Israeli troops push into Gaza as war toll mounts

Thousands of Israeli troops and scores of tanks pushed deep into Gaza on Sunday, battling Hamas fighters and moving towards the enclave's capital on a mission to end militant rocket attacks.
At least 19 Palestinians were killed in the latest fighting as trucks and cars packed with families fled from Gaza City and other towns in the face of the biggest Israeli military operation since its 2006 war in Lebanon.
International efforts to halt the conflict floundered. The UN Security Council failed even to agree on the wording of a statement on the conflict, with the United States giving strong backing to Israel.
Israeli infantry and tanks were just south of Gaza City. Heavy fighting was also reported njust to the north and around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya.

Explosions shook the north of the Hamas-controlled enclave, home to 1.5 million people, and thick smoke hung over much of the Gaza Strip as the Israeli army took control of main roads.

There were constant explosions and the sound of automatic gunfire, residents said.

At least 19 people have been killed since Israel launched its night-time offensive on Saturday after eight days of air strikes in which at least 485 Palestinians died and more than 2,400 were wounded, Gaza medics said.

More than 80 children are among the dead.

Some 30 Israeli soldiers and "several" Hamas fighters were reported to have been wounded since the ground offensive began, the army and medics said.

Israel has denied Hamas claims that soldiers had been killed. The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera news channel reported that one Israeli had been killed.

A Hamas spokesman, speaking as troops crossed the border, said that Gaza will become "a cemetery" for Israeli troops.

Witnesses said Israeli infantry and tanks had taken control of the Salaheddine Road, the main highway along the length of the enclave.

Advancing troops exchanged fire with Hamas fighters, who shot mortar rounds and detonated roadside bombs, they said, adding that Israeli forces were also seen detaining people.

In Tel Aviv Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned before a cabinet meeting that the operation would not be "simple."

"The operation will be expanded and intensified as much as necessary," he said. "War is not a picnic."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would not open a new front in the north, in a veiled reference to tensions with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Olmert said he had told the army to be "extremely alert and prepared for any development in the event that someone might think that this is his opportunity to take advantage" of the conflict in Gaza.

Israel unleashed "Operation Cast Lead" on December 27 with the declared aim of ending rocket attacks into Israel from Gaza that resumed after a six-month truce ended.

Rocket fire from Gaza over the past week has killed four people in Israel. Twenty-five rockets and mortar rounds were fired across the border on Sunday and hit the towns of Sderot and Ashdod, although no casualties were reported.

Israel's offensive has sparked spiralling anger in the Muslim world and protests across the globe.

The UN Security Council failed to agree a statement calling for a ceasefire despite nearly four hours of closed-door consultations late on Saturday.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said that "what is happening in the Security Council is a farce that shows the level that America and the Zionist occupier dominates its decisions."

The deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Alejandro Wolff, said afterwards Washington believed it was crucial "not to return to the status quo" that had allowed Hamas to attack Israel.

"The efforts we are making internationally are designed to establish a sustainable, durable ceasefire that's respected by all," he said. "And that means no more rocket attacks. It means no more smuggling of arms."

France led international criticism of the ground invasion that Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas warned would have "grave consequences" for the region.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was to hold talks on Monday with Olmert in Jerusalem and Abbas in Ramallah.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called the ground offensive a "dangerous military escalation" that would undermine truce efforts.

"France condemns the Israeli ground offensive against Gaza just as it condemns the continuing firing of rockets," he said.

Turkey, one of Israel's few Muslim allies, also condemned the air and ground offensive and called for it to end immediately.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the ground offensive had created a "very dangerous moment" in the conflict.

"I think everybody around the world is expressing grave concerns. What we've got to do almost immediately is to work harder than we've done for an immediate ceasefire," he told BBC.

Israel has called a snap general election for February 10, and the current leadership has widespread public support for the offensive.

ENGLISH FA CUP: Fergie challenges Devils to run riot at Southampton

ZORAN TOSIC

SOUTHAMPTON: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged his misfiring players to use today's FA Cup third round trip to Southampton as an opportunity to rediscover their scoring touch.

United have not scored more than one goal in a Premier League game since beating Stoke 5-3 at Old Trafford in November.

Ferguson is anxious to put that statistic right at the St Mary's Stadium ahead of a potentially crucial league meeting with Chelsea next Sunday.

"Every game is an opportunity to score goals," Ferguson said. "We made 25 chances against Middlesbrough on Monday and scored once. It is not what we expect but with the players we have, you have to think someone is going to suffer.

"The goalscoring will correct itself at some point because we have good goalscorers."
No team have ever won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup in the same season and Ferguson has already played down United's chances of a historic quadruple.

The United boss is looking for an extended FA Cup run after being knocked out by Southampton's south coast rivals and eventual winners Portsmouth last season.

Ferguson added: "We are competing. The FA Cup is partly down to luck. It is sudden death and anything can happen.

"We have not got the home draw I always look for but they have a good stadium and I expect an interesting game.

"Southampton were one of the most consistent teams for nearly 30 years.

"They had a fantastic record for a provincial team, with some marvellous players.

"They had that golden period under Lawrie McMenemy with lads like Peter Shilton, Mike Channon and Kevin Keegan. More recently, Matthew Le Tissier was top goalscorer in the Premier League.

