World News

Venomous Snails Could Advance Medicine

                Fish eating Cone Snails attack their prey by harpooning them with poisonous venom that is as deadly as a snake or scorpion.  This venom, however, could lead to scientific break throughs in pain relief.  Professor Baldomero Olivera discovered a toxin in the venom that lead to the development of a painkiller known as Prialt, which blocks a particular channel in nerves which communicates pain signals to the brain.  Other potentials are being explored where the toxins may aid people to quit smoking or help relieve Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.  Marine biologist, Howard Peters, is afraid that the rare snails may become extinct due to habitat loss and the potentially healing powers of its venom will be lost forever.

EU Declares Embargo on Iran

                The European Union has agreed not to receive oil from Iran as a result of Tehran's nuclear program.  The Iranians have responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz which would severely limit the global oil trade.  Greece was particularly hit hard by the agreement since they import most of their oil from Iran on very favorable terms.  The EU hopes that the embargo will force Iran back to negotiations on their nuclear projects.  Iran may not be worried about the loss of European business, especially if large consumers like China continue their demands for the country's oil.

Are Iran's Actions Justifiable?

                Ron Paul warned that the ever tightening sanctions on Iran will be perceived as an act of war. Vali Nasr, an authority on the Middle East, agrees with Paul. Nasr says that the Iranian government perceives the US policies as destructive to their economy and their actions aimed at regime change.  Robert Wright of the Atlantic reminds us that several of Iran's nuclear scientists have lately been assassinated and Iran suspects US involvement.  Iran has been criticized for refusing to negotiate and yet they were turned down early last month when their Foreign Minister proposed discussions in Turkey.

Spanish Study Finds No Link between Fried Food and Heart Disease

                Researchers in Spain studied 40,000 people from the mid 1990's to 2004 to see if there was a correlation between the consumption of fried foods and heart disease.  The participants were divided into four groups from least consumption of fried foods to most consumption.  Of the 606 cases of heart disease, they were spread evenly throughout the four groups, thus having no correlation between fried food and the chances of heart disease.  The researchers did note that participants in the study use almost exclusively olive and sunflower oils which are different than Americans who use inferior oils and tend to reuse the oil which increases the amounts of trans-fats.  Professor Michael Leitzmann of the University of Regensburg in Germany also pointed out two other studies, one in Costa Rica and the other by an International team, that also have found no link between fried foods and heart disease.

3D Printers Hitting the Market

            3D printers that print out objects using layers of plastic, powder, metal, and even chocolate are becoming available to consumers.  Factories have been using 3D printers for the making of prototypes since the 1980's but the technology has been too expensive for the average consumer until recently.  Now companies are offering 3Dprinter kits that are affordable and easy to assemble.  The Thing-O-Matic printer retails at just $1,299.  The designers of the printers hope that consumers will use their printers to replace parts on products that normally would be disposed of.  3D printers can also recycle some plastics, which would be more efficient and reduce the need for recycling plants.

Dating Service Promoting Adultery Promoted in Britain

            The National Business Awards has nominated online dating service, Global Personals, as an outstanding business.   However, this is no ordinary dating service.  Global Personals not only caters to singles but also has a special service for married persons looking for adulterous affairs.  Instead of reproving such destructive practices, Britain's government is condoning this adulterous matchmaking by honoring this company; thus communicating to its people that fidelity does not matter.

America Plans to Station Troops in Australia

            President Obama has made an agreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia to station 2,500 US marines in Australian bases.  Chinese leaders felt threatened by the President's announcement, saying, "It may not be quite appropriate to intensify and expand military alliances and may not be in the interest of countries within this region".  Obama assured the Chinese that his intentions were not to threaten or exclude China.  "The notion that we fear China is mistaken; the notion that we are looking to exclude China is mistaken," he said. He also traveled to Australia to honor them as one of the United States' strongest allies. 

Surfer Makes New World Record

            Forty-four-year-old Garrett McNamara gained a world record for riding the biggest wave when he caught a 90 foot giant in south central Alaska.  The ride took place at the base of a 400-foot glacier where McNamara had camped for three weeks waiting for large waves.  McNamara beat Ken Bradshaw's record of surfing an 85-footer in Hawaii's Waimea Bay in 1998. 

Egypt's Revolution Leaves Christians Worse Off

            The Egyptian military, looked upon as the defender of the people from a tyrannical government, is not so heroic when it comes to the nation's Christians.  On October 9th, the military opened fire on a group of Coptic Christians protesters.  They then proceeded to run them over with military vehicles leaving 25 dead.  Since then, many of the Egyptian people have lost their faith in the military.  Christians find little comfort in the development of a new government to replace the military rule, seeing that a democratic election will likely usher in a strict Islamic rule with more persecution.  Many Coptic Christians are choosing to flee the country in search of religious freedom.

Over Use of Antibiotics Causing Super Germs

            A number of cases in Europe have developed where the infections have been resistant to the strongest antibiotics on the market.  The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) found that half of the cases of K. pneumoniae, a common cause of urinary and respiratory conditions would not respond to antibiotics.  Also, doctors warn that cases of gonorrhoea must be treated with two types of antibiotics instead of one, because of strains of antibiotic resistant germs. Scientists from the World Health Organization have long been weary of such a problems developing from the over diagnosis of antibiotics. "Overuse of antibiotics risks returning the world to a pre-antibiotic era in which infections do not respond to treatment," they warned.  The countries with the greatest amount of resistant infections were Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria.  The same countries had the greatest amount of antibiotic use.      

Conservative Wins Spanish Election

            Mariano Rajoy of the centre-right Popular Party will be the new Prime Minister of Spain come December.  The conservative enjoyed a landslide victory getting 98% of the vote. Rajoy's goals are to retrieve Spain out of economic turmoil. "There won't be any miracles. We never promised any. But as we have said before, when things are done properly, the results come in."   Spanish economist Teresa Sadaba feels that Rajoy's appointment will greatly benefit their economy. "The fact the PP has won by a large majority is a very good sign for the markets. It means stability. The best scenario now would be for Spain to announce some new emergency austerity measures," said Sadaba.

Entire Police Department Arrested in Mexico

By James Heiser - The New American

            When the police department from the municipality of Ahome in the Mexican state of Sinaloa were summoned to meet with the director of state police, they thought they were going to discuss routine operations. Instead, they were disarmed and the 32 officers and commanders who make up the entire department were arrested for their connection with Los Zetas and the Beltran Leyva cartels.

            Police corruption is nothing new, but the extent of alleged criminality within the police department in Ahome is remarkable. However, the comments of Gov. Mario Lopez Valdez in the aftermath of the arrests do little to allay concerns regarding the extent of police corruption within Sinaloa - and throughout Mexico. A November 15 article for Fox News Latino conveys both the governor's commitment to root out corruption - and the hint that further mass arrests of police officers may be seen in the near future: "Regrettably, after we had set a goal of reducing crime in the municipality of Ahome ... there are signs of criminality by the police themselves," López Valdez said, vowing not to relent in the battle against criminals, especially "those who wear a uniform." Though individual officers have been fired on suspicion of colluding with drug dealers, Monday's sweep against the Ahome police department was the first large-scale operation against corrupt cops in Sinaloa.

Chili Tests Worlds Most Advanced Telescope

            The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert took its first photos of deep space this month.  The $1.3 billion telescope shows two galaxies colliding in a view no other telescope on Earth or in space has been able to view.  The telescope, also known as ALMA is located in the Chilean Andes at 16,000 feet and can see through cold clouds of dust that 'block the view' of traditional infrared/visible light telescopes. ALMA is a joint effort of Europe, North America and East Asia, with the cooperation of Chile, and is presently the largest astronomical project in the world. 

By Bob Kellogg - OneNewsNow

            A U.S.-born Israeli author and expert on the Middle East says the recent massacre of Christians in Egypt illustrates that the so-called "Arab Spring" has actually become an "Islamic tsunami."  When Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was toppled from office after nearly three decades of power, most of the world celebrated the seemingly pro-democracy movement sweeping through the Middle East.
            But now, vivid video of armored vehicles has been released, showing Coptic Christians being mowed down in the streets of Cairo for protesting their persecution at the hands of the Islamists, who now control Egypt. David Rubin, author of The Islamic Tsunami: Israel and America in the Age of Obama, suggest the transition from spring to tsunami did not happen overnight.
            "The 'Arab Spring' was never an Arab spring; it was always an Islamic tsunami," he contends. "You look at Egypt today and you see that the Christians of Egypt are terrified. There were rumors that the Christians in Egypt were going to be building -- horror of horrors -- a church, and the Muslims went absolutely berserk. They started rioting and threatening the Christians and attacking them in the streets. And eventually, the Egyptian military government sent in the army and the Egyptian police, and they mowed down protesters and killed 24 Christians." Rubin concludes that Egypt is not a safe place to be right now, especially for Christians.

