News on Demonic Islamics around the World

Prophecy News Update
December 22, 2006 Hebraic Bible Prophecy: How a PLO state will bring about Judgement Upon the Nations By Eddie Chumney Eddie Chumney was raised in traditional Sunday Protestant churches since the age of 5. When he was 16, God put a desire in his heart to study Bible prophecy and the end of days. From 1979 - 1988, Eddie studied and learned Bible prophecy from the traditional evangelical point of view. In 1989, Eddie began studying the Biblical Festivals and how they relate to Bible prophecy. From this study, Eddie wrote his first book, Seven Festivals of the Messiah More		In This Issue Homeland Security chief defends Real ID plan China's trade buddy: Corporate America Hillary hires 'faith guru' Va. Parishes Split From Episcopal Church Iran seeks to replace dollar with euro Most people unprepared for disaster Memo to Congress: Judges must get out of our faith Jesus, Mahdi both coming, says Iran's Ahmadinejad Secret police crack down on home-church movement Facing the Giants Actor: Film's True Success Is Its Spiritual Impact Russia churches protest govt demand for faithfuls’ details Military Super Soldier Objective: Less Sleep, More Fight Computers 'could store entire life by 2026' VeriChip (ADSX) Announces 3-Year Deal with iChip Worth $750K Putin inspects Russia's latest missiles Israeli military intel warns of 2-front war in 2007 Bush Plans to Increase Size of Military New Congress Brings With It Religious Firsts U.S. To Defend Space With Military Force U.S. plans naval buildup in Gulf to counter Iran N.J. Gov. to Make Gay Unions Official Government declares war on homeschooling families Jakarta airport debuts iris scanner to speed traveler Truth about the Rapture Gift of: $25 Item: D-TTA01 ABC's of Globalism Gift of: $20 Item: B-AOG01 About Us Become a Partaker Bookstore Contact Us Crusader Magazine Current Gift Offers Donations Lear Financial Media / Radio Meetings Radio Schedule
Homeland Security chief defends Real ID plan WASHINGTON--U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Thursday defended forthcoming national ID cards as vital for security and consistent with privacy rights. Chertoff said one of his agency's top goals next year is to forge ahead with recommendations for the controversial documents established by a federal law called the Real ID Act in May 2005. By 2008, Americans may be required to present such federally approved cards--which must be electronically readable--to travel on an airplane, open a bank account or take advantage of myriad government services such as Social Security. "I think this is an example (of) when security and privacy go hand in hand," the Homeland Security chief said in a half-hour speech at George Washington University here. "It is a win-win for both." The importance of such documents was magnified by an announcement Wednesday, Chertoff said. Federal authorities reported that they had made more than 1,200 arrests related to immigration violations and unmasked criminal organizations stealing and trafficking in genuine birth certificates and Social Security cards belonging to U.S. citizens. China's trade buddy: Corporate America NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. officials left China Friday with little to show after a two-day trade summit. And that's probably just fine with some of the big U.S. companies like General Motors and Caterpillar that already do business there. Its not surprising that retailers such as Wal-Mart (Charts) wouldn't be particularly interested in seeing the Chinese yuan gain in value against the dollar - something U.S. officials have said repeatedly they'd like to see - since that would make the goods the world's biggest retailers buys from China more expensive.font> Hillary hires 'faith guru' WASHINGTON – With Sen. Barack Obama being treated like a political rock star, in part because of the ease with which he talks about his Christian faith, Sen. Hillary Clinton, another likely candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination has hired her own "faith guru." Her pick is Burns Strider, the head of religious outreach for the House Democratic Caucus since 2005, according to the Hotline, the online daily political arm of the National Journal.Strider, originally from Mississippi, was raised a Southern Baptist. He and his family now attend Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Washington, according to the report. Va. Parishes Split From Episcopal Church Two of the most prominent Episcopal parishes in Virginia voted overwhelmingly Sunday to leave The Episcopal Church and join fellow Anglican conservatives forming a rival denomination in the U.S.Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church in Falls Church plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a "satanic attack" on the church. Truro rector Martyn Minns was consecrated a bishop by the Church of Nigeria earlier this year to lead Akinola's Convocation of Anglicans in North America. "This has been our spiritual home, so separating is very hard," Minns said at a news conference announcing the parishes' decision. "There's also the promise of a new day. A burden is being lifted. There are new possibilities breaking through." Virginia Bishop Peter Lee, a centrist, had won praise even from his critics for his extensive outreach to all sides in the conflict. He said Sunday that the votes "had compromised these discussions and have created Nigerian congregations occupying Episcopal churches." Iran seeks to replace dollar with euro TEHRAN (AFP) -Iran has announced it would replace the dollar with the euro in foreign transactions and state-held foreign assets, in an apparent response to mounting US pressure on its banking system. "The government has ordered the central bank to replace the dollar with the euro to limit the problems of the