JAPAN - Japan's nuclear crisis escalated to its worst level in two years on Wednesday, with its nuclear watchdog saying it feared more tanks were leaking contaminated water and China expressing its shock over the disaster.
UK - Heart disease is not just a problem for adults - 12 babies are born with heart defects every day in the UK, data shows. The British Heart Foundation is launching a new campaign to raise awareness of the UK's 70,000 children living with heart defects.
UK - Three in four adults are likely to suffer illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes by 2030, according to a government report which warns that the NHS will not have enough staff to cope.
INDIA - India's opposition parties have declared an 'onion war' on the government after prices for the staple curry ingredient soared beyond the reach of the poor.
UK - David Cameron sanctioned the destruction of a newspaper’s computer equipment on national security grounds and was briefed on a police operation to detain the partner of a journalist, sources have said.
USA - Despite the 6.5% stock market rally over the last three months, a handful of billionaires are quietly dumping their American stocks... and fast. Warren Buffett, who has been a cheerleader for US stocks for quite some time, is dumping shares at an alarming rate.
USA - The United States on Tuesday adopted a harder line toward Egypt's military-backed government, stressing that its bloody crackdown on protesters could influence US aid to Cairo but denying reports that it has suspended the assistance.
BERLIN, GERMANY - In light of the extensive transformations taking place in the Middle East, the German government is seeking to strengthen its influence in Northern Iraq. On the occasion of German Development Minister, Dirk Niebel's visit to Iraqi Kurdistan a few days ago, it was reported that the "strategic partnership" with "the Kurds" must be carefully cultivated.
USA - Earlier this month, Democrats flocked to President Obama demanding action which would ensure they and their staffers would not be liable to the edicts of the Health Care bill (Obamacare) they pushed through Congress in 2009. And in a ruling made by the Executive Branch’s Office of Personnel Management on August 2, this ‘crisis’ was averted.
USA - As the coming months unfold, keep a close eye on the "too big to fail" banks both in Europe and in the United States. When the next great financial crisis strikes, they will play a starring role once again.
USA - You can see it coming, can't you? The yield on 10 year US Treasuries is skyrocketing, the S&P 500 has been down for 9 of the last 11 trading days and troubling economic news is pouring in from all over the planet.
EUROPE - Al-Qaeda is plotting attacks on Europe's high-speed rail network, German mass circulation daily Bild reported on Monday, citing intelligence sources.
ISRAEL - Israeli and Jewish targets all over the world are likely to be sought out by terrorist organizations in the coming weeks, the Israeli government’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau warned in strikingly strident tones on Monday, listing dozens of countries where it said it had “concrete” indications of a terrorist threat.
JAPAN - I recently pointed out, this operation has to go on forever - a long sickness, but at least not a sudden death. However, this week begins a new development in the potential sudden death department.
JAPAN - Another tank with highly radioactive water at the devastated Fukushima nuclear power plant has leaked, reported operator TEPCO. The contaminated water contains an unprecedented 80 million Becquerels of radiation per liter. The norm is a mere 150 Bq.