The UK’s NHS has released a report that says most hospitals are not even capable of delivering proper care to a majority of their patients. People who have long noticed this are turning to specialists in between the ER and the Family Physician hoping to save on their medical bills as they try to live through the financial market. The UK has been seen as a silent victim of the financial crisis and is seen to have a worst running track record due to less support given to the many industries opposed to the US. Their housing market is in a worst state due to little help extended by their government in terms of tax rate cuts and incentives for new first home buyers. Many UK banks were also exposed a lot to the collapse of the financial and housing markets in the US hitting many of their biggest banks hard and with a lot of casualties in terms of jobs. They are managing to get through as long as the government acts accordingly, but one false move can send one oif the developed world’s economies in trouble as the rest of the world is.

Protest actions in the mostly quiet corner of Iran have broken through much controlled media and the internet, something totally unheard of from that corner of the world. A very closed society that is Iran used to have very little known about it except for the anti-Western antics of it’s President Ahmadinejad who has repeatedly lambasted the West and it’s allies for meddling in the affairs of Iraq and many other countries such as Afghanistan. He was supposed to have won the just concluded presidential elections, first declared the winner via a landslide vote, but in-fighting within the ruling cleric’s group resulted in protests from the opposition a sure sign of trouble brewing from within. The government has banned all Western reporters from entering the country and all news comes out through the internet, the only form of communication the government couldn’t control. Using programs and anti-spy/tracking technology made by exiled citizens abroad, pictures and even video are streaming out of the closed society that is locked in a battle for freedom, something that has to be fought for and even to die for.

The US’s economic troubles is far from over, even with some gains made on Wall Street with consumer confidence low and many banks still facing bankruptcy as we speak. The government has been fighting to get much needed cash into the pockets of people in hopes of getting them to begin spending the cash they have with them to support the many industries that do rely on the retail market for their earnings. Jobs are still being lost as many companies try to streamline their operations, also hit hard by the financial crisis. The housing market has been forecast to fully recover by the year 2012, with most hoping for sooner recovery for they fear their financial stores may not last that long, in this recession wrecked world.

The Iraqi government has denied any extensions to the already scheduled pull-out of all US troops from all fronts of the battlefield as they try to take over positions form the many battle-weary American soldiers. With the UK having already pulled out their troops (second largest fighting force in the country), the US has been fighting to pull out it’s troops from the country ever since sentiments back home have reversed previous support for the war effort due to rising human casualties. The recession is also taking it’s toll due to the extremely huge cost the war was exacting on the economy. Most soldiers who have been trying to get home may be in for an easy trip but for some, the end may come with the end of deployment for violence is still an everyday occurrence in and around the streets of Iraq.

North Korea fires medium and long range missiles as it clamors to establish itself as a nuclear power, once again smashing the peace in that region of the world. With Kim ill and reportedly suffering from cancer, he has reportedly appointed his youngest son as the heir to the throne much to speculation for little is known about the monarch’s son outside of the country. Schooled in the West, many fear his stance on the path which North has taken, seemingly to make it known that they are powerful yet widely known as an impoverished country. The North has long been plagued by isolation and is known to be one of the few countries that shun relationships with the West and it’s allies in the region. They have been hit with sanctions as part of the UN’s stance against neuclear proliferation, their actions again piling up trade sanctions that is sure to isolate the impoverished populace furhter.

Earth Hour, an initiative that seeks for everyone to turn off their lights of for one hour once a day every year, being launched next month, in an effort to bring more awareness to the growing concern about global warming. The event was also done last year, with many participating in the lights off program. Organizers hope that this year, more will participate in the movement, which they plan to continue for as long as it takes for people, most especially governments, to realize the importance of making policy that will offset the damage to the environment current societies have been doing for years. This initiative is especially important this year, as world leaders are set to meet in Copenhagen in December to discuss global warming and come up with treaties, plans and strategies to address the issue.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been appointed the EU’s envoy to the Middle East where he is entasked to fix the problems facing the Muslim world in conjunction with efforts of other governments. From brokering peace to promoting friendship between the West and the many Middle East countries who see them as enemies, he indeed has a tough job ahead of him. There are no easy fixes for the hate that is instilled in the hearts of many have been there for thousands of years. May it be because of occupation or other reasons, they simply hate outsiders who meddle in their affairs.
One of his toughest jobs would be to fix the Middle East Peace process such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians who have battled since time immemorial. Peace is something they long for and the people are the ones who suffer the most. Victims of a war they are in the middle of or have little to do with, with power held by the barrel of the gun.

Hollywood certainly seems to love Barack Obama. From Oprah (who unarguably holds a lot of clout for her daily viewers) to Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johansson, tinseltown’s stars are going all out in their campaign for their favorite US presidential candidate. And now comes music videos by will.i.am, singer of The Black Eyed Peas, called “Yes We Can” and “We are the Ones” that are based on Obama’s speeches.

The songs, that were originally released in YouTube and Dipdive.com, feature cameos by several celebrities who support Barack Obama. It is now being promoted as a viral video on Obama’s campaign website. “Yes We Can” even won an Emmy for Best New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment, and won a Webby Award for will.i.am as “Artist of the Year”. Check out more about the songs in Wikipedia.

The Russian Government has expressed its intention to avail of every possible opportunity to block a United Nations acceptance of the imminent independence of Kosovo. The head of Russia�s international affairs committee said the blocking of Kosovo�s admission as an independent state is a political stance.

The developing relations of Russia with other self proclaimed republics may be affected by the declaration of independence. The Council of Europe was also being dissuaded from supporting Kosovo�s move which is seen as inappropriate. With the re-election of pro-European president Boris Tadic, it is seen as a signal for the imminent declaration of independence by Kosovo.