Russia’s parliamentary election is off and running. Polls are now open in five time zones in the country’s eastern regions, including Chukotka, Kamchatka and the port city of Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. 11 parties are competing for 450 State Duma seats.

In a stunning turnaround, Afghanistan is now a more dangerous place for U.S. troops than Iraq. The death rate for U.S. troops in Afghanistan is now nearly twice the rate for those in Iraq, according to an analysis by ABC News.

THE man who devised the Bush administration’s Iraq troop surge has urged the US to consider sending elite troops to Pakistan to seize its nuclear weapons if the country descends into chaos.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- An explosion rocked the city of Sanandaj in Iran’s western province of Kurdistan on Saturday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the replacement of the unfriendly atmosphere prevailing in the region with affinity and cordial ties among different states in a bid to establish peace and tranquility in the region.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- A high-ranking military delegation from Oman is scheduled to arrive here in Tehran on Sunday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Deputy head of Iran’s judiciary Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi called for a rapid punishment of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) and Ba’th party due to their inhumane crimes against the Iranian and Iraqi nations.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- An Iranian official warned here on Saturday that any possible attack on Iran would spark Muslim nations’ tough reaction worldwide.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Bangladeshi Industries Minister Geetiara Safiya Chowdhury voiced her country’s willingness to bolster economic cooperation with Iran, specially through increased contacts between the two countries’ private sector.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Laotian deputy foreign minister voiced his country’s strong support for the current talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).