executive organs in commercial transactions," government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham told reporters Monday." We will also employ this change for Iranian assets (in dollars) held abroad." Amid US allegations that Tehran funds militant groups and is seeking a nuclear weapon, reports have suggested the US treasury has put major pressure on European banking giants to halt transactions involving Iranian clients. Most people unprepared for disaster WASHINGTON — Most Americans haven't taken steps to prepare for a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency, according to a new study on preparedness, and only about a third have made plans with family members about how they would communicate with each other during a crisis. More than five years after the September 11 attacks and more than a year after the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes highlighted the need for people to take disaster preparedness seriously, emergency management officials say they are frustrated that so many people remain complacent. "People have this attitude of 'it's not going to affect me' or 'I'll have time to prepare,'" says Robert Palestrant, acting director of emergency preparedness and homeland security for Miami-Dade County. He says the message about preparedness from the city, county and state in Florida has been "consistent and constant" but too many people still don't listen. Memo to Congress: Judges must get out of our faith The Louisiana state Legislature has announced a desire to give a "gift" to the federal judiciary, especially those members who of late have debated the constitutionality of "Merry Christmas" greetings and other acknowledgments that there is, actually, a reason for the season." Whereas, the Louisiana Legislature recognizes that this is the season to give gifts and be charitable and an integral part of the season is the inclusion and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ," state senators said, "Therefore, be it resolved that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to adopt the Constitution Restoration Act, thereby reducing the caseload of our federal courts by removing from their jurisdiction any and all cases involving the acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government as authorized by Article III, Section 2, of the United States Constitution." The issue, according to a retired Louisiana judge who now is a consultant, was approved unanimously in both houses of the Legislature, which was meeting in special session to deal with budgetary issues. Jesus, Mahdi both coming,says Iran's Ahmadinejad In a greeting to the world's Christians for the coming new year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he expects both Jesus and the Shiite messianic figure, Imam Mahdi, to return and "wipe away oppression." "I wish all the Christians a very happy new year and I wish to ask them a question as well," said Ahmadinejad, according to an Iranian Student News Agency report cited by YnetNews.com "My one question from the Christians is: What would Jesus do if he were present in the world today? What would he do before some of the oppressive powers of the world who are in fact residing in Christian countries? Which powers would he revive and which of them would he destroy?" asked the Iranian leader."If Jesus were present today, who would be facing him and who would be following him?" Secret police crack down on home-church movement The multilingual Point Final website has confirmed that eight Christians who are part of an evangelical home-church group in Iran have been arrested. The report said the Iranian Secret Service also investigated the homes of several of the Christians who belong to the churches who emphasize only Jesus in their worship, and of the eight summoned to police headquarters in several cities, six are pastors, and all were arrested. Facing the Giants Actor: Film's True Success Is Its Spiritual Impact (AgapePress) - A cast member of the independent Christian film Facing the Giants says he has been overwhelmed by the runaway success of the movie. Since its release in hundreds of theaters across the U.S. more than two months ago, the church-produced, faith-and-football-themed movie has grossed more than $9.5 million.Facing the Giants was made by the media ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, for $100,000. Tracy Goode, the church's associate director for media, appeared in the film, portraying an assistant coach for a fictitious Christian high school football team whose players struggle, as does their head coach, with issues of fear, failure and apathy, until they discover the spiritual secret of success both in life and on the football field. Russia churches protest govt demand for faithfuls’ details Church leaders in Russia have protested to the government over a law that has revived memories of Soviet persecution by requiring them to supply the names of their worshippers and the contents of weekly sermons.Religious heads said they asked a top Kremlin official this week for exemption from a new measure obliging them to provide the information to a special state agency by April 2007. “This is impossible for us,” Thaddaeus Kondrusiewicz, the Catholic archbishop in Moscow, said in an interview late on Thursday. “We have 27 masses every Sunday in Moscow alone - how can I know how many people took part and what their names were?” Military Super Soldier Objective: Less Sleep, More Fight Driven by the U.S. military's quest for a super soldier who is stronger, faster and can fight for days, researchers across the nation are seeking to challenge the notion of a good night's sleep. One of those is Lexicon Genetics. The Woodlands-based company recently received a grant from the Department of Defense, which has funded studies looking for ways to allow humans to sleep less