News, Prophecy and other

[Shammu]

France's political crisis grows as 3 million take to streets

Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Wednesday April 5, 2006
The Guardian

French riot police grapple with a student in Rennes during yesterday's nationwide protests against the country's new employment laws.

Police fought running battles with rioters in central Paris last night as youths attacked officers with bangers, bottles and concrete at the end of a mass demonstration against a youth employment law that has caused a political crisis for Jacques Chirac's ruling party.

Trade unionists and student leaders said up to three million people took to the streets across France yesterday - the second time in eight days that the country has seen its biggest street demonstrations in almost 40 years. The protests, including one by hundreds of thousands of students and scholars who marched through central Paris, were mainly peaceful.

Article continues
They were marked by a carnival atmosphere somewhere between a victory parade for the demonstrators and a funeral march for the "first employment law" as the ruling party prepared to begin negotiating its way out of the crisis.

Police fired teargas in Paris's Place d'Italie last night after groups of students and youths, some from the suburbs, attacked police lines. At Saint-Lazare station, riot police pulled over people disembarking from the suburbs, searching bags and checking identities. At the universities, students vowed to maintain the barricades over the Easter holidays, which begin this weekend.

Demonstrators marched in around 280 French towns and cities. In Rennes, where one university faculty has been blockaded for two months, students blocked railway tracks closing the station for almost an hour and police clashed with demonstrators who had gathered outside the ruling UMP party offices. About 60 students lobbed eggs and other objects at police in the northern city of Lille.

The "easy hire-easy fire" measure at the heart of the protests was pushed through parliament last month, in an attempt by the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, to address France's crippling youth unemployment of 23%. Paradoxically, the law made it easier for businesses to sack workers aged under 26 after two years without explanation. The government believed employers would be quicker to take young workers on if they were spared rigid employment rules that make it difficult to get rid of staff.

After two months of protests in which hundreds of schools and universities have been blockaded, closed or occupied and workers joined in a national strike, Mr Chirac signed the law on Sunday but asked for changes: the probation period for workers would be only one year and employers must give a reason for dismissal. He also ordered talks with unions.

Because the amended law will not come into operation until May, this allows a window in which trade unionists insist the law must be shelved and rewritten.

The measure has become a political battlefield for the potential candidates in next year's presidential election. Mr De Villepin, Mr Chirac's favoured successor, told the national assembly yesterday that he would not "throw in the towel". But a poll to be published in L'Express news weekly tomorrow shows his approval rating has slumped to 28%, one of the steepest monthly falls on record according to the polling company BVA. His approval rating was 48% in January

His rival, the interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, has emerged as a possible broker to end the conflict, charged with bringing unions to the negotiating table. His allies have briefed the press this week that the law is dead and buried, or at least suspended, damaging Mr De Villepin.

France's main unions agreed to talks last night but insisted that they wanted the law withdrawn.

"There is new blood in this movement," the CGT union chief, Bernard Thibault, said yesterday. "I hope these rallies will help us deal the fatal blow."

France's political crisis grows as 3 million take to streets

[Shammu]

New Dinosaur Resembles Large Turkey

By BROCK VERGAKIS
The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; 11:07 PM

SALT LAKE CITY -- Fossils discovered in southern Utah are from a new species of birdlike dinosaur that resembled a 7-foot-tall brightly colored turkey and could run up to 25 mph, scientists said Tuesday.

Fossils of the meat-eater's hand-like claw and foot were found in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near the Arizona border, giving paleontologists reason to believe some dinosaurs known as raptors roamed from Canada to northern New Mexico about 75 million years ago.

Much smaller variations of the dinosaur had been found previously in Montana, South Dakota and the Canadian province of Alberta.

"This is the southernmost occurrence of this group, and it's about two times the size of the ones up north," said Lindsay Zanno, a doctoral student at the University of Utah who named the dinosaur Hagryphus giganteus, or giant four-footed, birdlike god of the Western desert.

The dinosaur had a strong toothless beak, powerful arms and formidable claws that made it capable of eating animals and plants. Large feathers grew on its hind end, giving it a resemblance to a turkey, Zanno said.

Scientists are not sure what purpose the feathers served, but it was not for flying. "It's quite different from modern birds," she said.

Mike Getty, collections manager at the university's Museum of Natural History, found the fossils in 2001. Scientists needed several years to excavate the fossils and publish their findings, he said.

