INTERNATIONAL
Thai coup leader endorsed by king
Thailand's king has endorsed coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister, a few days after he was elected by his own hand-picked parliament, paving the way for the formation of an interim government. Approval from King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 25th August is a formality, and the formation of an interim government will follow in the coming weeks, although power will remain firmly in the military government's hands.
Back ground
Prayuth led a May 22 coup, which the military said was necessary to avoid further bloodshed, after months of turbulence pitting protesters, including the urban elite and southern Thais, against supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Prayuth, who is due to retire as army chief in September, moved quickly to silence dissent and deployed troops to quell protests in the weeks after the coup. The military government, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order, has tried to project a positive story and has pointed to modest improvements in the economy and consumer confidence since the takeover.
Events of 2013-14
Thailand's king has endorsed coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister, a few days after he was elected by his own hand-picked parliament, paving the way for the formation of an interim government. Approval from King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 25th August is a formality, and the formation of an interim government will follow in the coming weeks, although power will remain firmly in the military government's hands.
Back ground
Prayuth led a May 22 coup, which the military said was necessary to avoid further bloodshed, after months of turbulence pitting protesters, including the urban elite and southern Thais, against supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Prayuth, who is due to retire as army chief in September, moved quickly to silence dissent and deployed troops to quell protests in the weeks after the coup. The military government, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order, has tried to project a positive story and has pointed to modest improvements in the economy and consumer confidence since the takeover.
Events of 2013-14
In 2013–14 in Thailand the political crisis was
in chaos and a period of political instability in Thailand
Anti-government protests took place between
November 2013 and May 2014, organised by the People's Democratic Reform
Committee (PDRC), a political pressure group set up and led by former Democrat
Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban.
The protests eventually resulted in the removal
of the then incumbent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a coup d'état and the
establishment of a military junta.
Protesters viewed Thaksin as highly corrupt and
damaging to Thailand's democracy
Other issues, such as the royal succession, a
rural-urban or north-south divide, social inequality, over-centralised
bureaucracy, royal and military influence in politics and middle-class status
have also been seen as factors behind the crisis by analysts and commentators.
On 8 December 2013, all 153 opposition Democrat
Party MPs resigned and Yingluck dissolved the House of Representatives, calling
a snap general election for 2 February.
Voting was disrupted in areas of Bangkok and
Southern Thailand by PDRC protesters blocking entry to polling stations, leading
to an annulment of the result by the Constitutional Court.
Yingluck and 9 ministers were removed from
office by the Constitutional Court on 7 May 2014 over the controversial
transfer of a senior security officer in 2011.
Islamic state in Northern Nigeria
Militant group Boko Haram has said that it has set up an Islamic state in the towns and villages it has seized in north-eastern Nigeria.
Nigeria's army has rejected the claim as "empty". Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, since 2009 when Boko Haram began its insurgency. Gwoza, which had 265,000 residents in the last census, is the biggest town under Boko Haram control.
About Boko Haram
Militant group Boko Haram has said that it has set up an Islamic state in the towns and villages it has seized in north-eastern Nigeria.
Nigeria's army has rejected the claim as "empty". Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, since 2009 when Boko Haram began its insurgency. Gwoza, which had 265,000 residents in the last census, is the biggest town under Boko Haram control.
About Boko Haram
Founded in 2002
Initially focused on opposing Western education
- Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa
language
Launched military operations in 2009 to create
an Islamic state
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern
Nigeria - but also attacks on police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
Some three million people affected
Declared terrorist group by US in 2013
Gaza ceasefire deal reached
Hamas declared an indefinite ceasefire in Gaza on 26th August. Talks were conducted in Cairo, through Egyptian mediators, who had produced a truce with Israel. An agreement has been reached between the two sides
The reports of a possible breakthrough came after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt joined Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, to urge both sides to agree an immediate and indefinite ceasefire to pave the way for a long-term deal.
Earlier, Israel took its military assault on Gaza to the territory's urban middle classes, bombing two high-rise apartment blocks on 26th August. The strikes obliterated the 15-storey Basha Towers in Gaza City and badly damaged the Italian Complex, housing shops and offices. Prior warning was given and no-one was killed, but 40 people were wounded. In Gaza, 2,137 Palestinians have been killed, including 536 children under the age of 18.
