Typhoon Utor was set to sweep into the central Philippines on Saturday, a day after it forced the government to hastily shelve a gathering of Asian leaders on a resort island south of its projected path. State weather forecasters said the second typhoon to crash into the archipelago in as many weeks would hit Samar island, around 600 km (375 miles) southeast of the capital, Manila, late in the morning. Utor, with gusts of up to 150 km (94 miles) per hour, was upgraded from a tropical storm to a category 1 typhoon, the weakest level, earlier on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I'm in Cebu at the moment, and the weather (as of today) is hardly prohibitive. There's talk that the Philippine security requirements are grossly insufficient, leaving the ASEAN delegates vulnerable. Also, there's another constitutional drama brewing (The "CON ASS"). Shame, this place could do with an economic overhaul, and would do well to come into line with its Asian neighbors through policy change. Let's see what happens in January....
#2
CC3360, It can move in fast. Almost as fast as the Mayor will once the Typhoon hits. He will move fast to secure all the aid, at gunpoint, ans sell it to the needy. Go to the Shangrila hotel to ride it out. They have generators and the beer will stay cold.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/10/2006 9:55 Comments ||
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#4
I wouldn't think so, Shipman. Different vocabulary, seriously different sentence structure. Besides, would a buddy of 49 Pan's be worried about insufficient security being provided?
(SomaliNet) Zimbabwes parliament witnessed some drama when an opposition Member of Parliament accused some members of Zimbabwes government of being gay.
Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, however, did not mention any names when he stood up and accused the leaders of homosexual tendencies.
Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, however, did not mention any names when he stood up and accused the leaders of homosexual tendencies. However, he apologized to the parliament.
When South Africa passed a pro gay law, Zimbabwe did not make any comments. Even the one Member of Parliament who criticized the policy later withdrew his comments, saying he was just joking. "We have no duty to criticise laws passed by another parliament," Emmerson Mnangagwa, the head of Zimbabwes parliament defended the silence of Zimbabwes government on the issue. "In Zimbabwe, we are very clear that men marry women and women get married to men. In Zimbabwe we prohibit marriages of similar sexes," Mnangagwa added.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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#3
"In Zimbabwe, we are very clear that men marry women and women get married to men. In Zimbabwe we prohibit marriages of similar sexes," Mnangagwa added.
That "similar" sex thing has me stumped. So, I can marry women or near women? "Well, your honor. Dude looked like a lady..."
#4
Excalibur - don't be stumped - these a***e holes couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery, even if they were thrown in the vat! Let alone make a sensible statement!
As Cleth rightly pointed out - "That's the least of their problems" - they should concentrate on fixing up the "cock up"! they have made of a stunning country, before stressing about a bunch of "fudge packers" running around!!
At least three Congolese soldiers were killed and about 20 wounded on Saturday when army troops clashed with forces loyal to a renegade general in eastern Congo, U.N. and army officials said.
Major Ajay Dalal, a spokesman for Indian peacekeepers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, said a Congolese army brigade attacked renegade troops loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkunda early on Saturday around the town of Sake. "They did not achieve much success. In fact, they lost some previously occupied positions," Dalal told Reuters.
U.N. military intelligence sources said four army soldiers were killed and 21 wounded. They gave no figures for Nkunda's losses. However, a Congolese army commander said government forces had responded to fire from Nkunda's troops. "We were attacked by the insurgents. They attacked hard but we reacted, we are occupying our normal positions," said Colonel Delphin Kahimbi, deputy commander of government forces in North Kivu.
Earlier this week, officials said 150 rebel troops were killed by U.N. peacekeepers who repulsed an offensive by Nkunda's army toward the North Kivu regional capital, Goma.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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RIYADH - Saudi Arabia called on Gulf Arab leaders meeting in Riyadh on Saturday to set aside their differences to make economic union a reality in the energy-rich region. "Yeah, let's be more like the Y'urp-peons! That's the ticket!"
"But Yer Corpulenceness, ain't we trying to make them more like us?"
Addressing the opening session of a two-day Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit that will assess progress on a planned monetary union by 2010, Saudi Arabias King Abdullah said GCC countries were hampered by reservations and obstacles. We still have much to do before we can say we have achieved complete economic union ... the obstacles are real but we should not lose sight of the dream, he said. Every country has had its reservations ... but united we will be a power that cannot be ignored. Especially when led by the protector of the Two Most Holy Cities in All Islam.
The GCC groups Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Before the start of the summit, a Gulf official told Reuters that Oman has informed the states that it would not join the monetary union in 2010, but could enter at a later stage. They feel they are not going to be ready by 2010 ... Rather than delay the process, they want the other countries to move ahead, and they can join at a later date, said the official. "Let's see if this turkey will fly first."