World Population Exceeds 7 Billion

            The seven billion barrier was broken this month according to researchers in the United Nations.  This comes twelve years after the six billion people barrier was broken.  The UN believes that most of the future growth will be in nonindustrialized nations, especially sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.  Once again fears concerning world overpopulation are being expressed.  According to author Gary North, these sentiments are merely propaganda, "Those favoring government control over the economy have used the fear of a population explosion to persuade voters to allow the governments of the world to interfere with their lives."

Canadian Woman Goes Unpunished for Infanticide

            Katrina Effert was 19 years old when she strangled her new born son after secretly giving birth to him on April 13, 2005.   Two years ago, a jury found Effert guilty of second-degree murder, but the Alberta Court of Appeal overturned the conviction.  Effert was charged instead with infanticide, a crime punished by no more than five years in prison.  The Canadian Criminal Code states, "A female person commits infanticide when by a wilful act or omission she causes the death of her newly-born child, if at the time of the act or omission she is not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child and by reason thereof or of the effect of lactation consequent on the birth of the child her mind is then disturbed."  Judge Joanne Veit found that Effert was obviously out of her right mind when she lied to police officers after the incident, telling them she was a virgin, then changing her story saying that she gave the child to her boy friend.  Effert was given a three-year sentence, but if she abides by the court's conditions, she will not have to serve any time.  She may serve 16 days in jail for throwing the child's body into her neighbor's yard, but that is still being deliberated.

Commercial Spaceport Constructed in New Mexico

            The world's first commercial spaceport is 90% completed and is scheduled to launch its first flight in 2013.  Spaceport America located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, will be the hub for Virgin Galactic's consumer spaceflights.  Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo are designed for the purpose of flying tourists to the edge of space.  They are still being tested for safety. Virgin Galactic President Richard Bradson and New Mexican Governor Bill Richardson officially dedicated the spaceport almost a year ago.  Now the construction is nearly completed and  their dreams are being realized.

Philippine Villagers Capture 21 Foot Crocodile

            Villagers of Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province captured a 21 foot live crocodile weighing 2,370 pounds.  According to the town mayor, the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.  The villagers felt that the crocodile was a threat to their safety so they decided to capture it.  After the animal destroyed four of their traps, the villagers used a steel cable which finally succeeded.  The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park to draw tourists to their impoverished region.

Australia's Melbourne Becomes World's Most Livable City

            A worldwide survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit declared Melbourne the world's most livable city based on social stability, crime rates, access to quality health care, cultural events, the environment, education and the standard of infrastructure.  Vancouver, Canada had previously been the top city for a number of years.  This year, Vancouver came in third, trailing Vienna, Austria.  Other Australian cities ranked highly, showing that according to this survey, Australia is a very desirable place to live.

            Recent news from Vietnam shows concern that police brutality against Christian worshipers continues unabated. International Christian Concern reports police raided a house church as 16 members of the Degar tribal group, or Montagnards, were worshiping. "Twelve of them were actually beaten so severely that they became unconscious -- and from the witnesses who were there, ... these people were just beaten with batons, tree branches, weapons, pistols to the head," explains Kris Elliott of ICC. "People were just collapsing to the ground." The youngest victim was a 13-year-old girl and the oldest a 53-year-old woman. They are members of a house church, which in Vietnam is illegal.

            "The police force came in and said that if anyone worships like this we're going to arrest you. We're going to put you away for five years or even more," Elliott says. "Many Montagnards right now are in prison. It's estimated that at least 350 Montagnard Christians are currently in prison for their faith. And so this is unfortunately a very commonplace event that happens in Vietnam."  Elliott is hopeful the U.S. will re-designate Vietnam as a "country of particular concern" in terms of violating religious freedom -- a status that could be helpful in applying more international pressure for change.

