EU PARL RATIFIES LISBON TREATY

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON AND STARS

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

A SUCCESFUL HIT LAST NIGHT OF THE SATELLITE IN SPACE.

Mission successful: satellite blown out of sky
Reuters | Thursday, 21 February 2008

A missile from a US Navy warship hit a defunct US spy satellite 133 nautical miles (247km) above the Earth in an attempt to blow apart its tank of toxic fuel, the Pentagon said.It was too soon to tell if the fuel tank had been shattered in the operation over the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon said in a statement, but a senior military source said initial indications suggested that goal had been achieved.The SM-3 missile was fired from the USS Lake Erie in the Pacific at about 10.26pm EST (4.30pm NZT), the Pentagon said in a statement.A network of land, air, sea and space-based sensors confirms that the US military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere, it said.

Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours, the statement said.The senior military source said the missile hit the satellite about three minutes after launch.There's a good indication that the fuel tank was hit because there was an explosion, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.Washington says its aim is to prevent harm to humans from the satellite's tank of hazardous hydrazine fuel. Russia and China have expressed concern, with Moscow suggesting the operation could be used as cover to test a new space weapon.The missile hit the 2270kg, bus-sized satellite as it travelled through space at more than 27,400kmh, the Pentagon said.Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth's atmosphere immediately, it added.Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.During a flight from Washington to Hawaii, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates authorized the Navy to fire the missile, about 10 hours before the operation was carried out, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.Commanders informed him the mission had been a success nine minutes after the satellite was hit, Morrell said.The secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that, Morrell told reporters in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Pentagon has said the stray spacecraft was a test satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, a US intelligence agency, launched in December 2006.It stopped communicating within a few hours of reaching orbit, Pentagon officials have said.Some space experts have questioned the Pentagon's justification for the mission, saying the chances of any part of the satellite causing harm were extremely remote.But Pentagon officials have denied suggestions they wanted to destroy the satellite to prevent part of the classified spacecraft from falling into the hands of rival powers.They have insisted the only concern was that the 1000-pound fuel tank could survive largely intact and release toxic gas.The Pentagon has said the operation would use modified elements of its missile defence system.But officials have sought to avoid presenting this mission as a test for that system, saying hitting a satellite is quite different from trying to shoot down a missile.
The Pentagon said it would provide further information about the operation at a news briefing at 7am EST on Thursday (1am Friday NZT).

Revelation 6:12-17
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

READ THESE VERSES CAREFULLY ITS INTERESTING THAT THERE IS A QUAKE, THEN THE SUN IS BLOCKED OUT AND THE MOON IS BLOOD RED. THE QUAKE COULD BE A NUKE OR SOMETHING GOING OFF, SOME HOW IT BLOCKS OUT THE SUN AND BEING THE MOON IS BLOOD RED IT MIGHT OCCUR WHILE A LUNAR ECLIPSE IS GOING ON. JUST A THOUGHT. AND THEN THE METEORITES FALL TO EARTH.

THIS IS INTERESTING THAT AMERICA SHOOTS A SATELLITE ON THE SAME DAY THAT A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE OCCURS. COULD THIS BE A SIGN OF SPACE WARS SOON OCCURRING AND MISSLES GOING OFF. TIME WILL ONLY TELL.

Total eclipse of the moon
Melissa Mollohan 2/21/08 Section: Features

When the full moon is out, crazy things happen. And on Wednesday, when the full moon was out, a total lunar eclipse occurred. It just so happens that lunar eclipses only happen when there's a full moon out. However, only two or three lunar eclipses happen a year, according to NASA. A lunar eclipse takes place when the moon passes through the Earth's shadows.The moon on Wednesday began to partially eclipse around 8:45 p.m. This stage in the process may have been hard to see. The total eclipse could be seen from 10:01 p.m. until 10:51 p.m., with the new moon coming out just after midnight. The last total lunar eclipse, which occurred last August, lasted 90 minutes before the new moon appeared, NASA said.

