Updates!

I am in the middle of finals this week so I don't have much time to post, but I wanted to give a few quick updates on some big stories from last week:

- Putin's United Russia wins control of the parliament in dominating fashion; the West calls for investigations of suspected fraud.

- Hugo Chavez's effort to become dictator of Venezuela was turned back at the polls.

- The teacher involved in the Sudanese teddy bear scandal has been pardoned and released from prison.