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The eve of Christmas Eve
When I was a kid, Christmas was just about the biggest deal in the whole wide world.
Most Britons believe religion does more harm than good: poll
An overwhelming number of Britons believe religion does more harm than good while non-believers outnumber believers by nearly two to one, an ICM poll suggested. Eighty-two percent of the 1,006 adults questioned for the left-leaning Guardian newspaper in the run up to Christmas said they saw religion as a cause of division and tension between people compared to 16 percent who disagreed.
Bishop: Bureaucrats are writing Christ out of Christmas
A leading Church of England bishop has launched an outspoken attack on "thoughtless bureaucracy and political correctness" for helping to "write Christ out of Christmas".
Egypt reports two new human cases of bird flu
Two Egyptians were taken to hospital after testing positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the central Nile delta region, the health ministry said. The latest cases brings to 17 the total number of Egyptians infected, including seven who were killed by the virus.
Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle
Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one. Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
California man sets self on fire in anti-religion protest
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A man doused himself with flammable liquid and set himself afire, apparently to protest against a California school district's decision to change the names of winter and spring breaks to Christmas and Easter vacation. :insane:
U.S. CONTINUES TO MOVE WARSHIPS INTO GULF
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. Navy continues to move warships into the Gulf in an effort to counter Iran's growing military might.
U.S. BLOCKS ARMS, TECHNOLOGY TO ISRAEL
vTEL AVIV [MENL] -- The Bush administration has blocked arms and technology transfers to Israel. Israeli and U.S. sources said the State Department has blocked the transfer of weapons and technology to the Jewish state over the last three months. The sources said the halt reflected deteriorating relations between the two countries since the end of the war in Lebanon in August 2006.
head:
Ahmadinejad: Those who backed UN sanctions will soon regret it
A defiant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday dismissed the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program as "a piece of torn paper" that would not deter Iran from its nuclear activities.
Palestinian flags at PM's residence for first time
Olmert gives Abbas a warm welcome Saturday evening, with food and kisses. Palestinians surprised to find Palestinian flag and Israeli flag standing side by side in PM's driveway; the two flags found together on table inside house as well.
Disappearing world: Global warming claims tropical island
Rising seas, caused by global warming, have for the first time washed an inhabited island off the face of the Earth. The obliteration of Lohachara island, in India's part of the Sundarbans where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal, marks the moment when one of the most apocalyptic predictions of environmentalists and climate scientists has started coming true.
Top Official Says Putin Will Retain Influence After His Term Expires
President Vladimir Putin will keep his political influence after he steps down as president in 2008 by taking a key position in parliament or the government, a senior Russian official predicted in comments published Saturday, The Associated Press reports.
2 years after tsunami, normalcy remains elusive
PERALIYA, Sri Lanka - At nightfall, quiet descends quickly on the narrow street that runs through the center of this seaside village. On unpaved side roads, many windows remain dark. In house after newly built house scattered across Peraliya, no one is around to turn on the lights.
Ethiopia launches airstrikes in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopian fighter jets pounded several Somali towns held by a powerful Islamic militia, a sharp escalation in violence that could engulf the volatile Horn of Africa, witnesses and a militia official said.
29 dead, 5 missing in flood in Indonesia
JAKARTA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 29 people have been dead and 5 other missing in flood and landslide in Indonesia's provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra since Friday, Health Ministry official Rustam Pakaya said on Sunday.
U.S. military kills Taliban's key leader
KABUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military said Saturday that it had killed a Taliban's key leader in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. "Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a senior member of the Taliban group was killed on Dec. 19 in Helmand province," said a press release of the U.S. military Saturday.
Wisconsin Residents Without Power After Snow Storm
Milwaukee, WI (AHN) - Wisconsin residents are digging their way out of seven inches of snow. The winter storm has left thousands without power.
Three Earthquakes in Four Days for San Francisco
San Fransisco, CA (AHN) - A third earthquake in four days has struck San Francisco. The 3.5 quake hit the Bay Area Saturday. There were no reports of injuries.
Report: U.S. May Soon Recognize Palestinian State
Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is planning to recognize an independent Palestinian state within provisional borders by the end of 2007, according to a report published at the weekend.
'Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy'
The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
ping:
When I was a kid, Christmas was just about the biggest deal in the whole wide world.
Most Britons believe religion does more harm than good: poll
An overwhelming number of Britons believe religion does more harm than good while non-believers outnumber believers by nearly two to one, an ICM poll suggested. Eighty-two percent of the 1,006 adults questioned for the left-leaning Guardian newspaper in the run up to Christmas said they saw religion as a cause of division and tension between people compared to 16 percent who disagreed.
Bishop: Bureaucrats are writing Christ out of Christmas
A leading Church of England bishop has launched an outspoken attack on "thoughtless bureaucracy and political correctness" for helping to "write Christ out of Christmas".
Egypt reports two new human cases of bird flu
Two Egyptians were taken to hospital after testing positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the central Nile delta region, the health ministry said. The latest cases brings to 17 the total number of Egyptians infected, including seven who were killed by the virus.
Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle
Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one. Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
California man sets self on fire in anti-religion protest
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A man doused himself with flammable liquid and set himself afire, apparently to protest against a California school district's decision to change the names of winter and spring breaks to Christmas and Easter vacation. :insane:
U.S. CONTINUES TO MOVE WARSHIPS INTO GULF
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. Navy continues to move warships into the Gulf in an effort to counter Iran's growing military might.
U.S. BLOCKS ARMS, TECHNOLOGY TO ISRAEL
vTEL AVIV [MENL] -- The Bush administration has blocked arms and technology transfers to Israel. Israeli and U.S. sources said the State Department has blocked the transfer of weapons and technology to the Jewish state over the last three months. The sources said the halt reflected deteriorating relations between the two countries since the end of the war in Lebanon in August 2006.
head: Ahmadinejad: Those who backed UN sanctions will soon regret it
A defiant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday dismissed the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program as "a piece of torn paper" that would not deter Iran from its nuclear activities.
Palestinian flags at PM's residence for first time
Olmert gives Abbas a warm welcome Saturday evening, with food and kisses. Palestinians surprised to find Palestinian flag and Israeli flag standing side by side in PM's driveway; the two flags found together on table inside house as well.
Disappearing world: Global warming claims tropical island
Rising seas, caused by global warming, have for the first time washed an inhabited island off the face of the Earth. The obliteration of Lohachara island, in India's part of the Sundarbans where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal, marks the moment when one of the most apocalyptic predictions of environmentalists and climate scientists has started coming true.
Top Official Says Putin Will Retain Influence After His Term Expires
President Vladimir Putin will keep his political influence after he steps down as president in 2008 by taking a key position in parliament or the government, a senior Russian official predicted in comments published Saturday, The Associated Press reports.
2 years after tsunami, normalcy remains elusive
PERALIYA, Sri Lanka - At nightfall, quiet descends quickly on the narrow street that runs through the center of this seaside village. On unpaved side roads, many windows remain dark. In house after newly built house scattered across Peraliya, no one is around to turn on the lights.
Ethiopia launches airstrikes in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopian fighter jets pounded several Somali towns held by a powerful Islamic militia, a sharp escalation in violence that could engulf the volatile Horn of Africa, witnesses and a militia official said.
29 dead, 5 missing in flood in Indonesia
JAKARTA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 29 people have been dead and 5 other missing in flood and landslide in Indonesia's provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra since Friday, Health Ministry official Rustam Pakaya said on Sunday.
U.S. military kills Taliban's key leader
KABUL, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military said Saturday that it had killed a Taliban's key leader in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. "Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a senior member of the Taliban group was killed on Dec. 19 in Helmand province," said a press release of the U.S. military Saturday.
Wisconsin Residents Without Power After Snow Storm
Milwaukee, WI (AHN) - Wisconsin residents are digging their way out of seven inches of snow. The winter storm has left thousands without power.
Three Earthquakes in Four Days for San Francisco
San Fransisco, CA (AHN) - A third earthquake in four days has struck San Francisco. The 3.5 quake hit the Bay Area Saturday. There were no reports of injuries.
Report: U.S. May Soon Recognize Palestinian State
Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is planning to recognize an independent Palestinian state within provisional borders by the end of 2007, according to a report published at the weekend.
'Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy'
The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
ping: