New Delhi - There were positive signals from talks brokered by Egypt with Palestinian factions, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in New Delhi Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a four-day visit to India, Abbas also said a decision on elections in the Palestinian Territories - presidential and legislative - would be held after an Arab proposal based on the Egypt-brokered talks was made.

He said the proposal was expected by the end of October or early November.

Moscow - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said an arms embargo against Georgia would top Russia's agenda for peace talks set for Geneva on October 15.

"It is our conviction that an international embargo on sales of offensive weapons to Georgia is an urgent step," Lavrov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying on Wednesday.

The Geneva peace conference was agreed under an EU-brokered ceasefire negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev that ended Russia's five-day war with Georgia.

Washington, Oct 8: Pakistan once again emerged as one of the focal points of the debate between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain. The two rivals had the second of their three debates yesterday.

Both stuck to their earlier stances regarding tackling terrorism in Pakistan, particularly along the Pak-Afghan border.

New Delhi, Oct 8: Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil here last evening.

Abbas also met Leader of Opposition L. K. Advani.

Earlier, Abbas and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone of the chancery-cum-residence complex of the Embassy of Palestine and formally dedicated the building to the people of Palestine from the people of India.

Dr. Singh also pledged 20 million US dollars to Palestine authority for budgetary support as well as for various development projects.

Islamabad, Oct 7: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reportedly prolonged his stay in Saudi Arabia by two days, for his a key role of a mediator in conjunction with Saudi Arabia in bringing about a negotiated settlement between the Taliban and the Karzai regime to pave the way for withdrawal of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

Sources believed that the Saudi initiative in which Nawaz Sharif had his own role had the “backing of Washington and London”.

New Delhi, Oct 4: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived here on a two-day visit but the 123 civilian nuclear agreement will not be signed today.

During her visit, Rice will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on bilateral and regional issues, and also on ways to take the bilateral strategic partnership further. She will also hold talks with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.