MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his new government on Wednesday to step up efforts to help small- and medium-size businesses choked by red tape and corruption.

GAZA (Reuters) – The Israeli military killed two Hamas militants and two Palestinian civilians on Wednesday in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, medical workers said.

CAIRO (Reuters) – Palestinian militant groups will meet in Egypt next week to consider Israel’s response to a Hamas ceasefire offer in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian and Palestinian officials said on Wednesday.