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Massive Wealth Destruction’ Coming, Well-to-Do ‘May Lose 50%’
Where Faber sees a 50 percent loss of wealth for some, Wiedemer sees much more widespread economic destruction. In a recent interview for his newest book Aftershock, Wiedemer says, “The data is clear, 50% unemployment, a 90% stock market drop, and 100% annual inflation . . . starting in 2012.”

Recent security leaks putting US lives at risk, Special Ops chief says
Recent national security leaks have put lives at risk and may ultimately cost Americans their lives unless there is an effective crackdown, the head of the Special Operations Command Admiral William McRaven says.

Saudis 'mull buying nukes from Pakistan'
The Islamic countries, both dominated by the mainstream Sunni sect, have long had a particularly close relationship and these events heightened speculation Riyadh is trying to strike a secret deal with Islamabad to acquire nuclear weapons to counter Iran.

Arab League allows PA to seek statehood via UN
The officials told The Jerusalem Post that no date has been set for presenting the application to the UN. But one official said that the application would be presented to the UN “probably before the end of the year.” He said that the application would include a request for recognition of Palestine as a non-member state of the UN.

Severe Storms, Derecho Possible in Northeast Tomorrow
A derecho, the kind of storm that knocked out power to millions in Washington last month, may accompany bad weather forecast for New York City and the rest of the Northeast tomorrow, the U.S. Storm Prediction Center said.

Melting asphalt, kinking rail tracks: Weather extremes buckle US infrastructure
From highways in Texas to nuclear power plants in Illinois, the concrete, steel and sophisticated engineering that undergird the nation’s infrastructure are being taxed to worrisome degrees by heat, drought and vicious storms. On a single day this month here, a US Airways regional jet became stuck in asphalt that had softened in 100-degree temperatures, and a subway train derailed after the heat stretched the track so far that it kinked...

6.5-magnitude earthquake destroys houses in the Solomon Islands
The 6.5-magnitude earthquake at 10:20 p.m. local time (1120 GMT) was centered about 39 kilometers (24 miles) southwest of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. It struck about 22.9 kilometers (14.2 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Iran says it's ready to give 'experience and capabilities' to Syria
A high-ranking Iranian official says his country is ready to share "experience and capabilities" with the Tehran-backed regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. In a report published late on Wednesday by official news agency IRNA, Iran's vice president in charge of international affairs, Ali Saeedlou, described the two countries as powerful nations able to influence regional and global stability.

Russian MPs suggest allowing public use of firearms shortly after Colorado shootings
Russian legislators have drafted a bill which would allow public use of firearms. The law’s sponsors hope to curb crime rates...

Al-Qaeda gaining experience in Syria, eyes 'Islamic state to fight Israel and Iran'
An Iraqi Al-Qaeda operative has admitted that his organization is taking part in the Syrian uprising against President Assad. The revelation comes amidst increasing evidence that Al-Qaeda is gaining a foothold in Syria. “Our big hope is to form a Syrian-Iraqi Islamic state for all Muslims, and then announce our war against Iran and Israel, and free Palestine.”

Strong quake hits off Mauritius
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake was centered 212 miles northeast of Rodrigues island and at a depth of 20.5 miles. The USGS initially put the magnitude at 6.7.

House passes Ron Paul’s Fed audit measure
In a move that serves as a capstone to Rep. Ron Paul’s colorful career, the House on Wednesday voted to have Congress‘ chief investigators conduct a full audit of the Federal Reserve’s shrouded decision-making process. ...Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke doesn’t like the prospect of such a broad audit, calling it a “nightmare scenario” last week and saying it would lead to politicians second-guessing his decisions.

Volcano blast showers ash on Japanese city
The eruption at one of Japan's most active volcanoes showered ash on the streets of Kagoshima, which lies just 2km across a bay from the volcano. Residents of Kagoshima donned face masks to protect themselves while sweeping away the ash.

UN arms treaty takes shape, raising alarm among gun rights advocates
The arms trade treaty being hammered out by the United Nations is nearing completion, and the current draft shows it could lead to perpetual attacks on the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment and American foreign policy...

