Huge gains for Malaysia opposition

Malaysia’s ruling coalition has suffered its biggest electoral defeat ever, losing its two-thirds majority, several states and a number of senior leaders.

Barisan Nasional (BN) won enough seats – 112 of the 222 parliamentary constituencies – to form the government but failed to get the crucial two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969.

The outcome of the country’s 12th general election was a shocking change from the previous polls in 2004 when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the prime minister, led his coalition to a record victory.

Spring forward tonight: It’s Daylight Saving Time

OTTAWA – The usual reminder to set your clocks ahead one hour takes on a new twist this year.

That’s because It’s a few weeks earlier than the traditional start of Daylight Saving Time. The change aligns Canada with the United States, which began last year to switch to Daylight Saving on the second Sunday in March instead of early April, hoping to save energy.

Early U.S. assessments, including two from the California Energy Commission, report little or no energy savings, but the new system is firmly in place across Canada and the U.S. Exceptions are provinces and states that opt out of the whole Daylight Saving system – only Saskatchewan in Canada.

Sri Lanka holds elections in recaptured east amid violence, intimidation

BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka: Residents in Sri Lanka’s tense eastern city of Batticaloa and surrounding towns go to the polls Monday in a vote the government says is key to restoring order in the area, which troops recaptured months ago following decades of rule by the Tamil Tiger rebels.

But human rights groups say the government is irresponsibly rushing ahead with the city and village council elections to show that its rule has brought democracy to the long-troubled east. They fear that violence and intimidation will taint the results.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state in Sri Lanka’s north and east for minority ethnic Tamils, who were marginalized for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority.

Barack Obama wins Wyoming caucuses

Barack Obama has won the Wyoming caucuses. It’s a big victory for the Illinois senator in a tight race with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

With 22 of 23 counties reporting, Obama had 59 percent of the vote and Clinton had 40 per cent.

Obama is hoping to stem the wave of momentum Clinton gained after her victories in three of four state primaries on Mar. 4, including important wins in delegate-rich Texas and Ohio. In recent days, Clinton campaign officials had downplayed their expectations in the Wyoming caucuses. Obama has outperformed Clinton in past caucuses, winning 12 before Wyoming and losing only three.