ISRAEL - The US is seeking an "early conclusion" of peace talks leading to Palestinian statehood, its special Mid-East envoy said after talks in Ramallah. Former Senator George Mitchell was speaking to reporters after meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town.
USA - The price of oil burst through the $71 a barrel mark today amid revelations that proven reserves had fallen for the first time in 10 years and predictions that the price could eventually hit $250.
UK - Home educating families in England are going to have to register annually, as the government has accepted the recommendations of a review. The review also says local authorities should have the right to visit any child taught at home.
GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting, according to reports. It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.
USA - If anyone thinks that Barack Obama is a Muslim now, there is no one to blame but Barack Obama. In his speech in Cairo, Obama said that he had "known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed." Obama didn't say that he had come to the region where "Muslims believe that Islam was first revealed," or where Islam "began," or was "founded." Revealed.
BRUSSELS - EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia is "fully confident" that Britain will be outvoted on proposals for an EU financial regulator.
LONDON - London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat reports that US President Barack Obama presented his version of peace in the Middle East to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during the latter's visit to Washington last month, as well as to two Egyptian officials. The plan reportedly calls for a process that will finalize a Palestinian state within two years.
EUROPE - European Jews have expressed fears that the gains by anti-Islam and anti-immigration parties in this week's European Union parliamentary elections will heighten anti-Semitism. The most surprising victory was by the far-right wing British National Party, which restricts membership to whites.
ISRAEL - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to meet with the Likud caucus Wednesday evening to hear their views as he prepares his policy speech that he will deliver on Sunday at Bar-Ilan University. His aides said that the Prime Minister "will listen rather than talk."
ISRAEL - US Middle East envoy George Mitchell sounded out the Palestinian Authority on a land swap that would allow Israel to retain large population centres in Judea and Samaria in return for the PA's receiving land that includes Arab cities.
USA - Birds did not descend from dinosaurs, scientists claim after studying how our feathered friends move and breathe. It has been known for decades that the femur, or thigh bone in birds is largely fixed making birds 'knee runners.'
ISRAEL - While outwardly US envoy George Mitchell tried to downplay tensions between Washington and Jerusalem, the settlement construction issue continued to be a central source of contention when Mitchell met with Israel's leaders on Tuesday.
UK - Last Thursday the British public queued at their polling stations to quietly and politely lay three ticking bombs under British politics. If we don't hear the tick-tock and steadily defuse the voters' anger, the eventual blasts will damage Britain for decades to come.
BRUSSELS - European Union leaders will call at a summit next week for rapid progress on agreeing and implementing new financial regulations to prevent another global economic crisis, a draft summit declaration showed on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON - LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009 - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION: