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☆ Israel doubt on Biden's Saudi deal, Africa tough on Niger and Lebanon's top banker bids adieu
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

West African countries have imposed sanctions and threatened force against Niger’s military junta. US President Biden has made normalizing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia a policy priority - but a top Israeli lawmaker says it’s not imminent. Lebanon's veteran central bank chief leaves his post with his legacy in shreds and the country’s financial system in collapse. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.

Persons: Biden, it’s Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, Thomson, Reading Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Reading West Africa, Niger, France, Pakistan

☆ West Africa threatens force on Niger coup leaders, French Embassy attacked
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY, NIGER - JULY 30: Coup supporters take to the streets after the army seized power in Niamey, Niger on July 30, 2023. (Photo by Balima Boureima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)West African nations imposed sanctions and threatened force on Sunday if Niger's coup leaders fail to reinstate ousted President Mohammed Bazoum within a week, while supporters of the junta attacked the French embassy in Niamey. At an emergency summit in Nigeria to discuss the coup last week, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States called for constitutional order to be restored, warning of reprisals if not. ECOWAS and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union said that with immediate effect borders with Niger would be closed, commercial flights banned, financial transactions halted, national assets frozen and aid ended. Military officials involved in the coup would be banned from travelling and have their assets frozen, it added.

Persons: Balima Boureima, Mohammed Bazoum, Mahamat Idriss Deby, Bola Tinubu Organizations: Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Economic, West, Nigerian, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Military Locations: NIAMEY, NIGER, Niamey, Niger, Niger's, Nigeria, States

[1/9] Demonstrators gather in support of the putschist soldiers in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. Images showed fires at the walls of the French Embassy and people being loaded into ambulances with bloodied legs. Military officials involved in the coup would be banned from travelling and have their assets frozen, it added. The Niger military rulers later asked protesters to abstain from vandalism and destruction of property. The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to do the same.

Persons: Stringer, Mohammed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Amadou Abdramane, Sani Idrissa, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Boureima Balima, Moussa Aksar, Felix Onuah, Elizabeth Pineau, Bate Felix, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Pro, Niamey Military, Sahel region's, French Embassy, Economic, West, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Military, United Nations, African Union, European Union, World Bank, The, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Sahel, NIAMEY, ABUJA, Niger's, Nigeria, States, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, United States, France, The United States, Italy, Germany, French, Niger national, Russian, Abuja, Paris

☆ West African leaders meet over Niger coup, junta warns against intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Niger's military leaders warned against any armed intervention in the country as West African leaders are set to gather in Nigeria's capital on Sunday for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order. Heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union could suspend Niger from its institutions, cut off the country from the regional central bank and financial market, and close borders. Niger's eastern neighbor Chad, a non-member of both regional organizations, has been invited to the ECOWAS summit, a statement from the Chadian president's office said on Saturday. The West African leaders could also for the first time, consider a military intervention to restore President Mohamed Bazoum who was ousted when General Abdourahamane Tiani was declared the new head of state on Friday. Ahead of the Sunday summit, the military leaders in Niger on Saturday night, warned in a statement read on Niger national television on Saturday night against any military intervention.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Amadou Abdramane, Bazoum Organizations: Nigerien, Nigerien Party for Democracy and, West African States, ECOWAS, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Chadian, World Bank, West, Niger, European Union, African Union Locations: Niamey, Niger, Chad, . Niger, France, United States, West, Central

☆ Protesters descend on French Embassy in Niger shouting 'long live Putin'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Omar Hama Saley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Niamey, Niger CNN —Tense and sometimes violent scenes played out in front of the French Embassy in Niger Sunday as thousands of people who support a military coup voiced anger over France’s influence in its former colony. Some protesters tore down a plaque identifying the Embassy, stomped on it and then replaced it with Russian and Nigerien flags. Shouts of “long live Putin,” “long live Russia” and “down with France” could be heard among the crowds. President Emmanuel Macron’s office said France would immediately retaliate against anyone who attacks French nationals or facilities in Niger. Niger’s military leaders may have found one potential ally: the country’s eastern neighbor, Chad.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mohamed Bazoum, Putin, ”, Emmanuel Macron’s, Bazoum, Stringer, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, ‘ We’re, I’ve, Karimou Sidi, “ Organizations: Niger CNN, Embassy, Kremlin, Russian, Nigerien, Niger, National Council for, Homeland, Reuters, West African States, Sunday, ECOWAS, European Union, ” Locations: Niamey, Niger, stomped, Nigerien, Russia, France, Reuters Niger, Republic of Niger, ”, Chad, Niger’s, Africa ’ Niger, French, Kanto, Africa, ” Kanto, St, Petersburg, Ukraine, Sahel, Burkina Faso

