* Netanyahu and Obama begin key talks in US Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has begun his first meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House.

* China ready to join US as world power David Miliband described China as the 21st century’s “indispensable power” with a decisive say on the future of the global economy, climate change and world trade.

* Peres: Assad, PM should start talking If Syrian President Bashar Assad is genuinely interested in peace, he should come to Israel to open direct talks.

* Hamas wants acceptance without changing ideology Leaders of Hamas have begun reaching out to the West with conciliatory words, saying the Islamic militant group wants to be part of a Mideast solution and raising the possibility they would someday accept a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

* Pakistan Is Rapidly Adding Nuclear Arms, U.S. Says Members of Congress have been told in confidential briefings that Pakistan is rapidly adding to its nuclear arsenal even while racked by insurgency.

* Iraq deal to revive gas pipeline A consortium of oil companies plans to revive a project to supply Europe with gas from northern Iraq.

* Make United Jerusalem a Reality Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin believes that Israel must take action now in order to make “united Jerusalem” a reality, and not merely a slogan.

* Peres to Assad: Don’t be shy Syrian President Assad should not by shy, embark on direct talks with Israel if he truly wants peace.

* WHO annual meeting dominated by swine flu Swine flu and the possibility of a vaccine topped the agenda Monday as the World Health Organization opened its annual meeting amid concern that the virus continues to spread – and kill – around the globe.

* Rumsfeld mixed Bible with intelligence for Bush Former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld routinely used militaristic passages from the Bible on the cover pages of White House intelligence documents.