Ukraine to pass law scrapping NATO ambitions (AP) AP – Ukraine’s new governing coalition in parliament said Tuesday it will pass a law against joining military alliances such as NATO, a move that is sure to please Russia while tilting Ukraine away from its previous pro-Western course. See full article at Yahoo! News

Thai PM rejects protesters’ call for new elections (AP) AP – Thailand’s prime minister, backed by a formidable military force, rejected an ultimatum to dissolve Parliament on Monday as tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters vowed to splatter the seat of government with their own blood if their demands weren’t met. See full article at [...]

Iran bans leading pro-reform political party (AP) AP – Iran’s hard-line government says the country’s largest pro-reform political party has been banned as part of the crackdown on the opposition. See full article at Yahoo! News

Rocket attack kills 1 at NATO base in Afghanistan (AP) AP – A rocket attack on the largest U.S. military hub in Afghanistan killed one person Monday, NATO said, while Afghan authorities in the country’s east prevented three would-be suicide bombers from attacking a security post. See full article at Yahoo! News

SAfrican youth leader convicted of hate speech (AP) AP – A court convicted the governing party’s youth leader of hate speech Monday after he said the woman who once accused South Africa’s president of rape had had a “nice time” because she stayed the night and asked for taxi money. See full article at Yahoo! [...]