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08 Feb 10
Iran anniversary will be 'punch' to West: Khamenei
Iran's all powerful supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution would be a "punch" to the world's "arrogant" powers that would stun them.
"The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned," Khamenei, who is also Iran's commander-in-chief, told a gathering of air force personnel.
The country's top cleric was delivering a speech to mark the occasion when 31 years ago the Iranian airforce gave its support to the revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a key event which led to the toppling of the US-backed shah on February 11, 1979.
Iran says to unveil air defence equal to Russia system
Iran will soon unveil a domestically-made air defence system with at least the same capability as Russia's S-300 anti-aircraft hardware, an Iranian air force commander was quoted as saying on Monday.
Last month, Russia's state arms trader declined to say whether it would go ahead with the sale of S-300 to Iran, which could protect the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities from air strikes.-"In the near future, a new locally-made air defence system will be unveiled by the country's experts and scientists which is as powerful as the S-300 missile defence system, or even stronger," he said.
Netanyahu makes every anti-Iran effort in Russia
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Moscow to persuade the Kremlin into backing tougher sanctions against Iran, days after media reports revealed that Tel Aviv has dispatched two warships to the Persian Gulf.
The three-day trip, planned weeks ago, will see Netanyahu making every effort in convincing Russian government officials to join the Western-led campaign for additional sanctions against Iran's enrichment activities.
One Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on conditions of anonymity that Netanyahu will have a hard time wooing the Russians, who are helping Iran build a nuclear reactor in the southern city of Bushehr and have so far appeared reluctant in imposing sanctions on the country.
Assassination in Dubai May Launch Hizbullah-Hamas Revenge Effort
Last month’s daring assassination of a Hamas senior terrorist in Dubai may spark a combined Hizbullah-Hamas revenge attack against Israel. Hamas has blamed Israel for the murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who stated on a video taped before his death that he was involved in the murder of two Israeli soldiers in 1989.
Hizbullah has blamed Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency for the assassination of its mastermind terrorist Imad Mughniyeh, who was blown up by a car bomb in Damascus two years ago this Friday. Israeli security officials are prepared for Hizbullah, possibly with help by Hamas, to use the occasion to strike at Jews.
NATO Chief 'Surprised' By Russia's Listing Alliance As Threat
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today expressed surprise that Russia still considers the military alliance a major security threat.
Rasmussen, speaking on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, said, "I have to say that this new doctrine does not reflect the real world." -His reaction comes a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a new version of Russia's main military strategy document, which names NATO expansion as one of Russia's chief threats.
Medvedev approves new Russian "first strike" military doctrine
President Dmitry Medvedev has signed country’s new military doctrine which allows preventive nuclear strikes against potential aggressors.
''The President informed the members of Russia's Security Council yesterday that he has approved two documents - the military doctrine and the Fundamentals of the state policy on nuclear deterrence until 2020,'' presidential press secretary Natalia Timakova said.
''Military conflicts will be transient and selective, with a high degree of damage caused to targets, manoeuvrable troops and fire, and with the use of various mobile groups of troops (forces),'' the doctrine which was published on the Kremlin website, said.
French government says 2009 was record year for arms purchases
France invested the record sum of 19.3 billion euros (26.4 billion dollars) on equipping its army last year, the government defence and weapons agency DGA said Monday in Paris.
Despite the worst recession in decades, 60 Rafale fighter jets and 65 war ships and boats were ordered in 2009, the agency said.
Investment had increased by 123 per cent over that of the previous year, and arms exports had increased by 21 per cent.
Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 days
Magnitudes 4.5 and above are in bold font. Magnitudes 6 and above are in red.
'Iran may give up nukes if Mideast conflict resolved'
Jordan's King Abdullah said on Sunday that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could lead to Iran giving up its nuclear weapons program.
Abbas give in to U.S. pressure for indirect Mideast talks
Following heavy international pressure, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to the U.S. proposal to hold talks with Israel - in the format of indirect negotiations conducted by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.
Netanyahu heading to war
You are not heading towards peace, so stop talking nonsense. You are heading towards war with Syria.
Iran plans major nuclear expansion over next year
Iran says it will start producing higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday and add 10 uranium enrichment plants over the next year in a nuclear expansion sure to stoke tensions with the West.
Palin targets Obama in 'tea party' speech
Taking aim at President Barack Obama and the Democrats, Sarah Palin has told a 'tea party' convention in Nashville that the country is ripe for another revolution. since Obama moved into the White House a year ago with talk of hope and promises of change, Palin asked the gathering: "How's that hope-y, change-y stuff workin' out for you?"
Palin 'Would Be Willing' to Take On Obama in 2012
Sarah Palin has President Obama in her sights, telling FoxNews.com she "would be willing" to challenge him in the 2012 presidential race.
The former Alaska governor, in an interview Saturday on the sidelines of the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, said President Obama's "lack of experience" has held him back his first year in office and that she would put her credentials up against his any day.
Assad: We will stand by Lebanon if attacked by Israel
Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday vowed to stand by Lebanon's side against any Israeli "aggression," in an escalating war of words between Damascus and Jerusalem.
Assad made the remark to the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Beri, in Damascus, according to the official Syrian news agency, Sana.
White House announces televised health meet
President Barack Obama is planning to host a televised meeting with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on health care reform.
