North Korea has large procession on the anniversary of the birth dead leader

North Korea held a large military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, using the 70-anniversary of the birth of the late leader Kim Jong Il as an opportunity to try to create a deeper reverence for his son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un.

State television pictures of the younger Kim and senior officials of the secret system to a platform overlooking a room filled with thousands of people. The platform was covered with Kimjongilias, the brilliant pink flower named after the late leader.

With a huge portrait of a smiling Kim Jong Il, who died in december, looking down on it, soldiers performed a tribute to him and his father, Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea.

The soldiers "great respect" given to the two deceased Kim and pledged allegiance to Kim Jong Un, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

In South Korea, met two dozen North Korean defectors in a park on balloons that criticism of Kim Jong Il over the heavily militarized border that separates the two countries to release, a move which Pyongyang has irritated in the past.

Thursday is the first of two large apartments in the first months of 2012 for the nuclear-armed North Korean regime to former dictators rose and strengthen the position of the young new leader.

100-anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea, who ruled for almost half a decade, will take place on 15 april. The date of his birth, known as the "Day of the Sun" is the biggest national holiday in North Korea. Kim Jong Il's birthday was recently named the "Day of Shining Star."

The big anniversaries coming shortly after Kim Jong Un, which is considered to be in his late 20s, was elevated to the position of "supreme leader" of the island state.

North Korean newspapers Thursday carried special reports on Kim Jong Il. Before the parade began airing, Korean Central Television (KCTV), the state-run news channel, showed choral groups sing lyrics in his honor, but also pictures from his life.

And the state-controlled media has already documented a series of events and initiatives that took place prior to the anniversary of his birth.

Kim Jong Un, and other senior officials participated in a "national meeting" Wednesday celebrate the occasion, according to KCNA.

Kim Yong Nam, president of the North Korean parliament, a speech at the event praised Kim Jong Il "immortal exploits" and insisting that "all party members, service and people need to Kim Jong Un to protect politically and ideologically with their lives and get united around him. "

Other recent measures related to Kim Jong Il's birthday, reported state media is an ice sculpture festival in the hands of government security forces and delivering gifts to children throughout the country, in some cases by helicopter.

Pyongyang has warned South Korea and other countries not to expect a change in its policy of Kim Jong Un. It has kept its criticism of the current South Korean government under President Lee Myung-bak.

USA said Monday that a U.S. envoy will meet with North Korean officials next week to Pyongyang's position on its nuclear testing program. Special Representative for North Korea policy Glyn Davies will meet with his counterpart, the North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim KYE Gwan in Beijing

The North Korean regime is willing to talk with Washington, but Seoul is not criticized in South Korea.

"Two months after a leadership change in Pyongyang, North Korea returns to the dialogue table," The Korea Times, an English-language daily, said in an editorial Thursday. "This is good news. Not so good news is that it seems to be only interested in his conversation partner across the Pacific, not the inter-Korean border."

The North Korean defectors in the park in Paju Thursday sent balloons carrying leaflets that urged the North Korean people to stand up and fight. The large helium balloons with writing on them saying things like: "Kim Jong Il starved to death 3 million people", "Free North Korean people" and "North Korea's Kim Jong Il killer."

They sent 200,000 leaflets, 500 DVDs and $ 1,000 in one dollar bills.

Iran leader: War would harm the U.S.

The supreme leader of Iran gave a blunt warning Friday that war would harm the U.S. - and that Iran is ready to help anyone who confronts "cancer" to help Israel.

"You see now and then in this way, they say that all options on the table. That means even the possibility of war," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during Friday prayers in Tehran. "This is how they make threats against us.

"Well, these threats are harmful to the United States," he said. "War itself is 10 times more harmful to the U.S."

Khamenei rhetoric is not new. But the timing of his remarks may prove crucial for the nuclear talks around the corner.

Tensions between Iran and major powers will be contacted in the wake of an alarming nuclear watchdog Aruanded in november that said Tehran was likely to develop nuclear weapons.

The deadlock was more serious this week with renewed fears of an Israeli preemptive attack on Iran to take the suspected nuclear weapons program.