What is a Cease fire?
A ceasefire (or truce) is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces. An armistice is a formal agreement to end fighting.
Hamas declared an indefinite ceasefire in Gaza on 26th August. Talks were conducted in Cairo, through Egyptian mediators, who had produced a truce with Israel. An agreement has been reached between the two sides
The reports of a possible breakthrough came after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt joined Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, to urge both sides to agree an immediate and indefinite ceasefire to pave the way for a long-term deal.
Earlier, Israel took its military assault on Gaza to the territory's urban middle classes, bombing two high-rise apartment blocks on 26th August. The strikes obliterated the 15-storey Basha Towers in Gaza City and badly damaged the Italian Complex, housing shops and offices. Prior warning was given and no-one was killed, but 40 people were wounded. In Gaza, 2,137 Palestinians have been killed, including 536 children under the age of 18.
What is a Cease fire?
A ceasefire (or truce) is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces. An armistice is a formal agreement to end fighting.
Putin meets Ukraine president
The presidents of Russia and Ukraine sat down for talks on 26th August, meeting face-to-face for the first time since June on the fighting that has engulfed Ukraine's separatist east. Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko were joined by the presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan and three senior officials from the European Union in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
The meeting came as Ukraine said its forces had captured 10 Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine and the shelling spread to a new front in the far southeast. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of supporting and arming the rebels, which Russia denies daily.
Under pressure to seek a negotiated settlement and not a military victory, the Ukrainian president said the purpose of his visit was to start the process of searching for a political compromise and promised that the interests of Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine would be taken into account.
Putin devoted most of his opening remarks to trade, arguing that Ukraine's decision to sign an association agreement with the EU would lead to huge losses for Russia, which would then be forced to protect its economy. Russia had been counting on Ukraine joining a rival economic union that it is forming with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Ukraine is set to ratify the EU association agreement in September. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged both sides to "discard political ambitions and not to seek political dividend."
The presidents of Russia and Ukraine sat down for talks on 26th August, meeting face-to-face for the first time since June on the fighting that has engulfed Ukraine's separatist east. Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko were joined by the presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan and three senior officials from the European Union in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
The meeting came as Ukraine said its forces had captured 10 Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine and the shelling spread to a new front in the far southeast. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of supporting and arming the rebels, which Russia denies daily.
Under pressure to seek a negotiated settlement and not a military victory, the Ukrainian president said the purpose of his visit was to start the process of searching for a political compromise and promised that the interests of Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine would be taken into account.
Putin devoted most of his opening remarks to trade, arguing that Ukraine's decision to sign an association agreement with the EU would lead to huge losses for Russia, which would then be forced to protect its economy. Russia had been counting on Ukraine joining a rival economic union that it is forming with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Ukraine is set to ratify the EU association agreement in September. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko urged both sides to "discard political ambitions and not to seek political dividend."
Ukraine dissolves parliament, sets elections
for October
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dissolved Parliament and set early elections for October 26. The dissolution of parliament fulfilled one of Poroshenko’s campaign promises in the May presidential election. Surveys have shown 80 per cent of Ukrainians in support of early elections.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dissolved Parliament and set early elections for October 26. The dissolution of parliament fulfilled one of Poroshenko’s campaign promises in the May presidential election. Surveys have shown 80 per cent of Ukrainians in support of early elections.
Disasters caused $41 billion losses in first
half of 2014: Swiss firm
Worldwide insured losses from disasters totaled about $21 billion in the first half of 2014, down from $25 billion in the comparable period last year and lower than the 10-year average for first-half losses of $27 billion, according to a report by Swiss Re Ltd. released on 27th August. Economic losses from disasters in the first half of 2014 were $41 billion
According to the report…
Worldwide insured losses from disasters totaled about $21 billion in the first half of 2014, down from $25 billion in the comparable period last year and lower than the 10-year average for first-half losses of $27 billion, according to a report by Swiss Re Ltd. released on 27th August. Economic losses from disasters in the first half of 2014 were $41 billion
According to the report…
$19 billion of the overall insured losses in
the first half of 2014 came from natural catastrophe events, compared with $21
billion in the first six months of 2013.
The most costly insured disaster in the first
half of 2014 was an event with severe thunderstorms and hail in the United
States in May that caused insured losses of $2.6 billion.
