Thai army detains ex-PM Yingluck

Protests have broken out on the streets of Bangkok, as Jonah Fisher reports

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Thailand's ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra and a number of members of her family have been detained, as leaders of the nation's military coup tighten their grip on power.

Ms Yingluck and scores of politicians from the deposed government had been told to report to the military.

She was kept for several hours and then driven to an undisclosed location.

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha also met key officials, telling them reform must come before any elections.

Gen Prayuth summoned governors, business leaders and civil servants to the Bangkok Army Club on Friday.

Six of Thailand's most senior military officers have now been appointed to run the country, with provincial commanders supervising local government.

Suspended constitution

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that, unlike in previous coups, there have been no promises of a quick return to civilian rule.

Gen Prayuth told the meeting: "I want all civil servants to help organise the country. We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections. If the situation is peaceful, we are ready to return power to the people."

Ms Yingluck, who had been prime minister until being removed by the judiciary this month, had been ordered to report to the military along with more than 100 other politicians, including acting PM Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan.

It was unclear whether Gen Prayuth met either of them.

There were reports Gen Prayuth was to meet Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the royal palace in Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, on Friday to explain the coup, but this has not been confirmed.

On Thursday the military suspended the constitution, banned gatherings and detained politicians, saying order was needed after months of turmoil.

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India elections: Varanasi welcomes Narendra Modi Prev

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder: "Mr Modi said he was humbled at the outpouring of support"

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India's Prime Minister-elect, Narendra Modi, has arrived in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi to be greeted by delighted supporters.

He is to perform religious ceremonies in Varanasi after leading the Hindu nationalist BJP party to a landslide victory in the general elections.

Mr Modi, 63, was elected to parliament from Varanasi as well as from another seat in his home state of Gujarat.

Earlier he held a victory procession in the capital, Delhi.

Narendra Modi secured the most decisive election victory in India in three decades, campaigning on promises to revive the economy.

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Analysis

Sanjoy MajumderBBC News, Delhi

Narendra Modi arrived to a hero's welcome in the Indian capital for the first time after leading his party to a historic win. Supporters lined the streets, showering him with flowers en route to BJP headquarters.

Security was very tight: police lined the route and armed special forces personnel were deployed.

At party headquarters, the mood was festive. A brass band kept pace with a company of bagpipers and supporters danced and sang. It took a while for Mr Modi's cavalcade to make its way there and senior BJP politicians urged the crowd to stay calm.

"He's coming, he'll be here very soon," one of them told exuberant supporters, while another begged people to get down from trees they had climbed to gain a vantage point.

As they spotted the cavalcade, Mr Modi's supporters at party HQ drove themselves into a frenzy, almost knocking down the security barricades in the process.

"Modi, Modi," they screamed, giving him a rock-star welcome.

Manmohan Singh, whose Congress party was crushed in the poll, has tendered his resignation as prime minister.

Results show the BJP gained a majority in parliament and will be able to govern without coalition partners.

However, many Indians still have profound concerns over Mr Modi because of claims he did little to stop communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims.

Mr Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, has always denied the allegations and was never charged.

'India has won'

After arriving in Delhi from his home state, Mr Modi was greeted by flag-waving supporters. He stepped out of his car, flashing a victory sign.

A brass band, drummers and bagpipers met him at the BJP headquarters, while bunting and balloons decorated the street.

Noticeably tight security is in place, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports.

The BJP has won 282 seats - more than the 272 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.

Speaking at the BJP headquarters, Mr Modi said: "I want to bow, I want to give my thanks... to the people of India."

He said Indian media had created "consciousness among voters" and a "great festival of Indian democracy".

In Varanasi, people gathered by the Ganges ahead of Narendra Modi's arrival

Earlier Mr Modi was mobbed by supporters in Delhi

Members of a brass band waited for Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi outside BJP headquarters in Delhi

Security was tight with police and special forces personnel lining Mr Modi's route

On Friday, Mr Modi wrote in a widely-shared tweet: "India has won, good days are about to come."

