* Temple rebuilt A grandiose museum featuring an elaborated massive replica of the Temple is currently being erected opposite the Western Wall.

* UN: Darfur war worsening, with perhaps 300,000 dead The conflict in Darfur is deteriorating, with full deployment of a new peacekeeping force delayed until 2009.

* U.S. Congress to be briefed on possible nuclear ties between North Korea and Syria Members of Congress will be told this week about intelligence suggesting that North Korea was helping Syria build a nuclear reactor.

* Abbas: Last chance to reach agreement Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will urge US President George W. Bush at their meeting in Washington on Thursday to step up his efforts to reach a framework agreement between the Palestinians and Israel.

* Abdullah to Bush: Israel-PA talks must be based on fixed timetable Jordan’s King Abdullah II told U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday that stalled negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis should be based on clear grounds.

* MKs will try to block Golan pullback The Knesset House Committee will convene after the parliament’s spring recess to advance a bill requiring a national referendum.

* No. 2 US commander hopes al-Sadr will stop attacks The No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq expressed hope on Wednesday that radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr would use his influence to stop his followers from attacking U.S. and Iraqi forces.

* Rice at fresh peak on supply fear Rice prices have scaled fresh heights in Asian trade amid concern that export bans by key producers will hit supply.

* Haniyeh: Ceasefire must include W. Bank Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh hinted Wednesday that the group was leaning toward accepting an Egyptian brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.

* Obama’s Middle East Stance: Uninformed, or Intentionally Vague? Obama’s advisors paint a murky picture of his foreign policy positions.