Around the World

Iran
After facing weeks of international pressure, the government announced that it had suspended the sentence of death by stoning for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a woman convicted of adultery. Read more on Iran at Freedom in the World 2010: Iran

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed a proposal to eliminate presidential term limits from the Constitution, thus allowing current president Mahinda Rajapaksa to run for a third term. Read more on Sri Lanka at Freedom in the World 2010: Sri Lanka

Niger
The presidential election, meant to restore civilian leadership after this past year’s military coup, has been pushed back for the second time to January 31, 2011. Read more on Niger at Freedom in the World 2010: Niger

South Africa
Fraud charges against journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika, filed following his article about a questionable property deal made between the police chief and a politically-connected businessman, were withdrawn by the state. Read more on South Africa at Freedom in the World 2010: South Africa