OBAMA WINS PEACE PRIZE - In news that shocked pundits and prognosticators all around, U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today for what the Nobel committee calls his “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples." The award comes less than a year into Obama's presidency. Adviser David Axelrod told the press,"It’s nothing anyone expected. It’s nothing the president sought." Obama learned the news in a 6am phone call from Press Secretary Gibbs. Critics are attacking the choice from all angles, suggesting that it is both as of yet undeserved and a sign that Obama is catering too much to foreign interests. Link

UN ENVOY DENIES KARZAI COVER-UP - The UN official charged with monitoring the compromised Afghan presidential election vehemently denies any cover-up of vote fraud. The former top U.S. envoy to the UN in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith, was fired after a dispute with Eide over what percentage of the vote should be involved in the recount. "I intend to deal openly with all these allegations against the UN and myself relating to fraud and bias at the appropriate time," Eide added. Link

SUICIDE BOMB KILLS 49 IN PAKISTAN - A suicide bomber killed 49 people and wounded at least 100 others in northwest Pakistan. Police said the bomb was a vehicle packed with a massive amount of explosives and ammunition. The blast was heard several kilometers away. Pakistan is under heavy U.S. pressure to step up its campaign against al Qaeda and its sympathizers on the northwest frontier. Outrage over this attack, the worst in six months, may push public opinion in favor of a more aggressive campaign against the militants. Link

THE "UGLY" TRUTH - A UN Foundation campaign against malaria will get a major visibility boost from the season premiere of popular TV comedy Ugly Betty. In the episode, the lead character will promote the Nothing But Nets initiative, a grassroots initiative that distributes insecticide-treated bed nets to Africa. Bed nets have proven to be low-fi solution ($10 to produced and distribute) to a debilitating problem. Every year, Malaria kills a million people, mostly children, and costs Africa $12 billion. Through the UN's Creative Community Outreah Initiative (CCOI), Ugly Betty became the first show of its kind to film at the UN. Link

IRANIAN ACTIVIST CONDEMNED TO DEATH - The Iranian courts have handed down the first death sentence in connection with the pro-democracy protests that rocked the country after the disputed presidential election. Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani, 37, has been condemned to death for allegedly taking up arms against the state. Ali-Zamani confessed, probably under torture, to working with the militant Iran Monarchy Committee. He claimed he met with American officials "Frank", "Robert", and "Mike" to learn how to make chemical weapons. Link