He also told supporters he would rule for all Indians.

"The age of divisive politics has ended - from today onwards the politics of uniting people will begin."

World leaders, including US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, have congratulated Mr Modi on his victory.

India's new leader has received invitations to Washington and London. Previously, the US had denied him visas and the UK cut off all ties with him following the 2002 riots.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commended the BJP's "impressive victory" in the election.

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Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi: "I respect the verdict of the people"

The Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics since independence, is only expected to win 44 seats.

Congress has been mired in serious corruption scandals and its leadership has been considered ineffective in recent years, analysts say.

Accepting defeat, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said: "We humbly respect the verdict of the people."

Manmohan Singh met the president to hand in his resignation.

In a televised farewell address earlier on Saturday, Mr Singh said the government had achieved a lot in the past 10 years. "I wish the incoming government every success," he said.

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The BBC's Andrew North travelled to Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat

India election

• World's biggest exercise in electoral democracy; 814 million eligible voters
• A total of 8,251 candidates stood for election
• It started five weeks ago and a total of 551 million votes were cast, with a record 66.38% turnout
• The party or alliance that wins a majority in the 543-seat parliament forms the government

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China waste plant protest in Hangzhou 'injures dozens'

The protesters vented their anger at the police and their vehicles

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At least 39 people have been hurt and dozens of vehicles damaged in a protest against a planned waste incinerator in a Chinese city, state media report.

The violence broke out on Saturday in Yuhang district of Hangzhou city, in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The injured included 29 police officers.

Local authorities say the project will not go ahead without public support.

Tens of thousands of protests are held in China every year, mostly against pollution, corruption and land grabs.

Last month, state media reported that 18 people were detained after massive demonstrations against plans for a chemical plant in Maoming, in the southern province of Guangdong.

Riot police took up positions against the protesters in Yuhang

China's citizens are increasingly conscious of the health impact of environmental pollution, with many large cities smothered in smog - a by-product of the country's rapid industrialisation and economic growth.

The state-run Xinhua news agency reports that the site for the planned waste incinerator in Yuhang was made public in April.

At the protests on Saturday, two police cars were set alight and dozens of vehicles overturned.

At least two people - a policeman and a protester - were reported to have been seriously injured.

A statement on the local government's website, published late on Saturday, said that there would be no further work on the incinerator until the public had been consulted over the scheme.

Similar protests in other parts of China have prompted the authorities to change their plans.

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China tightens security in Beijing

The police patrols will be stationed at major road junctions in the capital

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China has deployed armed police patrol vehicles in Beijing after three attacks at transport hubs around the country.

The 150 vehicles are tasked with "countering street terrorism and fighting severe violence", state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Petrol purchases would also be tightened, with buyers required to register with police, reports said.

The move follows station attacks in Kunming, Urumqi and Guangzhou, and comes before the Tiananmen anniversary.

Xinhua said the armed police patrols would be stationed at major road junctions and manned by at least nine police officers and other assistants.

They would cover an area of 3km (1.8 miles) and would be required to respond within three minutes, Xinhua added.

Meanwhile, those buying petrol would have to explain their intentions in a move that aimed to prevent the use of gasoline "to create disturbances", People's Daily newspaper said.

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Uighurs and Xinjiang

• Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims
• They make up about 45% of the region's population; 40% are Han Chinese
• China re-established control in 1949 after crushing short-lived state of East Turkestan
• Since then, there has been large-scale immigration of Han Chinese
• Uighurs fear erosion of traditional culture

• Q&A: China and the Uighurs

Activists held

The security upgrade comes amid heightened concern over security after the three station attacks.

March's group knife attack in Kunming left 29 people dead and more than 100 wounded. A similar attack in Urumqi in April left three people dead and almost 80 injured.

Chinese authorities have blamed both attacks on separatists from the Muslim Uighur minority group, which lives in Xinjiang.

It is not yet clear what sparked an attack last week at Guangzhou station in which six people were hurt. One man is reported to be in custody.

In October 2013, meanwhile, five people died and dozens were injured after a car drove into a crowd near Tiananmen Square and burst into flames.

Officials said three of those who died - the occupants of the car - came from the Uighur minority group.

The Uighurs, who are ethnically Turkic Muslims, say that large-scale Han Chinese immigration into Xinjiang has eroded their traditional culture and accuse Beijing of oppressive control.

There are sporadic violent incidents - in 2009, bloody ethnic riots in Urumqi left about 200 people dead.

Chinese authorities, meanwhile, say they have invested heavily in the region to improve people's lives.

The boost in security in Beijing also comes three weeks ahead of the 25th anniversary of the crackdown on anti-government protesters at Tiananmen Square.

Several well-known activists, including journalist Gao Yu, have been detained ahead of the anniversary.

5:09 PM Share:

China: Female guards debut in military parade

Women in the Chinese army have traditionally held non-combat roles - although that's changing

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China is adding knee-high skirts and 5cm (2in) heels to its military parades as its first female honour guard welcomed the president of Turkmenistan.

An approving Turkmen President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhavedov, said: "It's very nice, very good," as 30 soldiers from the People's Liberation Army, including 13 women, strode into Beijing's Great Hall of the People, carrying their guns, the state news agency Xinhua reports. It's said to be the first time female honour guards have been part of a top-level diplomatic event since the non-combat squad was set up in 1952.

They're just as good as their male counterparts - maybe even better considering they have to wear high heels - says their captain, Cheng Cheng. The military press says it's a sign the country is modernising, the South China Morning Post reports. Women in the Chinese army have traditionally been assigned to artist troupes and communications, but some have joined fighter jet squadrons and combat troops.

Meanwhile, the Turkmen president seems to have incorporated a book launch into his state visit. Between signing energy deals, he presented his own novel, Bird of Happiness, in Chinese, at a ceremony attended by diplomats and cultural dignitaries.

A female soldier gets ready for the welcome ceremony in Beijing

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Vietnam anti-China protest: Factories burnt

The BBC's Nga Pham says Chinese speakers have been warned to limit their movement in Vietnam

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At least 15 foreign-owned factories have been set on fire amid anti-China protests at industrial parks in southern Vietnam.

Hundreds more were attacked by some of the 20,000 workers who protesting in the streets of Binh Duong province.

They are protesting after China moved a drilling rig into waters also claimed by Vietnam earlier this month.

No casualties have been reported but officials said at least 200 people had been arrested over the violence.

In response to the protests, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Vietnam was the "provocateur", and that Beijing had expressed concern to Hanoi.

Meanwhile, Taiwan summoned the Vietnamese envoy to Taipei after reports that many Taiwanese firms were targeted having been mistaken by rioters for Chinese factories.

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Analysis

Nga PhamBBC News

Nationalist sentiment of this intensity has not been seen in Vietnam for many years.

Tuesday's protests in Binh Duong confirmed the government's worst fear, that nationalism could easily get out of hand, posing a great risk not only to the business environment but also to domestic political stability.

The Vietnamese authorities were quick to condemn the anti-China violence and arrested some people they called "agitators".

But critics say that other contributing factors such as social discontent and limited labour rights cannot be overlooked.

Singaporean and Japanese plants were also targeted.

Foreign investment fears

The protesters began gathering in Thuan An town, in Binh Duong - Vietnam's industrial heartland - on Monday, officials said.

They then moved on to two nearby industrial parks on Tuesday.

Three factories were set on fire on Tuesday evening after workers had gone home, a spokesperson for the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) told the BBC.

An employee of a Singaporean company told the BBC they saw four burnt buildings on Wednesday morning, and another eight - including one belonging to a Taiwan-founded shoe firm - with shattered windows and smashed front gates.

"The protesters appeared to have targeted companies that had Chinese characters in their logos or signs," said the employee, who declined to be named.

