Newscast for Monday, November 19, 2012

Israeli strikes on Gaza hit homes, media center as assault continues

After six days of bombardment on Gaza by the Israeli military, Gaza’s health ministry warns it is running out of medical supplies. Since the start of the military campaign, many of Gaza's 1.6 million residents have been forced to stay inside their homes, and only emergency vehicles and those delivering food or supplies are allowed movement under the siege. Armed groups in Gaza fired more than 100 rockets into southern Israel today, though Israeli police reported no casualties, according to Reuters. Yesterday and today, the Israeli army fired missiles into buildings in Gaza city that house local and international news agencies. On both days it attacked Al Shuruq - where Palestinian agencies, Britain’s Sky News and Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya channel have offices. Israeli government spokespeople say the military was targeting Islamic jihad fighters who were in the building. FSRN’s Rami Almeghari  has more from Gaza.

Protesters block construction of TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline in eastern Texas

In eastern Texas today protesters blocked construction of the southern leg of the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline. When finished, the pipeline would transport crude oil from the tarsands of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Activists climbed trees in the path of the pipeline and chained themselves to machinery, bringing construction of the pipeline to a halt. Police arrested at least five people and used pepper spray on protesters who refused to leave the site. We spoke with FSRN reporter Andrew Oxford earlier today, he was at the site near Wells, Texas as police began to move in.

Activists rally in Washington DC, calling for divestment from fossil fuels, rejection of Keystone XL pipeline

Alarmed by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy, environmental activists rallied in Washington DC this weekend to pressure both the government and the fossil fuel industry to act. They’re calling on President Obama to make what they call “the single most important climate decision one person can make” – that’s denying a cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. They’re also launching a campaign to divest from fossil fuels and to draw the connection between poverty and pollution. FSRN’s Alice Ollstein attended the protest and files this report.

Killings, intimidation threaten local leaders in Indian-administered Kashmir

For the first time in decades, residents in Indian-administered Kashmir revived a traditional form of government called panchayats. They elected around 33,000 members of local village assemblies to make decisions on local issues.  But due to the region’s political conflict the local leaders, or panchs, have become targets. Several local leaders have resigned after two panchs were murdered in the last month.  FSRN's Shahnawaz Khan reports.