Polish Abortion Ban Narrowly Defeated

            The Polish bill that would have outlawed all forms of abortion was narrowly defeated by a 191-186 vote, with five abstentions and 78 lawmakers not present for the vote.  Despite the defeat, pro-life activists remain optimistic.  Pro-life commentator Tomasz Terlikowski said it was a success in light of being, "the introduction to public debate, unthinkable in other European countries, of a total ban on abortion."  Many are predicting repercussions in the October 9th elections for those MP's that voted against the bill.  A survey conducted earlier this year indicated that 65% of the Polish population are in favor of the total abortion ban.  Among young people, aged 15 to 24, the numbers were 76% in favor.

Spanish Home Schoolers Under Persecution

            Mila and Rodolfo Gonzalez , a couple from Alicante, Spain, received a court order to return their son to the public school.  The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) said that until recently, Spain had left homeschoolers alone.  "There are at least 25 families in Spain that I am personally aware of, who are facing difficulties with the authorities over homeschooling," said Daragh McInerney, president of La Asociacion para la Libre Education.  However, the Gonzalezs won their case against the school district with the help of HSLDA and will continue to home educate their son.

Man Hit by Car Makes Amazing Recovery

            Aaron Denham was traveling on bike in Southampton, England when he was hit by an automobile.  He sustained serious head injuries and broke his neck, pelvis, multiple ribs, wrist and nose. He severed one of two arteries in his neck, lacerated his spleen causing internal bleeding, bruised his spinal cord and suffered a punctured lung. The doctors thought he would not make it through the night.  Aaron's mother and sister were choosing the music for his funeral while Aaron lay in a coma in the hospital.  Suddenly, Aaron turned his hand over.  From then on, his mother had hopes of his survival. However, Aaron did more than just survive, he is making a recovery that doctors are calling miraculous. Aaron can now walk unassisted and the doctors think he may be able to go home in a few months.

            In today's extremely unsettled financial climate, one can hardly blame Venezuela or its erratic leader, Hugo Chavez, for deciding to bring home the gold. Oil-rich Venezuela also has the world's 15th largest gold reserves, most of them squirreled away in Bank of England vaults. Now, Chavez has authorized the return of Venezuela's gold to Venezuelan soil, fearing that, at some juncture, any overseas assets could be frozen and seized by foreign authorities, as has been done with those of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The clownishly villainous Hugo Chavez has long worn the mantle, once borne by Cuba's Castro, of America's official enemy south of the border. His country and regime are now embroiled in a series of international litigations for Venezuela's nationalizing of certain foreign assets - a Canadian gold mine at Las Cristinas and an American mining operation at Las Brisas, for example. Chavez is obviously worried that Venezuelan gold and liquid assets abroad could be seized and held as collateral.

            Hugo Chavez has a well-deserved reputation for paranoia. But look for other, more sober political leaders to follow his example, keeping a closer eye on their own gold reserves as the world economy continues to deteriorate.

            The European Union has threatened Sweden with legal action unless it rescinds its first issuance of wolf-hunting licenses in 45 years. Swedish Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren announced that his country has no wish to engage in long legal proceedings in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union, which would be the next step if the EU member-state failed to comply.

            It can hardly be asserted that the New Age socialist politics of Sweden are insensitive to animal welfare. The fact that there have not been licenses to hunt wolves - costly pests in largely rural Sweden - since 1966 suggests that the policy decision to issue the permits was not made lightly. Observers note that the issue is less about whether governments may enact reasonable regulations to preserve wildlife populations, and more about whether Sweden is still a sovereign nation.  Spokesman Johan Bostrom of the Swedish National Hunters Association - which has just called for a national fox hunt - decried the influence of European Union bureaucrats on his country's wildlife policy, "Decisions about policies around predatory animals should be taken with consideration for those affected by them.…This is a national issue and not something the EU should rule over."

World Population Will Peak to 7 Billion

            A French study shows that the world population will increase to seven billion this year.  In 1999, the population was six billion.  Researchers expect the next billion people to rise in fourteen years.  The most populous nations are China, which tops the list with over 1.33 billion people, and another 1.17 billion in India.

Denmark: a Down Syndrome-Free Perfect Society

            Plans have been made in Denmark to selectively abort all down syndrome children and make Denmark a Down syndrome-free perfect society by the year 2030.  One bioethicist describes the slaughter of these children as a "fantastic achievement." A publicly endorsed and paid for prenatal screening to eliminate people with Down syndrome is the plan to carry out this eugenic  "perfect society".  Nothing is said of those Danish women who will choose to keep their down syndrome children and disrupt their Utopia.

Syria on the Alert Against NATO Attacks

            Syrian President Bashar Assad is warning his troops to prepare for a possible conflict with U.S.-NATO troops.  WND reported that Turkey secretly passed a message to Damascus that if it does not implement major democratic reforms, NATO may attack Assad's regime, according to Egyptian security officials. President Obama has asked Assad to step down in order for the nation to create a democratic society with free elections and constitutional reforms.  The Syrian president reaffirmed his commitment to make some changes in the government but claims his reform study committee needs at least six months to work.

China Building Formidable Army 

            The Pentagon said Beijing has closed critical technological gaps and is rapidly modernizing its military equipment, all with an eye toward preventing possible U.S. and allied intervention in a conflict with Taiwan. China is increasing its hostility toward the US in regard to US favor to Taiwan.  China froze military contacts with the U.S. last year to protest an arms sale to Taiwan worth more than $6 billion. China's newest technological achievements include: a stealth fighter, an aircraft carrier and a record number of space launches over the past year.

Australia's Baptist Churches Rally for Traditional Marriage

            Australia's Baptist Churches are standing firm on marriage being a union between one man and one woman.  Australian Baptist Ministries, representing more than 300,000 Baptists in 950 local churches, is encouraging Prime Minister Julia Gillard to stand firm on her stance for traditional marriage and to resist the current move to alter the federal Marriage Act to include same-sex couples. "A strong society needs a strong commitment to marriage and family. Marriage is best understood as the union of a man and a woman, and the law is best left as it is," said Rev Benson of Australian Baptist Ministries.

UK Riots Result of Unrestrained Youth

            When asked the reason for the vandalism and mayhem throughout England, a young rioter told a BBC reporter, it showed 'the rich' and the police that 'we can do what we like'.  According to journalist Michael McCarthy from The Independent, rioters shamelessly brandished knives in the streets in preparation to loot and destroy.  One eye witness told McCarthy, "I am still thinking about what I saw last night. It was like watching packs of wild dogs bring down antelopes." This utter abandonment of shame and morality stems from a deeper social problem.  Max Hastings of Mail Online claims concerning Briton's youth, "Most have no jobs to go to or exams they might pass. They know no family role models, for most live in homes in which the father is unemployed, or from which he has decamped.  They are illiterate and innumerate, beyond maybe some dexterity with computer games and BlackBerries. They are essentially wild beasts."  Hastings further laments that there is virtually no way to deter their wild behavior because the Liberal leadership and even police force have hindered any restraint for years. "A key factor in delinquency is lack of effective sanctions to deter it. From an early stage, feral children discover that they can bully fellow pupils at school, shout abuse at people in the streets, urinate outside pubs, hurl litter from car windows, play car radios at deafening volumes, and, indeed, commit casual assaults with only a negligible prospect of facing rebuke, far less retribution," writes Hastings.  Ken Livingstone's declaration that the riots are the result of the Government's spending cuts ignores Great Briton's deeper social problems due to an unrestrained, idle populace and an entitlement society.

Chili's Mining Heroes Not so Famous Anymore

            One year ago, the world cheered as 33 miners were rescued from the collapsed San Jose mine after 69 days of being trapped inside.  The 'los 33' were hailed as heroes and paraded from one spot light to the next; from CNN studio in Los Angeles, to Disney World, to the Acropolis, and to Israel.  There will even be a movie based on their plight in the mine.  But where are the 'los 33' now?  Four of the men are back in the mines.  According to Chile's El Mercurio newspaper, fifteen of them are unemployed.  Two have tested positive for a potentially fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica particles. One of them, Mario Sepulveda, has done well as a motivational speaker.  However, Edison Pena, who ran the New York marathon, has faded into obscurity.

