USA - It’s Friday morning, and so far today, the Obama administration has posted 165 new regulations and notifications on its reguations.gov website. In the past 90 days, it has posted 6,125 regulations and notices – an average of 68 a day. The website allows visitors to find and comment on proposed regulations and related documents published by the US federal government. "Help improve Federal regulations by submitting your comments," the website says. Some of the proposed regulations revise regulations already on the books.

USA - World shares edged down for a fourth day on Monday as concerns about a potential US fiscal crisis and Greece's bailout dented optimism over global growth. Adding to the uncertainty, Japan reported that its economy shrank 0.9 percent in July-September from the previous quarter, pointing to a mild recession in the world's third-largest economy. "Investors remain consumed by US fiscal cliff consequences, and this is capping market enthusiasm," said Tim Waterer, senior trader at CMC Markets.

GREECE - Arm raised in a Nazi-style salute, the leader of Greece's fastest-rising political party surveyed hundreds of young men in black T-shirts as they exploded into cheers. Their battle cry reverberated through the night: Blood! Honour! Golden Dawn!

UK - The UK’s most senior general said in a BBC interview Sunday that Britain had in place contingency plans for a “very limited” response in the case of a worsening humanitarian situation in Syria within the next few months. The admission from Chief of the Defense Staff General Sir David Richards is the most serious warning yet that Britain is preparing for some kind of military involvement in Syria. It seems that British policy has now shifted from trying to support and organize the disparate rebel groups to considering full-blown military action. “The situation this winter I think may deteriorate and may well provoke calls to intervene in a limited way,” General Richards told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

USA - The United States will overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's top oil producer by 2017, the West's energy agency said on Monday, predicting Washington will come very close to achieving a previously unthinkable energy self-sufficiency. The forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises large industrialized nations on energy policy, were in sharp contrast to previous IEA reports, which saw Saudi Arabia remaining the top producer until 2035.

GUATEMALA - A strong earthquake has hit Guatemala just days after at least 52 people were killed by the country's most powerful quake in decades. Thousands of people lost their houses and were left without power. President Perez Molina said 22 people were still missing. The 6.1-magnitude tremor had its epicentre off Guatemala's Pacific coast. It was also felt in El Salvador and Mexico's southern Chiapas state. There are no immediate reports of deaths or major damage, but the second strong quake in less than a week caused panic in the Central American country.

UK - As David Cameron completes his tour of the Middle East, flogging billions of dollars worth of British weapons for repression and mass destruction to Arab dictators, the British Prime Minister took absurdity and deception to new heights - by appointing himself as an interlocutor for “peaceful transition” in Syria.

ARGENTINA - An estimated 700,000 people gathered around the city's landmark obelisk and other main avenues to march towards the Casa Rosada, the Argentine seat of government. High crime, inflation of roughly 25 per cent a year, and a possible bid by government allies to reform the constitution to allow Ms Fernandez to run for a third term are also stoking unrest, particularly among middle-class Argentines. Her government has virtually banned dollar purchases and it limited imports this year, worsening a steep economic slowdown.

ISRAEL/GAZA - Israel said it was poised to escalate attacks on the Gaza Strip on Sunday following a surge of rocket and mortar salvoes by Hamas and other factions in the Palestinian enclave. A missile strike wounded four Israeli troops on jeep patrol along the Gaza boundary on Saturday, triggering army shelling that killed four Palestinian civilians and, in turn, dozens of short-range rocket launches out of Gaza that paralyzed Israel's southern border towns. Two Gaza militants died in the ensuing Israeli air strikes. The 2008-2009 Gaza conflict coincided with an election campaign and, four years on, some Israeli analysts see the same dynamics building.

UK - Schools should downgrade Christianity in assemblies for a more “inclusive” multi-faith approach, say religious education advisors. Teachers should no longer be expected to “accord a special status to Jesus Christ” as part of traditional acts of collective worship for pupils, it was claimed. Guidance sent out to local committees – established to determine RE in communities across England – called for a focus on a “wide range of religious traditions” such as Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. By law, conventional state schools are required to stage daily acts of collective worship that are “broadly Christian” to reflect the country’s heritage.

LONDON, UK - Lord Patten today insisted the BBC would go through a 'radical overhaul' in the wake of George Entwistle's dramatic resignation last night as director-general after just seven weeks in the job. The BBC Trust chairman said Mr Entwistle left the Corporation 'extremely honourably' and was taking responsibility for the 'awful journalism' that saw Newsnight wrongly label a Tory peer a paedophile. He told The Andrew Marr Show: 'Throughout this in the way the BBC has covered ourselves, our credibility depends on telling the truth about ourselves and others, however horrible it might be.'

WASHINGTON, USA/BERLIN, GERMANY - The German Foreign Minister has called on the new US administration to consolidate transatlantic economic relations. "Europe and the USA" should "soon reach an agreement on concrete negotiations for a transatlantic free trade zone," proposed Guido Westerwelle. This could bring new "growth." Berlin's initiative was provoked by Washington's explicit announcement that, in the future, it will mainly focus on East and Southeast Asia, rather than on Europe. Berlin is also making demands that are more extensive. Foreign Minister Westerwelle calls on Washington to assume the German austerity policy as its own model for fighting the crisis.

BURMA - A strong earthquake has rocked central Burma, with at least 12 people feared dead and dozens more injured. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck some 120km (70 miles) north of the second-largest city of Mandalay, at a depth of 10km, the US Geological Survey said. Burma's local media say a bridge under construction collapsed in the town of Shwebo, closest to the epicentre. The earthquake - which was felt as far away as Bangkok in neighbouring Thailand - was followed by two strong aftershocks.

GERMANY - Germany's finance minister has reportedly asked a panel of top advisers to examine France's economic problems amid concerns that weaknesses could spread to the rest of Europe. Wolfgang Schaeuble has asked the distinguished "wise men" panel, which advises the government in economic matters, to examine possible reform proposals for France, according to German daily Die Zeit. Lars Feld, an economist who sits on the panel, told Reuters: "Concerns are growing given the lack of action of the French government in labour market reforms." Two officials also told Reuters that Mr Schaeuble had asked the advisers to consider drafting a report on what France should do.

BRUSSELS, EUROPE - Talks to agree the EU's 2013 budget have collapsed, after negotiators from the EU and member states were unable to agree on extra funding for 2012. The EU Commission and European Parliament had asked for a budget rise of 6.8% in 2013. But most governments wanted to limit the rise to just 2.8%. The failure of the talks will dent hopes of agreement on the 2014-2020 budget, which is up for discussion later this month, correspondents say. An EU summit aimed at reaching a deal on that budget will be held on 22-23 November.