Iranian lawmaker warns Russia over missile delay

AP: A senior Iranian lawmaker warned Russia that its delay in delivering an anti-aircraft missile defense system to Tehran could harm relations between the two countries, state television reported Sunday. Russia signed a contract two years ago to sell the S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran but has not made any deliveries or given any explanation for the delay. The United States and Israel strongly oppose the deal because it would significantly boost Iran's air defense capabilities at a time of heightened tension over the country's nuclear program. Russia and the U.S. are among six nations leading an effort to ensure Iran does not use what it maintains is a civilian nuclear program to develop an atomic bomb. But Moscow also has close ties with Iran and is helping build its first nuclear power plant, forcing Russia into a delicate balancing act.

17 Rebels Killed in Afghan Battle

VOA: The Afghan Defense Ministry says its troops, along with NATO forces, have killed 17 rebels in the southern region of the country. The ministry said Sunday the fighting erupted after militants fired several mortars at an Afghan army position in the province of Zabul.   Officials say one wounded rebel was captured. On Saturday, NATO-led forces in Afghanistan said more than 25 international and Afghan National Security Force personnel were mistakenly killed or wounded during an operation in western Badghis province. A NATO statement said Friday's incident occurred when NATO and Afghan forces were searching for two American soldiers who disappeared Wednesday while attempting to recover airdropped supplies from the Marghab River.  The U.S. soldiers are believed to have drowned.

Wall anniversary celebrations kick off in Berlin

AFP: Berlin warmed up Sunday for the 20th anniversary of the Wall's fall with celebrations throughout the city, as crowds gathered to relive the ecstatic scenes that heralded the demise of European communism. Leaders from across the continent were due in the German capital to join around 100,000 revellers Monday at the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of national unity since the peaceful revolution that tore down the Wall in 1989. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was flying to Berlin to give a speech late Sunday on the challenges facing the West two decades after the Cold War. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will also host leaders including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, recalled that the end of Europe's postwar division came as an utter surprise.

Landmark health bill passes House on close vote

AP: The Democratic-controlled House has narrowly passed landmark health care reform legislation, handing President Barack Obama a hard won victory on his signature domestic priority. Republicans were nearly unanimous in opposing the plan that would expand coverage to tens of millions of Americans who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. The 220-215 vote late Saturday cleared the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress. A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi compared the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later. Obama, who went to Capitol Hill earlier on Saturday to lobby wavering Democrats, said in a statement after the vote, "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year."

Pakistan suicide bombing kills anti-Taliban mayor

AP: A suicide bomber blew himself up Sunday in a crowded market in northwestern Pakistan, killing an anti-Taliban mayor who had formed a militia to fight the militants and 11 other people, officials said. A purported Taliban commander claimed responsibility for the bombing. The Taliban have carried out a series of attacks in recent weeks aimed at pressuring the government to abandon an offensive launched in mid-October in South Waziristan, the main Taliban and al-Qaida sanctuary in the country. The bombing, in the town of Adazai, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the main northwestern city of Peshawar, killed the town's mayor, Abdul Malik, and 11 other people, including a young girl, said Sahibzada Anis, the top official in Peshawar. The suicide bomber hit as shoppers thronged a market where goats were being sold to celebrate the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid.

Man convicted of sniper attacks in Washington in 2002 executed in Virginia - 2009-11-10

Forward planning source, FENS: The man convicted of sniper attacks in the Washington DC area in 2002 is scheduled to be executed. On 16 September John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death for the murder of Dean Meyers, one of 10 people killed during the shootings. Muhammad's lawyer said his client would appeal to the US Supreme Court. The lawyer, Jonathan Sheldon, also said he would ask Virginia governor Timothy Kaine for clemency. Muhammad and his accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo killed six people in Alabama and Louisiana before moving on to Maryland, Washington and Virginia.

US president Barack Obama visits Japan - 2009-11-12

Forward planning source, FENS: The US president, Barack Obama, is scheduled to visit Japan. It will be his second round of talks with new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, after the two men met at the United Nations in September. The visits takes place ahead of the Apec summit in Singapore on 14 - 15 November.

Barack Obama visits China for summit in Beijing - 2009-11-15

Forward planning source, FENS: The US president, Barack Obama, is expected to visit China. The trip is to be his first visit as president to Beijing and Shanghai, and will be the third set of talks with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao. Talks are expected to tackle the global economy, North Korea and climate change. The trip to Beijing comes after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in Singapore on 14-15 November (see story: 493729). Mr Obama's summit with Chinese president Hu Jintao will also address differences with Beijing on trade and economic policy, North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions, and climate change policy, with nations seeking to agree in December on a new international pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.