last year’s terrorist attacks on London have made more people fear Islam as a religion.

Israel may ‘go it alone’ against Iran Israel is carefully watching the world’s reaction to Iran’s continued refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

Syria warns over UN peacekeepers Syria has reportedly threatened to close its border with Lebanon if UN peacekeepers are deployed along it.

US: Iran’s response falls short The US has said that Iran’s offer to hold negotiations over its nuclear program but not halt uranium enrichment falls short of UN demands.

EU’s Lebanon action gathers pace Finland’s foreign minister, whose country holds the EU presidency, says he would like to see fresh UN troops deployed in Lebanon within a week.

UN to set up HQ center in Cyprus for Lebanon peacekeeping force The United Nations will set up an administration centre in Nicosia for the transfer of peacekeeping troops to Lebanon.

Mother recalls Iraqi gas attack he third day of Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial has seen a Kurdish woman testify about the death of one of her children in a poison gas attack.

Russia Overtakes Saudi Arabia as World’s Leading Oil Producer – OPEC Statistics recently published by the oil cartel OPEC show that Russia is currently extracting more oil than Saudi Arabia.

Iraq prime minister hails Saddam trial The media office of the Iraqi prime minister has issued a statement saying the trial of Saddam Hussein is a “fundamental step towards achieving justice”.

Online guide: Killing ‘infidels’ Islamic website offers tips on killing foreigners in Saudi Arabia.

US ‘lacks Iran arms intelligence’ The US lacks reliable intelligence on Iran’s weapons capability.