My Way News - US struggles to get Israel, Palestinians to talks
My Way News reports: "The Obama administration sought Friday to direct Israel and the Palestinians back toward direct peace talks, even as the two sides and much of the world seemed to be ignoring the U.S. attempts at leadership on a Mideast peace strategy."

My Way News - N. Korea rocket preparations might be a bluff
My Way News reports: "Rocket sections are apparently being trucked into North Korea's northwest launch site, but some analysts are asking whether it's just a calculated bluff meant to jangle the Obama administration and influence South Korean voters ahead of presidential elections in three weeks."

My Way News - Tutu: EU not worthy to win Nobel Peace Prize
My Way News reports: "Three Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have contested the awarding of this year's prize to the European Union, saying the 27-nation bloc contradicts the values associated with the prize because it relies on military force to ensure security. [...] There was no immediate response from the EU headquarters in Brussels."

My Way News - Ukraine fights spreading HIV epidemic
My Way News reports: "Andrei Mandrykin, an inmate at Prison No. 85 outside Kiev, has HIV. He looks ghostly and much older than his 35 years. But Mandrykin is better off than tens of thousands of his countrymen, because is he receiving treatment amid what the World Health Organization says is the worst AIDS epidemic in Europe."

My Way News - UN vote recognizes state of Palestine; US objects
My Way News reports: "The United Nations voted overwhelmingly Thursday to recognize a Palestinian state, a victory decades in the making for the Palestinians after years of occupation and war. It was a sharp rebuke for Israel and the United States. [...] In an extraordinary lineup of international support, more than two-thirds of the world body's 193 member states approved the resolution upgrading the Palestinians to a nonmember observer state. It passed 138-9, with 41 abstentions [..] The Palestinians turned to the General Assembly after the United States announced it would veto their bid last fall for full U.N. membership until there is a peace deal with Israel. [...] The vote grants the Palestinians the same status at the U.N. as the Vatican, and they will keep their seat next to the Holy See in the assembly chamber."

My Way News - Ice sheets melting at poles faster than before
My Way News reports: "Fueled by global warming, polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are now melting three times faster than they did in the 1990s, a new scientific study says. So far, that's only added about half an inch to rising sea levels, not as bad as some earlier worst case scenarios. But the melting's quicker pace, especially in Greenland, has ice scientists worried."

Wired News - Student Suspended for Refusing to Wear a School-Issued RFID Tracker
Wired News reports: "A Texas high school student is being suspended for refusing to wear a student ID card implanted with a radio-frequency identification chip. Northside Independent School District in San Antonio began issuing the RFID-chip-laden student-body cards when the semester began in the fall. The ID badge has a bar code associated with a student’s Social Security number, and the RFID chip monitors pupils’ movements on campus, from when they arrive until when they leave."

My Way News - Gazans thank Iran for help in battling Israel
My Way News reports: "Residents of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday plastered large billboards in key locations thanking Iran for its help during a recent eight-day battle against Israel. The posters reflected the strong ties between Iran and the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups in Gaza."

My Way News - Germany: won't back Palestinian state at UN
My Way News reports: "Germany says it won't back a Palestinian drive for statehood in a U.N. vote this week - putting it at odds with France and other European countries. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Wednesday Berlin is still evaluating the situation and consulting with its European partners."

My Way News - Key players, positions on Palestinian statehood:
My Way News reports: "The vote is largely symbolic, the outcome nearly assured: The Palestinians and Israelis are closely watching the evolving positions of a few key countries in Thursday's U.N. General Assembly resolution to raise the Palestinians' status from a U.N. observer to a nonmember observer state. The measure only requires a majority and is all but certain to pass. "

Comment: It is unprecedented for a candidate state in the middle of a civil war ask to be given such status. There can be no doubt that a state of civil war exists between Hamas (ruling in Gaza) and Fatah (ruling in the West Bank) and that the Palestinians are far too divided to become a single state. And yet, none of that will matter to the U.N. because their majority vote will be more of vote against Israel then a vote for the Palestinians. The "two-state solution" is predicated on the idea that the Palestinians want peace with Israel. Hamas long ago demonstrated that they really want peace without Israel. And yet the world will look away, once again, and ignore that inconvenient fact. Kudos to Germany for standing against the tide.

My Way News - Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable missile
My Way News reports: "Pakistan's military says it has successfully test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. A military statement says the Hatf V or Ghauri missile was launched Wednesday from an undisclosed location. It says the missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads over a distance of 1,300 kilometers (810 miles)."

My Way News - Strong earthquake shakes eastern Indonesia
My Way News reports: "A strong earthquake struck the eastern part of Indonesia on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of damage. The magnitude-5.5 quake was centered 56 kilometers (35 miles) under the sea, the U.S. agency reported."

My Way News - Egypt court sentences 8 to death over prophet film:
My Way News reports: "An Egyptian court convicted in absentia Wednesday seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Florida-based American pastor, sentencing them to death on charges linked to an anti-Islam film that had sparked riots in parts of the Muslim world [...] Coptic Christians make up most of Egypt's Christian minority, around 10 percent of the country's 83 million. They complain of state discrimination. Violent clashes break out occasionally over land disputes, worshipping rights and love affairs between Muslims and Christians."

