Many observers believe Beijing’s Communist leaders influenced his decision in order to gain more control over the Hong Kong special administrative region. Tung has been unpopular with the nation since mishandling the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2003 SARS outbreak.
Suicide bombing in Iraq: Yesterday a suicide bomber attacked a Shiite mosque in Mosul, Iraq, killing 36 people taking part in a funeral procession. Ambulances responded and sent an unspecified number of the wounded to nearby hospitals.
Mosul has been the target of much recent activity, and it has been speculated that the suicide bombing was in response to recent deals for a new government coalition to be formed between the United Iraqi Alliance and several Kurdish political parties in the Iraqi parliament.
Une Grande Problème: Paris, one of the presumptive favourites to host the 2012 Olympic Summer Games, faced difficulties during a recent visit by officials from the International Olympic Committee.
French unions have issued general strikes against economic reforms scheduled to coincide with the IOC commissioners’ inspection of Paris.
Although the unions have promised not to interfere with the IOC’s visit, French bid director Philippe Baudillon asserted that Paris can handle such unexpected problems, adding the strikes have the probability of shifting the vote in Paris’ favour since they will demonstrate the city’s ability to cope with a crisis.
Paris’ problems can only be good news for London, New York and Moscow — the other major bidders for the 2012 Olympics.
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