* Bush creates Muslim envoy post Amid growing criticism that his administration hasn’t focused enough on engagement in the Middle East, US President George W. Bush on Wednesday announced that he would appoint an envoy.

* Gaza gas talks with Israel, UK firm quietly ongoing At least one commercially-exploitable gas field, Gaza Marine, is located within a Palestinian maritime.

* Blair plans Middle East visit in July Tony Blair said in an interview published Thursday that he will begin his new job as special Middle East envoy immediately.

* Senior Russian diplomat says Russia to keep Hamas contacts Russia intends to keep up its contacts with Hamas, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

* Aliya from North America increasing The Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel anticipates a five to 10 percent increase in aliya from North America by the end of 2007.

* Iraqi security forces ‘not ready’ At least 20 people have been killed in a car bombing at a Baghdad bus stop.

* Analysis: Keeping Hamas Away from the West Bank Wednesday’s killing in Gaza indicates that even following the optimistic statements expressed in Sharm only two days ago, the transition to a new reality is still very far.

* Hamas critical of Blair envoy role Hamas has condemned the appointment of Tony Blair as Middle East envoy after stepping down as Britain’s prime minister.

* Blair will have limited role as Middle East envoy – Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that Tony Blair’s mandate as the new Middle East envoy would be limited.

* Russia lays claim to the North Pole – and all its gas, oil, and diamonds Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made an astonishing bid to grab a vast chunk of the Arctic.