Europe
Germany’s AAA credit rating on negative watch
The credit ratings agency Moody’s has changed its outlook for Germany’s AAA credit rating to negative, the first step towards a possible downgrade. Moody’s said the country was exposed to the risk of a Greek exit from the euro and to Spain’s ongoing difficulties, which may soon require a bailout. The Netherlands and Luxembourg, both AAA-rated, were also put on negative watch. France and Austria lost their AAA ratings earlier this year.
Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson face charges on phone hacking
Eight people, including former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, will face a total of 19 charges relating to phone hacking, according to a statement by the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service. The revelation that News of the World journalists had accessed murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone messages led to the closure of the Sunday tabloid newspaper – one of the world’s biggest – in July last year. Mrs Brooks denied authorising or being aware of phone hacking under her editorship. Mr Coulson served as Prime Minister David Cameron’s communications chief before resigning in January last year, when the phone hacking scandal was at its height.
North America
Dark Knight Rises shooter in court
James Holmes, 24, appeared in a US court yesterday to face accusations of killing 12 people during a showing of the Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado. Prosecutors will formally file charges on 30 July, but it could be at least a year before he actually stands trial. He is likely to face at least 12 counts of first degree murder. Seven of the 58 people wounded by Mr Holmes remain in critical condition.
Central and South America
Peruvian president reshuffles team amid mine protests
Peru’s President Ollanta Humala has reshuffled his cabinet, as many expected, in the face of various domestic discords. One such conflict centred around Oscar Valdes who, as prime minister, cracked down on protesters who opposed development of a huge US-financed gold mine over fears it will harm water supplies. The clashes left five people dead, and Mr Valdes has been replaced by human rights lawyer and former justice minister Juan Jimenez. Mr Jimenez will be President Humala’s third prime minister. The President completes his first year in office on 28 July.
Africa and Middle East
Syria fighting spreads to Aleppo and Homs amid prison revolts
Attempted breakouts by prisoners in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, have left nine dead as security forces quashed the revolt. They are threatening to storm a prison in Homs where similar unrest is brewing. Fighting continues on the streets of Aleppo and the capital, Damascus, as the Syrian army tries to recapture territory lost to the rebels.
According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 116 people were killed yesterday, and 1260 civilians, rebels and government soldiers have died since the fighting intensified on 15 July.
Afghan policemen defect to Taliban
An Afghan police commander named Mirwais and 13 junior officers have defected to the Taliban in Farah province, one of the most unstable areas in relatively peaceful western Afghanistan. When he defected on Sunday, Mirwais was in command of a 20-man checkpoint near a former Taliban stronghold, from which the insurgents were driven in a series of operations by Afghan security forces. Local officials say the insurgents have regrouped in the area recently. Mirwais and his men are said to have taken heavy weapons, radios and police vehicles, including US-made armoured Humvees, and were probably passing intelligence to the Taliban for some time before their defection.
Egypt’s water minister asked to form government
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has appointed Water Minister Hisham Qandil as prime minister, according to state television. Mr Qandil will now form a government, which President Mursi has promised to be inclusive and representative of both women and Christians. The army officially transferred power to President Mursi on 30 June, but retains some significant prerogatives.
Australasia
David Hicks can profit from his memoir after Australia drops case
David Hicks, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, will be allowed to keep the profits from his memoir after Australian prosecutors dropped a case to seize them. Their case was based on a law banning profits from crime. Mr Hicks spent five years at the Cuban detention centre before pleading guilty to providing material support for terrorism. He was then given a seven-year jail sentence, of which all but nine months were suspended, and returned to Australia to serve the term.
About the Author
