Entergy Palisades plant leak contained radiation

Federal regulators say a recent steam leak inside an auxiliary building at Entergy Corp.'s Palisades nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan contained low levels of radiation.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says in a statement Tuesday that the leak was contained to the building. The leak forced operators of the plant in Van Buren County's Covert Township to remove it from service Sunday. Repairs are planned. The NRC says it has no immediate safety concerns.

The NRC says the leak contained "very low levels of tritium" and will be treated as radioactive liquid waste.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-06/entergy-palisades-plant-leak-contained-radiation

Benjamin Netanyahu 'ready to press the button' on Iran

"I am of course ready to press the button if necessary," he told Israel's Channel 2 in an investigation aired on Monday evening.

"As long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have the atomic bomb. If there's no other way, Israel is ready to act."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9657827/Benjamin-Netanyahu-ready-to-press-the-button-on-Iran.html

Cameron attacks "ludicrous" EU budget before Merkel talks

Britain's David Cameron attacked "ludicrous" European Union budget plans on Wednesday and played down hopes its leaders can reach a spending deal later this month, stepping up the rhetoric before talks in London with Germany's Angela Merkel.

The British prime minister has threatened to veto the EU's seven-year budget, fuelling a perception among many in Europe that London is casting itself adrift from the 27-nation union.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/eu-budget-merkel-cameron-idUSL5E8M6F9E20121107

Auditors see big problems with EU budget for 18th year in a row...and still they do nothing

OFFICIAL auditors yesterday reported major errors in EU spending last year, amounting to billions of euros and strengthening the hands of politicians in the UK who hope to freeze spending in the budget.

The European Court of Auditors said it had found irregularities affecting four per cent of total spending during 2011, equivalent to around €5.2bn (£4.17bn).

The biggest problems were in outlays on rural development, fisheries and health, the court said in its annual report, which ran to more than 240 pages.

Most errors came from the “misapplication or misunderstanding” of the EU’s complex rules, the auditor said, while a handful of cases of suspected fraud were reported.

http://www.cityam.com/latest-news/auditors-see-big-problems-eu-budget-18th-year-row

Is Greece's future in the eurozone in question?....Again

With the country stuck in its fifth successive year of recession, Greek politicians must on Wednesday night vote on a fresh round of spending cuts and tax hikes totalling 13.5bn euros ($17.3bn; £10.8bn) - the fourth such package since the debt crisis started three years ago.

On Sunday there is a second vote to approve Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' proposed budget for 2013.

The austerity measures include a two-year increase in the retirement age from the current average of 65, salary and pension cuts and another round of tax increases.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20221105

British officials planning talks with Syrian armed groups

Downing Street says Britain is to begin talks with armed Syrian rebels in a bid to unite the opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The announcement came as David Cameron arrived in Jordan on the latest stage of his visit to the Middle East.

Mr Cameron will discuss the fighting in Syria with the King of Jordan and meet refugees from the conflict.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20232491

Nuclear Warning Over Sellafield Waste Storage

Hazardous waste being stored in run-down buildings at Sellafield nuclear plant is posing "intolerable risks to people and the environment", a watchdog has warned.

For more than 50 years, the owners of the Cumbrian nuclear power station have failed to plan how to dispose of radioactive waste, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

The public spending watchdog said some of the older facilities have "deteriorated so much that their contents pose significant risks to people and the environment".

http://news.sky.com/story/1008019/sellafield-nuclear-waste-storage-warning

meow meow: 43 Deaths Linked To legal high Drugs

More than 40 deaths have been linked to a group of now-banned legal highs in 2010 - eight times as many as in the previous year.

The biggest increase related to meow meow, which caused five deaths in 2009 and 29 the following year, the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths report says.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007993/legal-highs-43-deaths-linked-to-drugs

Helen Mann Found Dead At School

Police and paramedics were called to the school, near Stourport-on-Severn, at 4.20pm.

