Leading bankers warning of the worst crisis in the money markets for 20 years

Leading bankers are warning of the worst crisis in the money markets for 20 years, which would come to a head when $US113 billion ($137 billion) of commercial paper — market IOUs — came up for refinancing, mainly through London, reported The Australian (10/9/2007, p.29).

Nuclear power the only form of electricity production that in itself poses a threat to international peace, domestic security and individual liberties

Nuclear power was the only form of electricity production that in itself posed a threat to international peace and domestic security, and consequence of its dangers and of the secrecy that inevitably surrounds it because of its connections with nuclear weapons, the only form of electricity production that in itself poses a threat to individual liberties argued the Oxford Research Group report: “Too Hot to Handle?; The Future of Civil Nuclear Power but Frank Barnaby and James Kemp, with a Foreword by David Howarth MP, UK Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy Spokesperson.

Israel and US at war with Syria and Iran: mystery explosion at Syrian military installation near Aleppo followed by 6 September F-15Is bomber attack

The Syria installation where the July 26 explosion occurred is in the same general area as the alSafir site where the Israeli air attack was carried out on September 6 but there has thus far not been any indication of a connection between the two events.

US suspends all land travel by diplomats and civilian officials in Iraq after law-immune US-paid mercenaries kill 20 Iraqis: Iraq’s Ministry of Defence confirms deaths

The US has suspended all land travel by diplomats and civilian officials in Iraq outside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, amid mounting outrage over the alleged killing of civilians by the US Embassy’s security provider, Blackwater USA, reported The Mercury (20/9/2007, p. 20).

“The Iraq war is largely about oil”, says ex-US Fed Reserve chair, Alan Greenspan

Former Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan created another Iraq-related crisis for the Bush Administration, alleging in his new memoir that “the Iraq war is largely about oil”, reported The Canberra Times (18/9/2007, p.7).

Iran unveils new home-grown fighter jet: “Our forces like a thunderbolt will blind the eyes of the enemies of our land”

Iran has unveiled a new home-grown fighter jet amid growing tensions with the United States, and said the plane could “blind the eyes” of its enemies, reported The Canberra Times (22/9/2007, p.15).

Israel declares Gaza an “enemy entity” and said it would cut off power and fuel supplies to the coastal strip of Gaza

In Jerusalem, Israel’s Security Cabinet declared the Gaza Strip an “enemy entity” last night and said it would cut off power and fuel supplies to the coastal strip. The move threatens to cloud U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the region on a peacemaking mission. The group of top Israeli political and defence ministers did not set a date for a cut-off. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office said Israel did not intend to provoke a humanitarian crisis.The Advertiser, 20/9/2007, p. 31

Security in United States now so onerous wealthy Australian business owners fly to US on commercial aircraft and then charter private jets

The 91-year-old Whitlam reportedly refused to fly during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meetings this month because of the inconvenience of extra security screening procedures, according to Ann-Maree Moodie in The Australian Financial Review (20/9/2007, p.8).

Russian enriched uranium fuel ready to be shipped to Iran’s first nuclear power plant after pay dispute resolved

Enriched uranium fuel was ready to be shipped from Russia to Iran’s first nuclear power plant, it was re­ported on the weekend, noted The Advertiser (17/9/2007, p.28).

Rocket attack prompts Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister to threaten to cut off water and power supplies to besieged Gaza Strip

Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister had threatened to cut off water and power supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip after three Palestinian missiles exploded in the Israeli town of Sderot, reported The Age (5/9/2007, p. 12).