Referendum date announced

The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond announced 18th September 2014 as the date for the Scottish referendum.

Gilded plates of the date were welded to entrench the mindset of revolution on Scottish voters.

What campaigns Salmond has in mind will unravel soon no doubt.

How Dangerous is North Korea?

North Korea has frequently employed bellicose rhetoric towards its perceived enemies.

The 1994 threat by a North Korean negotiator to turn Seoul into "a sea of fire" prompted South Koreans, in panic, to stock up on essentials.

Continue reading the main storyLast June the army warned that artillery was aimed at seven South Korean media groups and threatened a "merciless sacred war".

Furthermore, there is a pattern of escalating threats whenever South Korea gets a new leader.

Read more from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21710644

Iraq:10 Years On

On a day of multiple bombings in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, Tony Blaire recently said, in a feature interview with the BBC, that he does not regard entering a Iraq a mistake.

Regardless of the ambiguity of why the war began, Blaire maintained that at the time it was correct for Britain to declare war on the country, saying Al- Assad in Syria is "a twentieth as bad."

Please No Nuclear Weapons

China has appealed for calm on the Korean peninsula, hours after North Korea said it had scrapped all peace pacts with the South and threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes.

China, the North's only major ally, said all sides should continue to talk and avoid "further escalation".

Pyongyang has reacted angrily to another round of sanctions imposed by the UN over its recent nuclear test.

The sanctions restrict luxury goods imports and banking activities.

Beijing provides fuel, food and diplomatic cover to Pyongyang.

It has repeatedly voted in favour of UN sanctions imposed over the nuclear programme, but enforcement of the measures in China is patchy.

Hua Chunying of China's foreign ministry told a news conference on Friday: "China and North Korea have normal country relations. At the same time, we also oppose North Korea's conducting of nuclear tests.

Chavez's Reigime was a prime example of an authoritarian Republic

This is a prime example of a republic that needs a leader for unity. President Chavez was a very external, intimate leader whose supporters loved him. With his death, some of the politically opposed will see this as a chance to reassert right-wing politics in Venezuela. What is certain, the republic needs another figure head if it going to survive this major set back.

Iraq Situation "Is Not Nearly What It Should Be"

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told BBC Newsnight daily life in Iraq today is not what he hoped it would be when he opted to invade 10 years ago.

He said there had been "significant improvements" but that "it is not nearly what it should be," pointing in particular to on-going terror attacks.

However, he insisted that the situation under Saddam Hussein was far worse.

And he said although the world was not safer than 10 years ago, it was safer than it would be if he had remained.

Be sure to watch Newsnight tonight at 10 30 on BBC 1; Iraq 10 Years On

The Italian Fiasco

Beppo Grillo, Campaigning on the final day of elections

Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani says Italy is in a "dramatic situation" after election results that leave the country in political stalemate.

But Mr Bersani, whose coalition won most seats in parliament, did not identify a preferred partner in government.

He said all political parties should take responsibility for the country.

Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi said earlier fresh elections should be avoided, and called for a period of reflection, which correspondents suggest could mean he is considering a very awkward alliance with his opponents on the centre-left.

Another option could be a coalition with italian comedian Beppo Grillo, advocate for leaving the Euro, gaining 25 per cent of the vote would surely not be appropriate in government?

What is certain that his successful election campaign proves that there is no confidence in Italian politics.

Berlusconi's Back

Unbelievably, in a dramatic turn of events, from facing charges of rape allegations, Berlusconi can restore his position as Italian prime minister if the voting goes his way.

Italian voters, yesterday, faced two daunting prospects. On the right; the prospect of continued austerity with the current government and on the left; Berlusconi.

It seems ridiculous that there is no other man or woman worthy of candidacy in the whole of Italy. 

What is sure is that Europe's third largest economy will need to elect a leader that can change the current situation in Italy of constant recession. 

The results of the elections will become apparent this weekend when the votes are counted.

America: North Korea is a "serious threat"

North Korean military ambitions are a "serious threat" to the US, outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta has said.

In a speech made after Pyongyang carried out its third nuclear test, Mr Panetta likened the North to Iran, describing them as "rogue states".

In New York, the UN Security Council "strongly condemned" the nuclear test.