American news this last week seems to have been dominated by two subjects, the GOP race and subsequent election, and the Koran burning in Afghanistan by US forces. As far as the election goes it is more of the same. President Obama looking to secure a victory in November 2012 is utilising every opportunity to gain political ground. The Republican party have yet to decide on just which of their four candidates te majority would like to lead them, to what they too hope will be election victory in November 2012. A GOP debate this week seemed to secure Mitt Romney as favourite overall winner but a day appears to be a very long time in the GOP race. Time will tell. The next vote is Tuesday 28 in Arizona and Michigan. Perhaps this time a clearer picture of who GOP supporters would like to stand against President Obama will be revealed. Don't hold your breath though.

Much more serious in the short term, and possibly the long term, was the "accidental burning" of copies of the Koran in Afghanistan. Adding insult to insult the copies were burned by US military in what has been called a "garbage pit". Yesterday, Saturday February 25, 2012, The New York Times reported that as "Two American officers were shot dead inside the Interior Ministry building here on Saturday, and NATO responded by immediately pulling all its advisers out of Afghan ministries in Kabul, in a deepening of the crisis over the American military’s burning of Korans at a NATO military base".

A few days earlier President Obama and a US General had apologised to Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people as part of a damage limitations exercise. GOP hopeful Newt Gingrich had been quick to criticise Obama stating that the apology should have been the other way round. In such times though leaders have to do what they have to do, to try and ensure the safety of those on the ground. This incident has resulted in civilian deaths and injuries too.

For many now though the question is "How soon should we withdraw from Afghanistan"

In the UK NHS reform kept hitting the headlines often for the wrong reasons. As the Coalition government prepares to hand over whopping NHS budgets to GPS, general practitioners, there was bad news. Revelations that some doctors had been offering "wrong sex" abortions in the UK( which is illegal) and even more had been overpaid to the tune of millions of pounds due to "ghost patients" on their lists was cause for concern. How can we feel confident in the proposed reform. As the week drew to a close it was announced that Doctors in the UK were balloting for strike action in response to planned government changes to their pension contributions. If they vote in favour it will be the first time since the seventies that Doctors have taken industrial action.

Proposed changes to "gay marriage" laws in the UK look set to cause problems and cost a small fortune. Whilst the government is keen to do the right thing and not breach human rights it was less helpful in the case of pensioner Christopher Tappin who was extradited to the US.

For many in the UK this is once again a step too far. If the UK want to extradite a US citizen to the UK legal criteria has to be met which means weighing up evidence and the like. When it is the other way around Home Secretary Theresa May simply signs away a British citizens rights. So much for ensuring Human Rights in the UK. Unless the extradition treaty can be suitably amended withdrawing from it seems the only sensible outcome for the UK. 

Withdrawing from the treaty was a promise David Cameron gave when he was fighting to be elected. Now in power he seems more intent on gay marriage, bankers bonuses and decimating the NHS than basic human rights.

In true hypocritical style a public sector pay freeze was extended yet again. This will hit low paid workers such as dinner ladies, street cleaners and the like. The announcement came hot on the heels of the Coalition defending a huge banking bonus pay out in spite of the banks involved being partly owned by the taxpayer and making huge losses.

Fighting continues in so many countries around the world leaving a transient feeling of peace.

What a world
Till next week ttfn

A week ago Whitney Houston's sudden death and Greece's continuing debt  crisis were both making headlines. A week later the funeral of Whitney and Greek debt continued to be the headline stories. The World said goodbye to Whitney  yesterday February 18 after a four hour plus long gospel service.held in her home town church in Newark. Today she will be laid to rest. RIP. For Greece there is no peace.

Today Bloomsberg has reported that "Greece found all the extra cuts needed to lower spending by 325 million euros ($427 million) to secure a bailout aimed at averting the region’s first sovereign default"

The problem for the Greek people is that this will not be the end of the matter. Cuts will continue until they are bled dry. Whilst one can understand the EU taking steps to secure its bailout funds Greece will be pushed over the edge. Many this week have said that Greece and the Eurozone would be best parting company. The problem with that is the Eurozone has no exit plan for such a departure. For now the mess continues and in time it will involve other countries in the EU more deeply. The current UK Foreign Secretary William Hague was a figure of fun in the UK some years ago when he launched his "save the pound" campaign. We have to thank such people for keeping the UK out of the Eurozone. His prediction that it would all end in tears and violence has sadly been proved right.

It was Valentines day last Tuesday and lovers in the West spent a fortune on flowers and the like. Prices had been inflated for the day as usual. Sadly in the UK it was the day that the death of another member of the UK armed forces in Afghanistan was announced.

"Senior Aircraftman Ryan Tomlin, from 2 Squadron RAF Regiment, was taking part in a partnered patrol to reassure and interact with the local population in the Nad 'Ali district of central Helmand province when he was fatally wounded by small arms fire during an insurgent attack on Monday 13 February 2012" RIP. The UK death toll for Afghanistan now stands at 398.

Investigations into the sinking of the Cruise Liner Costa Concordia have been continuing. The latest news is that the captain had traces of cocaine in a sample of his hair although none was found in his blood stream or urine. This news is inconclusive as experts have said no traces were found within the strands of his hair which would have indicated his use of this drug. The 52-year-old captain remains under house arrest.

In the UK a grandmother and her six year old grandson died, both drowning in a local pond in Holywell, Lincolnshire, . Early reports indicate that it was simply a tragic accident. The woman and boy were believed to have been feeding the ducks. Police think that the boy fell into the pond and his grandmother tried to save him. Tragic. RIP

Also in the UK a vicar was stabbed to death in his rural church. The murder happened in a village where crime is almost unheard of. Reverend John Suddards, 59, was the vicar of St Mary's Church in Thornbury He was found dead last Tuesday. A man was quickly arrested but released. A manhunt began for Stephen Farrow. Farrow was arrested early today. 

The  UK Coalition government felt it had need to celebrate, albeit a small celebration, with the news that inflation had fell. However the news does nothing to lower the high cost of living. Prices have increased considerably in recent months and there is not sign that they will reduce in the near future. With pay freezes and job cuts the order of the day people will be tightening their belts yet again.

No sooner had inflation figures been released than the latest unemployment figures were released. They made for grim reading. With the UK jobless total reaching a whopping 2.67 million obviously many people in the UK are hurting. This is highest unemployment total since the last Tory government were in office in 1995. Make of that what you will.

Till next ttfn

What news has been important this last week will depend upon where you live. If it is in the US, and especially if you are a Republican, it will be the never ending battle for the GOP nomination. Across the Pond this now hardly gets a mention in the media, except each time another result is called. Early in the week Rick Santorum was thrilled to be elected in this week's caucuses but what about last night, Saturday 11, 2012? Well Maine may not be classed as a binding vote but Mitt Romney was pleased that he again was leader of the pack. The votes stacked up as Mr Romney 39% of the vote, Ron Paul 36%, Rick Santorum 18% and Newt Gingrich just 6%.

President Obama could be said to be hotting up his election campaign but you have to wonder how wise the latest decision on contraception was. In America that seems to be both a hot potato and a sure fire way to lose some votes. Still a decision had to be made and for some this one was a nod to religious concerns but of course many will not see it that way.

Last weekend TWTWTW reported on deaths and continuing violence in Syria and it has been more of the same this week. Whilst the West has tried to put pressure to bear by way of sanctions and the UN everyone, including the Syrian regime, now that intervetion is not going to happen. With powerful allies Syria is not Libya. If in the end military intervention becomes necessary war will be on the horizon. 

Iran claims that a significant announcement on its quest for nuclear power is imminent which will not calm any fears the west have right now.

Argentina lodged a formal complaint about what it sees as the militarisation of the Falkland Island area just off its coast.  As the 30 year anniversary of the conflict between Argentina and the UK rapidly approaches the situation remains tense.

The UK has dismissed the claims as ridiculous. The fact that Prince William is undergoing a tour of duty in the Falklands right now is said to be coincidental and part of his normal training routine.As Argentina has begun to raise the question of sovereignty of the Falklands a great deal in recent months it is more likely a case of showing strength. 

In Europe the leaders of the EU met once again in Brussels to thrash out a deal on Greek debt, and as some would see it waste more money. How much do all these meetings cost?  Whilst it obvious each leader will be looking at their own nation's interests it leaves the Greeks with not a hope in hell.

A long struggled over deal was thrown out by the EU. The Greeks had made what they thought was a workable deal but for the EU it did not go far enough. The EU also want assurances that this time the Greek government will implement changes not simply propose them.

After what many Greek people see as further humiliation by the EU many just want out. Protesters took the streets of Athens in force. Greek protests have become the norm in recent years. The protests however inevitably turned very nasty. Five more Greek ministers resigned. The Greeks will be expected to continue being humiliated and hurting the poorest of their population in order to balance the books. Humanity seems to be a privilege we only offer some nations.

How much will we be looking to spend in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq? How much will we spend when this mess becomes worse and war breaks out? How much did we spend on Germany after the last war? Too much in all cases.

