This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Syria security forces try to head off Friday’s protests

The protests following Friday’s midday prayers in Syria have been growing larger every week, even as Syria’s government launches bloodier and more brutal attacks on protesters. Security forces are setting up roadblocks in Damascus and other cities to prevent the spread of protests on Friday. LA Times

According to Syrian government-controlled Sana news service, Syria’s security forces “have continued today their hunting for armed terrorist groups, an official army source declared Monday evening.” The result is that the security forces “have caused satisfaction to the citizens, who started to feel the restoration of security, and serenity to Daraa.” Day Press (Syria)

Portugal is promised a €78 billion bailout

It used to be an “insult” to Portugal to suggest that it might need a bailout, but on Wednesday, Portugal became the third EU country, after Greece and Ireland, to be promised a bailout. The amount is a €78 billion ($116 billion), but the interest rate is being kept secret for now. Interim prime minister Jose Sócrates said that the bailout was a “good deal,” and that Portugal had received “better terms” than Ireland or Greece. Sócrates said that the terms imposed by the IMF wouldn’t be painful at all, but a BBC reporter said that Portugal would face huge austerity measures later this year. The bailout still needs approval from the EU and from Portugal’s opposition parties. Irish Independent

International Criminal Court will seek war crime charges against Libyans

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced Wednesday that the ICC will seek the arrest of three individuals for crimes against humanity in Libya. The crimes involve systematic arrests, torture, killings and forced disappearances. VOA

Vietnam: Ethnic Hmong people hold autonomy protest

Vietnam

Thousands of ethnic Hmong people in Vietnam are holding a protest calling for autonomy, in the remote Dien Bien province. The demands of the protesting Hmong – who are mostly Christians – include more religious freedom, better land rights and more autonomy. The BBC report calls it a “rare protest,” but Vietnam is still in a generational Awakening era, when protests are expected to increase. BBC

Russian scholars discuss the disintegration of Russia into independent states

With Russia’s population continuing to fall, Russian analysts are increasingly considering “Russia’s disintegration into regional principalities, khalifates, republics and confederations.” The most disturbing proposals are “the separation of Siberia from European Russia and a split along the Volga-Urals line.” The North Caucausus will likely leave as soon as “the river of [aid] money from Moscow runs out.” The most likely scenario will be the “Kosovo scenario,” with “local referend[a], unilateral declaration[s] of independence, [and] recognition of sovereignty by the key powers, the US, China and the European Union.” Paul Goble

More political prisoners and more torture in North Korea

Firteen former inmates and prison guards in North Korean prisons have testfied to Amnesty International of horrific torture. Prisons occupy an ever-growing number of vast wilderness sites, and house 200,000 or more prisoners. CNN