Europe
Mario Draghi to unveil bond-buying plan for the eurozone
Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, is expected to unveil details of a new bond-buying plan later today. The ECB is expected to help cut the borrowing costs of debt-burdened eurozone members by buying their bonds, but Germany’s Bundesbank is strongly against the idea. Jens Weidmann, the Bundesbank president, is concerned member states will grow dependent on ECB aid and shirk from necessary reform to their own economies. Nevertheless, the majority of the 23 ECB council members are expected to support the plan, to which the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently added its support.
North America
Bill Clinton speaks for Barack Obama
Former US President Bill Clinton, speaking at the Democratic Party’s convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, has delivered a defence of Barack Obama and nominated him for a second term in the White House. Mr Clinton’s 50-minute speech was strongly critical of Republican economic plans and said Mr Obama’s policies were working. Mr Clinton has a strong record winning the support of white working-class voters, who are traditionally Democratic supporters but are shown in polling to be wary of Mr Obama.
Latin America
Powerful earthquake strikes Costa Rica
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake has struck the Nicoya peninsula in the northwest of Costa Rica, with the tremors felt in the capital, San Jose. Two people have died; the Red Cross said a 55-year-old woman died of a heart attack in Guanacaste, near the quake’s epicentre, and a construction worker was killed when a wall fell on him. Power and communications were briefly knocked out in San Jose and buildings were rattled. Further damage surveys are underway by the emergency services.
Middle East and Africa
Twenty-five dead in explosion at Turkish grenade depot
A large explosion and subsequent fire at an ammunition depot in Turkey has killed 25 soldiers and wounded four others, according to the country’s military. The blast occurred late last night and was thought to have happened as soldiers moved hand grenades around the storehouse in the western province of Afyon. Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu ruled out terrorism, attributing the explosion to an accident. Rescue efforts were delayed by the high security around the complex, and because hand grenades were scattered across the area. The fire has been brought under control as of this morning and the wounded have been sent to a military hospital for treatment.
Syrian troops shelling Aleppo, Egyptian leader advises al-Assad to leave
Syrian security forces have bombarded parts of the country’s second city, Aleppo, killing at least 19 people, say activists. The districts of Bustan al-Qasr, Marjeh and Hananu were targeting in shelling before dawn yesterday. Many of those killed were reportedly women and children, with one activist network putting the total death toll in Aleppo yesterday morning at 54. Egypt’s new leader Mohammed Mursi warned his Syrian counterpart to “take lessons from recent history” and step down before it was too late, in a speech at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. Mr Mursi also announced that Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt will be meeting to discuss the Syrian crisis.
Israeli strikes kill six ‘militants’ in the Gaza Strip
At least six Palestinians have been killed in two Israeli strikes in Gaza, against what Israel says were militants preparing rocket and bomb attacks. Three were killed by Israeli fire in the north of the Gaza Strip this morning, with three more killed in airstrikes in central Gaza hours earlier. According to Israel, the first three were preparing to bomb a fence, and the second three were preparing to fire rockets. A Gaza health ministry official, Ashraf al-Qudra, said those killed in the second strike were civilians, according to the AFP news agency. Palestinian medical officials and witnesses confirmed that three militants had died in the airstrike.
Save the Children staff expelled from Pakistan
Save the Children’s foreign staff have been ordered to leave Pakistan within two weeks, the aid agency confirms. It says it has been given no reason for the order, but correspondents say it is thought to be related to the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. Following that raid, a Pakistani doctor was arrested for working with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Pakistani officials have accused Save the Children of involvement – accusations which the group denies. The global charity has worked in Pakistan for over 30 years, and it is not thought that the forthcoming expulsions will significantly affect its short term operations there. The Pakistani government has not yet commented.
Asia and Russia
Seven held over Indian fireworks factory blaze that killed 38
Seven people, including the factory officer, have been held and charged with culpable homicide in connection with yesterday’s fire at a fireworks factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, according to police. The death toll for the incident has risen to 38, with 46 others being treated for injuries. The blaze occurred in the town of Sivakasi, where 700 factories produce 90% of all India’s fireworks. The fire erupted at the Om Shakti factory, one of the town’s biggest, and spread through packed warehouses.
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