Israel licenses US oil drilling in Golan Heights

Israel has granted a United States energy company a licence to drill for oil and gas in the occupied Golan Heights, in a move that may stir up tension with neighbouring Syria.

The permit allows Genie Oil and Gas exclusive petroleum exploration rights over a 153-square mile radius in the southern part of the Golan Heights.

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Facebook founder launches bid to encourage science

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has revealed plans to sponsor a valuable new award for scientific research.

The scheme, which involves five $3 million awards, will honour pioneering research in the fight against disease. It is described as being "dedicated to advancing breakthrough research, celebrating scientists and generating excitement about the pursuit of science as a career".

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Brooklyn sex text rabbi caught out in police sting

A 59-year-old Brooklyn rabbi has been arrested in a police sting operation in which he allegedly attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl with whom he had been exchanging sexually explicit messages.

Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich had in fact been sending messages to an undercover policeman, and he has now been charged with crimes including attempted rape, the New York Daily News reported.

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Muslim Brotherhood forces out top Egyptian news editor

Al-Ahram, Egypt’s largest media publishing company, had long been considered the official voice of Egypt’s ruling class. Over the last two years, however, following the toppling of former president Hosni Mubarak, the newspaper seemed to be gaining a greater degree of independence and, with it, a newfound level of authority.

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Amazon cuts links to ‘neo-Nazi’ German security staff

Online retailer Amazon has severed all ties with German security firm HESS following allegations that the protection company has neo-Nazi links and that some of its black-clad, shaven headed employees were intimidating the website’s seasonal workers.

A documentary on German TV channel ARD alleged that HESS guards were mistreating Amazon’s foreign temporary employees at their hostels.

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Meteorite damages Siberia shul

The meteorite that sent rock fragments raining down over Russia last Friday, injuring more than 500 people, damaged a Siberian shul during morning prayers.

Congregants were hurt and windows smashed at the Federation shul in the city of Chelyabinsk, 950 miles east of Moscow.

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