What's happening in the middle east?

[Sundae]

News from the Middle East is still in our broadsheets, it's just not front page.
For example I know a British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan today.

We probably heard more about Iceland than you did in America because it's part of Europe, and so they are effectively our neighbours. Also because we've given them a £100m loan. Also because in some quarters, Dalring is blamed for the run on the Kaupthing bank and effectively setting off this whole chain of events...

The US election is usually about the third item on the news and that's stayed the same.

But people here are worried about putting food on the table, fuel in their cars and keeping warm this winter. If money can just be wiped out, can just disappear, can you be sure you'll get your wages this week, this month? IS your money in the bank safe? Why is the tax payer having to bail out banks when the banks are where the money is kept?

Every day since I moved, I walk past a little local branch of the Halifax (Building Society). At any time between 09.00 and 09.30. This week there has been a queue of approx 10 people waiting for it to open at 09.30. There wasn't last week. I can only assume they are there to draw money out, as a safeguard.

People are scared, and the news bias reflects that.