West Mercia Police said: "Officers are investigating the death, which is being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007984/head-teacher-helen-mann-found-dead-at-school

Jimmy Savile 'Was Yorkshire Ripper Suspect'

Jimmy Savile was questioned by detectives investigating the Yorkshire Ripper murders, a senior officer who worked on the inquiry has claimed.

Former West Yorkshire Police detective John Stainthorpe said the disgraced presenter was a suspect in the notorious case more than 30 years ago.

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe has jumped to the defence of Savile, who he claims is innocent and befriended him during visits to Broadmoor high security hospital.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007965/jimmy-savile-was-yorkshire-ripper-suspect

Lawrence Jones kills two colleagues before killing himself at Fresno Chicken Plant

A man who worked at a chicken processing plant has opened fire on colleagues, killing two and wounding two others before taking his own life, authorities said.

Police say they do not know what prompted the attack by Lawrence Jones, but fellow employees said he did not appear to be himself when he arrived for work at Apple Valley Farms in Fresno.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007901/fresno-chicken-plant-shootings-three-dead

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 6th November 2012

Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 23:16:32 UTC
Wednesday, November 07, 2012 at 08:16:32 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
33.078°N, 141.861°E
Depth
33.9 km (21.1 miles)
Region
OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances
192 km (119 miles) E of Hachijo-jima, Japan

PRESIDENT OBAMA WINS 2012 ELECTION, SECURING ANOTHER FOUR YEAR TERM

ROMNEY / RYAN CAMPAIGN ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE, OBAMA VICTORY LIKELY IMMINENT

DEMOCRATS DEFEND HOLD ON SENATE: EXIT POLLS

North Korea's ambassador to UN threatens war on peninsula

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=9999

Israel delivers "final warning" to Syria to cease overlights over the Golan, prepares military response

http://www.debka.com/article/22499/Israel-warns-Damascus-against-Syrian-Golan-overflights

REPUBLICANS DEFEND CONTROL OF CONGRESS, EXIT POLLS SHOW

FOX news website showing Obama 2012 election victory with 42,000,000 votes, versus Romney's 36,000,000 in latest of strange "premature" results releases

Further info:
We're currently investigating this situation. We've been able to see this numbers through a refresh bug on the website, which are already showing the final popular vote results despite most polls still being open. Will update if we find more.

'No to police state, end drone wars!' Buried voices given air at 3rd-party debates

'Austerity pill more deadly than debt disease for Greece'

'Obama a disaster, Romney no different'

4.2 Magnitude Earthquake OAXACA, MEXICO - 6th November 2012

Magnitude M 4.2
Region OAXACA, MEXICO
Date time 2012-11-06 17:32:21.2 UTC
Location 17.43 N ; 97.14 W
Depth 103 km
Distances 11 km SE Asunción, Mexico

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake KEPULAUAN BABAR, INDONESIA - 6th November 2012

Magnitude M 4.3
Region KEPULAUAN BABAR, INDONESIA
Date time 2012-11-06 17:12:21.7 UTC
Location 7.20 S ; 129.83 E
Depth 123 km
Distances 340 km NE Los palos

Russian attack sub detected near East Coast

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine cruised within 200 miles of the East Coast recently in the latest sign Russia is continuing to flex its naval and aerial power against the United States, defense officials said.

The submarine was identified by its NATO designation as a Russian Seirra-2 class submarine believed to be based with Russia’s Northern Fleet. It was the first time that class of Russian submarine had been detected near a U.S. coast, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of anti-submarine warfare efforts.

One defense official said the submarine was believed to have been conducting anti-submarine warfare efforts against U.S. ballistic and cruise missile submarines based at Kings Bay, Georgia.

http://freebeacon.com/russian-subs-skirt-coast/

Election Judge Wears Obama Cap While Checking in Voters in Obama's Chicago Ward

"This photo, taken by a voter this morning at the Ward 4, Precinct 37 polling place (1212 South Plymouth Court, Chicago), shows an election judge checking in voters while wearing an Obama hat," a source writes. "Chicago's 4th ward is home to President Barack Obama."

