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Iran continues to get high-tech equipment

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Iran has been able to evade U.S. attempts to bar imports of sophisticated technology through front companies and use of the Internet, The Washington Post said.

A report by the Institute for Science and Security and Justice Department says Iran has acquired Global Positioning devices along with circuit boards and software for improvised explosive devices in the past two years. They are on the list of items banned from export to Iran.

The Bush administration approved sanctions against Iranian front companies in Dubai in 2006. But officials say that after a brief disruption in the flow of high-tech equipment, Iran found other routes.

U.S. companies are unwittingly supplying Iran, not realizing that the apparent buyers are fronts.

"The schemes are so elaborate, even the most scrupulous companies can be deceived," said David Albright, ISIS president and one of the authors of the study.

Economic woes changing Obama priorities

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Reforming the North American Free Trade Agreement, immigration issues and other U.S. Democratic Party congressional priorities may have to wait, aides say.

The overwhelming urgency of dealing the freefalling economy is likely to push these and other top issues, such as restricting carbon emissions, raising taxes on the wealthy and allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, onto the back burner as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office Jan. 20, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Instead, the incoming Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress will have to settle for making what aides call "down payments" on promises to expand health care coverage and promote energy independence, the newspaper said.

"Our No. 1 goal: jobs," Rahm Emanuel, the incoming White House chief of staff, told the Times. "Our No. 2 goal: jobs. Our No. 3 goal: jobs."

"Our intent is to follow through on all of our commitments," added senior Obama adviser David Axelrod, "but obviously we have to prioritize."

Afghan militants stage Pakistan attacks

MOHMAND, Pakistan, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Pakistani soldiers battled hundreds of pro-Taliban militants who crossed from Afghanistan into the country's tribal areas this weekend, officials said.

The militants launched attacks on Pakistani army checkpoints in the Mohmand agency, part of the lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Saturday night and early Sunday morning, but were eventually repelled, military officials told CNN.

The clashes left 40 militants believed to be foreign fighters and six Pakistan soldiers dead, military spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas told the U.S. broadcaster.

"This is one of the largest attacks we have seen," he said, adding the militants used rocket launchers and machine guns.

Russia, Ukraine, EU sign natural gas deal

KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Russia and Ukraine Sunday signed an agreement with the European Union that paves the way for the resumption of natural gas deliveries, officials said.

The agreement, signed early Sunday in Kiev, mandates the establishment of independent monitors of pipelines, a key Russian demand in its dispute with Ukraine over the flow of natural gas from the Russian utility Gazprom through Ukraine to European customers, The New York Times reported.

Gazprom's Dec. 31 move to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine, and as a result, to Eastern European countries such as Poland and Bulgaria, came as part of a dispute over back payments owed it by the Ukrainian utility Naftogaz. The dispute left Bulgarians suffering greatly without heating fuel in the bitter winter weather, the Times said.

"We signed the document today," Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told RIA Novosti early Sunday, after talks with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the European Union rotating presidency.

"Nothing prevents Russia now from resuming gas supplies," Topolanek said, adding that the transit of Russian gas to Europe could be resumed within 36 hours.

Olmert: Israel 'approaching goals' in Gaza

JERUSALEM, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Israel "is approaching the goals it set for itself" with its military actions in Gaza but more needs to be done, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says.

Speaking Sunday at a meeting of the Israeli Cabinet, Olmert said that while "Operation Cast Lead" was bearing fruit on its aim of taking out the offensive capabilities of the militant Palestinian group Hamas, more needed to be done, The Jerusalem Post reported.

"Israel is approaching the goals it set for itself, but we require further patience, determination and effort so that our citizens can feel safety and stability," Olmert said. "The Israeli public, especially the residents of the South, have the necessary patience and willingness -- so does the government!"

Olmert also struck back at international critics who say the Israeli Defense Force's 15-day Gaza assault has been disproportionate to Hamas' firing of rockets into southern Israel.

"No country in the world, even those preaching morals to us, would have shown the tolerance and restraint that we have," the Post quoted Olmert saying. "We have never agreed that anyone decide for us if we are allowed to strike at those who send missiles into our kindergartens and schools, and we never will."