Libyan leader Kadhafi arrives in Moscow for arms talks (AFP via Yahoo! News) Libyan leader and former pariah Moamer Kadhafi began his first visit to Russia since 1985 Friday, a trip that could revive military cooperation between Tripoli and Cold War ally Moscow.
Tunisia: 2008 Carthage Film Festival – Presentation of New Tunisian Movie [...]

Ukraine parliament approves IMF package (AFP via Yahoo! News) Ukraine’s parliament on Friday approved legislation clearing the way for a 16.5 billion dollar (12.8 billion euro) International Monetary Fund crisis loan.
Film on horrors of Bosnian war wins Rome festival (Reuters via Yahoo! News) “Resolution 819,” a film about the Srebrenica massacre in [...]

Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Sidesteps Global Credit Crisis, But Faces Inflation Fight (EurasiaNet) BY DEIRDRE TYNAN While other countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia grapple with the global financial crisis, Turkmenistan seems set to sidestep trouble. But this is not because Turkmenistan’s leaders have been particularly savvy, prudent or even lucky, analysts say. Rather it is [...]

No more pirated DVDs from China maybe – CNET NewsThe MPAA doesn’t want to make it easy for you to copy DVDs; DVD Shrink does. (Credit: Download.com) If you’ve been copying DVDs using some made-in-China DVD player, think about taking good care of the device, as you might not be able to buy a [...]

Somalia: Baidoa Rocked By Twin Bombings (AllAfrica.com) At least 6 people have been killed and 20 hurt by three bombs in a residential area of the Somali city of Baidoa town on Friday night, eyewitnesses said.
Somalia: New Fatwa Riles Islamist Factions (AllAfrica.com) Islamist groups waging war in Somalia against the country’s feeble, foreign-backed Transitional [...]

Suicide Blast Kills 5 At Afghan Ministry Taliban militants stormed a government building in the center of the Afghan capital and one of them blew himself up inside, killing five people, officials and witnesses said.

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Saudi, Kuwait cut rates, UAE opts out for first time (Khaleej Times) DUBAI/ABU DHABI – Saudi Arabia joined Kuwait and Bahrain in lowering interest rates to ease credit conditions and underpin their banking systems on Thursday while the United Arab Emirates made a shock decision for the first time not to match a US interest [...]

LTFRB hints at fare rollback for taxis, too MANILA, Philippines – Following a big-time rollback of fuel prices and an expected reduction in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices this coming weekend, authorities hinted Friday at a possible rollba…
Bus fare cut looms in Mindanao, exec says (GMA News) KORONADAL CITY, Philippines [...]

Pope Benedict meets Lebanese president (EARTHtimes.org) Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI met Friday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and expressed hope for the safeguard of Lebanon’s peculiar identity , the Vatican said. Talks between Benedict and Suleiman, the Maronite Christian president of the …
A dozen Israeli warplanes violate Lebanese airspace (The Daily Star [...]

Iraqi Christians slowly returning home to Mosul (Las Vegas Sun) Fri, Oct 31, 2008 (7:57 a.m.) Iraqi Christians have started to trickle home to the restive city of Mosul in recent days as attacks against them have tapered off, authorities said Friday.
Iraq wants details of U.S. raid in Syria – spokesman (The Star) ISTANBUL [...]