Firms with Chinese characters in their logos or signs were reportedly targeted

Protesters are angry at China's recent deployment of an oil rig in contested waters

Employees of companies in the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park appealed to protesters to stop

Riot police have moved in to try to contain the violence

One photo carried by Vietnamese media showed a factory had draped a South Korean flag at its entrance in a bid to stave off attacks.

The protest has spooked some foreign companies.

Reuters reports that Hong Kong-listed sports shoe maker Yue Yuen, which supplies footwear to Adidas, Nike and other international brands, had suspended production in Vietnam.

Territorial disputes

Earlier this month, China moved its Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig 120 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam.

The area is near the Paracel Islands, over which China and Vietnam have contesting claims.

The move sparked a bitter protest from the Vietnamese government, which demanded an immediate pull-out, and clashes between ships from both countries around the rig.

Protests have been staged in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, while on Tuesday the US warned China that its actions were "provocative".

Beijing claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea that covers areas other South East Asian nations say are their territory.

Ships from Vietnam and China have been exchanging water cannon fire near the controversial rig

The Philippines on Wednesday accused China of reclaiming land on a disputed South China Sea reef in order to build a new facility - possibly an airstrip or a military base.

Manila lodged a protest last month after images taken from the air showed China had been moving materials into Johnson Reef in the Spratly Islands, officials said.

"We're not exactly sure what are their intentions there," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told AP news agency.

Ties between Beijing and Manila have deteriorated severely in recent months because of the territorial row.

Manila is taking Beijing to an international court over the issue. It also recently signed a security deal with the US allowing more troops onto its soil, in a move seen as reflecting the difficult ties with China.

4:14 PM Share:

Set up Afghanistan war inquiry, MPs urge government

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The UK government should set up an inquiry into "lessons learned" after troops withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of this year, MPs have recommended.

The Commons defence committee said ministers should plan for a "thorough" study covering the aims of the war and whether efforts had been "sufficient".

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond promised to "look strategically across the campaign" after the mission ends.

More than 450 UK personnel have died in the Afghan conflict since 2001.

An official inquiry into the Iraq war began almost five years ago and has still to publish its findings. This follows arguments between the panel, led by former civil servant Sir John Chilcot, and Whitehall officials over which documents can be disclosed.

'Uncertain'

In its report on Afghanistan, the Defence Select Committee said the Taliban insurgency in the country remained "a strong and persistent threat".

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It said the Afghan government would need the continued support of the international community after most UK and other international troops left.

The committee warned of an "uncertain" future and said it hoped Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's prediction that the country would not descend into civil war would prove correct.

It said that, while there had been gains in the rights of Afghan women and girls during the years international forces had been in the country, progress remained "fragile".

In contrast, the UK's counter-narcotics strategy had failed, with opium poppy cultivation in Helmand province soaring to record levels as the troops prepared to leave.

"We are concerned that this will continue to fund organised crime, and undermine the development of democratic government and governance," the report said.

The committee called on the government to begin work towards the eventual publication of an official history of the Afghan campaign, as well as commissioning a more immediate "lessons learned" inquiry.

It said: "The study should set out what the political ends were, how they changed during the course of the campaign, and judge whether the ways and means, diplomatic, economic and military, were sufficient during the course of the campaign."

The committee also said: "A relatively small investment could have a significantly beneficial impact on future planning."

A source told the BBC that the hearings for an Afghanistan inquiry would not necessarily take place in public and its findings could be shown only to ministers and Whitehall officials.

Such decisions would be have to be made by a future government, they added.

Philip Hammond said an effective process for learning lessons was in place

One of the committee members, Labour MP Dai Havard, told the BBC: "It's not meant to be 'let's find a head on a stick and someone to blame'.

"It should be that Parliament says to the executive that it needs to address these issues. We have to learn from these experiences."

In response to the committee, Mr Hammond said: "As combat operations in Afghanistan draw to a close we can be proud of the contribution British forces have made to ensuring that the country cannot be used as a base for international terrorists to attack us and our interests.

