RICE - SOLANA VISIT MIDEAST

1-WORLD QUAKES LAST 2 DAYS. 2-Colorado avalanche buries cars. 3-Brazil's rain-related death toll hits 31. 4-Temperatures soar in the Northeast. 5-Pope says religious leaders must stress spiritual aspect of globalization debate. 6-Rome to support death penalty moratorium. 7-Rice, Solana to visit Mideast to push peace process. 8-US imposes sanctions on arms suppliers to Iran, Syria. 9-Hamas pledges to boost forces in Gaza.

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 Jan 7 12:14 AM EDT

SUN QUAKES NONE AS YET

SAT JAN 6,07
MAP 3.7 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 5.1 MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
MAP 2.9 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 2.9 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
MAP 3.5 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.0 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.8 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 3.4 GULF OF ALASKA
MAP 5.1 TONGA
MAP 5.2 SAMAR, PHILIPPINES
MAP 2.6 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 3.2 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 4.8 ECUADOR
MAP 2.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 2.9 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

JAN 05,07
MAP 2.8 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 3.0 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.4 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA
MAP 5.7 SOUTH OF ALASKA
MAP 4.5 FIJI REGION
MAP 4.4 KYUSHU, JAPAN
MAP 4.9 GUAM REGION
MAP 4.8 SOUTH OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS
MAP 4.3 BANDA SEA
MAP 4.6 PAGAN REGION, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
MAP 5.3 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL ALASKA
MAP 2.5 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.5 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 3.0 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 2.6 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
MAP 2.6 NORTHERN ALASKA

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.

Colorado avalanche buries cars JAN 06,07

Colorado has been hit by three snow storms in recent weeks A massive avalanche in the western US state of Colorado has buried cars and swept other vehicles off the road. The avalanche, described by local rescue crews as the largest they had ever seen, struck at the Berthoud Pass, 100km (60 miles) west of Denver. A Colorado transport spokesman told the BBC early reports suggest two cars had been caught up in the avalanche. He said one person was seriously hurt and there were no fatalities reported. At least seven people have been rescued. Even though vehicles were swept off the road, they are not said to be in any danger, however details are still scarce.

The avalanche was described as 100ft (30m) wide and 15ft (4.5m) deep. Three snow storms in recent weeks have dumped more than 4ft of snow on parts of Colorado. The site of the avalanche is on the main route to one of the Colorado's top skiing areas. It happened at late-morning after the bulk of skier traffic had already passed, said Stacey Stegman of the Colorado Department of Transportation. If it would've happened just a couple of hours earlier, this would have been a very different situation, she told CNN.

Brazil's rain-related death toll hits 31 By MICHAEL ASTOR, Associated Press Writer JAN 06,07

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Firefighters recovered the body of a woman whose home was engulfed in a mudslide, and her husband died from injuries Saturday, as the death toll from days of heavy rains in southeast Brazil reached 31. Floods and mudslides have driven thousands of people from their homes over the past week, and more rains were forecast for the weekend.Firefighters retrieved the body of a 62-year-old woman beneath mud that engulfed her hillside home in the city of Novo Friburgo, some 95 miles northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Her husband died of injuries in the hospital, raising the death toll in that city to 12, according to a Civil Defense spokeswoman. Twenty-six people have died in Rio de Janeiro state, about 310 miles northeast of Sao Paulo.Authorities Saturday reported the deaths of two other people in mudslides in Sao Paulo state. On Friday, three people died when a bus skidded out of control, an accident authorities blamed on the heavy rains.

The mudslides and flash floods have forced more than 12,000 people to abandon their homes for shelter in churches, schools, gymnasiums and other public buildings, officials said.Most of the victims were poor people who live in shantytowns built precariously on hillsides.Mudslides are a chronic problem in Rio de Janeiro state during the summer rainy season. Clearing grass and shrubs from the hillsides to make way for shantytowns causes erosion, leaving the communities vulnerable to mudslides.In recent years, the state government has attempted to remove people from the most dangerous hillsides, but people with no access to affordable housing continue to build crude brick houses on the steepest slopes.

