Malaysia Arrests 1,600 Protesters

Today's global hotspot: Malaysia. At least 20,000 demonstrators jammed the main city of Kuala Lumpur to demand electoral reform, reports AP. Prime Minister Najib Razak sent out riot police who fired tear gas and detained about 1,600 people during the five-hour standoff, including several senior opposition figures. At least a dozen people were injured, reports Reuters.

"The fact that such a large crowd turned up despite a crackdown shows that voter anger is deep and this is going to push a lot of people who are in the middle toward the opposition," says a Malaysia expert at Singapore Management University. (More Malaysia stories.)