Email | Digg | Del.icio.us

>>Nepal - Today the citizens of Nepal vote in their first election in nine years, the result of a peace deal with Maoist rebels who have ended their decade-long insurgency to transition to a legitimate political party. The campaign was plagued with violence and intimidation (the Maoists in particular were accused), leaving at least 12 people dead, including two candidates. The new 601-member parliament will write a new constitution and likely abolish Nepal's 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, the last remaining. The tabulation process is complicated, as representatives are apportioned both nationwide and as a result of direct election and are bound by quotas for women and Nepal's many ethnic and caste groups. UN election monitors don't expect results until the end of April or early may. Maoists have agreed to accept the results of today's election, but some fear that hardliners might take to the streets.

>>Zimbabwe - Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa has called for an emergengy meeting of southern African leaders to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe under the umbrella of the South African Development Community, chaired by Mwanawasa. The opposition party in Zimbabwe has repeatedly complained about the "deafening silence" from regional leaders.

>>Olympic - City officials in San Francisco went to extraordinary lengths to insure that the Olympic torch was unmolested in its only appearance in the United States. The torch relay was rerouted at the last second, as police along the original route donned riot gear to fool protestors into believing that the torch's arrival was imminent. The relay was then accompanied by a phalanx of uniformed police officers on foot and motorcyle as it made its way towards Golden Gate Park with protestors and media in hot pursuit. The torch was then whisked away to the airport, leapfrogging the closing ceremony. In what some believe is an effort to distract attention from the protestors, China announced today that it had foiled a plot by Uighur separatists, a group that China has tried to lump in with President Bush's "war on terror," to kidnap athletes and journalists during the Olympics.

• Will Kony Sign?
• Khalilzad to Resign?
• No, YOU'RE Indicted!

Africa

• South Africa - Shoot to kill, South African minister tells police
• Uganda - Uganda rebels due to sign peace
• Kenya - Kenya opposition urges restraint
• Kenya - Kenya crisis strains human-animal balance in parks
• Libya - Appeal judges bar removal of 'key al-Qaida deputy'

Americas

• Ecuador - Security Forces Rocked by Shake-Up in Ecuador
• U.S. - American Airlines cancels more than 1,000 flights
• Haiti - Uneasy calm in Haiti after food price protests
• Mexico - Mexico Proposes Limited Overhaul of State Oil Monopoly
• Colombia - Partisan Tangle Over Trade Pact With Colombia
• Ecuador - Ecuador's military chiefs resign

Asia

• Afghanistan - Afghans Hold Secret Trials for Men That U.S. Detained
• Sri Lanka - Attack on arms sale to Sri Lanka
• China - China raises 2007 growth figure
• Pakistan - Musharraf urges Pakistan lawyers against anarchy
• India - India court approves quota plan
• Korea - N.Korea hurls insults, bars more South officials
• Thailand - Thai police find dead Burmese workers in lorry
• Russia - Russia may boost PM's powers in regions
• Afghanistan - 8 Civilians Killed in Afghan Blast

Europe

• Kosovo - Kosovo adopts a new constitution
• Iceland - Iceland raises interest rate to 15.5%
• Italy - Outbursts turn up heat in Italy campaign
• Ireland - Finance Minister to Take Over as Prime Minister in Ireland
• Sweden - Iraqi Refugees Find Sweden's Doors Closing
• Bulgaria - One more chance -- then turn off the Brussels money tap
• Bulgaria - Organised crime link to Islamic terror exposed

Middle East

• Iraq - Iraq snubbed Britain and calls US into Basra battle
• Israel - Militants Kill 2 Israeli Civilians in Gaza Attack
• Israel - Israel to bar UN rights official
• Iraq - Iraq Orders U.S. Military to Free Jailed Photographer
• Iraq - Bush to Cut Army Tours to 12 Months
• Iraq - Petraeus and Crocker Testimony Off the Radar of Most in Baghdad
• Iraq - RAF pilot warned of vulnerability of Hercules aircraft, inquest told

Posted by Matthew Cordell at 8:44 AM

Comments

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me?YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)