A dam collapse in northeast China

BEIJING (Reuters) - A dam collapse in northeast China sent a torrent of mud and debris into two nearby villages, killing six and leaving another seven missing, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

The collapse of the dam, holding back waste from iron ore production, in Liaoning province's Shiqiaozi village injured another 17, all of whom were in a stable condition. Rescuers were searching for the missing as 10 bulldozers cleared mud and ore. An 80-metre wide river of debris spilled across fields and into two low-lying villages, destroying cropland and 33 houses. "The priority of our work is to look for the missing and resettle the homeless," Xinhua quoted Yang Jinfang, head of the publicity department in the nearby city of Anshan, as saying. The dam, which Xinhua said belonged to the Dingyang Mining Co. Ltd, an iron ore producer, was supposed to be used to contain waste ore, but over the years there had been a buildup of water. Authorities had sent inspectors to check four similar dams in the area, the report said. China is frequently beset by industrial and environmental disasters. Last week, 31 people were crushed in a landslide in central China, most of them trapped in a long-distance bus that was buried under an avalanche of boulders, earth and mud at the entrance to a railway tunnel being built near the site of the Three Gorges Dam.

Reporting by Lindsay Beck

Indoctrination of Children

- New Animated Film on Hamas TV Focuses on Child Martyrdom Al-Aqsa TV Hamas- October 12, 2007

-Children Show Demonstrates Iranian Perspective of Israel-Palestinian Conflict through a Bird Parable Channel 2 (Iran) - October 5, 2007

- Lebanon War of 2006 and Attack on Israeli Missile Boat in an Animated Iranian Children Film Aired on "Jerusalem Day" Channel 2 (Iran) - October 5, 2007 -

- Hamas-Style Lion King Vanquishes Fatah Rats in an Al-Aqsa TV Animated Film Al-Aqsa TV - August 23, 2007

-Gaza Children Play Fatah-Hamas War Games Al-Arabiya TV (Dubai/Saudi Arabia) - August 10, 2007

-Nahoul the Bee Replaces Farfour - Hamas Mickey Mouse - and Vows to Continue on His Path of Martyrdom and Jihad Al-Iraqiya TV (Iraq), Al-Aqsa TV -Hamas - July 13, 2007

-Farfour, Hamas' Mickey Mouse Character, Is 'Martyred' in the Final Episode of the "Pioneers of Tomorrow" Children Show on Hamas TV Al-Aqsa TV - June 29, 2007

-Graduation Ceremony at the Islamic Association in Gaza on Hamas TV Al-Aqsa TV -May 31, 2007

-"New Order" - An Anti-American Short Movie on the Iranian Bushehr TV - June 21, 2007

-Hamas TV Insists on Continuing Inciting Children TV Show Al-Aqsa TV- May 11, 2007

Lebanon is taking part in peace/ "conspiracy" efforts

Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri headed to the United States Saturday to take part in a US-sponsored Mideast conference to be held next week, his office said. "Lebanon is taking part in the Annapolis meeting on the basis of the Arab consensus," Mitri said before his departure."The Lebanese delegation goes to Annapolis, like other Arab teams.

Now peace efforts are called a conspiracy..We assume people will understand our statements about psychopaths that claims 45 or 49? nations don´t counts..

"If Syria goes, it would have achieved what the others want without achieving anything for itself."

Ahmad Haj Ali, a political analyst and member of Syria's ruling Baath party. "If Syria goes, it would have achieved what the others want without achieving anything for itself. The price will be extremely high," he said. Syrian lawmaker Mohammed Habash said Syria was keeping its options open, but said Syria is not interested in going to Annapolis "to attend a carnival." Habash said Syria is the "spinal cord" of a front that includes Iran, the "resistance" in Iraq, Hezbollah and Hamas. "If Syria goes to such a conference, it will naturally shake this alliance. So do not think for one second that Syria would go just to get a piece of chocolate over there," he said. "It would be political folly."

Mr Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other political leaders

BEIJING (Reuters) - A long-distance bus was buried under an avalanche of boulders, earth and mud at the entrance to a railway tunnel being built in Hubei province near China's massive Three Gorges Dam.

Rescuers had recovered all but one of the bodies by Saturday, four days after the landslide, Xinhua news agency reported. The landslide struck near a tributary of the 660-km (410-mile) Three Gorges Dam reservoir. Reports of the disaster have not speculated on whether the slide could be linked to the dam's rising waters, which are due to peak at 175 meters (574 feet) above sea level next year. But local residents are concerned by what they say has been an increase in landslides and tremors since the water level rose last year, putting pressure on steep brittle slopes in places like Badong.

