WORLD News, Jul 02, 2011

Thailand enters calm before election storm Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:12 PM PDT Reuters - BANGKOK (Reuters) - Political campaigning in Thailand drew to a close on Saturday, taking a day to cool off before an election which could exacerbate the country's six-year-old political crisis just as easily as end it. Full Story1

Uncertainty over Chavez's recovery roils Venezuela Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:06 PM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela was mired in uncertainty on Saturday over how long President Hugo Chavez would take to recover from a cancer operation, despite assurances by allies he will be fit to run for re-election next year. Full Story1

Thaksin's sister shakes up Thai election Fri,1 Jul 2011 09:47 PM PDT Reuters - BANGKOK (Reuters) - With her telegenic good looks and powerful political support, Yingluck Shinawatra has shaken up Thailand's first parliamentary election since a wave of political violence last year. Full Story1

Tibetan writer jailed for 4 years in China: group Fri,1 Jul 2011 09:34 PM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - A Tibetan writer was sentenced to four years in jail last month after helping edit a magazine critical of Chinese policy in the restive region, a Tibetan self-determination advocacy group said. Full Story1

Scenarios: Trouble in store for Thailand after the election? Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:19 PM PDT Reuters - BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand holds a general election on Sunday that might be a step on the road to stability after five years of political turbulence. But it could just as easily prolong the crisis, especially if there is no clear-cut winner. Full Story1

Factbox: How Thailand's election works Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:15 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Thais vote on Sunday in a general election that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hopes will settle a long-running political conflict in the deeply divided country. Full Story1

Factbox: Election promises of Thailand's two main parties Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:15 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - The two main parties contesting Thailand's parliamentary election on Sunday have proposed strikingly similar policies that focus heavily on winning over the rural poor, building up infrastructure and other populist measures. Full Story1

Syrian forces kill 24, protesters tell Assad to go Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:14 PM PDT Reuters - AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces killed 24 civilians on Friday, a prominent rights lawyer said, as tens of thousands of people called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down in some of the biggest demonstrations since a three month uprising. Full Story1

Factbox: Main parties contesting Thailand's election Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:08 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Forty-two parties will contest Sunday's general election in Thailand, with the ruling Democrat Party and opposition Puea Thai Party jostling for first place and others vying for stakes in what is expected to be a coalition government. Full Story1

Rockets push back rebels south of Libyan capital Fri,1 Jul 2011 04:37 PM PDT Reuters - BIR-AYYAD, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan rebels who had advanced to within 80 km (50 miles) of Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital were forced to retreat on Friday after coming under a barrage of rocket fire from government forces. Full Story1

Moroccan king triumphs in reform vote Fri,1 Jul 2011 04:29 PM PDT Reuters - RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's King Mohammed scored a landslide victory in Friday's referendum on a new constitution he proposed to placate "Arab Spring" protests as voters defied critics who said it did little to curb his powers. Full Story1

Strauss-Kahn released from house arrest Fri,1 Jul 2011 03:55 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was released from house arrest on Friday after prosecutors said the hotel maid who accuses him of attempted rape lied to a grand jury and made other false statements. Full Story1

Venezuela gov't, army insist Chavez still in charge Fri,1 Jul 2011 03:34 PM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - Military and civilian allies of Venezuela's convalescent President Hugo Chavez insisted on Friday he was still running the OPEC oil-producing nation despite his prolonged absence in Cuba for the removal of a cancerous tumor. Full Story1

African Union offers to host Libya ceasefire talks Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:40 PM PDT Reuters - MALABO (Reuters) - African Union leaders offered on Friday to host talks between the Libyan government and rebels on a ceasefire and transition to democratic government, but left open whether there was any future role for Muammar Gaddafi. Full Story1

Venezuelans split over what Chavez's cancer means Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:35 PM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - From shantytowns to posh mountainside high-rises, Venezuelans were split on Friday over their country's political prospects after President Hugo Chavez's revelation that he had been treated for cancer. Full Story1

Syrian forces kill 24 civilians in attacks: lawyer Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:03 PM PDT Reuters - AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces killed at least 24 civilians on Friday during pro-democracy protests across Syria and in military assaults on villages in a region bordering Turkey, prominent human rights lawyer Razan Zaitouna said. Full Story1

U.S. sees South Sudan independence set despite violence Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:58 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes South Sudan will split smoothly from the North when it declares independence on July 9 but the two sides face tough economic and security challenges that could threaten further violence, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. Full Story1

Analysis: U.N. faces big challenge as Sudan readies for split Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:38 PM PDT Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - As southern Sudan prepares to secede on July 9, the United Nations is gearing up to become guardian of what will soon be its 193rd member state -- the poor, conflict-ravaged but oil-producing South Sudan. Full Story1

Bashir says army to continue campaign in oil state Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:23 PM PDT Reuters - KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said the army would continue its campaign in the flashpoint of South Korfodan, state news agency SUNA said on Friday, dashing hope of a ceasefire ahead of southern secession. Full Story1

