In response, the UK government said any discussions on flights were a matter for the Falkland Islands government. But the Foreign Office said it expected Argentina to honour its commitments under a 1999 agreement allowing flights from Chile. In recent months Argentina has stepped up its territorial claim to the Falklands, which it calls the Malvinas.

President Fernandez was speaking in a state-of-the-nation address to the Argentine people. She repeated her demand that the UK enter negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falklands, and again accused Britain of "militarising" the South Atlantic. And she said she had asked her foreign minister to renegotiate the 1999 agreement with Britain allowing flights from Chile to the Falklands.

"We want flights to the islands from mainland Argentina - Buenos Aires - operated by our flag-carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas," she said. There have been concerns in the Falklands that Argentina might block the flights operated by Chilean airline LAN, which are the islands' only air link with South America. "The weekly flight to and from Chile is a well-established route, and is valued greatly by the Falkland Islanders, including the Chilean community and others," a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman told the BBC. "It would be deeply disappointing and utterly unjustifiable if Argentina put pressure on this flight to be suspended".

But the bailout must await the debt swap with private bondholders on 8 March, he said. EU leaders are meeting in Brussels again to discuss the debt crisis. As the summit got under way UK Prime Minister David Cameron complained that ideas to stimulate economic growth, which he set out recently in a joint letter with 11 other EU leaders, had been ignored.

Mr Cameron said the summit's draft conclusions ought to reflect the letter's call for swift action to lift regulatory burdens and expand the EU's single market. Intensive negotiations over the Greek debt mountain dominated the run-up to the summit. Private bondholders, such as banks and private investors, recently agreed to take a 53.5% loss on their Greek bonds.

Their 107 billion euros losses - the "haircut" - and a huge package of public sector cuts aim to reduce Greek debt from 160% to 120.5% GDP by 2020. And a global financial body, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, announced on Thursday that the debt write-off did not constitute a default. A ruling of a "credit event" - a default - would have meant insurance against bond losses, called credit default swaps, would have been paid out. That would have caused further losses and uncertainty for already fragile financial institutions.

Saudi officials denied the reports, however, helping prices fall back from their highs in Asia on Friday. A number of issues have pushed prices higher, including tensions over Iran's nuclear plans and regional unrest. The new high set on Thursday beat the level seen during the Libyan civil war last year.

In early trading on Friday, Brent was trading at $125.49 per barrel, with US light sweet crude at $108.47 per barrel. The problem facing the oil market at the moment is that events in a number of countries could have an impact on supply and demand, often causing traders to react more quickly to speculation and increasing volatility.

On Thursday, the trigger was a report in the Iranian media that an explosion had occurred at a pipeline in Saudi Arabia. The report came at a time when there has been a steady increase in friction between the US, its allies and Iran.

Reding told BBC Radio Four data control authorities in Europe asked French counterparts to analyze the new policy. "And they have come to the conclusion that they are deeply concerned, and that the new rules are not in accordance with the European law, and that the transparency rules have not been applied," Reding said. Google said in January it was simplifying its privacy policy, consolidating 60 guidelines into a single one that will apply to all its services including YouTube, Gmail and social network Google+.

Users cannot opt out of the new policy if they want to continue using Google's services. Asked in what respects the policy could be breaking EU law, Reding said: "In numerous respects. One is that nobody had been consulted, it is not in accordance with the law on transparency and it utilizes the data of private persons in order to hand it over to third parties, which is not what the users have agreed to."

It would have been impossible for Google to instigate the policy under proposed legislation she laid out on January 25, Reding said. "Protection of personal data is a basic rule of the European Union. It is inscribed in the treaties. It is not an if, it is a must," she said. Google earlier posted a blog defending its policy after what it called "a fair amount of chatter and confusion." "Our privacy policy is now much easier to understand," the company said.

Even a healthy baby could have its life snuffed out if the mother decides she can’t afford to look after it, the article published by the British Medical Journal group states. The journal’s editor has defended the piece, saying the publication’s role is to present well-reasoned arguments, rather than promote one particular moral view.

Writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Dr Minerva, a research associate at Oxford, and co-author Alberto Giubilini, a University of Milan bioethicist, argue that ‘after-birth abortion’ should be permissible in all cases in which abortion is. They state that like an unborn child, a newborn has yet to develop hopes, goals and dreams and so, while clearly human, is not a person – someone with a moral right to life. In contrast, parents, siblings and society have aims and plans that could be affected by the arrival of the child and their interests should come first. The article, After-birth abortion: why should the baby live? first addresses scenarios in which parents are unaware their child is disabled until after it is born.

