BBC News with Julie Candler.
The new military authorities in Thailand have detained the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her family a day after seizing power in a coup. Mrs. Shinawatra was among dozens of politicians ordered to report to the army. In Bangkok, here is Jonathan Head.
A day after their takeover, Thailand’s new rulers are tightening their grip on power, locking up potential opponents and establishing a new military administration. Members of the ousted government was summoned to appear in army headquarters or face arrest. Most of them came including the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and members of her family. They were kept for several hours and then driven away to be detained some in army camps outside Bangkok. Six of Thailand’s most senior military officers have now been appointed to run the country. Unlike previous coups, there have been no promises to return Thailand to civilian rule.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog the IAEA says Iran has significantly cut its most sensitive nuclear stockpile. In the confidential reports saying by the BBC the IAEA also said Iran was engaging with its investigation into suspected nuclear bomb research. Bethany Bell reports from Vienna.
The IAEA reports says Iran is sticking to the deal to cut back its sensitive Uranium enrichment work. Its stock of all highly-enriched Uranium has been reduced by almost 80% since January. This is likely to be welcome news for the six world powers that are trying to reach a final deal with Iran over its nuclear program. The report also says the Iran for the first time since 2008 is engaging tactically with the IAEA’s investigation into suspected nuclear bomb research. Teheran says its nuclear work is purely peacefully.
The US secretary of state John Kerry has agreed to testify to congress on the circumstance surrounding the attack on the US diplomatic machine in Libyan city of Benghazi. Four Americans including the ambassador died in the 2012 attack. Marie Harf is the state department’s spokesperson.
"We have been clear that we were willing to work with the committee despite the fact that Benghazi's oversight has been consolidated under this selected committee, we still believed there are more proper witnesses but in an effort to be corporative, help offer some dates."
Meanwhile the United States and its European alliance said they are deeply concerned about the repeated violence in Libya. In a joint statement they warn the Libya is at crossroads in head to choose political transition or face chaos, fragmentation and terrorism. They urged all sides to refrain from the use of force and to address differences by political means. The statement was signed by the US, the European Union, Britain, France, Germany and Italy. It came as big demonstrations were taking place in Tripoli and Benghazi calling on the army and police to restore the stability.
World News from the BBC.
Rebels in Mali have agreed to ceasefire two days after they defeated government forces in the northern town of Kidal. Diplomats said separatist Tuareg groups promised to stop fighting after talks with the chairman of the African union. The government says the Tuareg fighters are backed by Al-Qaeda militants. ** has more.
A rebel’s spokesman in Kidal confirmed the ceasefire. He said the rebels who are from three Tuareg separatist groups would remain in their positions. The deal comes after the Malian army failed in the attempt on Wednesday to recapture Kidal. In the past few days the rebels have gained control of most of Mali in north of Niger river. The government has yet to sign the agreement.
The Russian president Valdmir Putin has said that he will respect the outcome of Sunday’s presidential election in Ukraine. Mr Putin said he believed Ukraine has descended into fully scale civil war but he understood the Ukrainians want their country to emerge from the current crisis. And he would treat that choice with respect. At economical forums in Petersburg Mr Putin denied that Moscow is behind the violence in eastern Ukraine.
Extensive efforts have been taking place to salvage as much as possible for Glasgow School of Art,one of Scotland’s most important buildings which has been devastated by fire. The school was considered as the greatest masterpiece of Scotland’s most influential designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. From Glasgow, Colin Blane reports.
At the height the fire and flames could be seen within the back windows of the art school, as smoke spilt into the sky above Glasgow city center. Firefighters were there within four minutes but it was soon clear the building has been extensively damaged as blames ran through the interior from basement to attic. This building is one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece. He won the competition to design it at the time he was just 28. It not just the building itself which has been ravaged but the famous Mackintosh’s library inside seems to have been burned in the fire.