In September, dam officials warned of potential "environmental catastrophe" unless erosion and geological instability around the reservoir were controlled -- an abrupt departure from bright propaganda about the world's biggest dam. Since then they have repeatedly said those threats are being dealt with and the dam's environment is better than expected.

Reporting by Alan Wheatley and Chris Buckley; editing by John Chalmers

We have not heard yet what exactly caused this landslide, but you shouldn´t save money on such a important issue!

And it´s time so speak up against this bombings which ever are responsible for them. We will not tolerate any sectarian thinking from the Iraqi government! You have a responsible towards all people in your country so it´s time to take a stand and stand up for it! Loud and clear! We do have heard the voice of the Iraqi Prime Minister to his neighbours to respect the sovereignty of Iraq. And we have heard Iraq´s neighbours they do respect Iraq´s sovereignty and have vowed to secure their borders, but as there are people both outside Iraq and inside, working against reconciliation out in the regions, we do want to see progress from the Iraqi government to gather the Sunni representatives who ever they will be and make your unity show clearly towards your people!

Use this time well and make it show which are the really backbone in Iraq!

Priority of the Annapolis conference is for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

At Friday's meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the inclusion of the Syrian track at Annapolis. Nimr Hamad, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that the priority of the Annapolis conference is for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, "without exluding the Syrian and Lebanese angles."

He said there is a proposal to hold a second conference in several months in Moscow to launch Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations. According to Arab diplomats, while Washington's invitation did not specifically call for resumption of negotiations on the Golan, it referred to UN resolutions concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as the 2002 Arab peace initiative, which calls for a return for lands seized in 1967 in return for full peace with Israel. Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said there would be room at Annapolis to talk about the Golan.

A minor earthquake was felt throughout Israel early Saturday.

The quake, which occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m., lasted several seconds and was felt across various cities in central Israel as well as in some of its more northerly towns. The exact level of the quake's intensity was not yet clear. This is the second earthquake to hit Israel in the past week. On Monday, two successive earthquakes were felt across most of the country: the first was measured at 3.0 on the Richter scale and the second at 4.2.

Tel Aviv University scientists recently said that a major earthquake in the region was long overdue. The university's Dr. Shmuel Marco noted that the Syrian-African Rift is a high-risk location for earthquakes. "We have not had any strong ones since 1033, which means another one is long due. It's impossible to know when it will strike, just like you can't predict road accidents."

Source:J-Post

Judy Siegel-Itzkovich contributed to this report.

The Maryland Muslim Council president doesn't think diplomats are the only ones with a role to play in seeking peace.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Anwer Hassan isn't bothered by talk from Washington that little progress is likely at the Mideast peace talks planned for next week. That's because the Maryland Muslim Council president doesn't think diplomats are the only ones with a role to play in seeking peace.

Lebanon's outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country's security

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country's security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight. Lahoud said in a statement read on his behalf that "the dangers of a state of emergency" existed and entrusted "the army with the authority to maintain security."

The president cannot declare a state of emergency without approval from the government, but Lahoud's spokesman said Saniora's government is considered unconstitutional. Saniora's government rejected the announcement. "It has no value and is unconstitutional and consequently it is considered as if it was not issued," said a government spokesman, who asked not to be identified because an official announcement has not yet been made by the prime minister. The spokesman said the constitution stipulates that the Cabinet — not the president — has the authority to declare a state or emergency and to give the army the authority to take over security. "Any decision not issued by the Cabinet has no constitutional value," the spokesman told The Associated Press.

The army command refused to comment on the developments. The military had already been on alert for several days, deploying hundreds of troops in tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps along intersections leading to Beirut and around the downtown area where the parliament building is located. The city was normal throughout the day, but traffic was lighter than usual, and most schools were closed.

But his talk of a "state of emergency" raised already high tempers as both sides enter a new phase of trying to find a new president for the country. Parliament made a final attempt Friday afternoon to convene to vote on a president before Lahoud leaves office. But the opposition, led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, boycotted the session, preventing it from reaching the necessary two-thirds quorum. Leaders from each side were pledging not to take steps to provoke the other — though Lahoud's announcement raises the heat. "We have no choice but to have a consensus," Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, said after the failed session. "It is not in Lebanon's interest that the presidential palace is left empty."

A Gaza businessman, said he prays the conference will ease the stifling closure of Gaza

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Mohammed Naji's son was killed by Israeli soldiers. Ron Kehrmann's daughter died at the hands of a Palestinian suicide bomber. Beyond their grief, the two fathers share something else — both are skeptical next week's Mideast summit called by President Bush in Annapolis, Md., will do anything to end decades of conflict between their two peoples.

"I think it's all a big waste of time," Kehrmann said, saying the leaders on both sides are weak. "This is not the first conference to be held," Naji said. "None of these conferences produced peace."