"We have a highly effective process for identifying lessons to be learned in near real time, but we will want to look strategically across the campaign as a whole to see what longer-term lessons need to be learned, once the mission is over."

For Labour, shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker said: "It is important the we learn the lessons from our involvement in the long and difficult combat operation in Afghanistan.

"The evolving role of the armed forces over the course of the mission presented great challenges to the military, and we should examine these fully to ensure we gain an insight in to all aspects of what happened over the last number of years."

4:39 AM Share:

China manufacturing growth slows in April

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Watch: Is China's slowing economy a bad thing?

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China has released weaker-than-expected manufacturing data, reinforcing concerns the world's second-largest economy is losing steam.

Industrial output rose by 8.7% in April from a year earlier, compared with estimates for an 8.9% increase.

Retail sales and fixed-asset investment spending also came in below forecasts.

The figures add to speculation the Chinese government may miss its 2014 growth target of 7.5% given they are undertaking key economic reforms.

Some analysts are expecting China to post its weakest expansion since 1990 this year.

China's National Bureau of Statistics said retail sales increased by 11.9% in April, which was below estimates for a 12.2% rise.

Fixed-asset investment, which is an indicator of government spending on infrastructure, rose 17.3% in the January-to-April period, versus estimates for growth of 17.7%.

Some analysts think the government may have to take action to spur growth

The slowdown comes amid a push by the government to address risks to the economy, such as shadow banking or illegal lending.

As a result, Beijing has taken steps to rein in excess credit in its financial system, as well as cool the country's property market.

However, China's slowdown has led for increased calls for the government to take steps to stimulate the economy, such as lowering borrowing costs.

Zhiwei Zhang, chief China economist at Nomura expects "activity indicators to continue to weaken in May".

"The pressure for more policy easing continues to build, though in his latest speech People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan indicated that the government may want to wait for more data before deciding whether to ease policy or not," he said.

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South Korea ferry: three crew members named 'martyrs'

Ribbons with messages for the victims have been hung up at Jindo, where rescue operations are based

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South Korea ferry

• Grim recovery
• Harrowing texts
• Unanswered questions
• What we knowWatch

Three crew members who died saving passengers as a South Korean ferry sank last month have been honoured by the government.

An engaged couple, Jung Hyun-seon and Kim Ki-Woong, and Park Ji-young, 22, were named "martyrs" on Monday.

More than 300 people died when the Sewol ferry went down on 16 April. Many were high school students.

The captain and other crew members have been criticised for abandoning ship while passengers were still on board.

The ferry, carrying 476 people, was sailing from Incheon to Jeju Island when it went down. Only 172 people were rescued, with many others trapped inside the ship as it sank.

'Heroes'

Park Ji-young, reportedly the youngest crew member, gave her life jacket to a passenger. She died while struggling to make sure passengers on the upper floors of the ferry wore life jackets and found their way out.

"Park pushed shocked passengers toward the exit even when the water was up to her chest," a survivor told local media after being rescued.

Jung Hyun-seon and Kim Ki-Woong were due to marry later this year, according to local media reports.

Vigils have been held to commemorate the victims and criticise the government's handling of the disaster

"They were together for four years," Mr Kim's mother told Yonhap news agency earlier. "I only hope the two of them will be happy in a nice place... my heart is about to burst."

Their designation as martyrs means they will be eligible to be buried in a national cemetery, and their families can receive financial compensation and medical assistance.

Also on Monday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries revoked the license of ferry owner Chonghaejin Marine Co, saying it had contributed to the disaster.

The ferry is believed to have been carrying more than three times the authorised amount of cargo.

The captain and 14 other surviving crew members have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and breaking maritime law.

The episode has been marked by allegations of cowardice, corruption and incompetence, BBC Asia analyst Michael Bristow reports.

But the South Korean government has now recognised that there were also at least three heroes on board the ship, he adds.

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