British Soldier charged with murder of Iraqi civilian Trooper Kevin Williams, 21, of the 2nd Royal Regiment, appeared before Bow Street magistrates’ court in London Sept. 7 to face charges of murdering a civilian in Iraq. According to The Independent, Williams has been charged with the murder of Hassan Said on or before Aug. 3, 2003. Charges were filed by the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service. Williams is due back in court Sept. 23.

Afghanistan’s lone female candidate holds first campaign rally

Massouda Jalal, the sole female Afghan presidential candidate, held her first campaign rally Sept. 7 in Kabul. The 41-year-old pediatrician and former U.N. worker took to the podium in front of a U.N.-run bakery, and delivered a speech about her vision for Afghanistan to 100 burka-clad women. “If I win, I will reconstruct the country, rebuild your houses destroyed by war,” Jalal said. “I want to end the looting, bring together the clans and tribes, and make life bright.”

Hurricane Ivan Attacks Caribbean

Hurricane Ivan has left behind death and destruction in the Caribbean. ABCNews.com reported that the Category 4 storm hit the small island of Grenada Sept. 9, killing 39 people. With winds in excess of 155 miles per hour, Ivan barreled on toward Jamaica, where it killed 15, and then to Cuba. Ivan, which is being called “one of the most devastating storms in hurricane history,” has killed 68 people, including five in Venezuela, four in the Dominican Republic, three in Haiti, and one each in Barbados and Tobago.