and perform better far longer. Lexicon's scientists have used genetic engineering techniques to create mice that are more alert and active than normal mice. Computers 'could store entire life by 2026' A device the size of a sugar cube will be able to record and store high resolution video footage of every second of a human life within two decades, experts said yesterday.Researchers said governments and societies must urgently debate the implications of the huge increases in computing power and the growing mass of information being collect VeriChip (ADSX) Announces 3-Year Deal with iChip Worth $750K Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSX) and its subsidiary, VeriChip Corporation, announced today that iChip Corporation has acquired the distribution rights for all VeriChip radio frequency identification (RFID) products in South Africa, including VeriMed for patient identification, Roam Alert for wander prevention, HUGS for infant protection, and ToolHound. Putin inspects Russia's latest missiles MOSCOW - PresidentVladimir Putin on Thursday inspected Russia's top-of-the line intercontinental ballistic missiles, hailing their ability to penetrate prospective missile defenses. Putin flew by helicopter to a forested area near Teikovo, a small town about 150 miles northeast of Moscow, to visit a unit of newly deployed Topol-M missiles mounted on mobile launchers. After watching the new missiles, Putin said their deployment was a "serious step forward in strengthening Russia's defense capability." Israeli military intel warns of 2-front war in 2007 TEL AVIV — Israel's military is bracing for a possible two-front war in the summer of 2007. Officials said the General Staff has received intelligence assessments that Israel could be attacked from both Lebanon and Syria in the north as well as the Palestinian Authority in the south during the summer of 2007. They said the military concluded that Hizbullah and the PA would coordinate missile strikes against Israel. Bush Plans to Increase Size of Military WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, working to recraft his strategy in Iraq, said Tuesday that he plans to increase the size of the U.S. military so it can fight a long-term war against terrorism. In an interview with The Washington Post, Bush said he has asked his new defense chief, Robert Gates, to report back to him with a plan to increase ground forces. The president did not say how many troops might be added, but said he agreed with officials in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill that the current military is being stretched too thin to deal with demands of fighting terrorism. New Congress Brings With It Religious Firsts WASHINGTON -- The new Congress will, for the first time, include a Muslim, two Buddhists, more Jews than Episcopalians, and the highest-ranking Mormon in congressional history. Roman Catholics remain the largest single faith group in Congress, accounting for 29 percent of all members of the House and Senate, followed by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Jews and Episcopalians U.S. To Defend Space With Military Force The United States will use military force in space to protect satellites and other space systems from attack by hostile states or terrorists, the Bush administration's senior arms-control official said yesterday. Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said in a speech outlining a new White House space policy that free access to space is a "vital" U.S. interest and that the Bush administration opposes new agreements that would limit U.S. space defenses. U.S. plans naval buildup in Gulf to counter Iran WASHINGTON - The U.S. Central Command is aggressively planning a naval buildup in the Persian Gulf, including the addition of a second aircraft carrier, in response to a series of aggressive actions by Iran, U.S. military officials told NBC News on Tuesday. The officials pointed to Iran's interference in Iraq — including its support for Shiite militants and shipments of improvised explosive devices into the country — recent military naval exercises in the Gulf, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons. N.J. Gov. to Make Gay Unions Official TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's gay couples are gaining all the rights and responsibilities of marriage under state law as New Jersey moves to become the third in the nation to institute civil unions and the fifth to offer some version of marriage. Gov. Jon S. Corzine planned to sign the civil unions bill on Thursday.When the law takes effect Feb. 19, New Jersey will join Connecticut and Vermont as states that allow civil unions for gay couples. Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry, while California has domestic partnerships that bring full marriage rights. Government declares waron homeschooling families The German government, in a throwback to its National Socialist Workers Party heritage, has declared war on homeschool families, promising to bring those with banned "religious convictions" into alignment with the state regulations. The word comes through the Netz-Bildung Freiheit (Net-Education Freedom) organization in Germany, a coalition of efforts lobbying on behalf of the constitutional right of German parents to have their children's education "conform" to their own religious and philosophical convictions. Jakarta airport debuts iris scanner to speed traveler JAKARTA (Reuters) - Jakarta's busy international airport introduced an iris scanner system on Thursday aimed at business travelers willing to pay around $200 per year to avoid long immigration lines. Under the "Saphire" program, frequent flyers register with the immigration authorities, pay the annual fee, and submit to scans of their left and right eyes, which authorities say are as individual as prints of the fingers or palm.

