USA - The recent discussion at the state, federal, and even international level about an impending aggressive fall vaccination campaign for H1N1, or swine flu, has many Texas families alarmed that the government may attempt to force them to submit to a vaccine or drug treatment they do not want.
UK - Philip Whyte: Britain could conclude that France and Germany are exploiting the crisis to weaken London as a financial centre.
IRELAND - Pat Cox attacks EU Commissioner for "sweeping, false and entirely groundless" comments on Lisbon Treaty.
WASHINGTON, USA - Regulators on Friday shut down Colonial BancGroup Inc, a big lender in real estate development that marked the biggest US bank failure this year, and a small bank in Pennsylvania. The closures boosted to 74 the number of federally insured banks that have failed in 2009.
USA - Experts who track hate groups across the US are growing increasingly concerned over violent rhetoric targeted at President Obama, especially as the debate over health care intensifies and a pattern of threats emerges.
USA - Students, teachers and local pastors are protesting over a court case involving a northern Florida school principal and an athletic director who are facing criminal charges and up to six months in jail over their offer of a mealtime prayer.
USA - California's acting governor today declared a state of emergency in Santa Cruz County, site of one of two large coastal fires burning out of control and forcing residents to flee their homes.
NIGERIA - The Nigerian central bank has injected 400bn naira ($2.6bn; £1.6bn) into five banks and sacked their managers. The regulator said the banks were undercapitalised and posed a risk to the entire banking system.
UK - A few months ago I witnessed a little miracle: an Anglican friend of mine was received into the Church. It was a miracle because this particular friend had been adamant that he would not become a "Roman", despite his love of traditional Catholic liturgy. There were many factors in his change of heart, but two words explain why he suddenly took the plunge: Pope Benedict.
MIDDLE EAST - Imagine for a moment, if you would, that each year the American president, vice president, Congress and the Senate gathered together to strategize with Christian leaders to discuss how to "introduce Jesus Christ to the world and pave the way for his return."
GERMANY/FRANCE - Europe's largest economy grew by 0.3pc from the first quarter, when it shrank by 3.5pc. Economists had been predicting a 0.2pc decline in Germany. The improvement brings an end to Germany's worst recession since the Second World War.
UK - Britain's Uber-bear is growling again. After predicting a torrid "relief rally" over the early summer, Bob Janjuah at Royal Bank of Scotland is advising clients to take profits in global equity and commodity markets and prepare for another storm as winter nears.
MANILA - A battle pitting Philippine troops against Muslim guerrillas on a remote southern island killed at least 53 people, the military said on Thursday, but analysts said the clash is unlikely to have sidelined the rebels.
USA - In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, the companies - including Kraft Foods Inc, General Mills Inc, Hershey Co and Mars Inc - said there could be a severe shortage of sugar used in chocolate bars, breakfast cereal, cookies, chewing gum and thousands of other products, the paper said.
NEW YORK, USA - US home loans failed at a record pace in July despite ongoing federal and state programs to avoid foreclosures, which have severely strained housing and the economy. Foreclosure activity jumped 7 percent in July from June and 32 percent from a year earlier as one in every 355 households with a loan got a foreclosure filing, RealtyTrac said on Thursday.