The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given Mali ten more days to form a unity government. "Mali has obtained a postponement of the deadline of July 31 for the formation of the new government," an advisor to interim President Dioncounda Traore told AFP. The interim government in Mali was established in April, taking over from the junta that ousted the regime of Amadou Toumani Toure in March. ECOWAS set the deadline of July 31 for Mali's current authorities to form a wider government that would better address the country's crises.
France asks Google to hand over Street View data
France's data protection commission (CNIL) has requested that Google hand over data secretly collected by the company’s Street View cars from unsecured wifi hotspots. CNIL said on its website that it had asked Google to "place at its disposal the relevant data and to conserve the data for as long as it takes to carry out the necessary investigations." On July 27, Google contacted CNIL, saying the company wanted to erase the remaining data but would not do so in case CNIL wanted to examine it. Google’s international Street View project, launched in 2006, sparked privacy concerns and complaints by data regulators around the world after the IT giant admitted that its cars “accidentally” gathered data sent over unsecured wifi hotspots.
Six killed in Darfur anti-government protests
Six people have been killed in protests against rising fuel prices in the western Sudanese state of South Darfur, a local government spokesperson said. She added that an investigation into the exact causes of the deaths is underway. Over 1,000 people gathered in Nyala, the state capital, to protest against cuts to fuel subsidies enacted by President Omar al-Bashir’s government last month. Witnesses say demonstrators hurled rocks at the police, blocked roads and burned tires, while police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas and batons. Opposition activists also accuse the police of firing live ammunition at demonstrators. The entire country was gripped by a wave of anti-government protests last month, sparked by the fuel subsidy cuts. Those protests largely waned in the aftermath of a government crackdown and with the beginning of Ramadan. The government of Sudan has been forced to implement austerity measures following the secession of oil-rich South Sudan last year.
Longest set in Olympic history played at Wimbledon
The longest set in Olympic history was played at Wimbledon Tuesday after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France bested Canada's Milos Raonic in just under four hours. Tsonga managed to defeat Raonic 6-3, 3-6, 25-23 in the second round, AP reports. The previous record was held by Fernando Gonzalez, who beat Taylor Dent 16-14 in the third set, clinching the bronze.
Venezuela joins Mercosur trade bloc
Venezuela has become a full member of Mercosur, six years after first applying to join the South American trading bloc. President Hugo Chavez went to Brazil for the ceremony. "We have waited for this day for many years. This is our path, it is our project, a South American union," he said. Venezuela's inclusion was made possible after the temporary suspension of Paraguay in June. The list of full members of the organization also includes Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
US State Dept. says Iran, al-Qaeda main terrorist threats
The US State Department has named Iran and al-Qaeda as the main terrorist threats to the United States and the world in an annual report submitted to Congress. The report said that beyond al-Qaeda and its affiliates, Iran was the primary sponsor of global terrorism. The report also accused Iran of undermining international efforts to “spread democracy,” threatening regional stability in the Middle East, continued efforts to undermine the security situation in Iraq, and supplying arms to Palestinian militants and the militant wing of Lebanese political party Hezbollah. The report comes as US lawmakers finalize the latest package of sanctions against Iran's energy and shipping sectors.
US announces new sanctions against Iran
US President Barack Obama has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran. They will target Tehran's energy sales and financial transactions, affecting some Chinese and Iraqi banks accused of cooperating with Iran. The measure aims to curb the country's nuclear ambitions, Obama explained. "If the Iranian government continues its defiance, there should be no doubt that the United States and our partners will continue to impose increasing consequences," he said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia pushes for new Syrian resolution at UN assembly - reports
A new draft resolution on Syria created by Saudi Arabia and backed by Western countries is to be put to a vote at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, Itar-Tass reports, citing anonymous UN sources. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a number of other countries are pushing for the document, which will bar Damascus from using heavy weapons. General Assembly resolutions, however, are of an advisory nature and thus not legally binding, unlike resolutions passed by the Security Council.
German opposition condemns arms sale to Qatar
Members from Germany’s major opposition parties have harshly condemned Berlin’s plans to sell up to 200 Leopard tanks to Qatar’s Ministry of Defense. The lawmakers said the decision shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “moral bankruptcy” and the country’s support for dictators in the Arab world. German arms manufacturers have long lobbied the government to reconsider “blacklisted” countries in which weapons cannot be exported.