The piece argues that, though the child may be happy, it will not reach the potential of a normal child. ‘To bring up such children might be an unbearable burden on the family and on society as a whole… On these grounds, the fact that a foetus has the potential to become a person who will have an (at least) acceptable life is no reason for prohibiting abortion.’ The ethicists are also in favour of the infanticide of a healthy baby when the woman’s circumstances have changed and she no longer has the time, money or energy to care for it.

Trevor Stammers, a lecturer in medical ethics and former chairman of the Christian Medical Fellowship, described the viewpoint as ‘chilling’. Gill Duval, of the ProLife Alliance, said every life is precious and added: ‘Everybody talks about what women want but women wouldn’t want this.’ Julian Savulescu, the journal’s editor, said that the article’s argument has been made before by eminent figures. He added: ‘I’m not defending practising infanticide. I’m defending academic and intellectual freedom.’ He said that Dr Minerva has a ‘loose relationship’ with Oxford and her main position is at the University of Melbourne.

The Greek papers are not much better. Any taboos about references to the Nazi occupation of Greece have been dropped long ago. Across southern Europe, the “ugly German” is back – accused of driving other nations into penury, deposing governments and generally barking orders at all and sundry.

There is also a much more polite form of German-bashing going on at the official level. At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund’s head, Tim Geithner, the US Treasury secretary, and David Cameron, the British prime minister, all made essentially the same point.

Germany has to pay up. The argument goes that if the eurozone is to survive – and the world economy is to avoid disaster – Germany has to do much more, and pay much more, to keep the single currency afloat. These arguments are deeply unfair. They fail to recognise how much Germany has already done for southern Europe. And they make demands for financial commitments that would risk economic and political disaster back in Germany.

Much of the current German-bashing is wild and unfair. But there is one respect in which Germany does bear responsibility for the current crisis. Germany was in the forefront of the countries pushing for the creation of the euro. And yet it is increasingly apparent that creating a single currency, without a single nation behind it, is at the root of the current crisis. The result is that the euro is in a dangerous and unstable position. The actions that are being urged on Germany are unreasonable. But Germany’s own solution – structural reform now, political union later – is unworkable.

Behind the scenes, however, some of the brightest minds in the German government have a sense of deep foreboding. Twice in the past year I have found myself sitting next to different senior German officials at a dinner who have proceeded to tell me that the whole single currency was a terrible mistake. Speaking of the euro, one of my companions said: “It seems to me that we have invented a machine from hell that we cannot turn off.”

The research also indicates that the NATO countries, including Germany, either are engaged in the majority of these armed conflicts with their own troops as aggressors or are instigating local proxies. These wars are concentrated on countries in the Arab world and South Saharan-Africa, which are in the focus of western interests because of their natural resources or their geostrategic situation. The West's leading position in waging war is in correlation with the fact that western nations have the world's largest military budgets and are its largest exporters of combat material - supplying NATO member countries or its allies.

As the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research ascertained in its recently published "Conflict Barometer 2011," last year, the number of wars being waged around the world has risen to a new record high since 1945. Whereas in 2010, the institute recorded six wars, in 2011 the number had more than tripled to 20 wars. None of the six wars registered by the institute for 2010 gave way to peace.

Our lives are governed by millions of laws, rules and regulations and more are being piled on all the time. In fact,40,000 new laws just went into effect in January. Every single new law restricts your freedom just a little bit more. The truth is that America has become a crazy control freak nation where virtually everything that we do is highly regulated. You have probably broken multiple laws today that you don’t even know exist. We have all become criminals and lawbreakers because almost everything is illegal at this point.

Our politicians are convinced that they are “making life better” by piling gigantic mountains of laws on to our backs, and law enforcement authorities are convinced that they are helping society by “cracking down on crime”, but the reality is that our liberties and our freedoms are being strangled by all of this government oppression. This is not the way that America is supposed to work.

Yes, every society needs laws. But the laws should be short enough and simple enough that everybody can read them and understand them. In America today, there is no possible way that any of us could ever read all of the laws that apply to us. Most of us just live our daily lives and try to do the “right” thing. But there is no guarantee that men with guns will not show up at your door one evening because of some obscure regulation that you have broken.

Ever complain on Facebook that you were feeling “sick?” Told your friends to “watch” a certain TV show? Left a comment on a media website about government “pork?” If you did any of those things, or tweeted about your recent vacation in “Mexico” or a shopping trip to “Target,” the Department of Homeland Security may have noticed.