Today's Politics News: Lawmaker stands firm on Quran criticism Brownback touts conservative values Court says issue ads OK during elections Ca. court: Campaign laws apply to tribes Judge blocks LA school takeover law Bush gives pardons to 16 minor criminals US Muslim lawmaker-elect's plan to use Koran draws fire Van Hollen Prepared for Chairmanship of DCCC Conservative appointed to CPB board Scalia argues for better judicial pay Blair failed to influence Bush, caught in Iraq 'mistake': think-tank

Lawmaker stands firm on Quran criticism Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:44 am PST AP - A congressman said Thursday that he will not retract a letter warning that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims will be elected" and use the Quran to take the oath of office. Full Story

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Brownback touts conservative values Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:44 pm PST AP - Sam Brownback said Thursday that conservative values like opposition to abortion and gay marriage will distinguish him from others vying for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Full Story

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Court says issue ads OK during elections Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:28 pm PST AP - A federal court on Thursday loosened restrictions on corporations, unions and other special interest groups that run political advertising in peak election season. Full Story

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Ca. court: Campaign laws apply to tribes Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:55 pm PST AP - A split California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Indian tribes, some of the state's biggest political donors, are bound by campaign-finance disclosure rules. Full Story

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Judge blocks LA school takeover law Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:26 pm PST AP - A judge on Thursday struck down a law granting Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa partial control of the nation's second-largest school district. Full Story

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Bush gives pardons to 16 minor criminals Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:33 am PST AP - President Bush gave a pre-Christmas gift to 17 minor criminals, but even after adding these pardons and one sentence commutation to his record he remains one of the stingiest presidents for such federal forgiveness. Full Story

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US Muslim lawmaker-elect's plan to use Koran draws fire Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:28 pm PST AFP - A Muslim congressman-elect's plan to use the Koran in his private swearing-in ceremony has outraged some conservatives in the United States, who say it threatens America's traditions. Full Story