The voter who took the photo says: "Woman in front of me also given an extra ballot."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/election-judge-wears-obama-cap-while-checking-voters-obamas-chicago-ward_661843.html

GOP - Poll watcher in Detroit threatened with gun, 911 call rejected

Tensions are high all over the country at the polls today. The Michigan Republican Party is alleging that a poll watcher in Detroit on Tuesday morning was threatened with a gun. According to the Michigan GOP the poll watcher's 911 call was rejected. Below is a press release from Michigan Republican Party spokesman Matt Frendeway:

This morning, a legally credentialed poll watcher was threatened and intimidated while attempting to perform his legally allowed duties of observing the election process at precinct polling location 289 in Detroit. The poll watcher, a lawyer, was confronted by a voter in line, who demanded the poll watcher produce his credentials, which he did.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/nov/6/picket-gop-poll-watcher-detroit-threatened-gun-911/

Gorilla suit wearing Man allowed to vote...

Former DNC Chair Howard Dean: The Only Way We Lose Is Through Fraud

Dead And Still Voting: Thousands of dead Californians remain eligible to vote

An NBC Bay Area Investigation has uncovered thousands of California voters who remain on the voter rolls despite having died several years ago.

That discovery prompted several state and Bay Area election officials to re-examine their records, after our investigation brought this issue to light.

NBC Bay Area used the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to cross reference with the California state voter rolls using name, date of birth, and similar zip codes to find matches. We found over 25,000 questionable names still on the state voter rolls.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Dead-and-Still-Voting-177286281.html

Nadine Dorries Suspended Over I'm A Celebrity

Maverick MP Nadine Dorries has been suspended from the Conservative Party after travelling to Australia to take part in TV's I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.

The party announced that new chief whip Sir George Young has withdrawn the whip from the Mid Bedfordshire MP and wants to see her as soon as she returns to Westminster.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007888/nadine-dorries-suspended-over-im-a-celebrity

Bahrain arrests 4 over deadly bombings

Bahraini police have arrested four suspects in connection with a wave of bombings that killed two Asian expatriates in the capital Manama, the official BNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The news agency did not elaborate on when or how the arrests were made.

"An investigation is under way to uncover the circumstances surrounding these terrorist crimes and identify the rest of the criminals and arrest them," BNA quoted public security chief Major-General Tariq al-Hassan as saying.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jbuFWtrY77aFPAGzQNf5svLLh-Ag?docId=CNG.ef98f8ad6038bc04d2a2696b8b2c7df3.5d1

Audit 'seriously undermines credibility' of EU spending

British opposition to Brussels budget increases hardened on Tuesday after the EU's auditor failed to give a clean bill of health to £89 billion of spending "affected by material error".

The European Court of Auditors reported on Tuesday that controls over 86 per cent of the EU budget last year were only "partially effective", a conclusion that has further polarised the battle over European Commission demands for a sharp rise in spending.

Vitor Caldeira, the ECA's chairman, said that auditors had "found too many cases of EU money not hitting the target or being used sub-optimally" at a time when national public spending was being cut and the eurozone was imposing austerity targets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9657673/Audit-seriously-undermines-credibility-of-EU-spending.html

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS - 6th November 2012

Magnitude mb 4.7
Region EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS
Date time 2012-11-06 15:57:56.6 UTC
Location 45.70 N ; 153.99 E
Depth 33 km
Distances 717 km NE Nemuro

Iran to take part in talks on nuclear-free Middle East

Iran said on Tuesday it would go to a proposed international conference in December on creating a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, but there was little hope of progress even if the meeting goes ahead given deep-rooted regional animosities.

Tehran has been embroiled in a long stand-off with world powers over allegations, which it denies, that it is seeking to develop the means to produce nuclear weapons.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/uk-iran-nuclear-meeting-idUKBRE8A50TY20121106

China's Security Ministry Suspected Slain Businessman, Neil Heywood, Was a Spy

China's external intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, suspected a British businessman of being a spy before his murder last year at the hands of a senior politician's wife, according to people with close ties to Chinese state security.

