Erstellt am: 23. 5. 2014 - 14:17 Uhr

Reality Check: Thailand's military tightens control

The latest from the Military coup in Thailand; EU elections: this time it's different; Maidan Square, Ukraine; Slovakia and the EU; Malaria vaccine breakthrough.

EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Thai anti-government protesters pray at the Royal Plaza near the Government House, following the army declared coup in Bangkok, Thailand, 22 May 2014

Thailand: What now?

Thailand under the military: One day after the Thai army took control of the country and imposed a curfew we return to the capital Bangkok to get a first-hand report from our correspondent Tony Cheng. How safe is it for tourists, what have been the latest moves by the military and is democracy likely to return to Thailand anytime soon?

EU elections: Campaigning

There is definitely a different kind of feel to these European parliamentary elections. A major reason for this is the fact that the various factions in the European parliament have put forward candidates for the post of Commission president: Suddenly your vote really does seem to matter. Even though campaigning for the elections has concentrated on national rather than European issues, there are those who think these elections could signal a dramatic turning point in European parliamentary Democracy.

EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

A pink bunny rabbit and doves of peace on Maidan Square ahead of presidential elections on Sunday

Ukraine / Maidan

Another very important set of elections is taking place this Sunday; the presidential elections in Ukraine. Separatists in the east of the country have vowed that they will prevent any voting iin regions under their control and, whilst Russia says it has started removing its forces from the country’s border, there is still a large Russian military presence there. It’s been a rough year for Ukraine and today we return to where it all started to find out what the situation is like on Maidan Square in Kiev. We speak to Thomas Seifert from the Wiener Zeitung.

Slovakia

EU parliamentary elections are under way. The UK and Netherlands voted yesterday, Ireland and the Czech Republic will vote today and the rest of Europe votes at the weekend including Austria and Slovakia who both vote on Sunday. Slovakia is celebrating 10 years of EU membership and has seen rapid economic growth. Chris Cummins is in Bratislava.

EPA/U.S.

A mosquito "Anopheles quadrimaculatus", which can trasmit Malaria gets ready to bite

Malaria vaccine breakthrough?

Scientists seeking a vaccine against malaria, which kills a child every minute in Africa, have developed a promising new approach. The researchers said today that an experimental vaccine based on this idea protected mice in five trials and will be tested on lab monkeys beginning in the next four to six weeks. The impetus for the new approach has come from a group of children in Tanzania, where malaria is endemic, who seem to have a natural resistance to the disease.