1 dead, thousands stranded in S. California storm

9 hours ago

MOUNT BALDY, Calif. (AP) — Thunderstorms that swept across Southern California on Sunday led to the death of one person and caused mountain mudslides that stranded more than 2,000 others, authorities said.

A body was found in a car that was swept into a rain-swollen creek in Mount Baldy and overturned, San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Chris Prater said.

Further east, flash floods brought thick debris flows that cut off access to two towns. About 1,500 residents of Oak Glen, and another 1,000 residents of Forest Falls in the San Bernardino Mountains were unable to get out because the roads were covered with mud, rock and debris, authorities said.

The stranded include 500 children and adults who had arrived at a Forest Falls campground Sunday morning.

"Our concern is that they're isolated at that campground and no longer have access out of the mountain," Kyle Hauducoeur, another county fire spokesman, said.

Authorities made reverse 911 calls to urge residents to stay put while crews clear the roads with bulldozers. The muck was so thick it submerged a van in Forest Falls, while on Mount Baldy water swept a hot tub into the road.

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Search and rescue operations are underway to locate people who may have been swept away.

Flash floods led to the rescue of several people. Hauducoeur said a woman in Mt. Baldy was rescued from her house before it was buried in mud. Four additional homes in the Bear Creek area were damaged by the debris flow, he said.

In the Angeles National Forest, a group of 4 or 5 people and a dog were airlifted to safety.

A U.S. Forest Service spokesman told KNBC-TV some campers had seconds to evacuate before a torrent of water washed their tents and belongings.

"It sounded like a freight train coming through," Robert Ethridge said.

Monsoonal moisture brought brief but fierce storms to mountain, desert and inland areas. In and around Palm Springs, knee-deep water flooded city streets and stranded vehicles. In the city of Redlands, the storm downed a tree and knocked out power to a few neighborhoods.

The downpour dumped as much as 3 ½ inches of rain on Forest Falls, and nearly 5 inches of rain on Mount Baldy, the National Weather Service said.

Authorities said crews were assessing the extent of damages caused by the storms.

1 dead, thousands stranded in Calif. mudslides

Thunderstorms trigger flash floods and mudslides that cut off access to two mountain towns.
Crews clearing roads with bulldozers

Death toll from quake in south China rises to 398

By JACK CHANG8 hours ago

BEIJING (AP) — Rescuers dug through shattered homes Monday looking for survivors of a strong earthquake in southern China's Yunnan province as the death toll rose to at least 398 people, with more than 1,800 injured.

About 12,000 homes collapsed when the quake struck Sunday afternoon in impoverished Ludian county, around 370 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of Yunnan's capital, Kunming, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Ma Yaoqi, an 18-year-old volunteer in the quake zone, said by phone that at least half of the buildings had collapsed on the road from the city center of Zhaotong to the hardest hit town of Longtou. The rest of the buildings were damaged, she said.

"I saw dead bodies being wrapped in quilts and carried away," said Ma, who had arrived with 20 other volunteers Monday. "Some were wrapped with small quilts. Those must be kids."

Overhead footage of the quake zone shot by state broadcaster CCTV showed older houses flattened but newer multistory buildings still standing.

The magnitude-6.1 quake struck at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. China's earthquake monitoring agency put the magnitude at 6.5.

Rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the area Monday afternoon, complicating efforts to bring tents, water, food and other relief supplies to survivors. Roads had caved in, and rescuers were forced to travel on foot.

Repeated aftershocks also were making the rescue work dangerous. The USGS showed four aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 and higher hitting after the initial quake.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang helps make way for the injured at the earthquake zone in the town of Long …

The Yunnan Civil Affairs Bureau said on its website that 398 people were killed and 1,801 injured. Another 29,400 people were evacuated, CCTV said. The death toll is expected to rise after rescuers reach remote communities to assess casualties.

Many of the homes that collapsed in Ludian, which has a population of about 429,000, were old and made of brick, Xinhua said, adding that electricity and telecommunications were cut off in the county.

The mountainous region where the quake occurred is largely agricultural, with farming and mining the top industries, and is prone to earthquakes.

