Ukraine reintroduces military conscription

Government forces 'move on Sloviansk'

Ukraine is bringing back military conscription with immediate effect to deal with a spreading pro-Moscow insurgency in its east.

Interim president, Oleksandr Turchynov, has issued a decree to bolster Ukraine's defence capabilities.


He says Western-backed authorities in Kiev are "powerless" to stop pro-Russian separatists in the east from taking over public buildings.

Ukrainian government forces are reported to have launched an operation in the city of Sloviansk.

The city is a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists who are exerting increasing control in eastern Ukraine.

News agencies report gunfire, explosions and a military helicopter firing on the outskirts of the city.

But the BBC's Sarah Rainsford has spoken to separatists at checkpoints near the city who say there is no fighting in their sectors.

Russian television channels are saying that the city is being "stormed".

Earlier, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov reinstated military conscription to deal with deteriorating security in the east of the country.

Ukraine's interim prime minister said on Thursday his country was entering its "most dangerous 10 days" since independence in 1991 and was struggling to counter pro-Russian separatists on the verge of taking over the industrialized eastern heartland.

Arseniy Yatseniuk, in an interview with the Financial Times, accused Moscow of plotting to foment more clashes during the May Day holidays when nostalgia for Soviet victories and achievements tends to peak.

Pro-Russians strengthened their grip on the east of Ukraine on Thursday, storming the regional prosecutor's office in the town of Donetsk driving the police out and ransacking the building. The Kiev authorities fear the secessionists will put on a bigger show of strength on May 9, the commemoration of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

The move, announced in a decree, came as pro-Russia militants seized the regional prosecutor's office in the city of Donetsk, an industrial hub where a number of government offices have been seized in recent weeks.

Eastern Ukraine has a large Russian-speaking population and was a stronghold for President Viktor Yanukovych before he was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.
The crisis has plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russia in a phone call to President Vladimir Putin to help free foreign monitors held in eastern Ukraine.

The military observers were seized by pro-Russia separatists at a checkpoint in the flashpoint town of Sloviansk last Friday.

For his part, Mr Putin reiterated his call for Kiev to withdraw troops from the south-east to open the way for a national dialogue.

Mrs Merkel is due to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine

Thailand will hold general election in July

Thailand

has been without a fully functioning government or parliament since December. Election Commission secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said the new voting date had been decided during talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday. 

 Ms Yingluck to resign to make way for an unelected "people's council" to oversee political reforms before elections are held. Ms Yingluck is pushing for new polls as soon as possible to shore up her position in the face of a series of legal challenges that could force her from office.

 She is accused of dereliction of duty linked to a loss-making rice subsidy scheme and the improper transfer of a senior civil servant. she was worried about a looming charter court ruling in the Thawil Pliensri transfer case that could threaten her future as prime minister and that of the entire cabinet. Last month the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the transfer of Mr Thawil as National Security Council secretary-general was unlawful and ordered him to be reinstated. Mr Thawil was removed in September 2011, paving the way for then police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree to replace him and Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, a relative of Ms Yingluck, to succeed Pol Gen Wichean as police chief.

Speaking to reporters at the Defence Ministry Thursday, Ms Yingluck said she will consult with her lawyers whether she will testify in person to the court on May 6.''I am worried about this issue as the Supreme Administrative Court has already ruled on the case. But I will do my best to clarify the matter,'' Ms Yingluck said, adding that she did not want to speculate on the future. The prime minister also said she hoped the charter court will rule on the case based on the facts and the rule of law.Charter court spokesman Pimon Thampitakpong said that on May 6 the court is expected to either fix the date for the ruling on the case or seek additional documents if evidence is still incomplete.Meanwhile, former Democrat prime minister Chuan Leekpai said the problems plaguing the country now had to do with the government's mishandling of policies and using unlawful approaches in administration.Speaking at the 16th anniversary of the Constitutional Court under the theme of "Political reform under the rule of law,'' he said the southern insurgent violence and judicial killings were cases in point."The rule of law is a part of good governance. Adhering to the law to administer the country will bring peace to the country. However, there will be new problems if the government resorts to unlawful approaches (in dealing with national administration),'' he said, alleging that on many occasions, the rule of law has been violated.The government has not put the right people in the right job, he added.Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the King Prajadhipok's Institute, said the Constitutional Court should have the authority to decide on its own what section of the charter to alter, if such content warrants amending.He stressed upholding the rule of law was imperative in allowing the country to progress and anyone who undermines the rule of law also destroys democracy.National reform should cast aside populist policies and change them so they are more in tune with state welfare programmes since they use state budget and they incur debt burdens to be passed on to future governments, Mr Borwornsak said.He added the country's current tax structure should also be changed.Since November, Thailand has been shaken by months of political violence that has left 25 people dead and hundreds wounded, including many anti-government protesters, in grenade attacks and shootings. The country has been bitterly divided since a coup in 2006 ousted Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister. He still wields huge influence from his self-exile in Dubai, where he lives to avoid prison for a corruption conviction.

PERFECT STORM CAPTION George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Are Engaged

George Clooney might be heading down the aisle soon. One of Hollywood’s most sought after leading men stepped out on April 24 with girlfriend Amal Alamuddin, who, according to a source, was sporting a ring on her left ring finger.

Today we declare george clooney husband of amal alamuddin.

Amal Alamuddin, was rocking that diamond on her left hand ring finger as she andGeorge Clooney, 52, stepped out in LA on the night of April 24. Amal’s band now has people asking if these two are engaged?

were first linked romantically in October

Are George Clooney and British lawyer Amal Alamuddin Engaged?The engagement story bubbled up after Clooney and his lawyer girlfriend Amal Alamuddin were spotted Thursday dining at Nobu in Malibu with friends Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber. Not an unusual evening out, except for the fact that, according to People sources, Alamuddin was sporting a big rock on her left-hand ring finger.UPDATE: People Magazine has confirmed that yes George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin are engaged! A source with knowledge of the duo’s relationship confirms George popped the question and told the magazine, “George and Amal are trying to keep things very low-key but they also aren’t really trying to hide this, it doesn’t seem. I think it’s like they want the people they love to know that this is real, that they plan on being together forever.”The power couple were out on a double date at a Malibu hot spot called Nobu with Cindy Crawford and husband Rande Gerber. Both are long time pals of George and if you can remember it was Rande who was at the table with George when he reportedly went off on casino mogul Steve Wynn during a heated argument.