IRAN SANCTIONS 15 TO 0

1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS. 2-Small earthquake rattles S.F. Bay Area. 3-Moderate earthquake hits Andaman islands. 4-Malaysia floods kill 7, displace 90,000. 5-Stormy holiday ahead. 6-Remembering the true meaning of Christmas. 7-Abbas and Olmert meet in Jerusalem. 8-UN passes Iran nuclear sanctions.

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.

WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS (USGS)

Update time = Sun Dec 24 12:01 AM EDT

DEC 24,06 NO QUAKES YET

DEC 23,06
MAP 5.7 SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
MAP 2.8 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.5 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.5 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 5.2 NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
MAP 2.5 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 3.7 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.5 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.5 SOUTH OF ALASKA
MAP 2.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 2.7 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Small earthquake rattles S.F. Bay Area DEC 23,06

BERKELEY, Calif. - A third small earthquake in four days rattled the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, but there were no reports of injury or damage.The temblor that struck at 9:21 a.m. had a preliminary magnitude of 3.5 and a depth of about 6.1 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.The epicenter was about 2 miles from Berkeley and 3 miles from Emeryville, across the bay from San Francisco.Residents throughout the Bay Area reported feeling the jolt, but police said there were no reports of injuries.

The latest earthquake was similar in magnitude and location to those that struck Wednesday and Friday.They erupted along the Hayward Fault, which geologists believe is due for a quake in the potentially lethal 6.7 to 7.0 range.But the minor earthquakes should not be interpreted as omens of a more destructive one to come, said Jessica Sigala, a geophysicist with the National Earthquake Information Center.It could mean there's something coming, it could mean there's nothing coming, Sigala said. It just means the area is active, more active than it's been.

Moderate earthquake hits Andaman islands Sat Dec 23

NEW DELHI - A moderate earthquake struck off India's Andaman islands early Saturday, but no casualties or damage were reported, the India Meteorological Department said. The temblor, measuring 5.9 in magnitude, hit the southern Andaman islands at 1:21 a.m. 10 miles deep in the sea, the meteorological department said in a statement.People didn't feel it as most of them were sleeping and the earthquake was of moderate intensity, said Rana Mathew, a government spokesman in Port Blair, the territory's capital.There were no reports of any damage or casualties, Mathew told The Associated Press.

The remote islands off the east coast of India were among the many areas devastated by the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near Indonesia.The official death toll across India was 10,749. Another 5,640 people — mostly in the Andaman and Nicobar islands — are listed as missing, presumed dead.

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.

Malaysia floods kill 7, displace 90,000 By S. KANARAJU, Associated Press Writer Sat Dec 23, 6:17 AM ET

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Seven people have died and more than 90,000 have been displaced during the last week as the country recorded heavy rainfall, officials said Saturday.

There were nearly 74,000 evacuees in public shelters in the southern state of Johor bordering Singapore, 12,650 in neighboring Malacca state, and 5,100 in eastern Pahang state, said an official at the police Internal Security and Public Order Division.All seven people reported dead were in Johor, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.The most rain to fall during a 24-hour period in the last week was 16 inches Monday in Segamat town in central Johor, according to the New Straits Times newspaper.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the heavy rains were expected to persist until Sunday, after which weather conditions should improve.Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rushed to visit affected areas in Johor on Saturday on his return from an official visit to Venezuela, the national news agency Bernama reported.Abdullah promised supplies of food and other necessities to flood victims, and called on authorities to ensure the health of the evacuees at relief centers by inoculating them.

Stormy holiday ahead W. Verno, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Sat Dec 23, 5:35 AM ET

South

Rain showers will linger early along the southeastern coastal areas and then end by afternoon as the cold front responsible for the rainfall moves east of the area. The front however, will stall out across central Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico, which will keep the chance of showers and thunderstorms across that area. A new weather disturbance will be moving across southern Texas today, which will generate some rain and rain showers there, otherwise dry conditions are expected across the remainder of the southern states.

