Europe
George Soros calls for Germany to “lead or leave the euro”
International financier George Soros, writing in Monday’s New York Review of Books, has called for Germany to “lead or leave the euro”. The comments will be repeated in a speech in Berlin later today and come days before a crucial ruling by Germany’s constitutional court on the eurozone’s bailout fund. Mr Soros has said the eurozone should aim for economic growth rates of 5%, which would require the currency bloc to accept higher inflation and abandon German-backed austerity measures, he says. He also backed a new European Fiscal Authority, funded by VAT receipts, to oversee eurozone government finances.
North America
Navy SEAL gives interview on Bin Laden book
The first interview has been aired with a former US special forces soldier who wrote the book No Easy Day, a first-hand account of the May 2011 raid in which Osama Bin Laden was killed. The ex-Navy SEAL, who writes under the pseudonym Mark Owen, was interviewed by the US television network CBS. His book contradicts the official version of events by claiming that Bin Laden was shot as soon as he put his head round his bedroom door, while US officials have stated he was shot only after he had ducked back into the bedroom, in concern that he might be reaching for a weapon. Mr Owen also told of a later meeting with President Obama at which the SEAL team refused to tell him which of them had shot Bin Laden. The Pentagon has said it may sue Mr Owen for divulging military secrets.
Latin America
Defeated Mexican presidential candidate to form new movement
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the defeated candidate in Mexico’s recent presidential election, has announced he is leaving his left-wing coalition to form a new political youth movement, to be named Morena. He said he left the coalition on good terms, after losing two presidential elections: “this isn’t a rupture,” he said. Analysts say his departure from the main coalition could weaken the left in Mexico. The announcement came yesterday in a speech to tens of thousands of his supporters in Mexico City’s Zocalo Square. Mr Lopez Obrador had refused to accept the results of July’s poll, claiming it was fraudulent, and had demanded a recount.
Three thousand people evacuated as volcano erupts in Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan government says about 3,000 people are being evacuated from areas near the San Cristobal volcano, which is spewing ash and gas in a dramatic plume stretching miles into the atmosphere. The eruptions began on Saturday morning shortly after powerful explosions were heard. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo said up to 20,000 people could potentially be affected by the activity, as more gas emissions and sporadic explosions are expected. The 1,745-metre high volcano is the highest mountain in Nicaragua and one of the most active along the country’s Pacific Coast. The weekend’s eruption launched a 2.5-mile-high column of ash and smoke into the atmosphere.
Middle East and Africa
Car bomb kills 17 in Aleppo
Syrian state news agency Sana has reported the deaths of at least 17 people in a car bomb attack in the country’s largest city, Aleppo. According to the agency, the blast did significant damage to two hospitals and a school. The rebelling Free Syrian Army said it attacked the facilities because they were being used by government troops. The attack comes as the United Nations’ new special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, holds talks with the Arab League and Egyptian officials ahead of meetings in Damascus.
US hands over controversial jail in Afghanistan
The US military has handed control of the controversial Bagram prison, which houses more than 3,000 Taliban fighters and terrorism suspects, to the Afghan authorities. The move is part of a deal to transfer all Afghan prisons back to local control ahead of the withdrawal of Nato forces at the end of 2014. Bagram prison has been at the centre of a number of prisoner abuse allegations. Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed the handover, though some disagreements with the USA remain: Washington is insisting it will maintain control over some of the prison’s detainees, for instance. Bagram prison, now known as the Parwan Detention Centre, lies about 25 miles north of the capital, Kabul.
Asia and Russia
Outrage over arrest of cartoonist in India
This weekend’s arrest of Indian anti-corruption cartoonist Aseem Trivedi has been condemned by India’s media and a number of prominent citizens, calling it a “wrongful act”. Mr Trivedi was held in the city of Mumbai on charges of sedition, for his cartoons allegedly mocking the Indian constitution. He was also charged with insulting the national flag and is in custody until 16 September. If convicted of sedition, he faces a possible three-year jail sentence. Markandey Katju, Chairman of the Press Council of India and speaking to the Hindu newspaper, said “from the information I have gathered, the cartoonist did nothing illegal and, in fact, arresting him was an illegal act… it is those who arrested him who should be arrested.” Mr Katju is a former Supreme Court judge and argued politicians should learn to accept criticism. “This kind of behaviour is not acceptable in a democracy,” he added.
About the Author
