Six In The Morning

In Mexico state, violence against women has surged

　A brutal attack on a church group points to the growing dangers in the state, which until last fall was governed by Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico's next president.

By Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times July 17, 2012
For hours, gunmen held captive a church group camping on a spiritual retreat. They raped girls and beat boys. They stole their cellphones. Finally the gunmen left; the youths wrapped themselves in blankets and walked five miles to find help. The attack late last week outside Mexico City illustrates the mounting dangers — especially violence targeting women — in the Mexican state that until last year was governed by the man who will be the nation's next president.

Olympic security chaos hits headlines around the world
British attempts to present sparkling image tarnished by widespread reporting of G4S and border control controversies

Ben Quinn and Kate Connolly guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 July 2012 00.28 BST
At a time when Olympic organisers and the government will have been hoping to present a sparkling image of Britain on the international stage, the controversy surrounding security at the games has not gone unnoticed by the world's media. "Security at the Olympic games in London: chaotic management," was the headline in one report by the French daily Le Monde about the fallout from the deployment of 3,500 extra troops to make up for the failure of G4S to meet its contractual obligations.

Assad loses grip on Damascus as rebels begin to close in on regime
Worst fighting in Syrian city since uprising began as more senior figures turn their backs on the President

LOVEDAY MORRIS BEIRUT TUESDAY 17 JULY 2012
President Bashar al-Assad's regime appeared under severe pressure yesterday as fierce gun battles raged on the streets of the capital in what residents described as the worst fighting since the beginning of the 17-month-long uprising and a slew of senior defections continued. The regime's tight control on Damascus appeared to be slipping as fighting broke out in several neighbourhoods close to the city centre and major transport arteries were blocked by protesters burning tyres.

German economists in war of words on crisis
The Irish Times - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

DEREK SCALLY in Berlin
AS GERMANY winds down for the summer holidays, the country’s economists are getting wound up in a very public feud over the euro zone crisis. In this buttoned-down world, far less free-wheeling than the Anglo-American scene, it is an remarkable war of words. Setting events in motion was an open letter spearheaded by Munich economist Prof Hans-Werner Sinn, signed by more than 200 economists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, describing as “wrong” the last EU summit agreeing to break the connection between banking and sovereign debt.

Leaked UN report demands sanctions for Somalia's corrupt leaders
Corrupt leaders in war-ravaged Somalia should face immediate security council sanctions, a report by the United Nations says.

17 JUL 2012 08:30 - SAPA-AFP
The leaked report said key leaders at the very top of government – including the president and the speaker of Parliament – were mired in scandal, boosting the cause of al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab insurgents. It called for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions "with the least possible delay". Somalia's West-funded Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ends its mandate next month, with several members hoping to remain in power afterwards. Many are accused in the report of "pervasive corruption".

Climbing death toll sparks debate on Alps tourism
It's been a tragic start to the climbing season in the Alps.

By Imogen Foulkes BBC News, Geneva
At the start of June, five German climbers were killed as they were beginning their descent of the Lagginhorn in southern Switzerland. The sixth member of their group, who had paused just below the summit, had to watch as the other five, among them his 20-year-old son and his 14-year-old daughter, fell to their deaths. Last week in Chamonix, nine climbers died in a sudden avalanche which injured 12 more. A total of 28 people were caught up in the snow slide.