Christ continues to seek "fishers of men" to work with him to announce the good news, Benedict XVI said on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
By putting Africa in the forefront of international politics, Benedict XVI offers hope "for a more equitable world," said the director of the Vatican Television Center.
Germany's Social Democrats, worried about the erosion of party support, warned their conservative coalition partners yesterday to honour a pledge on tax policy or risk the collapse of the government.
Porsche, the German maker of luxury sports cars, said today it had launched an official bid to acquire Volkswagen, Europe's largest auto manufacturer.
The Netherlands has moved to open up its labour markets to workers from "new" EU member states. But the German government has agreed to extend restrictions against them until 2011, despite opposition from the current economy minister.
Once again this week, the rest of the EU will be caught up by the political goings on in France, as the two leading presidential contenders head for elections on Sunday. Today, EU-US relations will be under the spotlight as the two sides meet in Washington for their regular summit.
Unable to agree on major issues like global trade and climate change, the leaders of the US and the EU are expected to highlight smaller signs of improving ties when they meet today at the White House.
Prime Minister Ceku expects Kosovo to declare its independence by the end of next month, despite threats by Russia to block a UN Security Council resolution that would sanction the establishment of new country in Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of secularist Turks took to the streets for the 2nd time in 2 weeks yesterday after a dramatic intervention by the military in an attempt to stop Abdullah Gul becoming the first Turkish President with an Islamist past. The protests came after the military gave warning that it would act to defend secularism.
(BB: Turkish markets plunge)
Ehud Olmert was under growing pressure to resign after media leaks that an inquiry committee into last summer's Lebanon war is to blame the Prime Minister for the failure to cut Hizbollah down to size or to bring home the 2 soldiers whose abduction provoked the 34-day conflict. Also in the line of fire of the committee, whose report is published today, are Amir Peretz, the Defence Minister.
Iraq's Kurdish region on Sunday said it would try to block a draft oil law in parliament, raising the stakes in a row with the central government over control of the world's 3rd largest oil reserves.The Kurdistan autonomous region appears to be on a collision course with Baghdad over the US-backed draft law at a time when Iraq is engulfed by sectarian violence.
Iran's defense ministry's cultural and information deputy stated that Israel could never be considered as a threat to Iran. "The Israeli military force which was shattered by a few thousand Hezbollah militants in a 200 kilometer area could never be considered a threat for the vast and mighty Islamic Republic of Iran," said Brigadier General Afshar.
America is headed for a military dictatorship – and recent legislation makes this all but inevitable. I fear, however, that it may be too late. Bush will surely veto the Leahy-Bond measure – and, if necessary, declare America's governors, who all oppose this brazen usurpation, an "unlawful combination," as the Insurrection Act puts it. Then he will be empowered to "disperse" them, and the Senate, at will.
The violence and killing that Bush brought to Iraq has spread antagonism between Sunni and Shiite throughout the Middle East with potentially draconian consequences. Bush's war has turned Muslim hearts and minds against America and made terrorism an acceptable means to resist American hegemony. With his mindless war, Bush has created more terrorism than the world has ever seen. The reasons given for the American invasion of Iraq have been exposed as lies, revealing America as either a country of fools and idiots or of war criminals. Worldwide polls show that America is no longer regarded as a guiding light but is tied with Israel as the 2nd greatest threat to world stability.
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) said Sunday that Democrats in Congress could consider impeachment as a way to pressure President Bush on his handling of the war in Iraq. "What I'm saying, there's four ways to influence a president. And one of them's impeachment."
The bitter harvest we would all reap would be the destruction of the United Kingdom.
After a week in which his opponents accused him of everything but eating babies, Nicolas Sarkozy was bound to adopt a gentler tone for his last big election rally in Paris. Except that he didn't.
(IHT: Who, exactly, is Sarkozy?)
(LX: A Royal betrayal)
The euro faltered in early trade after an unexpected decline in German retail sales dented sentiment while a jump in area-wide money supply figures went by hardly noticed. Over in the US, the dollar also faces key tests.
Recent indicators from the financial sector show the US economy is taking a beating, with a possible bursting of the stock market looming on the horizon.
Today in Scripture
* "On the 12th day of the 1st month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way." (Ezra 8:31)
* "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots..." (Mark 11:20-13:37 / Mat 22:23-26:5 / Luke 20:1-22:2)
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