* Russia: Lift Hamas gov’t blockade Four days before the Quartet is scheduled to meet in Washington and discuss ways to “reenergize” the road map, a top Russian diplomat called on Tuesday for the lifting the international blockade of the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

* Militias on rise in Iraq The messianic Soldiers of Heaven militia that fought US and Iraqi troops in one of the fiercest battles of the war Sunday is among the more than two dozen extremist militias operating across Iraq.

* Lieberman pushes Israel to join EU While the Israeli has not formally asked for membership in the 27 member body of European states and the EU does not view it as a possibility at this time, Lieberman has still put it high on his agenda for security.

* Arrests over ‘terror kidnap plot’ Eight people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Birmingham in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap a member of the armed forces.

* UK baroness: Islamic extremism greatest threat to West Islamic extremism poses the greatest threat to the Western World, and endangers the very essence of democracy.

* Attack on Iran by end of Bush’s term? The British Times reported on Wednesday that Europe was concerned over the aggressive military stance recently voiced by Washington against Tehran.

* Africa: Oil, Global Influence Driving Hu Jintao’s Trip China’s energy-hungry economy and global influence are driving President Hu Jintao’s 12-day tour of Africa which kicks off this week.

* Egypt urges PA to form one army Egypt is trying to persuade the Palestinians to establish an army that would comprise members of all Palestinian factions.

* Ray guns and plastic ice: Pentagon looks to sci-fi weaponry Fleeing Iraqi insurgents downed by artificial ice sprayed on the road; an angry mob in Afghanistan dispersed by non-lethal ray gun blasts. This is the future of US weaponry.

* AIDS rising among S.Africa’s rich, best-educated South Africa’s AIDS epidemic, often regarded by health workers as a disease of the poor, is in fact spreading quickly among the country’s richest and best educated people.