* Diplomacy: The return of an Oslo state of mind All of a sudden, things are moving again on the diplomatic front. They are not moving a lot, they are not necessarily moving by leaps and bounds, but they are moving.

* US ‘plans huge Saudi arms deal’ The United States is reported to be preparing a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth $20bn (£9.8bn) over the next decade..

* ‘US making major strategic mistakes’ Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Friday traced the chill in Russia’s relations with the West right to Washington’s door.

* Crisis deepens in Iraq’s divided government Sunni ministers are boycotting government business, and the deepening crisis has cast doubt on the US-backed regime’s ability to push through reforms designed to reunite the war-torn country.

* Egyptian FM: We await Israeli response Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Saturday that the Arab side is waiting for a practical answer from Israel regarding the renewal of negotiations.

* France fears new war in Lebanon The French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, has warned that Lebanon faces the danger of renewed war if there is not a resumption of political dialogue.

* PRC threatens life of PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad and his government are a “group of traitors hidden in the Mukata ‘presidential’ compound in Ramallah.”

* Palestinian faction threatens to kill PM Fayyad The Popular Resistance Committees, a Palestinian faction opposed to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s government, has threatened to “physically hurt” Fayyad.

* EU treaty ratification may be difficult, experts say Even if the EU manages to avoid referendums on its new Reform Treaty, ratification of the text may prove less easy.

* Israel to help Palestinians enter Gaza Israel has agreed to allow Palestinians stranded in Egypt for weeks to pass into Israel and then into the Gaza Strip.