Bush Meets Iraqi Leader in Jordan Today President Bush, under pressure to find a new blueprint for Iraq, meets Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Wednesday in a high-stakes summit.

Jordan urges Iraq to seek unity King Abdullah of Jordan has urged Iraqi religious and political leaders not to allow their country to disintegrate.

Israel, Arabs upbeat about ME peace after EU meeting Israeli, Arab and European Union foreign ministers were unanimously upbeat about Middle East peace prospects.

Rice to tell Abbas: Don’t miss opportunity, impose order American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to tell Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at their meeting Thursday that he must increase his efforts to impose order in the Palestinian Authority.

NATO signals Afghan reinforcements NATO leaders meeting in the Latvian capital of Riga have agreed to “step up” operations in Afghanistan with a lifting of rules of engagement meaning more troops on the ground.

Turkey: Pope supports EU membership Turkey’s prime minister said Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI told him he wanted Turkey to join the European Union.

Commentary: Russia – A gangster state? Whatever the truth behind the bizarre murder by radiation poisoning of former Russian intelligence colonel, Alexander Litvinenko, he has managed in death to tarnish the image of his country and its leaders.

Iran to host Holocaust conference Iran, which disputes that Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis, is to hold a conference next month to allow historians to clarify “hidden angles” of the Holocaust.

Study Finds that a Single Impact Killed the Dinosaurs The dinosaurs, along with the majority of all other animal species on Earth, went extinct approximately 65 million years ago.

US military trains ‘air force’ of bomb-sniffing bees US military defense scientists have found a way to train the common honey bee to smell explosives used in bombs.

Russia eyes global lead in arms exports

As Russia boosts its position as one of the world’s largest arms exporters, the Russian defense industry sees few rewards from increased revenues, as the best equipment goes to outsiders, while the armed forces relies on upgrades.

By Sergei Blagov in Moscow for ISN Security Watch (24/11/06)

Russian arms exporters have amassed billions of dollars in overseas orders and raised actual weapons exports, but Russian officials say it is too early to claim the top position among the world’s leading weapons exporters, as Moscow targets the developing world.

Read more…

Abdullah says no to Palestinian refugees King Abdullah of Jordan said on Tuesday that he would not allow a massive influx of Palestinian refugees into his country as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

Pope begins landmark Turkey visit Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Turkey on his first trip to a mainly Muslim country since acceding to the papacy.

NATO eyes Afghan handover in 2008 NATO’s military operation in Afghanistan will succeed, the alliance’s chief said Tuesday.

Iran: US exit key to Iraq peace US troops must leave Iraq if security is to be restored, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said during talks with the Iraqi president.

Civil War in Iraq Near, Annan Says The Iraq Study Group began two days of intensive behind-closed-doors deliberations yesterday as the White House conceded that Iraq has moved into a dangerous new phase of warfare.

Ethiopian ‘clash’ with Islamists Ethiopian forces have exchanged fire with Islamists in a strategic town north of the capital, officials of the powerful Islamic movement have alleged.

AIDS to Be 3rd Leading Cause of Death Within the next 25 years, AIDS is set to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death worldwide, according to a study published online Monday.

India carries out anti-missile test India on Monday carried out its first successful test interception of a ballistic missile, using a second missile to destroy the incoming rocket, the Defense Ministry said.

Olmert’s Speech Angers Many, Even in Kadima The NFC Hebrew website reports on two Kadima Knesset Members who have scathing criticism for their party leader and Prime Minister.

Report: Hizbullah training Shiite militia in Iraq Senior US intelligence official tells New York Times Shiite organization has been training Shiite Mahdi Army in Iraq.

Olmert: Palestinians must give up the right of refugee return Prime Minister Ehud Olmert laid out a far-reaching vision of peace on Thursday, reaffirming that Israel would be willing to withdraw from a great deal of territory in return for a true peace.

Panel to Weigh Overture by U.S. to Iran and Syria A draft report on strategies for Iraq, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes direct talks with Iran and Syria.

Iraq president to fly to Iran Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was due to fly to Tehran to meet his Iranian counterpart on Monday.

