In another blow to the developing world, Madagascar has had its AAA rating removed by the Standard and Poor's agency, and will now be known only as Mdgscar.
'This is not serious news for us,' said Prime Minister Omer Beriziky. 'All the Mdgscan children call it Mdgscar on text messages anyway, so we will be able to carry on as normal.'
A spokesman for Standard and Poor's said: 'Mdgscar is quite difficult to pronounce, so we hope this action and the headache it will cause the people of Mdgscar will lead the Mdgscan government to take quick and appropriate action.'
Mr Beriziky confirmed his government was in negotiations with their Uzbekistan counterparts with a view to borrowing one of their vowels for five years. 'I quite fancy a U, or an I for a change,' he said. 'I quite like the sound of Mudgscar.'
