Massachusetts set a new record for voter turnout Tuesday. More than 3 million residents went to the polls. Secretary of State William Galvin said in a telephone interview today that the tally of voter turnout has reached 3,042,959, up from the 2.9 million who participated in the 2004 presidential election.

The percentage of the 4.2 million registered voters who participated -- about 72 percent -- was not a record.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/11/massachusetts_s_3.html

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California voters on Tuesday appear to have approved Proposition 8, a measure banning same-sex marriage in the state.

California's secretary of state late Tuesday released semi-official results showing Proposition 8 had passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. CNN has not officially called the result one way or the other.

On Wednesday protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles to voice their opposition to the potential ban. And there are at least three legal challenges to it now pending in court.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/06/hostin.qanda/index.html

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China and Taiwan have signed landmark agreements to improve direct trade and transport links, following the highest-level Chinese visit in decades.

The agreements are set to triple the number of weekly direct passenger flights and allow cargo shipments between ports in China and Taiwan.

They also aim to improve the postal service and food safety.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan though they have been separately governed since 1949.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7707566.stm