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Van Hollen Prepared for Chairmanship of DCCC Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:12 pm PST CQPolitics.com - Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen has a tough act to follow in his new position as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to which he was appointed Tuesday by House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi of California. Full Story

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Conservative appointed to CPB board Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:01 pm PST AP - President Bush has appointed an outspoken conservative television producer to the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Full Story

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Scalia argues for better judicial pay Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:35 am PST AP - The federal judiciary will increasingly fail to attract the best-qualified lawyers if judges' pay doesn't improve, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Wednesday. Full Story

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Blair failed to influence Bush, caught in Iraq 'mistake': think-tank Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:11 pm PST AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair has failed to influence United States President George W Bush's foreign policy, a top foreign affairs think-tank said. Full Story

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Today's Top Stories: Gunmen slay Iraqi intelligence officer U.S. airstrike kills Taliban commander U.N. Security Council to vote on Iran Denver airport reopens, but mess lingers Bono receives honorary knighthood Shuttle's landing ends big year for NASA Yale makes MBA students study abroad Bus riders get gifts from Secret Santa Yosemite's holiday feast marks 80 years Sixers and Suns end long streaks U.S. kills head of Taliban in south Florida homecoming caps shuttle mission Somali Islamists urge Muslims worlwide to join jihad Rape charges dropped in Duke lacrosse case North Korea blames U.S. for impasse Clashes in southern Iraqi city kill 5 Qaeda-backed group offers U.S. safe Iraq exit: Web Sri Lanka's tsunami-hit south on road to recovery Back from Iraq, Gates to report to Bush on findings Security Council to vote on Iran sanctions

Gunmen slay Iraqi intelligence officer Sat, 23 Dec 2006 02:46 am PST AP - An Iraqi military intelligence officer was slain in a drive-by shooting on Saturday south of Baghdad, police said. Full Story

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U.S. airstrike kills Taliban commander Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:47 am PST AP - A top Taliban military commander described as a close associate of Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar was killed in an airstrike this week close to the border with Pakistan, the U.S. military said Saturday. A purported Taliban spokesman denied the claim. Full Story

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U.N. Security Council to vote on Iran Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:33 am PST AP - The U.N. Security Council scheduled a vote Saturday on a resolution that would impose sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, culminating two months of tough negotiations aimed at getting Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment. Full Story

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Denver airport reopens, but mess lingers Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:17 am PST AP - A day after Denver's snowed-in airport reopened, United Airlines' plan to resume a full flight schedule Saturday provided little comfort to those unable to complete their travel plans by Christmas. Full Story

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Bono receives honorary knighthood Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:32 am PST Reuters - Irish rock star and rights campaigner Bono has been given a honorary knighthood, the British Embassy in Dublin said on Saturday. Full Story

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Shuttle's landing ends big year for NASA Sat, 23 Dec 2006 02:43 am PST AP - NASA began 2006 having flown only a single space shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster three years earlier. After Friday's landing of space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts, the U.S. space agency will end the year with three successful shuttle missions under its belt and the resumption of construction on the international space station. Full Story

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Yale makes MBA students study abroad Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:30 am PST AP - For one group of graduate business students at Yale, next month's lessons will take place on pineapple, banana and coffee plantations in Costa Rica. Other Master of Business Administration students are checking out investment prospects in Tanzania and what's sizzling in Singapore. Full Story

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Bus riders get gifts from Secret Santa Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:23 am PST AP - A woman hopped aboard buses, greeted passengers with "Merry Christmas" and handed each an envelope containing a card and a $50 bill before stepping off and repeating the process on another bus. Full Story

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Yosemite's holiday feast marks 80 years Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:00 am PST AP - The winter that Ansel Adams shot one of his most renowned images of Half Dome, Yosemite's iconic granite crest, he nearly gave up photography to become a classical musician. Full Story

