Europe
Diplomatic blunder as Olympics begins
The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics have apologised to North Korea after showing a South Korean flag next to their athletes on the first day of the Olympics. The blunder took place at the beginning of a soccer match at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, where the North Korean players left the field in protest. The match was delayed for an hour. Paul Deighton from the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games told the BBC “It was a mistake. It is as simple as that. We have apologised and taken steps to make sure that it cannot happen again. It was a simple human error.”
Concerns for new Greek bailout loans
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, is due in Greece for talks on whether Greece has done enough to receive its next instalment of bailout loans. He is expected to say that he wants Greece to stay within the single Euro-currency. The meeting follows a turbulent Greek state, with two general elections already this year analysts have highlighted concerns over Greece’s ability to meet economic conditions of its bailout. Without significant process the EU and IMF may be hesitant to install Greece’s final part of its bailout.
Africa
Sanctions on allies of Liberian war criminal are lifted
Seventeen Liberians who were linked with former President Taylor have had their sanctions lifted by the UN Security Council. Taylor is convicted of war crimes and instigating the Sierra Leone civil war. Subsequently his allies were given travel bans and had their assets frozen. Liberia’s government welcomes the decision.
UN deploy forces in Eastern DR Congo
The UN has ‘attacked’ a suspected M23 rebel position in the east of Congo, where there is currently a refugee crisis. More than 200,000 people are seeking refuge in the area since the conflict began.
Latin America
Mexico fines HSBC over money laundering controls
HSBC have been fined by Mexico’s financial regulators for its failed ability to comply with money laundering regulations. The fine is $27.5million. The decision comes as HSBC have been criticised after they ignored warnings that Mexican drug money was laundered through the bank. Only last week did a United States Senate committee state that HSBC had passively facilitated money laundering for “drug kingpins and rogue nations”. The fine is the largest ever handed out by Mexico’s regulatory body.
Middle East
Tensions heighten in Syria
Syrian rebels have been reported to be storing artillery and medical supplies in preparation for a major battle in Syria’s second city, Aleppo. The rebels are in control of Aleppo and have begun strategic planning for a clash with government forces that are said to be on their way to the region. According to a BBC analyst, President Assad cannot loose control of this strategic city, and will “throw everything they possibly can at the city”.
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