* Bush vists Mubarak in last stop of ME trip Answering Arab skepticism, US President George W. Bush promised Wednesday to stay engaged in pulling Israelis and Palestinians toward a peace pact by the end of his term.

* Audit doubts Iran sanction efficacy The economic impact of US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program is unclear and Iran has signed about $20bn in energy contracts with foreign firms since 2003.

* PA: Gaza ‘massacre’ threatens talks The Palestinian Authority threatened on Tuesday to suspend negotiations with Israel in response to an IDF operation in the Gaza Strip that left 19 Palestinians – most of them Hamas gunmen – dead.

* Some question al-Maliki’s will for reconciliation When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Nouri al-Maliki’s government during a surprise visit to Baghdad Tuesday, she was addressing an Iraqi prime minister who has strengthened his grip on power.

* US agency chief: Iran speeding up development of missiles Iran has sped up efforts to develop long-range missiles, demonstrating the need for a proposed missile defense system in Europe.

* Romney’s Michigan win shakes up GOP race Mitt Romney claimed a much-needed victory in Tuesday’s Michigan Republican primary.

* Lieberman Quits Government Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Is Our Home) party head Avigdor Lieberman announced at a Wednesday morning press conference that his party is quitting the government.

* Recession fears hit stock markets Global shares have fallen amid fears of a US recession and slowing corporate profit growth.

* Chertoff says Europe poses terrorism threat Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Wednesday that one of the biggest threats to U.S. security may now come from within Europe.

* Islamic Militants Capture Military Base in NW Pakistan Islamic militants have captured a remote military outpost in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border.