Temperatures soar in the Northeast Wayne Verno, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel Sat Jan 6, 10:13 AM ET

Northeast

Low pressure tracking northeast across New England today, will allow the steadier rain to taper to showers and then end across the Mid-Atlantic by afternoon. Rain, heavy at times, will last most of the day across northern New England. In the wake of the rainfall, areas from Boston, New York, and Albany, southward through Washington, DC and Baltimore, will see afternoon high temperatures near or exceeding record levels as readings soar into the upper 60s and lower 70s.

West of the Appalachians, from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, afternoon highs will be in the 50s. A cold front will approach on Sunday, bringing cooler temperatures, while a new storm system movies up from the south, bringing a chance of rain showers to parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Rain will impact parts of the eastern Mid-Atlantic and eastern New England on Monday, as the storm system moves northeast, while further inland, colder air will allow for a chance of snow showers.

West

A storm system will continue to bring rain, heavy at times, along with strong gusty winds to coastal portions of the Pacific Northwest today. Snow levels will also be dropping, with accumulations over a foot likely, widespread arross of the mountains.

Another storm system will move inland tomorrow, bringing more rain, wind, and snow. Snow will likely be measured in feet across the mountains as continuous heavy snow is expected. As these storm systems move inland over the Pacific Northwest, winds and snow will also be on the increase across parts if the northern Rockies. Winds could become strong and damaging over parts of the mountains today. Over southern California, strong Santa Anna winds will bring and increased fire danger to that area. Winds may also result in damage. Meanwhile, high pressure will dominate the rest of the western states.

South

Dense fog will impact much of the South this morning, in the wake of yesterday's rainfall and severe weather. Visibilities will be reduced at times to below one half of a mile, making for slow morning travel. Cloudy skies will linger into the afternoon hours and a new wave of low pressure takes shape over the northern Gulf. Rain showers will move back into parts of the Gulf Coastal states by afternoon. Afternoon temperatures will be warm at most locations, with readings well into the 60s and 70s. A few temperatures near or exceeding record highs will be possible across parts of the Southeastern states. By Sunday, low pressure will track northeast across the area, spreading rain and thunderstorms across parts of the Mississippi Valley, eastward through the Southern States. This will be followed by high pressure and dry conditions across the entire area by Monday.

Midwest

A cold front moving southeast across the Midwest, will result in slightly cooler temperatures today, with afternoon readings in the 40s. The coldest temperatures will be felt across the northern Plains where afternoon highs will be in the 30s. As a disturbance from the Pacific Northwest moves east across the northern Rockies, gusty winds will develop across the northern Plains today. Clouds will also be on the increase along with a chance for snow showers by late day. Over the next few days, a series of weather disturbances will move across the northern tier, resulting in periods of snow showers and flurries. Colder temperatures can also be expected with afternoon highs in the 20s and 30s. Elsewhere across the Midwest, mainly fair weather conditions can be expected.

REVELATION 17:1-2
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:(VATICAN)
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,(TALKS) and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Pope says religious leaders must stress spiritual aspect of globalization debate JAN 06,07

VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict says religious leaders of all faiths must play a role in ensuring that spiritual and cultural aspects of life are not forgotten as mankind tackles the challenges of globalization.The pope made the comments today during his homily in an Epiphany Day Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Benedict says while politicians, scientists and researchers play important roles in the modern world, today, more than ever, it is necessary to place at their side the leaders of the great non-Christian religious traditions, as well as Christian leaders.Benedict appears to be building on a theme often stressed by his predecessor, John Paul, who worried that modernization was coming at the cost of mankind's spiritual dimension.2007 The Associated Press.

Rome to support death penalty moratorium Fri Jan 5, 11:23 PM ET

ROME - Rome will light up the Colosseum on Saturday in support of Italy's push at the United Nations for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, launched after a wave of denunciations across Europe over Saddam Hussein's execution. Mayor Walter Veltroni said in a statement Friday that the lighting was a signal of hope and an encouragement for Premier Romano Prodi's government, which this week began a diplomatic push to have the issue taken up by the U.N. General Assembly. Rome's Colosseum, once the arena for deadly gladiator combat and executions, has become a symbol of Italy's anti-death penalty stance. Since 1999, the 1st century monument has been bathed in golden light every time a death sentence is commuted somewhere in the world or a country abolishes capital punishment.Italy, which is now one of the rotating members of the U.N. Security Council, has lobbied unsuccessfully in the past for U.N. action against the death penalty.Saddam's execution by hanging on Saturday was denounced virtually across Italy's political spectrum, with former premier and conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi calling the killing a political error and center-left leader Prodi expressing worry that the execution would fuel more violence in Iraq.Italy and all other European Union countries do not permit capital punishment.