It makes [the students] more aware of their surroundings, said Marco Ciocca, associate professor in the department of physics and astronomy. This new moon can range in color from red to orange to gray or to brown, but NASA predicts it will be a bright orange. The new moon will also be moving west to east.According to NASA, the eclipse can be seen from much of North America. This lunar eclipse lasted about three hours and 26 minutes.Watching lunar eclipses is safe. There was no need to wear protective eyewear and no telescope was needed to view the eclipse. NASA suggests getting some binoculars to see the moon more closely and to observe the color better.Although total eclipses of the Moon are of limited scientific value, they are remarkably beautiful events, according to NASA's lunar eclipse Web page. They help to cultivate interest in science and astronomy in children and to provide a unique learning opportunity for families, students and teachers. To the nature lover and naturalist, the lunar eclipse can be appreciated and celebrated as an event which vividly illustrates our place among the planets in the solar system.The next lunar eclipse visible from North America is forecast for December of 2010; however, there will be a solar eclipse in August of this year. Those wanting to see the solar eclipse must wear protective eyewear.
For more information on lunar eclipses, go online to http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html.

EARTH DESTROYED WITH THE EARTH

GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

EARTHQUAKES

MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Tsunami warning cancelled after quake strikes western Indonesia Wed Feb 20, 5:10 AM

WINNIPEG (CBC) - Officials have cancelled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake rocked the coast of western Indonesia Wednesday morning, killing three people.The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which struck under the island of Simeulue off the western coast of Sumatra island, had a 7.6 magnitude.At least 25 others were seriously injured in the quake, which damaged many buldings, said Rustam Pakaya, the head of the Indonesian Health Ministry's disaster centre.Earlier, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said parts of the Sumatran coast closest to the epicentre and India's Andaman and Nicobar island chain were at risk of a possible tsunami. But two hours later, it said sea gauges had not detected any large waves.Indonesia is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.The fault that ruptured Wednesday off the coast of Sumatra is the same where a magnitude-9 quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them on Sumatra.
With files from the Associated Press.

Moderate quake rattles Lebanon, Israel By Stan Goodenough
February 17, 2008

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale originated in southern Lebanon shortly after midday Friday as tens of thousands of Lebanese were marching through the streets of Lebanon calling for Israel's destruction.The quake was felt throughout Israel, rocking buildings along the coastal plain, but causing no damage or injury.According to one report, a hole six foot wide opened on the Temple Mount as a result of the seismic event. Muslim officials, who have been excavating all over the mount without supervision or authority to do so, were quick to accuse Israel of tunneling under the hill.Friday's temblor was the latest in a series of quakes that have struck the region since last November.While Israel is expected to suffer a major earthquake sometime soon, according to experts, lawmakers have frequently decried the lack of readiness for such an event amid dark predictions that a major disaster is waiting to happen.

STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES

LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Snowstorm Hits Jerusalem FEB 20,08

JERUSALEM (AP) — Residents of Jerusalem awoke Tuesday to find their city blanketed with snow. The snowfall disrupted schools, kept most people off the roads and left holy shrines dusted in white.It was the second serious snowstorm to hit the city in three weeks, marking a particularly harsh winter in the usually temperate Holy Land. Weather reports dominated Israeli media Tuesday and TV stations went live from Jerusalem with footage of the snow.Three babies were delivered by ambulance crews because women in labor couldn't make it to the hospital, the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said.Despite the hopes of many children, schools opened Tuesday, albeit several hours late. Still, many students either stayed home or were later sent home by staff.In Jerusalem's Old City, the golden Dome of the Rock — one of Islam's holiest sites — was capped with white. So were the 500-year-old walls and the roofs of the stone houses. Ultra-Orthodox men covered their distinctive black hats with plastic bags to keep them dry.

In the nearby Palestinian town of Ramallah, in the West Bank, school was canceled and the streets were nearly empty. Snow also fell in the Golan Heights and on Mount Hermon, the site of Israel's only ski resort.In Lebanon, snow isolated the country's interior and TV forecasters said many villages and towns at an altitude of 1,100 feet above sea level were blanketed by thick layers of snow. Electricity was disrupted across many parts of the country.In the southern port city of Sidon, the storm caused a landslide at a huge garbage dump known as rubbish mountain, sending an estimated 150 tons of garbage into the sea, according to a statement issued by the Sidon municipality.

