It's on: Israeli ground troops entering Gaza.


Soldiers exchange fire with Hamas gunmen inside Strip


For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, IDF ground troops entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, exchanging fire with Hamas gunmen.

The IDF said that a large amount of Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and Infantry troops entered the territory with the purpose of destroying Hamas infrastructure and preventing rocket fire by taking control of launching pads in northern Gaza.

The IDF warned that terrorists using civilians as human shields would bear full responsibility for their fate.

The cabinet also approved the call-up of thousands of reservists, mostly from combat units, but also from the Home Front Command.
Several hours before the ground operation commenced, the army began to fire artillery shells into the northern part of the Strip.

According to reports, the artillery units were attacking targets in northern Gaza from where Palestinian terrorists had been firing rockets at southern Israel.







City of Tel Aviv to high-rise dwellers: Prepare shelters

Egyptian FM: Hamas must stop rocket attacks for truce to hold

IDF Strikes Second Hamas Leader

Israeli assault on Gaza enters 2nd week with no end in sight
[linking this one mostly for the map]

5 civilians lightly wounded in rocket barrage on Ashkelon

Hamas Terrorists Use Hospitals as Base, Rebuild Tunnels

Report: 3 killed, 40 injured in Rafah strike

Kabbalist Elder: Gaza War Is Serious Threat

Rocket lands in Ashdod area; several suffer shock

'Renewed truce may legitimize Hamas'

UN chief wants monitors for Gaza cease-fire
[I'm shocked.]



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Muslims in protest over Gaza crisis
[I'm shocked.]

Protests against Gaza op sweep Mideast

Iran Nobel laureate accused of Israeli bias: activist

Iranian Pro-Israel Newspaper Banned

Saudis arrest two over pro-Gaza protest

Protesters, police clash near Arab meeting in Cairo

Teheran students riot at Jordan embassy

Turkey in Syria talks on 'ruthless' Israel Gaza assault
[*retch*]

Can Sarkozy's Syria Ties Deliver a Mideast Truce?
[While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.--1 Thess. 5]

Suicide bomb kills many in Iraq

***

Pakistani Militants Admit Role in Siege, Official Says
Pakistan says no confession in Mumbai link probe


Taliban moving in as Pakistan moves troops east

'Pakistan must be declared a terrorist state'

Kashmir crisis comes full circle

Pakistan, Iran in oil and gas talks

Taliban ambush kills 20 Afghan police


***

Russia's Gazprom Cuts All Gas Supplies to Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine gas talks collapse

Ukraine threatens to seize Russian gas, Gazprom says

Panama Canal protected by detection tech


***

Slovakia becomes eurozone member

No one hurt in bombing in Spain's Basque area

Mother has healthy baby boy despite abortion warning by doctor

Man accused of leaving Colo. bombs kills himself

Police Investigating After Dead Baby Dug Up by Family Dog
[:( Local. What a horrible story.]

Orissa govt for phased CRPF withdrawal from Kandhamal

China and Vietnam agree borders

Hundreds of migrants feared dead in Indian Ocean



Should the Military Be Called in for Natural Disasters?

Theoretically, even pacificists would probably admit that no one can respond as quickly and efficiently to a major U.S. disaster as the military. But the news that active duty soldiers fresh from a combat tour of Iraq will be gearing up to assist civilian agencies charged with responding to anything from accidental chemical spills to terrorist attacks has sparked mixed reactions from experts in emergency management and civil liberties advocates.

By 2011 the Department of Defense plans to have 20,000 uniformed troops expressly trained to assist in national disaster rapid response at a moment's notice. Since Oct. 1, some 4,700 soldiers belonging to a brigade combat team out of Fort Stewart, Ga., have already been engaged in the new assignment, according to Air Force Lt. Col. Almarah Belk, a spokeswoman at the Secretary of Defense's office. The $556 million, five-year training program is part of a broader, $2.3 billion FEMA project to have civilian authorities in states such as Massachusetts, South Carolina and Washington work with the military to develop response plans to a range of potential disasters, from a hurricane and earthquake to a terrorist attack and a pandemic flu.


***

Somali pirates seize Egyptian ship; Tanker saved

France captures 'Somali pirates'

Crew fight off pirates with water jets off Somalia

Ethiopia Begins Somalia Withdrawal After Invasion



Rains could worsen Zimbabwe cholera epidemic

Red Cross deploys more teams to fight cholera in Zimbabwe

Cholera Outbreak In Some Parts Of Accra

New Ebola strain identified in Uganda



Congo says Ugandan rebels fleeing toward CAR

Rebels 'advancing towards CAR'

SENEGAL: Scores flee town after riot over living conditions

Congolese government vows to 'destroy' Lord's Resistance rebels



***


Villager stumbles upon ancient human skeletal remains

Findings - For Good Self-Control, Try Getting Religious About It

The Apocalypse is Coming: What You Need to Pack

Argentine builders 'strike oil'



***


Yellowstone Park Hit by Hundreds of Small Earthquakes

Map Centered at 44°N, 110°W-Yellowstone

Discovery Channel :: Supervolcano: What's Under Yellowstone?

YouTube - Scenario: supervolcano eruption in the US




Moderate earthquake jolts eastern Indonesia

Two earthquakes hit W Indonesia

Small quake hits Northern California

Minor morning earthquake hits off coast of Malibu

Mild earthquake southeast of Karachi spreads panic


Magnitude 5.0 - AEGEAN SEA
Magnitude 2.0 - TENNESSEE
Magnitude 5.2 - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Magnitude 5.1 - CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
Magnitude 5.1 - CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE(2)
Magnitude 5.2 - KODIAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
Magnitude 5.3 - SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
Magnitude 5.2 - MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Magnitude 5.1 - SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
Magnitude 5.0 - CENTRAL PERU
Magnitude 5.3 - SOUTH OF THE FIJI ISLANDS
Magnitude 5.4 - KEPULAUAN TALAUD, INDONESIA
Magnitude 4.0 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION
Magnitude 4.5 - CENTRAL PERU
Magnitude 5.9 - SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
Magnitude 5.1 - SOLOMON ISLANDS
Magnitude 4.9 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Magnitude 4.8 - NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
Magnitude 5.1 - MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
Magnitude 4.4 - HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
Magnitude 4.9 - TAIWAN REGION
Magnitude 4.8 - ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
Magnitude 4.9 - CARLSBERG RIDGE
Magnitude 5.0 - SICHUAN-GANSU BORDER REGION, CHINA
Magnitude 5.8 - HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
Magnitude 5.1 - KURIL ISLANDS
Magnitude 5.1 - SOUTHEAST OF THE LOYALTY ISLANDS
Magnitude 5.4 - KURIL ISLANDS
Magnitude 5.3 - KURIL ISLANDS
Magnitude 4.5 - BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Magnitude 4.3 - SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
Magnitude 4.8 - DAVIS STRAIT
Magnitude 4.9 - NORTH OF SVALBARD
Magnitude 4.8 - RED SEA
Magnitude 3.2 - SOUTHERN QUEBEC, CANADA