London
Apology to pope: Britain’s Foreign Office has apologized for an internal memo setting a mock itinerary for Pope Benedict XVI’s September visit that had the pope opening an abortion clinic, blessing a gay marriage, and introducing a “Benedict” brand of condoms. The memo, which was obtained by the Sunday Telegraph, was among papers given to senior government officials meeting to discuss the papal visit. A Foreign Office spokesman said the “foolish” joke was written by a junior staffer, who has been disciplined, and was not seen by higher-ups before it was circulated. “Many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naïve, and disrespectful,” the spokesman said. A Vatican spokesman said the incident would not affect the upcoming papal visit.
Athens
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Default threatens Europe: Fears are mounting that Greece’s debt crisis could spread to other European countries, after the country’s credit rating got downgraded this week to “junk” status. The EU agreed last week to bail out Greece with loans, but the money has yet to move, as EU countries continue to dicker over the terms. Germany, in particular, insists that Greece make deep, painful cuts in social services and pay significant interest. The delay in the rescue sent markets plunging across the world, and caused jittery investors to tighten credit in Portugal, Spain, and Ireland. “The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and it’s not clear who’s in a position to stop the Greeks from going into a default situation,” said analyst Edward Yardeni. “That creates a spillover effect.”
Kiev, Ukraine
Parliamentary mayhem: Opposition lawmakers threw eggs and smoke bombs during a raucous parliamentary vote this week to allow the Russian Navy to extend its stay in Ukraine until 2042. Smoke filled the chamber and set off alarms, and Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn took refuge under an umbrella as deputies pelted him with eggs. The Crimean base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been a contentious issue in Ukraine ever since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Critics, led by Western-leaning former President Viktor Yushchenko, see it as a hostile outpost and pushed for it to be closed when the existing lease runs out, in 2017. But the measure to extend the lease another 25 years passed narrowly, thanks to the support of parties loyal to pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who replaced Yushchenko in February.