Windstorm Ela, which hit parts of Belgium,
France and Germany in June, resulted in insured losses of $2.5 billion,
according to the study, while a snowstorm in Japan in February also resulted in
insured losses of $2.5 billion.
Snowstorms and prolonged cold temperatures in
the eastern and southern United States in January caused $1.7 billion in
insured losses, while thunderstorms and tornadoes in the United States in May
caused insured losses of $1.1 billion.
Libya’s interim government resigned
Abdullah al-Thani has stepped down as Libya’s prime minister in a move to end the power struggle in the country. The cabinet said it was resigning to enable the elected parliament to choose a new, inclusive government.
In its resignation statement the Thani government said it hoped parliament, which it described as “the only legitimate authority in the country”, would form a new government “representing all Libyan people... and capable of re-establishing security and building a lawful state”. That will also be the wish of the international community which has become increasingly concerned at the chaotic situation in Libya
Back ground
The 2014 Libyan conflict is an ongoing civil war, mainly between Islamist forces and their opponents. At the beginning of 2014, Libya was governed by the General National Congress (GNC). Islamists had controlled the assembly since having Nouri Abusahmain elected president of the GNC in June 2013. He was accused by the opposition of having abused his powers to suppress debates and inquiries. The GNC voted to enforce sharia law in December 2013[18] and failed to stand down at the end of its electoral mandate in January 2014, unilaterally extending its power. On 14 February 2014, General Khalifa Haftar ordered the GNC to dissolve and called for the formation of a caretaker government committee to oversee new elections. The GNC ignored his demands.
The conflict began two months later, on 16 May 2014, when forces loyal to General Haftar launched a large scale air and ground offensive codenamed Operation Dignity against Islamist armed groups in Benghazi. Two days later, Haftar's forces tried to dissolve the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli. The conflict prevented the GNC from blocking new elections on 25 June 2014. These elections appointed the Council of Deputies to replace the GNC. In these elections, Islamists suffered an overwhelming electoral defeat. The conflict escalated on 13 July when Islamists, reacting to the landslide electoral defeat of Islamist politicians, launched Operation Libya Dawn to seize Tripoli International Airport, finally capturing it on 23 August after forty-one days of fighting.
On 25 August, former members of the GNC who were not re-elected in 2014 reconvened and voted that they would replace the newly elected Council of Deputies.
Abdullah al-Thani has stepped down as Libya’s prime minister in a move to end the power struggle in the country. The cabinet said it was resigning to enable the elected parliament to choose a new, inclusive government.
In its resignation statement the Thani government said it hoped parliament, which it described as “the only legitimate authority in the country”, would form a new government “representing all Libyan people... and capable of re-establishing security and building a lawful state”. That will also be the wish of the international community which has become increasingly concerned at the chaotic situation in Libya
Back ground
The 2014 Libyan conflict is an ongoing civil war, mainly between Islamist forces and their opponents. At the beginning of 2014, Libya was governed by the General National Congress (GNC). Islamists had controlled the assembly since having Nouri Abusahmain elected president of the GNC in June 2013. He was accused by the opposition of having abused his powers to suppress debates and inquiries. The GNC voted to enforce sharia law in December 2013[18] and failed to stand down at the end of its electoral mandate in January 2014, unilaterally extending its power. On 14 February 2014, General Khalifa Haftar ordered the GNC to dissolve and called for the formation of a caretaker government committee to oversee new elections. The GNC ignored his demands.
The conflict began two months later, on 16 May 2014, when forces loyal to General Haftar launched a large scale air and ground offensive codenamed Operation Dignity against Islamist armed groups in Benghazi. Two days later, Haftar's forces tried to dissolve the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli. The conflict prevented the GNC from blocking new elections on 25 June 2014. These elections appointed the Council of Deputies to replace the GNC. In these elections, Islamists suffered an overwhelming electoral defeat. The conflict escalated on 13 July when Islamists, reacting to the landslide electoral defeat of Islamist politicians, launched Operation Libya Dawn to seize Tripoli International Airport, finally capturing it on 23 August after forty-one days of fighting.
On 25 August, former members of the GNC who were not re-elected in 2014 reconvened and voted that they would replace the newly elected Council of Deputies.
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