The dinosaur was named in a paper published in December by the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. It was the first new dinosaur from the national monument to receive a name.

"This is the last great, unexplored dinosaur bone yard in the lower 48 states," said Scott Sampson, the museum's chief curator who wrote the journal article with Zanno.

Three other dinosaurs discovered at the monument are expected to be named soon, Sampson said, including a meat-eating tyrannosaur, a horned dinosaur and a duckbilled dinosaur with a 7-foot-long head.

New Dinosaur Resembles Large Turkey

My note

[Soldier4Christ]

New Dinosaur Resembles Large Turkey

So do those that believe any of this garbage.

[Shammu]

So do those that believe any of this garbage.

Yup, I'll agree with that brother..........

[Soldier4Christ]

There is another fossil discovered that scientists claim to be a missing link. I'm not going to post their grabage though. I am waiting to get a creationist scientists point of view on it then I'll post something about it.

[Shammu]

There is another fossil discovered that scientists claim to be a missing link. I'm not going to post their grabage though. I am waiting to get a creationist scientists point of view on it then I'll post something about it.

Oh your talking about the fish?

[Soldier4Christ]

Oh your talking about the fish?

Supposed fish. From pictures that I have seen of the fossil all they have is the head and nothing else. If that is the case then everything they are saying about this creature is all guess work and nothing substantial.

[Shammu]

Supposed fish. From pictures that I have seen of the fossil all they have is the head and nothing else. If that is the case then everything they are saying about this creature is all guess work and nothing substantial.

Thats all I have seen is the head, and yes I say they are going to guess on that it is. Looking at the picture it looks like a gator to me.

[Soldier4Christ]

Thats all I have seen is the head, and yes I say they are going to guess on that it is. Looking at the picture it looks like a gator to me.

It does look similar to a gator but it is not as flat as a gator's. There is an amphibian in existance today commonly called the Mexican Walking Fish (scientific name of Axolotyls). The fossil looks like an oversized version of this walking fish. If this is the case then it does not provide a "missing link" at all. It just shows how desparate the evolutionists have become to "prove" their beliefs.

[Shammu]

It does look similar to a gator but it is not as flat as a gator's. There is an amphibian in existance today commonly called the Mexican Walking Fish (scientific name of Axolotyls). The fossil looks like an oversized version of this walking fish. If this is the case then it does not provide a "missing link" at all. It just shows how desparate the evolutionists have become to "prove" their beliefs.

[Soldier4Christ]

There are over 300 articles on this fossil story and all of them are from the evolutionists point of view. We know where the media stands and that explains it. There should be a story out on it with the truth as soon as a real scientists finally gets to examine the fossil.

[nChrist]

             ROFL!!

Brothers, I think that I want one of those 7 foot turkeys. It probably wouldn't be much good for eating, but I want to train it to be a guard turkey. 

[Shammu]

 Osama, Omar's arrest key to Al-Qaeda, Taliban elimination
Islamabad, April 6, IRNA

Pakistan-US-Al-Qaeda
The United States has said that the arrest or elimination of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar was key to rooting out Al-Qaeda and Taliban from across the world.

The assessment was made by vsiting US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher during an interview with a private television channel here on Thursday.

He said that the campaign to hunt down both terror leaders was not confined to Afghanistan as it was being carried out in many others parts of the globe.

To a question, Boucher said that the US had used its army in Afghanistan, Iraq, in the tsunami-hit areas and in Kuwait and that it had also helped the suffering humanity in different countries.

Regarding the Pak-India peace process, he said that the US would continue facilitating efforts by both countries to take forward the dialogue process.

"A number of confidence-building measures between the two sides is the success story of the peace process," he said.

Regarding the blasphemous cartoon issue, Boucher said that his country was all-out in favor of freedom of expression but would not support any bid aimed at hurting sentiments.

He said that the United Nations had the mandate to pass resolutions to stop blasphemous publications.

To a question, the US diplomat pointed out that during his meeting with the chief election commissioner of Pakistan on Wednesday, he was apprised of the commission's working and the functioning of democratic institutes in the country.

He said that the US would like to see democratic institutions gaining more strength in the country, and described the role of the Election Commission in holding free, fair and transparent elections as very important.

"It is up to the Election Commission and the people of Pakistan to decide about the future course of action through an electoral process," he said in reply to a question.

In reply to a question regarding the disturbances in Balochistan, he said that any one who resorted to bomb blasts and similar acts could be called a terrorist.

