Greece- Euro surges in light of Eurozone emergency support for Greece
- The euro surged against the dollar and pound after dipping low over the past weeks.
- This in light of an increased EU commitment of $30 billion in emergency support funding, which would only be used if Greece were to formally request it.
- Greece’s government, currently unpopular from increased taxes and slashed spending, insists it will not need to request the funds despite continued struggle
- Fitch, a leading credit rating company, reduced Greece to a lowest possible position, threatening outside investors’ abilities to invest within the country.
Thailand- Following violent riots, PM still holds on to position in face of Red Shirts
- PM Abhisit Vejjajiva refuses to leave his post despite continued protests from the populist Red Shirt movement.
- Unexpected violent riots erupted last week, killing 21 and spiking tension in Bangkok.
- Talk of a coup continues, (has occurred 18 times in the past 80 years) though the military publicly supports Vejjajiva.
- Analysts agree Vejjajiva will likely fall soon, regardless of a coup or not, as popular support plummets and protests continue.
Sudan- First multiparty election in years commence, but outcome foretold
- Multiparty elections began today in Sudan and will continue for the next two days to allow isolated citizens place a vote.
- In the lead up, many opposition candidates dropped out after President Bashir ignored accusations of fraud.
- Most citizens of urban areas pledged support for the incumbent, despite control of media and recent charges of crimes against humanity by the ICC.
Poland- President dies in airplane crash, raising political uncertainity domestically and internationally.
- President Lech Kaczynski and all 88 passengers on board were killed when the plane attempted to land in fog and crashed a half mile beyond the runway.
- Victims included the deputy foreign minister, a dozen Parliament members, the chiefs of the navy and army and the president of the national bank.
- Leader of the lower house now must organize hurried elections for the president and all other diplomats lost.
- The plane was headed for a memorial at Katyn Woods, the site of a WWII massacre of Polish officers by Russian troops.
- The crash threatens perpetually strained ties between Russia and Poland, though Medvedev and Putin both released statements of condolence.
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