* At Abu Dhabi, PA resists US pressure to renew peace talks Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday announced that negotiations with Israel will not be renewed unless Jerusalem completely halts construction in the settlements, including in east Jerusalem.

* Halloween is the devils work, Catholic church warns parents When Victoria Romero, 6, dressed up as a witch for a Halloween party this week she could hardly have imagined that she was provoking the wrath of God.

* Gaza: Thousands rally for Islamic Jihad Tens of thousands of Islamic Jihad loyalists held a rally in Gaza on Friday to commemorate the group’s slain founder.

* US in new push for Mid-East peace US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of a new drive to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

* ‘No signs Israel planning immediate war’ Despite recent accusations to the contrary, Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said in an article published on Saturday that Israel is not preparing to launch another war against Lebanon in the near future.

* Abdullah to make run-off decision President Hamid Karzai’s rival in the second round of the Afghan presidential poll says he will announce on Sunday whether he intends to quit the race.

* Iranian Lawmakers Give Thumbs Down to Nuclear Deal Iran’s top lawmakers and its president have expressed disapproval of the United Nations-backed draft nuclear deal with the West.

* Blow to Blair’s hope of EU post Tony Blair’s hopes of becoming president of the European Council are fading after his supporters failed to secure the backing of EU leaders.

* China, eager for oil, expands investment in Nigeria and Guinea The global economic crisis may have forced other nations to put their African investments on hold, but not China.

* Barak: Impasse in peace talks only helps Hamas Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Saturday that the impasse in peace negotiations only benefited the militant Palestinian organization Hamas.