Mali was once again rocked by violence on Monday night. The clashes were apparently sparked by an attempt by forces loyal to the military leaders responsible for the recent coup to arrest the former head of the presidential guard. The junta says soldiers loyal to the ousted president have now attempted a counter-coup, just over a month after the former government was toppled.
In today's international press - should Andres Behring Breivik be treated like any other defendant, is Israel going overboard in its treatment of pro-Palestinian activists, and how gun manufacturers sell weapons to women.
There's one month to go and the argument is on over whether Nicolas Sarkozy’s surge in the polls is enough to ensure the mother of all comebacks. Also, the mess in Mali’s north, and 20 years after the siege of Sarajevo, what lessons apply to Syria?
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS, Fri. 30/03/12: International papers react to Thursday's general strike in Spain. El Pais says it’s important to keep an open dialogue between the government, different political parties and trade unions. The Guardian says that on top of labour laws, Spain needs to reform its two-speed labour market. Also, the New York Times explores the US "gated community mentality", in the aftermath of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
Barack Obama has drawn a personal link to an unarmed black teenager who was shot dead last month in Florida by a volunteer guard, saying that if he had a son, “he’d look like Trayvon”. The man who killed Trayvon Martin has not been arrested.
We look at the final withdrawal from Iraq, and how that's gone down with the American press. We're also talking about rumours in the British papers that David Cameron is deliberately trying to sabotage an agreement between the other 26 EU member states.
When lone gunman Nordine Amrani opened fire on holiday shoppers in the Belgian city of Liege on Tuesday, the authorities were caught on the backfoot. Although Amrani was already known to police, he had no signs of mental illness and even those closest to him are struggling to comprehend Amrani's actions. The attack comes just months after Anders Behring Brevik shot dead dozens of Norwegian youths. Now, experts are calling for European gun laws to be reviewed.
The Islamic republic fears a strike, after a new UN report suggests it is out to get the nuclear bomb. But Iran has warned that any attacks will be met with an iron fist. Also, the city of Homs in Syria is reeling after a week of shelling and raids. Hospitals are overwhelmed and food is in short supply. Finally, militias are using guns with silencers in a new wave of assassinations in Iraq.
After the school shooting near Rio de Janeiro on April 7th, there's been a national debate in Brazil over the use and ownership of firearms. It's legal for Brazilians to own guns, but a current campaign could see all that change.
The tragic shooting last weekend in Arizona, which killed 6 people and wounded 14, has ignited a debate about gun control. It has also prompted a vivid discussion about the responsibility of politicians in fostering a fractious atmosphere. Tea Party and Sarah Palin are now facing accusations…
