North Korean diplomats abroad have been ordered to stay close to their
embassies and await an "important announcement," according to a Japanese
newspaper.

By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Last Updated: 5:14PM BST 18 Oct 2008

The news has prompted speculation that North Korea's officials are to be
informed that "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il has died or that Pyongyang is
carrying out its threat to sever all ties with South Korea.

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By JOHN LEICESTER The Associated Press Friday, October 17, 2008; 2:19 PM

PARIS -- The idea is ambitious: World leaders joined by aides to the new U.S. president-elect would gather before the year's end in New York and attempt to forge a new vision for the global economy.

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The Admiral Kuznetsov was designed to protect the Soviet submarine
fleet, interdict Western submarine forces and destroy Western carrier
groups with its supersonic Granit SS-N-19 anti-ship cruise missiles in
the event of nuclear war. It carries 24 multipurpose Sukhoi Su-33
fighters -- Flanker-D -- comparable with the U.S. F-14. The Admiral
Kuznetsov is designed to conduct air superiority and air defense
operations using its aircraft and its 3K95 Kinzhal missile defense system.

by Ariel Cohen
Washington (UPI) Oct 15, 2008

The Russian Federation is expanding its global power projection
capability, starting with redeploying a part of the Black Sea Fleet to
its Cold War hunting grounds in the Mediterranean. Returning to bases
and anchorages in Syria and Libya is a top priority for the Russian
admirals.

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HOHHOT, China (AP) — Laboratory tests have turned up Italy's first cases
of melamine-tainted milk, while authorities in Naples have separately
seized tons of illegal Chinese products.

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