A fresco painting by a Renaissance master which once decorated the bedroom of Pope Alexander VI in the Vatican has gone on show in Rome. A leading Italian art historian and curator says he has documentary proof that it was once part of a much larger painting depicting the aged Pope kneeling in front of his youthful mistress.
German authorities believe Al Qaeda is targeting Germany for possible attacks and that German Islamists have been traveling to Pakistan for "terrorist training," a top security official told a newspaper. The Deputy Interior Minister said: "The danger that there could be terrorist attacks here is very real. We have many indications that Al Qaeda is targeting Germany and German installations abroad, such as embassies. There is a new quality in the threat to Germany."
David Miliband will be on the defensive when he makes his Brussels debut tomorrow as foreign secretary in talks on the detail of the EU reform treaty, agreed in outline last month.
The people of Turkey are voting in a general election which is seen as a crucial test of its secular tradition.
Some 42 million Turks are going to the polls today, but the parliament they choose may not have a very long lifespan and the military may again interrupt the democratic process.
Prime Minister Olmert said Syria was setting an "impossible threshold" for peace talks by demanding Israel commit to withdraw fully from the occupied Golan Heights before negotiations resume.
Minister of Strategic Threats Avigdor Lieberman on Saturday called for the establishment of an emergency national unity government in light of the strategic threat posed by the tightening ties between Syria and Iran.
Pratibha Patil is to become India's first woman president after winning a comprehensive election victory, Indian officials say.
Well, if you're worried that Bush's next war of aggression will involve nukes, there's good news and bad news. First the Good News. The Cheney Cabal has apparently concluded that their previous ridiculous argument isn't working. Now, here's the bad news. Suppose Bush's next war of aggression is against Pakistan. But White House threats to "go in" to those "tribal areas" can only magnify the already serious threats, to Musharraf's life, as well as to his control of Pakistan and its arsenal of "Islamic" nukes. So, unlike an invasion of Iran, an invasion of Pakistan – resulting in Musharraf being killed or deposed – could easily result in nukes being used, not all of them ours.
Iran and Mexico reached an agreement to set up a joint economic commission next year. The Mexican senior diplomat expressed her country's readiness to expand ties with Iran especially in cultural and economic fields.
Gordon Brown is to discuss the looming crisis over Iran with President Bush on his first official visit to America as prime minister. The summit may take place next weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat, although the dates and location are still being finalised. It comes as one Washington source said the mood in the Bush administration had hardened in favour of military strikes to prevent Iran developing a bomb.
Thom Hartmann began his program on Thursday by reading from a new Executive Order which allows the government to seize the assets of anyone who interferes with its Iraq policies. He then introduced old-line conservative Paul Craig Roberts by quoting the "strong words" which open Roberts' latest column: "Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran."
The bottom line is that the White House has its eyes on continuing the march toward consolidating Executive Branch and Federal Court Republican control over any efforts by Congress to assert their Constitutional powers. Manipulating world events and renewing fear with a new "terrorist event" or "terrorist prevention attack" are what's on the table right now. They are just stalling for time to make a decision on the least risky alternative.
Call me crazy...
Newt Gingrich responded to questions about former high level military officials who believe 9/11 was an inside job by WeAreChange.org and Infowars.com reporters. Newt responded, "Anyone who believes 9/11 was not an enemy attack is insane."
We are literally about half a point from seeing the US Dollar break its single most important support level.
Oil refineries across the country have been plagued by a record number of fires, power failures, leaks, spills and breakdowns this year, causing dozens of them to shut down temporarily or trim production. The disruptions are helping to drive gasoline prices to highs not seen since last summer's records. American refiners are running roughly 5 percent below their normal levels at this time of the year.
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