CA-NEWS Summary

Maduro's contested win creates uncertainty for Venezuela

CARACAS (Reuters) - Late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro, won Venezuela's presidential election by a whisker but now faces opposition protests plus a host of economic and political challenges in the OPEC nation. The 50-year-old former bus driver, whom Chavez named as his preferred heir before dying of cancer, edged out opposition challenger Henrique Capriles with 50.7 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, according to election board returns.

Head of Islamist militia survives attack in eastern Libya

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Gunmen fired at a convoy of cars carrying the head of an Islamist militia in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, injuring one person, residents said on Monday. Sufian al Qumu, head of the Ansar al-Sharia brigade in Derna, known as an Islamist stronghold, escaped unhurt with only slight injuries in the attack which happened in the area of Lathroun, about 30 km (18 miles) from Derna late on Sunday.

North Korea looks inward for founder's birthday, tensions ease

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea celebrated the anniversary of its founder's birth on Monday and abandoned its shrill threats of war against the United States and the South, easing tensions in a region that had seemed on the verge of conflict. The North has threatened nuclear attacks on the United States, South Korea and Japan after new U.N. sanctions were imposed in response to its latest nuclear arms test in February.

Two explosions near finish line of Boston Marathon: witnesses

BOSTON (Reuters) - Two explosions struck the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, witnesses said, injuring an unknown number of people on what is ordinarily a festive day in the city. Police reported at least one explosion and witnesses said there were two, which hit as spectators were cheering on runners finishing the race.

U.N. aid groups say world must act now to save Syria

DUBLIN (Reuters) - World leaders must act urgently to break the diplomatic deadlock around Syria if they want to prevent the crisis from reaching a dangerous tipping point, the heads of the United Nations aid agencies said on Monday in a rare political appeal. If the international community continues to dither the crisis could turn into a humanitarian catastrophe that could scar the region for a generation, one of the leaders said.

Czech PM says opposition seeks cover up of secret communist files

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas accused opposition Social Democrats on Monday of trying to cozy up to the Communists ahead of polls next year by seeking to suppress secret police files that could embarrass the party that ruled for 40 years. The row showed how the central European EU country is still struggling with the legacy of four decades of communism, just as recession and dissatisfaction with mainstream parties raise support for the Communists who are shaking off the pariah status that has dogged them since they were ousted from power in 1989.

U.N. considering deployment of peacekeepers in Mali on July 1

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution to approve the creation of a 12,600-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali starting July 1, which would be able to request the support of French troops if needed to combat Islamist extremist threats. Experts from the 15 Security Council members are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the resolution, drafted by France and obtained by Reuters, which would authorize peacekeepers and French troops to use "all necessary means" to protect civilians and stabilize key cities, especially in Mali's desert north.

Black, Arab rail staff kept away from Peres visit to Paris: union

PARIS (Reuters) - A French union has accused its national railway of keeping black and Arab employees out of sight when Israeli President Shimon Peres visited Paris to avoid him coming into contact with Muslims, and an investigation has been launched. The SNCF state railway concern and the Israeli Embassy denied the accusations.

Somali militants threaten more attacks after killing 30

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali militants linked to al Qaeda warned on Monday of further attacks in the capital, a day after killing at least 30 people in a wave of coordinated bombings and shootings that exposed the fragility of security gains in Mogadishu. African peacekeeping troops blocked streets and searched houses across the city at dawn to flush out suspected members of the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for the strikes.

Bombs kill more than 30 across Iraq before local poll

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Car bombs and blasts in cities across Iraq, including two explosions at a checkpoint outside Baghdad's international airport, killed at least 33 people on Monday days before provincial elections. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmato and other towns to the north to south, but al Qaeda's local wing is waging a campaign against Shi'ites and the government to stoke sectarian confrontation.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-135833356.html

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