By Sunday, Christmas Eve, the weather disturbance over Texas, will interact with the stalled front over the northern Gulf to develop a new storm system. This will spread rain into the Lower Mississippi Valley, while keeping showers and thunderstorms over Florida. On Monday, Christmas Day, the storm system will begin to strengthen and move into the southeastern states. This will spread rain and thunderstorms into parts of the south, spreading up the eastern coast. It is possible some wet snow could develop on the back side of this storm system later Monday night into early Tuesday. Persons across the Southern states should keep tuned to the latest forecasts for any pre- and post-holiday travel plans.

Northeast

The storm system responsible for the widespread rain across the Northeast yesterday, is now moving north away from the Great Lakes. Steadier rains will taper to rain showers and then end along the eastern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England today. Rain, a wintry mix, and some ice will linger over far northern New England through most of the day before ending overnight tonight. For Sunday, Christmas Eve, a few rain and snow showers will develop in the wake of the storm over the eastern Great Lakes and northern New England, otherwise dry weather conditions can be expected from Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, north through Philadelphia, New York and Boston. By Monday, Christmas day, a new storm will be organizing over the southern states, and this will push rain and rain showers back north into the Southern Mid-Atlantic. Areas from Pittsburgh and New York, southward, will be best in line for rainfall. Locations across northern New England should remain dry. As this storm system moves northeast into the region Monday night into Tuesday, rain and rain showers will spread across the eastern Mid-Atlantic and eastern New England, with rain possibility changing to snow inland, especially along and east of the Appalachians. Persons across the Northeastern states should keep tuned to the latest forecast for any post-holiday travel plans.

Midwest

Yesterdays rain and snow producing storm system will be pushing north of the Great Lakes today.

Snow and snow showers will impact the far northern Great Lakes, with mixed rain and snow showers into the central Great Lakes. Overall, activity will be decreasing through the day. Across the Midwest and central Plains, dry, but cooler conditions will prevail. Sunday, Christmas Eve, should feature dry conditions from the central Plains to the Great Lakes to the Midwest. A cold front dipping south across the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, will be delivering some cold air to the region. By Monday, Christmas Day, a storm system will be developing and strengthening as it moves into the Tennessee valley. This will push rain into the Upper Ohio River Valley, with some rain and snow on the far northwest side of the storm system from the southern Great Lakes, into parts of the Midwest. Persons across the Midwestern states should keep tuned to the latest forecasts for any Christmas Day travel plans.

West

Into the Holiday, the Northwestern states will remain active, while the Southwestern states remain generally dry. Another storm system will move inland across the Pacific Northwest today, spreading rain and gusty winds to coastal areas, along with increasing inland snow. Snow showers will also be scattered across the southern Rockies in response to a weather disturbance, otherwise expect sunny and dry conditions over the Southwestern states. For Sunday, Christmas Day, the Pacific Northwest will experience some coastal showers, and inland snow showers, as onshore flow continues, otherwise the storm system that will impact that area Saturday, will move into the northern Rockies generating a few snow showers there. The rest of the west will remain dry. By Monday, Christmas Day, a new storm system will once again bring rain and gusty winds back to the Pacific Northwest coastal areas, with inland snow extending into the northern Rockies. Dry conditions will persist elsewhere.

Published: December 23, 2006 12:00 am
Remembering the true meaning of Christmas
Gloucester Daily Times

Editor's note: The following is the Nativity story from the Gospel of St. Luke:

In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be counted in a census. This was the first census and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the child. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among people.When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what they had been told about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.May the blessings of Christmas be with you the whole year through.

Abbas and Olmert meet in Jerusalem By ARON HELLER, Associated Press Writer Sat Dec 23, 1:36 PM ET

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a long-overdue summit Saturday, reviving hopes that peace talks can resume after years of fighting, hostility and distrust.

The meeting, announced just hours before it began, marked the first substantial talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in 22 months. It comes at a time when both men are facing serious political problems at home and stand to gain domestic support with a peace breakthrough.

