The investigation indicated that what Western counter-terrorism officials had long feared had indeed become a reality. The Somali militant group – in control of more than half the war-torn east African country – had embraced al Qaeda’s global Jihad and was now actively plotting attacks in the West.

- CNN “Al-Shabaab – A Looming Threat” October 5, 2011

In an interview with Shabelle radio, the chairman of Ahlu Sunna Waljama, Prof. Hirsi Labo Garre gave some details about the most recent battles the group had with Al shabaab in central Somalia. He said the military power of the militant group has been weakened. Because of that, the Al Qaeda linked group has resorted to create conflict and hostility inside the clans of Somalis, according to Hirsi.

-Shabelle Media Network “Somalia: Al Shabaab Can No Longer Keep On Fighting” October 2, 2011

Shamsul Bari, an independent expert on human rights for the United Nations, said the tragedy for Somalia was the loss of some of the few people in the country with a decent education.

-UPI “World Angered By Al-Shabaab Attack” October 5, 2011

Some analysts said they were worried the blast might prompt international agencies helping famine victims in Somalia to pull out, leaving operations in the hands of local organisations prone to corruption or theft by militias.

-Reuters “Somalia’s Al-Shabaab Kills 70 in Mogadishu Bomb” October 5, 2011

The circumstances surrounding the Palestinian bid at the U.N. are very different from those surrounding the British appeal in 1947. Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are seeking to exit the region. The United Nations drama is misplaced: Peace needs to be made in the Middle East, not the Northeast. The suspicions and historical claims of both sides can only be resolved between them, as they will be the ones who must live with the results.

-CNN “Why the UN Cannot create Palestine” September 25, 2011

The U.S. has the power to quash the bid in the Security Council just by using its veto power, and has announced its willingness to do so. However, amid warnings that a U.S. veto would damage America’s reputation in certain parts of the world, U.S. officials are hoping to avoid that outcome.

-Fox News “US Works to Win Allies In Security Council Against Palestinian Statehood Bill” September 26, 2011

The Palestinian president turned to the U.N. in frustration after nearly two decades of unsuccessful peace efforts that were derailed at various times by violence, indecision and intransigence.

-CBS News “Formal UN Meeting on Palestine Wednesday” September 26, 2011

Mr Abbas received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the West Bank from New York on Sunday. He reiterated before a cheering crowd his refusal to talk to Israel without a freeze of Jewish settlements.

-BBC “UN Security Council Considers Palestinian Membership” September 26, 2011

While the countries which have been bailed out have specific problems – Greece’s lax tax collection, and Ireland’s black hole of a banking system, for example – the problem has been exacerbated by a currency which shackles the weak to the strong, economists say. Political difficulties in driving through a decisive plan for reining in the crisis has fed the panic.

- CNN “How the Euro Became a Broken Dream” September 23, 2011

Ironically, one of the things threatening Weidmann’s chances of success is his popularity among Germans, who have gotten plenty of exposure to the young Bundesbank chief in recent days. He has become the new star of the euro crisis.

-Spiegel Online “German Central Bank Opposed to Merkel’s Euro Course”  September 26, 2011

Effet de la crise, effet de l’intégration franco-allemande que Nicolas Sarkozy appelle de ses vœux, un vote à Berlin aura un impact lourd sur une zone euro en grave surchauffe.

-Le Figaro “Sarkozy veut rester concentré sur la crise” September 26, 2011

Surveys show that a majority of German voters are critical of using tax money to prop up more heavily indebted European countries.

-The New York Times “Merkel’s Efforts in Euro Crisis Complicated by Berlin Vote” September 18, 2011