Rioting by Uighurs in China's restive Xinjiang province has resulted in over 140 deaths, according to Chinese officials. Hundreds of Uighur activists had gathered in the provincial capital Urumqi, to protest racial discrimination against the Muslim ethnic group. Authorities cracked down after protesters began throwing rocks and vegetables at the police. There are also reports of Uighur rioters attacking Han Chinese civilians.
Chinese authorities have blamed the violence on Uighur activists in Washington. Internet access in Xinjiang was unusually slow after the rioting began and social networking sites were blocked. Official casualty reports changed significantly throughout the day on Sunday and will likely rise again, but this does already seem to be China's worst outbreak of ethnic unrest since the Tibet uprising of March, 2008.
In the back room: Tensions are rising between rival clerical groups in Iran's religious capital, Qom, over the results of last month's disputed election.
Europe
- President Barack Obama arrived in Russia for a meeting with Russian leaders, aimed at reducing both countries' nuclear arsenals.
- Bulgaria's opposition conservatives won in nationwide elections. Sofia Mayor Boiko Borisov will form a new government.
- The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, says he will not seek another term in office after this year.
Americas
- Ousted President Manuel Zelaya was prevented from returning to Honduras by fighting at the airport where his plane was supposed to land. The Organization of American States has suspended Honduras's membership.
- Mexico's former ruling party, the PRI, made gains in midterm elections.
- The Venezuelan government has taken control over the country's third largest bank.
Asia
- North Korea fired more missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday.
- While visiting Burma, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was denied a visit with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
- A car bomb exploded near the main NATO airbase in Kandahar.
Middle East
- A car bombing in Mosul broke a relatively violence-free spell since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities.
- Iran has freed one British embassy worker, but one more still remains in jail.
- Iranian opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is reportedly planning to launch his own political party.
Africa
- Nigeria's MEND rebels took over a Chevron oil facility and hijacked a chemical tanker.
- The U.S. is warning Ethiopia not to send its troops back into Somalia.
- Zimbabwe says it will withdraw troops from its Eastern diamond fields after criticism by human rights groups.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
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