Temperature climbs to record level in Charlottetown
Tue Feb 19, 10:19 AM

PRINCE.EDWARD.ISLAND (CBC) - The temperature in Charlottetown Monday inched above the previous record for Feb. 18, which was set in 1981.From what I can tell, Charlottetown Airport, they broke a record, said Jeremy March of Environment Canada.They got up to 8.5 degrees; the old record was 8.4, that was back in '81. The only other place that they keep records in P.E.I. is Summerside but they just fell short of a new record.The temperature in Summerside reached 6.7 C.Monday was far from a record warm day for February. On Feb. 2, 1976, the temperature rose to 13.3 C.

Deep freeze continues in Manitoba
Tue Feb 19, 9:14 AM

WINNIPEG (CBC) - Manitobans are shivering again as yet another cold snap sweeps through the province, the latest in a series of frigid spells that have brought below-normal temperatures and extreme wind chills in 2008.Wind chill warnings were issued across virtually every area of the province Tuesday morning.In Winnipeg, the mercury is expected to climb to only -26 C on Tuesday, with a gusty north wind making it feel like -45 C.In northern Manitoba, colder temperatures and stronger winds were expected to make conditions feel more like -53 C.We do have a saying in the weather business, that cold air wins. And it's won again, said Dave Carlsen, a meteorologist at Environment Canada.The cold is expected to continue for much of the week, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Carlsen said.By the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend, it seems the temperatures are going to rebound up to around normal, and in the super long-range forecast, it doesn't look like things are going to cool down nearly as much, he said.

Normal daytime temperatures in southern Manitoba for this time of year are around -7 C.Beware hypothermia: health officials.The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority recommends that the elderly and very young children stay indoors as much as possible when the weather is extremely cold.While indoors, health officials recommend at least one room be heated to 20 C to prevent hypothermia - especially for babies and seniors - although care should be used with fireplaces, stoves or space heaters to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.When outside, people should wear layers of warm, dry clothing, including hats and gloves, to prevent frostbite and hypothermia, health officials said.Signs of frostbite include numbness, a red-white nose, chin, fingers or forehead, or stiff cheeks. Frostbitten areas should be warmed gradually by wrapping them in warm material or placing them next to warm skin, but should not be rubbed, health officials advise.Signs of hypothermia include stiff muscles, a puffy face, slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering, slowed breathing and mental confusion. Hypothermia requires emergency medical attention.Extremely cold weather has been blamed for several deaths in Manitoba this winter, including a teenager at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, a 29-year-old man in the city of Winnipeg, and two people who froze to death seeking help after their cars got stuck on rural roads.

Flooding closes Bay D'Espoir highway
Tue Feb 19, 1:36 PM

ST..JOHNS (CBC) - Heavy rain made travelling treacherous on some regional highways in western and southern Newfoundland on Tuesday.
The Bay D'Espoir Highway was closed at midday when heavy rain and melting snow swamped the road at the exit to Conne River and Pool's Cove.An official with the Newfoundland and Labrador Transportation Department said the unseasonable melt has been coupled with ice-blocked culverts.Although the road is intact, transportation officials ruled there was too much water on the pavement for safe driving.Meanwhile, parts of Route 460 totalling several hundred metres near Stephenville were covered with water.About 30 centimetres of water had pooled on the road, and heavy rainfall has made a nearby brook overflow its banks.The water is up over the road. [It] doesn't look like it's showing any signs of letting up at this point, Cyril McCarthy, an official with the Transportation Department, said Tuesday.There's just too much water on the road to get through.Motorists travelling between Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula are being advised to use Route 490 instead.About 50 millimetres of rain fell from late Monday to early Tuesday morning in the Port aux Basques area, Environment Canada said. About 35 millimetres of rain was recorded at Stephenville.

Ten dead in flashfloods in Philippines: relief agencies
Tue Feb 19, 8:58 PM

MANILA (AFP) - At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and six are missing after flashfloods hit central Philippine islands, disaster relief agencies said Wednesday.The island of Samar and surrounding areas have been hit by days of heavy rain causing landslides and overflowing rivers, the civil defence office said.
Some 640 people have been evacuated to safety, the office said.Ten people have been killed on Samar and the island of Leyte with a search under way for the missing six, the office and the local Red Cross reported.Several roads in Samar have been left impassable due to the floods and landslides, the office said in a statement.Relief goods have been transported to the affected areas and road clearing operations have begun, the statement added.

