World News Roundup: End of military rules in Thailand; China detained Canadian citizen

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Thai prime minister declares end of military rule

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha formally resigned as the head of the military government on Monday, saying the country would function as a normal democracy after five years of military rule. Prayuth stays on as prime minister with the backing of pro-military parties in parliament and a military-appointed upper house under a constitution that critics say stifles democracy and enshrines a political role for the military.

China-friendly Taiwan mayor beats Foxconn's Gou in opposition's presidential primary

A China-friendly mayor in Taiwan on Monday won the opposition party's nomination for the 2020 presidential election, beating Foxconn founder Terry Gou and issuing a direct challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen who is seeking re-election. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu beat four other contenders in a national tally for its primary race, including the billionaire founder of Apple supplier Foxconn.

Climate activists disrupt British cities with 'summer uprising'

Environmental activists sought to sow chaos in five British cities on Monday in a bid to force the government to act to help avert what they cast as a climate cataclysm. The Extinction Rebellion group disrupted London with 11 days of protests in April that it cast as the biggest act of civil disobedience in recent British history. Iconic locations were blocked, the Shell building defaced, trains stopped and Goldman Sachs targeted.

China says Canadian citizen detained for drug offenses

Chinese police have detained a Canadian citizen in relation to a drugs case involving students, China's foreign ministry said on Monday, an incident that comes amid a deep chill in relations between the two countries. Canada's government said on the weekend that a Canadian citizen had been detained in the Chinese city of Yantai in the eastern province of Shandong, though did not provide details.

China says will freeze out U.S. companies that sell arms to Taiwan

China's government and Chinese companies will cut business ties with U.S. firms selling arms to Taiwan, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, declining to give details of the sanctions in a move likely to worsen already poor ties with Washington. China claims self-ruled and democratic Taiwan as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control. China regularly calls Taiwan the most sensitive issue in its relations with the United States.

South Korea calls Japan reports of North Korea sanctions breach 'grave challenge'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday Japan's reported accusations that South Korea had exported banned goods to North Korea posed a "grave challenge" amid a growing dispute over Japanese export curbs. Japan has tightened restrictions on the export of three materials used in high-tech equipment, citing "inadequate management" of sensitive items exported to South Korea.

Hong Kong leader says protesters in latest clashes can be called 'rioters'

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Monday protesters who clashed with police on the weekend were rioters, a legally loaded term in the city, and she supported the police in upholding the law and seeking perpetrators. Lam made the comments at a hospital where she visited three police officers injured in violent disturbances on Sunday between police and demonstrators angry about an extradition bill.

France: has not had satisfactory response from Iran over fate of dual national Adelkhah

France has not received a satisfactory response from Iran over the fate of Franco-Iranian dual national Fariba Adelkhah, who has been arrested in Iran and requests consular access to her without delay, its foreign ministry said on Monday. Adelkhah, who is an academic researcher, was arrested in Iran in June by the Revolutionary Guards for allegedly spying, according to media reports over the weekend.

Japanese women are running for parliament in record numbers, but face many obstacles

When anti-nuclear activist Junko Isogai ran for office in Japan's northern Niigata region, it had an awkward dimension: not just stump speeches and chats with constituents, but entertaining potential backers. "I was asked to pour sake, make flattering conversation and act in a way men wouldn't dislike," Isogai, 45, a mother of two teenage girls, told Reuters. "It was like being a bar hostess."

Britain sees "small window" to salvage nuclear deal, Iran urges Europe to act

Britain said on Monday there was a "small window" of time to save the Iran nuclear deal, as Tehran signaled it would ramp up its nuclear program -- seen by the West as a cover for making atomic bombs -- if Europe failed to do more to salvage the pact. U.S.-Iranian tensions have worsened since U.S. President Donald Trump decided last year to abandon the nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to curtail its atomic program in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling it's economy.

Also Read: UPDATE 3-China-friendly Taiwan mayor beats Foxconn's Gou in opposition party's presidential primary