Israeli jets continued to pound Hamas targets in Gaza and Hamas militants launched more rockets from Gaza into Israel as the number of people killed in the past day of violence rose to 275.
Israeli ground troops were deployed around Gaza Sunday, but so far there is no indication of a ground operation by the Israeli military.
For a second day, huge black plumes of smoke rose above Gaza City and make-shift ambulances screamed down rubble-strewn streets to get wounded Palestinians to hospitals already overcrowded with 600 people wounded in the past day.
The U.N. Security Council ended a four-hour emergency meeting early Sunday with a call for an immediate halt of hostilities and a re-opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian supplies to reach Palestinians in Gaza.
The Palestinian envoy said if Israel does not cease attacks within 48 hours, Arab delegations will demand stronger action from the Security Council.
Israel did give in to requests from the Red Cross and others to allow 16 trucks loaded with fuel, food and medical supplies to pass into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing Sunday morning.
The same senior Israeli military official who confirmed the humanitarian shipments also said the air raids would continue and that Israeli ground troops have deployed around Gaza and will "be activated if needed."
"We are determined to fulfill our objectives" of stopping the rocket launches into Israel from Gaza.
"We can't stop every rocket launch," he said. But he added they aim to greatly reduce them.
More than 110 Hamas rockets have been launched into Israel by Hamas militants since Saturday morning, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said. An Israeli man died when a rocket slammed into a home Saturday, the IDF said.
An Israeli police spokesman said that one rocket landed north of the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon for the first time. That city, which sits about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Gaza border, has been a frequent target of missiles from Gaza.
Gaza City's main police station and jail were hit by Israeli missiles Sunday morning, according to a Gaza-based journalist.
At least two people were killed when a missile struck the Seraya compound, which houses various Hamas military organizations in central Gaza City.
Missiles also hit near the Beit Hanoun city hall, according to a reporter there.
The attacks meant bodies piled up on the streets of Gaza City, where hospitals and medical personnel were overwhelmed by the influx of wounded.
"People are suffering and dying because of shortages of medical equipment," said Dr. Mahmoud el-Khazndar, who works at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital. "The hospital is not accustomed to accept mass casualties like this."
The Egyptian government sent 20 ambulances and medical personnel to its border with Gaza to help care for the wounded, an Egyptian official said.
Air strikes on Gaza continue as deaths rise
SBP foresees current year inflation rate at 20/22 pc
KARACHI: Pakistan exports current fiscal year are expected to remain in the range of $21.50 billion to $23 billion.
SBP annual report for the year 2007-08 said that the economic growth rate during fiscal year 2007-08 worked out to 5.8 percent, short of the target by 1.2 percent. The report said that the economic growth rate during the current fiscal year was expected to range 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent, while the inflation rate to vary between 20-22 percent and monetary expansion expected to remain between 12-13 percent. Current fiscal year financial deficit to GDP expected in the range of 4.3 percent to 4.8 percent and current account deficit likely to remain between 6.2 percent to 6.8 percent. The report further said that the remittances from the Pakistani expatriates feared to fall short by $200 million from the targeted $7.70 billion.
Hajj pilgrims leave Makkah for Mina
MAKKAH MUKARRAMA: Hajj pilgrims in their first phase of Manasik-e-Hajj have started arriving Mina after ‘Fajar’ (morning) prayers today.
Millions of Hajj pilgrims, who had arrived in this holy city here, after their stay and offering Namaz-e-Fajar, now moving towards the city of tents Mina, where they are being placed by their Muallameen for stay in their allotted fireproof tents. This process of Hajj pilgrims’ arrival from Makkah and getting accommodation in tents at Mina would continue until late evening. The pilgrims would offer Zuhar, Asar, Maghrib and Esha prayers in the historical mosque, Masjid-e-Khaif here and would pass night in repentance and remorse with ‘Takbir o Tahleel’. The Hajj pilgrims would gather at Maidan-e-Arafat for performing the topmost and key-ritual Waqoof-e-Arafat tomorrow, the 9th of Zil Hajj.
NA Committee can call CJ in her daughter’s case: Aitzaz
LAHORE: Former president Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and Barrister Zafarullah Khan have forwarded their constitutional opinion regarding the Chief Justice daughter Farah Dogar’s case of extra marks.
Aitzaz Ahsan said that National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education can call Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar as a father in connection with his daughter’s case.
He said the NA Committee can analyze a misuse of position by a judge for his personal benefit.
Barrister Zafarullah said the Committee is no longer authorized to carry out its activity relating to the case after the issuance of stay order by the Supreme Court. He said the Committee cannot in any case call the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Nawaz terms Farah Dogar’s additional marks as national issue
LAHORE: Chief of Pakistan Muslim League-N Mian Nawaz Sharif said increased numbers of Farah Dogar is a national issue and so as the judiciary.
Addressing a press briefing after meeting with US Senator John McCain, Nawaz Sharif said political leaders should exhibit political vision. The entire nation is facing consequences of eight years of martial law and present government is a continuation of Musharraf’s regime.
He urged the government to solve domestic issues; unveiled secret agreements made during Musharraf’s government and clarify its position.
Replying to a question about Farah Hamid Dogar’s issue, Nawaz Sharif said judiciary is the problem of entire nation. Justice Dogar is ready to give justice to the nation but having no justification in the case of his own daughter.
Justice Dogar himself is a party. Everyone is discussing Dogar’s issue except Parliament. Parliament came into being after huge sacrifices.
Sharif said not only Farah Dogar but children from poor background also deserve increment in numbers.
Sources: Blackwater guards charged in deaths
Five security guards from Blackwater Worldwide have been indicted on charges related to a 2007 shooting in which 17 Iraqis were killed in a Baghdad square, two sources said Friday.
No easy street for Bush once he's out of office
The process of relinquishing the most powerful job in the world isn't an easy one. Besides overseeing the construction of a presidential library and writing his memoirs, President Bush must also grapple with salvaging a legacy mired in the lowest presidential approval ratings in history
Russian ship enters Panama Canal
A Russian warship has entered the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II.
The Admiral Chabanenko had earlier completed manoeuvres with Venezuela's navy, coinciding with a Latin American tour by the Russian president.
The 50-mile (80km) canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was shut to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Correspondents say the Russian ship will send a symbolic message in what the US sees as its sphere of influence.
Ties between the two superpowers have become strained because of Washington's plan for a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic - something Moscow is firmly opposed to.
Panama said the passage of the ship had no political significance, as the canal is "open to all the world's ships".
Two arrests over Mumbai attacks
A police spokesman said the two were being questioned "about procurement of Sim cards used in Mumbai", where at least 170 people died in the attacks.
Few other details were given of the detentions on Friday night.
India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault on Mumbai but Islamabad denies any role.
The gun and bomb attack last week on multiple targets in India's commercial capital claimed the lives of at least 161 civilians and members of the security forces.
Nine of the 10 militants believed to have mounted the attack were also killed and the 10th suspect is in custody.
US job losses surge in November
US employers axed 533,000 jobs in November, the biggest monthly cut since 1974, the US Labor Department said.
In a dramatic indication of the worsening economic situation, the US jobless rate rose to a 15-year high of 6.7% from 6.5% in October.
Since these latest numbers were compiled, further jobs losses have been announced, including big cuts at AT&T.
Recent figures have fuelled fears that the world's biggest economy is set for a deep, long downturn.
The news pushed Wall Street share prices down 2.5% at one stage, but the market then rebounded and eventually closed up 3%.
US oil prices fell to a four-year low, before recovering slightly to close down $1.93 at $41.74 a barrel.