Leftist Chavez ally winning Ecuador presidential race Leftist Rafael Correa, whose friendship with Venezuela’s anti-US leader and calls to limit foreign debt payments have caused concern in Washington.

Pope death threats put Turkey on high alert An army of snipers, riot police, secret agents and bomb disposal experts has been mobilized for the Pope’s four-day visit to Turkey.

Jordan: 3 civil wars in Mideast possible Jordan’s King Abdullah said Sunday the problems in the Middle East go beyond the war in Iraq.

Cyprus row halts EU-Turkey talks Talks between the EU and Turkey over Cyprus have broken down without agreement, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja has said.

Syria may help calm Iraq, for a price As the US debates whether to reach out to Syria for help in calming Iraq, some close to the Syrian regime said Sunday the country would be willing to help, but only if it got something valuable in return.

Turkish police on high alert ahead of pope’s visit Turkish security forces will be on high alert Tuesday for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, his first visit to a Muslim country since becoming leader of the Catholic Church last year.

Haniyeh to visit Egypt, Iran, Syria as part of first foreign trip as PM Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas is to head out on his first tour of Arab countries, including Syria and Iran.

France okays firing at IAF over Lebanon French soldiers in Lebanon who feel threatened by aggressive Israeli overflights are permitted to shoot at IAF fighter jets.

China and Pakistan in trade deal Chinese President Hu Jintao has signed a free trade deal with his Pakistani counterpart, Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Funeral for Lebanese minister turns into anti-Syria rally Hundreds of thousands packed Martyrs Square in Beirut on Thursday to honor slain Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

Ethiopia ‘ready for Islamist war’ Ethiopia has made preparations for a conflict with the Islamists who control much of southern Somalia.

Analysis: Assad’s sleight of hand The assassination of Lebanese Christian minister Pierre Gemayel on Tuesday was intended to remind the anti-Syrian forces in Beirut that President Bashar Assad has not forgiven them.

Gunmen raid Iraq health ministry Gunmen have attacked the health ministry in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sparking heavy gun battles with guards.

British MP warns Europe of ‘new anti-Semitism’ A “witches brew” of Islamic fundamentalists, left-wing intellectuals and neo-Nazis is causing a new resurgence of anti-Semitism to spread across Western Europe and must be tackled.

EU expansion ‘boosts UK economy’ European expansion has boosted the UK economy and put it in a strong position to cope with growing globalization.

Egeland: ‘Meltdown’ in Darfur Citing a “dramatic deterioration” of the situation in Darfur, the top U.N. humanitarian official said a crisis is approaching for the region in Sudan that could cost millions of lives.

Knesset panel calls to create Arabic language academy Eleven MKs from across the political spectrum – Jews and Arabs alike – voiced support for the establishment of an Arabic language academy.

Source: Russia has begun air defense missile system deliveries to Iran Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.

Thousands attend Beirut funeral The funeral of murdered anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel has taken place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of people paying tribute.

Israel: No end to Gaza offensive until Palestinians halt rocket fire Israel wants Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets on the Negev before it ends its operations in the Gaza Strip.

Baghdad toll exceeds 200 The death toll from a series of bombs in Sadr City, a poor Shia area of Baghdad, has reached 202.

Helsinki summit sees EU and Russia drifting apart EU leaders will on Friday (24 November) limp to Finland for a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin without a mandate to start talks on a new EU-Russia treaty.

Electronic jihad’s cyber soldiers They neither carry weapons nor lay ambushes for soldiers in Iraq or in Afghanistan. But thousands of radical Islamists are waging a different kind of war.

Giant Mexican telescope launched Mexican President Vicente Fox has inaugurated a giant telescope that could help scientists uncover clues about the origins of the Universe.

China, Pakistan sign trade pact during Hu visit Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Pakistan counterpart Pervez Musharraf oversaw the signing of a landmark free trade deal.

Benedict in the lion’s den The Pope could be forgiven for feeling nervous when he visits Turkey next week for his first sojourn in a predominantly Muslim country.

Grandmother blows herself up in Gaza A grandmother became the oldest Palestinian suicide bomber yesterday when she blew herself up in Gaza and slightly wounded two Israeli soldiers.