Relief efforts are underway, with more than 2,500 troops dispatched to the disaster region, Xinhua said. The Red Cross Society of China allocated quilts, jackets and tents for those made homeless by the quake, while Red Cross branches in Hong Kong, Macau and neighboring Sichuan province also sent relief supplies.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reached the worst-hit area Monday afternoon to oversee quake relief, Xinhua said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered "his condolences to the Chinese Government and the families of those killed," according to a statement from his office. The statement said the U.N. was ready to "lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs" and "to mobilize any international support needed."

The White House also offered its condolences.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their lives," said National Security Council deputy spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. "The United States stands ready to assist."

CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years.

In 1970, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake in Yunnan killed at least 15,000 people, and a magnitude-7.1 quake in the province killed more than 1,400 in 1974. In September 2012, 81 people died and 821 were injured in a series of quakes in the Yunnan region.

In May 2008, a powerful quake in Sichuan province left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing.

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Associated Press news assistant Fu Ting contributed to this report.

Israel resumes Gaza airstrikes as cease-fire ends

By IBRAHIM BARZAK and PETER ENAV1 hour ago

Palestinians inspect the damage to a house in the Jebaliya refugee camp that was hit by an Israeli s …

Smoke rises from an Israeli strike over Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014 …

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military says it has resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip, ending a self-declared, seven-hour cease-fire that was in effect for much of the day.

The Israeli military announced it resumed its attacks Monday night.

Israel said it declared the cease-fire to allow humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza. The seaside territory has been battered by a nearly monthlong war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Late Monday, Palestinian officials said an Israeli airstrike hit a target next to a desalination plant in Gaza, killing two people and wounding 16.

Palestinian officials say more than 1,880 people have been killed, most of them civilians. Sixty-seven people, all but three civilians, have been killed on the Israeli side.

Before the incident in Jerusalem, a seven-hour Israeli cease-fire in Gaza went into effect.
Police response lauded

Kind attention to all Jewish,Christians,Muslims and all other communities in the world

Holy Quran is containing of 6666 verses which are dedicated to angles by God. Out of it 87% of verses are related to Histories of Prophets and Wars , Earthquakes, Floods and Famine which affected the people who were residing at the time of Prophets . Muslims in the world are reciting whole Quran verses frequently in all the Muslim countries and countries wherein muslims are residing . they are affecting by wars , Disasters , Tsunami , Earthquakes , Climate changes , loss of business , terrorism and also creating other problems with other communities on the reasons that 6666 Quranic verses are handled by angles in the world in accordance with Quranic Verses 42:51,52

According to Quranic verses 39:17, 18 and 55 , It is revealed that whole quran verses cannot be recited except very important verses can be recited towards social justice and common good for the purpose of peace , unity , health , wealth , faith , inter-faith , climate changes , improving business and stopping off disasters and terrorism and accordingly we have posted messages of God and also our research paper at www.goldenduas.com for the same purpose in accordance with all the international laws as follows:

Nowdays, all the governments in the world or collecting huge taxes from tax payers and the same are utilizing for the purpose of peace in the world, but no result. The tax payers are suffering to improve their business and life. The following points may be taken in account to solve all the world challenges and disbute.

Proposal to the United Nations relating to International Peace and Security to authorize Under Article 96(2) of the Charter of the United Nations.

Hello,

Our research report is in conformity with Under Article 1(1) and 7 of the Charter of United Nations and the same maybe authorized by the General Assembly of the United Nations in accordance with U/A 96(2) of the present Charter and U/A 2(2), 5(1),6(2),11(2),13(1), 15(1) (a) (c), 16(2) (a),(b),& 18 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the basis of U/A 33(1), 55(c), 70, 71,73(a) of the present Charter and accordingly the research paper ought to have been debated with Vatican, World Churches Council, Commission of Churches on International Affairs, Jewish Foundation, Islamic Supreme Councils , researchers of UN and all the International bodies for the following reasons:

“Reporting of world peace solutions between Christians,Jews and Muslims in the world

We are here with attached our research report towards international peace and security for perusal and considerations

Since we are the independent and voluntary researchers with out dependency of finance either from the government or any other agency, on the reasons that we are following Social Justice and Common Goods - Policy Paper of World Council of Churches and also By-laws of the Commission of the Churches on international affairs. Our researchers mainly follow the principles and rules laid down by the above important policy and rules.