Chinese buying of U.S. business at record pace
Total Chinese foreign direct investment in the U.S. is on pace to reach at least $8 billion this year, according to the report from research firm Rhodium Group.

Israelis scramble for gas masks as Syria deteriorates
Over the past two days distribution centers gave out 3,700gas mask kits each day, Maariv reported Wednesday. By comparison, since the beginning of February 2010 the distribution centers, located in post offices and malls around the country, distributed kits to about 2,200 people a day. Despite the surge in interest, sources said there are still plenty of gas masks in stock.

Iran nuclear facilities struck down by midnight 'thunder'
The email said: "Our nuclear program has once again been compromised and attacked by a new worm ... The automation network and Siemens hardware were attacked and shut down.

Aurora shootings: Obama calls for 'common sense' over guns
US President Barack Obama has said he wants common-sense measures to control guns, following last week's cinema shooting that killed 12 people. Mr Obama pledged to work with members of both political parties and civic organisations to reach a consensus on the matter, but gave no details.

Brussels moves to tackle slumped carbon market
The European Commission on Wednesday (25 July) announced short-term plans to bolster the carbon Emissions Trading Scheme, its flagship environment project undermined by rock bottom carbon prices. The scheme, which allows companies to buy and trade pollution allowances, has suffered from an over-allocation of allowances compounded by the economic downturn and drop in manufacturing output.

'Muslim Brothers plotting overthrow of Gulf states'
Dubai's chief of police has warned of an "international plot" to overthrow the governments of Gulf Arab countries, saying the region needs to be prepared to counter any threat from Islamist dissidents as well as Syria and Iran. ...The brothers and their governments in Damascus and North Africa have to know that the Gulf is a red line, not only for Iran but also for the Brothers as well."

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Wildfires tear through Russia
Russia's Emergencies Ministry announced Friday forest fires in Siberia have burned nearly 58 square miles of forest and have covered Tomsk in smoke. About 3,000 firefighters, 412 pieces of firefighting equipment and 24 firefighting aircraft are being used to fight dozens of blazes, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia seeks to set up naval bases abroad
Russia is talking to Cuba, Vietnam and the Seychelles about housing Russian navy ships, its naval chief has said. Vice-admiral Viktor Chirkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency Russia was in talks with the three countries about setting up maintenance and supply facilities but would not give further details.

US: Iran Siding With Assad Regime 'Extremely Dangerous'
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland was responding at a daily press briefing on Thursday to Iran's comments that they were going to step up and increase their support to the Assad regime.

Skeptics put the freeze on NASA 'hot air' about Greenland ice
NASA’s claim that Greenland is experiencing “unprecedented” melting is nothing but a bunch of hot air, according to scientists who say the country's ice sheets melt with some regularity.

6.7-magnitude earthquake strikes the Indian Ocean off Mauritius
The 6.7-magnitude earthquake at 9:33 a.m. local time (0533 GMT) was centered about 387 kilometers (240 miles) northeast of Port Mathurin, the main village on Rodrigues island in Mauritius. It struck about 9.8 kilometers (6.1 miles) deep, making it a very shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Bipartisan group of senators threatens to oppose UN arms treaty as deadline looms
A bipartisan group of 51 senators is threatening to oppose a global treaty regulating international weapons trade if it falls short in protecting the constitutional right to bear arms, as the United Nations bumps up against a Friday deadline for action.

Drought ruining crops in Russia
"Such an unfavorable year has not been witnessed since the second world war," said Yuri Tkachenko, head of the Krasnodar weather forecasting center. The immediate effect of the lowered crop yield is a severe reduction in Russian exports of grain and corn, Russian news service ITAR-Tass reported Thursday.

Worsening Illinois drought points to increasingly ominous signs for crops
...the central and southern portions of Illinois are experiencing even worse conditions that are classified as extreme or exceptional, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Surrounding states, especially Missouri and Indiana, have also been hit hard, with 55.5 percent of the Midwest experiencing at least a severe drought, compared with 45.6 percent of the country.

