World Watch: Back to the Gulf

* U.S.: One year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill the recovery along the Gulf coast of the U.S. is reportedly slow but promising.

* Libya: Tim Hetherington, an Oscar-nominated film director and war photographer, was killed while covering battles between rebels and pro-Gadhafi forces.

* Syria: President Bashar al-Assad is expected to lift the emergency law that has been in effect since 1963 though it may be insufficient to calm growing antigovernment protests.

* Nigeria: Reelected president Goodluck Jonathan faces a bit of bad luck in that his rival, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will contest last weekend’s electoral results.

Image – Dave Martin/AP via CSMonitor.com (“In this June 12, 2010 file photo, crude oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill is seen inside a wave as it washes ashore in Orange Beach, Ala.”)
Online Sources- Reuters, Voice of America, BBC News, CSMonitor.com

World Watch: Good luck Goodluck

* Nigeria: Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election amid riots in several northern cities.

* Burkina Faso: A jailed student who died under mysterious circumstances in February has served as the catalyst for unrest including a mutiny of disgruntled soldiers.

* Syria: State Department officials denied allegations that the U.S. is trying to undermine the Syrian government by working closely with opposition groups.

* U.S.: Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai may’ve run the fastest recorded marathon in Boston but athletics officials will not certify his run as a new world record.

Image – AP via ABC News (“Nigerian incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan cast his ballot in Otuoke, Nigeria, Saturday, April 16, 2011. Nigerians chose their president in an election Saturday many hoped would show how Africa's most populous nation could hold a credible vote without the violence and rigging that marred previous ones, though children cast ballots and party officials helped others press their inked fingers to paper.”)
Online Sources- Reuters, Voice of America, Al Jazeera English, CNN

World Watch: Panic in the streets of Athens

* Greece: The Greek government signed off on an austerity plan yet at least 50,000 people went on strike and there have been violent protests in Athens.

* Nigeria: Acting president Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as Nigeria’s new leader after his predecessor, Umaru Yar'Adua, died on Wednesday.

* Thailand: Anti-government protests continued in Thailand though a reconciliation deal proposed by the country’s Prime Minister could ease tensions.

* U.S.: The man supposedly behind a failed bomb attack in Times Square has reportedly been cooperating with investigators but has yet to reveal his precise motive.

Image – Guardian UK
Online Sources- BBC News, Guardian UK, Reuters, MSNBC