Rwanda Villagers Harassed by Protected Animals

            Villagers near Akagera National Park live in fear of being mauled or killed by animals protected by the government.  An estimated 80% of farmers near the reserve lose their crops due to wandering animals.  Theogene Semugisha, who oversees social services for Ndego says, "Then [villagers] cannot feed themselves. It is a very big problem." Last year, animals killed five people and mauled 15 others.  Most of the surrounding villages are filled with refugees who returned in recent years to Rwanda after fleeing war.  The park managers spend most of their time trying to prevent poachers from killing the animals.  Officials are planning to build a $2.7 million electric fence around the reserve.

Thousands Starving in Somalia

            Tens of thousands of people in Somalia had already died, and more than 500,000 children are on the brink of starvation. Aid officials are calling it Africa's worst humanitarian disaster in decades.  However, most humanitarian agencies have their hands tied.  Most of the territories with mass starvation are controlled by terrorist organization Al Shabaab.  US federal law has forbidden material relief, both public and private, to be given to the area, lest it fall into the hands of the terrorists.  Even non-Americans, spending foreign funds on food and other humanitarian aid in Shabaab-controlled regions, could risk criminal prosecution for material support to terrorism. On August 2^nd, the US government announced that they will relax the restrictions somewhat, to give aid groups some assurance that they will not be prosecuted if some of the humanitarian assistance they provide ends up in Al Shabaab's hands.

Ancient Tunnels Found Throughout Europe

            A massive network of underground tunnels have been discovered crisscrossing Europe.  The tunnels are believed to be thousands of years old.  German archaeologist Dr Heinrich Kusch said, "In Bavaria in Germany alone we have found 700metres of these underground tunnel networks. In Syria in Austria we have found 350metres." Some of the tunnels were wide with places to stop and rest, while others were like worm holes just big enough for a man to wiggle through.  Some experts believe the tunnels were used like highways, protecting travelers from weather and the danger of enemies.

France Hosts Largest Hot-Air Balloon Lift-off Ever

            The 12th Lorraine World Air Balloon Festival, in Chambley-Bussieres, France, boasts that it has broken a world record this year for the most hot-air balloons launched at the same time.  An incredible 343 balloons took off at the event after a couple day delay due to weather.  Fourteen countries participated in the event.  The previous record for the largest mass ascent was 326 balloons.

Chinese Planes Pursue US Spy Plane

            Near the central line across the 113-mile wide Taiwan Strait, two Chinese Sukhoi-27 jets trespassed in Taiwanese airspace in pursuit of another jet.  The Taiwanese newspaper, the United Daily News, said the Chinese jets had been in pursuit of a US U-2 reconnaissance plane.  The Chinese planes quickly turned around when they realized they had breached Taiwan's airspace.  So far, the Taiwanese Defence ministry and the Pentagon have not confirmed this report. 

Most Norwegian Police are Unarmed

            During the mass shootings in Norway, one of the victims was police officer Trond Berntsen who was working as a security guard at the camp.  Officer Berntsen was working the campgrounds unarmed.  In fact, Norwegian law requires that police officers must have authorization from their chief to gain access to a firearm.  Only beat police officers have immediate access to weapons and by law they must keep their firearms unloaded and locked in a box in the car unless authorization is given.  Some Norwegians are demanding that the rules be changed while others argue that an armed police force will incite more violence.  Britain and Iceland have similar rules forbidding the arming of the police force.

China Develops Electromagnetic Pulse Weapons

            The Chinese military is developing Electromagnetic pulse weapons that mimic the gamma-ray pulse induced by a nuclear blast causing all electronics, including computers and automobiles, to shut down over wide areas. A declassified intelligence report from 2005 shows that military writings have discussed building low-yield EMP warheads, but "it is not known whether [the Chinese] have actually done so." The report also stated that the weapons are intended for use against Taiwan and against US aircraft carriers that would attempt to aid Taiwan.  Chinese research has been conducted on animals to see the effects of EMP on the eye, brain, bone marrow and other organs.  The report claims, "it is clear the real purpose of the Chinese medical experiments is to learn the potential human effects of exposure to powerful EMP and [high-powered microwave] radiation."