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Heywood had regular meetings with an operative of the British intelligence agency MI6. The newspaper said he was an unpaid informant, providing information on the Bo family’s private affairs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/world/asia/chinas-security-ministry-suspected-neil-heywood-british-businessman-was-a-spy.html

Gunmen assassinate brother of Syrian parliament speaker

Gunmen killed the brother of Syria's parliament speaker as he drove to work in Damascus on Tuesday, the state-run news agency reported, as the international envoy for Syria warned the country could become another Somalia.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11/06/gunmen-assassinate-brother-of-syrian-parliament-speaker/

Obama Poster Hanging in Florida Polling Station

A poster featuring President Obama that read "Change the Atmosphere" was reported to be hanging on a wall at a Florida, polling station.

This photo was reportedly taken by a voter inside precinct 1321-1251 at Jack L McLean Community Center in Tallahassee, FL:

http://mrctv.org/blog/obama-poster-hanging-florida-polling-station

Cyber-Attack On Home Office Site: Man Arrested at his home in Stoke-on-Trent

A man has been arrested in connection with a cyber-attack on the websites of Home Secretary Theresa May and the Home Office, Scotland Yard has said.

The 41-year-old was held at his home in Stoke-on-Trent on suspicion of encouraging a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack on the sites.

He allegedly targeted the Home Office and Theresa May's constituency websites and urged others to take part in the attack online.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007859/man-held-over-cyber-attack-on-home-office-site

4.0 Magnitude Earthquake QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION - 6th November 2012

Magnitude
4.0
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 15:47:13 UTC
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 07:47:13 AM at epicenter
Location
52.717°N, 133.062°W
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION
Distances
255 km (158 miles) SW (227°) from Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION - 6th November 2012

Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 14:27:58 UTC
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 10:27:58 PM at epicenter
Location
10.412°N, 126.881°E
Depth
44.1 km (27.4 miles)
Region
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
Distances
143 km (89 miles) ESE (119°) from Guiuan, Samar, Philippines

Spade-toothed beaked whale: Researchers say they have proven never-seen whale still exists

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/11/06/researchers-say-have-proven-never-seen-whale-still-exists/?intcmp=obnetwork

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake BISMARCK SEA - 6th November 2012

Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 14:20:36 UTC
Wednesday, November 07, 2012 at 12:20:36 AM at epicenter
Location
3.811°S, 148.726°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
BISMARCK SEA
Distances
258 km (160 miles) SE (141°) from Lorengau, Manus Island, PNG

2 dead, 8 wounded after shooting rampage at Fresno, California chicken plant

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/06/2-dead-8-wounded-after-shooting-rampage-at-california-chicken-plant/

GOP officials booted, Black Panthers return -- and Obama at polling site?

A Pennsylvania judge is issuing an order to reinstate Republican election officials across Philadelphia who allegedly were ejected or refused entry by on-site Democratic voting chief judges, GOP officials tell Fox News.

One Republican official claimed that "just under 70" Republican election officials were blocked from Philadelphia polling sites Tuesday morning by Democrats on site. One of them, the official claimed, "was shoved out of the polling place."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/judge-issuing-order-to-reinstate-booted-philadelphia-election-officials/

Israelis on trial in Turkey over Gaza ship deaths

Turkey on Tuesday opened the trial in absentia of former Israeli military commanders charged over the 2010 killings of nine Turks aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship.

The proceedings against four of Israel's most senior retired commanders, including the ex-head of the army, has been dismissed by Israel as a politically motivated "show trial" and threatens to further strain already fraught relations.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-turkey-israel-trial-idUSBRE8A50Z420121106

Canada to allow civil nuclear trade with India

Canadian firms will be able to export uranium and nuclear reactors to India for the first time in almost four decades under an agreement between the two nations, their prime ministers said, but more work is needed to implement the deal.

