EUROPE - Earlier we reported that the US has now officially landed a Marine force in Israel as well as an assault ship, in a visit that the US Navy promptly assured "is not associated with, nor a reaction to, any world events."
UK - Christianity could be facing a catastrophic collapse in Britain according to official figures suggesting it is declining 50 per cent faster than previously thought.
USA - The US is moving to broaden its 'blockade' efforts of Iran to the movement of pure gold into the Islamic Republic. The US-led embargo of Iranian crude succeeded in slowing the flow of petrodollars into the nation but as Foreign Affairs committee chairman Edward Cohen remarked, there is "no question that there is gold going from Turkey to Iran."
FRANCE - A stagnant economy, a weak President and a jump in car burnings are all signs of a looming crisis in France that is threatening to drive the eurozone’s problems to a “higher plane”, according to Michael Hintze.
CHINA - China has tested a long-range missile capable of intercepting satellites, US intelligence sources have claimed. On Monday night local time a rocket was sent into space from a launch centre in Sichuan province, southwest China. Beijing said the launch was part of a scientific data-collecting mission. But that version has now been called into question, with one anonymous US defence source telling Reuters: "It was a ground-based missile that we believe would be their first test of an interceptor that would be designed to go after a satellite that's actually on orbit."
VATICAN - Pope Francis has called on world leaders to end the "cult of money" and to do more for the poor, in his first major speech on the financial crisis. Free market economics had created a tyranny, in which people were valued only by their ability to consume, the pontiff told diplomats in the Vatican. ‘Money has to serve, not to rule,’ he said, urging ethical financial reforms.
USA - With three concurrent and major government scandals filling the media, very few people will pay attention or care about the economic contagion spreading throughout Europe, but they should. One certain outcome of Obama’s chaotic Administration is gridlock. With Congress on the warpath, every bureaucrat at every level will be in hiding so as to not draw attention to themselves.
UK - Motorists may have paid thousands of pounds too much for their petrol over the last decade, after two of Britain’s biggest companies were raided on suspicion of manipulating oil prices.
NIGERIA - Nigeria has announced a "massive deployment of men and resources" to combat Islamist militants in the country's remote border territories. A statement said the drive was aimed at "asserting the nation's territorial integrity" and "enhancing security". On Tuesday President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states after a series of deadly attacks by militant groups. Fighters from the Boko Haram group are blamed for most of the violence.
UK - A councillor who won re-election despite having to apologise for suggesting disabled children should be “put down” to save money has told Disability News Service (DNS) he believes there is a good argument for killing some disabled babies.
ISRAEL - Thousands in Ramallah were reported to have taken part in Nakba Day, the annual mourning day for the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Ramallah, located in Samaria, is home to the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority offices and considered the most metropolitan of PA controlled cities. On Wednesday, thousands were reported to have marched from the grave of Yasser Arafat towards the city center, wearing black clothing and waving PLO flags. A siren sounded for 65 seconds, representing the 65 years since Israel became independent from the British Empire on May 14th, 1948.
UK - Cardinal Keith O'Brien is to leave Scotland for several months after admitting inappropriate sexual conduct during his church career, the Vatican has said. Britain's most senior Catholic cleric stepped down from his post as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh earlier this year after priests made allegations against him. A Vatican statement said: "His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien ... will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance. Any decision regarding future arrangements for his eminence shall be agreed with the Holy See."
UK - A local council decided against flying the flag of St George after concerns were raised that it would offend the town’s 16 Muslim residents. Eleanor Jackson, a university lecturer, said the red and white symbol could cause upset in Radstock, Somerset, because it was used during the Crusades 1,000 years ago. The rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride movement will be flown at “appropriate” times of the year.
USA - Anyone who uses Skype has consented to the company reading everything they write. The H’s associates in Germany at Heise Security have now discovered that the Microsoft subsidiary does in fact make use of this privilege in practice. Shortly after sending HTTPS URLs over the instant messaging service, those URLs receive an unannounced visit from Microsoft HQ in Redmond.