Reading between the lines, and thinking outside the box . . .
Pope Benedict XVI is asking Catholics to rediscover the spiritual meaning of fasting during the period of Lent.
(And: FULL TEXT OF MESSAGE)
(And: CARNIVAL = TO REMOVE MEAT / FISH ON FRIDAYS)
(Truth: THE TRUE MEANING OF LENT)
Benedict XVI is affirming that Christians add a richness to Muslim-majority countries.
Poverty is a problem posed to humanity's moral conscience, and cannot be explained solely from the material point of view, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Addressing the present economic crisis, the cardinal clarified once again that it is "an ethical problem," and that it is necessary to change "the mentality that reigns in financial activities, all based on self-reference and short-term gain," and to place it in "the perspective of the common good."
In the struggle against poverty, it is necessary that Catholic organizations "know well" the social doctrine of the Church, because the object of this doctrine is and will always be the sacred dignity of man, made in the image of God, and the safeguarding of his inalienable rights, explained the cardinal.
The most important fact to remember about our discussion tonight is this: As adults, each of us needs to form a strong and genuinely Catholic conscience.
Roman Catholic Bishop Williamson was kicked out of Argentina and has landed in Great Britain.
Putting aside the virile hate directed against those who question the veracity of the typical Holocaust narrative, what is it that these people believe and say at the risk of imprisonment and bodily harm?
(Truth: WHAT IS HOLOCAUST DENIAL?)
After losing almost 2.8 billion euros in 2008, shipping lender HSH Nordbank was in trouble.
On Tuesday, 2 German states agreed on a 13 billion euro bailout plan for the financial institution. But more may be necessary.
The economic crisis in Germany has reached a new dimension as the government in Berlin debates how to help ailing carmaker Opel.
Will loan guarantees suffice, or will it need to partially nationalize the brand?
It's an issue that could end up shaking the country's economic system to its core.
The cost of bankruptcy protection on German debt has reached an all-time high on spill-over from the financial crisis in Eastern Europe and mounting concerns about the stability of Germany's banking system.
The spike follows a warning by Deutsche Bank that Germany's economy will contract by 5% this year as industrial exports collapse at the fastest pace since the Great Depression.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is the Social Democrat candidate for the next chancellor, aims to turn financial regulation and restoring economic confidence into key campaign issues.
A 300-strong team of Chinese buyers has left for Europe on a multi-billion shopping spree, according to Chinese state media. The procurement squad will visit Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
The delegation's shopping list is expected to feature vehicles and vehicle parts, machinery and electrical products and environmental protection technologies.
To be honest, it is very hard to understand the logic of the modern-day Communist Party.
At a moment when Russia's relations with the US are at a particularly plastic juncture and could go either way – toward a new Cold War, or toward a new era of mutual understanding – to have this lunatic testify before a committee of Congress representing a supposedly libertarian perspective is sheer criminality.
Shame on the Cato Institute for allowing this nut-bar to sully their name with his disgraceful "testimony."
Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish Likud party launched talks today with right-wing parties on forming Israel's next government after he failed in initial efforts to enlist his main centrist rival in a broad coalition.
There is a suspicion that the CIA and Mossad want to topple Egypt's President Mubarak. Sinai is part of Egypt, but Israel would like it to be part of Greater Israel.
Tensions between Arabs and Kurds are approaching the brink of conflict in the northern city of Mosul despite a relative calm throughout Iraq.
The Pakistani Taliban has announced a unilateral ceasefire in one of its key tribal strongholds in what analysts suspect is a tactical move to increase attacks on troops in Afghanistan.
The US and Europe must give Pakistan up to $5bn in urgent aid or risk seeing the nuclear-armed country slip into chaos, 2 leading US foreign policy voices warned Tuesday.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Tuesday accused "foreign forces" including Israel of being behind the Darfur conflict.
"Why do we have to hold President Bashir or the Sudanese government responsible when the Darfur problem was caused by outside parties, and Tel Aviv, for example, is behind the Darfur crisis? It is not a secret. We have found evidence proving clearly that foreign forces are behind the Darfur problem and are fanning its fire."
Iran plans to test its first nuclear power plant today, as the Islamic republic presses on with its atomic drive despite international sanctions.
The reactor will be switched on 34 years after being built, but crucially the operators will not be putting in any nuclear fuel.
That will not happen till it begins full operation, possibly later in 2009.
Netanyahu's assumption of power in Israel sets the stage for a huge campaign by the Israeli government, and its well-oiled lobby groups in Washington, to push us into a war with Iran.
There is a lot riding on whom Obama names as his special envoy to Iran. If, as expected, it is Dennis Ross, a former official of AIPAC, we will be in deep trouble.