Once implemented, the agreement will end a ban on nuclear cooperation Canada imposed in 1976 after India secretly exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1974, commonly called the "Smiling Buddha", using material from a Canadian-built reactor in India.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-india-canada-idUSBRE8A50M520121106

Military experts from Africa, the United Nations and Europe prepare for war in Mali

Military experts from Africa, the United Nations and Europe have drawn up preliminary plans to recapture northern Mali from al Qaeda-linked rebels, African officials said on Tuesday.

A source with knowledge of the plan said it will involve a force of more than 4,000 personnel, mostly from West African countries.

"Every military option will be used - ground and air," the source said, asking not to be named.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-mali-crisis-idUSBRE8A50UO20121106

Brent Cross Jewellery Shop Raided by Axe-Wielding Bikers

Four people on three motorbikes - armed with axes and bats - have raided a jewellers at a popular London shopping centre.

The suspects entered Brent Cross Shopping Centre shortly after 10.15am, fleeing with "a quantity of watches and jewellery", according to police.

They drove away in the direction of Hendon Central and the motorbikes were later found abandoned at a nearby golf course.

http://news.sky.com/story/1007724/brent-cross-jewellery-shop-targeted-in-raid

Assad's Exit From Syria 'Could Be Arranged'....And leave the terrorist in Charge?

David Cameron has suggested that Syria's president Bashar al Assad could be allowed safe passage out of the country if it would guarantee an end to the nation's civil war.

In an interview with Al Arabiya television, the Prime Minister said the international community should consider how "to get that man out of the country and to have a safe transition in Syria."

http://news.sky.com/story/1007703/syria-assad-could-leave-says-david-cameron

Missing clip of 60 Minutes filmed day after attack on Libyan embassy reveals Obama did NOT call it 'an act of terrorism'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228247/Missing-clip-60-Minutes-shows-Obama-did-NOT-attack-embassy-Libya-terrorism.html

The footage, released quietly by CBS seven weeks after it was filmed, shows Obama contradicting himself yet again on the attack that left the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans dead.

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION - 6th November 2012

Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 12:13:43 UTC
Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 10:13:43 PM at epicenter
Location
28.684°N, 142.969°E
Depth
33.9 km (21.1 miles)
Region
BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
Distances
191 km (118 miles) NNE of Chichi-shima, Japan

Behind bars, the Pakistani parents who killed their own 15-year-old daughter with acid because she looked at a boy (and say it was her destiny)

Mohammad Zafar and his wife Zaheen (pictured) were arrested by police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for the attack on their daughter Anusha, who died in hospital two days later after suffering horrific acid burns. Police say that the incident took place in a remote village in the southern district of Kotli on October 29.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228586/Killed-eyeing-boy-It-destiny-says-Pakistani-parents-killed-daughter.html

EU health police could ban Chanel No.5 over allergy risk of tree moss used in iconic scent

The scent, which has been in production for more than 90 years, contains traces of a tree moss which features on a new list of ingredients thought to be unsafe.

It is feared that other top brands, including Miss Dior, Guerlain’s Shalimar and Angel by Thierry Mugler — could also fall victim to the measures.

Sylvie Jourdet of the French perfumiers’ society said the industry could be devastated, adding: ‘Chanel No 5 has never done any harm to anyone.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228508/EU-health-police-ban-Chanel-No-5-allergy-risk.html

Lisa Lowndes: 'My luxury holidays and supercars were paid by my £18,000 a year benefits'

Lisa Lowndes, 38, from Greater Manchester, said she had pocketed so much taxpayers money due to her level of income support plus child and housing benefits that she could afford her jet-set lavish lifestyle. She used the claim as part of her defence in court while denying charges she had profited from her husband's motoring scam, in which he charged motorists up to £400 to help them dodge speeding tickets. Between 2007 and 2011, Lowndes received up to £18,000 a year in welfare payments.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228536/Jobless-mother-38-living-benefits-10-luxury-holidays-4-years-fleet-cars.html

US meningitis Outbreak: More health woes for patients affected by the meningitis outbreak

Some patients who developed fungal meningitis in an outbreak linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy are experiencing more health woes, officials said.

