UK - UKIP Defence Spokesman, Mike Hookem MEP has today said that the biggest threat to the security of the Falkland Islands was the continued push for the creation of a combined EU army, which “some groups” in the European parliament are pushing for by 2025.
USA - In January 2016, police killed 113 people — at least one person was fatally gunned down by a cop every day that month. One particularly deadly day, January 27, saw ten people meet their fate, thanks to the police. On average, that is almost 4 people a day. And there is no indication this tragic epidemic will end soon. That daily average is higher than the annual average of other countries. For example, in all of 2011, British police killed 2 people. In 2012, 1 person. In 2013, a total of 3 bullets left the barrels of British police guns, and no one was killed. In the last two years, a total of 4 people have lost their lives because of British cops, bringing the total number of citizens killed in the UK to 7 in the last 5 years. Killed By Police listed 1,205 total killings by law enforcement [in the USA] for 2015.
USA - Nearly 10% of the country’s bridges – 58,495 out of 609,539 – were considered structurally deficient last year and needed repairs, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association reported Thursday. The total represents 2,574 fewer bridges than the more than 61,000 in 2014, according to ARTBA, which represents the design and construction industry. The association reviewed Transportation Department records for its study. More than 63,000 bridges were structurally deficient in 2013, the group found. The current pace of investment would take 21 years to replace or upgrade all the deficient bridges.
USA - Two back to back M4.8 earthquakes have struck the dormant volcanic fields near Big Pine, California. The earthquakes struck very close to Crater Mountain Volcano. Obviously, two back to back M4.8 earthquakes at a dormant volcano is something that should even raise the eyebrows of a Geologist with a stone face. This amount of activity, occurring at multiple California dormant volcanoes, is worthy to pay attention to, and (in the past) has been a sign of building pressure in the region — a sign of a coming larger earthquake in a nearby area along the coast. One day ago, Mammoth Mountain/Long Valley Volcanic caldera was struck by multiple earthquakes.
EUROPE - Talks in Brussels on the future of the UK within the EU have continued throughout Thursday night into Friday, with British prime minister David Cameron leaving a bilateral meeting at 5.30am CET (4.30am GMT) – giving no word on the progress of the discussions.
UK - Britain's FTSE 100 index has fallen around 20 percent since last April. It has been a rollercoaster ride for investors since the start of the year, with stock markets around the world whipsawing between gains and losses.
EUROPE - Troubles in the Italian and Portuguese economies could blow up this year to shatter the eurozone, as disastrous Greece almost did last year. Both countries are heavily laden with huge piles of debts and struggling to register any growth amid global market turmoil.
POLAND - One of Poland’s most popular weekly magazines has splashed a graphic depiction of the rape of Europe’s women by migrants on its front cover. The image may be one of the most politically incorrect illustrations of the migrant crisis to date.
HUNGARY - Hungary's prime minister vented his anger against the influx of migrants on a visit to Russia on Wednesday, saying that it threatens the identity of EU nations and raises terror threats.
EUROPE - Fears Islamic State (ISIS) fanatics could carry out a nuclear attack on Europe have been raised after Paris terror attacks police found video footage of a top Belgian nuclear researcher.
NORTH KOREA - Experts say one of Mount Paekdu's previous eruptions was 'one of the largest explosive events in human history'. Seismologists have warned that North Korea's repeated nuclear tests could cause Mount Paekdu to erupt - and they add that one of the volcano's previous eruptions was "one of the largest explosive events in human history".
USA - White college students are undergoing a weekly “deconstructing whiteness” program at Northwestern University. The “6-part workshop series for undergraduate students who self-identify as white” launched in January and runs through March, according to the university’s website. Students enrolled chose to do so – it is voluntary.
EUROPE - European leaders hope to whittle away at David Cameron's deal, then contain the 'contagion' of reform, during gruelling talks expected to last until dawn. Francois Hollande, the French president, will tell Mr Cameron that his deal will not get any better and there can be “no bidding” at the decisive summit on Thursday night.
EUROPE - Brussels' ambition to create an EU army suffered a knock today after a report by a committee of British parliamentarians said the 28-member bloc should not act as the world's policeman.
USA - The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has just added three new vaccines to the Childhood Immunization Schedule, bringing the total to an almost unbelievable 74 vaccine doses recommended before the age of 17. The agency also lowered the age of HPV (a sexually-transmitted virus) vaccination to include nine-year-olds.