* Report: Syria, North Korea hold high-level talks in Pyongyang North Korea and Syria held high-level talks Friday in Pyongyang, the North’s state media reported, amid suspicions that the two countries might be cooperating on a nuclear weapons program.

* 144-nation atomic energy conference criticizes Israel Conference censures Israel for refusing to put its nuclear program under international purview.

* IDF ups alert level on northern border The IDF has raised the level of alert along Israel’s northern border out of concern that Syria will attempt to retaliate for an alleged IAF attack within its borders on September 6.

* Army weighs ‘complete’ Gaza pullout A day after the cabinet defined the Gaza Strip as “hostile territory,” The Jerusalem Post learned Thursday that the IDF is working on a proposal that calls for a “complete disengagement” from the Gaza Strip – involving the closure of all border crossings with Israel and the transfer of all responsibility over the Palestinian territory to Egypt.

* Arctic seabed ‘belongs to Russia’ A Russian expedition has proved that a ridge of mountains below the Arctic Ocean is part of Russia’s continental shelf, government officials have said.

* Israeli archeologists ordered out of court hearing A group of Israeli archeologists and public officials who petitioned the High Court of Justice against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Antiquities Authority over ongoing Wakf infrastructure work on the Temple Mount were ordered out of the courtroom during a hearing Thursday, an archeologist said.

* Crowds attend Lebanese MP funeral Thousands of Lebanese have turned out for the funeral in Beirut of anti-Syrian MP, Antoine Ghanim, who was assassinated on Wednesday.

* Court urges Sudan war crimes arrest The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged world leaders to “break their silence” and press the Sudanese government to arrest one of its ministers for alleged war crimes.

* Sheikdom shakedown: Dubai moves on Nasdaq n a complex set of transactions, Dubai is moving to acquire 19.9 percent of the Nasdaq in New York, placing the Arab government in an ownership position of the key U.S. stock exchange and raising concerns in Congress.

* Israel on alert for most sacred Jewish day Israel shut off the Palestinian territories for the holy Jewish day of atonement, and went on alert for a possible attack, 34 years after Syria and Egypt launched a surprise assault that sparked war.