☆ Prigozhin blames former colonizers for situation in Niger without proof and hints Wagner is ready to help
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —While the international community, including many African states, have condemned the coup in Niger, Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has his own take. Niger was once a French colony and, before this week’s putsch, it had been one of the few democracies in the region. He said that his private military company, Wagner, was capable of dealing with situations like that playing out in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. And this is the (the reason for) love for PMC (private military company) Wagner, this is the high efficiency of PMC Wagner. Because a thousand soldiers of PMC Wagner are able to establish order and destroy terrorists, preventing them from harming the peaceful population of states,” he said.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Prigozhin’s missive, Wagner, ” Prigozhin, “, PMC Wagner, ”, Prigozhin’s, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, PMC, PMC Wagner, Central African, Russian Foreign Ministry Locations: Niger, Russian, French, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Russia, Niamey, Nigerien, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Central African Republic

☆ Niger loses aid as Western countries condemn coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving close to $2 billion a year in official development assistance, according to the World Bank. It is also a key security partner of Western countries such as France and the United States, which use it as a base for their efforts to contain an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa's Sahel region. Bazoum has not been heard from since early Thursday when he was confined within the presidential palace, although the European Union, France and others say they still recognize him as the legitimate president. Niger is a key partner of the European Union in helping curb the flow of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The United States has two military bases in Niger with some 1,100 soldiers, and also provides hundreds of millions of dollars to the country in security and development aid.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Antony Blinken, Moussa Aksar, Kate Abnett, Nellie Peyton, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, European, World Bank, European Union, EU, United, United Nations, West African States, Security, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, NIAMEY, United States, France, West, Central, EU, Saharan Africa, Antony Blinken ., Bazoum, Nigeria, Brussels

Here are answers to questions about U.S.-Niger ties:WHY IS NIGER IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED STATES? The country, located in the semi-arid Sahel region, plays an outsized role in the United States' Africa strategy. The State Department in March said Niger had "taken important steps to consolidate and strengthen its democracy." The State Department in March said the United States had plans to provide $101 million in bilateral assistance to Niger in fiscal year 2022, including assistance for food security, democracy and governance, and security. It is unclear how much the United States has given in security assistance specifically.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Washington's, Biden, Bazoum's, Vedant Patel, Niger, Bazoum, Wagner, Patel, Antony Blinken, Chris Coons, Mario Diaz, Balart, Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis, Patricia Zengerle, Moira Warburton, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: UNITED STATES, Islamic, State Department, ., West, The State Department, U.S, State, Embassy, Pentagon, AID, Republican, Thomson Locations: Niger, U.S, Washington, NIGER, United States, Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, al Qaeda, Russia, Niamey

☆ Myanmar military may move Suu Kyi to house arrest - media
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A demonstrator holds up a placard outside the Central Bank of Myanmar to protest against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, February 11, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoJuly 26 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government may move ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest in the capital, Naypyitaw, two media outlets reported on Wednesday. Many Western governments have condemned the junta's treatment of Suu Kyi and others, calling for their release. The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero was first put under house arrest in 1989 after huge protests against decades of military rule. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for democracy but was only fully released from house arrest in 2010.

Persons: Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi, Stringer, Suu, Kyaw Zaw, Suu Kyi, Don Pramudwinai, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Central Bank of, REUTERS, Associated Press, BBC, Reuters, National Unity Government, Thai Foreign, ASEAN, Myanmar, Thomson Locations: Central Bank of Myanmar, Aung San Suu, Yangon, Myanmar, Naypyitaw, Suu

☆ Burkina Faso fashion designer weaves new life into ancient fabric
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Thiam Ndiaga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A collection of Burkina Faso fashion designer Francois Yameogo, who built a facility specializing in the production of Faso Danfani, the country's traditional fabric, is exhibited in his workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ndiaga ThiamKOUDOUGOU, Burkina Faso, July 26 (Reuters) - Amid the rhythmic clatter of traditional wooden looms, artisans at a workshop in rural Burkina Faso spin indigo-dyed cotton into sprawling lengths of cloth, destined for modern suits designed by the nation's foremost couturier. Twenty years ago, Paris-based fashion designer François Yameogo returned to his native Burkina Faso to build a facility specialising in making Faso Danfani, the country's traditional fabric, for use in his signature indigo sport coats. This keeps domestic fabric prices artificially low, deters investment in modern technology and exacerbates poverty, according to the United Nations food agency. "The ruling junta's Faso Danfani mandate is already visible among officials sporting Yameogo's creations, including the prime minister.