Rice, Solana to visit Mideast to push peace process
www.chinaview.cn 2007-01-05 06:30:18

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice here on Thursday, said he will travel to the Middle East this month after Rice to push the Middle East peace
process.We will try to see how we can give a push to the peace process, Solana said. When asked if Rice were optimistic about the prospects for the Middle East peace process, Solana said: I don't think that optimism is the word. We have to stick to the word realism.Solana also had lunch in the White House with Stephen Hadley, the national security adviser of U.S. President George W. Bush.The Middle East peace process has been in a standstill since the militant Hamas won the legislative elections in Palestine early last year. As a result, the U.S.-led West has cut off all contacts as well as aids to the Hamas-led Palestinian government for its refusal to recognize Israel, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.Editor: Luan Shanglin

MUSLIM NATIONS

EZEKIEL 38:1-12
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW)and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and Tubal:
4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY)of the north quarters, and all his bands:(SUDAN,AFRICA) and many people with thee.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

ISAIAH 17:1
1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

PSALMS 83:3-7
3 They (ARABS,MUSLIMS) have taken crafty counsel against thy people,(ISRAEL) and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:(TREATIES)
6 The tabernacles of Edom,and the Ishmaelites;(ARABS) of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon,(JORDAN) and Amalek;(SYRIA) the Philistines (PALESTINIANS) with the inhabitants of Tyre;(LEBANON)

EZEKIEL 39:1-8
1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal: (TUBOLSK)
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts,(RUSSIA) and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands,( ARABS) and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog,(NUCLEAR BOMB) and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

JOEL 2:3,20,30-31
3 A fire(NUCLEAR BOMB) devoureth before them;(RUSSIA-ARABS) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army,(RUSSIA,MUSLIMS) and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.(SIBERIAN DESERT)
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(NUCLEAR BOMB)
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

US imposes sanctions on arms suppliers to Iran, Syria Fri Jan 5, 5:47 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States announced sanctions against 24 foreign entities, including Russian, Chinese and North Korean firms, for allegedly selling banned weapons to Iran and Syria.

The move drew a sharp protest from Moscow.

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport was among the highest profile firms hit by the measures, imposed under the 2005 Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

Three Chinese state-run companies, two other Russian firms and a Russian individual as well as entities from Iran, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia and Mexico were hit by the sanctions, published Friday in the US Federal Register.The measures took effect as of December 28, a State Department official said. The government did not specify exactly what sales or transfers to Iran or Syria had prompted the punitive steps.The sanctions law, which dates back to 1999 for Iran and 2005 for Syria, bars US government dealings with companies, governments or individuals caughttransferring missile technology, weapons of mass destruction of advanced conventional arms to the two countries.While the US measures are often largely symbolic, notably when they concern firms in countries such as North Korea, Iran and Syria, they can impact the international dealings of some firms and drew a sharp response Friday from the Russians.The introduction of umpteen sanctions against us is a form of unfair competition targeting our company and all Russia, said Valery Kartavtsev, a spokesman of Rosoboronexport.Rosoboronexport was already hit with US sanctions in August for allegedly providing Iran with equipment that could be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction.Russian aircraft firm Sukhoi was also targetted by those measures, but the sanctions were lifted against the jetmaker in November after angry protests from Moscow.

Kartavtsev told Russian television his company had doubled its arms exports over the past five years, notably with sales to lucrative markets in Latin America.He said Rosoboronexport adhered strictly to international and Russian law and had not yet received any official notification of the sanctions.The deputy chief of another group listed Friday, the Tula Bureau of Studies and Mechanical Construction, said: Our high technology arms deliveries abroad are in strict conformity with Russian and international rules.Vassily Gryazev was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying the sanctions would only have symbolic value bcause his company had no business links with the US.Vladimir Pekhtin, Deputy Speaker of the Duma, or lower House in Moscow, said the real reason for the sanctions was that the American administration is simply afraid of competition from Russian companies.The other Russian firm cited in the sanctions was the Kolomna Design Bureau of Machine-Building, while one individual, Alexey Safonov, was named without further information given.The targetted Chinese firms were China National Electronic Import-Export Company, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Company and Zibo Chemet Equipment Company.