Weather Extremes Leave Parts of U.S. Grid Buckling
From highways in Texas to nuclear power plants in Illinois, the concrete, steel and sophisticated engineering that undergird the nation’s infrastructure are being taxed to worrisome degrees by heat, drought and vicious storms. On a single day this month here, a US Airways regional jet became stuck in asphalt that had softened in 100-degree temperatures, and a subway train derailed after the heat stretched the track so far that it kinked — inserting a sharp angle into a stretch that was supposed to be straight.

Storms knock out power to thousands from Plains to Northeast
Hundreds of thousands lost power due to a potent storm system that extended eastward from the Plains toward the Northeast on Thursday, bringing with it high winds and destructive lightning.

Markets Surge after Draghi Vows to Protect Euro
It was the signal investors were waiting for. The European Central Bank "is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro," its president, Mario Draghi said on Thursday. Markets leapt because the statement was a strong signal that the ECB will resume its program to buy the bonds of struggling euro nations.

'Muslim Brothers plotting overthrow of Gulf states'
"There's an international plot against Gulf states in particular and Arab countries in general...This is preplanned to take over our fortunes," Khalfan told reporters at a gathering late on Wednesday marking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "The bigger our sovereign wealth funds and the more money we put in the banks of Western countries, the bigger the plot to take over our countries..

"Hot War" Erupting With Iran, Top Terror-Watchers Warn
“We’re seeing a general uptick in the level of activity around the world. Both Hezbollah and the [Iranian] Quods Force have demonstrated an ability to operate essentially globally,” Matt Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told an audience of more than a hundred security professionals gathered here on Thursday. “This is a hot war that has gotten hotter,” Michael Leiter, Olsen’s predecessor at the NCTC, told the Aspen Security Forum. “The Iranians have considered this a shooting war for some time.”

Official: Israel will act if militants raid Syrian chemical or biological weapons stocks
Israelis rushed to get government-issue gas masks Wednesday, the latest sign of mounting fears that Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles could be used against them as the crisis there deepens.

US government ran chemical experiments on military veterans under operations MKUltra, Bluebird and Artichoke
Details of this sad episode in our history were contained in a 2009 class action suit. Filed by the Vietnam Veterans of America and individual soldiers, the suit charges the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency, with the help of former Nazi scientists, of using at least 7,800 vets as guinea pigs to test the effects of as many as 400 different types of drugs and chemicals. They included mescaline (psychedelic alkaloid), LSD (psychedelic drug), amphetamines, barbiturates, nerve agents and mustard gas.

Poll: Less than half of voters think Obama is Christian
About one in six voters still thinks President Obama is Muslim while only half identify him as a Christian, according to a new national poll released Thursday.

RICK SANTORUM: Mayors Shunning Chick-Fil-A Reflects The 'Absolute Intolerance' Of The Left
Former presidential hopeful Rick Santorum went on CNBC's Kudlow Report to talk about Chick-fil-A and the mayors who have spoken out against the chicken chain. The mayors of three big cities — Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia — have all made statements slamming Chick-fil-A for the controversial anti-gay marriage statements made earlier by president and COO Dan Cathy.

Biderman Batters 'Believe-Me'-Draghi
Somewhat stunned by the market's exuberant reaction to Mario Draghi's 'Believe Me' speech this morning, Charles Biderman, CEO of TrimTabs, sees the slow-motion train-wreck that is the European crisis speeding up and rapidly running out of track. Stepping back to look again at the European big picture; Biderman sees a bunch of economies whose citizens are making less money than before (and even before the current recessions European economies were not generating enough taxable income to pay current government expenses).

Two soldiers killed in blast in southeast Turkey
Two Turkish soldiers were killed in the mainly Kurdish southeast on Friday when the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by a remote-controlled explosive, security sources said. Security officials blamed the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a 27-year campaign against the Turkish state in which 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, have died.

Draghi sends strong signal that ECB will act
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pledged on Thursday to do whatever was necessary to protect the euro zone from collapse, sending a strong signal that inflated Spanish and Italian borrowing costs were in his sights.

