Thai Martial Law: Television Channels Go Off Air as Army Occupies Bangkok

Thai soldiers check a taxi near the site where pro-government "red shirt" supporters gather, in the suburbs of BangkokReuters

At least 10 television channels in Thailand have been off air following the army's declaration of martial law as military vehicles and troops begin to occupy the capital Bangkok.

The Peace Keeping Command Centre (PKCC) has shut down the television stations and local radio stations of both pro- and anti-government forces.

The army has surrounded a pro-government "red-shirt" rally in Bangkok and warned the gathering to disperse as martial law has come into effect.

Despite the presence of machine gun-topped military vehicles in Bangkok streets, traffic appears to be smooth.

The army has also taken control of the police headquarters.

Meanwhile, the interim government, which did not have any prior knowledge of the military's move, is convening to discuss the situation. The anti-government groups are also meeting.

The powerful military's announcement has taken everyone by surprise.

Thai soldiers take their positions in the middle of a main intersection in Bangkok's shopping districtReuters

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha warned both supporters and opponents of ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra not to hold any rallies.

In a televised address, Prayuth insisted this was not a coup but a move to restore peace and order in Thailand.

Several countries have expressed concern over the volatile situation in Thailand.

US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said: "We understand the Royal Thai Army announced that this martial law declaration is not a coup. We expect the army to honour its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions."

British ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent said he was about to meet his European counterparts to discuss the situation.

Australia's department of foreign affairs and trade said in statement: "We are following these events closely and encourage all parties to resolve their political differences through peaceful democratic processes. Thailand has Australia's goodwill and support as it tries to find ways to settle its political difficulties."

US Charges Chinese Cyber-Spies of Stealing Nuclear Power Plant Plans

Chinese hackers charged with taking part in cyber attacks against six US companies: (l-r) Sun Kailiang, Wang Dong, Huang Zhenyu, Wen Xinyu, Wang Dong and Gu ChunhuiFBI

The US government has charged five Chinese military officials with carrying out cyber-attacks against six US companies, one of which builds nuclear power plants.

A grand jury in the Western District of Pennsylvania indicted five Chinese military personnel on charges of computer hacking, economic espionage and other offences directed at six American companies involved in the nuclear power, metals and solar products industries.

"This is a case alleging economic espionage by members of the Chinese military and represents the first ever charges against a state actor for this type of hacking," US Attorney General Eric Holder said.

The US is alleging that Wang Dong, Sun Kailiang and Wen Xinyu were all officers in Unit 61398 of the Third Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and were involved with others in the cyber-attacks on the six US companies.

The US is further charging Huang Zhenyu and Gu Chunhui - also members of Unit 61398 - with aiding the cyber-attacks by managing the infrastructure (such as domain names) during the attacks.

Economic advantage

This is the same PLA group which was identified by security company Mandiant in a report from February 2013 which detailed a seven year campaign of cyber-espionage against 141 companies - most of which were located in the US.

The FBI, which carried out the investigation into the Chinese hackers, has taken the unusual step of publishing images of the five accused including one of Sun and Chunhui in fully military uniform.

"For too long, the Chinese government has blatantly sought to use cyber espionage to obtain economic advantage for its state-owned industries," said FBI Director James B. Comey. "The indictment announced today is an important step. But there are many more victims, and there is much more to be done."

This investigation is said to have been underway for more than a year and was a high priority for Barack Obama.

The most high profile of the six US companies which have allegedly been attacked is the nuclear power company Westinghouse Electric. According to the indictment which was unsealed on Monday, in 2010 Sun stole "confidential and proprietary technical and design specifications for pipes, pipe supports, and pipe routing" for four nuclear power plants the company was building in China.

The other companies which have allegedly been hacked by this group include SolarWorld, US Steel, Allegheny Technologies Inc, the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) and Alcoa Inc.

Director of cyber security at McAfee and a doctor of military science, Jarno Limnell said this is just the beginning of such actions:

"I see this as a starting point for legal processes concerning cyber espionage, and nation-states are following these processes very carefully since there aren't many precedents. New charges and trials will be seen in increasing numbers. At the same time we have to remember the meaning of espionage in today's world – stealing information - and if your information is stolen you´ll probably lose your competitive advantage (as a company as well as a nation). The consequences of cyber espionage can be remarkable. These legal processes can be both a dream and nightmare for lawyers."

Dassault Eyes $15bn Rafale India Deal

France's Dassault hopes to sign $15bn Rafale India deal this year.Reuters

Dassault Aviation expects to sign a deal to sell Rafale combat jets to India by the end of the year following the election of business-friendly candidate Narendra Modi as the nation's new prime minister, said chief executive Eric Trappier.

A contract could see a bulk of the 126 fighters assembled in India, Asia's third-largest economy.

The Indian military establishment had earlier deferred the plan to buy the 126 fighters, a deal estimated to be worth $15bn (£8.91bn, €10.93bn), until the 2014/15 financial year owing to budget constraints.

"It's reassuring for us, because I think that will accelerate the process further," Trappier said on 19 May on the sidelines of the Ebace business aviation show, reported Reuters.