Hamas: Jews must evacuate Only way to stop bombardments of Sderot by rocket attacks is to evacuate entire town, group official says.

Israeli troops advance into Gaza towns Israeli ground troops, tanks and armored vehicles advanced on two northern Gaza towns Wednesday in pursuit of Palestinian rocket squads.

Crowds mourn Lebanon politician Large crowds have greeted the coffin of assassinated Lebanese Maronite Christian politician Pierre Gemayel after its arrival in his home village.

Iran denied aid to build reactor Thirty-five nations agreed Wednesday to deny Iran’s request for technical help in building a plutonium-producing reactor.

Muslim birthrate worries Russia Low domestic birthrates and rising immigration from the former Soviet republics are producing explosive growth in Russia’s Muslim community.

Iraqi death toll hits record high The Iraqi death toll hit a record high in October, with more than 3,700 people losing their lives in the ongoing violence, according to a UN report.

Syria dismisses accusations Syria has denied accusations that it was behind the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, the Lebanese industry minister.

Bush to visit Jordan, meet Iraqi PM US President to fly to Jordan to attend forum of modern Arab nations, to meet with Iraq’s al-Maliki to discuss security situation in Iraq.

West Bank leader hits report on land ownership A West Bank settler leader denounced an Israeli settlement watchdog group that said yesterday that government maps indicate 40 percent of land incorporated into West Bank settlements is owned by Palestinians.

Poll: Netanyahu leads, Gaydamak worth 13 Knesset seats Survey conducted by Dahaf Institute for Yedioth Ahronoth reveals if elections were held today Likud would get 20 Knesset seats, Kadima and Labor would each drop to 15 seats.

By Michael Mainville – THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Lebanese Christian leader killed Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, a Maronite Christian leader, has been killed in the capital, Beirut.

Scores of bodies found in Iraq Iraq’s defence minister has declared that the country is in a “state of war.”

Iraq and Syria restore relations Syria and Iraq are to restore diplomatic relations, after a break of more than 20 years.

Boost global role and forget constitution, Soros urges EU US billionaire financier and liberal political activist George Soros has said the EU should “shelve” its planned constitution.

China and India ink prosperity deal The leaders of China and India have signed a 10-point socio-economic development plan.

Ethiopians celebrate under shadow of discrimination Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews arrived in Jerusalem on Monday to celebrate the Sigd holiday.

Peace Now report targets settlements Forty percent of all West Bank settlements were built on private Palestinian land and are therefore illegal, a settlement watchdog group said Tuesday.

United States ‘trapped’ in Iraq: Annan US forces are trapped in Iraq, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has said.

U.N. Says 39.5 Million People Have HIV The global HIV epidemic is growing, leaving an estimated 39.5 million people worldwide infected with the deadly virus, the United Nations said.

Poll: 93% of Israelis worry about terror Ninety-three percent of Israelis see terrorism as a major problem.

Ahmadinejad: ‘Zionist regime is weak’ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel would not attack the Islamic Republic as “its regime is weak and it has many problems.”

Stay in Iraq, says Pentagon panel A US military review of strategy in Iraq is likely to back a limited troop increase focused on training.

Kissinger: Iraq Military Win Impossible Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Report: Israeli spies active in Iran Iran has developed and tested a trigger device for a nuclear bomb, Israeli agents stationed there have told the White House.

Syria on the Move in Lebanon and Iraq Syrian-backed Hizbullah may be poised to stage a revolution in Lebanon.

Chinese leader begins India visit China’s president, Hu Jintao, has arrived in India for the first visit by a Chinese head of state in 10 years.

PM Blair warns of long fight against Taliban Tony Blair today described the battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan as a “generation-long struggle”.

Italian Premier Prodi heads to Eygpt, Italy joins push for peace Italian Premier Romano Prodi is heading to Cairo today for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarark.

EU raises the pressure on Turkey The Finnish EU presidency has raised the political stakes in the faltering EU-Turkey talks.

Poll: Tradition holding Jews together A survey by Market Watch carried out among a representative sample of the Israeli public shows that two thirds of the public believe that there exists a common denominator between Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel.