*CURRENT AFFAIRS (22:08:2014)

1. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Army Chief
of Thailand, takes over as the
Prime Minister of the nation.
- He, the only candidate for the
post, was never supposed to face
any resistance from the 197-
member legislature handpicked
by himself.
- The council voted him through
with 191 votes in favour while the
remaining chose to be absent.
- He had earlier seized power in
May this year, ousting a
democratically elected
government in a bloodless coup.
2. Ex-Irish prime minister 'Albert
Reynolds', who played a key role
in forging peace in Northern
Ireland, dies aged 81.
- He was instrumental in signing
of peace treaty 'Downing Street
Declaration' in 1993 with British
counterpart John Major.
- The agreement paved the way
for lasting peace through Irish
Republican Army cease-fire
followed by another with Loyalist
forces.
3. Cyril Baldock becomes the
oldest person to cross the English
Channel at the age of 70
- The Australian took about 12
hours and 45 minutes to cover
the waterway that separates
England from France.
- Its his second successful swim
after the one in 1985.
4. World's first eco-friendly Hindu
temple comes up in London, UK.
- Shree Swaminarayan Mandir,
located at Kingsbury of northwest
London, features solar panels on
its roof and a rainwater
harvesting system.
5. Bangladesh decides to be a part
of BRICS development Bank.
- The bank, called 'New
Development Bank', is an initiative
of the five emerging economies of
the world namely Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa.