| Demonstrators disregard Thai poll, vow march to oust PM Posted: 02 Feb 2014 01:37 PM PST  By Martin Petty and Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai anti-government protesters planned to forge ahead on Monday with efforts to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a day after a disrupted election that is unlikely to settle the country's long-running political conflict. The demonstrators blocked balloting in a fifth of the country's constituencies and say Yingluck must resign and make way for an appointed "people's council" to overhaul a political system they say has been taken hostage by her billionaire brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra. Sunday's election, which the main opposition party boycotted, is almost certain to return Yingluck to power and with voting passing off peacefully across the north and northeast, Yingluck's supporters will no doubt claim a legitimate mandate. But the vote is unlikely to change the dysfunctional status quo in a country popular among tourists and investors yet blighted by eight years of polarization and turmoil, pitting the Bangkok-based middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly poor, rural supporters of the Shinawatras.
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| Three explosions rock Yemeni capital Sanaa Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:28 PM PST  Three large explosions were heard in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Sunday, close to the defense ministry, the central bank and the former president's home, locals told Reuters. Residents added that the third explosion occurred near former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's house which is also within close proximity to the French embassy. In December last year, a suicide bomb and gun attack near the defense ministry killed 52 people.
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| Ukraine frees tortured activist as president returns to work Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:07 PM PST  By Alastair Macdonald and Jack Stubbs KIEV (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government bowed to intense Western pressure on Sunday to let an opposition activist fly abroad for treatment after his abduction, torture and then attempted arrest by police outraged critics of President Viktor Yanukovich. The embattled head of state, caught in a tug of war between Russia and the West and facing mass protests that have prompted fears of civil war, announced he would return from four days of sick leave on Monday. Either way, he is under scrutiny from the European Union and United States, who want him to compromise, and from Moscow, which is holding back much needed financing until he names a new government following last week's departure of his prime minister in a concession that failed to appease the protesters. Dmytro Bulatov, 35, whose bloodied face and account of being "crucified" during a week in the hands of mysterious kidnappers has dominated opposition media since Friday, flew to EU state Lithuania.
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| El Salvador ex-rebel faces gang-fighting conservative in vote Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:34 PM PST  By Nelson Renteria and Anahi Rama SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - A former left-wing guerrilla commander faced-off against a conservative rival who wants to send the army in to fight powerful street gangs in El Salvador's presidential election on Sunday. Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a rebel commander who became a top leader of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) during El Salvador's civil war, went into the election with a solid lead over Norman Quijano, who stepped down as the mayor of San Salvador, the capital, to run, polls showed. But with three main candidates competing, Sanchez Ceren was widely expected to fall short of the more than 50 percent support needed to win outright.
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| Pakistan's privatization tsar embarks on quest to revive economy Posted: 02 Feb 2014 01:09 PM PST  By Mehreen Zahra-Malik ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Mohammad Zubair was on a cruise dinner with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Thailand when he was offered the hardest job of his life: privatizing a huge chunk of the economy while fighting resistance from the opposition and trade unions. Three privatization ministers have gone to jail and most have corruption cases hanging over their heads," he said. "Don't take this job." But Pakistan's new privatization tsar is determined to find buyers for 68 public companies, most of them loss-making, including two gas companies, an oil company, about 10 banks, the national airline and power distribution companies - all within the next two years. The government sees the sell-offs as a life saver for Pakistan's $225 billion economy crippled by power shortages, corruption and militant violence.
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| Sri Lanka rejects 'reckless' U.S. criticism of its rights record Posted: 02 Feb 2014 12:27 PM PST  By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka rejected U.S. criticism of its human rights record as "grossly disproportionate" on Sunday, a day after a senior U.S. official said Washington would table a U.N. resolution against Colombo. Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal expressed frustration on Saturday over Sri Lanka's failure to punish military personnel responsible for atrocities in a civil war that the government won in 2009 against separatist Tamil rebels. Biswal, speaking in Colombo after a two-day visit, said the United States would table a third U.N. human rights resolution against Sri Lanka in March to address the war crimes allegations as its human rights climate has been worsening.
