Karzai Leading in Afghan Election So Far

The independent election commission in charge of last month’s elections in Afghanistan has annulled votes from 447 polling stations because of fraud. Current President Hamid Karzai is leading with about 3/4 of votes counted but he does not yet have the 50% majority he needs to avoid a run-off election, Al Jazeera.
Canada’s Globe and Mail [...]

President Obama Announces New Financial Regulatuions

President Obama to present sweeping financial overhaul that will put new regulations in place in order to avoid the problems that caused the current financial crisis, BBC News.
Senate to look into exclusive cell phone plans that limit which phones can be used on a network, Digital Journal.
Eric Cantor introduces the Republican health care plan. Plan [...]

Sri Lankan President Says Fighting to End Within 48 Hours

Sri Lanka says the military crackdown on the Tamil Tiger rebels should end in 48 hours. The Sri Lankan army has pushed the rebels, along with Tamil civilians, into a 1.5 square mile area in northern Sri Lanka along the coast. Conditions are very poor there and the only semi-legitimate reports come from doctors who [...]

Pakistan Steps Up Attacks on Taliban

Pakistan steps up attacks on Taliban militants in the northwestern mountainous region along the border of Afghanistan. The Pakistani government had tried to negotiate with the Taliban, allowing the group to take over areas of the Swat Valley, but has recently stepped up attacks due to international pressure. More than 40,000 have fled the region, [...]

South Africa Goes to the Polls

Voting begins in South African elections. The African National Congress (ANC), which has been the majority party for the 15 few years, is expected to be challenged by a new political party, Congress of the People (COPE), which is targeting younger voters. ANC leader Jacob Zuma is expected to win the presidency. BBC News has [...]

The U.S. Eases Restrictions on Cuba

For the first time in decades, Americans will be able to make unlimited trips to Cuba and the 1.5 million Americans with family in the communist country will be allowed to send money back to their families. The Obama administration announced the new policies today to try to eliminate some of the dependence of Cubans [...]

Worldwide Outrage at New Afghan Law Restricting Rights of Shia Women

New legislation, quietly passed last month, will restrict rights for Shia women living in Afghanistan. The legislation, officially called the “Shia Personal Status Law,” puts the legal age of marriage at 16, specifies that husbands have a right to intercourse every four days, and restricts the movement of women outside the home without their husband’s [...]

Protests in London Gear Up Ahead of G20 Summit

G20 protests remain mostly peaceful despite concern that anarchist groups will use the protests as a cover for acts of violence, Wall Street Journal. About 20 protesters vandalized a Royal Bank of Scotland branch, smashing windows and causing damage to the interior. As police try to contain the thousands of protesters gathered outside the Bank [...]