A senior Russian envoy has been trying to broker a deal between Israel and Syria on the future of the Golan Heights, an Israeli newspaper said on Thursday.

U.S. President George W. Bush, whose legacy seems destined to be defined by the Iraq war, now wants to make history by brokering the Middle East peace deal that eluded so many of his predecessors.

President Vladimir Putin, ignoring criticism he is using his post for campaign purposes, told Russians in a nationwide TV broadcast on Thursday to go and vote for his United Russia party in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.“I ask you to turn out for the elections on December 2 and vote for United …