U.N. officials say supplies needed in Gaza

United Nations officials said more supplies are needed in besieged Gaza that is suffering continuous air strikes.

Israel has allowed about a dozen supply trucks into the territory, but U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said that at least 100 trucks are needed to adequately address the problem. Provisions in Gaza are low because of a practical blockade that has been in place for months.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on both sides to halt fighting immediately.

Times Online

UN Officials Address Humanitarian Needs In Gaza Voice of America - 3 hours ago By Michael Bowman United Nations officials said suffering stemming from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip is being compounded by shortages of food, medical supplies, and other basic needs. Video: Israel Says Gaza Assault 'war to the Bitter End' AssociatedPress Israel expands Gaza campaign Reuters UK

Reuters Gaza protests across Mideast, Europe Rough Cut Dec 29, 2008

Reuters Gaza's hospitals "overwhelmed" Report Dec 29, 2008

Reuters Israel renews air strikes on Gaza Report Dec 28, 2008

Reuters Oil jumps on Gaza fighting Report Dec 29, 2008

War forces 50,000 from homes in Congo

Some 50,000 people fled their homes over the last two days to escape fighting in the eastern Congo.

The fighting in the region threatens to ignite a conflict between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The area still is simmering after the six-year Great War of Africa that killed an estimated 3.8 million people before a ceasefire in 2002. Yet, since that time another 1.4 million have died due to the violent situation in the area linked in part to ethnic tensions stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

UN commanders have requested reinforcements for the 17,000 strong peacekeeping force in the region. They have been using attack helicopters in an attempt to contain the Tutsi rebels forces of General Laurent Nkunda, but with little success. There are reports that Rwandan tanks have aided the rebel advance against Hutu militias in Congolese forest.

ABC News

Regional war fear as 50000 homeless in Congo in two days Times Online - 33 minutes ago Congolese government forces are fleeing the eastern capital of Goma as Rwandan-backed rebels press towards the town, threatening a lethal confrontation with United Nations peacekeepers and the prospect of all out regional war. Fighting in Congo Approaches Goma Voice of America DR Congo flare-up drives 30000 people into camps near Goma Xinhua

UN climate change chief worried about EU committment

Yvo de Boer, the secretary general of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, is worried that the European Union nations may miss deadlines on emission cuts.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, at an EU summit, that the group was still targeting greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020. However, the bloc appears to have changed its position on coming up with a detailed plan by the end of this year.

Canada.com

UN climate chief concerned at EU disarray International Herald Tribune - 2 hours ago AP AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: The UN climate chief says he is concerned the European Union may miss its self-assigned deadline on a climate change policy. European Nations Seek to Revise Agreement on Emissions Cuts New York Times UN fears for Europe's climate plan The Press Association