South African Man Wakes Up in Morgue

            A 50-year-old South African man in a rural village in the Eastern Cape, woke to find himself in a mortuary refrigerator after suffering an asthma attack the previous day.  The man started screaming to be let out and the frightened attendants ran away in fear that he was a ghost.  The attendants returned and called an ambulance for the man.  He was soon brought to a hospital were doctors treated him for dehydration and declared his condition stable.  Officials are using this incident to urge people to contact an emergency service before assuming a person is dead.  The man spent nearly 24 hours in the mortuary.

By Chad Groening - OneNewsNow

Brazil's President Suspends Pro-Homosexual Curriculum

            Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has agreed to suspend a controversial homosexual indoctrination course known as "Schools without Homophobia" after a public outcry from Catholics and Protestants opposed to its content. This United Nations backed course included graphic videos, games, toys, and musical lyrics, all designed to normalize homosexuality and other sexual deviations. The use of this curriculum has caused outrage over the past year, especially when Brazilians found that over a million dollars in public money has been used to fund it. The president's education minister Fernando Haddad has stated that he will revise the program and have it back in schools in a matter of months so pro-family groups will continue to fight against its return.

Obama Favors Reinstatement of Honduran Political Exile

          The Obama administration is pleased with an agreement reached in Columbia at the end of last month that would allow the ousted former Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, to return home and resume political activity without fear of prosecution marks. Zelaya was removed by the military in 2009 for planning a referendum to convene a constituent assembly, to amend the constitutional one-term limit on presidential power. This action is strictly forbidden in Honduras' constitution, yet Honduras was ousted from the Organization of American States (OAS) for their removal of Zelaya and president Obama gave his approval. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warns that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is behind this deal to use Zelayas' return for his own political ends. "Hugo Chavez's hand prints are all over this deal," said Ros-Lehtinen, "He can't wait to have Zelaya back in Honduras so he can begin pulling the strings again and undermine that nation's democracy."

Police Liberate Girls From Nigerian Baby Factory

          Nigerian police have raided a home in Nigeria's southeast Abia state where 32 teenage girls were forced to have babies for human trafficking. The proprietor is in police custody and will likely charges for child abuse and human trafficking. The babies were sold for about 300,000 naira to one million naira ($1,920 to $6,400 US dollars) each and used for rituals or labor purposes. A 2008 raid revealed a network of these "baby factories" throughout Nigeria. according to UNESCO, Human trafficking is Nigeria's third most common crime.

Iran Building Rocket Bases in Venezuela

          Iran is building intermediate-range missile launch pads on the Paraguaná Peninsula, according to German newspaper Die Welt. The Iranian government reportedly paid dozens of millions for the preliminary construction which will include twenty-meter deep rocket silos, plus commando and control stations. The position of the missile base could be a threat to the United States as well as an intimidation to neighboring Columbia.

Palestinians, Syrians, and Hezbollah Invade Israel

           Israelis failed to secure their border during Nakba Day, a day commemorating the Palestinians' displacement from the land of Israel in 1948. Invaders broke through the Golan, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip border overrunning villages and raising Palestinian flags. Israeli military clashed with the protesters resulting in deaths and injuries.

Will Scotland Secede from Great Britain?

           The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) won a victory by taking a majority in the Scottish Parliament early this month. This is the first time a political group has taken the majority since 1999. Alex Salmond, the leader of the SNP told of his intention of introducing a referendum for Scottish Independence in the next five years. Salmond told his supporters, "In this term of the Parliament, we shall bring forward a referendum and trust the people with Scotland's own constitutional future." The union of Scotland, England, and Wales has existed since 1707.

China's Economy Passing Up the US

            According to the International Monetary Fund, China's economy will exceed the United States in as little as five years.  The Chinese economy is projected to grow to $19 trillion by 2016, while America's will contract to $18.8 trillion.  This is staggering considering that a decade ago, the US economy was three times as large as China's.  While many are blaming the decline on free trade, others  claim it is the result of stifling regulations driving US businesses to relocate in China. 

 Australia Invites Chinese Navy

            Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard met with Chinese president Hu Jintao to discuss  building military cooperation and  allowing Chinese military vessels to dock at Australian ports.  "We have indicated we are open to ships visiting Australian ports [and] there's some prospect that there will be some visiting before the end of the year."said Gillard in an interview with Herald.  They also considered partnering in livefire exercises at sea.