Massive declines in the agricultural, transport and retail sectors have dragged the South African economy into recession after nearly a decade of growth. It is a huge blow to President Ramaphosa’s controversial reforms. GDP in the second quarter contracted by 0.7 percent compared to the first three months of the current year. South African national currency, the rand, extended declines against the US dollar to more than two percent as government bonds fell after the released data. Source RT
Humanitarian group SOS Méditerranée said Sunday (21 July) it has relaunched rescue efforts off Libya seven months after it abandoned operations using its ship Aquarius and despite a refusal by European ports to accept the migrants. Source Euractiv
Speaking ahead of a vote of confidence in Parliament on Monday, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias sought to send a message to Turkey over its increasingly aggressive tactics in the region. Sourece Ekathimerini
Two police officers have been found dead in recent hours. One, assigned to CRS 15, killed himself with his service weapon last night. The second, assigned to the police school of Nimes (Gard), was found hanging from his home on Monday morning. Source Actu17
