* Biden says peace talks must resume despite Mid-East row US Vice-President Joe Biden says there must be no delay in resuming Mid-East peace talks, despite a row over Israeli plans for new homes in East Jerusalem.
* Deputy FM tells U.S.: Israel won't make any more concessions Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Thursday defended Israel's decision to approve construction of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.
* 'Hated Israel will be annihalated' The Palestinians and the nations of the Middle East will be rid of a “bad omen” once Israel is annihilated, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday.
* Iraq awards China major oil deal near Iran border Iraq has concluded an agreement for the development of a major crude oil field near the Iranian border.
* Jerusalem College Holds Conference on Miracles Jerusalem's Lifshitz College brought the realm of the mystical into the world of academia Thursday by holding a conference on the topic of 'Miracles in Our Generation.'.
* France and Germany eye top job in EU diplomatic corps With plans for the EU's new diplomatic corps entering their final stage, EU capitals have quietly begun to negotiate over who will take the top jobs up for grabs.
* Early Iraq poll results suggest close contest Early results from Iraq's election suggest a tight contest may be developing between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his main rival Iyad Allawi.
* Egypt stepping up pressure against Hamas Cairo has severely toughened its stance on exit permits for Hamas leaders from Gaza and is demanding that Hamas unconditionally sign a reconciliation agreement with Fatah prepared by the Egyptians.
* Russian PM Vladimir Putin arrives in India for talks Russian PM Vladimir Putin is in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts.
* Poll Shows Youth Leans Rightward Fifty-six percent of Jewish youths believe that Arabs should not be elected to the Knesset, a poll has found.