This year, the Lenten message is inspired in the verse of John's Gospel, which in turn goes back to a messianic prophecy of Zechariah: "They shall look on him whom they have pierced" (John 19:37).
The European Parliament should have greater rights to propose EU legislation, Germany's vice-chancellor has said in proposals going beyond the EU constitution promoted by Berlin. "We should be asking ourselves the question who decides what is on the agenda in Europe. Only the [European] Commission? Something should change in this respect."
On Friday evening, the Prague Society held an event for all the deputy ambassadors. No names, no direct quotations were allowed from the off-the-record event, under the prevailing rules that allowed this correspondent to take part. But in the wake of President Putin's bullying use of his energy weapon and the latest Russian threats to target Czech bases if they installed radars that could hold the US anti-missile defense system, there was no doubt that the Czechs had the prospect of a new cold war high on their agenda. The Czech foreign minister has already complained of Russian "blackmail."
The UN's highest court at The Hague has cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide during the Bosnian war of the 1990s.
While chances for all-out war with Syria in 2007 are deemed low by Israel's top intelligence officials, Prime Minister Olmert instructed the defense establishment to prepare for the possibility.
Vice-President Dick Cheney has met President Musharraf on an unannounced visit to Pakistan. Mr Cheney's trip coincides with one by the UK Foreign Secretary, who also met President Musharraf. It also coincides with a report in the New York Times saying the US will give Pakistan a tough message that Washington will cut its aid to the country unless President Musharraf goes after militants more aggressively.
French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy said today that he would not join up with the US if it decides to carry out a military action against Iran. Sarkozy, the French interior minister and leading conservative candidate in the April-May elections, is seen as the most pro-American of France's presidential hopefuls.
The Bush administration is intensifying the pressure on Iran following its refusal to abide by last week's UN deadline to suspend its uranium enrichment and other nuclear programs. While publicly pushing for a new UN Security Council resolution with tougher economic and diplomatic sanctions against Tehran, the US is also pressing ahead with preparations for a military attack on Iran.
The Pentagon is drawing up a contingency plan to bomb Iran that could be implemented within 24 hours, it was reported yesterday. Bush has ordered a special planning group, established in the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to create a bombing strategy which could be set in motion immediately upon his orders. Seymour Hersh, the investigative journalist, wrote in the New Yorker that the planning group has also been asked to identify targets in Iran that may be involved in supplying or aiding militants in Iraq.
(New Yorker: The redirection)
Iran is anticipating a US or Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities and has been providing Palestinian terrorists and other regional allies with contingency plans for attacks against the Jewish state and American regional interests in the event of war, according to Palestinian terrorist leaders. He claimed during any attack his organization has been directed by Iran to "wreck havoc" on Israel with suicide bombings, rocket attacks and "special surprises." "The Zionists and the Americans are coordinated 100%. It doesn't matter who attacks Iran, we are planning to hit them both."
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan stressed religious unity yesterday during his final major speech, saying the world is at war because Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths are divided. "Our lips are full of praise, but our hearts are far removed from the prophets we all claim. That's why the world is in the shape that it's in."
Farrakhan angrily denounced the war in Iraq and called for the impeachment of President Bush.
On Feb. 17, convicted OKC bomber Terry Nichols served up his most detailed public statement since the Oklahoma City bombing. True to form, the major media largely ignored Nichols' declaration, but they have done so at the risk of their own credibility. There is a major story brewing here.
The prestigious Council on Foreign Relations is about to get a jolt of sex appeal. The exclusive, Manhattan-based foreign-policy group has decided to admit actress Angelina Jolie, a UN goodwill ambassador. The group requires no academic credentials but looks for members who take part in world affairs.
Oil advanced for a 4th day on concern that the dispute over Iran's nuclear program may disrupt Middle East supplies and as a snowstorm hit the US East Coast. "The political crisis concerning Iran plays a major role in the rising price for oil. Another reason is the US stockpiles for gas, which are decreasing faster than expected" because of colder weather.
The dollar dropped to a 2-month low against the euro today amid rising tensions over Iran's nuclear programme. A jump in gold prices to near 9-month highs also helped push down the dollar.
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