Persons: Francois Yameogo, François Yameogo, Yameogo, Marc Jacobs, Cooper Inveen, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, United, Thomson Locations: Burkina Faso, Faso, Ouagadougou, Paris, United Nations, junta's Faso

BURKINA FASOBurkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. MALIA group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. GUINEASpecial forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Roch Kabore, Colonel Paul, Henri Damiba, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Assimi Goita, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Bah Ndaw, Goita, CHAD Chad's, Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, Mamady Doumbouya, Alpha Conde, Conde, Doumbouya, Bate Felix, Nick Macfie Organizations: Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, African, BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso's, Mali's West, Chadian, GUINEA Special, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Niamey, African Union, West, Central Africa, BURKINA FASO, MALI, Mali, N'Djamena, GUINEA

☆ Thai protesters show support for Pita after PM bid blocked
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, July 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of pro-deomcracy protesters in Thailand gathered on Sunday in a show of support for Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party, after conservative opponents thwarted his latest attempt to become prime minister. Parliament has twice blocked the Harvard-educated Pita, 42, from becoming prime minister - once last Wednesday and previously the week before - which his supporters say was due to unfair rules. Move Forward's policies put it on collision course with Thailand's nexus of royalist military, old money elites and conservative forces. Move Forward's eight-party coalition includes the populist Pheu Thai party and controls a majority in the 500-member lower house. Another vote on the premiership is scheduled for Thursday when Move Forward coalition ally Pheu Thai will propose a candidate who is largely expected to be political newcomer real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Harvard, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai

☆ Israeli military assessing reservists' protest letter over judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunJERUSALEM, July 21 (Reuters) - Israel's military said on Friday it was examining the impact of a letter sent by air force reservists who threatened to stop volunteering for service if the government goes ahead with a planned judicial overhaul. Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the military was checking details of the letter that he said was initialled by more than 1,100 reservists and "accordingly, will examine the implications". The letter, published in Israeli media without listing the signatories, was the latest sign of opposition within the military to judicial changes being pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. Air force veterans say reservists who volunteer after completing their mandatory military service make up around half of crews sent on combat sorties. On Monday, Netanyahu pledged to crack down on no-shows for military reserve duty, which he said risked inviting attack by Israel's foes and undermining its democracy.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Daniel Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Bezalel Smotrich, Yoav Gallant, Hagari, Netanyahu, Henriette Chacar, Ari Rabinovitch, Alison Williams, David Holmes Organizations: Protesters, Israeli, REUTERS, Critics, ., Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shoresh, Israel, Jerusalem, Ronen, JERUSALEM

☆ Thailand elections: Top court suspends prime minister hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat as a lawmaker over shareholding case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Pita has denied he broke election rules and previously accused the Election Commission of rushing the case to court. A group of opposition parties then formed a coalition aimed at forming a majority government and put forward Pita as a prime minister candidate. Pita, a 42-year-old Harvard alumni, called the coalition “the voice of hope and the voice of change” and said all parties had agreed to support him as the next prime minister of Thailand. In Thailand, a party or coalition needs to win a majority of 375 seats in both lower and upper houses of parliament – currently 749 seats – to elect a prime minister and form a government. Pita received just 324 votes out of the 376 needed for a majority and the kingdom is still without a prime minister as the political jostling continues.

Persons: CNN —, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Prayut Chan, Establishment’s, – Organizations: CNN, Move Forward, Party, Harvard Locations: Thailand

☆ Can Thailand's Pita succeed in a second PM vote?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks during a voting session for a new prime minister at the parliament, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 13, 2023. An eight-party alliance has pledged its backing for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, despite his defeat in the first vote on July 13. Pita was 51 votes short of the 375 needed, as opponents closed ranks to deny him with a host of abstentions and no-shows. CAN PITA WIN THE SECOND VOTE? A separate concern for Move Forward is possible intervention by the Constitutional Court to suspend Pita from duty as a lawmaker.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, PITA, Pheu, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prawit Wongsuwan, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, CAN, WIN, Constitutional, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Pheu

[1/7] Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn during the Courtesy Call at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/PoolJAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of two dozen countries meet in Indonesia on Friday with U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine and North Korean missiles set to dominate roundtable talks in Southeast Asia's annual security gathering. In opening remarks to foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chairman Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the gathering aimed to seek solutions rather than exacerbate regional and global problems. LAVROV: WESTERN 'DOMINATION'The 10-member ASEAN hosts an East Asia Summit on Friday morning before holding a separate meeting with Blinken. China's Wang also met with Lavrov, and said the two sides would "strengthen strategic communication and coordination".

