Powerful 7.0 Earthquake Hits Near Vanuatu

“NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a powerful undersea earthquake off the South Pacific island of Vanuatu.

The U.S.G.S. says a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck at 5:19 a.m. Sunday local time (1819 GMT) at a depth of 28.5 kilometers (17.7 miles). Its epicenter was 69 kilometers (42 miles) south-southwest of the Vanuatu capital of Port-Vila.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says no tsunami warning is in effect.” Read more.

Iowa: Hailstones as Large as Baseballs Cause Extensive Damage in Southwest Iowa

“Insurance adjusters and auto body shops in southwest Iowa are busy today after last night’s hailstorm.

Hailstones as large as baseballs shattered windshields and dimpled hoods, trunks and roofs. Jim Champion runs a body shop in Omaha/Council Bluffs and says if your vehicle’s windows were blown out and the interior got drenched, you’d better get that moisture out quickly.

‘If it’s allowed to stay inside there and the soaked carpets, it’s going to get mildew and mold and it is going to stink to high heaven,’ he says. Customers were already lined up waiting for estimates this morning when he arrived at work. In addition to the broken windows and wet upholstery, Champion says there is a possibility electronic parts that run under the floorboards could be damaged, too.” Read more.

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Arab League to Hold ‘Emergency Meeting’, Egypt Recalls Ambassador, Hamas Calls Off 2-Year-Old ‘Ceasefire’, Egyptians Call for End of Peace Treaty …

Israel is attacked by terrorists.  Arabs say nothing.  Israel defends itself.  Arabs blow a gasket …

Arab League to hold emergency meeting over IDF strikes on Gaza – “The Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Israel Defense Forces air strikes on the Gaza Strip over the past two days, state media said Saturday. ‘The Arab League received a request from the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the Israeli aggression on Gaza,’ state television reported… After coordinated terror attacks that killed eight in southern Israel on Thursday, 30 Grad and Qassam rockets were fired throughout southern Israel on Friday, with rocket attacks continuing Saturday in areas near Be’er Sheva and in the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip.” Read more.

Egypt withdraws ambassador to Israel over policemen deaths – “Egypt will withdraw its ambassador to Israel until it receives an apology and the results of an official investigation into the killing of five Egyptian policemen near the border, the cabinet said Saturday. An emergency committee said the ambassador would be recalled until ‘Israeli authorities apologize for the hasty and regrettable statements about Egypt.’ It said Egypt also held Israel responsible for political and legal implications of the incident, which it called a violation of the Camp David Treaty.” Read more.

Hamas Ends ‘Ceasefire’ with Israel – “Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, called off a ceasefire with Israel late Friday, Hamas’ Al-Aqsa radio reported. According to the report, which was quoted by the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency, Hamas will allow terror factions in Gaza to respond to Israeli attacks in the Strip. Those ‘attacks’ come in response to provocations by the same terror groups in Gaza, such as Thursday’s multiple attacks near Eilat or the barrage of rockets which were fired at Israel from Gaza on Friday. A representative of the militant group was quoted as having said, ‘There can be no truce with the Israeli occupation while it commits massacres against the Palestinian people without justification.'” Read more.

Egyptian demonstrators call for cancellation of peace treaty – “Egyptian demonstrators have held an angry protest outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, over claims that up to five Egyptian security personnel were killed on Thursday. Protesters burnt the Israeli flag and chanted, ‘Close the embassy! Expel the ambassador’ and demanded on Friday the resignation of the Israeli ambassador and the cancellation of a peace treaty between the countries. The protest carried on throughout the night, with demonstrators bringing down the metal barriers surrounding the embassy and stomping on them, Al Jazeera correspondent Rawya Rageh reported from the scene. ‘People are still gathered outside the embassy and they are making quite a lot of noise. The protesters are insisting on making their voices heard and one of the protesters told me that they have no intention of leaving until the Israeli flag, perched on top of the 20th floor of the apartment building is brought down.’ our reporter said.” Read more.