Ukrainian Rada speaker signs controversial language bill
Ukrainian Verkhovnaya Rada Chairman Vladimir Litvin has signed a hotly contested bill that alters state policy on language. The legislation grants legal 'regional' status to languages other than Ukrainian – including Russian. The bill was passed to President Viktor Yanukovych for signature. The Ukrainian parliament passed the bill, initiated by the Party of Regions, on July 3, sparking nationwide protests. Litvin initially refused to sign the bill, since it was passed in his absence. He also announced his resignation, but most of parliament's deputies voted against it. Yanukovych said he would make a decision on whether to sign the bill after it was examined by experts.
Thousands of Syrians trapped in Aleppo – UN refugee agency
Many civilians in Aleppo have been forced to flee the city by perilous routes or take refuge in safer areas due to battles between the Syrian army and rebels. “Thousands of frightened residents are seeking shelter in schools, mosques and public buildings,” Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday, Reuters reports. More than 7,000 Syrians have taken refuge in university dormitories and many more are camped out in 32 schools, all of whom are unable to flee the city, Fleming said. Some 15,000 to 18,000 have been displaced within Aleppo by the ongoing conflict.
Opposition figure al-Maleh will lead Syrian government-in-exile
Syrian opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh said on Tuesday that he has been tasked with forming a government-in-exile based in Cairo, AFP reports. “I have been tasked with leading a transitional government,” Maleh told reporters. He added he will begin consultations “with the opposition inside and outside” the country.
Twin car bombs kill 20 in Baghdad
Two simultaneous car bombs in Iraq’s capital killed 20 people and wounded at least another 57 on Tuesday, officials said. The blasts took place in the Karradah area of central Baghdad, AFP reports. The first car bomb reportedly killed six people and wounded 21. The second exploded a few minutes later, killing 14 and wounding 36. Iraq suffered a spike in violence in June, when at least 282 people were killed.
Turkey salvages fragments of downed plane
Turkish specialists have lifted nine fragments of a jet, allegedly downed by Syrian fire on June 22, from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The recovered pieces of the jet's wreckage are essential for an inquiry into the circumstances of the incident, Turkish officials said. The fragments include a radar receiver, engine fragments and elements of the wings, Itar-Tass reports. Experts lifted several dozens parts of the jet out of the sea, but have not confirmed whether the wreckage contains evidence of damage from a missile or a shell.
Exxon Valdez to be dismantled in India
India’s Supreme Court has allowed the infamous oil tanker Exxon Valdez to be dismantled in the country's western state of Gujarat. The ship, now known as the Oriental Nicety, was involved in one of the worst US oil spills in history. The court ruled Monday that the ship could anchor near Alang, the hub of India's shipbreaking industry, the AP said. The tanker entered Indian waters in May. The Supreme Court had temporarily denied the ship permission to anchor after a petition filed by an environmental activist claiming the vessel contained toxic substances. On March 24, 1989, millions of gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's Prince William Sound when the Exxon Valdez ran aground. The spill caused incalculable environmental damage, killing hundreds of thousands of birds and demolishing the region's fishing industry.
Pakistan signs deal with US to reopen NATO land routes
Pakistan signed an agreement with the US on Tuesday on arrangements for NATO troop supply convoys in Afghanistan. Islamabad agreed to reopen NATO land routes earlier this month after closing them for seven months in protest against a US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. A Pakistani security official said the agreement gave Islamabad the right to refuse or reject any shipment, AFP reports. Pakistani authorities may also fit all supply containers with special tracking chips.
US embassy in Norway evacuated due to bomb scare
The US Embassy in Oslo and surrounding buildings were evacuated after a suspicious object was found beneath a car near the embassy, Norwegian police said. Police evacuated a 500 meter area around the embassy, Spokesman Martin Todnem said. A bomb squad has been dispatched to the area.
Eurozone reached record unemployment in June
The number of unemployed in the Eurozone's 17 countries hit a record high in June, official figures showed on Tuesday. Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, said 17.801 million people were out of work in the Eurozone in June, 123,000 more than May. These are the highest levels of unemployment since the Eurozone was formed in 1999, the AP said. Spain had the highest unemployment rate of any Eurozone country, at 24.8 per cent. Many countries, including France and Italy, also have double-digit unemployment rates. In Germany, the unadjusted jobless rate climbed to 6.8 per cent in July, from 6.6 percent in June, the country's Federal Labor Agency reported.
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