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| Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 02 Feb 2014 05:02 PM PST BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand held nationwide elections without bloodshed Sunday despite widespread fears of violence. But the country's bitter political crisis is far from over, and one of the next flash points is likely to be an effort to nullify the vote. Although balloting was largely peaceful, protesters forced thousands of polling booths to close in Bangkok and the south, disenfranchising millions of registered voters. Not all Parliament seats will be filled as a result, meaning the nation could stay mired in political limbo for months with the winning party unable to form a new government. |
| Scandals, inequality loom large as Costa Rica votes for leader Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:56 PM PST  By Alexandra Alper and Zach Dyer SAN JOSE (Reuters) - The front-runner from the centrist ruling party in Costa Rica's Sunday presidential election tried to fend off a surge by his leftist rival fueled by public anger over corruption scandals and rising inequality. Governing National Liberation Party hopeful Johnny Araya led polls on his promise to reduce poverty, and sought to distance himself from President Laura Chinchilla's scandal-plagued government while painting rivals as radicals. But voter anger over government corruption has buoyed a challenge from left-wing lawmaker Jose Maria Villalta, who also promised to tackle inequality in the coffee-producing nation. We favor the center and that's the best option for Costa Rica," said David Perez, 21, who works for a family business.
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| Murray lifts Britain into Davis Cup quarter-finals Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:50 PM PST  Andy Murray beat Sam Querrey in four sets Sunday to send Great Britain into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1986. Britain had seized a commanding 2-0 lead on the opening day on Friday as 175th-ranked James Ward pulled off a remarkable comeback win over Querrey. Ward won 10 of the last 11 games to grab the five-set triumph, after Murray had crushed Davis Cup newcomer Donald Young in straight sets. The formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan had kept the Americans alive with a doubles victory over Colin Fleming and Dominic Inglot on Saturday.
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| El Salvador ex-rebel has strong early vote lead, could face run-off Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:44 PM PST SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - A former left-wing guerrilla commander took a strong early lead in El Salvador's presidential vote on Sunday over a conservative rival who wants to send the army in to fight powerful street gangs, but could face a run-off, early results showed. Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a rebel commander who became a top leader of the now-ruling leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) during El Salvador's civil war, had 49.23 percent of the vote with about 12 percent of polling booths counted. Right-leaning former San Salvador mayor Norman Quijano had 38.74 percent. ... |
| Explosion and mortar fire near French embassy in Yemen Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:40 PM PST  A mortar shell was fired overnight in the direction of the French embassy in Yemen, while a car bomb exploded metres away in Sanaa's diplomatic quarter, a police source said Monday. "The shell landed about thirty metres (yards) from the wall of the French embassy," while the car "was parked halfway between the embassy and the residence of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in the capital's diplomatic district of Hadda, the same source said. Such violent acts have increased in Yemen where Shiite Huthi rebels have been pushing out from the mountains of the far north to areas closer to Sanaa to expand their hoped-for autonomous unit in a promised federal Yemen.
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| Murray beats Querrey; Brits top US in Davis Cup Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:37 PM PST  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Less than five months after having back surgery, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray propelled Britain into the next round of the Davis Cup and earned some time off.
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| El Salvador, Costa Rica electing new presidents Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:02 PM PST  SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Two Central American nations held presidential elections Sunday seen as referendums on political stagnation, with voters in Costa Rica deciding whether to oust a long-governing party and voters in El Salvador deciding whether to bring one back to power.
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| Ashley Giles to seek England coaching job Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:59 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — England limited overs coach Ashley Giles says he will apply for the test coaching role left vacant by the removal of Andy Flowers. |
| Sporting held 0-0 by Academica to stay 2nd Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:57 PM PST  LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Sporting Lisbon was held to a 0-0 draw by Academica at home on Sunday, missing a chance to join Benfica at the top of the Portuguese league standings.
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| Warne to 'think about' England coaching job Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:46 PM PST  Australian bowling great Shane Warne, so often the cause of England's demise, offered Monday to think about reviving the old enemy as the country's next coach. As England players flew home in the early hours following a final defeat in Sydney, Warne took to Twitter in answer to calls for him to apply for the role. "To my English followers, I'm flattered that you would like me to consider the England job," Warne tweeted. Cricket Australia said Warne would support head coach Darren Lehmann, providing specialist training for the squad's spinners.
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| Atletico goes top in Spain for 1st time since '96 Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:33 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid took full advantage of Barcelona's rare slip-up as it pummeled Real Sociedad 4-0 on Sunday to take sole possession of the lead in the Spanish league for the first time this season.