Greece intercepts Gaza-bound American activists Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:04 PM PDT Reuters - ATHENS/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Greece prevented a boat of U.S. activists from sailing on Friday to join a flotilla of pro-Palestinian campaigners planning to challenge Israel's sea blockade of the Gaza Strip. Full Story1

Chavez's account of mystery cancer raises questions Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:18 PM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - Speculation surrounding Hugo Chavez's illness has centered for weeks on prostate cancer, but the Venezuelan leader's own account of his treatment has thrown open the door to other possibilities. Full Story1

Chavez illness a wake-up call for worried Cuba Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:17 PM PDT Reuters - HAVANA (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's admission that he is battling cancer has given Cuba new worries as it ponders the possibility of life without its biggest benefactor. Full Story1

Analysis: Hariri tribunal indictments to widen political strife Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:04 PM PDT Reuters - BEIRUT (Reuters) - Indictments by a U.N.-backed court seeking the killers of statesman Rafik al-Hariri, which Lebanese officials say accuse Hezbollah members, will widen the country's political rift and increase sectarian tension. Full Story1

Analysis: Cancer may curb Chavez micro-management in Venezuela Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:03 PM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - Cancer may force Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to do what neither his allies nor his adversaries could convince him to do in 12 years in office -- limit his speeches and public appearances and stop micro-managing. Full Story1

Whiff of mortality chastens fire 'n brimstone Chavez Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:42 AM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - For years, Venezuela's irrepressible President Hugo Chavez has taunted frustrated opponents with the prospect he will rule into the third decade of this century. Full Story1

Georgia imposes restrictions on public protests Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:24 AM PDT Reuters - TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia's parliament Friday increased restrictions on public protests in response to opposition rallies in May in which two people died. Full Story1

Belarus leader says won't allow veiled protests Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:23 AM PDT Reuters - MINSK (Reuters) - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday he would not tolerate further protests, which have spread in the former Soviet republic as a financial crisis worsens. Full Story1

Venezuela opposition says government lied on Chavez Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:18 AM PDT Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition on Friday accused government leaders of lying about President Hugo Chavez's condition on Friday. Full Story1

Factbox: Venezuela's Chavez latest leader treated for cancer Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:09 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Venezuela's socialist leader Hugo Chavez's disclosure from Cuba that he has cancer shook the country he has long dominated, but he said he would be home "soon". Full Story1

Factbox: Protests in Middle East, North Africa Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:06 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Here are details of some of the protests against governments in the Middle East and North Africa. Full Story1

Nine killed as Syrian protesters tell Assad to go Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:06 AM PDT Reuters - AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces shot dead nine protesters on Friday as tens of thousands of people called on President Bashar to step down in some of the biggest demonstrations since Syria's uprising began in March. Full Story1

Libya's abandoned stockpiles attract smugglers Fri,1 Jul 2011 10:04 AM PDT Reuters - SOUTH OF AJDABIYAH, Libya (Reuters) - Packed to its limit with crates of artillery shells, the once-secret military base in the eastern Libyan desert is now open to anyone looking for an easy way to stock up on free ammunition. Full Story1

Tensions high as Bahrain dialogue looms Fri,1 Jul 2011 09:56 AM PDT Reuters - MANAMA/DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain launches a national dialogue Saturday but many in the Shi'ite majority doubt the ruling Sunni monarchy will offer the concessions that could heal wounds caused by a crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Full Story1

Africa's youth - a threat or opportunity? Fri,1 Jul 2011 08:49 AM PDT Reuters - MALABO (Reuters) - It was a clash of the generations Full Story1

Opposition to Iran's rulers growing: Nobel laureate Fri,1 Jul 2011 08:27 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi believes Iran's rulers will one day be overthrown even though a crackdown there has prevented the kind of uprising seen in the Arab world. Full Story1

Greek coastguard intercepts Gaza ship: activist Fri,1 Jul 2011 08:23 AM PDT Reuters - ATHENS (Reuters) - The Greek coastguard intercepted a boat carrying U.S. activists soon after they set sail from Greece on Friday to join a pro-Palestinian flotilla to Gaza, one of the activists said. Full Story1

Cuba plans limited housing and auto market Fri,1 Jul 2011 08:15 AM PDT Reuters - HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba will authorize limited housing and car markets by 2012, the Communist party newspaper Granma said on Friday, a move awaited by local residents since the early 1960s when home and most auto sales were banned. Full Story1

Afghan general resigns over Pakistan shelling Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:54 AM PDT Reuters - KABUL (Reuters) - A barrage of 40 rockets was fired into eastern Afghanistan from Pakistan on Friday, a senior official said, as the top border police commander for the region offered his resignation over the government's response to weeks of attacks. Full Story1

Thaksin looms large as Thai parties make final campaign push Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:43 AM PDT Reuters - BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai party leaders promised peace and unity at rain-soaked rallies Friday, two days ahead of an election many fear will do the opposite and inflame a sometimes violent, six-year political crisis. Full Story1

Poland takes over EU presidency at time of crisis Fri,1 Jul 2011 06:52 AM PDT Reuters - WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised "energetic engagement" as he took over the rotating presidency of the European Union on Friday and said the 27-country bloc was facing one of its most difficult moments. Full Story1

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