The Financial Times, Independent, Telegraph and the Guardian all note the latest computer virus, Flame, discovered in a number of Middle Eastern states, and particularly in Iran.  It is thought to be the world’s most complex virus, significantly more powerful than the Stuxnet programme discovered a couple of years ago. According to the Telegraph, Iran is the target of the virus, which has been operating for the last five years. It is said to be able to “gather data files, remotely change settings, turn on computer microphones, take screen shots and copy instant messaging chats.” The Independent and Financial Times report that a Turkish court has launched legal proceedings against four Israeli military commanders, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, over the deaths of Turkish citizens on the Mavi Marmara in 2010. The Financial Times mention that both Israel and UN had already investigated the events and found that both the blockade of Gaza and the raid itself were legal. The Guardian reveals that “a senior commander in Iranian’s Revolutionary Guards has admitted that Iranian forces are operating in Syria in support of Assad’s regime.” BBC online notes UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan will hold talks with Assad following the massacre in Houla. BBC online also follow the attack on Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq’s campaign headquarters. The Independent and Times both review last night’s opening of the Hebrew version of the Merchant of Venice performed in the Globe. They awarded the show three and four stars out of five respectively.  Both noted the controversy, security and limited interruptions by pro Palestinian demonstrators.  Both were also complimentary, the Times in particular, over the artistic interpretation on the stage itself. The Times reports on an Iranian plot to attack the US embassy in Azerbaijan in the same campaign that targeted the Israeli embassy. The Sun reflects with former Chelsea manger Avram Grant on discovering the fate of his grandfather’s brothers on a visit to Auschwitz.

Similar to the UK media, all of today’s Israel media is focused on regional developments. Ma’ariv leads with the discovery of the Flame virus, with the headline “World’s most advanced virus attacked computers in Iran.”  Yediot Ahronot includes analysis from noted intelligence writer Ronen Bergman, noting that Iran accused Israel of being behind two previous cases of cyber attacks but have not yet explicitly accused Israel on this occasion. Bergman writes, “Western espionage agencies have been doing their utmost to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program. The more successful those attempts to sabotage are, the lower the likelihood of an Israeli attack on Iran, which is an interest that is shared by all the players in the arena.” Haaretz has an interview with a leading Syrian rebel saying, “I personally have no problem speaking to Israelis… but our countries are still officially at war, and there are too many people who would try to use an interview to an Israeli paper to harm the opposition.” He states the rebels would immediately take control of the country’s chemical weapons after the removal of Assad.  Israel Hayom brands Turkey as “shameless” in the attempts to indict senior IDF officers over events on the Mavi Marmara in 2010.  Ma’ariv concurs, and quotes an official in Jerusalem as saying, “Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is carrying out a ‘kill confirmation’ on relations with Israel.” Jerusalem Post, notes the success of last night’s performance at the Globe theatre,  and how protestors failed to disrupt the show.