Middle East
Peace-talks halted between Israel and Palestine
A dispute has halted talks between Israel and Palestine. Israeli authorities are due to construct over 4,000 homes on occupied land in the West bank and East Jerusalem. Israeli officials say that of this, 3, 000 are ready to go a head whilst the remaining 1,000 projects are having their planning permissions sped up. The move comes just a day after the United Nations upgraded the status of Palestine, allowing it more influence as a non-member observer state. Currently around half a million Jews live on the West Bank and East Jerusalem, despite observers maintaining that they are there illegally under international law. Palestine has said it will not participate in negotiations until the projects are halted.
Europe
Unemployment rate continues to decline in Euro-Zone
Unemployment in the Eurozone hit a record high last month, with an averaged rate of 11.7%. This follows previous months of a steady incline. The European Central Bank (ECB) released the figures today, including those indicating consumer price rises slowed significantly and inflation fell from 0.3% in November. Mr Draghi, the President of the ECB, said recovery could potentially come in 3 quarters time. The figure of unemployment in Europe is now estimated at 18.7 million.
Asia
India’s government pressed for more reforms?
India’s economic growth slowed down in the previous quarter, putting more pressure on the Indian government to implement further fiscal – market oriented – reforms. Earlier this month both houses in Parliament adjourned before any business commenced due to disruptions by opposition parties, who are calling current reforms into question. In October India’s government approved measures to draft in foreign investment into 49% of the retail and pension sector. In other words, the market is now open to multi-national retailers such as Tesco and Walmart. The government says the reforms come as part of a stimulus package aimed to pick up a stagnating economy. The opposition demanded a vote of no confidence which has been rejected by the speaker.
Chinese slavery case: Man sentences to death
A man from China has been sentenced to death for keeping six women as “sex slaves” and murdering two of them. According to state media, the 35-year-old man was convicted of charges including murder, rape and solicitation. It is reported that he kept the women in a dungeon where he in-effect set up a brothel. The prosecution argued that three women were coerced into killing two other women. All three were given leniency. The man, who worked as a government clerk and lived with his wife, was arrested after one of the girls escaped.
North America
U.S. Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of same-sex marriage
The nine Justices of the U.S are deliberating the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. Currently, it is only considered at a federal level despite President Obama’s commitment to legalise it. On the 6th November, three states voted in favour of same sex marriage. However, states such as North Carolina and Minnesota have voted to keep a ban on such marriages being legal. The constitution guarantees equal protection to all citizens.
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