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said Thursday a Nov. 17-dated draft of a joint document being worked on by Israeli and Palestinians negotiators showed wide gaps on issues that have derailed peace talks in the past — final borders, the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees. Palestinian envoy Saeb Erekat, identified by Haaretz as one of the draft's authors, denied its authenticity, but he acknowledged "serious difficulties" in the negotiations. Israel wouldn't comment on the report, though officials did not dispute its authenticity.

Polls indicate most Israelis and Palestinians have little hope ahead of the Annapolis gathering, which is the first formal attempt to launch peace talks in seven years. More than 4,400 Palestinians and 1,100 Israelis have died in fighting since the last breakdown of talks.

Naji and Kehrmann lost their children in vastly different circumstances — and the deaths cannot be equated. Naji's son, Abdel Moneim, was a militant who was targeted by an Israeli undercover unit in 2004. Kehrmann's daughter Tal was a 17-year-old girl killed four years ago while riding a bus on her way to shop for her high school graduation.

Naji has seven other sons in Israeli prisons, one of whom is expected to be among the roughly 450 Palestinian prisoners to be released in the coming days as a confidence-building measure ahead of the conference. Some 9,000 Palestinians are serving time in Israeli jails.

"I am happy he will be released, but I am sad that others are not," Naji said. For Kehrmann, the prisoner release touches the rawest nerve of all. Although the decision is in keeping with long-standing Israeli policy of not freeing those convicted in deadly attacks, he sees the militants set for release as "potential killers."

Kehrmann said he doesn't trust the Palestinians' intentions and thinks it is a mistake to talk peace before the Palestinian leadership reins in militants and changes its mentality. "We've been killing each other here for 60 years. Let's give it a year or two of not killing and not talking and then we'll see," he said. "I don't see any positive result that could come out" of the Annapolis meeting.

In a poll released this week, 57 percent of Palestinians said they don't believe the conference will lead to progress in peacemaking. The poll, conducted by the independent Near East Consulting firm, surveyed 1,200 people and had a margin of error of three percentage points.

An Israeli poll, conducted in recent days by the Dahaf polling institute, said almost 70 percent of Israelis support holding the conference, but roughly the same percentage believe it won't help move along the peace process. The institute said the survey of 500 people had a 4.5-point margin of error. "I am full of hope that something will come out of it, but I don't believe it. Experience has taught us that nothing comes from these gatherings," said Yehuda Cohen, a 52-year-old Israeli green grocer.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received a boost earlier this week when a group of prominent Israeli intellectuals and former army officers pledged their support for his peace efforts. But the feeling does not appear to be trickling down to the street.

"The conflict is too deep to solve in words. We need deeds," said Daniel Nevo, 24, from Jerusalem. "I don't think that the conflict can be solved in my lifetime."

The Palestinian poll indicated a slight increase in optimism. But many remain skeptical. "I think they will not succeed," said Nidal Khalaf, a 38-year-old restaurant operator in the West Bank city of Nablus. "If they do, I will make a huge party in my restaurant to celebrate, but it seems unlikely."

With Abbas unable to halt Gaza militants firing crude Qassam rockets into Israel almost daily, many Israelis question the point of peace talks. Israel has responded to the Hamas takeover by closing Gaza's borders, allowing in only food and other basic humanitarian supplies.

Fayez Ali, 38, a Gaza businessman, said he prays the conference will ease the stifling closure of Gaza that has devastated his clothing business. "I am full of hope that the conference will change our life," he said. "We live in a hell now and we want to get out from this hell to live again as humans, to have a good economy and to have a good future."

Shaaban Abdel Radi, 44, a Gaza farmer, said he doubts the current leadership could bring about a compromise, but said it was worth a try. "The conference will bring nothing, but it will revive the hope in our hearts," he said. "Hope is all we have."

By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH and ARON HELLER

We are going with seriousness

Al-Faisal told a news conference that an Arab League meeting Friday had decided that Arab countries will attend Annapolis at the level of foreign minister. "I'm not hiding any secret about the Saudi position. We were reluctant until today. And if not for the Arab consensus we felt today, we would not have decided to go," al-Faisal said. "But the kingdom would never stand against an Arab consensus, as long as the Arab position has agreed on attending, the kingdom will walk along with its brothers in one line." But he cautioned, "We are not prepared to take part in a meeting that don't express political positions. We are going with seriousness and we work on the same seriousness and credibility."

Hospitals, medication and water

JERUSALEM - Israel plans to reduce electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip beginning Dec. 2, according to a document submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court — the Jewish state's latest move against the Hamas rulers of the impoverished territory.