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prak Sokhonn, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Nancy Pelosi, Matthew Miller, Wang, Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, China's Wang, Lavrov, Myanmar's, Martin Petty, Michael Perry Organizations: Cambodia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, REUTERS, U.S, North Korean, Friday's ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN, State Department, ARF, enraging, Washington, Department, U.S . Navy, East Asia Summit, United Nations Security Council, Russian, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, China, Ukraine, North, United States, Russia, Taiwan, enraging Beijing, LAVROV, Australia, Japan, Britain, South Korea, Myanmar

The takeaway from Thailand’s general election in May was clear: Voters had dealt a crushing blow to the ruling military junta by supporting a progressive party that challenged not only the generals but also the nation’s powerful monarchy. The generals and their allies responded on Thursday by rejecting the party’s leading candidate for prime minister, tipping the country into a political void and potentially thrusting it further toward autocracy. Parliament failed to elect a new prime minister on Thursday evening after the progressive candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, was unable to muster enough support in the military-backed Senate, where lawmakers are loyal to the generals who have governed Thailand since seizing power in a coup nearly decade ago. As night fell over a rainy Bangkok, one of Southeast Asia’s most important economies was staring down what looked like another intense period of political unrest and nationwide protests.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat Locations: Thailand, Bangkok

Thailand inched closer to political gridlock on Thursday as politicians gathered in Parliament to vote for the next prime minister with no clear victor in sight. The leading candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, a charismatic young progressive, was dealt a major setback on the eve of the vote when Thailand’s Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to suspend him from Parliament. Mr. Pita, who scored a major political victory over the ruling military junta and its royalist allies during the general election in May, has been under investigation for allegedly owning undeclared shares in a media company. On Wednesday, the Court also said that it had accepted a complaint against Mr. Pita over his calls to amend a law that harshly penalizes criticism of the Thai monarchy. Neither blow stopped Move Forward, Mr. Pita’s party, and other coalition members from nominating him for prime minister on Thursday morning.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita Locations: Thailand, Thai

☆ ASEAN struggles for unity on Myanmar conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The cause of the delay was unclear but an ASEAN official said a communique was being finalised and would be released soon. ASEAN chair Indonesia on Wednesday urged the group's foreign ministers to remain united in tackling the escalating violence in Myanmar. Malaysia, a vocal critic of the junta, urged ASEAN to strongly condemn the junta's actions, including violence. RIFTS APPARENTRifts within ASEAN over Myanmar were highlighted when Thailand invited Myanmar military officials to a meeting last month aimed at "re-engaging" with the junta. Indonesia, as ASEAN chair this year, is working behind the scenes to bring all stakeholders in the Myanmar conflict together for informal talks, but diplomats say it is struggling to make headway.

Persons: Zambry Abdul Kadir, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Don Pramudwinai, Don, Myanmar's, Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi, Malaysia's Zambry, Suu Kyi's, Kate Lamb, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Rob Birsel, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Myanmar's, Association for Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Junta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Myanmar, Thai Foreign, National Unity Government, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Myanmar, Malaysia, United States, China, Russia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Aung San Suu, Naypyitaw

☆ ASEAN chair Indonesia has little to show for Myanmar peace drive, diplomats say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JAKARTA, July 12 (Reuters) - Indonesia, working on behalf of southeast Asian nations, has little to show so far for its intense behind-the-scenes efforts to bridge gaps between factions in Myanmar's conflict, diplomatic sources say. Myanmar has been racked by violence since 2021, when the military seized power from a largely elected government and unleashed a deadly crackdown on opponents. But the junta, an opposition "shadow government" and rebel militias all refuse to compromise on their respective conditions to start even informal talks, said three sources, including two diplomats, familiar with the matter. Sasa said he could not confirm if the Bali meetings had taken place, but called for even deeper engagement with ASEAN. The sources said Indonesia had drawn inspiration from its "cocktail diplomacy" of the late 1980s, when it convinced Cambodia's four opposing factions to meet for informal talks near Jakarta.

