Lexington (United States) (AFP) – This November, voters in Kentucky will be asked to decide whether their constitution should explicitly ban the right to abortion, which would cement the state’s near total ban on the procedure. The issue is mobilising a new breed of activists on both sides of the aisle, pushing them to go door-knocking or attend political rallies for the first time in their lives.
London (AFP) – Environmental protesters threw tomato soup over one of Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” paintings at London’s National Gallery, in the latest “direct-action” stunt targeting works of art. The gallery in Trafalgar Square said the protesters caused “minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed”. The painting went back on display a few hours after the attack.
Ouagadougou (AFP) – From his bar “Le Procès” (The Trial), in the capital of Burkina Faso, the scene of two coups in eight months, Dao Moumine is the ‘judge’ of a very special court. Here, the sentence is a rum called “CPI” the French initials for the International Criminal Court. “It’s also a question of raising awareness, to show our authorities that justice in a country is very important,” says Moumine, who manages the vibrant bar in Ouagadougou.
London (AFP) – UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, says she is “sorry to lose” Kwasi Kwarteng, describing her former Chancellor as a “great friend”. In the same speech, Truss announces the appointment of former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt as the country’s new chief of finance. The sacking of Kwarteng comes after a disastrous period for Truss’ fledgling government during which the value of the pound has plummeted as a result of the ill-received tax cutting ‘mini-budget’.
Moscow (AFP) – Tens of thousands of Russians have fled the country since its invasion of Ukraine in February, a phenomenon that intensified last month when President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilisation. Many have scrambled to find their Jewish roots, which would open the doors to Israel.
Berlin (AFP) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Berlin. IMAGES
San Luis Río Colorado (Mexico) (AFP) – Built in 1994 and reinforced during the Trump presidency, the wall that snakes along the US-Mexican border aims to keep migrants out, but conservationists have sounded the alarm, warning that the towering metal barrier also stops wildlife from moving between natural habitats. Alarmed by the impact on animals including jaguars, bears and mountain lions, activists from the United States and Mexico have joined forces to try to protect the biodiversity corridor.
Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) (AFP) – “What do I do now? Do I kill myself?” A Venezuelan migrant at the US-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez shouts to reporters. Around 300 migrants who were trying to enter the United States have been sent back to Mexico. Under an arrangement announced Wednesday, the United States will deport all Venezuelans who try to walk or swim into the United States from Mexico, declaring them ineligible for admission.
10 Downing Street, London (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The newly-appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt enters 10 Downing Street. Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss had earlier that day sacked his predecessor, Kwasi Kwarteng, following a disastrous mini-budget which sent British government gilts plummeting, making Kwarteng’s tenure as Chancellor the second-shortest in history.
London (AFP) – The group of environmental activists Extinction Rebellion (‘XR’) begins ‘weekend of resistance’ with march from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street in London, to denounce the use of fossil fuels and inaction on climate change, while the country is going through a political and economic crisis linked to the rise in energy prices that just led Prime Minister Liz Truss fired her Finance minister.
London (AFP) – Having sacked her close ally Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng after a mini-budget which spooked the financial markets as a result of its unfunded tax cuts, United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss confirms that her government will perform a drastic U-turn on its previous commitment not to raise corporation tax. “We need to act now to reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline. I have therefore decided to keep the increase in corporation tax that was planned by the previous government,” the under-fire PM says.
London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Liz Truss insists she would push ahead with her contentious programme to boost sluggish economic growth, despite market turbulence and sacking her finance minister. Truss says she is “absolutely determined to see through what I have promised to deliver, a higher growth, more prosperous United Kingdom”, even after being forced to climb down on key parts of the plan.
