FP roundup 10/20

Americas
Mexican children are growing up scarred by drug-related violence.
The Shining Path guerrillas have returned to torment Peruvian President Alan Garcia.
Circuit City and Yahoo! are announcing layoffs.

Asia
Taliban militants attacked a bus in southern Afghanistan and killed some two dozen passengers, beheading several.
China announced its land-reform plan (for real this time).
China's official growth rate has slowed to 9 percent.
An expected "special announcement" from North Korea about Kim Jong Il's health has yet to happen.

Middle East and Africa
Iran is scrambling to deal with falling oil prices. For Iraq, there's a "silver lining."
Shiite politicians are holding up Iraq's troop agreement with the United States.
Israel is considering a non-aggression pact with Lebanon.

Europe
Credit for funerals is drying up in Britain, leaving bodies unburied.
Sweden is putting together a $205 billion bailout package.
Russia is flooding Europe with smuggled cigarettes.

Today's Agenda
German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits the Czech Republic.
Early voting gets underway in Florida and Colorado, two key swing states.
Obama is campaigning in Florida; McCain is in Missouri and Pennsylvania, while his running mate Sarah Palin is stumping in Colorado and Nevada.