However, he called for solutions to the problem through economic and political means.

He said his country would continue cooperation with Pakistan vis-a-vis the Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan proliferation issue and expressed hope more information on his nuclear activities would surface in due course of time.

Dr Khan, regarded as the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, is under detention for his alleged role in nuclear proliferation.

Meanwhile, President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday told the visiting Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Yousaf Bin Alawi that the issue of Iran's nuclear program should be resolved through peaceful means.

Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, therefore it should be settled through dialogue as any other option would run counter-productive and would have a negative impact on Pakistan and other countries in the region, he added.

President Musharraf reiterated that his country would not support any military option against the Islamic Republic.


Osama, Omar's arrest key to Al-Qaeda, Taliban elimination

[Shammu]

 Iran defense breakthrough promising: Syria PM
Damascus, April 6, IRNA

Iran-War Games-Syria
Syrian Premier Muhammad Naji al-Utri here Wednesday lauded as "promising" Iran's scientific, research, and industrial progress, including breakthrough in defense and maritime industries.

Iran has successfully test-fired weapons, including underwater missile, super-modern flying boat, land-to-sea missile, and a powerful torpedo, during its week-long "Great Prophet" war games that started in the Persian Gulf waters Friday.

The Syrian premier, who was talking to Iran's Ambassador to Damascus Mohammad-Hassan Akhtari, put great emphasis on Tehran's absolute right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Utri expressed his satisfaction with the visit of Iran's First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi to Syria in early March to attend a High Joint Committee session.

He termed the outcome of the session as fruitful, adding the two sides signed several documents on expansion of bilateral cooperation.

Pointing to projects Iranian companies are implementing in his country, the premier expressed hope the recent agreements will help boost the Iranian companies' cooperation and investment.

He called for settlement of problems facing the Joint Economic Commission, saying the related ministries have been instructed to solve them.

Akhtari submitted Davoudi's invitation to Utri to pay an official visit to Iran.

The envoy briefed the prime minister on some projects now being implemented in Syria, demanding their speedy implementation according to the Joint Economic Commission agreements.

The volume of the two countries' cooperation in technical, engineering, and industrial fields is estimated at 750 million dollars.

Akhtari and Utri called for further consultations between the two countries under current sensitive conditions in the region, arguing this will help consolidate bilateral relations.

Iran defense breakthrough promising: Syria PM

[Shammu]

 Attempts underway to secure release of Iranian pilgrims: Qomi
Baghdad, April 6, IRNA

Iran-Iraq-Pilgrims
Iranian Charge d'Affaires to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi here on Thursday said efforts are being made to secure the release of eight Iranian pilgrims who were abducted in the Iraqi holy city of Samarra in February.

Unknown gunmen kidnapped 11 Iranians along with their Iraqi driver while on their way to Samarra, north of Baghdad, on February 10.

Three women out of the group were released after they were forced to hand over to their abductors their jewelry and other precious belongings.

The Iranian embassy, through the Iraqi authorities, have seriously been following up the case and have made all-out efforts to secure their release, Qomi told IRNA.

He warned Iranian pilgrims not to risk entering Iraq through illegal means and called on Iranians to avoid travels to Samarra and Kazemein.

He expressed pilgrimages by Iranians to the two holy cities of Samarra and Kazemein would be resumed in the near future when the country's security condition improves.

Iranian pilgrims have repeatedly been warned against travel to the cities of Baghdad and Samarra because of the current situation in these cities, he said, and regretted that despite these warnings pilgrims have risked traveling to the two cities.

According to an agreement signed by the two countries, only 1,500 Iranian pilgrims at the most are allowed to enter Iraq on a daily basis, he informed.

He said pilgrim groups would be allowed to visit only the provinces of Najaf and Karbala considering the state of security prevailing in other provinces of the country.

The abduction of the 11 Iranian pilgrims in Iraq coincided with the release on February 10 of four Iranian nationals earlier abducted and kept in detention for 74 days.

The four nationals were kidnapped near the city of Balad, north of Baghdad, on November 28 while on their way back from the city of Samarra.

One month later, Al-Arabiya television quoted a group introducing itself as the Sad ibn Abi Waqqas battalion as saying in a statement that the Iranian hostages were being held by them.

The four abducted Iranians were released near Balad on February 10.

Attempts underway to secure release of Iranian pilgrims: Qomi