Israel faces growing international pressure to change Gaza Strip policy By Barak Ravid FEB 21,08

Ran Koriel, Israel's European Union ambassador, recently warned the Foreign Ministry of a change in EU policy on Hamas, amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its handling of the situation in the Gaza Strip. The government has recently been getting strong signals that both the U.S. and Europe are deeply frustrated by lack of progress in negotiations with the Palestinians. Envoys of the Quartet on the Middle East convened in Berlin on February 11 to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). David Welch, top Middle East aide to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Mark Otte, the European Union peace envoy; UN Middle East envoy Robery Serry; and Russian envoy to the Middle East Sergei Yakovlev took part in the meeting. In the last week, a number of Israeli ambassadors in European capitals sent classified telegrams about the meeting's contents, some of which reached Haaretz. Serry criticized Israel at the outset of the meeting. We are deeply concerned over the situation in Gaza, especially from the humanitarian perspective, he said. We must find a fast solution to this situation.He said that due to Israel's siege, even the UN's teams have difficulty entering and leaving Gaza to give aid.

Welch, who joined the criticism of Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip, said the United States was not comfortable with Israel's approach to Gaza, and presented the American goals regarding the Israelis and Palestinians. First we must not allow the suicide bombing in Dimona and shooting on Sderot to affect the negotiations, he said. It is also important to us that neither the Palestinians in Gaza nor the Israelis in Sderot are hurt. Also, we must continue to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad.Welch added that the Quartet must demand that Israel open the border passes with the Gaza Strip. Otte was even more blunt. Not only is nothing improving on the ground, but Israel's behavior is getting worse, and it's failing to carry out its obligations on the road map, he said. There seem to be no significant progress in the peace process, he said. He noted that Israel had decided to extend by six months the order to shut down PA institutions in East Jerusalem. We must consider a change of policy in everything regarding Gaza, he said. Yakovlev said that Russia believes the Palestinians must once again set up a national unity government, which Israel strongly objects to. Without a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, the Gaza Strip will be a time bomb that will kill the Annapolis process, he said.

Israel had been expecting a demarche from the EU making clear Brussels' disapproval of its actions in the Gaza Strip. A concentrated diplomatic offensive by Israel's ambassadors in Europe managed to stall the initiative for the moment. However, said a source in Jerusalem, Israel is living on borrowed time regarding international legitimacy for what is going on in Gaza.Israel and the United States recently managed to thwart Switzerland's initiative for an international gathering to propose a plan to open the border passes to the Gaza Strip. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner demanded of Defense Minister Ehud Barak in the past two weeks to open the border passes in the Strip. Barak was forced to give in and allow a partial opening of the passes so that cement could be brought into Gaza. Barak heard similar demands during his visit to Turkey about a week ago. He agreed to Turkey's request to enable Turkish humanitarian aid to be brought into Gaza on a one-time basis. In addition to these troubling reports, Ran Koriel sent a sharp telegram to the Foreign Ministry warning of an overall European policy change toward Israel and the PA, which could even lead to a recognition of Hamas. Despite the suspension [of the demarche], note the growing discomfort in Europe over the situation in the Gaza Strip, wrote Koriel. He said that in recent weeks he received reports that the French government was reexamining its attitude toward Hamas. Senior EU officials had been heard denouncing Israel's actions in Gaza, and a number of decisions on the issue had been passed in various European parliaments. This activity is in keeping with the European culture espousing concern for humanitarian issues, Koriel wrote. It is even graver in view of the feeling in Europe that Israel and the Palestinians are not succeeding in changing the situation on the ground and not progressing in the peace talks.

HOARDING OF GOLD AND SILVER

DOCTOR DOCTORIAN FROM ANGEL OF GOD
then the angel said, Financial crisis will come to Asia. I will shake the world.

JAMES 5:1-3
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

REVELATION 18:10,17,19
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

EZEKIEL 7:19
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

REVELATION 13:16-18
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM

FAMINE

REVELATION 6:5-6
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Crude Oil Rises to a Record $100.10 on OPEC Production Outlook By Mark Shenk

Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil rose to a record $100.10 a barrel in New York on speculation OPEC will cut production when it meets next month. Gasoline and heating oil also reached records as investors poured money into energy markets. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, set to meet on March 5, may cut output as winter heating demand wanes, oil ministers from Algeria and Iran said in the past week. Oil also rose as a weakening dollar prompted some traders to invest in commodities as a hedge against inflation. Prices are primarily up because OPEC will more than likely cut production in two weeks, said Richard Chimblo, manager of global business development at Calgary-based Genoil Inc. OPEC is concerned about the outlook for a slowing global economy and demand.
Crude oil for March delivery rose $4.51, or 4.7 percent, to settle at $100.01 a barrel at 2:55 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was a record closing price. Futures reached $100.10, the highest intraday price since trading began in 1983.

Today was the third time oil has reached $100. Oil rose to a then-record $100.09 a barrel in New York on Jan. 3, a day after touching $100 for the first time on militant attacks in Nigeria, Africa's biggest producer. My short-term target is $105 to $110, said Rob Kurzatkowski, a futures analyst at OptionsXpress Holdings Inc., a Chicago-based online brokerage. Prices won't breach $110 because OPEC will back off and give dovish statements if prices rise much further. They don't want prices much higher, destroying demand for their product.Brent crude for April settlement rose $3.65, or 3.9 percent, to close at a record $98.56 a barrel on London's ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract reached an intraday record of $98.70 a barrel today.

OPEC Policy

OPEC, whose members produce more than 40 percent of the world's oil, left output quotas unchanged at a meeting Feb. 1. Oil demand may drop 1.8 million barrels a day in the second quarter amid a U.S. economic slowdown, refinery shutdowns and lower fuel consumption at the end of winter, Chakib Khelil, Algeria's oil minister and president of OPEC, said on Feb. 13. There's been a big flow of capital into the commodity markets, especially energy, over the last 8 to 10 days, said Gene McGillian, an analyst at TFS Energy LLC in Stamford, Connecticut. The energy markets should be full steam ahead. The dollar fell to the lowest level in two weeks versus the euro on speculation the Federal Reserve will keep cutting U.S. interest rates. The dollar fell as low as $1.4757, the weakest since Feb. 5.

Refinery Explosion

Gasoline and heating oil surged after an explosion yesterday shut Alon USA Energy Inc.'s Big Spring, Texas, refinery. The facility can process 70,000 barrels of crude oil a day. Alon said in a statement that its goal is to resume partial operations in about two months. The reaction to the shutdown of such a small refinery shows how nervous people are, McGillian said. Gasoline for March delivery climbed 10.93 cents, or 4.4 percent, to close at a record $2.6031 a gallon in New York. Futures touched $2.61, a record intraday price. The contract, which covers gasoline to be blended with ethanol, known as RBOB, began trading in October 2005. Pump prices are following futures higher. Regular gasoline, averaged nationwide, rose 1.8 cents to $3.032 a gallon yesterday, AAA, the nation's largest motorist organization, said today on its Web site. Prices touched a record $3.227 a gallon on May 24. Heating oil for March delivery rose 11.45 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $2.7614 a gallon in New York, a record close. Futures reached $2.766, the highest intraday price since trading began in 1978. To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Shenk in New York at mshenk1@bloomberg.net.February 19, 2008 16:41 EST

DANIEL 7:23-24
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast(THE EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TR BLOCKS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:(10 NATIONS) and another shall rise after them;(#11 SPAIN) and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(BE HEAD OF 3 KINGS OR NATIONS).

