Why are the Revolutionary Guards running Iran’s ICBM program? (UPI) By ARIEL COHEN WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) — It is highly significant that Iran’s missile program is under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard — Pasdaran — the most loyal element of the regime, which combines internal secret police and external intelligence and shock [...]

Karzai seeks Saudi support for talks with Taliban (Gulf Daily News) KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has made a call for peace to Taliban leader Mullah Omar and has asked the king of Saudi Arabia to help in talks with the militant group responsible for a surge in violence.
Afghan president seeks Saudi help for [...]

South Africa’s ANC dismisses reports of party split (AFP via Yahoo! News) South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday dismissed reports of a party split in the wake of former president Thabo Mbeki’s ousting.
South Africa: Mbeki’s Exit Speaks Volumes (AllAfrica.com) The untimely departure of South Africa President Thambo Mbeki from power [...]

Suicide bomber kills 3 in Algeria (ABC 13 Houston) Algerian media say a suicide bomber has killed three people and injured six in Algeria
Suicide bomber kills three near Algerian capital (Whistler Question) ALGER, Algeria – Algerian media say a suicide bomber has killed three people and injured six in a village east of the [...]

Singapore donates 38,000 bags of fertiliser to Myanmar farmers (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Philippines News) SINGAPORE: Singapore has donated over 38,000 bags of fertiliser to Myanmar, to help farmers affected by Cyclone Nargis.
Singapore gives aid to cyclone-hit Myanmar farmers (Bangkok Post – Thailand’s English news) Singapore has donated US$1 million worth of fertilizer to [...]

Four more Philippine miners rescued after week trapped underground (AFP via Yahoo! News) Rescuers pulled four more miners out of a flooded tunnel in the northern Philippines Tuesday, raising hopes that eight others might still be found alive after a week underground, officials and rescuers said.
Singapore donates 38,000 bags of fertiliser to Myanmar [...]

Serbian president open to dividing Kosovo: report (Canada.com) Serbian President Boris Tadic is open to the possibility of dividing Kosovo, whose claim of independence from Serbia is not recognised by Belgrade, local media said Tuesday.
EU concerned at Belarus vote after opposition wiped out (AFP via Yahoo! News) The EU voiced concern on [...]

Pakistani spy agency has new chief (UPI) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 30 (UPI) — Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Kayani appointed Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to be the head of the powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence.
Pakistani spy agency has new chief (Moldova.org) Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Kayani appointed Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha [...]

Lebanon parliament passes new election law: media (Khaleej Times) BEIRUT- Lebanon’s parliament on Monday approved a new election law agreed under a deal that ended a deep political crisis, Lebanese media reported.
NEW LEBANON WAR? (New York Post) IS Syria preparing to seize the opportunity provided by the global financial crisis and the US presidential [...]

US Navy monitors Ukrainian arms ship seized off Somalia (Yahoo! Asia News) MOGADISHU (AFP) – The US Navy stood guard on Tuesday around a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks and arms to stop them from falling into the wrong hands in lawless Somalia amid growing confusion over the cargo’s destination.
Ethiopia calls for UN peacekeepers in [...]