USA - Transmission of an infectious superbug from dogs and cats to humans, and back again, is an increasing problem, a new study finds. The superbug, a strain of bacteria known as MRSA, has evolved a resistance to antibiotics. It has long plagued hospitals but in recent years has become more common in homes.
UK - Nearly two-thirds of teenagers don't believe in God and think that reality television is far more important than religion, new research has revealed. The survey showed that 66 per cent of teens do not believe a deity exists while 50 per cent have never prayed and 16 per cent have never been to church.
MIDDLE EAST - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may seem very different, but THEY ARE UNITED IN THEIR APOCALYPTIC RELIGIOUS VISIONS. Their respective beliefs may be propelling them on a collision course with potentially horrific consequences.
EUROPE - In Les Echos, columnist Jean-Marc Vittori considers the UK's role in Europe, arguing "Great Britain remains well and truly an island."
IRELAND - Ireland to vote on exactly the same text of Lisbon Treaty second time around. Following the EU summit in Brussels last week, Open Europe has published a briefing on the 'guarantees' offered to Ireland in exchange for holding a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
DUBAI - If it were in a position to do so, AL QAEDA WOULD USE PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, a top leader of the group said in remarks aired Sunday. Pakistan has been battling al Qaeda's Taliban allies in the Swat Valley since April after their thrust into a district 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the capital raised fears the nuclear-armed country could slowly slip into militant hands.
UK - Royal Bank of Scotland is this week expected to approve a pay package worth up to £9.6m for its chief executive Stephen Hester. The remuneration deal was agreed on Friday by RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton and its leading shareholders.
SWITZERLAND - After two smugglers were stopped last week with what at first appeared to be $134bn in US state bonds, the tension and paranoia surrounding the fate of the dollar hit a new high.
USA - Staff at Goldman Sachs staff can look forward to the biggest bonus payouts in the firm's 140-year history after a spectacular first half of the year, sparking concern that the big investment banks which survived the credit crunch will derail financial regulation reforms.
SIERRA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO - Ground has been broken on the construction site of Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Those behind the project say that it will help provide a new chapter in space exploration.
IRAN - Extremist Moslems have not dropped their allegations that Pepsi Cola is essentially the code name for a Zionist plot. MEMRI has released an English transcript of an address given by a Muslim religious leader in Egypt this past February, in which he explains that PEPSI is actually an acronym for "Pay Every Penny to Save Israel."
USA - The Obama Administration should remove Hamas from the terrorist list, former President Jimmy Carter told media following his visit to Gaza today. He said he plans on pushing for the change when he meets with US officials on Thursday to discuss his latest trip to the Middle East.
UK - In a debate on European Affairs in the House of Commons yesterday, Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said that as a consequence of poor election results, the Government would have little influence when it came to discussing Europe's institutional future.
UK - Customers of RBS, which is now more than 70 per cent owned by the government, will enjoy fine dining and champagne courtesy of the bank as they watch the tennis championships at the All England Club, which start on Monday.
WASHINGTON - The new strain of H1N1 flu is causing "something different" to happen in the United States this year - perhaps an extended year-round flu season that disproportionately hits young people, health officials said on Thursday.