Africa

COTONOU, Benin- Over 100,000 people have lost their homes due to flooding in the African nation of Benin, a UN official said Monday, citing numbers collected since the beginning of October.  According to a statement released by the United Nations, flood waters now cover two-thirds of the country’s territory.  Unseasonably heavy rainfall caused both the Oueme and Mono rovers to overflow.  At least 43 people were killed, with seven deaths resulting from a Cholera outbreak.  Originating in Cotonou, a coastal city about 75 miles west of Lagos, Nigeria, the cholera outbreak has stricken just over 800 people.  The bacteria easily pass through contaminated water, often leading to death.  The United Nations central emergency fund is requesting $8 million in aid to help those in Benin to recover.

Asia

TOKYO, Japan- Three days of anti-Japanese protests throughout China ended Monday. Most of the rowdy demonstrations occurred in central China, where several Japanese factories are located. According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, the size of the protests weighed in at around 10,000. Footage aired on Japan’s TV Asahi showed protestors overturning a Japanese-made car in the city of Mianyang. An American resident in China recorded a video of participants in Chengdu burning the Chinese characters that read “Nihon,” or “Japan” in English. Protestors also chanted anti-Japan slogans and damaged the inside of Japanese grocery chain, Ito Yokado, in Chengdu. The protests, appearing as diplomatic relations between Japan and China, demonstrate improvement. According to Japanese Prime Ministed, Naoto Kan, the bilateral relationship between the two countries remains intact, despite the reports of protests.

Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq- The leader of Baghdad’s Provincial Council, Jassim Muhammad, was killed by a roadside bomb on Monday morning. The explosion, which was the latest in a stream of small attacks aimed at the police and government officials, wounded eight people, including three body guards. The bomb exploded beside Muhammad’s convoy, and, according to a friend, he usually travels in an armored vehicle, but did not Monday. Muhammad al-Rubaie, a member of the provincial council and a close friend of Muhammad, blames poor security on the politicians for not forming the government. “The formation of a government as soon as possible and the complete restoration of security are important and necessary issues facing Iraq,” said Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.  “Leaders, politicians and those who care about Iraq must concentrate ernment as soon as possible.”