NASA More than 1,200 NASA employees are laid off despite a $19 billion funding budget passed by the United States Congress earlier in the week.
Inkayacu The discovery of "Inkayacu", an extinct genus of prehistoric penguin that lived in the Late Eocene period, is announced.
Sky Sky has launched its 3D Channel, Virgin Media has announced the launch of 3D Movies On Demand – the first digital TV service.
President President of the United States Barack Obama calls a press conference in the White House to make a "personnel announcement" reported to be related to the departure of his aide Rahm Emanuel.
Thai Thailand lifts a state of emergency in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani but it remains in place in Bangkok and the nearby provinces of Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.
Pakistan Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf launches a new political party - the All Pakistan Muslim League - in London.
David Lloyd Johnston David Lloyd Johnston is sworn in as new Governor General of Canada, succeeding Michaëlle Jean.
Iceland Politicians in Iceland flee from their own people as they protest on the streets of Reykjavík.
Nobel peace Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire is to be deported from Israel within 48 hours after her appeal to overturn her entry refusal was rejected.
North Korea North Korea and South Korea agree to restart a family reunion program for families separated in the Korean War.
United Nations The United Nations publishes a toned down version of its report into war crimes said to have occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 1990s after Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi rejected the report's findings.
Bob Dudley American Bob Dudley succeeds Tony Hayward as the new CEO of BP after the recent controversies over the Oil Spill crisis in the Deepwater Horizon.
Jonathan Franzen American author Jonathan Franzen advises British fans to cease reading his latest novel "Freedom" as a printing error has led to the publication of an old draft of his text, with thousands of copies set to be pulped.
International Security Assistance Force An airstrike launched by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) kills 15 insurgents in the Tsowkey district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province.
Cameroon 6 sailors taken hostage off the coast of Cameroon on September 12 by the Africa Marine Commando are released.
Pakistan Following the killing of 3 Pakistani soldiers by NATO, tankers carrying supplies for NATO troops based in Afghanistan are set alight in Shikarpur, Sindh, injuring no one.
Merajuddin Prominent video journalist Merajuddin is hospitalised in Srinagar after being severely beaten with a baton in his neck by Kashmir police. They also beat up his son and colleague in the latest police attack on the media there.
Abuja In Abuja, two car bombs explode during Nigeria's 50th anniversary celebrations of its Independence from the British Empire, killing 12 and injuring 17. Militant rebel group MEND claims responsibility.