Ross, who is expected to be placed in charge of the Iranian portfolio this week, is a vocal supporter of Israel's call for increased pressure on Iran.
He is distrusted, even despised, in the Muslim world and especially in Tehran. With good reason, he is not viewed as an impartial broker.
If Obama gives in to the Israel lobby, if he empowers Ross, if he defines Iran as the enemy before he begins to attempt a negotiated peace, he could ignite a fuse that will see our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan evolve into a regional conflagration.
Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has promised prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu her party's support on the Iranian nuclear threat if she ends up heading the opposition.
"I will use my many contacts in the United States, Europe and the Arab world, along with my experience and that of other Kadima members, to win support from the international community against Iran to the extent necessary."
Iran has asked Ankara to help improve ties between Washington and Tehran, Turkey's Prime Minister said in an interview published today.
Speaking to The Guardian newspaper aboard his prime ministerial plane, he said the Iranian request had been made when President Bush was in office, and added that he had passed along the details of Tehran's request to Washington.
Another US soldier on active duty in Iraq is joining a challenge to Obama's eligibility to be commander-in-chief.
"When I enlisted last year I had to show my birth certificate, as well as my driver's license, high school diploma, college transcripts, social security card...
"I think it is reasonable for Obama to prove his citizenship status thus certifying his eligibility. I too raised my right hand and swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.
"I believe the case you are filing could very well determine if we are in fact a Constitutional Republic or a nation of mob rule."
George W Bush will embark next month on an international speaking tour aimed at making him hundreds of thousands of dollars and reshaping his battered image abroad.
Oklahoma's House of Representatives is the first legislative body to pass a state sovereignty resolution this year under the terms of the 10th Amendment.
The language of HJR 1003 further serves notice to the federal government "to cease and desist, effectively immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers."
The US Army is to invest $6 million in riot equipment, a fact that has furthered fears that troops will be used inside the US in order to quell any civil unrest resulting from the ongoing economic crisis.
Violence from Mexican drug cartels has spilled over into Texas, state Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw said Monday. "Yes, absolutely it has occurred; there's no question about it."
The response of the Obama administration has been to announce a new and virtually open-ended bailout program that will likely involve trillions of dollars in additional taxpayer funds.
This has not satisfied the financial elite, which wants nothing less than ironclad guarantees that its wealth and power will not suffer as a result of the crisis precipitated by its own speculative policies.
The economic and social catastrophe that is enveloping the world is the inevitable product of the private ownership and control of the financial system and the economy as a whole.
The present crisis is the outcome of 3 decades in which the US ruling class has used its control of finance to enrich itself by diverting resources from manufacturing into various forms of financial speculation.
(Cartoon: HELPING OUT WALL STREET)
French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday called on the EU to protect its industry in the face of US protectionism, and said France and Italy would insist on this during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.
Japan's exports plunged 45.7% in January compared with a year ago to hit the lowest figure in 10 years, official figures have shown. Demand for Japanese cars in particular dropped by 69%.
For over 28 months, the systemic crisis of the financial system has been escalating, but only now, with the dramatic declines in the worldwide auto industry, has most of the population and, amazingly enough, also the so-called "experts," finally realized that we are really in a crisis that, in its economic dimensions and potential political consequences, goes far beyond the Great Depression of the 1930s.
What we are now dealing with is roughly 20 years' worth of massive speculation and excess leverage, championed by the US and mimicked by other countries around the globe.
It appears the potential for the newest round of financial weakness is being precipitated by economic problems in Eastern Europe, which are impacting the European banks, especially German ones.
We are at the stage now where economic weakness is feeding back into everything, making the situation more difficult for banks everywhere.
And, it's becoming clear to nearly everyone that many banks are not just illiquid but insolvent.
As you may know, credit default swaps are largely responsible for the financial crisis.
Yesterday, Wired wrote an article explaining how CDS actually formed the very heart of the risk model used by the big banks and investment houses, ratings agencies, bondholders, and just about everyone else in the financial world.
That model was fundamentally flawed, and so the financial house of cards built upon it has come crashing down.
From the wreckage of recession a new economic order is emerging, based on collaboration and the collective interest.
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Atheist Richard Dawkins has rejected an offer of $10,000 for an hour-long debate with Christian author Ray Comfort, telling WND he would participate in the argument only on a list of conditions, including a $100,000 donation to his foundation.
Paranoid Protestants Prophesying...
Those who came to hear these men speak on the topic of Bible prophecy did not hear a word about the failed prophecies of Hal Lindsey and Chuck Smith and so many other prophecy "experts" before them.
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