* Abbas urges immediate resumption of peace talks Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel Friday afternoon to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

* Lebanese troops fire on refugees Lebanese troops have fired at Palestinian civilians demanding to return to their homes at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

* Israel sees hope in Iranian unrest Defense officials expressed satisfaction Thursday with reports emerging from Teheran claiming that Iranians had set fire to a dozen gas stations.

* Saudi king avoids meeting Abbas Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has snubbed the Palestinian president.

* Abbas determined to isolate Hamas The Palestinian Authority is determined to isolate Hamas in the aftermath of its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip.

* Mubarak: Olmert should ‘forget about’ talks with Saudi officials Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should “forget about” holding talks with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah.

* Africa: Daily HIV/Aids Report First lady Laura Bush on Thursday in Lusaka, Zambia, began the third day of her four-nation tour of Africa by visiting an HIV/AIDS treatment center.

* PM: Full Kassam protection impossible Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that he had no intention of providing maximal protection to all residents of Gaza periphery communities.

* Police avert car bomb ‘carnage’ A car bomb planted in central London would have caused “carnage” if it had exploded.

* ‘Space hotel’ test craft launched An experimental spacecraft designed to test the viability of a hotel in space has been successfully sent into orbit.