Sweden demands EU role for leaders of future presidency countries 20.02.2008 - 09:08 CET | By Lucia Kubosova

EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt has said the EU should outline a list of co-chairing tasks for leaders of future presidency countries after the new post of EU president is established. Speaking to journalists after his address to the European Parliament on Tuesday (19 February), the Mr Reinfeldt suggested that if there is no role for EU leaders in the future, it could have a negative impact on their engagement with the bloc's agenda.The Czech Republic and Sweden are the two countries which are due to chair the EU in 2009 - just as the new Lisbon treaty is supposed to come into force.Under the new treaty, the bloc is to shift from a rotating six-month presidency to a mixed system of a permanent EU president coordinating top level debates at European level and ministerial sessions chaired by ministers from presidency countries.But according to Mr Reinfeldt, the EU should first discuss how to balance the future division of powers between holders of the new presidency post and other institutions, as well as with the leaders of presidency countries.

Otherwise, said the centre-right leader, a positive role of engaging different players of Europe [in EU-related activities] would be lost in that process.At the moment, there is no list of tasks for prime ministers of rotating presidency countries and we need a discussion on that matter, he noted, suggesting that the debate could take place in the second half of 2009, under his country's EU presidency.

Yes to Turkey, unlike France

Mr Reinfeldt's address to the EU assembly in Strasbourg followed a meeting between parliament President Hans Gert Poettering and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, with France taking on the EU presidency in July.While both France and Sweden highlighted climate change and immigration-related issues as among their top EU presidency priorities, there were sharp differences on further EU enlargement.France is one of the strongest opponents of Turkish EU membership, proposing instead a Mediterranean union of both EU and non-EU states.Mr Reinfeldt, for his part, insisted that enlargement is close to the hearts of the Swedish people, arguing it should not be marred by critical voices from some quarters.Without continuing enlargement, we would run the risk of instability on our own continent. Enlargement is the most important strategic instrument for disseminating the values that European cooperation is founded on, he said. We demolished one wall in Europe. We should not start building a new wall against Turkey or other European countries.

Some criticised the fact that different countries publicly hold very different positions on EU membership hopefuls.You should speak to your colleague Sarkozy about Turkey, said the leader of the Socialists, Martin Schulz.It can't go on like this, with different prime ministers sending different messages to candidate countries, said the German MEP.

20/02/2008 13:04
EP approves Lisbon Treaty

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved the Lisbon treaty reforming the European Union's institutions, despite demands for referendum. The EU legislature voted 525-119, with 29 abstentions, to endorse the treaty which replaces a draft European constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 referendums. A handful of lawmakers dressed in yellow T-shirts brandished banners demanding a referendum on the treaty, which incorporates all the main reforms of the defunct charter. European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom told deputies the treaty signed in December strengthens Europe's democratic legitimacy. But British and Danish sceptics accused EU leaders of denying citizens a say on a text that is very close to the constitution in substance, though not in form.

Only Ireland plans to hold a referendum. All 26 other member states intend to ratify the text by parliamentary procedure. Five countries have completed the process so far. The European Parliament's approval is required as well as the unanimous ratification of member states for the treaty to enter into force. The treaty provides for a long-term president of the European Council of EU leaders, a stronger foreign policy chief, a simpler, more democratic decision-making system and more say for the national and European parliaments. It omits symbols of statehood such as a flag, anthem and motto, and adds opt-out clauses for Britain and Poland from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights and judicial cooperation. This is nothing less than a massive exercise in deceit, said Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party, recalling that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had promised Britons a referendum on the constitution. Speaking for the EU presidency, Slovenian Secretary of State for European Affairs Janez Lenarcic responded: There is nothing wrong with parliamentary ratification. All EU member states are representative parliamentary democracies.European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, a German Christian Democrat, said the assembly represented the people of Europe and told the protesting members: If your parents could see you, they would be ashamed.2008 ireland.comEuropean Parliament.

European Parliament Ratifies Lisbon Treaty Despite Protests
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:FEB 20,08


Two months after the historic meeting in Lisbon, MEPs ratified the reform treaty The European Parliament on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Lisbon Treaty, which reforms the European Union's institutions. There were, however, some protests from Euroskeptics demanding referenda.Parliamentarians endorsed the treaty by 525-115 with 29 abstentions. European Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom told lawmakers that the agreement signed by heads of state and government in the Portuguese capital last December strengthens Europe's democratic legitimacy.All 27 EU member states must individually ratify the wide-ranging text for it to come into effect by next year, as scheduled. But only Ireland is constitutionally bound to put it to a plebiscite. The governments of France, Hungary, Malta, Romania and Slovenia have already approved the document on behalf of their citizens.Euroskeptics accuse the EU leaders of refusing to give citizens a say on a text that is practically identical to the draft European consitution already rejected by French and Dutch voters in referenda in 2005.

