If you watch or read the news at all, then you’ve probably noticed that all eyes have been on the presidential candidates this past week. The Super Tuesday elections, the after-effects, and the additional races held yesterday and today have consumed the minds and mouths national news anchors. In the meantime, where is the international coverage?!! It’s still there; it’s just a little harder to find. But do not fear: I’ve condensed it into a “consumer-friendly” format for you right here. This way, you won’t feel like a stereotypical self-absorbed American, and you can sound “worldly” around your friends even though you have been playing guitar hero all weekend.

But first: a recap of the over-reported election results. (You don’t want your poli sci to accuse you of living under a rock, do you?) Super Tuesday=a bunch of states having a primary or caucus on the same day. Check out “Live Super Duper Tuesday…” in Elizabeth Middlebrooks’ blog for all the results. Yesterday, Obama won all three Democratic races (Louisiana, Nebraska, and Washington). On the Republican side, Huckabee won in Louisiana and Kansas, and McCain won in Washington. Maine is holding Democratic caucuses today. Now, let’s move on to the world scene.

Stampede at Indonesian Concert Kills 10
Bandung, Indonesia (NOTE: city and country denote where specified event occurred, not location of AP reporting. Link below each article is source for that story.)
Hundreds try to leave a concert at the same time, causing a panic. 10 killed, dozens injured, mostly teenagers. Police are investigating, but no arrests yet. For more, see http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/indonesia.stampede.ap/index.html Camden Market, Hawley Arms Catch Fire London, England Camden Market, a historic and popular area in London, was ablaze Saturday night. Fire spread to nearby buildings, including Hawley Arms, a pub frequented by celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss. Cause of fire unknown, no casualties. Some parts of market open today, while some roads, sidewalks, subway and train lines still closed.
For more, see http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fire-strikes-famous-london-market/20080209194109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Suicide Bombers Kill 25 at Political Gathering
Charsadda, Pakistan
Tensions flare since the assassination/suicide bombing of beloved leader Benazir Bhutto, and get worse as the Feb. 18th elections near. Suicide bombers killed 25 people, including policemen and children, at small indoor political rally on Saturday. No group is claiming responsibility, but people suspect Islamic militants with ties to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
For more, see http://news.aol.com/story/_a/suicide-blast-at-pakistan-rally-kills-25/20080209111709990001

Camden Market, Hawley Arms Catch Fire
London, England
Camden Market, a historic and popular area in London, was ablaze Saturday night. Fire spread to nearby buildings, including Hawley Arms, a pub frequented by celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss. Cause of fire unknown, no casualties. Some parts of market open today, while some roads, sidewalks, subway and train lines still closed.
For more, see http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fire-strikes-famous-london-market/20080209194109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Sudan Arrests 2 for U.S. Diplomat’s Murder
Omdurman, Sudan
Sudanese police arrested two suspects Saturday for the murder of U.S. diplomat John Granville and his driver on January 1st. A vehicle opened fire on Granville’s car on his way home that night then fled the scene. Not believed to be a terrorist attack. Police apprehended suspects Saturday after an exchange of fire that injured several police and bystanders.
For more, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23094207/

Santeria Gains Popularity in Venezuela
Venezuela
Santeria is a Cuban religion formed when Yoruba slaves blended their beliefs with Catholicism. It may involve healing ceremonies, the sacrifice of animals in Catholic temples, predictions or warnings made by priests, protection from the rampant violence, or an inner sense of peace. Santeria present throughout Americas, in Venezuela for decades, popularized by Cuban doctors who come to Venezuela in exchange for subsidized oil that Chavez provides Cuba.
For more, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23057224/

Man Hides Wife in Drum for 23 Years, Convicted of Murder
Melbourne, Australia
Frederick Boyle, 58, told his two daughters that their mother ran off with a truck driver, but she was actually in a steel drum in the backyard. Boyle claims he put her there in a panic after finding her dead body, but a Victoria state Supreme Court jury disagreed and found him guilty of murder on Saturday.
For more, see http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/australia.murder.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Power Outages Dampen Chinese New Year
Chenzhou, China
China is experiencing some of its worst weather in 50 years, as areas such as the Hunan province are pummeled with snow and ice storms for a month or more. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao apologized on Tuesday to the hundreds of thousands stranded at train stations due to weather. Extended power outages are also a problem; Chenzhou entered it 12th day without power on Tuesday. Sixty deaths have been blamed on storm. This figure may or may not include 11 electricians who died trying to restore power. These tragedies came at an inopportune time. The Chinese New Year, the country’s biggest holiday, was this week.
For more, see http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/china.power.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/29/china.weather.apology/index.html#cnnSTCText?iref

Headscarves now legal on Turkish Campuses
Ankara, Turkey
On Saturday, Parliament lifted a ban on Islamic headscarves at Turkish universities. The country is predominantly Muslim, but secular. The prime minister supported the measure because it relieves pressure from young Muslim college women who being forced to remove their scarves. Opponents demonstrated against the measures at the capital.
For more, see http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-09-3972140132_x.htm

800+ Killed in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
The government quitted a cease-fire with the rebel Tamil Tigers last month, and over 800 people have died since. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since the 1980s for independence for the island’s Tamil minority population, who are marginalized by the Sinhalese-dominated government. The latest battle killed 44 outside of the rebel-held town of Adampan on Friday.
For more, see http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-09-3514995787_x.htm

Coup Attempt Hurts Chadians
N’Djamena, Chad
Rebel forces in Chad began a failed coup attempt in the capital, N’Djamena, on Friday, Feb 1st. Hundreds of civilians were killed and about a thousand were wounded over the weekend. Shops in the marketplace were either looted or heavily damaged. The violence was over by Wednesday, and Chad’s President Deby reassured the world that he is alive and well and in control of his country. Rebels accuse Deby of nepotism and embezzling millions in oil revenues over his 17 year reign. Many citizens had fled to nearby Cameroon over the weekend, but began journeying back to the city on Friday, Feb. 8th to survey the damage.
For more, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23071653/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23031600/

There you have it. Hopefully you feel as enlightened as I do!  This was so enriching that I may even do it again sometime for my personal benefit. Before you call me a nerd, remember that we are global citizens in this century of rapidly increasing communications and transportation technology. It would be a shame for some of America’s most educated young adults (aka you and me) to be ignorant of world affairs. The world is getting flatter, my friends. Ask Thomas Friedman (http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/) if you won’t take my word for it.

Well, this educated young adult had better sign off and do her homework pronto if she has any aspirations of becoming a productive global citizen one day. ;-) If I’ve missed any really big world headlines (I know I have because there are so many) from this week, educate me. Post a quick blurb and the link in the comments section.