Drought diminishes mighty Mississippi, puts heat on Congress
The severe drought in the U.S. Midwest wreaked more havoc across the country on Thursday, forcing barges on the Mississippi River to lighten loads for fear of getting stuck and raising concerns about higher prices for food and gasoline.

U.S. fears Syria preparing for massacre in Aleppo
President Bashar al-Assad's forces renewed a ground and aerial bombardment of Aleppo on Friday, extending efforts to crush rebels in Syria's commercial capital in what the United States said it feared could become a massacre. Insurgents targeted army roadblocks and security installations, with both sides avoiding close-quarters warfare in the city of 2.5 million people, Syria's biggest urban center.

Storms in Northeast knock out power, ground flights
Severe thunderstorms unleashed heavy rain and strong winds across parts of the Midwest and Northeast on Thursday, grounding hundreds of flights and leaving tens of thousands of people without power. The storms spawned a tornado that touched down in Elmira, New York, damaging a mall and a local country club, the National Weather Service said.

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Democratic senators offer gun control amendment for cybersecurity bill
Democratic senators have offered an amendment to the cybersecurity bill that would limit the purchase of high capacity gun magazines for some consumers. Shortly after the Cybersecurity Act gained Senate approval to proceed to filing proposed amendments and a vote next week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a sponsor of the gun control amendment, came to the floor to defend the idea of implementing some “reasonable” gun control measures.

Christian, Muslim villagers clash in Egypt
An Egyptian security official says Muslim and Christian villagers hurled fire bombs at each other south of Cairo after a Christian laundry worker burnt a Muslim's shirt. The official says Muslim villagers set fire to Christians' homes on Friday, prompting authorities to deploy forces at the village of Dahshour in Giza province.

US sees Israel, tight Mideast ally, as spy threat
...The CIA considers Israel its No. 1 counterintelligence threat in the agency's Near East Division, the group that oversees spying across the Middle East, according to current and former officials. Counterintelligence is the art of protecting national secrets from spies. This means the CIA believes that U.S. national secrets are safer from other Middle Eastern governments than from Israel.

Egypt's president discusses Gaza blockade with Hamas PM
Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi has held talks with the head of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, Ismail Haniya. They discussed "solutions" relating to the blockade on the coastal territory and "alleviating the suffering" of its residents, Egyptian officials said.

Ethiopia: 20,000 flee Moyale clashes - Red Cross
Ethnic clashes in southern Ethiopia are reported to have left at least 18 people dead and 12 others injured. More than 20,000 people have crossed into Kenya to escape the fighting, the Kenyan Red Cross says. A spokesman told the BBC that people were continuing to cross the border although Ethiopian government forces had intervened to stop the fighting.

Poll: Jews support Obama, but far less than in 2008
US Jews continue to back President Barack Obama over presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, but support for the incumbent remains well below 2008 levels, according to a Gallup poll published Friday.

Officials: Ebola breaks out in Uganda
Ugandan health officials say the deadly Ebola virus has killed 14 people in western Uganda this month. The officials and a World Health Organization representative told a news conference in Kampala Saturday that there is "an outbreak of Ebola" in Uganda. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, and in Uganda, where in 2000 the disease killed 224 people, it resurrects terrible memories.

Turkey sets up secret base to bring aid to Syria rebels, sources say
Turkey has set up a secret base with allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar to direct vital military and communications aid to Syria's rebels from a city near the border, Gulf sources have told Reuters. News of the clandestine Middle East-run "nerve centre" working to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad underlines the extent to which Western powers - who played a key role in unseating Muammar Gadhafi in Libya - have avoided militaryinvolvement so far in Syria.

Syria army attacks Aleppo as tanks move in
Syrian army tanks around Aleppo have begun moving in on south-western districts of the city, activists say. They say the bombardment of rebel-held areas intensified in the early morning, with military aircraft overflying the city at low altitudes. The BBC's Ian Pannell, in Aleppo, says many casualties have been reported and families are fleeing.

