Europe
Eurozone unemployment reaches new heights
Unemployment in the eurozone hit a fresh high of 18.2 million in August, according to the EU statistics agency. The number of people out of work rose by 49,000, but revised data for July meant the unemployment rate remained stable at a record high of 11.4%. The highest unemployment rate was recorded in Spain, where 25.1% of the workforce does not have a job, and the lowest – 4.5% – was recorded in Austria. Across the wider European Union, unemployment rose by 34,000, with the rate stabled at 10.5%.
EADS and BAE bosses appeal for political support for proposed merger
Ian King and Tom Enders, the bosses of aerospace and defence giants BAE Systems and EADS, have issued a joint appeal for support for their proposed $45bn merger. The statement is published this morning in UK, French and German newspapers. The French and German governments are keen to maintain their interests in EADS, and the French media conglomerate Lagardere, a key EADS shareholder, expressed reservations over the deal on Monday. The British government can also block the deal by virtue of a golden share it owns in BAE – the UK parliament’s defence committee has launched its own review of the deal and its impact on UK defence policy, national security, and on BAE’s relations with the US Pentagon, one of its biggest clients. Further, the markets appear to have taken the view that the deal is better for the UK’s BAE than for Franco-German EADS, with shares in the latter company falling 17% since news of the merger negotiations was first leaked on 12 September, while BAE shares have held steady.
Latin America
Venezuelan president’s rival holds large election rally
Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition candidate, has drawn a huge crowd of supporters for his final campaign rally in the country’s capital, Caracas. Mr Capriles criticised President Hugo Chavez for a long list of unfulfilled promises, and demanded justice for three opposition activists killed during a rally in Barinas state on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of Caracas yesterday to voice their support for Mr Capriles, who said: “I think this is the biggest rally Caracas has ever seen”. Meanwhile Mr Chavez addressed large crowds in Zulia state, promising to deepen socialism after the election, to be held on 7 October.
Africa and Middle East
Nato troops among casualties in Afghan suicide bomb
A suicide bombing attack in the eastern Afghan city of Khost has killed at least 14 people, three of them Nato soldiers, according to officials. Taliban insurgents have claimed responsibility for the attack, which also killed four Afghan police and at least six civilians. Sixty people were wounded. The bomber targeted a coalition convoy passing through a crowded part of Khost, which is near the Pakistani border. Witnesses said the attacker waited for troops to exit their vehicles before detonating the bomb. Nato did not confirm the nationalities of the soldiers, but US troops are known to operate in the area.
Asia and Russia
Japan introduces piracy penalties for illegal downloads
Japan-based internet users who infringe copyright by downloading files will face up to two years in prison, or fines of up to two million yen ($25,700), after a change to the law. Such activity has been illegal since 2010 but until now had not invoked these penalties. The new punishments follow a lobbying campaign by the country’s music industry. Critics said efforts should have remained focused on stopping users making such material available: in Japan, illegal uploads of copyright-infringing music and videos carry a maximum 10 year prison sentence and a 10 million yen fine. Sales figures suggest the country is the world’s second-largest music market after the US.
Russian court adjourns Pussy Riot appeal hearing
The hearing for punk band Pussy Riot’s appeal against their jail sentence has been adjourned until 10 October, due to a dispute about the defence lawyers. Band member Yekaterina Samutsevich argued with the judge, claiming her request for a different defence lawyer had not been met. The band’s lawyers have said they doubt the appeal will be successful. The band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” in August and sentenced to two years in jail, sparking condemnation and accusations of politically-motivated censorship in many parts of the world.
India Trinamool Congress protests against reforms
The Trinamool Congress, a key regional party that withdrew from India’s ruling coalition over its decision to open the retail sector to global supermarket chains, is holding a protest in Delhi. It is the first such protest in the capital by the Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, who is chief minister of West Bengal state and a powerful regional leader. An MP representing her party, KD Singh, said the Delhi protest was to show “solidarity with the ordinary people who have been hurt by the reforms”, which would allow global firms – such as Walmart and Tesco – to buy up to a 51% stake in multi-brand retailers in India, enabling them to sell directly to Indian consumers. The government says the reforms are necessary to revive the economy. The Trinamool Congress’s six ministers quit the government last month and its 19 MPs will no longer back the coalition in parliament. However, analysts say the government’s majority is not at immediate risk: it still has the support of over 300 MPs, and needs 272 to stay in power.
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