UPDATES: News and Links

Peter Falk, Columbo actor, dies aged 83

Actor, who had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, died at his Beverly Hills home

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/jun/24/peter-falk-columbo-actor-dies

Egypt says will not need IMF, World Bank funds

(Reuters) - Egypt will not borrow from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund after revising its budget and cutting the forecast deficit, even though a loan had been agreed, Finance Minister Samir Radwan said Saturday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/25/us-egypt-finance-idUSTRE75O1FX20110625?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29

NATO says hit military targets in Libya's Brega

(Reuters) - NATO missiles have hit a site in Libya used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces to stockpile military supplies and vehicles, the alliance said on Saturday, adding it was unaware of 15 civilian deaths reported by state media.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/25/us-libya-idUSTRE7270JP20110625?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29

Hezbollah leader alleges CIA infiltration

Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that the militant Islamic group has uncovered three spies within its ranks, two of whom were recruited by the CIA, Lebanon's state news agency reported.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/24/lebanon.hezbollah.spies/index.html?eref=edition_meast&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_meast+%28RSS%3A+Middle+East%29

Egypt jails former trade minister Rachid in absentia

Egypt's former Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid has been sentenced to five years in prison in absentia for embezzling public funds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13916180

Bahrain doctors in prison for daring to speak out

As the Arab Spring protests continue - and world attention shifts to other places - a group of Bahraini doctors go on trial for speaking to the foreign media.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9521963.stm

Crusader town emerges under old Israeli port (PHOTOS)

ACRE, Israel — Off the track beaten by most Holy Land tourists lies one of the richest archaeological sites in a country full of them: the walled port of Acre, where the busy alleys of an Ottoman-era town cover a uniquely intact Crusader city now being rediscovered.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/israel-41297-israeli-old.html

Iran and regional powers 'to fight terrorism'

Presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan vow to "eliminate extremism" as counterterrorism summit opens in Tehran.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201162510031467425.html