"Now they are having to deal with young players but their coach has done a great job considering he has no money to work with."

United's preparations have been boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo pledging his future to the club and the STG16 million (RM81 million) double signing of Serbian youngsters Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade.

While United are preparing for a second half of the season assault at home and in Europe, Southampton face a battle to preserve their Championship status.

Their Dutch manager Jan Poortvliet says beating Ferguson's side would equal the achievement of playing for his country in the 1978 World Cup final against Argentina.

Poortvliet said: "This is your biggest challenge as a manager when you play against the world champions and you can put them out of the FA Cup.

"You will remember the day for the rest of your life. The FA Cup is massive not only in England but also in the Netherlands because it will be on television there.

"For every coach it is special playing against the best in Europe and in the world. It is like a World Cup final.

"Playing for my country in the World Cup final was huge but you can say Sunday has the same prestige."

United will be without injured defender Rio Ferdinand while Polish international Tomasz Kuszczak is set to replace the rested Edwin van der Sar in goal.

Trading and Emotions

Psychological factors about the trading are well covered in the books, articles and in all sorts of media information and in this article all the ideas about emotions, caused by the “mad” movements of the market, probably will not be new, but solutions how to deal with them for some traders could be a discovery. I am not pretending to be a wizard of the market, but what helps me could help others as well.

Let me first express my opinion, what any trading strategy or investment plan, no matter how good it is, is completely useless without proper execution of that plan. I think here majority will agree without any big argument. But another idea - that not very good strategy, but with the proper execution of that strategy could bring good results - will bring a doubt in our busy heads. And I would agree with you, despite I personally know one Forex market trader who's strength is discipline, not the strategy. And he has excellent results. I think he is an exception. I still think that for successful trading you need a good strategy and discipline to execute that strategy.

Emotions, emotions, emotions... Trading is full of them, movement of the market based on them. Our rush to buy or sell sometimes overflow our plans. And later we question ourselves: “Why did I do this or that?” What is driving us to get into the market when we are not prepared and exit on completely different prices, which completely disagree with our plans? I think it is two major factors: greed and fear.

Greed – we want more! When market goes as we expected, we believe it will continue for very long time. We forgot that everything changes. Fear - we afraid to miss the profitable move or to loose the money. And until fear and greed will dominate us, our results will be very unstable. And worse: if our money management is not the strongest point (usually for emotional traders this is the weakest point), will soon will be out of money, before we even had a chance to establish ourselves as a trader.

Here I am going to give some solutions how to overcome emotions.

First let's start from the trading strategy. I am sure everyone has got one. If not, here my first advice – find one. Do not start “make millions” without a strategy. How and where? In the book stores, magazines, internet. There are plenty of it. Just look around and I am sure you will find lots, but choose just one. Just one at the time. Don't start trading six strategies at once, you will get confused.

So, let's say you have one. Now I have one question: where is your trading strategy and rules? In your head? On the screen? On the paper? Worst answer is - in my head. And here is my second advice – don't be lazy and accurately write it down on the clean paper. Write all your strategy, where you going to enter, where you are going to exit. About how to write a plan or strategy should be separate discussion, so here we are not going to do that. Advice is – write YOUR rules and plans, and strategies.

Next step will be an execution of the plan or strategy. At first it looks simple, you see the price, you know at what price you want to buy, where are you going to take the profit, where you will stop your position. Good. Just do it. Well, reality is - market does not know about your plans and even worst, market is living its own life and definitely, market does not care about your money. Before you go any further, here is my next advice - stop and think. Do you really want to be a trader? Are you ready to accept losses? If your answer is yes, I would suggest one interesting thing to do, before you enter the trade:

Find some quite place and give a promise to yourself: “I am going to execute my trading plan and I will accept any consequences for my actions” This could be your everyday some sort of prayer, until you start following your plan without any exceptions. And when you find yourself in the position, where you do not know what to do, repeat those words for yourself. It will help you to strengthen your discipline. By repeating to yourself , that every action you take is absolutely your responsibility, will make you realize, no one is guilty for your mistakes or losses. Just you. But it is important at this point do not blame yourself. Blame is simple weak point, in other words – another emotion. Instead of blaming yourself, analyse what have you done wrong, maybe is possible to improve trading strategy or plan, and write it on a paper. And when you find mistake of your actions, or hole in your strategy, simply next time do not repeat that mistake, improve your strategy.

By repeating to yourself: “I am going to execute my trading plan....” you will remind to yourself about a plan, which you created and at least you will look at it. That definitely will stop you at least for a moment.

Even if we have a plan, it is very hard to take losses. I know. We all have got a hope, we all believe in some sort of miracles. But at the same time we know, successful trader simply follows it's plan, unsuccessful one has a hope. Do not be afraid to take loss. One loss is not the end of the world. Even few of them in a row. If you are sure that your strategy works, stick to it and soon you will have very positive results. But how to cope with the loss mentally?

Next advice will be – find the time every day for some physical exercises. Any physical exercises will help you to feel better. Do not sit in front of the screen thinking: “I could do this, I had to do that...” Body likes to move and it will give some stress relief. Do not be afraid to get away from the screen. Do not think too much about market. There is certainly more life than markets.