THE HOLY ROMAN ...
"Continuing with our encounters with the Twelve Apostles chosen directly by Jesus, today we dedicate our attention to Thomas..."
Unity among Orthodox Churches is necessary if Catholics and Orthodox are to advance on the path toward full unity, says a Vatican official.
The Holy See is still convinced of the need for the United Nations, seeing it as a counterbalance of sorts in a world steeped in the "ideology of power."
Benedict XVI received the credentials for Hans-Henning Horstmann, the new ambassador from the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See. In his speech to the diplomat, the Pope recalled his recent apostolic journey to his birthplace and, once again, thanked the German authorities who collaborated to its successful outcome.
... EMPIRE OF THE GERMAN NATION
Germany's far-right National Democratic Party is on the move. After recent successes at the polls in eastern Germany, the neo-Nazis now have their sights set on Bavaria and the national parliament. It's also improving relations with far-right militants.
[WAR: Edmund Stoiber and B16 will make sure that the NDP doesn't rise in Bavaria. Besides, the NDP isn't a threat to us - those in the COG. Our enemy is the Whore and all those who follow her ways.]
After a debate in the Bundestag Thursday, German lawmakers agreed to extend the Bundeswehr's mission in Afghanistan by another year despite increasing unease surrounding the safety of the troops, the deteriorating security situation and the potential overstretch of the German military.
EUROPE/RUSSIA
Four canceled performances of a Mozart opera have reignited an anxious and heated debate in Europe over free speech, self-censorship and Islam.
Russia recalled its ambassador from neighboring Georgia on Thursday and ordered the evacuation of some of its officials. Analysts have warned that both sides have at times this year appeared to be spoiling for a fight, but the latest escalation seems to pose the most serious threat of confrontation.
MIDEAST/AFRICA/ASIA
Dozens of Evangelical pastors, parliament members, and leaders from an array of countries gathered at the Knesset in Jerusalem to proclaim their support for the country.
"Today, instead of peace and security, the world nations are facing threat, war and tyranny."
Information in Iran is largely controlled by the state, leading many Iranians to discount all media, no matter where it comes from. Wacky conspiracy theories and a healthy skepticism are the result.
Condoleezza Rice told Sudan in firm terms on Wednesday it must choose between "cooperation and confrontation" with the rest of the world and accept a U.N. force for Darfur.
China has secretly fired powerful laser weapons designed to disable American spy satellites by "blinding" their sensitive surveillance devices, it was reported yesterday. The hitherto unreported attacks have been kept secret by the Bush administration for fear that it would damage attempts to co-opt China in diplomatic offensives against North Korea and Iran.
ECONOMY
Crude-oil futures briefly dipped below $60 a barrel today, but later jumped by more than $1 in a sign that the market free-fall may be nearing an end.
What the hell is going on here? The sharp drop in gas prices has been good news for consumers, who now have more money in their pockets to spend on food and other necessities -- and for President Bush, who has witnessed a sudden lift in his approval ratings.
MISC
Oslo teens who drank the most sugary soft drinks also had more mental health problems such as hyperactivity and distress, Norwegian researchers reported.
