Africa
Eleven dead in suicide bombing at Nigerian barracks church as gunmen attack police HQ
Suicide bombers have attacked a church inside a military barracks in Kaduna state in northern Nigeria, killing 11 people and injuring 30, officials say. A military spokesman said two vehicles were driven into the barracks in Jaji in an attack he described as “surprising and an embarrassment”. It is unclear who was responsible for the attack yesterday, but the army suspects Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has recently targeted churches in the state. Boko Haram are also suspected to be behind a separate incident today in which gunmen attacked a police base in the capital city, Abuja. Boko Haram militants are often held at the base, said local police. The attack was repelled, but unconfirmed reports say some detainees were freed. Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose Sharia law nationwide. On Friday, Nigeria’s military offered a reward of 50m naira ($317,000) for help in locating Abubakar Shekau, the suspected leader of Boko Haram, and 10m each for other senior figures in the group.
Mohammed Mursi meets senior judges over his powers
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has been meeting with senior judges to try to ease a crisis over the extent of his powers. The meetings follow a decree giving him extensive new powers, which was announced on Thursday. The announcement sparked violent national protests and a 9% drop in Egypt’s stock market. Mr Mursi said yesterday that the decree was temporary and not intended to concentrate power in his hands. He was committed to finding “common ground” with other parties, he said, and hoped to reach consensus on a new constitution, which is currently being drafted. He said the decree was intended to prevent democratically elected bodies from being undermined.
Asia
Protests in Dhaka after factory fire kills over 100
Thousands of people have protested in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka after a fire at a garment factory killed more than 100 people over the weekend. Demonstrators blocked roads, threw stones and attacked vehicles in the industrial suburb of Ashulia, demanding justice for those who died and better protection for other workers – the building reportedly lacked fire exits. Hundreds of factories are shut. The government says tomorrow will be a national day of morning. Another factory fire is being brought under control today, officials said – there are no reports of deaths from the second blaze, though at least eight workers are said to have suffered injuries. The cause is now being investigated. Fatal fires are common in Bangladesh’s large garment manufacturing sector – lax safety standards, poor wiring and overcrowding are blamed for causing several deadly factory fires each year.
Middle East
Syrian cluster bomb ‘kills ten children’
Activists in Syria say a MiG fighter jet belonging to the government has dropped a cluster bomb on a playground in a village east of Damascus, leaving ten children dead. Video posted on the internet shows children’s bodies on the ground with their mothers grieving over them. Intensive fighting continues around Damascus, with rebels capturing at least part of an airbase yesterday.
Israeli Defence minister Ehud Barak quits politics
The Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has announced he will quit politics after the general election next January. Mr Barak, who was Israel’s prime minister between 1999 and 2001, said he would like to concentrate on his personal life. “I want to study, to write, to live and have a good time,” he told reporters. Mr Barak said he would remain as defence minister until a new government is formed. The announcement brings to a close a 53-year career in Israel’s military and political establishment.
Europe
Separatists win majority in Catalonia election
Voters in Spanish Catalonia have given a majority to parties seeking the region’s independence. However, the majority was split between two separatist parties, with the left-wing ERC gaining seats from the centre-right CiU, whose leader Artur Mas is the current Catalan President. Mr Mas called the early elections after a funding row with the central government in Madrid, which has accused him of trying to exploit the economic crisis and looking for excuses after nearly running out of money. The CiU remains the largest bloc with 50 of 135 seats, but this is down 62 from the last elections, with the ERC winning 21 seats. It is suggested that the two parties may be unable to work together given their differences on issues other than Catalan independence. Mr Mas has said he will consult the people on independence within the next four years. “I am happy with tonight’s results,” he said, “but not as happy as I could have been.”
EU ministers prepare for third meeting on aid for Greece
Eurozone finance ministers are set to meet in Brussels today for further discussions regarding the next instalment of bailout money for debt-ridden Greece. The country is due roughly €31bn ($40bn) in bailout loans. This will be the third such meeting in two weeks, with Greece originally supposed to get the money in May and being forced to survive on emergency loans since then. The meeting is aimed not only at approving the bailout but at reaching agreement among the 17 eurozone members over a long-term plan to return Greece to financial health: the objective is to reduce Greece’s debt to 120% of GDP in the next eight to ten years – it is due to reach 190% next year. Until they can agree a strategy for this, eurozone ministers are reluctant to release more loans to the country for fear the support will become permanent.
About the Author
