TOP STORY: Iran's post-election turmoil may be winding down as the country's main opposition group postponed a planned rally for today after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for calm and promised an investigation of irregularities in last Friday's election. Just after the initial announcement of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory, Khamenei had called it a "divine assessment."
Between 150 and 200 students were reportedly arrested last night in protests at Tehran University. Authorities have also reportedly blocked access to a number of online news services and social networking sites. President Ahmadinejad has dismissed this weekend's arrest as similar to "passions after a soccer match".
A number of international figures have expressed concern about events without explicitly condemning the Iranian regime's actions. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that "It sure looks like the way they're suppressing speech, the way they're suppressing crowds, the way in which people are being treated, that there's some real doubt."
B STORY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at Bar Ilan University on Sunday in which he endorsed the concept of a demilitarized Palestinian state, but only under conditions unlikely to be accepted by Palestinian leaders. He promised that no new settlements would be constructed on the West Bank, though left the door open for "natural growth" of existing communities. He also reiterated Israeli demands for an undivided Jerusalem.
Europe
- The EU has agreed to accept some detainees from Guantanamo Bay. It's not yet clear how many will be taken or which countries are involved.
- A person died of Swine Flu in Scotland on Sunday, the first death from the disease outside the Americas.
- A Russian ban on Belarusian milk products has badly strained relations between the two allies.
Asia
- Pakistan's military is planning an assault on the stronghold of Taliban leader Baithullah Mehsud.
- Nepal's Maoist have shut down Kathmandu with demonstrations after the death of a prominent Maoist leader.
- Gen. Stanley McChrystal has taken command of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Middle East
- A double bombing rocked a marketplace in Shiite Eastern Baghdad on Monday morning.
- Three German women from a group of foreigners kidnapped in Yemen have been found murdered.
- British PM Gordon Brown authorized an investigation into mistakes made during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Africa
- Nigeria's MEND rebels have threatened to expand their attacks to offshore oil facilities.
- Gabonese civil society groups are trying to prevent the son of late President Omar Bongo from succeeding him.
- The former head of Guinea's armed forces has been charged with drug trafficking.
Americas
- Opposition TV station Globovision is seeking talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is threatening to pull its license.
- A dissident Cuban doctor was, after 10 years, given permission to leave the country and left for Argentina.
- An Argentinean glacier is one of the few in the world that has withstood the effects of global warming.
AFP/Getty Images
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