COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Nick Griffin has accused world leaders at the Copenhagen climate conference of the "biggest hoax in history" that will kill more people than the great famines under Stalin and Mao.
PHILIPPINES - Soldiers and police marshalled the evacuation of about 50,000 people from the so-called "danger zone" of five miles around the foothills of the Mayon volcano, amid concerns a big eruption could occur at any moment.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Mr Gore told the conference: "These figures are fresh. Some of the models suggest to Dr [Wieslav] Maslowski that there is a 75 per cent chance that the entire north polar ice cap, during the summer months, could be completely ice-free within five to seven years."
USA - Despite last year's mauling, some high-profile Wall Street analysts see a "Goldilocks" scenario for the economy. That would be one where inflation remains subdued and growth picks up briskly. But investors should think twice before betting on such a fairy tale.
USA - Confidential contracts detailing Monsanto Co's business practices reveal how the world's biggest seed developer is squeezing competitors, controlling smaller seed companies and protecting its dominance over the multibillion-dollar market for genetically altered crops, an Associated Press investigation has found.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Just as it looked like Dubai might go into a default on some of its debts and have to complete a $26 billion restructuring with bondholders, neighbor nation Abu Dhabi has provided billions in much-needed financing. The move has spurred stock market rallies around the world.
UK - There is no reason for it, no excuse. The preparatory work has long been done. The groundwork is long prepared. The intellectual arguments have been made and remade: beyond all reasonable question, tHE UK NEEDS A RADICAL SHAKEUP OF ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU, and not merely the tinkering currently proposed by the Conservative leadership.
EUROPE - Bruges Group research shows that the EU's financial regulations are set to destroy thousands of well-paid jobs in the City of London. The EU now threatens the long term prosperity of the City of London and, by extension, the London and UK economies.
EUROPE - Van Rompuy to travel to Spain to explain to Zapatero "that he is now the boss"
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - As national ministers meet this week in Copenhagen to discuss a new climate change deal, Open Europe has found that under the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), oil and gas companies' operations in the UK were granted a surplus of carbon permits worth €28.6m in 2008. For example, ExxonMobil received €4.3m and Total received €5.4m.
EUROPE - Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes in the Telegraph: "Before we blame Greece for making a hash of the euro, let us not forget how we got here. EMU lured Club Med into a trap."
BRUSSELS, EUROPE - The Telegraph reports that a source in the Swedish government, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency, has said the 18 'observer' MEPs whose seats were created by the Lisbon Treaty but who cannot do any work until an agreement has been ratified by all 27 member states, will be put on full pay in the New Year.
GERMANY - An international human rights organization today announced it will pursue a civil lawsuit on behalf of parents who want to control their children's education and withhold them from explicit sex education and play-acting classes required by the German government.
UK - The Bank of England today warns Britain is in danger of losing its 'credit standing' with international investors. Many are worried about the vast quantity of government bonds that will have to be sold over the coming years, the Bank reveals in its Quarterly Bulletin.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Copenhagen is supposed to be the crowning achievement of the Global Warmers/Climate Changers. Leading up to the big day, there was even a name change to more easily facilitate the SMOOTH EXCHANGE OF THE WEALTH OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO THOSE WHOSE DICTATORS REFUSE TO "SHARE THE WEALTH" WITH THEIR CITIZENS.