Across Asia: Israel

Spy chief's tenure extended

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday extended the tenure of the Mossad intelligence chief for a second time, testament to the hawkish spymaster's role in crafting policy on Iran and other regional foes.

Meir Dagan, an army ex-general, took over Mossad in 2002 with what security sources described as a mandate to step up Israel's monitoring of Iran's nuclear program, Syria's military moves and the countries' ties to Islamist factions.