The six countries have agreed five criteria for European Union-style economic union, including capping budget deficits at 3 percent of gross domestic product, public debt at 60 percent of GDP and inflation at the GCC average plus 2 percent. Interest rates are to be no higher than the average of the lowest three states plus 2 percent and countries must have foreign exchange reserves to cover 4-6 months of imports. Thus tying down the strongest countries to the weakest ones.
The summit is also expected to consider a proposal made last year to limit to six years the stay of expatriate workers -- a symbolic move that would pre-empt any international pressure to improve residents rights by granting them nationality. An estimated 12 million foreigners live in GCC countries and make up more than 80 percent of the population in some cases. Wouldn't do to have Malaysians, Filipinos and most especially Hindoooz becoming citizens on the holy peninsula. Allan wouldn't like that at all.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
So, youse A-raabs ain't includin' the Persians or Jordanians, eh? Guess that lets them know where they stand. Yup, Yup.
#4
Economic union is impossible without following international banking and monetary standards, and having full transparency in government. And in turn, they are impossible outside of representative democratic government.
But the Saudis have a good, basic concept. Comparing Turkey to Germany, Iraq to Poland, and Saudi to France as their core, if a Middle East Common Market could be created, it would rival the EU, and surpass it in many ways.
EFL- Iain Duncan Smith pulls no punches in saying what he thinks is wrong with Britain today. The head of David Cameron's social justice policy unit makes an impassioned case that at the root of nearly all crime and anti-social behaviour is the decline of marriage and the rise of cohabiting couples, which all too readily break down into single mothers and "guesting" fathers.
The former Conservative leader is speaking ahead of the launch of his interim report, "Breakdown Britain", which has come to some uncomfortable conclusions for the new-look Tory party. What Mr Cameron will make of them at a special press conference tomorrow remains to be seen.
But on the face of it there does appear to be a gulf, in tone at least, between the Cameron doctrine of optimism and tolerance and the Duncan Smith report, which concludes that Britain is in the grip of a social collapse brought about by the decline in traditional values. The report paints a picture of a society where rising levels of family breakdown, addiction, welfare dependency, educational failure and personal debt are combining to form a "vicious spiral pulling down millions of the most vulnerable people in the country".
Continued on Page 49
#2
"Master of the Obvious", indeed. The only thing that was left out was that the breakdown of the family stems from the breakdown of morality and social pressure to adhere to moral absolutes. Being an unwed mother is no longer a social stigma. "Sleeping around" is expected, not frowned upon.
When Europe killed the Church, they also killed any moral anchor that their citizens might have had. We're beginning to reap the problems that caused. It won't get better until people return to some moral base. It'll either be a rebirth of the Judeo-Christian moral base, or mass conversions and the destruction of Islam. No manmade "morality" will stand inspection. The next 30 years or so are going to be "interesting".
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/10/2006 21:15 Comments ||
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News of the World, salt required.
TWO detective constables were face an agonising ordeal after dramatically testing positive for polonium-210. Both the Scotland Yard officers have been working on the Alexander Litvinenko case for the last two weeks.
One was the Litvinenko's Family Liaison Officer. He spent time with Litvinenko, below, in hospital when he first became ill. It was not known then that the former Russian agent had been poisoned with the radioactive material. He has also been with Litvinenko's wife Marina who has also tested positive along with other relatives.
It is believed the second detective was contaminated when he carried several pieces of evidence from the Litvinenko home. He was taking it to a police van to be sent for forensic testing.
The pair have been put on sick leave on full pay.
A source said: "The two officers are terrified and upset. ... They have been told that as a result of being infected the chance of them contracting cancer has been increased, albeit by a small amount.
"But that is still a pretty devastating thing to be told. The families will now also be tested."
Yard bosses are said to be furious that the Health Protection Agency did not give officers on the case training or tell them what to wear during the probe. The source said: "There is some disquiet. They feel the HPA have not got a strong grip on what the risks are. The advice is changing and they do not have total confidence in what they are told."
In a statement Scotland Yard last night confirmed two officers had been contaminated. It said 26 officers were tested, adding: "Two samples showed small traces of polonium."
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/10/2006 00:19 ||
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Drudge's headline says "Polonium: Two Cops Infected."
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet died at 91, one week after suffering a heart attack. The ailing former strongman was rushed to the hospital last Sunday while under house arrest in connection with human rights charges during his 1973-1990 regime.
An angioplasty cleared a blocked artery that same day, and hospital officials had said he appeared to be improving before they announced his death Sunday. Stable but slowly deteriorating, eh?
#2
Remember Pinochet fondly, because he smote the hell out of the Communists brought in by Allende to do to Chile what Castro had done to Cuba. And that ended the "domino theory" for South America that the Soviets had long tried to foment.
Ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973-1990 and spent his old age fighting human rights, fraud and corruption charges, died on Sunday a week after suffering a heart attack, Chilean television reported. He was 91.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 12:58 ||
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Expect plenty of aticles lamnting he died unpunished. When Castro will die expect pleeeenty of articles laudating him despite the fact he has killed AT THE VERY LEAST six times more people than Pinochet and that without counting the collateral dead caused by Castro running Cuban economy into the ground.
#4
"at the very least six times more people than Pinochet"
Try 30 times more. The problem with Pinochet was he sent too many people into exile instead of killing them. This left them alive to testify against him.
(Unlike the Argentinian Generals who would wipe out entire families . . . and were never prosecuted as a result.)
Al
Posted by: frozen al ||
12/10/2006 15:52 Comments ||
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#6
No, no fat lady.
On the whole, he was sucessful and did the right thing by his country, in my opinion.
The Internationalistas are pissed just because he beat them at their own game. Beat them like a drum. That, and he sided with the Eeevil Amurrikkkans during the cold war.
From what I have read, Allende's death spared Chile from Cuber's fate. Allende was a Marxist people! All of you here at the 'burg know perfectly well what happens when the Marxists/Socialists/Tranzis get in charge.
And to think, the same bunch that wants to bomb the snot out of the muzzies whine about a few lefty poli-sci types getting shot!
Posted by: N guard ||
12/10/2006 16:20 Comments ||
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#7
Gen. Pinochet's so-called "reign of terror" consisted of wiping out about 3,000 communists and their allies. Most of them, about 2,000, were killed within the first few months of his regime. Were their liberal dissidents among them? Yes, invariably and tragically there were a few not deserving of the fate they met.
He prevented a Marxist-Leninist ally of the Soviets and Fidel Castro from strenghtening his strangle-hold on Chile.
Gen. Pincochet allowed free market ideology and practice to flourish in Chile, and as a result, it retains Latin America's most dynamic as well as fastest growing economy.
The dictator stepped down from power in 1990, ending a reign of 17 years. What came next is one of Latin America's most viable and successful democratic systems.
Compare Pinochet to Fidel. The Cuban dictator came to power in January 1, 1959 and, despite promises of eventual democratic elections, held unto power until a recent bout with what appears to be intestinal cancer has rendered him hospital and bed ridden since August of 2006.
During Castro's nearly 47 years of tyranny, an estimated 40,000 Cubans have been executed, with about 15,000 killed during the Revolution's first few years. Another estimated 110,000 have died trying to flee the island workers' paradise. Cuban losses in overseas military adventures -- Angola and Ethiopia -- are said to number about 12,000. That's at least 162,000 violent and/or avoidable deaths. And these are said to be low-ball figures. Some place the number closer to 200,000.
Lastly, where's there any indication that Cuba is prepared to move toward a representative democracy supplemented with an independent juidiciary, a free press, and a citizenry protected by Constitutional freedoms?
#9
If you a leftwing or third world dictator you get to die peacefully even if you are in exile, but save a country from communism and deliver a stable prosperous democracy, the Left will hound you to the grave.
The un-Islamic Protection of Women Act will feature heavily in the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amals election campaign and mass contact movement, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Saturday.
We are going to the court of masses, the MMA general-secretary told reporters.
We are going to the court of masses, the MMA general-secretary told reporters after his address to a partisan seminar on the legislation in the Zubair Mir Hall of the Peshawar Press Club. Last time, the people voted for the MMA because of anti-US feelings and they will defeat Gen Musharraf in next years elections by voting for the MMA again, Maulana Fazl said to shouts of Allah-o-Akbar and Inshallah.
He said the MMA was not seeking the higher judiciarys interpretation of the law because never has a court in this country ruled against a general.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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Kufr you ask, do I know Dolly Parton?
I tell you this cannot be a serious question. For am I not having the towel? Her Breezes are allans blessing. Like this! Infidel! This is off the record
Troops and Tiger rebels traded artillery and mortar bomb attacks in northeastern Sri Lanka, killing at least four people on Saturday, a day after a Norwegian peace attempt failed, officials said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said four civilians were killed and another 20 wounded in military attacks on the rebel-held Vakarai area. Sri Lankan military fired artillery shells that fell in front of the Pammivedduvan school refugee camp, killing four civilians and injuring more than 10, the Tigers said in a statement.
It said another 10 civilians were wounded in a separate attack on the Patchenai school, which had been converted into refugee camp. Hundreds of civilians were unable to leave the area because of the sporadic artillery attacks, a military official in the area said by telephone.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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COLOMBO - At least 45 people, including 15 civilians, were killed in heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers in northeastern Sri Lanka on Saturday, the guerrillas said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they killed at least 30 Sri Lankan troops and recovered the bodies of five during heavy fighting in Trincomalee district.