Persons: Sasa, Bali, Cambodia's, Lina Alexandra, Retno Marsudi, Kanupriya Kapoor, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, National Unity Government, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Indonesian, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Myanmar, Indonesia's, Bali, Jakarta

☆ Thailand prime minister Prayuth retires from politics, nine years after his coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha leaves after a cabinet meeting before end of his term in next week at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, July 11 (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on Tuesday his retirement from politics, nine years after he took power in a military coup, and promised to stay in charge only temporarily. The former army chief, a staunch royalist, led a junta until an election in 2019 and was chosen by parliament to remain prime minister for four more years, an outcome his opponents insist was pre-determined. "I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation, religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people. His announcement comes as the new parliament prepares to convene on Thursday to hold a vote on who will be the next prime minister, an outcome far from certain.

Persons: Prayuth Chan, ocha, Prayuth, Panu, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Government, REUTERS, Thailand's, United Thai Nation, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK

The military has for decades invoked its duty to defend the monarchy to justify intervention in politics, and used the lese majeste law to stifle dissent, critics say. Much depends on whether Move Forward's main ally, second-place winner Pheu Thai, sticks with it or seeks other coalition partners if Pita's bid looks doomed. King Vajiralongkorn, 70, who has no role in choosing a government, has remained silent on the lese majeste issue since the election. In the last election in 2019, no party would have dared suggest amending the lese majeste law. Pheu Thai, which has 141 seats to Move Forward's 151, could nominate its prime ministerial candidate with the eight-party alliance intact.

Persons: Maha Vajiralongkorn, Suthida, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Seri Suwanpanon, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Prayuth Chan, Pheu, King Vajiralongkorn, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Thaksin Shinawatra, Titipol Phakdeewanich, Amarat Chokepamitkul, Panu, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Royal News, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, Senate, Ubon Ratchathani University, Royal Household Bureau, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Handout, BANGKOK, Pheu

☆ Myanmar crisis, South China Sea tensions loom over ASEAN meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, July 11 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's top diplomats will gather in Indonesia on Tuesday amid pressure to address a bloody political crisis in Myanmar and resolve tensions in the South China Sea where some ASEAN members have overlapping territorial claims with China. The meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comes as doubts mount over the credibility and unity of the bloc in dealing with the region's thorniest challenges. Indonesia is also seeking during this week's forum to accelerate talks on a long-stalled code of conduct on the South China Sea. More than $3 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea each year, and overlapping territorial claims by China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have led to a spate of confrontations. ASEAN will also hold the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum later this week, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov both slated to attend.

Persons: Human Rights Volker Turk, Retno Marsudi, Antony Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United, United Nations, Human Rights, . Security, International Criminal Court, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, U.S, Russia's, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Myanmar, South China, China, ASEAN, United Nations, Jakarta, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei

Chief prosecutor Karim Khan visited Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, for four days this week to hear testimony from survivors of alleged genocide by Myanmar’s military against its Rohingya population. “There is heartbreak in these camps,” Khan said in an exclusive interview with CNN. Meanwhile, the Rohingya have been waiting six years and no such action has been taken against the Myanmar military leaders who ordered the attacks. “The big difference is that we have access to Ukraine, we don’t have access to Myanmar,” Khan said. Chief prosecutor Khan believed that Myanmar’s military leaders, including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing could be held to account.

Persons: Court’s, Karim Khan, ” Khan, ”, Vladimir Putin, Kutupalong, Ziabul Hossain, ICC’s Khan, Volker Türk, Khan, “, can’t, taka, Mohamed Rofique, Mohammad, Rofique, Min Aung, Slobodan Milošević, Charles Taylor, Jean Kambanda Organizations: CNN, ICC, Myanmar, Criminal, Getty, UN, Human, International Court of Justice, ICJ, Liberian, Rwandan Locations: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Rakhine, Russia, Myanmar, Kutupalong Rohingya, Cox's Bazar, Tanbir Miraj, AFP, Gambia, Maungdaw, Rohingya, Bazar

☆ Schools remain shut in India's violence-hit Manipur despite reopening order
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Zarir Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GUWAHATI, India, July 5 (Reuters) - Nearly all schools remained shut in India's violence-hit Manipur state despite a government order to reopen them on Wednesday in a bid to restore normalcy after two months of ethnic clashes that have killed almost 120 people. Students, teachers and support staff did not show up at schools in the morning in the state in northeast India, said a state education department official who requested anonymity. Four private schools opened but all government-run schools were still closed, he added. At least 118 people have been killed and more than 40,000 displaced in the violence. Additional reporting by Krishn Kaushik; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ibotombi Singh, Narendra Modi's, Giridhar Aramane, Min Aung Hlaing, Krishn Kaushik, Shivam Patel, Kim Coghill Organizations: India's, Thomson Locations: GUWAHATI, India, Manipur, Imphal, Myanmar, Kuki

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