 » Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation withdrew its controversial bid to take full control of BSkyB, Britain's biggest satellite-television broadcaster. This followed Mr Murdoch's abrupt closure of the News of the World, a tabloid whose journalistic malpractice has damaged his company. Amid further rumours and revelations, David Cameron came under more pressure for having once employed the journalist who is central to the allegations as his communications director. See article » As many as 129 people were feared to have drowned when an overcrowded tourist boat capsized and sank on Russia's Volga river. » Deputies belonging to Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party agreed to take their parliamentary oaths, ending a two-week dispute. But 36 deputies backed by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party continued to boycott parliament over the imprisonment of five colleagues. See article » The defence minister and military chief of Cyprus resigned after an explosion at a naval base that killed 13 people, including the head of the navy. Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace, accusing the authorities of negligence.
Marvellous Mauricio  » Mauricio Macri won the first round of the mayoral election in Buenos Aires with 47% of the vote. The conservative incumbent is the clear favourite to beat Daniel Filmus, the chosen candidate of Cristina Fernández, Argentina's president, in a run-off on July 31st. » Facundo Cabral, an Argentine folk singer, was shot dead two days after giving a performance in Guatemala. Local authorities say that his promoter was the target of the attack. Two suspects have been detained. » Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that soldiers charged with human-rights abuses should be tried in civilian rather than military courts. Pressure groups argue that the military justice system is ineffective and promotes impunity. Hundreds of abuse complaints have been filed since the army was deployed to fight drug gangs in 2006. » Miners at Chile's state-owned copper giant, Codelco, went on strike to protest against job cuts and an overhaul of benefits. Their union warned that the changes are the first steps towards privatisation.
Talking the talk » Negotiations rumbled on between the White House and Congress on raising America's federal-debt ceiling. As the discussions became increasingly acrimonious, credit-rating agencies reiterated warnings that they are prepared to downgrade American debt if the impasse remains. See article » Texas caused a diplomatic furore by executing Humberto Leal Garcìa, a Mexican national convicted of murdering a 16-year-old girl. The International Court of Justice has ruled that foreign nationals must be granted access to consular advice when arrested, which Garcìa was denied. Mexico condemned his execution. García had lived in America since the age of two. » Leon Panetta paid his first visit as American defence secretary to Afghanistan and Iraq. In Baghdad the former CIA boss urged the Iraqi government to choose whether it wants a contingent of American troops to stay in the country after the end of the year, when the United States is due to withdraw its forces.
Terror returns  » Indian cities were put on high alert after three bombs exploded in Mumbai during the rush hour, killing at least 17 people and injuring scores more. It was the worst terrorist incident in India's financial capital since a co-ordinated attack by gunmen in 2008. See article » Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, reshuffled his cabinet but left his most senior ministers in place. His flashy former environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, moved to rural affairs. » Ahmed Wali Karzai, a half-brother to the president of Afghanistan and the pre-eminent power-broker in Kandahar, was assassinated at his residence by a trusted lieutenant. His death leaves a void at the centre of one of the country's most restive provinces. See article » America announced that it is to suspend $800m from the security funding it gives to Pakistan, which includes money to root out the Taliban along the Afghan border. Relations between America and Pakistan have become ever more strained since the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May. Pakistan has kicked out American military advisers—and says it may now withdraw forces from the borderlands. See article » Australia's government unveiled plans for a carbon tax to take effect in July 2012, which would charge A$23 ($25) per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted by each of the country's heaviest polluters. The previous government collapsed because of its failure to pass a climate-change bill. Resistance to the new tax is widespread. See article » At least 20,000 people marched through Kuala Lumpur, in the biggest demonstration in Malaysia's capital for years. The protesters were demanding electoral reforms; many were arrested. See article » Three Catholic bishops went missing in China, days before they were due to appear at a state-sanctioned ordination ceremony. Their disappearance comes amid heightened tension between China's government and the Vatican.
Walk like an Egyptian » Thousands of Egyptians marched in central Cairo to demand the removal of the ruling military council and to call for faster political reform. Meanwhile, 700 police officers implicated in the killing of protesters in January and February were sacked. » The American and French ambassadors in Syria visited the embattled city of Hama to protest against an ongoing government crackdown. In response, mobs attacked their embassies in Damascus.  » Israel's parliament passed a law that would punish any Israeli person or organisation advocating a boycott of goods from Jewish settlements on the West Bank. Israeli human-rights groups say the law undermines freedom of speech. » South Sudan celebrated, as it became independent from Sudan on July 9th. The United Nations soon admitted the country as its 193rd member. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment