April 19 marks the 2nd anniversary of Benedict XVI's election as pontiff, and in a few weeks he heads to Brazil. Not long ago, when a pope traveled to the region it didn't occasion much comment; John Paul II was a globe-trotter who hit Mexico and the Caribbean during his first 100 days. But Benedict, who turns 80 this month, has rarely left home and seems most interested in trying to revive European Catholicism.
Germany's transformation from Europe's sick man to its most stalwart performer is by now well entrenched. So sanguine are German executives about their future that many brush aside fears that a slowdown in the US could knock their export-led recovery off track.Even the surging euro, which is near record levels against the dollar and the yen - making German exports more expensive in many foreign markets - has not yet dented demand.
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück is being criticized for going on holiday in Namibia instead of attending an upcoming meeting of G7 finance ministers in Washington - and for refusing the offer of a key role at the IMF. Bavaria's economics minister (Christian Social Union), has warned that his absence could damage Germany's reputation and called on Steinbrück to cut short his holiday and attend the meeting.
German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung expressed support for the US plan to build a missile shield in central Europe. The controversial plan has met with opposition among the ruling coalition in Germany, as well as in Russia and central Europe. Jung, a Christian Democrat, is the first high-ranking German official to speak out strongly in favor of the missile shield plan.
Europe is under no threat currently or in the foreseeable future from missiles belonging to rogue states, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "We are convinced that no threat of this kind exists to Europe or the United States, either today or in the foreseeable future. None of the so-called rogue states possesses missiles that could seriously endanger Europe."
Deployment of US missile-defense bases is an attempt by the US to control Europe, the former Soviet president said today. "It is all about influence and domination in Europe. I believe it is wrong that America did not even bother to consult its NATO allies."
Russia and the EU headed yesterday for further discord after the European Commission unveiled plans to boost co-operation among its Black Sea neighbours, comments Reuters.
The expected invasion of the Kurdish held lands of Northern Iraq by Turkey has begun. Initial reports of this new conflict from Russian Intelligence Analysts state that American Fighter Jets attempting to counter Turkish Fighter Jets engaged in a 'brief' aerial battle which resulted in the loss of one US Air Force F-16, though its pilot was reported rescued. Further reports state that American Military Leaders 'ordered' their Air Forces to 'disengage' from 'further contact' with the invading Turkish forces.
Sudan told Chad it reserves the right to respond militarily to any aggressive incursion into its territory but said it will also seek diplomatic ways to ease tensions, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. The Sudanese government has accused the Chadian army of launching an attack on Monday that killed 17 of its soldiers.
German press...
President Ahmadinejad seems intent on shocking the West with increasingly frequent PR stunts that are starting to look like bluffs to stifle growing domestic discontent with him, say German media commentators. The West, they say, mustn't isolate Iran too much or his strategy will pay off.
Ayatollah Rafsanjani said causing dispute among different religious faiths and Islamic countries and introducing Islam as a violent religion is the agenda of the enemies in current situation.
Iran is preparing for a possible confrontation with the US and Israel over its nuclear program and has been training and funding Palestinian groups to carry out large-scale terror operations in the event of a US or Israeli attack against Tehran, according to Palestinian security officials and terror leaders speaking to WND.
Presidential candidate Ron Paul has warned that the US is now at a crisis point because the people have been so neglectful of protecting their liberties and big government has been so effective in eroding them. He warned that the elite are prepared to concoct events to scare the American people and asserted that the 2008 Presidential election is a contest between the people who care about their freedoms and those who are willing to succumb to the temptations of dictatorship.
"The American friends of Israel, who demand such subservience, are in many cases sincere and well-intentioned people; I know them. But on this crucial issue, they are tragically mistaken. Their demands subvert America's ability to bring to Israel what she most desperately needs and wants - peace and security within recognized borders."
The establishment of England-Scotland, with separate parliaments, is an increasingly attractive option for both countries.
At their last meeting, Federal Reserve officials agreed that more interest rate increases might be needed to tame rising inflation, though they also expressed concern that the economy could slow more than forecast.
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