Riots in England
An initially peaceful protest for Mark Duggan, who was killed by police on Aug. 4 sparked riots in London that spread throughout the country between Aug. 6 and 9.The violence included attacks on police cars, looting, throwing petrol bombs and setting fires. Over 2,000 people have been arrested and more than 1,000 charged in relation to the riots, which have required the English courts to stay open over the weekend.
American Debt Ceiling Raised
On July 31 President Obama and Congressional Democratic and Republican Leaders announced an agreement to raise the debt ceiling by US$ 2.4 trillion in two stages, which is enough for the country to keep borrowing until 2013. The deal calls for US$ 2.4 trillion in spending cuts over the next ten years and US$ 900 billion worth of cuts to happen immediately. Many democrats and republicans were dissatisfied with the deal.
Mubarak Tried in Egypt
The first session of Egypt’s ex-president Mubarak’s trial took place on Aug. 3 2011 and was broadcasted live to tens of millions of people. The 83 year old Mubarak is facing charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters but he denied all of the accusations the prosecutor laid against him.
Terrorism in Norway
On Saturday Aug. 13 Anders Behring Breivik, the 32 year-old Norwegian who is accused of setting off bombs and massacring more than 60 people in a related shooting spree on July 22 was taken back to Utoya Island for a police reconstruction. There was speculation that Breivik’s actions were connected to other terrorist cells but now police believe he acted alone.
First Gay Pride Parade for Prague
On Aug.13 several thousand people marched in Prague’s first Gay Pride Parade as a part of the city’s first Gay Pride Festival, which started on Aug. 10. Three hundred police officers guarded the event and held back dozens of right wing extremists while the Czech Republic’s Conservative Christian Democrats held a peaceful counter-parade for what they called “traditional family values.” The first gay pride march for the country was held in Brno in 2008.
Protests in Syria
In Syria on Aug. 12 at least 15 protesters were killed by security forces when tens of thousands of people in cities and towns took to the streets to protest the government of President Bahsar al Assad. This protest was in response to a military operation that took control of two of Syria’s most restive cities. In response, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has urged all countries to sever economic and political ties with Syria as a result of the military crackdown. An uprising against the government started in March and since then more than 1,700 people have been killed and tens of thousands have reportedly been arrested.
Bullet Trains Crash in China
On July 23 two train coaches derailed near Wenzhou in China due to flaws in the signalling system leaving around 200 people injured and 40 dead. Since the crash three senior railway officials have been fired, the government has stopped the service of 58 other trains and called for a nationwide safety check.
Additionally a former senior official has been accused of funnelling US$ 2.8 billion. On Aug. 11 China suspended all new railway construction projects and has decreased the speed of trains running on new high-speed rail lines and on Aug. 12 China’s second largest train maker, CNR Corp Ltd, said they are recalling 54 trains for safety reasons.