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Sixers and Suns end long streaks Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:41 am PST AP - Allen Iverson capped a memorable week with a noteworthy debut and Gilbert Arenas finished off a torrid road trip with another scoring binge that snapped the Phoenix Suns' 15-game winning streak. And Iverson's old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, ended its 12-game skid. Full Story

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U.S. kills head of Taliban in south Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:15 am PST Reuters - U.S. forces said on Saturday they had killed the Taliban's military chief in southern Afghanistan, where the insurgency is at its bloodiest, a man in the top four of the group's leadership and with links to Osama bin Laden. Full Story

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Florida homecoming caps shuttle mission Sat, 23 Dec 2006 12:46 am PST Reuters - Space shuttle Discovery flew through gray Florida skies and safely touched down on a Kennedy Space Center runway at twilight on Friday to cap a 13-day mission to continue construction of the International Space Station. Full Story

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Somali Islamists urge Muslims worlwide to join jihad Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:06 am PST Reuters - Somali Islamists urged foreign Muslim fighters on Saturday to join their "holy war" against Ethiopia after days of heavy fighting between Islamist and pro-government troops. Full Story

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Rape charges dropped in Duke lacrosse case Fri, 22 Dec 2006 03:12 pm PST Reuters - Prosecutors have dropped rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players but they still face accusations of kidnapping and sexual assault, the prosecutors said on Friday. Full Story

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North Korea blames U.S. for impasse Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:40 pm PST Reuters - North Korea's official media on Saturday placed the blame for an impasse in talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program squarely at the feet of the United States. Full Story

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Clashes in southern Iraqi city kill 5 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:51 am PST Reuters - Clashes between Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militiamen loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have left five people dead and wounded 17 others in the usually calm city of Samawa, police sources said on Saturday. Full Story

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Qaeda-backed group offers U.S. safe Iraq exit: Web Fri, 22 Dec 2006 07:23 pm PST Reuters - The leader of an al Qaeda-backed group offered to refrain from attacking U.S. forces if they withdrew from Iraq within a month and left their heavy weapons behind, according to an audio tape posted on the Internet on Friday. Full Story

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Sri Lanka's tsunami-hit south on road to recovery Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:25 pm PST Reuters - Sitting on the porch of her new donated home on Sri Lanka's tsunami-battered south coast, Girli Mangalika has put the disaster behind her and is focusing on starting a new business. Full Story

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Back from Iraq, Gates to report to Bush on findings Sat, 23 Dec 2006 01:46 am PST AFP - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will report to President George W. Bush on his talks with Iraqi leaders, during which he discussed ways to step up US assistance to secure violence-torn Baghdad. Full Story

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Security Council to vote on Iran sanctions Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:26 am PST AFP - The Security Council is expected to approve a slightly amended European draft resolution mandating nuclear-related UN sanctions against Iran. Full Story

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Today's World News: Officials: Saddam still in U.S. custody 10 Taliban militants die in Afghan clash Islamic leader vows to stay in Somalia Israel won't free Palestinian prisoners Death toll in Indonesian floods rises Helpful drunk driver offers aid to German police U.S. forces kill 6 during raids in Iraq Reid seeks better U.S.-Bolivia relations Kabila allies sweep top posts in Congo parliament Doping-tainted Asif in, Shoaib out of South Africa tour Thai court sentences Australian to 34 years for murdering Canadian wife

Officials: Saddam still in U.S. custody Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:39 am PST AP - Saddam Hussein's half brothers visited him in his jail cell and he gave them his will, Iraqi officials said Friday, indicating his execution may be approaching. But they said he had yet to be transferred to Iraqi custody. Full Story

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10 Taliban militants die in Afghan clash Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:41 am PST AP - Fugitive Taliban chief Mullah Omar pledged in a statement released Friday to drive foreign troops out of Afghanistan, as NATO and Afghan forces killed more than 10 of his fighters in the volatile south. Full Story

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Islamic leader vows to stay in Somalia Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:43 am PST AP - The U.N.-backed Somali government on Friday moved swiftly to assert authority over the capital city Islamic fighters abandoned the day before, though the leader of the insurgents vowed they would continue to fight. Full Story