Tony Blair: the EU needs a president - Telegraph:
The Telegraph reports: "In a move interpreted by some as a job application, the former prime minister said the EU could do with a strong leader approved by the people. He also warned that too deep a political divide between Britain and the core eurozone countries could lead towards a break-up."

My Way News - Israel bombards Gaza Strip, shoots down rocket:
My Way News reports: "Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with about 300 airstrikes Saturday and shot down a Palestinian rocket fired at Tel Aviv, the military said, widening a blistering assault to include the Hamas prime minister's headquarters, a police compound and a vast network of smuggling tunnels. The intensified airstrikes came as Egyptian-led attempts to broker a cease-fire and end Israel's four-day-old Gaza offensive gained momentum."

My Way News - Hamas targets Jerusalem in major escalation
My Way News reports: "Palestinian militants took aim at Jerusalem for the first time Friday, launching a rocket attack on the holy city in a major escalation of hostilities as Israel pressed forward with a relentless campaign of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Israel called up thousands of reservists and massed troops along the border with Gaza, signaling a ground invasion of the densely populated seaside strip could be imminent. [...] Israel's two largest cities have never before been exposed to rocket fire from Hamas-ruled Gaza. Over the past three days, Israel has struck suspected rocket-launching sites and other Hamas targets in Gaza with scores of airstrikes, while Hamas has fired more than 450 rockets toward Israel. "

My Way News - Analysis: Israel-Hamas: a clash waiting to happen
My Way News reports: "Since Israel completed a devastating military offensive in the Gaza Strip four years ago, military officials have warned it was only a matter of time before the next round of fighting. Violence erupted this week with little warning, driven by Hamas' ambitions to make its mark on a changing Middle East and an Israeli government reacting to public outcry over rocket attacks just weeks ahead of national elections."

My Way News - APNewsBreak: Iran ready to ramp up nuke program
My Way News reports: "Iran is on the threshold of being able to create weapons-grade uranium at a plant it has heavily fortified against Israeli attack, diplomats told The Associated Press on Thursday, calling into question an Israeli claim that Iran had slowed its nuclear time table."

My Way News - Analysis: Israeli Gaza offensive looks to be brief
My Way News reports: "The major operation Israel launched to stop Gaza rocket fire bears some striking similarities to a punishing three-week campaign it unleashed against Hamas militants four years ago [...] Israel military officials say their goal is identical to four years ago - re-establishing its deterrence following a bout of rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, and delivering a crippling blow to Hamas' missile capabilities."

My Way News - Eurozone slides back into recession
My Way News reports: "The 17-country eurozone has fallen back into recession for the first time in three years as the fallout from the region's financial crisis was felt from Amsterdam to Athens. And with surveys pointing to increasingly depressed conditions across the 17-member group at a time of austerity and high unemployment, the recession is forecast to deepen, and make the debt crisis - which has been calmer of late - even more difficult to handle."

My Way News - Scores isolated after new Ebola outbreak in Uganda
My Way News reports: "Scores of Ugandans were isolated on Thursday to prevent the spread of a new outbreak of Ebola which has already killed three people. Uganda has experienced increasingly regular outbreaks of deadly hemorrhagic fevers that have left health officials grappling for answers."

My Way News - Xi Jinping takes helm of China amid reform calls
My Way News reports: "Xi Jinping became leader of China on Thursday, securing the Communist Party's top spot and oversight of the military in a political transition upset by scandals that have added fuel to public demands for change as the country faces slower economic growth."

My Way News - Russia expands treason law, critics fear crackdown
My Way News reports: "Adding to fears that the Kremlin aims to stifle dissent, Russians now live under a new law expanding the definition of treason so broadly that critics say it could be used to call anyone who bucks the government a traitor. The law took effect Wednesday, just two days after President Vladimir Putin told his human rights advisory council that he was ready to review it."

My Way News - Austerity protests stall several European nations
My Way News reports: "Hundreds of thousands of Europe's beleaguered citizens went on strike or snarled the streets of several capitals Wednesday, at times clashing with riot police, as they demanded that governments stop cutting benefits and create more jobs [...] The zone of the 17 countries that use the euro currency is expected to fall into recession when official figures are released Thursday. Unemployment across those countries has reached a record 11.6 percent, with Spain and Greece seeing levels above 25 percent."

My Way News - Glacier melt cited as main cause of rising seas:
My Way News reports: "Austrian experts say melting glaciers have been the single greatest cause of rising sea level over the past century. Scientists at the respected University of Innsbruck say that between 1902 and 2007, glaciers contributed 11 centimeters (4.33 inches) to a total sea level rise of about 20 centimeters (nearly 8 inches). They also said Wednesday that by 2100, melting glaciers could raise sea levels by another 22 centimeters."

