Europe
Recession in UK deepens
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that theUK’s economic output fell by 0.7% in Q2 this year. This contraction is bigger than expected, and was attributed to a slowdown in the construction sector by the ONS. Chancellor George Osborne said “given what’s happening in the world, we need a relentless focus on the economy and recent announcements on infrastructure and lending show that’s exactly what we’re doing.” Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said “if these figures don’t make the chancellor wake up and change course, then I don’t know what will.”
Scotland to introduce gay marriage
Ministers of the Scottish National Party (SNP), in power in Scotland, have confirmed they will bring forward a bill to legalise gay marriage. The change would make Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to permit full gay marriages. Political leaders and equality groups have welcomed the move, but it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church of Scotland.
North America
Gun sales in Colorado up since cinema shooting
In the three days after last week’s tragic shooting in a Colorado cinema, applications for the background checks needed to legally buy firearms in the state soared by 43% compared with the previous week, say law officials. The shooting left 12 people dead and 58 injured, of whom 20 are still in hospital. The suspected gunman appeared in court for the first time on Monday.
Latin America
Venezuela to withdraw from regional human rights court
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said his country will no longer recognise the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. His statement follows the court’s ruling that Venezuela violated the rights of prisoner Raul Diaz by holding him in “inhumane” jail conditions. President Chavez has branded the ruling a travesty of justice. In May, President Chavez also threatened to withdraw from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – both the court and commission are autonomous bodies of the Organisation of American States (OAS), which President Chavez has accused of being a US pawn used to undermine left-leaning governments.
Asia and Russia
IMF: eurozone crisis a “key risk” to Chinese growth
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the worsening debt crisis in the eurozone represents a “key risk” toChina’s future growth. Its analysis also cautioned of domestic risks, particularly from an unexpectedly sharp slowdown in the property market, but said China had plenty of room and tools to “respond forcefully”. Growth in China slowed to 7.6% in Q2 this year – a three-year low.
Burmese opposition calls for minority rights
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s official opposition, has called for laws to protect the rights of ethnic minority groups in her first parliamentary statement. Burma has undergone a series of political reforms initiated by the military-backed government, but some parts of the country are still affected by conflict. Ms Suu Kyi was speaking in support of a motion by an MP from the country’s ruling party, and also highlighted the problem of poverty in ethnic minority areas. She was elected to parliament in by-elections in April this year after being freed from house arrest late in 2010.
Africa and Middle East
Syrian soldiers redeployed to Aleppo from Turkish border
Thousands of Syrian army forces are being moved from the border with Turkey to reinforce the government amid fierce fighting in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, activists have claimed. Attack helicopters and fighter jets have also been deployed against the rebels. Government forces have managed to substantially contain a rebel assault on the capital, Damascus.
Fresh violence in Darfur, Sudan
Rebel fighters from Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have clashed with the Sudanese government’s forces in East Darfur. Sudan’s army said it had killed more than 50 rebels as they were expelled from two parts of the region, while the JEM said it had seized three towns near the Abu Jabra oilfield. The Darfur war began in 2003 and has continued sporadically ever since, with Sudan accusing the new nation of South Sudan of supporting various Darfuri rebel groups – a charge South Sudanese leaders deny.
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