* Ending Iran’s defiance American pressure at this time will not be taken lightly by Iranian regime.

* Abbas in Mecca: No option but to reach agreement The leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah vowed to reach an agreement to end weeks of infighting.

* US, Iraq troops push deep into Baghdad Sunni bastion Iraqi and US forces Wednesday pushed deep into one of Baghdad’s most notorious Sunni bastions.

* EU to beef up diplomatic corps in Central Asia EU states are keen to open four new EU embassies in Central Asia by 2008.

* Abbas: Dig near Al-Aqsa Mosque likely to endanger peace efforts Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said that Israeli excavation works near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were likely to endanger regional peace efforts.

* Survey finds 300m China believers The number of religious believers in China could be three times higher than official estimates, according to a survey reported by state media.

* US to have Africa military command The US president has approved plans to create a US military command for Africa.

* Sudan Leader Frustrates Security Council Security Council members expressed frustration and skepticism Tuesday at Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s failure to give a green light to a joint United Nations-African Union force.

* Israel to request upgrade in EU standing Israel is trying to upgrade its standing in the European Union to be equal to that of Switzerland and Norway.

* Russia Lays Out Weapons Purchase Plans The Russian military will sharply increase the number of new intercontinental ballistic missiles to be deployed this year.