The constitution repackaged?

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Eurosceptics are angry that the peoples' voice has been ignored
Like the rejected charter, the treaty provides for a longer-term president and a foreign policy envoy, a simpler, more streamlined decision-making system and more say for the national and European parliaments. It does not include such symbols of statehood as a flag or an anthem. The agreement was painstakingly hammered out over months and includes key policy opt-outs for Britain and Poland from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights and judicial co-operation.This is nothing less than a massive exercise in deceit, said Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party. He reminded parliamentarians that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had promised the British people a referendum on the constitution.

Defence of Parliamentary ratification

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: German conservative MEP wasn't feeling benevolent towards the eurosceptic protesters Slovenian Secretary of State for European Affairs Janez Lenarcic, whose country holds the rotating presidency, responded: There is nothing wrong with parliamentary ratification. All EU member states are representative parliamentary democracies.European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, a German Christian Democrat, said the assembly represented the European people. He told the protesters: If your parents could see you, they would be ashamed.Spanish conservative MEP, Inigo Mendez de Vigo, who was one of the authors of a parliamentary report on the Lisbon Treaty, welcomed the agreement. The treaty is a political solution, a compromise to get us out of the crisis, the impasse. But it also gives the European Union all the instruments to respond to the concerns of the citizens.DW staff (jg)

EU remains split on Kosovo
18.02.2008 - 15:55 CET | By Renata Goldirova

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The question of whether the 27-nation European Union will be able to come up with a unified reaction to the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo currently rests with Spain, as the country is refusing to sign up to a common position drafted by the Slovenian EU presidency.According to a draft document discussed by EU foreign ministers, the council noted that member states can decide, in accordance with national practice and legal norms, to establish their relations with Kosovo as an independent state under international supervision.However, Spain has refused to agree to the text and has instead tabled its own proposal. Cyprus also strongly opposes the current text proposed by the Slovenian EU presidency.The council notes that member states will decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo, reads the Madrid-sponsored paper.

Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said before the ministers' meeting on Monday morning that his country will not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence – made on Sunday (17 February) - as it is not in accordance with international law. The Spanish government has always shown respect for international law, the minister added, pointing to the fact that following the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Socialist government withdrew troops from the country upon its election in 2004. He concluded by saying that should Serbia's territory be split, it should be via an agreement reached between Belgrade and Pristina or via a decision taken by the UN Security Council. Spain, which is to hold parliamentary elections on 9 March, has its own worries about separatist movements in the Basque country and Catalonia. The Spanish draft proposal also says: Kosovo constitutes a sui generis case, which does not set any precedent. The council reiterates the EU's commitment to the principle of territorial integrity of states as enshrined in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.But Madrid's version is also facing opposition. The UK is said to prefer that the EU's position has some reference to Kosovo's status, rather than the more general statement that Spain has drawn up.According to diplomats, if the EU bloc fails to agree on the common position, its is unlikely to see swift recognition by individual member states. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already been cited by AFP as saying Berlin would not decide on Monday whether to give formal recognition. Germany will wait for the EU meeting to put in place a platform that will allow each member to take a position on the declaration of independence.

Text of Kosovo's declaration of independence
The Associated PressPublished: February 17, 2008

Kosovo Declaration of Independence

Convened in an extraordinary meeting on February 17, 2008, in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo,Answering the call of the people to build a society that honors human dignity and affirms the pride and purpose of its citizens,Dedicated to protecting, promoting and honoring the diversity of our people,Reaffirming our wish to become fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family of democracies,

Observing that Kosovo is a special case arising from Yugoslavia's nonconsensual breakup and is not a precedent for any other situation,Recalling the years of strife and violence in Kosovo, that disturbed the conscience of all civilized people,Grateful that in 1999 the world intervened, thereby removing Belgrade's governance over Kosovo and placing Kosovo under United Nations interim administration,Proud that Kosovo has since developed functional, multiethnic institutions of democracy that express freely the will of our citizens,Recalling the years of internationally sponsored negotiations between.Belgrade and Pristina over the question of our future political status,