Olmert emerged from his official residence in Jerusalem to greet Abbas. The two shook hands and also kissed each other on the cheek. Abbas as then introduced to Olmert's wife, Aliza, an artist known for her dovish views. The two leaders sat opposite one other at a table set for a meal and covered by white cloth. Israeli and Palestinian flags served as table decorations.Abbas is locked in an increasingly bitter and violent showdown with the Islamic militant Hamas. Last week, he said he would seek early elections, a dramatic challenge to the 10-month-old Hamas government. His announcement intensified factional fighting between Abbas-allied security forces and Hamas gunmen, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and there are fears that Palestinians will descend into full-scale civil war.Olmert, elected in March, has lost much of his popularity during the summer's war with Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas, which many in Israel believe ended inconclusively. The war also discredited Olmert's political program, a promise to withdraw from much of the West Bank and draw Israel's borders unilaterally by 2010, without waiting for a peace deal.

Key issues on the agenda will be the release of tax rebates and other funds Israel collected for the Palestinians but froze after Hamas came to power. The two leaders will also discuss an easing of Israeli travel restrictions in the West Bank and the fate of an Israel soldier captured by Hamas-allied militants in June.Palestinian officials have said in the past Abbas will not agree to a summit unless the outcome is agreed on ahead of time. It was not clear whether he got Israeli assurances on any of the issues.Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said he hoped the meeting would help ease the suffering of the Palestinians and that Israel would release the frozen funds. However, Barhoum was skeptical. We have never gotten results from such meetings in the past, he said.

Olmert and Abbas had met once briefly over breakfast in Jordan in June, under the auspices of Jordan's King Abdullah II, but simply agreed to begin preparations on more substantive talks.The last summit took place Feb. 8, 2005, when then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with Abbas in Egypt and announced a cease-fire.In Gaza, meanwhile, factional fighting continued. In the southern Gaza town of Rafah, assailants fired on the car of a senior Palestinian security official, wounding him, a bodyguard and a girl.The target, Hassan Jarbouh, is the deputy chief of the Rafah branch of the Preventive Security Service, which is loyal to Abbas.

Preventive Security blamed Hamas for the attack.

Jarbouh, who was on his way to work, was in critical condition. His bodyguard and the girl, a bystander, suffered moderate wounds.The deadly confrontations in Gaza began nearly two weeks ago, with a shooting ambush that killed the three young children of an Abbas-allied intelligence officer.In all, 17 people have been killed and scores wounded in factional fighting, including heavy gun battles in densely populated neighborhoods, since the ambush on the young children.

UN passes Iran nuclear sanctions
The resolution achieved rare unanimous support DEC 23,2006

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to impose sanctions against Iran over its failure to halt uranium enrichment.

The sanctions ban the supply of nuclear-related technology and materials and impose an asset freeze on key individuals and companies. The US representative warned that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons would make it less, not more, secure. Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes and has vowed to continue. If necessary, we will not hesitate to return to this body if Iran does not take further steps to comply Acting US Ambassador to the UN, Alejandro Wolff Reaction in quotes

The resolution demands that Tehran end all uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for nuclear plants as well as for bombs. The vote by the 15-member council took place exactly two months after Britain, France and Germany first introduced a draft resolution proposing sanctions. The draft resolution was amended several times after objections from both the Russians and Chinese. But after parts of the resolution were watered down, both Russia and China - who have close financial ties with Iran - backed the proposals. The resolution, under Chapter Seven of Article 41 of the UN Charter, makes enforcement obligatory but limits action to non-military measures. But acting US ambassador to the UN, Alejandro Wolff, said the resolution sent a strong warning that there would be serious repercussions to Iran's continued defiance of the international community. If necessary, we will not hesitate to return to this body if Iran does not take further steps to comply, Mr Wolff said.

Strong message

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, condemned the resolution as illegal. He told state-run television that the decision cannot affect or limit Iran's peaceful nuclear activities but will discredit the decisions of the Security Council, whose power is deteriorating. Hours before the vote, US President George W Bush spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin and discussed the issue, agreeing on the importance of a unified stance.