Top stories from DAWNS Digest
Iran Nuke Deal to Kick in January 20
All the final details have been worked out, though a comprehensive agreement is not quite near. Still, progress is encouraging. “Under the interim agreement, Iran would stop enriching uranium beyond 5 percent, a level that would be sufficient for energy production but that would require further enrichment for making bombs. Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 20 percent would be diluted or converted to oxide so that it could not be readily used for military purposes. Iran agreed not to install any new centrifuges, start up any that were not already operating or build new enrichment facilities.” (NYT http://nyti.ms/1eNXlPH)
Massive Protests in Bangkok
More unrest in Thailand. “Opposition protesters in Thailand are gathering in the capital Bangkok to try to shut down the city centre. It is part of their campaign to overthrow the government before snap elections due on 2 February.The government has deployed 18,000 police and soldiers but the protesters are building barricades and occupying key road junctions. Election officials have asked the government to delay the election by three months on security grounds. But a Deputy Prime Minister, Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, told BBC News this was not possible. Protesters say Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is a proxy for her exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in 2006.” (BBC http://bbc.in/1eNXPp2)