VIENNA (Reuters) - Arab states backed by Iran are poised to target Israel over its assumed atomic arsenal at U.N. nuclear watchdog meetings this month, despite U.S. warnings this may hamper broader steps to ban such weapons in the Middle East. (full story...)

Reuters - Pakistan is expected to become the next head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog's governing body despite being outside a global anti-nuclear arms pact and home to a nuclear smuggler who supplied Iran and North Korea, diplomats say. (full story...)

Dictator Kim Jong-il apparently too ill to hold party congress where he is expected to anoint son Kim Jong-un as next leaderNorth Korea has marked its 62nd anniversary today amid speculation that its dictator, Kim Jong-il, is not well enough to open a rare meeting of ruling party members that could see his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, effectively nam....(more) (full story...)

AP - South Korea said it will ban many financial dealings with Iran and impose other penalties as part of a U.S.-led campaign to enforce sanctions against the country over its disputed nuclear enrichment program. (full story...)

by Joseph Romm. This post was cowritten by Araceli Ruano, the Center for American Progress’ senior vice president and director for California. Andrew Fitzgerald Adams also contributed to this post. Last week, Politico reported on the California Senate debate:  “Fiorina’s major stumble came on the issue of Proposition 23.....(more) (full story...)

Former Cuban leader criticises Iranian president for denying the Holocaust and calls for end to slander of JewsFidel Castro has accused Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, of antisemitism, in a passionate defence of Israel's right to exist. Cuba's retired president, a longtime critic of Israeli government policy, said Jews had been s....(more) (full story...)

Today's phrase: "NO SILVER BULLET" Definition: The solution we are without, for an endless array of intractable social ills, including but not limited to the jobless rate, health-care cost containment, clean energy, Christmas Day bombers, the nuclear ambitions of rogue states. The politician who ... ....(more) (full story...)

AFP - The United States on Wednesday hailed new sanctions imposed by South Korea against Iran as increasing pressure on Tehran to return to the negotiating table to address concerns about its nuclear aims. (full story...)

AFP - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday the United States is watching the "leadership process" in North Korea but hoped whoever is in power in Pyongyang will scrap nuclear weapons. (full story...)

by Randy Rieland. Today, BP leaned on its sword. In a report based on its own investigation, BP does accept some responsibility for the oil well explosion that killed 11 people and dumped 4.1 million barrels of crude into the Gulf. But it concludes that there’s plenty of blame to spread around. So it goes. Partners in sli....(more) (full story...)