Since last week’s What in the World? seemed to go over fairly well, I’ll continue it as a weekly post. So here’s this week’s installment.
Europe
Thanks to the financial crisis in Greece and the European Union’s pledge to help them out of it, the euro has fallen to a four-year low against the dollar. While this is bad news for the EU countries, Eurozone finance ministers are defending their currency, saying it’s still “credible.” What does it mean for the rest of us? Well, let’s just say that if you’ve been dreaming about a trip to Europe, the time to go is now.
Over the weekend, Iceland’s E-squiggle-something volcano again churned up a nasty ash cloud that wafted its way into European airspace. London’s Heathrow Airport shut down for the day, as did Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Things were operational again on Monday, and aviation authorities rolled out relaxed flight safety rules regarding the ash in order to try and minimize further disruptions. Under the relaxed rules, airlines will first have to get a guarantee from their engine manufacturers that their aircraft can safely tolerate higher concentrations of ash. Then they’ll be permitted to fly (for a limited time) through higher ash densities than currently allowed.
Also in the aviation world, cabin crew of British Airways had planned a 20-day strike that was to start today. But, at the last minute, the British High Court ruled that the walkout was unlawful, and told crews to pack their bags and get back up in the air.
Asia
Things are still really tense in Bangkok, Thailand. A stand-off between Thai protesters (“Red Shirts”) and soldiers entered into its sixth day today, and violence has continued. So far, at least 37 have died in the riots. Yesterday, talk of a cease-fire floated about, and the United Nations urged for negotiations. But both sides remain far apart. The Red Shirts are demanding an immediate election in their push to unseat Thailand’s prime minister, claiming the current coalition government came to power thanks to manipulation and a strong military presence.
The Middle-East
It’s been the same dance now for years. Iran says it’s going to enrich uranium. The U.N. threatens Iran with sanctions. Iran sticks its tongue out and says it’s still going to enrich uranium. Well a new step has been added now. On Monday, Iran announced that it’s going to start shipping most of its low-enriched uranium abroad (to Turkey and Brazil), which should help ward off those U.N. sanctions. But shipping its low-grade stuff out just means Iran can concentrate on higher enrichment – bringing it closer to being able to make atomic warheads. Needless to say, the White House isn’t too excited about this.
The Caribbean
In Haiti, adoptions are now back in swing, although the country is still suffering immensely from the January earthquake that tore Port au Prince apart. A U.S. missionary detained in Haiti for taking children after the quake and trying to smuggle them to the Dominican Republic was convicted Monday of arranging illegal travel, sentenced to time already served, and is now free to return to the U.S. after being behind bars for three months.
The U.S.
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to prove tricky to plug up. While they finally had some success over the weekend in siphoning a small amount of the oil up into a tanker ship, challenges still lie ahead. The depth of the spill is proving especially problematic, because the piping keeps getting blocked up by ice and other crystallized gunk. And, scientists are now afraid that the vast underwater slick may be worse than they originally thought. If caught up in the right current, the oil could creep around the Florida Keys and leak into the Atlantic Ocean.
Fun Stuff
South Africa is hosting the World Cup this year. And for visitors looking for a different sort of World Cup experience, members of the Bafokeng tribe (which owns a stadium in the World Cup host city of Rustenberg) are offering up their homes for homestays. Along with catching a match or two, tourists who choose the homestays will learn about the history and language of the tribe, too. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