In the latest revelation of how the federal government is monitoring social media and online news outlets, the Electronic Privacy Information Center has posted online a 2011 Department of Homeland Security manual that includes hundreds of key words (such as those above) and search terms used to detect possible terrorism, unfolding natural disasters and public health threats. The center, a privacy watchdog group, filed a Freedom of Information Act request and then sued to obtain the release of the documents.

The 39-page “Analyst’s Desktop Binder” used by the department’s National Operations Center includes no-brainer words like ”attack,” “epidemic” and “Al Qaeda” (with various spellings). But the list also includes words that can be interpreted as either menacing or innocent depending on the context, such as “exercise,” “drill,” “wave,” “initiative,” “relief” and “organization.”

These terms and others are “broad, vague and ambiguous” and include “vast amounts of First Amendment protected speech that is entirely unrelated to the Department of Homeland Security mission to protect the public against terrorism and disasters,” stated the Electronic Privacy Information Center in letter to the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

Read the full list - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/homeland-security-manual_n_1299908.html

The US House of Representatives voted 388-to-3 in favor of HR 347 late Monday, a bill which is being dubbed the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. In the bill, Congress officially makes it illegal to trespass on the grounds of the White House, which, on the surface, seems not just harmless and necessary, but somewhat shocking that such a rule isn’t already on the books. The wording in the bill, however, extends to allow the government to go after much more than tourists that transverse the wrought iron White House fence. Under the act, the government is also given the power to bring charges against Americans engaged in political protest anywhere in the country.

Under current law, White House trespassers are prosecuted under a local ordinance, a Washington, DC legislation that can bring misdemeanor charges for anyone trying to get close to the president without authorization. Under HR 347, a federal law will formally be applied to such instances, but will also allow the government to bring charges to protesters, demonstrators and activists at political events and other outings across America.

The new legislation allows prosecutors to charge anyone who enters a building without permission or with the intent to disrupt a government function with a federal offense if Secret Service is on the scene, but the law stretches to include not just the president’s palatial Pennsylvania Avenue home. Under the law, any building or grounds where the president is visiting — even temporarily — is covered, as is any building or grounds “restricted in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance."

The money is continuing to flow in spite of growing demands from Buenos Aires for Britain to surrender the Falkland Islands and the launch yesterday of a trade war against the UK. It led David Cameron to immediately accuse Argentina of pursuing a “policy of confrontation” against Britain. Last night Tory Euro MP Nirj Deva said: “Why is EU aid being sent at the same time Argentina is sabre-rattling and threatening the UK? Why are we giving money to the Argentines that they may use to attack the Falkland Islands? It is potty, dotty and mad. Argentina is hardly a poor country.”

Mark Pritchard, vice chairman of the Commons British-Argentine All Party Group, called for a review of cash for Argentina. The Tory MP said: “Given the short-sighted manoeuvrings of Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, there should be a review of British aid funding. Future funding should be conditional on recognition of the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination.” With the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War just a month away,

Argentina’s Industry Minister Debora Giorgi yesterday rang the bosses of at least 20 major companies to urge them to replace imports from Britain. There are fears this will be followed by a general trade war, which could spread to other South American countries. Ms Giorgi said: “It’s important Argentina can determine who its strategic trade partners are. In this sense the government is also sending a signal to those who still use colonialism as a means of accessing foreign natural resources.”

A source added: “The Argentine government wants to establish policies that promote trade relations with those nations that respect its territorial integrity, its sovereignty claims and resources that belong to Argentina.” The Foreign Office hauled in Argentina’s Charge d’Affaires to demand a full explanation.

A third are ignoring the problem and putting off dealing with it, however, and on average, people do not start worrying about their debts until they owe £1,250 or more. One in eight has even turned to gambling to try to fight their way out of debt and about five per cent are resorting to payday loans with interest rates of up to 4,000 per cent.

The rising cost of living is blamed by nearly a third of people for their money problems. Higher energy bills and increased fuel costs have tipped many into debt, the study by The Co-operative Bank found. Households are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their income in more than 80 years. Energy charges are up 24 per cent on 2011 while petrol and diesel are 15 per cent dearer than last year and 26 per cent more expensive than two years ago.

Researchers said that people were taking huge risks by not tackling money problems. They have dubbed the problem the DRIP syndrome, referring to those who deny they are in debt, rationalise the reasons for their financial situation, ignore it and postpone putting their affairs in order. Robin Taylor, head of banking at The Co-operative Bank, said: “It’s no surprise that people are feeling the pinch at the moment and that debts are mounting up but what is surprising is that many people are choosing to ignore their debt.