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Israel won't free Palestinian prisoners Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:41 am PST AP - Israel has rebuffed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' request to free Palestinian prisoners ahead of a major Muslim holiday, insisting that Palestinian militants first agree to release a captured Israeli soldier. Full Story

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Death toll in Indonesian floods rises Fri, 29 Dec 2006 01:54 am PST AP - Rescuers reached remote villages, delivering food and medicine Friday to thousands of people displaced by floods and rain-induced landslides that have claimed at least 126 lives on Indonesia's Sumatra island. Full Story

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Helpful drunk driver offers aid to German police Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:43 am PST Reuters - German police arrested a man for drunk driving after he mistook a police spot check for a breakdown and stopped to help. Full Story

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U.S. forces kill 6 during raids in Iraq Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:58 am PST AP - U.S. troops killed six people and destroyed a weapons cache Friday in separate raids in Baghdad and northwest of the Iraqi capital, the U.S. military said. Full Story

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Reid seeks better U.S.-Bolivia relations Thu, 28 Dec 2006 09:20 pm PST AP - A delegation of six U.S. senators led by incoming Majority Leader Harry Reid met Thursday with Bolivian President Evo Morales, seeking to smooth relations with the South American country's left-leaning government. Full Story

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Kabila allies sweep top posts in Congo parliament Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:44 am PST Reuters - An advisor to President Joseph Kabila was named head of the Democratic Republic of Congo's new National Assembly late on Thursday, in a ballot that saw presidential allies sweep key parliamentary posts. Full Story

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Doping-tainted Asif in, Shoaib out of South Africa tour Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:30 am PST AFP - Pakistan's doping-tainted bowling pair had contrasting fortunes as Shoaib Akhtar was left out but fellow paceman Mohammad Asif was included in the Test team for next month's tour of South Africa. Full Story

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Thai court sentences Australian to 34 years for murdering Canadian wife Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:28 am PST Canadian Press - BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A Thai court sentenced an Australian man to 34 years in prison on Thursday for murdering his Canadian wife a year ago. Full Story

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Facing hangman, Saddam offers sacrifice

7:14am Saddam Hussein, due to be hanged within 30 days, says his execution would be a sacrifice for his country. more

- Saddam could hang 'any day'
- Seven missing after chopper sea plunge

Saddam could hang 'any day'

Saddam Hussein could be executed for crimes against humanity within 30 days. more

- President-by-default, Ford dies at 93
- Prosecutor in hot water over evidence

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Saddam to hang 'any day'

2:16pm Iraqi dictator could march to gallows within days after appeals court upholds death sentence. more

- Iraq deaths not in vain: Bush
- British forces braced for Iraqi backlash

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Billions lost in Defence black hole

Defence Department cannot account for inventory and "repairable items" worth $3.9 billion. more

OTHER TOP STORIES

- Eildon's worsening water crisis
- Brown demands sect inquiry
- Quake off Taiwan triggers tsunami alert

WORLD

Special reports

British forces braced for Iraqi backlash

British forces in Iraq are on the alert for a possible backlash following their demolition of a notorious Basra police station. more

- 'Buddha boy' reappears in wilderness
- Islamic fighters retreat from Somalia front

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Pope issues Christmas call

2:32pm Pope Benedict says the image of the baby Jesus born in a manger should remind everyone of the plight of neglected children the world over. more

OTHER TOP STORIES

- Christmas road toll rises to 17
- Iran 'full speed' on uranium plan
- British comedian Charlie Drake dies

WORLD

Special reports

Ethiopia fights rival Somali Islamists

7:24am Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he's waging war against Somalia's Islamists to protect his country's sovereignty. more

- Suicide bomber kills seven Iraqi policemen
- All Iraq options 'on the table'

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Islams Anti-Semetic & Nazi Roots