Patients are not only developing meningitis, inflammation of the thin tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord; some are also developing an epidural abscess, which is a collection of pus between the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord and the bones of the skull or spine.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/05/health/meningitis-complications/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Cyclone Nilam: India floods kills at least 25 and leaves thousands homeless

The severe weather has caused flooding affecting 5,250 square kilometers (2,000 square miles) of agricultural land in the state of Andhra Pradesh, according to Vinod Kumar, an official at the state's disaster management department.

Cyclone Nilam roared into India's southeastern coast last week, killing at least 15 people in the state of Tamil Nadu and running a large oil tanker aground on the shore near Chennai.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/world/asia/india-floods/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

2 U.S. sailors indicted on charges of raping Japanese woman on Okinawa

apanese prosecutors have indicted two American sailors on charges that they raped a Japanese woman on the island of Okinawa last month, a case that has deepened tensions between local residents and the U.S. military.

The arrest of the two suspects prompted outraged reactions from Japanese officials and resulted in the imposition of a curfew by the U.S. military on its troops in Japan.

The two suspects, both from a base in Fort Worth, Texas, were indicted by Naha District Court on Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from the public affairs office of the U.S. Commander, Naval Forces Japan.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/world/asia/japan-us-rape-allegations/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Putin sacks corruption probe minister

Russia's president fired the country's defense minister Tuesday after his office became embroiled in a controversy involving alleged corrupt property deals, state media reported.

Anatoly Serdyukov, a former businessman, had been in charge of the Defense Ministry since early 2007.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/world/europe/russia-minister-fired/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Romney slams Obama on 'revenge'

Sudan rebels say shell army stronghold in oil state capital

Sudanese rebels said they had shelled the military's headquarters in the main city of the oil-producing South Kordofan state near the border with South Sudan after coming under air and ground attack.

Sudan's army has been fighting SPLM-North rebels in the state since June last year, shortly before South Sudan seceded from Sudan, but the South Kordofan capital Kadugli has been largely isolated from the fighting until the past month.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-sudan-rebels-shelling-idUSBRE8A50K020121106

From Sudan to cyber, secret war with Iran grows

From a suspected Israeli airstrike in Sudan to cyber warfare in the Gulf and a drone shot down over Israel, the largely hidden war between Iran and its foes seems heating up and spreading.

Despite months of speculation, most experts and governments believe the risk of a direct Israeli strike on Tehran's nuclear program stirring regional conflict has eased, at least for now. But all sides, it seems, are finding other ways to fight.

For the US and European powers , the main focus remains on oil export sanctions that are inflicting ever more damage on Iran's economy.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-iran-covert-war-idUSBRE8A50G420121106

Suicide bomber kills 31 at army base near Baghdad

A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-filled car into soldiers outside an army base near Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 31 people and injuring tens more in one of the worst attacks this year on the country's military.

Bombings and attacks have eased sharply since the height of Iraq's sectarian strife in 2006-2007, but al Qaeda's local affiliate and other Sunni Islamist insurgents often target local security forces and Shi'ite Muslims to stoke tensions.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-iraq-violence-idUSBRE8A50CF20121106

Peace envoy fears Somalia fate for Syria

The international envoy for Syria fears the country could turn into a new Somalia unless its crisis is resolved, warning of a scenario in which warlords and militia fill a void left by a collapsed state.

In an interview with the London-based al-Hayat newspaper, veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi played down the risk of sectarian and ethnic partition of Syria, but said: "What I am afraid of is worse ... the collapse of the state and that Syria turns into a new Somalia."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-syria-crisis-brahimi-idUSBRE8A50EI20121106