UN global arms treaty talks end without agreement
Negotiations at the UN to achieve a landmark treaty to regulate the conventional arms trade have ended without agreement. The US, followed by Russia and China, said they needed more time to consider the issues.

Syrian troops kill 6-year-old fleeing into Jordan
The family crept across farmland under night's cover, heading for the border, when Syrian troops opened fire. Bullets whizzed around them as they broke into a mad dash, survivors say. The 6-year-old boy, holding his mother's hand, broke away and ran ahead. He nearly made it into Jordan when he fell dead, a bullet in his neck.

Romney can expect warm Israeli reception
Mitt Romney's support for Israel will likely earn the presumptive Republican presidential nominee a warm welcome from Israeli leaders when he visits on Sunday — and a frosty reception from Palestinians, who fear he would do little to advance their stalled statehood dreams.

Greece warns against letting it fall out of euro
Greece's coalition government has warned that letting the country fall out of the euro currency union would spell "suicide for the eurozone." Evangelos Venizelos, the Socialist party leader and junior coalition partner, made the remarks Thursday, when senior European officials were in Athens to inspect Greece's shaky public finances and the future of its rescue loan program.

Golan Druse start to turn against Syria's Assad
The raging civil war just across the cease-fire line in Syria is posing an uncomfortable political choice for the Druse people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Do they maintain their traditional loyalty to the government of Bashar Assad, whose family has vowed to take back the territory? Or should they support the burgeoning Arab revolt against Assad's harsh rule?

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No let-up in Aleppo battle as Syria vows to crush rebels
Shelling and gunfire have again shaken Aleppo as Syrian government forces battle rebels for control of the country's largest city. A BBC correspondent who is just outside Aleppo says heavy fighting is reported in the city centre near the old fort but this cannot be verified. Syria's foreign minister said on Sunday that the rebels would be defeated.

Floods in North Korea 'killed 88 people in July'
Flooding in North Korea has killed 88 people and injured 134 others in the past ten days, state-run KCNA news agency said. Typhoons and torrential rain have damaged 5,000 homes and left more than 60,000 people homeless. South Pyongyang province suffered the biggest lost of life. More than 30,00 hectares of land have been submerged.

Aide: Romney backs Israel if needs to strike Iran
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would back Israel if it were to decide it had to use military force to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, a senior aide said on Sunday.

Markets risk ECB disappointment after Draghi remarks
Financial markets will be waiting with bated breath to see if the European Central Bank announces any new policy moves next week, but analysts warned they could be disappointed. ECB chief Mario Draghi sent stock markets soaring and helped bring down Spanish borrowing costs sharply last week when he said the central bank was "ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me it will be enough."

To upstage Romney, Obama signs enhanced US-Israel defense bill
The U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act will be signed Friday on the eve of Republican rival Mitt Romney's visit to Israel • U.S. also announces readiness of largest ever bunker busting missile and agreement with Lockheed Martin for new Israeli version of the F-35 stealth fighter jets.

Tisha B'Av: Temple Mount closed to Jews
Jerusalem Police on Sunday closed the Temple Mount compound to Jewish worshippers following intelligence indicating intents to hold riots on the day Jews mark the Tisha B'Av fast. Police will consider reopening the compound as events unfold. No suspects have been arrested as of yet.

Obama aide tells Israel of Iran attack plan: paper
President Barack Obama's national security adviser has briefed Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a U.S. contingency plan to attack Iran should diplomacy fail to curb its nuclear program, an Israeli newspaper reported on Sunday. The Haaretz newspaper said that the U.S. adviser - Thomas Donilon - had described the plan in talks with Netanyahu earlier this month.

US Air Force: Bunker buster ready for use
Air Force Secretary Donley tells Capitol Hill Club bombs designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers that protect nuclear weapons are ready for use 'if needed.' Pentagon officials: Bombs tailor-made to disable Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo

Stand with Chick-fil-A in Support of Traditional Marriage
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has called for a National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, August 1, to demonstrate support for the company. I would like to join with him, and ask that, if you live near one of their restaurants please drop by and let them know how much you appreciate them and their stand.

