Afghanistan opium production set to rise 61%: UN: What We're Reading Now
Oct 11, 2011

IRAN
Iran's 'bombproof' nuclearsite takes defiant aura from village namesake
Washington Post -- October 10
Not far from one of Iran’s most secretive nuclear sites, villagers proudly declare a willingness to sacrifice their lives to defend their country’s nuclear program from attack by the West.

EU Expands Sanctions Against Iran
NPR -- October 10, 2011
The European Union has expanded sanctions against Iran because of continued human rights abuses.  A meeting of EU foreign ministers added 29 officials linked to the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the list of people facing a visa ban and asset freeze.

NORTH KOREA
S. Korea allows work at factories in North Korea to restart
Reuters -- October 11, 2011
South Korea said on Tuesday it will allow 120 of its firms to restart building a joint industrial park with North Korea, a fresh sign of tensions between the rival countries easing.

Japanese doctors arrive in North Korea to examine atomic bombing victims
Washington Post -- October 11, 2011
A team of Japanese doctors arrived Tuesday in North Korea to examine victims of the 1945 atomic bombings of Japan, a trip that may help improve dismal ties between the countries.