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| Injured militant leaves Ukraine after Western pressure Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:22 PM PST  A Ukrainian protester whose account of torture has shocked Europe arrived in Vilnius late Sunday, hours after a Kiev court ruled that he could leave the country for treatment. Dmytro Bulatov left Ukraine following intense pressure by Western leaders after he appeared on television, his face swollen and caked in blood, and said he had been kidnapped and tortured over his role in protests that have rocked the country. Bulatov is a leader of the "Automaidan" movement, which has organised protest motorcades outside President Viktor Yanukovych's sprawling country estate near Kiev and has been targeted by police. "They crucified me, nailed me, cut my ear off, cut my face," Bulatov said on Channel 5 television shortly after his release in his only public comments so far.
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| Norwegians Bjoergen, Hattestad win WC sprints Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:19 PM PST  TOBLACH, Italy (AP) — Marit Bjoergen of Norway picked up her second World Cup win of the weekend as she triumphed in the women's freestyle sprint in Toblach on Sunday, while compatriot Ola Vigen Hattestad was victorious in the men's event.
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| Juventus beats bitter rival Inter Milan 3-1 Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:17 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — Juventus eased to a comfortable 3-1 win over bitter rival Inter Milan in the Italian league on Sunday to extend its lead at the top of the table to nine points.
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| Ukrainian president to end sick leave Monday Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:05 PM PST  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's president will return Monday from a short sick leave that had sparked a guessing game he was taking himself out of action in preparation to step down or for a crackdown on widespread anti-government protests.
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| In presidential vote, El Salvador picks between right and left Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:53 PM PST  Voters in El Salvador headed to the polls on Sunday for elections to decide whether the poverty-stricken country will keep its leftist government in power or return to conservative rule. This small but densely populated Central American country of six million is plagued by brazen gang violence and still burdened by the legacy of its bitter 1979-1992 civil war. Amid tight security, some 4.9 million voters were called to choose a successor to President Mauricio Funes of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). The top contender is Funes's vice president, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a former civil war guerrilla commander who on Sunday promised an inclusive government if he wins.
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| Clinton warns new Iran sanctions could upend talks Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:50 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is warning Congress that new unilateral sanctions against Iran could upend sensitive international negotiations over its nuclear development, imploring lawmakers to work with the Obama administration in presenting a unified front to Tehran. |
| Opposition calls for aid, 'tortured' militant quits Ukraine Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:46 PM PST  Ukraine's opposition on Sunday appealed for the first time for Western aid and mediation to end a deadly crisis and a protester whose account of torture has sparked international outrage flew out of the country for treatment. Dmytro Bulatov left Ukraine just hours after a Kiev court authorised his departure despite a criminal case still hanging over him for helping to organise a wave of protests against President Viktor Yanukovych. The 35-year-old activist, who has said he was seized and held by captors who cut off his ear and drove nails through his hands, flew into Vilnius where he will receive medical treatment. With still no end in sight to the crisis, the president's office meanwhile said the 63-year-old Yanukovych was due to return to work on Monday following four days off sick with an "acute respiratory infection".
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| Puerto Rico comedian Luis Raul Martinez dies at 51 Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:35 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rican comedian and actor Luis Raul Martinez has died at age 51 in his Caribbean homeland. |
| Nice stuns Lille 1-0 in French League Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:32 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Lille extended its winless streak in the French league to five games by losing 1-0 at Nice on Sunday. |
| World Food Program can't meet demand in Syria Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:05 PM PST CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Aid agencies have been overwhelmed by demand for food in Syria, with thousands surviving without a regular supply of nourishment for more than a year because of civil war in the Middle Eastern country, a United Nations official said. |
| Atletico routs Sociedad 4-0 to go top in Spain Posted: 02 Feb 2014 02:01 PM PST MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid took full advantage of Barcelona's rare slip-up as it pummeled Real Sociedad 4-0 on Sunday to take sole possession of the lead in the Spanish league for the first time this season. |
| South African opposition deal collapses Posted: 02 Feb 2014 01:58 PM PST  South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Sunday announced the collapse of a deal to have former anti-apartheid stalwart Mamphela Ramphele stand as its presidential candidate in upcoming elections against the ruling ANC. It would have been the first time that the DA had fielded a black presidential candidate in an election, providing a shield against persistent charges they are a vessel for white interests. Ramphele -- the partner of slain South African hero Steve Biko -- would have faced beleaguered incumbent President Jacob Zuma.
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| Olympiakos beats Panetolikos 2-1 in Greek league Posted: 02 Feb 2014 01:35 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Michael Olaitan scored in the 26th minute and Joel Campbell added a penalty in the 71st to lead Olympiakos to a 2-1 victory over Panetolikos in the Greek league Sunday. |
