United Kingdom local elections, 2008. Early results showed the opposition Conservative Party performing strongly with 44 per cent of the vote while the governing Labour Party was performing poorly with 24 per cent of the vote.(The Telegraph)(The Telegraph)
jail in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. This follows the recent deaths of nine prisoners in a riot in San Pedro Sula with both riots being blamed on overcrowding and gang rivalry. (BBC News)
Federal Reserve System reports that banks are tightening lending standards on home mortgages, other types of consumer loans and business loans in response to the subprime mortgage crisis. (AP via Google News)
An international relief operation begins after cyclone Nargis strikes Burma, with at least 63,500 people reported killed or missing. (Reuters via NineMSN)
Burmese constitutional referendum, 2008 despite the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis with widespread concerns about the legitimacy of the process. (BBC News)
Negotiators from Pakistan's two major coalition parties meet in London, but fail to reach an agreement. (AP via CNN)
Ashqelon struck a clinic in the third floor of the Huzot shopping mall. This attack resulted in three people seriously injured, two moderately injured and eleven people suffered minor wounds. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claims responsibility. (Haaretz)
Raul Reyes. This alleged that Venezuela and Ecuador provided funding, assistance and drug routes to the terrorist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. However, Interpol stated that they had not looked at the content of the files, only their authenticity. (BBC News)(CNN)
General Electric has stated that it wants to auction off its domestic appliances business. GE has been involved in that field of business since 1907. (Bloomberg.com)
Federal Reserve System reports that the industrial output of the nations factories, mines and utilities fell by 0.7% in April in a broad-based decline led by motor vehicles. (MarketWatch)
People's Republic of China holds three minutes silence at 2:28 pm marking a week since the earthquake. All public entertainment events have been cancelled. (AP via Time)
The International Court of Justice awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca to Singapore, ending a 28-year dispute over the islet between Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysia was awarded sovereignty of an outcropping of Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks, while the sovereignty of South Ledge was left to be determined by the maritime boundary between the two nations, which is also a contentious point. (Channel NewsAsia)
Seven Moroccan tourists are killed in a bus crash in central France, near the city of Blois. (RTÉ)
An independent investigation into $8.2 billion in United States Department of Defense spending in Iraq, as well as aid to Egypt and Kuwait since 2001 finds that 95% of payments to contractors failed to meet requirements for documentation to determine what was paid for. (The New York Times)
2006 Lathen maglev train accident: Germany fines two test track managers over the 23 deaths and 11 injuries. A third defendant remains to be tried due to suicide fears. (Bloomberg)(Wikinews)
Department of Meta strikes the Central and West areas of the country; at least 11 people are killed with over 4000 injuries reported. (Hindustan Times)(USGS)
Rights groups say afghan women committing suicide at alarming rate; Women rights groups say that last year, almost 500 women chose death or disfigurement to life of despair by setting themselves on fire to escape forced marriages, slavery or sexual and other types of abuse.(VOA)
fuel prices; Spain's economy minister says his government cannot cut fuel taxes, but is looking into ways to help fishermen. (VOA)
U.S.–Iraq security agreement to replace the current United Nations mandate for U.S. troops in Iraq, which expires at end of 2008. (VOA)
Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai claims ruling party status as the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, delivers a "state of the nation" address to elected lawmakers from his party, and promises a "new era of opportunity" for Zimbabwe. (VOA)
2008 Atlantic hurricane season: The first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Arthur, forms one day before the official season begins. It is located about 45 mi (75 km) NNW of Belize City. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (55 km/h), and with higher gusts. (NHC)
ban on tobacco advertising; the organization says recent studies prove the more young people are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking. The call comes as part of the WHO's annual World No Tobacco Day. (VOA)
