This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

In tonight’s speech, Obama will promise aid to Egypt and Tunisia

President Obama plans to propose new economic help to Tunisia and Egypt in his speech to the nation on Thursday evening. The economic proposals will include debt cancellations and loan guarantees. Egypt in particular is close to bankruptcy, as we’ve reported before. USA Today

President Obama announces sanctions on Syria’s president

President Obama has put economic sanctions on Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad because of the “continuous escalation of violence against the people of Syria.” The sanctions are largely symbolic, since Assad has few assets under the control of the United States. LA Times

Once again, Yemen’s president refuses to sign transition deal

In a repeat of previous events, Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused, at the last minute, to sign an agreement to step down within 30 days. The deal was brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with the United States. Reuters

EU officials’ tempers rising over ‘soft’ restructuring for Greece

The European Central Bank (ECB) is criticizing proposals of former EU president Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s prime minister, to allow a “soft” restructuring of Greece’s debt. This is a form of default that would give Greece more time to pay off its loans, but would not solve Greece’s debt problem. The ECB is opposing default in any form, since the ECB is the biggest holder of Greek debt, and would lose the most money. The rising tempers in Europe are similar to the rising tempers in Washington. In both cases, politicians are only interested in what’s best for them, not what’s best for the nation or society. Financial Times (Access)

Piracy business is making more money

Already in the first quarter of 2011, pirates from Somalia have attacked more than 117 ships, killed 7 crew members and held 338 hostages for ransom. Ransom payments increased from an average of $150,000 in 2005 to $5.4 million in 2010. Spiegel