Under Articles 2.4, 3.6, 3.10&11, 8.1(b) of the By-laws of the Commission of the Churches on international affairs, we have posted our research report in United Nations Global Compact which containing of solving of problems between Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus in the world. In accordance with Articles 3.12 of the above By-Laws, it is a duty of commission of Churches to maintain and provide for the maintenance of contacts with International bodies such as the United Nations and its agencies include regional bodies and other non governmental Organisations, which will assist in the attainment of the aims of the Commission. The matter has being brought it to the notice of the World Churches Council and the Commission of the Churches asked its notice on the matter to the United Nations for your appropriate decisions. 
The World Churches Council Policy Paper on Social Justice and Common Goods is the best policy to the World peace and unity solutions, which has been published on 22 March 2011 and the same is in accordance with Psalm 85. The Church cannot succeed if it, isolates itself, Not only must Christians reach out to Muslims and other faiths in the spirit of ecumenism, but there is a need to embrace other people of different philosophical convictions. This requires ideological tolerance, maturity and self assurance in what one believes in. Such coalition building is made easier by choosing issues that unite organizations and movements and which have less potential causing divisions. At the same time we need an honest and inventive method of dealing with differences. The global movement for economic justice relies considerably on policy analysis and research conducted by hundreds if not thousands of academics researchers and scholars. 
Our consequences of the changing power relations in today's world is that there is more room in the public sphere for the affirmation of collective values and principles, experience proves that an informed public opinion can be powerful today, and can change governments public and international agendas. Again Churches are challenged to make use of this opportunity. They need to read the signs of time and to make their voices heard by responding to peoples cries for justice and dignity, and by speaking truth to the powers- whoever and wherever their may be. 
Christians do not have ready made answers and solutions to propose. The Bible offers guidelines (love, sharing, justice for the poor) but does not defined one "Christian" economy or "Christian" politics. 
Churches and Church related organizations can initiate public debates and largely use media means to reach a broader constituency, furthermore, regional thematic discussions can be facilitated with the ecumenical family. WCC should develop specific analysis depending on the context. 
What are theological implications for commodification common goods? 
How shall we ensure the participation all people in managing common goods in the world? 
How do we deal with power imbalances in the world? 
How can the ecumenical family engage itself effectively and in a coherent and convincing way in addressing global power imbalance? 
How can WCC lead a climate change campaign with social justice as a focus? 
What kind of collective values can be draw for the Churches to guide them in addressing the problem of commodification of common goods? 
The above questions have been answered in our research materials available at http://www.goldenduas.com and alsohttp://www.facebook.com/research of international development solutions and the same are to be discussed by the Churches, public and all its organizations in the interest of public safety, peace, unity, health, wealth, faith, interfaith 


Under this circumstances, it is just and necessary that UK, USA, Cambridge, Churches on the International Affairs are requested to accept our research paper and also our research organization as an organization under other faith category to assist the commission to achieve its goal of International Peace and climate changes solutions for the benefit of world community especially Christians, Jewish and Muslims, under the by-law 3.11 of CCIA.

In view of the aforementioned submissions in the interest of maintenance of International Peace and Security, UN may be pleased to authorize our organization in the name and style of` Research on International Development Solutions `and also our research report in confirmatory with U/A 96 of the present Charter read with U/A 23 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and thus render Justice.

Now, Palestine Muslims are fighting with Israel , both countries are affected and innocent people are killed frequently which is against the Quranic verses 7:137 & 5:33 that no one can claim Israel Government areas which is a place of Israel People but not Muslim or Christian and they can only Allow worship in the Holy Places of Israel . These facts has not been Discussed for amicable solutions of social justice and common good by United Nations to respect Gods word .

It is pertinent to note that why the jewish people are affecting the Muslims is mention the Quran 7:167 ? And the same should be taken into consideration by jewish people in the world in the interest of social justice and common good on the light of the research paper posted at our website www.goldenduas.com and render justice.

Your success

U. Ibrahim Ali,

Researcher International Development Solutions