THE DAILY WAR!
Non-pagan/papal date: 10-12
THE HOLY ROMAN
B16 says it is a grave error to give legal status to unions other than marriage, because that clouds the functions of the family. At the same time, the Pope appealed today for concrete assistance to young couples so that they can form families.
The forthcoming film "The Da Vinci Code" might not be so bad for Opus Dei after all. For the first time, in this interview, a representative of the "evil one of the film" -- the Opus Dei prelature -- offers his view on this production.
EMPIRE OF THE GERMAN NATION
Assigning Thomas de Maiziere to be the head of the office of Angela Merkel, commanded merely the superficial attention of the press and, therefore, remained practically unnoticed by the majority of the inhabitants of Germany. However this ascension of a representative of the de Maiziere family to the top of the German pyramid of power is really an historical event.
Political circles in Berlin were somewhat taken aback by the considerable expectations and preparations in the US in connection with the current visit being made by Angela Merkel. President Bush revealed he had reserved 3 hours for personal discussion with Merkel.
German intelligence agency expert Erich Schmidt-Eenboom offers his take on the allegations that German secret agents were involved in assessing targets during the US military invasion in Iraq.
EUROPE/RUSSIA
Claims about the German intelligence service's role during the US-led invasion of Iraq lead papers to doubt the sincerity of Gerhard Schroeder's anti-war stance. European dailies continue to debate the options available to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions. And, in Spain, the prime minister is under fire for his comments about a Basque separatist political party.
The CIA masterminded a military operation carried out near the end of the Balkan wars, in which over 200,000 Serbs were expelled from Croatia and hundreds killed.
MIDEAST/AFRICA/ASIA
Doctors have failed to revive Ariel Sharon from his medically-induced coma and are becoming increasingly worried about his condition, according to Israeli media reports today.
A group led by residents of Judea and Samaria officially presented a plan yesterday calling for Jews in the area to secede from Israel and create their own autonomous Jewish entity, in part to head off the possibility of further unilateral Israeli withdrawals from the territory.
A most strange report has been issued by the FSB today that details a series of recent events that have occurred in Israel
Iraqis are increasingly saying that they regard Al Qaeda as a foreign-led force, whose extreme religious goals and desires for sectarian war against Iraq's Shiite majority override tribal and nationalist traditions.
(Op/ed: An incendiary threat in Iraq)
Countdown to war...
The US and EU have set course for a full-scale confrontation with Iran. The foreign ministers of the EU-3 met yesterday in Berlin and called for an emergency meeting of the IAEA to discuss referring Iran to the UN Security Council for possible punitive sanctions. The Bush administration, which has been clamouring for such action for more than 2 years, immediately backed the decision.
(WPH: Gulf states fear Iran)
Arab countries have set aside $30 million for the Islamization of the Nuba Mountains region in Sudan.
China and India, the world’s 2 fastest growing energy consumers, on Thursday set aside long-standing rivalries and agreed to co-operate in securing crude oil resources overseas.
HOUSE OF ISRAEL
A plan to build a motorway beside the hill where ancient Celtic kings were crowned has been challenged in court. Tara's importance as a religious centre dates from around 4,000 BC. The oldest visible man-made feature is the Mound of the Hostages, which dates from the 3rd millennium BC.
Samuel Alito's Willy Loman facade conceals seething resentments - and a dangerous belief in unbridled presidential power.
2006 is sure to be the year of living dangerously – for the Bush administration and for the rest of us. We have already embarked on what looks distinctly like a constitutional crisis.
ECONOMY
Nigeria's oil production has been cut by 10% after an explosion and the kidnapping of 4 foreign oil workers.
"You are starting to see a slowdown in housing market activity, and that says loud and clear that things are starting to break." Realtors in California, stockbrokers in New York, car dealers in London – a lot of very nice people have made their fortunes as assets took on air. Shame it has to disappear some day. People who have been walking on water are going to have to learn to swim.
The European Central Bank signaled Thursday that it could increase interest rates as early as March.
In what amounts to a massive misappropriation of social wealth, Wall Street’s major investment banks and trading firms are handing out $21.5 billion in year-end bonuses for 2005.
What is it about English-speaking countries that they make a virtue of going into debt? Recent statistics from the US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand show alarming rises in borrowing from foreigners to finance consumption.
[WAR: "The alien who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail. All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey YAHWEH your ELOHIM and observe the commands and decrees he gave you. They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever. Because you did not serve YAHWEH your ELOHIM joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity. (Deut 28)]
MISC
#10-12
