* S. Arabia pledges to attend US Mideast peace conference Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told the visiting US secretaries of State and Defense Wednesday that his country supported and would attend the Middle East peace conference.

* Iraq Sunni bloc quits coalition Six ministers from Iraq’s Sunni bloc have resigned from the Shia-led government of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, following a month-long dispute.

* Syria to attend ME peace conference Syria is ready to take part in a US-sponsored international Mideast peace conference to be held later this year,.

* Global stock markets take a dive World stock markets fell sharply on Wednesday and currency markets churned as casualties mounted from worsening credit markets and investors scrambled away from riskier assets.

* UN approves Darfur 26,000-strong peacekeeping force The UN Security Council unanimously approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur on Tuesday.

* Russia claims North Pole with Arctic flag stunt An audacious Russian mission to claim the North Pole for Moscow is due to reach its climax in the next 24 hours.

* Rice in Israel after winning Saudi support for summit The Saudi foreign minister indicated Wednesday that his country may attend a Middle East peace conference proposed by U.S. President George W. Bush.

* IDF goes to battle against draft dodging A day after Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that the IDF was turning into an “army of half the people” due to the growing numbers of draft dodgers.

* China’s Leaders Make Show of Unity Past and present Chinese leaders appeared together on army day Wednesday.

* Hamas shows proof of PA corruption Two paintings worth $66,000 were presented as a gift to a woman in Paris by the PA, which also paid millions of dollars to cover the personal expenses of senior Fatah officials and their families.