We have killed 30 Sri Lankan soldiers, including two officers and recovered five bodies, LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan told AFP. Shelling by security forces have also killed 15 civilians. Many more are injured. He said seven Tiger rebels were wounded in the long-range attacks.
There was no immediate reaction from the military to the rebel claims, but the defence ministry said six security personnel were wounded in the clashes.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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TEHERAN - Iran will launch a women-only taxi company in Teheran aimed at women who feel uncomfortable riding in close proximity with members of the opposite sex, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
The Ladies Safe Trips taxi company, due to open for business in the next few weeks, will be the first such private sector firm in the capital. Similar taxi lines have been operating in some provincial cities for several years.
The company will only employ female drivers who will wear uniforms and must be married, the Teheran-e Emrouz newspaper said.
Just wouldn't do for men and those sultry women to be crammed together in a taxi. Why a man might touch the soft, tender flesh, those heavenly hips and .. those, those .. things on their chests .. and a man might .. oh, oh, I have to go shoot off ... my gun ... yes my gun ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/10/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I thought women couldn't drive in Iran.
And why isn't it safe to ride in a taxi with a guy?
#2
I guess this means that even with all their tunneling expertise, there's never going to be subways in Mullahland. All that close squeezing would set the male population into vapors.
#4
Gorb, they can. It's Saudi Arabia that prohibits women driving. I'm guessing the women are uncomfortable because the State makes them that way.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
12/10/2006 11:02 Comments ||
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#5
The Ladies Safe Trips . . . and one must ask, "safe from what and whom?" It's a sad world when you can't even trust your taxi driver or fellow passengers from ACCOSTING you. Good grief.
Ah. Thanks. I saw a gal in a burqa get behind the wheel of a driver's training car once in the US. She sunk down as low as she could in her seat and readjusted her veil so nobody could see her. I doubt she was even aware of it. I wanted to go over and talk a little sense into her head, but of course I didn't. Hopefully she's figured it all out by now. I chuckle every time I think about it! :-) Must have been from SA.
#8
Were their liberal dissidents among them? Yes, invariably and tragically there were a few not deserving of the fate they met.
Nah Gorb, you must not have seen the Saudi Driver's Periscope! Allows the female driver to hide from the Muttawa and position herself to service a male passenger, so long as he is a relation. Allan Akbar!
Ah. Thanks. I saw a gal in a burqa get behind the wheel of a driver's training car once in the US. She sunk down as low as she could in her seat and readjusted her veil so nobody could see her. I doubt she was even aware of it. I wanted to go over and talk a little sense into her head, but of course I didn't. Hopefully she's figured it all out by now. I chuckle every time I think about it! :-) Must have been from SA.
Posted by gorb 2006-12-10 17:00||
Nah Gorb, you must not have seen the Saudi Driver's Periscope! Allows the female driver to hide from the Muttawa and position herself to service a male passenger, so long as he is a relation. Allan Akbar!
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
(SomaliNet) Zimbabwes parliament witnessed some drama when an opposition Member of Parliament accused some members of Zimbabwes government of being gay. 
At least three Congolese soldiers were killed and about 20 wounded on Saturday when army troops clashed with forces loyal to a renegade general in eastern Congo, U.N. and army officials said.
RIYADH - Saudi Arabia called on Gulf Arab leaders meeting in Riyadh on Saturday to set aside their differences to make economic union a reality in the energy-rich region.
EFL- Iain Duncan Smith pulls no punches in saying what he thinks is wrong with Britain today. The head of David Cameron's social justice policy unit makes an impassioned case that at the root of nearly all crime and anti-social behaviour is the decline of marriage and the rise of cohabiting couples, which all too readily break down into single mothers and "guesting" fathers.
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet died at 91, one week after suffering a heart attack. The ailing former strongman was rushed to the hospital last Sunday while under house arrest in connection with human rights charges during his 1973-1990 regime. 
The un-Islamic Protection of Women Act will feature heavily in the 
Troops and Tiger rebels traded artillery and mortar bomb attacks in northeastern Sri Lanka, killing at least four people on Saturday, a day after a Norwegian peace attempt failed, officials said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said four civilians were killed and another 20 wounded in military attacks on the rebel-held Vakarai area. Sri Lankan military fired artillery shells that fell in front of the Pammivedduvan school refugee camp, killing four civilians and injuring more than 10, the Tigers said in a statement.
COLOMBO - At least 45 people, including 15 civilians, were killed in heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers in northeastern Sri Lanka on Saturday, the guerrillas said. The rebel 
TEHERAN - Iran will launch a women-only taxi company in Teheran aimed at women who feel uncomfortable riding in close proximity with members of the opposite sex, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
