Greece debt continues to threaten the euro that provides the basis for EU economic exchange. In June 2011, a second European rescue fund of €109 billion was approved by the Eurozone Countries and the I.M.F. to rescue Greece. The I.M.F. share of this bailout was €3.3bn. The European rescue fund came from the €440bn European Financial Stability Facility that the European Union countries had approved as a general rescue fund May 2010. The IMF had provided an additional €250bn to the EFSF European rescue package. (more…)

Syria has been wracked by massive protests since the end of January of this year. President Bashar Assad, who was seen as a reformer, however, has failed to hear the voices of his people. As a result, what first started as peaceful protests have erupted into violent confrontation. What first started in the country as a peaceful movement, inspired by the events of Tunisia and Egypt has become the main issue of Syrian politics. Because President Assad has refused to follow the voices of his people and reform Syrian politics, Damascus now faces major defections in the army. Latest reports indicate, that the country may indeed begin to come apart at its seams. (more…)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has made a considerable amount of news over the past few weeks. Strauss-Kahn was the director of the International Monetary Fund, a branch of the UN that differs from the World Bank and was a candidate for the presidency of France as a member of the socialist party. (more…)

The Chinese government’s arrest of internationally acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei, has once again drawn widespread attention to the country’s dismal human rights record.

The 54 year-old artist whose biography includes working on the iconic Beijing National Stadium that was used in the 2008 Olympics, was detained on April 3 on his way to Hong Kong from Beijing. (more…)

The United States began launching missiles into Libya last weekend, striking multiple targets in the North African country. The war was precipitated when rebels, hoping to overthrow the government led by Muammar Gaddafi, managed to take and hold a number of key cities. (more…)