THAILAND: The so-called National Reform Council announced yesterday that it has selected a 250-member drafting committee to write a new national constitution.
The council was set up by the military, which abolished an earlier constitution after seizing power in a May 22 coup, and has been officially endorsed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The new council is dominated by people close to the country’s traditional ruling elite.

CYPRUS: Foreign Minister Ioanis Kasoulides warned yesterday that Turkey’s stated intention to search for oil and gas in waters already leased by Nicosia to an Italian-South Korean consortium could upset reunification talks.
Mr Kasoulides said that productive negotiations could not continue “under such conditions of provocation.”
Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides called Turkey’s move a “serious breach” of Cypriot sovereign rights as well as those of the Eni and Kogas corporations.

POLAND: New Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg stepped into his warmongering predecessor Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s shoes yesterday, rattling his sabre during a visit to Poland.
He praised Poland for its contributions to the alliance, including plans to increase military spending to 2 per cent of GDP and its offer to host a Nato conference in 2016.
Mr Stoltenberg stressed that Nato would protect and defend each of its allies.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The National newspaper revealed yesterday that Iran has released its correspondent Yeganeh Salehi on bail.
Ms Salehi’s husband, Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, remains in detention.
The Abu Dhabi-based newspaper said that Ms Salehi had been allowed to visit her husband who has US and Iranian citizenship.

UKRAINE: Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced delivery of two drones to his country yesterday so international observers can monitor the ceasefire between government forces and anti-fascist resistance in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Yatsenyuk said that the drones would be given to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe after being cleared by customs.
LEBANON: Mosques in the eastern Bekaa valley announced funerals yesterday for eight Hezbollah fighters killed on Sunday by Jabhat al-Nusra forces.
The al-Qaida Syrian affiliate attacked Hezbollah positions along the Syrian border, in an assault called “huge, strong and fast.”
The fighting on Sunday lasted for several hours before the Nusra forces retreated.

KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta disclosed yesterday that he will attend a status conference hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague this week — but not as president.
Mr Kenyatta told parliament that he is invoking a previously unused constitutional article to step down temporarily as president while Deputy President William Ruto fills the role.
He said that his trial on crimes against humanity charges stemming from the country’s 2007-08 post-election violence had nothing to do with the office of the presidency.

PALESTINE: Unity government ministers will hold their first Cabinet meeting in Gaza on Thursday.
Its purpose is to “see the situation on the ground and to send a message to the donors’ conference that the government is ready to start reconstruction soon,” he said, referring to next weekend’s pledging conference at which President Mahmoud Abbas will seek $4 billion in aid for Gaza.
Mr Mustafa added that 3,000 troops loyal to President Abbas will take up positions in Gaza soon.