BRUSSELS, EUROPE - European Parliament chief Martin Schulz has admitted that some of London's concerns about the EU are valid and that it is no longer acceptable to dismiss those who are critical of the EU as simply being eurosceptic. In a press conference to mark the new year Schulz said he shared some of the "unease" with the EU that UK prime minister David Cameron outlined in a widely-reported speech earlier in the week. "This unease with the EU as it now is, is something that I share. I think there are many people in Europe who also have this unease" said Schulz. "And that's why I would really recommend that we don't label everyone who criticises the EU as a eurosceptic. The EU is not in a good state. We have to do better."

ISRAEL - Tehran is looking seriously at a limited Syrian-Lebanese clash of arms with Israel – possibly using Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons as a trigger, debkafile’s military and intelligence sources disclose. Reacting to this news, Israel announced Sunday, January 27, the deployment of Iron Dome anti-missile batteries some days ago to reinforce security in northern Israel and the key Haifa port.

FRANCE/MALI - France has reportedly imposed a media blackout on its invasion of Mali amid a growing war that rages on in the West African nation. On January 11, France launched the war under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in Mali. However, as Paris has stepped up its ground offensive and aerial strikes in Mali few images of the conflict have come out of the African country. French networks TF1 and France Televisions have also sent several teams to Bamako, but a media blackout on images of the clashes has confined all journalists to the city. Some analysts believe that Malian abandoned natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the French war on the country.

SWITZERLAND - Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has warned that a crisis involving a nuclear Iran is in the "foreseeable future". The Nobel Peace laureate, 89, was speaking about prospects in the Middle East at the World Economic Forum. He said nuclear proliferation in the region triggered by an armed Iran would increase the chances of an atomic war - "a turning point in human history". He also urged the US and Russia to co-operate in resolving Syria's conflict. The consequences of Tehran's programme, he said, would be that other countries in the region would also want nuclear arms.

UK - The Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, spoke of a desire to “mobilise” opposition in the Church. He urged them to capitalize on the decision by all three main party leaders to allow free votes on the matter and increase pressure on their local MPs to halt such a “fundamental change in the law”. A million postcards, designed for Catholics to complete and send to their MP asking them to vote against the Government’s plan, were distributed at masses over the weekend. The issue is due to come up for a vote in the Commons as early as February 5. The only surprise in the bill was a clause making it impossible for gay or lesbian people who marry to divorce on grounds of adultery.

ITALY - Italy's gaffe-prone former premier Silvio Berlusconi has stoked controversy by praising Benito Mussolini on Holocaust Memorial Day - despite Il Duce's anti-Jewish laws. Mussolini had been wrong to pass anti-Jewish laws but had otherwise been a good leader, said Mr Berlusconi. He was speaking at a Milan ceremony commemorating victims of the Nazi Holocaust. He has not ruled out another stint as PM if his party wins polls next month.

USA - Early in the 4th century, Emperor Diocletian issued an infamous decree to control spiralling wages and prices in the rapidly deteriorating Roman Empire. As part of his edict, Diocletian commanded that any merchant or customer caught violating the new price structures would be put to death. This is an important lesson from history, and a trend that has been repeated numerous times.

SWITZERLAND - Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein has suggested the worst of the financial crisis is over in an interview with the BBC in Davos. "I think the moment of crisis is over," he said, speaking to BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders. "The worst worrisome problems that everyone talked about last year seem to be off the table." He said deleveraging was continuing, companies were beginning to make money again, and the housing situation in the US and elsewhere was improving. Goldman Sachs this month announced net profits of $7.5 billion (£4.8 billion) for 2012, results that analysts said showed that the bank was back on track following the financial crisis.

SWITZERLAND - Analysis by Jorn Madslien, BBC News, Davos: “The calm mood in sunny Davos is open to interpretation. It might be tempting to see it as a reflection of hope that the global economy is back on track and picking up pace. But equally, it could be taken as a sign of exhaustion, bringing pause to an economic crisis that has been long and tiring. Nobody here expects a sharp and sudden recovery, especially not in the US or the eurozone. But these days, politicians and business leaders seem happy as long as they are not in the eye of a storm”.

SWITZERLAND - The incoming governor of the Bank of England has said the next two years will be "decisive" for bank reform. Mark Carney, current governor of the Bank of Canada, said "shadow banking" and the issue of "too big to fail" would be tackled.

USA - US Federal Reserve is reporting a major deposit withdrawal from the nation’s bank accounts. The financial system hasn’t seen such a massive fund outflow since 9/11 attacks. The first week of January 2013 has seen $114 billion withdrawn from 25 of the US’ biggest banks, pushing deposits down to $5.37 trillion, according to the US Fed. Financial analysts suggest it could be down to the Transaction Account Guarantee insurance program coming to an end on December 31 last year and clients moving their money that is no longer insured by the government.

SWITZERLAND - International bankers and finance ministers warned on Saturday that Europe's crisis was not over even though the euro currency is now stabilized, it will take years to overcome economic malaise and mass unemployment in Europe.

SWITZERLAND - The world still does not fully understand how financial markets work, according to investor George Soros. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Soros, who made his billions betting on the markets, said the established theory had "collapsed".

USA - A massive anti-abortion march hit Washington DC, on Friday as tens of thousands opposed to the right to choose descended on the National Mall to protest Roe vs Wade, the landmark 1971 decision that legalized the termination of pregnancies. Participants in the annual March for Life walked to the steps of the US Supreme Court carrying signs reading “Defend Life,” “I regret My Abortion,” “1973-2013 Forty Years of Legal Fetal Homicide,” and many others. The event comes on the 40th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the US Supreme Court decision that made it a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy under some circumstances.

GERMANY - Cameron's speech on London's future role in the European Union on Wednesday was criticized by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle as an attempt to pick and choose the things Britain wants from the EU. "Cherry picking is not an option," he told reporters.