Tens thousands

Tens of thousands of people in Fiji are living in evacuation centres after Cyclone Winston tore across the South Pacific country last week, the United Nations Children’s Fund has said. The total number of people forced from their homes in the archipelago nation of more than 300 islands is expected to be much higher as many fled to relatives and are not included in the data. Cyclone Winston, the worst storm recorded in the southern hemisphere, left 42 people dead, according Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office. The category-five storm also left many without water and it could be weeks before electricity is restored in some areas. Australia has sent a military vessel, HMAS Canberra, which is expected to arrive in Fijian waters early this week. It is carrying three helicopters and 60 tonnes of supplies, including water purification equipment and medicine. There are fewer than a million people living in Fiji, spread out on islands thousands of square miles apart, making … [Read more...] about Cyclone Winston: tens of thousands homeless in Fiji a week after storm

Fancy ditching work for a bit and doing something else for a while, like travelling the world? Turns out plenty of us are doing just that - the website thecareerbreaksite.com reckons that as many as 90,000 people in the UK take a career break every year. According to jobs site Adzuna , almost half (48%) of us have a gap of at least one month on our CVs. The average gap length for men stands at 8.6 months, rising to 10.2 months for women. There are all sorts of different reasons for there being a gap in your CV. For many people it will be down to parenthood, taking a bit of time off from work to extend maternity or paternity cover or simply to devote our full energies to the raising of the kids. There are other rather different career gaps too though. While a gap year is generally associated with those either about to head to university or just finishing up their studies, the number of older people opting to jack in work and go travelling has led to the term ‘gap year for grown … [Read more...] about Why a gap in your CV could cost you thousands – unless you do this

A chronology of key events9th century - Founding of Kievan Rus, the first major Eastern Slavonic state. The traditional account, a matter of debate among historians, attributes its founding to the semi-legendary Viking (or Varangian) leader Oleg, ruler of Novgorod, who went on to seize Kiev which, owing to its strategic location on the Dnieper River, became the capital of Kievan Rus.10th century - Rurik dynasty established, and the rule of Prince Vladimir the Great (Prince Volodymyr in Ukrainian) heralds start of a golden age. In 988 he accepts Orthodox Christianity and begins conversion of Kievan Rus, thus setting the course for Christianity in the east. 11th century - Kievan Rus reaches its peak under Yaroslav the Wise (grand prince 1019-1054), with Kyiv becoming eastern Europe's chief political and cultural centre. Foreign domination1237-40 - Mongols invade the Rus … [Read more...] about Ukraine profile – Timeline

Myanmar has signed a ceasefire deal with eight armed rebel groups, in the hope of ending decades of conflict.President Thein Sein said the deal had opened up the "road to future peace" in Myanmar, also known as Burma.But the most active of rebel groups have not signed the agreement, which comes after two years of negotiations. Myanmar has been engaged in armed conflict with various ethnic and other groups seeking greater autonomy since independence from the British in 1948.The violence has left tens of thousands dead over the years, displaced hundreds of thousands more and has been used by the military to justify its long hold on political power. Resolving the conflicts is seen as central to Myanmar's attempts to reform after decades of military rule. 'Peaceful future'The government hopes Thursday's deal - which comes weeks ahead of general elections - will be the first step on a path to a lasting political settlement. Speaking at the lavish signing ceremony in the capital, Nay Pyi … [Read more...] about Myanmar signs peace deal with armed rebel groups

The government and military in Myanmar are holding landmark peace talks with armed ethnic groups as part of efforts to bring an end to decades of conflict.The meeting in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, involving 17 groups, is being opened by Aung San Suu Kyi and attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.Negotiations on a permanent peace are expected to last months if not years.But opening the five-day talks, Aung San Suu Kyi said unity was essential for Myanmar's future."So long as we are unable to achieve national reconciliation and national unity, we will never be able to establish a sustainable and durable peaceful union," she told attendees. "Only if our country is at peace will we be able to stand on an equal footing with the other countries in our region and across the world."Mr Ban has said the talks are "an important first step".Why are the talks happening now?Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been plagued by violence since gaining independence in 1948, involving ethnic minority … [Read more...] about Myanmar ethnic groups attend government peace talks