Weekly roundup

Paul, a European red squirrel, das kleine Eichhörnchen, by Sven P

Very busy with classes and other obligations, so playing a little catch-up here:

AFGHANISTAN: Nine US soldiers die in the largest attack in several years. I am looking very closely for more information. Stay tuned. It still doesn't even get one-tenth of the attention of inane things like celebrity divorces.

GERMANY: While just about every other nation on Earth is taking a good look a expanding nuclear power, Germany has gone the opposite route. In 2000, Germany's leftist coalition government made a wildly optimistic prediction that renewable energy (wind, solar, etc) would rapidly grow in the next ten years, and passed a law mandating the closing of all Germany's nuclear plants by the year 2012. In turns out this was a very bad idea, and now they are facing a real power crisis in just a few years.

FRANCE: A Muslim woman has her application for citizenship rejected because her "radical practice of her religion is incompatible with French values". She has lived in France for several years, but has no concept of her rights, including the right to vote, and wears a full body garment when out in public. It's about time. Many will certainly protest the decision, but if a nation doesn't have the right to decide who will be citizens, then what can it ever decide? They aren't going to kick out the woman, just keep her from becoming a French citizen, with consequent right of residency, voting rights, etc. Since she doesn't resemble a Frenchwoman by any stretch of the imagination, this is only common sense. UPDATE: More complete coverage at Truth Be Known News.

SPAIN: Six African migrants die at sea attempting to reach the Canary Islands. This comes just a week after at least 14 Nigerians were lost at sea making the same attempt. The main problem is the asylum process; Spain will take most, if not all, of these asylum seekers to the mainland, where most of them will simply disappear. That's one hell of an incentive to risk their lives at sea - what really unfair is that the children are too young to make that decision for themselves, yet the boat people bring them anyway.

UK: Six people stabbed to death in just one day. Britain's "knife culture" is out of control. Strangely, the Daily Mail readily identifies the victims, but not the perpetrators. Can't help wondering - is that because they are immigrants? Certainly a booming drug culture and a ban on guns plays a part as well.

FRANCE: Palestinian and Israeli leaders claim they are on the verge of a breakthrough on a Middle East peace deal. But given the past track record, I'm not nearly as optimistic.

UNITED NATIONS: Unbelievably, Russia and China just vetoed sanctions against a murderous regime that recently held a sham election. Just what would qualify a nation for sanctions then?

UK: Al-Qaeda member and financier Abu Qatada is enjoying himself openly shopping in London. Also see here, for more about this lunatic.