Greece protest turns violent

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Three people have been killed in the Greek capital, Athens, where protests against big cuts in government spending have turned violent. The austerity program is being brought in so that Greece can receive an international financial bailout and avoid defaulting on its debts. Marco Werman speaks with one of the protestors, Despina Koutsoumba, who’s an elected official with the Greek Civil Servants’ Trade Union. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Global Economy podcast: The Greece problem

Greeks warned of austerity measures

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Greek Prime Minister Papandreou has warned the country to be prepared for a new round of austerity measures. The European Union continues to discuss details of an emergency plan to help tackle Greece’s crippling debt crisis. Anchor Marco Werman talks with The BBC’s Malcolm Brabant in Athens. Download MP3 (flickr image: Timmy Gunz)

• BBC coverage
• Investors unease over Greece continues
• Global Economy podcast: The Greece problem

Investor unease over Greece continues

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Investor confidence in Greece has continued to be hit amid speculation over the future of the Greek economy. Stock markets in New York and Europe are currently broadly stable, after the sharp falls triggered on Tuesday by the downgrading of Greek debt by a major international credit rating agency to a level known informally as “junk”. Gerry Hadden has an update from Spain. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Market data
• Greece asks for aid package
• Global Economy podcast

Greece asks for international aid package

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Greece has formally asked for the activation of an EU-IMF financial rescue package to help pull the debt-ridden economy out of its crisis. It had hoped that just the promise of EU support, agreed last month, would have been be enough to reassure markets and help its recovery. But Greece’s problems have continued to hit investor confidence. The World’s Jason Margolis has more about the potential ramifications back in the United States. Download MP3 (flickr image: Benjamin Mercardier)

• BBC coverage
• FAQ: Greece’s economic woes
• Global Economy podcast: what went wrong with Greece?

Zapatero and Bean: Separated at birth?

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Visitors to Spain’s European Union presidency website have been greeted by an image of hapless fictional character Mr. Bean (right?) instead of Spain’s Socialist leader (left?). An unidentified person briefly hijacked the site on Monday, replacing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero with that of the bumbling comedy buffoon, played by British actor Rowan Atkinson. The World’s Gerry Hadden has our story. Download MP3

• Spain’s EU presidency website
• Screen shot of the “altered” website on Monday
• Video: Zapatero transforms into Mr. Bean

Germany’s job strategy

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Germany has come up with a number of plans from both the public and private sector to keep people working and the economy moving. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Hamburg.

Afghanistan election fraud claims

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s campaign team has condemned as “irresponsible” claims by EU monitors that about a quarter of all ballots cast in the presidential vote in August could be fraudulent. The UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission has suggested that ballots from 10% of polling stations in the presidential vote need to be recounted. Jason Margolis looks at how serious a blow this is for Afghan democracy.

• BBC coverage
• Marco Werman talks with NY Times correspondent Dexter Filkins (Sep8)
• Aaron Schachter on the role election monitors (Sep 8)

Europe presses to ban bluefin tuna trade

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European Union leaders are throwing their weight behind a proposed international ban on the trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The prized fish is one of the world’s most over-harvested marine species. The World’s Gerry Hadden has the story.

Unemployment one year after the credit crunch

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In September 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, sending the already unstable markets into a serious tailspin. One year later unemployment levels across the globe are high: in Europe the number of jobless in the eurozone hit a 10-year high in July, while the Federal Reserve warned that U.S. unemployment could rise above 10%. On Labor Day we’re taking a closer look at the job markets around the world. (photo: AP) Download MP3

• The year that shook the world
• BBC Aftershock series

Traveling on fast trains in Europe

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President Obama’s stimulus plan includes $ 8 billion to help jump-start a new network of high-speed trains. But the future of rail is already here in other parts of the world, including Japan, China and as Kathleen Schalch reports, the European Union. (photo: French TGV, Getty Images) Download MP3

• See a map of the High-Speed Rail plan for America
• High-Speed Rail plan for America (DOT)
• French National Rail System SNCF

Europe’s high speed rail

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President Obama’s stimulus plan includes billions of dollars to help jump-start a new network of high-speed trains. But the future of rail is already a reality in other parts of the world, including Japan, China… and… as Kathleen Schalch reports, the European Union.

Maps of planned US system and high speed rail links in Europe

Global Political Cartoons: July 11 – July 17, 2009

Cartoonists find humor — sometimes quite dark humor — in President Obama’s offer of hope on his visit to Ghana, Iceland’s interest in joining the European Union, the politics of fighting global warming, the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing, and the current obsession with facebook.

>>>Start the cartoon slideshow

Farm jobs coveted in Spain

The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Spain, where newly unemployed workers are competing with immigrant labourers for seasonal jobs on the nation’s farms. Listen

European right gets boost

Europe took a turn to the political right in the just-concluded round of European Parliament elections. Some seats were won by extreme-right candidates, and anti-immigration sentiments came to the fore in several countries. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Europe Editor, Olexiy Solohubenko. Listen

Muslims worried over European election results

The World’s Gerry Hadden reports on some surprises in the European parliamentary election results this week. Some far-right, anti-Islamic parties made unexpectedly strong showings, and that’s fanned fears among European Muslims. Listen