JORDAN - Jordan's minister says world is unanimous on need for negotiations leading to Palestinian state in joint press conference with German foreign minister; King Abdullah meets with Angela Merkel as both countries emphasize ties. Jordanian King Abdullah II, on Saturday, met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and discussed bilateral ties and the Middle East. The king stressed the need to further cement ties between the two countries. The two leaders also discussed efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist groups. The King and the German minister called on all to set the ground for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

ITALY - Alarming images have emerged on Twitter apparently taken at landmarks in Italy, including the Colosseum, as Libyan intelligence claims that the Islamic State are exploiting the Mediterranean refugee emergency to send its fighters into the heart of Europe. There have been growing fears that militants would take advantage of tens of thousands of migrants surging across the Mediterranean to send operatives to Europe. Now it appears they have already arrived. The threatening photos apparently taken at landmarks and train stations in Italy show a piece of paper displaying the Islamic state logo and messages such as 'Islamic State in Rome. We are in your streets.'

USA - It’s one thing to hear about the severity of the drought out West, but images of Lake Mead, on the Colorado River, show an unprecedented drop in its water level and hammer home the severity of the drought. Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, is filled to only 40 percent of capacity. The 14-year drought in the area surrounding the Colorado River basin has resulted in an astounding 150-foot drop in water levels. The Colorado River Basin supplies water to 40 million people in seven western states, including California, which is in the midst of its fourth year of severe drought. Several of the lake’s marinas have either relocated or closed, leaving docks that can accommodate nearly 300 boats sitting on dry, cracked earth. A hotel near the lake has closed and been abandoned, its empty swimming pool looking over the dry lakebed.

USA - The head of the nonprofit group that oversees the world's Internet addresses expressed confidence Thursday that it would be privatized and out of US government control by year's end. Fadi Chehade's comments came despite criticism in the US Congress, where some lawmakers have resisted the plan to end Washington's key management role in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Chehade said all the necessary components for a new stewardship scheme are accounted for and there will be "major legitimizing endorsements" from several countries in coming weeks. Last year, some critics in Congress argued that Washington was "giving away" the Internet, posing long-term threats to online freedom and commerce.

SCOTLAND - The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to allow congregations to ordain gay ministers who are in same sex civil partnerships. Delegates voted 309 in favour and 183 against. The vote followed a church-wide debate and consultations with all 45 presbyteries, which voted 31 to 14 in favour of change. A further vote will be held this week on whether or not to extend ordination to ministers in same sex marriages. Supporters said it was time for the church to be inclusive and recognise the "mixed economy" of modern Scotland. Opponents warned that the move was contrary to God's law, would prove divisive and lead to resignations.

ISRAEL - This speech was given on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem two weeks ago.

“They must convert to Islam, or pay the jizya poll tax, or else, you should seek the help of Allah and fight them.”

“You should fight them even if they do not fight you.”

Meanwhile, it’s Rabbi Yehuda Glick, who the police want to prevent from going up!

GERMANY - Economic uncertainty in Europe and fear of a Greek default are turning people to buy gold bars and coins. German investors have piled into gold bars and coins in the first quarter of the year as a hedge against European Central Bank policy and the threat of a Greek default bringing down the eurozone. "This was the strongest start in Europe for gold coins and bars that we have seen since 2011," Alistair Hewitt, head of market intelligence at the World Gold Council told The Telegraph. "German investors are fretting over the ECB, Greece and Ukraine."

UK - There are now 32 openly gay, lesbian and bisexual MPs - up on last year and far more than in Holland or Sweden, countries known for having a liberal attitude to gay rights.. The House of Commons has more gay MPs than any other parliament in the world, it has been found. A total of 155 gay candidates stood at this year’s election, according to analysis by the political magazine New Statesman. The Tories stood more gay candidates than any other party. It also was found that the SNP parliamentary party is now 12.5 per cent gay, lesbian and bisexual – the highest proportion of any party in the world.

DENMARK - A proposed new law in Denmark could be the first step towards an economic revolution that sees physical currencies and normal bank accounts abolished and gives government’s futuristic new tools to fight the cycle of “boom and bust”. The Danish proposal sounds innocuous enough on the surface – it would simply allow shops to refuse payments in cash and insist that customers use contactless debit cards or some other means of electronic payment.

GERMANY - German foreign policy experts are calling for a "renaissance" of the transatlantic alliance to defend Western global hegemony. According to the strategy paper written by two German authors, published recently by the think tank of the European People's Party (EPP), the EU must strengthen its cooperation with the United States in spite of certain controversies.

UK – Has the world of fashion changed when it comes to dressing by gender? Are we beginning to see a more progressive approach to clothing, where whether you are a man or a woman becomes less relevant? Or are we destined to be defined by gender no matter where we shop?

UK - In a note to clients Wednesday, he warns: "The world economy is like an ocean liner without lifeboats. If another recession hits, it could be a truly titanic struggle for policymakers."

ISRAEL - "Lasting security for a Jewish and democratic Israel will not be possible without a viable and democratic Palestinian state," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a speech to Israel's citizens in honor of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany.

ISRAEL - While Netanyahu fantasizes about a détente with the Arab world, the US and EU are ready to turn up the heat on his new government. Forget the United States of America. Move over, Canada, Australia and Germany. The days when those countries were considered Israel’s closest friends are over. The Jewish state’s new best buddies are Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. “Our best allies actually these days are some of our Arab neighbors, because they know we face a common threat,” Netanyahu said Tuesday at a conference in Jerusalem. The idea he referred to is not new: Israel and the so-called moderate Sunni Arab states have a common foe in Iran, and the enemy of my worst enemy must be my best friend.

USA - The drought devastation has gotten worse in Tulare County in the weeks since we examined the lack of water as part of our five-part drought series. Conditions are desperate enough that neighbors are stealing water from each other.

With so many people desperately in need, so many hundreds without water, Pastor Ramon Hernandez’s donated drinking water is almost always in short supply. “It’s all over the county, all over the valley, but this is the worst of the worst, the east side of Porterville,” he said. The Tule River once supplied the wells that have long since run dry. Now, the riverbed has turned into a dumping ground with not a drop of water to be found.