* Don't pressure Iran, says Russia Pressuring Iran and threatening further sanctions over its nuclear program would be counter-productive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says.
* US wants bunker-buster fast, denies Iran is reason The Pentagon is speeding up delivery of a colossal bomb designed to destroy hidden weapons bunkers buried underground and shielded by 10,000 pounds of reinforced concrete.
* Russia and China Reaffirm Gas Deal Plans The main Russian gas exporter signed a general trade agreement with China's largest state-run energy company.
* Peres: Hizbullah Turning Lebanon into a 'Powder Keg' Hizbullah has turned Lebanon, formerly known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” into a “powder keg” of explosives.
* Russia Gas Pipeline Heightens East Europe's Fears With an ambitious new pipeline planned to run along the bed of the Baltic Sea, the Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is driving a political wedge between Eastern and Western Europe.
* Egyptian MP: Storm Israeli Embassies If Jews Visit Temple Mount An Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood legislator told the parliament that Arabs around the world should break into Israeli embassies in every country if Israelis visit the Temple Mount.
* Turkey, Syria sign cooperation deal The Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers signed a civil and defense cooperation treaty.
* Gambling firm tips Blair for EU president job Irish gambling firm Paddy Power has tipped former UK premier Tony Blair to become the first EU president.
* Silvan Shalom to Turks: Come to your senses As Turkey signals its increasing distance from Israel and its deepening ties with Syria, Jerusalem is starting to lose patience.
* Fatah: Hopes in Obama 'evaporated' An internal document circulated among members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's political party says all hopes placed in the Obama administration "have evaporated".