FP roundup 10/22

Economy
OPEC is signaling that production cuts are on the way as oil prices fall below $70 a barrel.
Yesterday's glimmer of optimism was short-lived, with markets in Europe and Asia diving again Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury Department sees a recovery coming late next year.

Americas
FBI Director Robert Mueller intends to serve out his full 10-year term.
A Colombian cocaine ring has been financing Hezbollah, officials say.
Bolivia's legislature agreed to hold a national referendum on Evo Morales's new constitution.
An Oregon couple was brutally attacked in Ecuador.

Asia
India successfully launched its unmanned mission to the moon.
An angry Taiwanese crowd assaulted a Chinese envoy.
Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry says foreign troops killed nine Afghan soldiers.

Middle East and Africa
Palestinian leaders seem pleased that Israel is giving the Saudi peace initiative a second look.
Al Qaeda-affiliated Web sites are coming under a sustained cyber assault.
Senior Iranian officials are said to be pushing for preemptive strikes on Israel.

Europe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British PM Gordon Brown are seeing their reputations enhanced by their leadership on the financial crisis.
Sarkozy wants to see European countries set up sovereign wealth funds to protect key national industries.
Russia is considering creating an oil reserve to keep global prices high.

Today's Agenda
U.S. President George W. Bush hosts Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, his Liberian counterpart.
Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. secretary of state, is in Mexico to talk drugs.
Israel's interior minister meets with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in Tokyo.
Europe's commissioner for development and humanitarian aid visits Cuba.