AFP 0500 GMT News Advisory

Duty Editor: Preeti Jha Tel: +852 2829 6211

-- TOP STORIES --

+ China president calls for 'great renaissance'

+ Cyprus president defends painful bailout

+ Pope Francis holds first prayer address

+ Zimbabwe vote count after constitution poll

China-politics-Congress,2ndlead-WRAP

BEIJING

China's newly-installed President Xi Jinping says he will fight for a "great renaissance of the Chinese nation", as the world's most populous country finally completes its once-a-decade power transition.

750 words 0630 GMT by Tom Hancock. Picture. Video

Cyprus-economy-EU-finance,lead

NICOSIA

The Cyprus parliament is to hold an extraordinary session as the government aims to push through legislation on a painful EU bailout to save the island from bankruptcy.

600 words 0800 GMT

Also moved: EU-finance-public-debt-Cyprus,lead-SCENE

Vatican-religion-pope,WRAP

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis begins his papacy in earnest ahead of his formal inauguration mass, with a weekly prayer address used by previous pontiffs to comment on international affairs.

700 words 0830 GMT by Gina Doggett. Graphic. Picture. Video

Also moved: Vatican-religion-pope-media,FOCUS

Zimbabwe-vote,lead-WRAP

HARARE

Zimbabwe tallies ballots from a referendum on a new constitution that would slash long entrenched presidential powers and set the country on a path to elections to end a long running crisis.

650 words 0730 GMT by Susan Njanji-Matetakufa. Picture. Video

Also moved: Zimbabwe-vote-factfile,FACTS

Zimbabwe-vote-unrest-timeline,CHRONO

-- ASIA --

Pakistan-unrest-vote-government,FOCUS

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan's parliament has become the first in history to complete a full term in office, but a raft of key achievements have been overshadowed by mismanagement, economic decline and worsening security.

800 words moved by Sami Zubeiri. Picture. Video

Environment-wildlife-species-sharks-CITES-HongKong,FOCUS

HONG KONG

A conservation victory restricting global trade in more shark species will take a fresh bite at Hong Kong's market in fins, which has already been hit hard by persistent attacks from anti-fin campaigners.

700 words moved by Beh Lih Yi. Graphic. File picture

-- AMERICAS --

US-politics-conservatives,newseries

OXON HILL, Maryland

US conservative activists pick Tea Party favorite Senator Rand Paul as their choice to become the 2016 Republican presidential nominee as they wrap up a major strategy gathering outside Washington.

600 words 0545 GMT

Venezuela-politics-Chavez-march,lead

CARACAS

Thousands of emotional supporters wait and weep after making a pilgrimage to the new tomb of former president Hugo Chavez, the face and leader of Latin America's left for over a decade.

600 words 0545 GMT

US-diplomacy-Obama-Israel

WASHINGTON

US President Barack Obama will effectively begin to build the global legacy he will leave behind on the first foreign trip of his second term next week to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.

800 words moved by Stephen Collinson

Iraq-war-10years-US-legacy,ANALYSIS

WASHINGTON

The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on, the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before.

700 words moved by Arthur MacMillan. Graphic. Picture. Video

Also moved: Iraq-war-10years-US-military,SCENE

Iraq-war-10years-players,PROFILE

-- EUROPE --

Ireland-economy-tourism-festival

DUBLIN

As millions of green-clad revellers raise their glasses across the globe to mark St Patrick's Day, Ireland has high hopes that the festivities will bring a much-needed boost to the economy at home.

650 words moved by Conor Barrins. Picture

Britain-media-politics

LONDON

British MPs are set to take a crunch vote Monday on press regulation, with Prime Minister David Cameron bringing the issue to a head after cross-party talks broke down.

500 words 0530 GMT 

-- MIDDLE EAST --

Israel-politics-government,newseries

JERUSALEM

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu formally notifies President Shimon Peres that after 40 days of tortuous negotiations he has formed a new government and ensured himself a third term as prime minister.

600 words moved by Steve Weizman. Graphic

Also moved: Israel-vote-Netanyahu,PROFILE

Israel-vote-government-Lapid

-- AFRICA --

Kenya-vote,WRAP

NAIROBI

Outgoing Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga lodges a formal legal challenge over the outcome of presidential elections that saw him defeated by his rival Uhuru Kenyatta.

600 words moved by Helen Vesperini. Picture. Video

afp

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130317/afp-0500-gmt-news-advisory