brief bits

Snow and sleet are falling on two bushfires burning in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
ABC Radio, Nov 15 THE news report was almost flippant, something that could happen only in Dorothea Mackellar's land of drought and flooding rains. Later that evening, two weeks from summer, Sydney had its coldest night in more than a century.

Pentagon delays chemical weapons disposal
armytimes.com The Pentagon has extended its timeline to destroy its aging chemical weapons arsenal until 2023. the military won't eliminate its stock of deadly nerve gases and skin-blistering agents until 11 years after the 2012 deadline set by the international Chemical Weapons Convention.

Struggling U.S. dollar triggers currency concerns

Globe Insider The sudden weakness of the U.S. dollar began late last week, soon after Chinese officials suggested that holding a lot of dollars might be a losing investment strategy. Investors read that as a signal that the massive trade and financial imbalances between Asia and the U.S. may be about to unwind.

AIDS Set to Become One of Top Three Killers Worldwide

truthout.org Within the next 25 years, AIDS is set to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death worldwide, with estimates that at least 117 million people will die from the disease by 2030, according to a study published online Monday.

Catholics Urge Pope Benedict XVI to Lift Ban on Condoms

truthout.org In recognition of World AIDS Day, Catholics from around the globe are calling on the pope to lift the ban on condoms in order to help stem the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Kissinger to Serve As Papal Adviser?

National Catholic Register Nov 26 Pope Benedict XVI has invited Henry Kissinger, former adviser to Richard Nixon, to be a political consultant and he accepted.