The Feb. 25 meeting is an attempt to reach across the aisle but not a signal that the president plans to start over, as Republicans have demanded, a White House official said.
India missile ready for army use
India's medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-III, is ready to be inducted into the armed forces after a successful test, the army says.
The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired off an island near Orissa state in eastern India on Sunday, defence officials say.
With a range of more than 3,000km (1,250 miles), the missile can carry a nuclear payload of 1.5 tonnes.
Egypt detains Muslim Brotherhood leaders
Several senior members of the Islamist opposition movement in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, have been detained.
They include its deputy leader, Mahmoud Ezzat, the organisation says.
The Brotherhood is officially outlawed in Egypt but its members have many seats in parliament, sitting as independents.
Iran to enrich uranium to 20% as nuclear fears grow
Iran has announced immediate plans to step up its nuclear programme, which Western nations fear could be used to make a bomb.
Its nuclear chief said Iran would start enriching uranium to 20% from Tuesday, and that 10 new uranium enrichment plants would be built in the next year.
Ali Akbar Salehi said the enrichment would take place at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment plant.
China shuts down training website for hackers
China has closed down what is believed to be the country's biggest training website for hackers, state media has reported.
They say the site, Black Hawk Safety Net, gave lessons in hacking and sold downloads of malicious software.
The reports say three people suspected of running the site were arrested.
Third day of disruption after snow in eastern US
Parts of the eastern United States remain largely paralysed for a third day after some of the heaviest snowfalls in decades.
Transport links in Washington DC and nearby states have been severely disrupted and hundreds of thousands of people are still without power.
Federal government offices and most schools are shut after the authorities advised people to stay indoors.
Connecticut power plant gas explosion kills five people
A huge explosion has rocked a power plant in the US state of Connecticut, killing at least five people and injuring 12, the local mayor has said.
Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said it was caused by a gas explosion.
People living up to 50km (30 miles) away reported that their homes were shaken by the blast at the Kleen Energy plant, being built outside Middletown.
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged the US to give its "undivided attention" to set the tone for the Israeli-Palestinian peace proce
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will travel to Moscow next Sunday for three days, his office announced on Sunday, for talks expected to focus on getting Russia to back stepped-up sanctions against Iran.
The visit, planned weeks ago, comes as the West is showing signs of growing impatience with what is starting to be seen throughout the US and Europe as little more than Iranian stalling tactics.
Jordan urges US to push ME peace
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged the US to give its "undivided attention" to set the tone for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, warning that if the two-state solution becomes unviable, the Middle East would be doomed to many decades of instability.
"We are waiting for the US to give us undivided attention on this issue," the king told CNN in an exclusive interview."If we don't get a clear mandate over the next month or so I'm not convinced we will be able to move forward."
07 Feb 10
U.S. Senator Lieberman: Impose sanctions on Iran or attack it
The world faces a stark choice between imposing tough sanctions on Iran to stop its nuclear program, or attacking it, United States Senator Joe Lieberman said Saturday.
Lieberman is the influential chairman of the Senate committee on homeland security. He was speaking a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that his country was ready to accept an international swap of uranium, but only under certain conditions.
Arab media: 2 Israeli Navy ships passed through Suez Canal
Two Israeli missile boats reportedly passed through the Suez Canal Thursday morning, according to Arab media reports over the weekend.
Egyptian authorities reportedly adopted strict security measures to ensure the ships' safety. According to the reports, the two Navy ships traveled through the canal en route to the Red Sea.
Environmentalism Latest Niche in Children's Books
Giggles the Green Bean has a problem. He's a happy little seed, planted in some good ground, but he sprouts into a world where the air stinks, the sky is gray and the trees are gasping.
...It's another turn at instilling environmental sensibilities in youngsters who may not know climate change from diaper change. But that's OK, isn't it? Or should we be concerned about heavy-handed green-washing?
Epic Snowstorm Batters Mid-Atlantic Region
Skiers lapped the Reflecting Pool along the National Mall; others used the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a slope. Hundreds crowded Dupont Circle for a snowball fight organized online, while elsewhere the capital's famed avenues were all but desolate.
Washington took on a surreal, almost magical feel as it was buried under nearly 2 feet of snow Saturday in one of the worst blizzards in the city's history. The nearly 18 inches recorded at Reagan National Airport was the fourth-highest storm total for the city. At nearby Dulles International Airport, the record was shattered with 32 inches.
Pink Ouija Board Targeting Young Girls Riles Critics
A pink version of the popular Ouija board game has some critics seeing red.
The children's sleepover staple — sold by Hasbro since 1967 — now comes in hot pink, an edition released two years ago that gets tweens to call on "spirits" to spell out answers to life's pressing questions.
It's designed for young girls ages 8 and older, but some say the mysterious product is a "dangerous spiritual game" that opens up anyone, particularly Christians, to attacks on their soul.
Shiite Militant Group Posts Video of Abducted American in Iraq
A missing Iraqi-American contractor was kidnapped by Shiite militiamen who lured him into central Baghdad by promising to help him find distant relatives, an Iraqi defense official said Saturday.
A Shiite extremist group claimed responsibility for the Jan. 23 kidnapping and posted a video online that shows a man wearing military fatigues reading a list of demands that includes the release of militants, the prosecution of Blackwater guards and an immediate American troop withdrawal.
