Top story: After a day in which hundred of thousands of protesters defied a ban and took to the streets of Tehran to protest the disputed results of Iran's presidential election -- the largest demonstrations the country has seen since the 1979 revolution -- Iran's Guardian Council has ordered a recount of ballots from polling places where irregularities were reported. The announcement is another concession from the Iranian regime, which sought to quickly stamp out discontent over the election, but still falls far short of protester demands.
Another march has now begun. Organizers put out the word through Twitter that marchers should wear black in honor of those killed in yesterday's demonstrations.
Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi said that he is "not very optimistic" that Iran's Guardian Council will render a fair judgment in the dispute but that he is "ready to pay any price" to ensure a fair election. His opponent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has left the country to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation in Yekaterinburg, Russia. He has not mentioned the election in his public remarks at the meeting.
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about Iran for the first time since the election yesterday, saying he was "troubled" by the violence and telling the protesters that "the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was."
Under the radar: A survey by Mexico's human rights commission found that almost 10,000 Central American migrants were kidnapped for ransom by drug traffickers in one six month period. Many of those kidnapped reported that authorities were involved.
Asia
- The leaders of India and Pakistan met at the SCO meeting in Russia for the first time since the Mumbai attacks.
- Campaign season has officially begun for Afghanistan's presidential election.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's son and apparent heir Kim Jong Un reportedly visited China last week for a meeting with President Hu Jintao.
Europe
- Russia used its veto in the UN Security Council to end the 16-year UN monitoring mission in Abkhazia.
- Meeting with President Obama at the White House, Italian President Silvio Berlusconi called for tough financial regulations to be put in place and next month's G8 meeting in Italy.
- GM has agreed to sell its Saab unit to Swedish company Koenigsegg.
Middle East
- U.S. officials have expressed skepticism about Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for a demilitarized Palestinian state.
- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is visiting Gaza where he condemned Israel's actions in last January's offensive.
- Iraqi PM Nuri al Maliki vowed that his government would not call on U.S. forces for help in combat operations after they pull out of major cities on June 30.
Americas
- Peru's government has offered concessions to the indigenous groups who last week protested plants to use their lands for energy exploration.
- Former President Bill Clinton, now a UN envoy to Haiti, detailed a list of priorites for his new job beginning with ensuring that pledged aid actually reaches the country.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faced rare criticism from human rights groups at the UN over his government's ties to abusive regimes.
Africa
- Congo's former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba will be charged with five counts of war crimes at the Hague.
- South African police are investigating an apparent $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
- Nigeria's MEND rebels issued a threat against an international youth soccer tournament which will be held in the country later this year.
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