- Thousands are dead following a devastating earthquake in Iran today, the death toll now is 5,000 but it could go much higher
- Israeli troops shoot and injure 2 protestors at a demonstration against the West Bank separation wall – one of the wounded is an American, the other an Israeli; it’s apparently the first time the Army has used live ammunition against Israeli protestors
- Parliamentary elections are coming up in Serbia this weekend – it’s possible that ultranationalist parties could regain a majority – but the leader of one of those parties won’t be in Serbia – Vojislav Seselj is confined at the War Crimes Tribunal in the Netherlands
- The State-appointed administrator of the Oakland School District wants to close 13 schools next year, most of them in Northwest and East Oakland – Randall Ward says the funds saved by closing those schools would be put to better use in the remaining schools