“Our research also shows that the debt alarm doesn’t go off until people owe more than £1,000, which can be a real struggle to pay back. Managing your money with steps such as writing a list of incomings and outgoings and regularly checking your bank account will help you get on top of your finances.” Kim Stephenson, a finance and psychology expert, said: “Confronting the problems now will start you on the road to making your finances healthier and as a result, help you break out of the spiral of debt-pression and alleviate many of the physical symptoms brought on by money worries.”

The bleak forecasts came as Conservatives urged the Prime Minister to tell EU leaders today that the new treaty, which aims to enforce strict budget eurozone rules, will not work. They fear British interests could be threatened by the treaty which is due to be signed at a two-day summit by 25 of the EU’s 27 members. The UK and the Czech Republic have declined to be involved.

David Cameron won huge praise in December for vetoing a new treaty of all 27 member states, leading to creation of the new deal. In the emergency Commons debate forced by eurosceptic MPs, Tory Richard Drax said: “The political elite in all the eurozone is betraying the people. We are going to have tears over this. We already have riots in Greece. God forbid that we have riots in this country one day when the people realise that we have not been, dare I say, truthful?”

Fellow Tory Peter Bone warned a German-dominated EU had “no chance” of making the euro work and “would result in the greatest political unrest in Europe since the Second World War”. Fellow Tory Bob Stewart warned a centralised economy run by Germany would lead to “total rebellion’’ in Europe. Urging the Government to “insist” on renegotiating existing EU treaties, MP Bill Cash said it was “essential” to have a UK referendum to give the people a say.

As numerous leaks and public comments attest, Israel appears closer than ever to taking military action against Iran. The drumbeats for war are coming from many directions – some of them eerily reminiscent of the build-up to the Iraq war. As Iran steps up its uranium enrichment, the inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose reports are filled with dry descriptions of nuclear centrifuges and cascades, are back at the centre of attention, just as they were in Iraq. Sanctions are being cranked up to squeeze the Iranian economy. There is also a growing feeling of impatience with diplomacy and the idea of negotiating with Tehran.

It is the sort of atmosphere in which ideas that once seemed far-off or dangerous can start to become mainstream and even gather a sense of the inevitable. Yet if Mr Netanyahu really is coming to Washington to test support for a military assault, it is also increasingly clear what the answer is likely to be. While US president Barack Obama might still be sticking to the mantra that “all options are still on the table”, his senior national security officials have in recent weeks made it clear that they remain opposed to an attack by Israel or anyone else.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said last week that it was “premature” to think about a military strike against Iran. James Clapper, director of national intelligence, told the Senate that Iran had not yet made the decision to build a nuclear bomb. “I think they’re keeping themselves in a position to make that decision but there are certain things they have not yet done and have not done for some time,” he said. Admittedly, this is not as decisive a point as it used to be, given that Iran’s other activities have reduced the “break-out” time needed to build a bomb, but it is still an important distinction.

These are the public words of current officials. The opinion of many former members of the national security establishment is even more categorical. “No one I am aware of thinks that there is a positive outcome from a military strike,” Admiral William Fallon, former commander of US Central Command, which covers the Middle East, said last week. Of course, none of this means that Israel will not decide to launch a strike on Iran. Indeed, it is possible that the depth of the scepticism in Washington about the benefits of military action might convince Mr Netanyahu that he has no choice but to go it alone. But amid some of the loose talk about looming war, the reluctance of official Washington is still striking.

Stretches of carriageways have also dropped as a result of the dry conditions, creating unpredictable driving conditions for motorists. The problems are set to worsen as the drought continues and warning signs have already gone up in some areas. Cash-strapped local authorities are facing bills running into tens of millions of pounds and say they are unable to afford repairs - despite drivers complaining some roads look like they have been hit by earthquakes.

Instead, they are planning to appeal to the Department for Transport for extra funding. Among those looking for cash are four neighbouring counties in the East of England - Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Lincolnshire alone has identified 150 areas where roads are cracking, including Holbeach, Spalding, Boston and Bourne. ‘Working within much reduced budgets, there is no money specifically available to redress this problem, which is why we are making a direct bid to the Department for Transport,’ a spokesman said.

‘We want to do all we can to make sure the roads are as safe as possible for people to use. It is early days yet and we can’t put a finger on how much is needed or estimate how much we will get. But if we were given £10 million tomorrow that would not be enough.’ Peterborough City Council has identified 58 roads in need of repair and said it needed £6 million to put them right. Thorney resident Melissa Wainwright, 37, said: ‘When I first saw the cracks I thought there must have been an earthquake. They seem to be getting worse and I’m worried that if the cracks become bigger the road will be unsafe to drive on.’

Last year was the driest year in East Anglia since the 1920s and drought was officially declared in June.