The week ended with the sad news that singer Whitney Houston had been found dead in her hotel room. Whitney had suffered a public struggle with substance abuse which she claimed had ended. The cause of death is not yet known.

Such is life these days that some of the tributes put up on youtube were full of hate filled comments. Ones referring to her death as a "junkie" as not worth bothering about. Shame on people. Humanity seems to be at an all time low these days. This weekly wrap will end with one or two videos of her best performances. RIP and condolences to the family.

Finally in my neck of the woods Christopher Alder was put to rest after 14 years. A body mix up in the city mortuary added to the woes of his loved ones. Chris died in Police custody years ago. He and his family have been let down so many times. RIP

The snow from last week's TWTWTW has stuck around all week. Temperatures have been low and it has been bitterly cold. More snow late this week added to the chaos. A thaw hopefully is on the horizon. The garden flowers that had survived the mild winter to date have been put paid to with the winter cold snap. It is half term school holidays for many in the UK.. Great news if you are a kid, not so good if you are a parent.

Till next week, stay safe, stay warm and remember your are a human being. A little human kindness never hurt anyone. TTFN

February has kicked off in the usual crazy style. These days there seems to be so much happening world wide it is hard to keep abreast of world affairs. Perhaps it always was but these days we are the more painfully aware of the World's ills.

The US GOP race continued with two votes this week. In both Mitt Romney was successful. Florida and Nevada decided Romney was there man. In Nevada he cruised home with a massive 51% of the vote, clearly stamping his seal on the nomination.

The rest have vowed to continue but it must only be a matter of time before at least one falls by the wayside. The most likely is Rick Santorum whose campaign has gone from bad to worse. Americans may be intrinsically Christian but his extreme views on abortion and gay rights have failed to wow the voters. The three other candidates though have stressed that to date the vote has been as expected but as they move away from Romney heartlands all is set to change. Positive spin? Maybe.

The phenomenon that is Facebook prepared to get a whole lot bigger. It is expected that it will float on the stock exchange. Whilst this could be good news for the sites owners and users it may not be. We Internet users can be fickle. It could be a case of Facebook today gone tomorrow. 

In the UK the banking bonus furore raised its ugly head again. News that RBS CEO Stephen Hester was in line for a huge bonus angered people around the UK. Whilst some may claim that he is worth every penny, others felt that his already huge salary was reward enough. In the end he caved in to pressure and waved his bonus. Just prior to the news that Hester would wave goodbye to his bonus RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton declined his  £1.4m bonus for 2011. The bank is majority owned by the UK taxpayer who had to foot the bill for a bail out during the banking crisis.

As an apparent witch hunt against bankers continued former RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin was stripped of his knighthood, awarded in 2004. He has now also stepped down from his role in one of the Queen's charities to save her embarrassment. Still it is not over yet. It is banking bonus season soon. Expect more of the same.

The Middle East has had more of the same. In Syria the fighting escalated with the city of Homs being under bombardment. As the week drew to a close a high death toll was reported. The UN gathered together to vote on a resolution formulated out of the Arab League Monitors ideas. It was vetoed by the Russian and Chinese representatives much to the disgust of the US in particular. Russia insisted that it could and would not take part in a vote which in effect was interfering in a civil war. That is unless both sides were to be held accountable. A Russian representative is meeting with Syria's President Assad early this week but what will this achieve?

Egypt showed that it is one step away from utter chaos when trouble flared at a football match killing at least 74 people and injuring hundreds more. The violence was about much more than just football and it looks as if the elections planned for June 2012 will now be held much sooner. Can Egypt be brought from the brink of anarchy?

The US in line with France announced this week that it will be drawing down its troops earlier from Afghanistan. Whilst this is understandable it yet again seems that the UK could be left holding the baby, so to speak. It appears to be an admission that the bloody war in Afghanistan ultimately failed and that the massive loss of life of the people of Afghanistan and the foreign troops has been for naught.

With no Afghan deaths this week for UK forces the death toll remains at 397. The US forces death toll is a whopping 1891. The latest US death is that of 49-year-old brigadier general Terence Hildner, who apparently died of natural causes. RIP

In the UK as the week drew to a close Winter finally arrived. A short period of bitingly cold temperatures was followed by heavy snow. Within a short space of time the country was at a standstill. There were reports of people panic buying and stock -piling food. Airports and traffic links ground to a halt. Yet the weather was predicted and was nowhere near as bad as last year's snowfalls. Of course there could be more to come. Watch this space if there is. Th UK will bleat till its blue in the face and that wont be from the temperatures.

Till next week, stay safe, stay warm and try to stay sane in this barmy world of ours, TTFN