Khamenei said Iran would any nation or group that protects against supporting Israel.

"The Zionist regime is the real cancer of this region and it should be removed and will be removed," Khamenei told a cheering crowd.

He said that Iran does not interfere in other countries, but has helped the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah clashes with Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

His comments came after harsh comments Friday in the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

"Today, unlike before, there is a broad global understanding, it is crucial to stop Iran nuclearized, and that no opportunity should be taken from the table," he said.

Barak said allowing Iran to continue on its path will be much more complex and dangerous in the blood and money than to cut it out now.

"Those who say in English," later "can be found later it is too late," he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he feared for Israel to attack Iran sometime this spring in an attempt to destroy suspected nuclear weapons program, said a senior official.

The official refused because of the sensitive nature of information identified.

U.S. and its allies have warned that Iran is trying to make a nuclear weapon. Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes.

A new report from the nonpartisan Policy Center, said the U.S. needs more teeth in its threat to use military force against Iran.

The Washington think tank's report recommended that Washington should be visible, credible military preparations undertake to go along with more intense sanctions and diplomatic efforts.

The military activities of naval deployments, military exercises and positioning of supplies in the region.

To the nuclear clock to stop Iran, the report says that the United States "have to make it clear that Iran has a choice:. It may be nuclear program or to look through a negotiated settlement or destroyed military program, the U.S."

The report also said the U.S. should give credence to the Israeli military threat against Iran by selling Israel two to three KC-135 aerial refueling tankers and 200 GRU-31 bunker-buster munitions.

Former Senator Chuck Robb, who co-led task force that wrote the report, said the group is in favor of either war or a military attack at the moment but think that the U.S. will only be effective if it takes credible steps on Iran to let them know that it is serious.

Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby said Panetta "has made it clear that he is comfortable with the military capabilities we have and operate in the region."

But Kirby said, "the U.S. military must and will be ready for the presidential election would be desirable to offer these opportunities."

Western powers Khamenei, Iran's debt problems, starting with the brutal eight-year war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq fought Iran in the 1980s and continued with the last round of international criminal penalties.

"Until now we have to overcome these challenges and none of them succeeded (Iran) on the knees," Khamenei said. "

Thousands stranded by floods in eastern Australia

Heavy rain has stranded thousands in eastern Australia on Saturday, authorities warned of more flooding and urged communities to flee to higher ground.

Some 16,500 people are isolated due to flooding in New South Wales, with evacuation orders in place for different communities, New South Wales Emergency Services said.

In the neighboring state of Queensland, the authorities issued flood warnings for three cities, Surat, Roma and Mitchell, and warned residents downstream from rivers to move to higher ground.

Residents in the southwest Queensland town of Charleville hope that the protective dikes will be a brake on the rising water.

Emergency officials ordered evacuations early Saturday when they warned that the river was expected that the dike's largest banks within 12 hours.

Food and medical supplies were airlifted to isolated communities elsewhere in Queensland.

In New South Wales issued officials natural disaster declarations for several areas.

Flood waters have begun in North Moree retiring after five days after a major flood, New South Wales Emergency Services says, but many of the city's streets remain closed.

Aerial assessments show 300 homes and businesses were flooded - makes it the worst flooding in nearly 60 years,

The State Emergency Service 18 flood rescues conducted from Friday to Saturday, Seven Network reported, including half a dozen people trapped in a shed near Moree with snakes swim underneath.

The airline Qantas on a special flight to Moree on Saturday with supplies of fresh food and milk, the network added.

Major flooding also affects communities along the Namoi River, which leads to rescue of at least one person trapped in a vehicle on a flooded bridge.

Town of Wee Waa cut, with all roads made impassable by flooding, and the local airport without force, New South Wales Emergency Services said. Major flooding is expected to remain there until the middle of next week.

Other communities affected by Boggoabri Namoi River, Narrabri and Bugilbone Goangra with floods closing roads and flooding some rural properties ..

Emergency officials urged people not to walk, ride or drive through floods, because this is the main cause of death and injury during floods.