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The Israel Defense Forces continued their push deep into Gaza City, exchanging gunfire with Hamas militants. A U.N. compound in the center of the city was hit by Israeli shelling, setting the building on fire. In Jerusalem, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his “strong protest and outrage” to the Israeli government. More than 70 targets were shelled last night including a mosque that the IDF says was being used to store weapons.
Meanwhile, diplomats in the region say they are closer to reaching an agreement to end the conflict. Hamas negotiators in Egypt have agreed in principle to a cease-fire, though the Israeli side was more cautions, stressing that they would, "not accept a situation where Hamas gets a temporary period of quiet just to rearm and regroup and that ends with further rocket barrages on Israel."
Haaretz sees the Egyptian deal as essentially a "surrender" for Hamas which "doesn't let the organization bring the Palestinian public any political achievement that would justify the blood that has been spilled."
Europe
The EU may take legal action against Russian and Ukrainian gas companies if the gas doesn't start to flow soon.
British Foreign Minister David Miliband said that the war on terror was a "mistaken" notion.
The European Central Bank cut its main policy interest rate by half a percentage point.
Middle East
Arab nationals are squabbling over the location of a proposed emergency summit on Gaza.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the king of Saudi Arabia for his "silence" on Israel.
Iran is interested in ordering Boeing passenger jets if U.S sanctions were lifted.
Americas
Venezuelan lawmakers approved bill to eliminate presidential term limits.
Jailed narcotrafficker Manuel Noriega may be extradited to France rather than his native Panama.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence from the company.
Africa
Twenty-four nations agreed to coordinate their anti-piracy efforts at the U.N.
The U.N. will take over peacekeeping in Chad from the European Union.
Sudan's government admitted carrying out a wave of bombing attacks on Darfur.
Asia
China's economy overtook Germany's to become the world's third largest in 2008.
Sri Lankan troops captured another strategically important region from the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Pakistan arrested more than 100 people suspected of links to the Mumbai attacks.
U.S. Presidential Transition
The Obama family will move into Blair House -- the White House guest residence -- today.
Congressional Democrats are almost done with a massive new stimulus package that the president-elect will promote on a trip to the Midwest.
Treasury nominee Tim Geithner's tax violations were no big deal, GOP leaders say.
Photo: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
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