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• The attempted blockade comes after the main opposition Democrat Party said over the weekend it will boycott the vote, which Yingluck's ruling party would likely win.
• Officials from her party and eight others managed to sign up for the election by slipping into the stadium in the middle of the night, despite the presence of some protesters who had camped out overnight, the Election Commission said.
• "We were aware that protesters would be blocking all entrances, so we went into the stadium at 4:00 a.m. while they were sleeping," said Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. "Despite all this, the elections will continue as planned on Feb. 2."
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Military pension cuts now uncertain, but future changes to troop pay, benefits likely
• WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon's top civilian says it's time to tame burgeoning military personnel costs, but he's facing a test of wills with the nation's powerful veterans groups, which want no cut in their benefits.
• Veterans groups are fighting curbs in annual pension increases for military retirees under age 62 that are part of the new budget deal passed by Congress last week and awaiting President Barack Obama's signature. After a barrage of protests from the military community, lawmakers said they'll review the cut next year and possibly reverse it. But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that reform of military compensation can't be avoided.
• "We all know that we need to slow cost growth in military compensation," Hagel told a Pentagon press conference. "We know that many proposals will be controversial and unpopular. ... Tough decisions will have to be made."
• Retirees want the belt-tightening done elsewhere.
• Here's a look at what members of the U.S. armed forces get now and the debate:
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Pussy Riot members released from prison following amnesty
• KRASNOYARSK, Russia (AP) -- The third member of the Russian punk bank Pussy Riot has been released from custody following an amnesty law passed by parliament.
• Nadezhda Tolokonnikova left the prison colony in the eastern Siberian city Krasnoyarsk on Monday, hours after another band member, Maria Alekhina, was released in another region.
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