Hamas pledges to boost forces in Gaza By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer JAN 06,07

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas defied President Mahmoud Abbas' decree Saturday that its paramilitary unit is illegal, saying it will fight any attempt to disband the force in an increasingly bloody faceoff between the Islamic militant group and Abbas' Fatah party.

Three more Hamas supporters were killed in the factional fighting that is threatening to plunge the Palestinian territories into civil war.Fatah and Hamas have been wrangling over power since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago and gained control over most Palestinian government functions.Abbas, who was elected in a separate election, retained his post as president and Fatah continued to dominate security forces. Challenging that position, Hamas formed its own security unit, the Executive Force, last spring, recruiting many former members of the Hamas military wing.Tensions between the rival security forces kept building in the streets until large-scale fighting erupted last month. Since then, more than two dozen people have been killed.

On Saturday, Abbas outlawed the Executive Force. He issued the decree two days after Hamas gunmen stormed the home of a top pro-Fatah security commander in northern Gaza, killing the man and seven bodyguards. It was the deadliest battle yet during the recent wave of infighting.Abbas' office said the decision was made in light of continued security chaos and assassinations of a number of our fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens.The statement said the Hamas force was outside the law and will be dealt with accordingly as long as it is not immediately folded into legal security forces.Abbas also confirmed that the U.S. is sending aid to boost the Palestinian security forces loyal to him. U.S. officials said Friday that President Bush is asking Congress to provide $83 million for those forces.Abbas claims authority over most Palestinian security forces, but Hamas controls the Interior Ministry, which also has security responsibilities. The various forces were formed more than a decade ago by the late Yasser Arafat as part of his autocratic style of rule in which he created rivalries to keep potential challengers weak.

After years of corruption and fighting with Israel, the forces have become largely ineffective, fueling widespread lawlessness, particularly in the Gaza Strip.In Gaza, Hamas' stronghold, leaders of the group defiantly rejected Abbas' decree.Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said that Abbas was giving the green light for attacks on Hamas security men and that the unit would deal firmly with anyone who attacks it.

He also announced plans to double the size of the Executive Force, which now has 6,000 men, compared with some 18,000 security men aligned with Fatah.Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accused Abbas of trying to deepen the rift between the two camps.I'm completely convinced that there are those who don't want the Palestinian scene to enjoy calm and stability or to create the appropriate atmosphere for starting serious and deep dialogue aimed at reaching a national unity government, he said.Abbas, a political moderate, has been urging Hamas to join Fatah in a coalition in hopes of ending international sanctions against the Hamas-led government that have further crippled the Palestinian economy. But months of negotiations broke down in late November, sparking the latest wave of violence.

Abbas wants to restart peace talks with Israel, while Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, refuses to recognize the Jewish state's right to exist.

Previous attempts by Abbas to disband the Hamas militia or integrate it into existing security units failed. Hamas officials said they were open to the integration idea, but only if Abbas announces an extensive overhaul of the current command structure. Abbas' decree said the president plans a reshuffle of commanders, but gave no details. Several days ago, he appointed Brig. Gen. Jamal Kayed, a Fatah loyalist, to head the National Security force in Gaza.

Kayed, a former presidential bodyguard, is believed to have generally good relations with Hamas. Late Saturday, three members of a pro-Hamas family were slain by gunmen from a rival clan considered to be Fatah supporters, witnesses and family members said. The same Fatah family has kidnapped about 10 Hamas supporters in recent days, Hamas officials said. Hamas' radio station in Gaza said one of the dead was a member of the Executive Force. The Palestinian infighting initially was largely confined to Gaza, but in recent days it spread to the West Bank with a series of kidnappings and shootings. On Saturday, gunmen in the West Bank stopped the car of Nablus' deputy mayor, Mahdi al-Khamdali of Hamas, pulled him out and took him away in another car, security officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the officials said they believed the kidnappers were Fatah supporters. In Ramallah, gunmen stormed the offices of the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, shot the office manager in the legs and took him away, security officials said. The man, also a Hamas supporter, was released in a nearby town and hospitalized, the officials said. Shopkeepers in the West Bank city of Hebron closed their stores in a protest action launched at the request of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a violent group affiliated with Fatah.