NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The Iraqi finance minister said reports of a billion-dollar budget surplus amid massive U.S. spending on the war effort are misleading.

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Turkish officials plan to visit Iraqi Kurdistan Tuesday to meet with top officials to discuss efforts at reining in the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

BAGHDAD, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Health officials in northern Iraq said 37 residents have contracted a form of non-weapons-grade anthrax from livestock.

BASRA, Iraq, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- British commanders in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra hailed the improved security situation as Baghdad said Monday they are no longer needed there.

TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Iranian state-run media Monday said Lebanese lawmaker Michel Aoun hailed Tehran as the most powerful force in the region during a diplomatic visit.

KAMPALA, Uganda, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A U.N. report says there has been a dramatic surge of rebel violence in Uganda resulting in the death of more than 200 civilians.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The Sri Lankan military targeted a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam terrorist stronghold Monday that resulted in the death of 27 rebels.

VIENNA, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Interpol and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime announced a partnership in Austria Monday to target corruption around the world.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army manual has incorporated evidence from case studies on terrorist organizations that use kidnapping as a threat tactic.

KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Top security authorities from Ukraine, Germany and Georgia recently met to discuss establishing methods to counter transnational criminal networks.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The National Nuclear Security Administration has approved a plan to transform the U.S. nuclear weapons infrastructure to address concerns of the 21st century.

The increase in violent attacks in Iraq has brought about many different theories. While many people think the wave of violence hitting the streets of Baghdad and elsewhere is a sign of things to come, others still believe that military presence will have a positive impact on the security situation.

CHICAGO, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- It may be a false dawn, but the initial indications are that the worst of the Crash of '08 may be over. The Asian and European markets are rising, the world's central banks have agreed to make as many dollars available as are needed, and the U.S. Treasury laid out its plans to spend its $800 billion bailout fund.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- With negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis intended to move the peace process forward reaching a dead end -- at least momentarily -- the Palestinian prime minister warned Sunday night that time is running out.