Afghan truckers a forgotten front in a war growing deadlier by the day
In the cabins of their "jingle" trucks flamboyant with tinsel baubles and painted tiger patterns as they move NATO's war supplies, Habibullah thinks he and other drivers are becoming a forgotten front in an Afghan war growing more vicious.

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Top Obama security official 'briefed Israeli prime minister on plans for U.S. military strike on Iran' in nuclear row
National security adviser Tom Donilon sought to reassure Israel that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.

Thousands of Christians run for their lives
“An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria,” Janssen said. “The Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatum issued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard behind car blast near Israeli embassy in New Delhi, says India Police
In the incident, which took place on February 13, 2012, Tali Yehoshua-Koren, the wife of the Defense Ministry's representative to India, was injured. The Times of India newspaper, which published the findings of the investigation, reported that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard began speaking with Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi about the possibility of carrying out an attack against Israeli diplomats in New Delhi as early as February 2011, over a year before the attack. At the time, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated, and Tehran blamed Israel for the deaths.

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus.

6.0 quake strikes near Guatemala-Mexico border
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala near the country's border with Mexico Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Local agencies offered different assessments of the quake, which occurred at 6:22 a.m. (8:22 a.m. ET).

Judge Temporarily Stops Administration from Forcing Christian Family to Act Against Faith
The injunction spares the family from complying with an Obamacare regulation while the judge decides on its merits the lawsuit the family has brought contending the regulation violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed
Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed. Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation...and document a medical reason for every bottle that a newborn receives.

Scalia opens door for gun-control legislation, extends slow burning debate
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday the Second Amendment leaves open the possibility of gun-control legislation, adding to what has become a slow-boiling debate on the issue since the Colorado movie theater massacre earlier this month.

DHS gears up for civil unrest prior to presidential elections
As the brief explains, “the objective of this effort is to procure riot gear to prepare for the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and other future similar activities.”

Romney: US has moral duty to block Iran nuclear plans
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said his country has a "moral imperative" to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. ...He said the US recognised Israel's right to defend itself and that it was right for the US to stand with Israel. Mr Romney also referred to Jerusalem as Israel's "capital" - senior Palestinian officials said this was "unacceptable".

Only Mario Draghi's ECB can avert global calamity before the year is out
Mario Draghi has promised the moon. The European Central Bank’s council had better deliver on his pledge this week. If it does not, the crisis will surely escalate out of control in August or soon after.

Euro-saving operations due within 'days,' says Juncker
Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said there is "no time to lose," as the world talks about a eurozone breakup, with joint action by the European Central Bank and the eurozone bailout funds expected in the coming days. "We have come to a crucial point. There is no more time to lose," Juncker said in an interview published both in Le Figaro and Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday (30 July).

6.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinean island
Tsunami warning centers in the region said there was no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake, which was initially measured as having a magnitude of 6.6. "No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.

Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch
"September will undoubtedly be the crunch time," one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the anti-bailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens.

Russia May Evacuate Personnel from Its Syria Base – Navy Chief
Servicemen may be evacuated from the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, if it comes under attack, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Saturday.

Grid failure for 300 million across India
The outage which directly affected some 400 million people-more than the combined populations of the US and Canada-was spread across eight northern provinces, including the capital New Delhi. It left people helpless and sweltering in searing temperatures that were exacerbated by high levels of humidity.

Tunisia: Hardline Islam threatens democracy gains
Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews. Youths rampage through cities at night in protest of "blasphemous" art. A sit-in by religious students degenerates into fist fights and the desecration of Tunisia's flag.

200,000 flee Aleppo as Syria battle rages
Around 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria's most populous city Aleppo and many more were trapped, the UN said as a fierce government offensive against rebels entered a second day. The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday accused the government of preparing to carry out "massacres" in the northern city and pleaded for heavy weapons to enable rebels to meet the regime onslaught.