My Way News - Israel assassinates Hamas military chief in Gaza:
My Way News reports: "Israel carried out a blistering offensive of more than 50 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, assassinating Hamas' military commander and targeting the armed group's training facilities and rocket launchers [...] in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza, were the beginning of a broader operation against the Islamic militants codenamed 'Pillar of Defense.' Israeli defense officials said a ground operation was a strong possibility in the coming days though they stressed no decisions had been made and much would depend on Hamas' reaction. There were no immediate signs of extraordinary troop deployments along the border."

My Way News - Iran says it's tested new air defense system:
My Way News reports: "Iran said Tuesday it successfully tested a new air defense system modeled after the U.S. Hawk system during a drill in the country's east. A senior Iranian official called the maneuvers a 'slap' to America and Israel. State TV broadcast footage Tuesday said to be from the drill, which began Saturday and which has been billed as 'massive.' The footage shows a Hawk missile being launched and hitting a mock aircraft."

My Way News - Egypt's Brotherhood slams Israel over Gaza strikes:
My Way News reports: "Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood sharply criticized Israeli leaders on Tuesday over airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, accusing them of heating up the conflict to score political points ahead of elections. The latest round of violence began Saturday, with rocket attacks from Gaza militants and Israeli airstrikes that killed seven Palestinians. More than 100 rockets have exploded in Israel since the weekend [...] Also, Israeli tanks struck a Syrian artillery launcher Monday after a mortar shell flew into Israel-held territory, fueling concerns that Israel could be dragged into the Syrian civil war."

Strong 6.6 magnitude quake strikes Myanmar | Reuters
Reuters reports: "A major earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Myanmar on Sunday, around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of the city of Mandalay, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which was initially measured at 7.0 magnitude and which was quiet shallow at around 10km (6 miles) deep."

My Way News - Up to 11,000 people flee Syria in 24-hour period:
My Way News reports: "As many as 11,000 people fled Syria in 24 hours, some of them desperately clambering through a razor-wire fence into Turkey on Friday to escape fierce fighting between rebels and government forces for control of a border town. The exodus is a sign of the escalating ferocity of the violence, which has killed more than 36,000 people since March 2011."

My Way News - Scientology makes few waves in Israel
My Way News reports: "In August, Scientology opened a gleaming new headquarters in the ancient port city of Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv. Since then, visitors and the curious have streamed through with no incidents [...] Scientology has confronted charges in many countries that it is a dangerous cult that brainwashes its followers and confiscates their assets."

My Way News - Mortar fire from Syria lands in Israeli-held Golan
My Way News reports: "Israel's military says three mortar rounds fired from Syria have landed inside the Israeli-held Golan Heights. It's the third time in less than a week that Syria's civil war has spilled over into the Golan. No injuries were reported from the mortar fire on Thursday. One round fell on a communal farm."

My Way News - Russia's Putin meets with Israeli president
My Way News reports: "Russia's President Vladimir Putin has hosted his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres for talks focusing on economic ties and international crises. Putin said at the start of Thursday's meeting with Peres that bilateral ties have been developing successfully. The two leaders were expected to discuss the situation in Syria among other international issues."

My Way News - Asia-Europe Meeting: build growth with cooperation
My Way News reports: "Leaders from Asia and Europe are calling for closer cooperation between the two continents in addressing the current global economic and financial crisis. The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, also unequivocally affirmed the euro's future. The two-day Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos was attended by leaders and ministers from 51 countries, including new members Norway, Switzerland and Bangladesh."

My Way News - Powerful quake hits Guatemala, killing at least 48
My Way News reports: "A 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Guatemala on Wednesday, killing at least 48 people in two provinces as it toppled thick adobe walls, shook huge landslides down onto highways, and sent terrified villagers streaming into the streets of this idyllic mountain town near the border with Mexico. One hundred people were missing, and hundreds were injured."

My Way News - TV report: Israel security heads nixed Iran attack
My Way News reports: "Israel's prime minister ordered the military to go on high alert for a looming attack on Iran's nuclear program two years ago, but backed off following strong objections from senior security officials, a respected Israeli news program reported Monday."

Israeli think tank simulates aftermath of 'successful' strike on Iran nuke facilities - CNN.com:
CNN reports: "An Israeli think tank with close links to the government has simulated what would happen in the Mideast and internationally if Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities -- and concluded that reaction would be "in the direction of containment and restraint," not the trigger for a larger war."

My Way News - Russia warns West over Syria moves:
My Way News reports: "A senior Russian diplomat on Friday warned the West against trying to predetermine a future leadership of Syria [...] Russia has been the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, shielding it from U.N. sanctions over a crackdown on the 19-month uprising, in which at least 36,000 people have been killed, according to opposition activists. Earlier this week, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's rejection of calls for Assad's ouster, saying that it would only exacerbate the conflict."

My Way News - Syria war puts anti-US alliance on the defensive
My Way News reports: "Iran's economy is showing signs of distress from nuclear sanctions, Syria's president is fighting for his survival and Hezbollah in Lebanon is under fire by opponents who blame it for the assassination of an anti-Syrian intelligence official. Hamas - the Palestinian arm - has bolted."