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It's 15: 00 Universal Time, and here is the news from the Voice of America. I'm David Deforest from the VOA news center in Washington.

Thailand's ruling generals are tightening controls over the media following a bloodless coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra two days ago. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Bangkok has more.

Coup leaders say they will announce new restrictions on the media, including limits on expressions of public opinion. Kavi Chongkittavorn, the assistant editor for one of Thailand's English language newspapers, the Nation, says so far his paper's been able to publish without restrictions, but he is concerned about the future.

"I think if they really censor, that will be very bad and I will canal and fight for it, I don't think that is correct."

It is unknown exactly what the restrictions will be and if they will apply to all media outlets, including the Internet. Some local television stations have been showing instant text messages from viewers, expressing their opinions on Tuesday's military takeover. Also on Thursday, the military leadership banned political parties from holding meetings and barred the creation of new parties. Nancy-Amelia Collins, VOA news, Bangkok.

Hungary's main opposition party has called off a planned rally in Budapest because of security concerns after three nights of anti-government rioting in the capital. Speaking today, a spokesman for the opposition party said the rally set for Saturday was being postponed because it is feared the rioting could escalate. Thousands of protestors seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany took to the streets of Budapest this week after he admitted lying repeatedly to voters about the economy. Mr. Gyurcsany has refused to quit.

The head of the US space agency, NASA, has pronounced the now complete mission of the space shuttle Atlantis a great success. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told reporters the International Space Station is now halfway complete. Yet he added he believes it will be finished on schedule. Atlantis made a pre-dawn landing today at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Iraqi forces have formally assumed responsibility for security in southern Dhi Qar province, the second of 18 Iraqi provinces to pass to local control. Iraqi forces took over today from the Italian contingent of the Multi-National Force. In a statement, the US ambassador to Iraq called the transfer an important milestone toward a stable Iraq. There have been more bombings and killings throughout Iraq today. In Baghdad, gunmen attacked a police station in the city's Mansur district. Six police officers were killed and one was wounded. And the US military is reporting an American soldier was killed in a roadside bombing in the capital.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has had a second chance to express his foreign policy views in New York City. The Iranian president barred by the State Department from traveling outside the city during the UN General Assembly accepted an invitation to answer questions from members of a prestigious New York think-tank. The New York Times, which reported Wednesday's meeting with members of the Council of Foreign Relations, said Mr. Ahmadinejad again questioned the Holocaust whether it really happened. And he ridiculed the demand by major powers that Iran give up enriching uranium.

A military court in Jordan has sentenced an Iraqi woman to death for trying to carry out a suicide bombing in an Amman hotel last November. Six other people were sentenced in absentia. VOA correspondent Challiss McDonough has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

Under tight security, a three-judge panel sentenced Sajida al-Rishawi and six others to death by hanging. They were convicted of conspiracy to carry out a terrorist attack causing death and destruction and of illegal possession of explosives. Al-Rishawi is the only one of the defendants currently in custody. The others including another Iraqi woman were tried and convicted in absentia. Wearing a black headscarf and blue prison dress, Al-Rishawi showed little emotion as the judgment was read out. Her defense lawyer Hussein al-Masri said his client was not surprised by the death sentence. He says the verdict can be appealed and then expresses his confidence that the appeals court will study the case carefully and make a fair decision. The simultaneous suicide bombings killed some 60 people in three Amman hotels last year. All of the bombers were Iraqi. Challiss McDonough, VOA news, Cairo.

Taking a brief look at market activity at this hour. On Wall Street, US stock indexes are higher, Asia-Pacific markets ended mostly higher today.
I'm David Deforest, VOA news. More news on the Internet at VOANews.com.