Regretting that no mutually acceptable status outcome was possible, in spite of the good-faith engagement of our leaders,Confirming that the recommendations of U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari provide Kosovo with a comprehensive framework for its future development and are in line with the highest European standards of human rights and good governance,Determined to see our status resolved in order to give our people clarity about their future, move beyond the conflicts of the past and realize the full democratic potential of our society,Honoring all the men and women who made great sacrifices to build a better future for Kosovo,

We, the democratically elected leaders of our people, hereby declare Kosovo to be an independent and sovereign state. This declaration reflects the will of our people and it is in full accordance with the recommendations of U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement.We declare Kosovo to be a democratic, secular and multiethnic republic, guided by the principles of nondiscrimination and equal protection under the law. We shall protect and promote the rights of all communities in Kosovo and create the conditions necessary for their effective participation in political and decision-making processes.

We accept fully the obligations for Kosovo contained in the Ahtisaari Plan, and welcome the framework it proposes to guide Kosovo in the years ahead. We shall implement in full those obligations including through priority adoption of the legislation included in its Annex XII, particularly those that protect and promote the rights of communities and their members.We shall adopt as soon as possible a Constitution that enshrines our commitment to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all our citizens, particularly as defined by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Constitution shall incorporate all relevant principles of the Ahtisaari Plan and be adopted through a democratic and deliberative process.We welcome the international community's continued support of our democratic development through international presences established in Kosovo on the basis of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999). We invite and welcome an international civilian presence to supervise our implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan, and a European Union-led rule of law mission. We also invite and welcome the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization to retain the leadership role of the international military presence in Kosovo and to implement responsibilities assigned to it under U.N. Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the Ahtisaari Plan, until such time as Kosovo institutions are capable of assuming these responsibilities. We shall cooperate fully with these presences to ensure Kosovo's future peace, prosperity and stability.

6. For reasons of culture, geography and history, we believe our future lies with the European family. We therefore declare our intention to take all steps necessary to facilitate full membership in the European Union as soon as feasible and implement the reforms required for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

7. We express our deep gratitude to the United Nations for the work it has done to help us recover and rebuild from war and build institutions of democracy. We are committed to working constructively with the United Nations as it continues its work in the period ahead.

8. With independence comes the duty of responsible membership in the international community. We accept fully this duty and shall abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, other acts of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the international legal obligations and principles of international comity that mark the relations among states. Kosovo shall have its international borders as set forth in Annex VIII of the Ahtisaari Plan, and shall fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all our neighbors. Kosovo shall also refrain from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

9. We hereby undertake the international obligations of Kosovo, including those concluded on our behalf by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and treaty and other obligations of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to which we are bound as a former constituent part, including the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations. We shall cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. We intend to seek membership in international organizations, in which Kosovo shall seek to contribute to the pursuit of international peace and stability.

10. Kosovo declares its commitment to peace and stability in our region of southeast Europe. Our independence brings to an end the process of Yugoslavia's violent dissolution. While this process has been a painful one, we shall work tirelessly to contribute to a reconciliation that would allow southeast Europe to move beyond the conflicts of our past and forge new links of regional cooperation. We shall therefore work together with our neighbors to advance a common European future.

11. We express, in particular, our desire to establish good relations with all our neighbors, including the Republic of Serbia with whom we have deep historical, commercial and social ties that we seek to develop further in the near future. We shall continue our efforts to contribute to relations of friendship and cooperation with the Republic of Serbia, while promoting reconciliation among our people.

12. We hereby affirm, clearly, specifically, and irrevocably, that Kosovo shall be legally bound to comply with the provisions contained in this Declaration, including, especially, the obligations for it under the Ahtisaari Plan. In all of these matters, we shall act consistent with principles of international law and resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations, including resolution 1244 (1999). We declare publicly that all states are entitled to rely upon this declaration, and appeal to them to extend to us their support and friendship.