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On March 4, a law went into effect that allowed gay couples in Mexico City to wed, despite outcries from the Roman Catholic Church and President Felipe Calderón's conservative National Action Party. With five other Latin American nations already recognizing same-sex civil unions, the region has become a major front in the gay-marriage battle. The law, passed last year by a solid majority, also grants same-sex couples the right to adopt children. Calderón called the move unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it in court.
7 | Uganda
Deadly Mudslide
Three villages in eastern Uganda were devastated by a March 1 landslide that killed at least 86 people and left hundreds missing. The region, which has been plagued with unusually high rainfall over the past few months, is under alert for additional slides, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered residents to move away from vulnerable hillsides.
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Greece's plan: Increase revenue, decrease spending
Sales tax from 19% to 21% and tax hikes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes
Salaries for civil servants, including a 30% cut in holiday bonuses
=$6.6 billion savings
8 | Greece
Trying to Close the Budget Gap
Greece announced additional tax hikes and further salary cuts for government workers on March 3 in the hope of addressing its 13% budget deficit. The measures, estimated to generate $6.6 billion in savings this year, paved the way for assistance from the European Union, which had pressed the country to make greater fiscal sacrifices. While Greece has garnered support from its European neighbors, the plan is certain to further outrage citizens, who have staged strikes and protests over the past few weeks.
9 | Texas
Perry Wins Primary
Incumbent governor Rick Perry beat U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican gubernatorial primary race on March 2. Perry prevailed with 51% of the vote and will run against former Houston mayor Bill White, the Democratic-primary winner, for what would be Perry's third full term. Strategists suggest that Perry was able to secure the win by portraying Hutchison as a Washington insider despite both candidates' Texas roots.
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America's teachers by the numbers
Percentage of teachers with one or more English-language learners in their classroom
Total 65%
Florida 75%
Texas 77%
California 95%
Experience levels of U.S. teachers (the average is 14 years)
21+ YEARS 26%
0-3 YEARS 16%
4-10 YEARS 33%
11-20 YEARS 25%
SOURCES: SCHOLASTIC; THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
10 | New York City
Report: Teachers Find Students Unprepared for Success