Iran is holding parliamentary elections today. With many of the liberal or reformist parties banned from the election for lack of “Islamic credentials”, the conservatives are expected to secure electoral success. Without an adequate way to seek redress for their exclusion, many voters may stay home. As the BBC writes,

Many of their supporters will simply not go out and vote in the parliamentary elections on Friday. In fact, here in the smart suburbs of north Tehran it’s hard to find anyone who is going to vote.

Following up on an earlier plea for a criminal investigation into allegations of torture at U.S. detention facilities, human rights organization Amnesty international will be releasing the results of its inquiry into CIA black sites today.
Strains of a deadly fungus UG99 threatens to ruin large swaths of wheat crops as spread from Uganda to Iran and could reach areas like the Punjab if scientists’ plans to spray fungicide are not successful. Defense against the fungus is costly and many farmers cannot afford to protect their crops, yet the deadly wind borne fungus threatens the world’s most important crop. Great. One more thing to worry about in an already troubled part of the world.
Hundreds of Tibetan monks have taken to the streets to protest Chinese rule. The protest coincides with the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet as well as China’s preparations to host the Olympics this summer. According to the report, this protest is the largest pro-independence demonstration that has taken place in Tibet for twenty years.
And in case “staying the course” still sounds like a good idea, here’s a figure that could change your mind.
Looks like it’s gearing up to be a big day on the global front. What’s happening in your part of the world?
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