China confirms participation

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend a Middle East peace conference in the United States next week, a government spokesman said Thursday. "We're willing to take part in all international efforts that will be conducive to the proper settlement of this issue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. China's decision to take part reflects its more active role recently in world politics and peacemaking and growing commercial and diplomatic ties with the Middle East. "I think the international conference ... has attracted the attention of the international community, including Arab countries, and we all have high expectations and hope substantial results can be achieved," Liu said at a regular ministry briefing.

China has sent peacekeepers on UN missions in Lebanon and Darfur and has used behind-the-scenes diplomacy in dealing with unrest in Myanmar and Sudan. EU: China making 'considerable progress' in toy safety.

Source: J-Post

Scandalous..Something hard in the head or chocolate? Something hard in the head or chocolate?

One could assume a political analyst would have such knowledge to be aware of that events in this time will affect everyone. No one lives in their own corner but are very much affected of what happens in the region. A political analyst should be aware of that and mature enough to take their responsibility. Otherwise they should get themselves another job! Listen to your President in this issue or do something else for a living!

Look at this!

Ahmad Haj Ali, a political analyst and member of Syria's ruling Baath party. "If Syria goes, it would have achieved what the others want without achieving anything for itself. The price will be extremely high," he said. Syrian lawmaker Mohammed Habash said Syria was keeping its options open, but said Syria is not interested in going to Annapolis "to attend a carnival." Habash said Syria is the "spinal cord" of a front that includes Iran, the "resistance" in Iraq, Hezbollah and Hamas. "If Syria goes to such a conference, it will naturally shake this alliance. So do not think for one second that Syria would go just to get a piece of chocolate over there," he said. "It would be political folly."

Yes..Talking about put ones feet in the red colored bloody soil!

We wonder...Is it some genetic wrong..with some people in Syria? That have terrorised for 16 years, dragging the whole region with them in wars, loosing Golan, brainwashing the whole region with occupying the occupied against the occupiers, while occupying a whole country for 29 years, supporting people that works against solutions, breaking human rights laws against Israelis, Palestinians, Kurds, human rights people, Iraqis, Shiites, Sunnis, Lebanese, children, breaking UN resolutions, having their "resistance" in Lebanon, Iraq and in their occupied Gaza, bathing in blood, using "the Palestinian cause" when it serves to terrorise the whole region and the Palestinians. Working against solutions, agreements and peace, using the Palestinians and Islamic-Suicide for decades! And when it counts you talking about carnivals and chocolate!

Where are you from? Have you a black dog behind your back? Can we smell sulphur ? Yes..we can..can´t we? It comes with the wind after the storm..Baath party members..as the "spinal cord" for the big "Shiite ally"! And the Sunni psychopath in Qatar! Yes we already knew that! didn´t we?

So why don´t you just shut your dirty mouth up! It´s smelling and it causes draught all the way from your prostituted Damascus!

AS! We have several carcasses here! Harlots! Satan´s soul pushers! Psychopaths! Murderers! Carrions!

Ban! Ban! Barrier that none can pass, Barrier of the gods, that none may break, Barrier of heaven and earth that none can change, Which no god may annul, Nor god nor man can loose, A snare without escape, set for evil, A net whence none can issue forth, spread for evil. Whether it be evil Spirit, or evil Demon, or evil Ghost, Or evil Devil, or evil God, or evil fiend, Or Hag-demon, or Ghoul, or Robber-sprite, Or Phantom, or Night-wraith, or Handmaid of the Phantom, Or evil Plague, or Fever sickness, or Unclean Disease, Which hath attacked the shining waters of Ea, May the snare of Ea catch it; Or which hath assailed the meal of Nisaba, May the net of Nisaba entrap it; Or which hath broken the barrier, Let not the barrier of the gods, The barrier of heaven and earth, let it go free; Or which reverence not the great gods, May the great gods entrap it, May the great gods curse it; Or which attacketh the house, Into a closed dwelling may they cause it to enter; Or which circleth round about, Into a place without escape may they bring it; Or which is shut in by the house door, Into a house without exit may they cause it to enter; Or that which passeth the door and bolt, With door and bolt, a bar immovable, may they withhold it; Or which bloweth in at the threshold and hinge, Or which forceth a way through bar and latch, Like water may they pour it out, Like a goblet may they dash it in pieces, Like a tile may they break it; Or which passeth over the wall, Its wing may they cut off; Or which lieth in a chamber, Its throat may they cut; Or which looketh in at a side chamber, Its face may they smite; Or which muttereth in a chamber, Its mouth may they shut; Or which roameth loose in an upper chamber, With a basin without opening may they cover it; Or which at dawn is darkened, At dawn to a place of sunrise may they take it.