Aircraft Carriers

India recently bought an aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, which gives it the strongest naval air power in the region outside of the US.

India is building its own two 40,000-tonne vessels named Vishal and Vikrant. The first is due to be completed within four years.

New Delhi picked the Rafale fighters over the Eurofighter Typhoon jets, made by EADS and financed by a four-nation consortium that includes Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, for the Indian airforce in 2012.

Rafale also has a naval variant which could interest the Indian military in the future.

Dassault beat US bidders Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Sweden's Saab and the Russian makers of the MiG-35.

Video: Devil Child Prank Goes Viral

Something out of a movie: This is the face that meet unsuspecting passerby.YouTube

This is the moment unsuspecting passers-by receive the shock of their lives when they tried to play good Samaritans.

In what could be one of the best pranks ever performed, the victims are left terrified after believing they had come face-to-face with an evil spirit.

At the start of the video a 'lost young girl' can be seen sitting on a bench with her head in her hands sobbing. It is late at night and as the clips progresses well-meaning pedestrians approach her to see if they can help.

But once they get close enough she reveals her 'devil child' features and blood-stained dress. They are then seen running away after the scare.

The prank has since gone viral, with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. It is not known where it was filmed.

"Oh please don't ever let that happen in Texas....I dont want to hear of the child getting shot," one commentator said.

Another wrote: "Face it after all the horror movies, running has been trained into us as a first response. It was soooo funny I wonder how long they kept running. :-D"

A third added: "Man, talk about upping the prank. Nice makeup to add effect. I say keep it up. Teach everyone that there's no good deed left unpunished. Funny."

How to Handle Tragedy in North Korea: Kim Jung-un Poses With Smiling Babies

Kim Jung Un poses with (presumably) loyal young pioneers following apartment block collapse disasterKNCA / Getty

When disaster strikes a country, its leaders are usually obliged to stand up, take responsibility and face the music. But, for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, those obligations apparently don't apply.

In the wake of a disaster in which possibly hundreds of people died when a tower block under construction in Pyongyang suddenly collapsed, Kim didn't do what most other national leaders would have done by answering some tough questions.

Instead, the head of the hermit kingdom made for an orphanage elsewhere in the city - a place where he was even more safe than usual from any awkward questions.

In the image, there is no sign Kim has a care in the world as he grins widely with a selection of babies and nurses - many of whom look pretty anxious about being in his presence.

This unfortunately timed image was issued by the regime amid scenes of trauma among the relatives of those who died in the collapse of the 23-storey building.

Kim was certainly unlikely to face too much criticism from the young pioneers, who were paraded before him in their babygros.

Following the collapse, the regime has taken the unusual step of accepting responsibility for shoddy construction practices - rather than blame its sworn enemies around the world. Thus many might infer that Kim, as sole leader with power over all aspects of the state, should shoulder the blame.

However, the chances of Kim facing any punishment or investigation in light of the disaster seem slim, to say the least.

North Korea's official news agency did claim that Kim suffered a sleepness night worrying about the tower collapse. A senior official said:

"Kim Jong-un sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident, instructed leading officials of the party, state and the army to rush to the scene, putting aside all other affairs, and command the rescue operation to recover from the damage as early as possible."

Japan Plans New Military Outposts near Disputed Islands

An aerial view shows Yonaguni island, Okinawa prefecture in this picture taken by KyodoReuters file photo

Japan is reportedly planning to establish fresh military outposts in remote islands near the archipelago known in Japan as Senkaku, in order to bolster security in its territorial waters.

According to the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, nearly 350 troops are expected to be stationed on three different islands in the far southwest, near the disputed chain of islands. The string of land mass, often at the centre of spats between Tokyo and Beijing, is called Diaoyus in China.

Although there is already a minimum air force facility in the region, it does not have Japan's ground forces and the latest proposal is bound to infuriate China.

The two countries are frequently involved in maritime confrontations in the waters to assert their claims to the islands, which lie about 2,000kms from Tokyo and 200kms from Taiwan, which also claims rights to the chain.

The three sites identified for the new outposts are Amamioshima, Miyako island and Ishigaki island, all of which are located about 150 to 210kms from Senkakus, the daily reported, citing anonymous senior officials.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters: "At the moment, however, we have not decided on specific, concrete locations such as those reported."

Last month, Japan had come up with its first military expansion in the region in more than 40 years by beginning the construction of a radar station in Yonaguni.

Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said: "This is the first deployment since the US returned Okinawa in 1972 and calls for us to be more on guard are growing. I want to build an operation able to properly defend islands that are part of Japan's territory."

The radar facility will significantly increase Japan's surveillance capabilities in the region as Tokyo's monitoring could potentially expand up to mainland China to keep an eye on its ships and flights.

South Korea: Subway Station Explosion Injures 11

An explosion in a South Korea subway station south of Seoul has injured 11 people, according to Yonhap news agency.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official for the South Korean train network confirmed that at least 10 people had received minor injuries in the incident but could not verify that an explosion had caused the injuries.

He told the Associated Press that the train's electrical insulation device was damaged in the incident.

No further details were provided by the news agency as to why the explosion occurred or whom may have been responsible for any explosion.

More to follow...

Boko Haram Kidnappings: Nigeria's Expert Rat-Hunters to Join Search for Abducted Girls

Boko Haram Kidnappings: Nigeria’s Expert Rat-Hunters to Join Search for Abducted GirlsYoutube - AFP

Dozens of rat-hunters and other forest experts are set to join the ongoing search operation for the school girls kidnapped by Nigerian Islamist militant outfit Boko Haram.

The hunters in the northern Nigerian forest, who have traditionally chased animals such as rats and antelopes, have vowed to employ their knowledge to help find the girls, who were captured by the militants a month ago.

They are waiting in Maiduguri for the final go-ahead from officials and are being given intelligence data about the potential locations of the victims.

It is believed that more than 200 kidnapped girls remain captive in the Sambisa forest following their abduction from the town of Chibok.

"Our main mission is to rescue these girls," said the leader of hunters' guild, which comprises about 400 members mostly aged between 60 and 70.

"I know the forests. I was born in the forests," a 70-year old hunter named Dan Baba Kano, who is heading for the search, told the Wall Street Journal.

Authorities initially expressed fears about sending the poorly-armed hunters to help locate the girls, as this could endanger the lives of the captives as well as the hunters themselves.

However their attitude appears to have shifted due to the Nigerian military's reluctance to enter the woods, a stronghold of the notorious Boko Haram insurgents.

The move comes after the Africa's leading statesmen, led by Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, declared war on the al-Qaida-linked Boko Haram at a security summit in France.

"There is determination to tackle this situation head on...to launch a war, a total war on Boko Haram," said Chad's President Idriss Deby following the Paris talks.

India: Foreign Institutional Investors Bet $17.1bn on Narendra Modi

BJP's Narendra Modi, India's next PM, at a public meeting in Vadodra in the western India state of Gujarat,Reuters

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have placed great trust in India's Prime Minister-to-be Narendra Modi since he was declared as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for the post as evidenced by the huge flow of funds into the country.

The Press Trust of India, citing data from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), reported that foreigners invested more than 1tn Indian rupees ($17.1bn, €12.5bn, £10.2bn) in Indian securities since the BJP announced Modi as its prime ministerial candidate in September 2013.

FIIs have put in about 888bn rupees in Indian equity markets and 134bn rupees in debt markets, representing total investments of about 1.02tn rupees, according to Sebi data.

The increased investment has also boosted the benchmark BSE Sensex by more than 22% since September 2013.

In 2014 alone, they invested more than 740bn rupees in Indian securities, including 410bn rupees in equities and 330bn rupees in debt.

The investors had expected Modi to form a stable government that will undertake much needed reforms in the Indian economy.

The BJP led by Modi secured 282 seats on its own in the latest general election, easily crossing the minimum 272-mark required to form government.

As Modi is due to take oath as prime minister in a few days, FIIs are expected to increase their investments, according to analysts.

Foreign investors have a lot of expectations from Modi, who is known for his investor-friendly policies as the chief minister of the western India state of Gujarat. He was the chief minister of Gujarat for over 12 years, and the state grew at an annual average of about 10%, higher than the national average.

He is taking over the top government office at a time when India's economic growth is slowing down, investments are dwindling and consumer demand is declining.

Modi has to address key problems including faster job creation, infrastructure development, high food inflation and sluggish foreign direct investment.

Hot Shots Photos of the Day: Zombie Attack, Space Debris, Billboard Awards

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Young dancers pose after performing in a national scissors dance competition in Lima. The Danza de las tijeras, or scissors dance, is a traditional dance from the Peruvian southern region of the Andes, in which performers display various moves, which include cutting the air with scissorsReuters

Prince Harry greets children as he arrives at the Maxxi Museum for the unveiling ceremony of the British pavilion at Milan's Expo 2015AFP

Serena Williams poses for a selfie with a supporter as she autographs a ball after winning the women's singles final match against Sara Errani of Italy, at the Rome Masters tennis tournamentReuters

Arsenal players celebrate victory with the trophy after the FA Cup final match against Hull City at Wembley StadiumGetty

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River Plate players (bottom right) celebrate with fans after winning the Argentine first division championship against Quilmes in Buenos AiresReuters

Ukrainian football fans carry flares on a bridge across the Dnieper River in KievReuters

New recruits to the pro-Russian activist movement undergo basic training in the district administration building in DonetskReuters

A 'zombie' attempts to catch a runner's life-line strip during the Zombie Run in BerlinGetty

Lorde performs at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards in Las VegasReuters

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Dolph Lundgren, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Kellan Lutz, Jason Statham and Victor Ortiz – cast members of the film "The Expendables 3" – hold placards which read "Bring back our girls" on the red carpet during the Cannes Film FestivalReuters

A makeshift memorial is seen during a candlelight vigil in Istanbul for the 301 victims of the Soma mining disaster in western TurkeyReuters

This picture shows debris that fell from the sky in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. Objects which crashed to the ground in China have been identified as space debris after a Russian rocket carrying a communications satellite fell back to Earth minutes after lift-offAFP