Spain's economy shrinks 0.4% as recession deepens
pain's recession deepened in the second quarter of the year as the economy shrank 0.4%, figures show. That compares with a 0.3% contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first three months of the year.

Power cut hits northern India causing major disruption
A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi. It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states

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Top Obama security official 'briefed Israeli prime minister on plans for U.S. military strike on Iran' in nuclear row
National security adviser Tom Donilon sought to reassure Israel that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.

Thousands of Christians run for their lives
“An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria,” Janssen said. “The Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatum issued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard behind car blast near Israeli embassy in New Delhi, says India Police
In the incident, which took place on February 13, 2012, Tali Yehoshua-Koren, the wife of the Defense Ministry's representative to India, was injured. The Times of India newspaper, which published the findings of the investigation, reported that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard began speaking with Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi about the possibility of carrying out an attack against Israeli diplomats in New Delhi as early as February 2011, over a year before the attack. At the time, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated, and Tehran blamed Israel for the deaths.

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus.

6.0 quake strikes near Guatemala-Mexico border
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala near the country's border with Mexico Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Local agencies offered different assessments of the quake, which occurred at 6:22 a.m. (8:22 a.m. ET).

Judge Temporarily Stops Administration from Forcing Christian Family to Act Against Faith
The injunction spares the family from complying with an Obamacare regulation while the judge decides on its merits the lawsuit the family has brought contending the regulation violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed
Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed. Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation...and document a medical reason for every bottle that a newborn receives.

Scalia opens door for gun-control legislation, extends slow burning debate
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday the Second Amendment leaves open the possibility of gun-control legislation, adding to what has become a slow-boiling debate on the issue since the Colorado movie theater massacre earlier this month.

DHS gears up for civil unrest prior to presidential elections
As the brief explains, “the objective of this effort is to procure riot gear to prepare for the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and other future similar activities.”

Romney: US has moral duty to block Iran nuclear plans
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said his country has a "moral imperative" to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. ...He said the US recognised Israel's right to defend itself and that it was right for the US to stand with Israel. Mr Romney also referred to Jerusalem as Israel's "capital" - senior Palestinian officials said this was "unacceptable".

Only Mario Draghi's ECB can avert global calamity before the year is out
Mario Draghi has promised the moon. The European Central Bank’s council had better deliver on his pledge this week. If it does not, the crisis will surely escalate out of control in August or soon after.

Euro-saving operations due within 'days,' says Juncker
Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said there is "no time to lose," as the world talks about a eurozone breakup, with joint action by the European Central Bank and the eurozone bailout funds expected in the coming days. "We have come to a crucial point. There is no more time to lose," Juncker said in an interview published both in Le Figaro and Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday (30 July).

6.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinean island
Tsunami warning centers in the region said there was no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake, which was initially measured as having a magnitude of 6.6. "No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.

Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch
"September will undoubtedly be the crunch time," one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the anti-bailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens.

Russia May Evacuate Personnel from Its Syria Base – Navy Chief
Servicemen may be evacuated from the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, if it comes under attack, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Saturday.

Grid failure for 300 million across India
The outage which directly affected some 400 million people-more than the combined populations of the US and Canada-was spread across eight northern provinces, including the capital New Delhi. It left people helpless and sweltering in searing temperatures that were exacerbated by high levels of humidity.

Tunisia: Hardline Islam threatens democracy gains
Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews. Youths rampage through cities at night in protest of "blasphemous" art. A sit-in by religious students degenerates into fist fights and the desecration of Tunisia's flag.

200,000 flee Aleppo as Syria battle rages
Around 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria's most populous city Aleppo and many more were trapped, the UN said as a fierce government offensive against rebels entered a second day. The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday accused the government of preparing to carry out "massacres" in the northern city and pleaded for heavy weapons to enable rebels to meet the regime onslaught.

Spain's economy shrinks 0.4% as recession deepens
pain's recession deepened in the second quarter of the year as the economy shrank 0.4%, figures show. That compares with a 0.3% contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first three months of the year.

Power cut hits northern India causing major disruption
A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi. It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states

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