Morning Brief: Anarchy in Greece
Top Story As expected, the funeral of the teenager shot by police last week provoked a fourth day of rioting throughout Greece yesterday. Compounding the chaos, labor unions are also holding a general strike today in protest of the government’s economic policies. “The country has come to a standstill,” said one union spokesman. Indeed, nearly ...
Top Story
Top Story
As expected, the funeral of the teenager shot by police last week provoked a fourth day of rioting throughout Greece yesterday. Compounding the chaos, labor unions are also holding a general strike today in protest of the government’s economic policies.
“The country has come to a standstill,” said one union spokesman. Indeed, nearly all businesses and schools have been shut down and domestic and international flights have been grounded.
Americas
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges, including putting Barack Obama’s senate seat up for sale. Profane recorded telephone conversations have shocked Blagojevich’s supporters.
Congressional Democrats and the White House have reached an “agreement in concept” on a bailout plan for the U.S. auto industry. The deal would create a new “car czar” to manage the bailout and oversee the industry.
Mexican president Felipe Calderon said graft is hampering his government’s ability to combat drug trafficking.
Asia
U.S. forces accidentally killed six Afghan police officers.
Pakistan arrested 40 suspected terrorists in a countrywide crackdown.
Indian police revealed a fifth suspect in the Mumbai attacks.
China will cut taxes and increase public spending to spur slumping domestic demand.
Middle East
The Times reports that Britain will pull almost all of its troops out of Iraq by next summer.
Violence in Iraq is at its lowest point since 2003 according to Gen. David Petraeus.
Iraqis applauded the manslaughter charges against Blackwater contractors for a 2007 shooting.
Africa
The African Union decided against taking tougher measures against Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. The BBC has disturbing firsthand accounts of the country’s cholera epidemic.
Somali pirates apparently put down a hostage revolt on board the Ukrainian freighter they’ve been hoding since late September.
Europe
Ukraine’s leaders came to an agreement on a governing coalition, meaning new elections will not be necessary.
A Lebanese student was sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to bomb German commuter trains in 2006.
U.N. climate talks in Poznan, Poland ended with little progress made.
Today’s Agenda
The U.S. Congress may vote on the $15 billion auto bailout.
Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
Condoleezza Rice is in Panama for trade talks.
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Photo: ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
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