New data for Georgia in Google Earth

Our heart felt thanks go out to the folks in Mountain View.  Dave Barth posted yesterday over at Google Lat Long Blog to let us know that new data is now available for Georgia.  The was a minor brouhaha a few weeks back when it was noticed that there was no data for Georgia.  Dave quickly responded that they’re working on it and now, a little over two weeks later, there is a slew of new layer material.  There was a small spurt of data shortly after the very vocal uprising but now they’ve gone and added Panoramio images along with other data sets.

Thanks to Dave and the team and now we just have to ask one question: When are you posting the new Bihar imagery?

U.S. to announce over $1 billion in aid for Georgia – Reuters

Reuters is running a story that says the US will provide over $1 billion in aid for Georgia.  From the article:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Bush administration will announce on Wednesday an aid package of more than $1 billion to help Georgia rebuild after its war with Russia over the separatist enclave of South Ossetia last month, U.S. officials said.

Sources familiar with the U.S. aid package said it was expected to total about $1.07 billion for reconstruction, with $570 million to be disbursed this year and $500 million subsequently. None of the money is expected to go for military aid, a highly sensitive issue to Moscow, the sources said.

A significant proportion would be devoted to budget support as well as to rebuild housing, transportation and other infrastructure destroyed in the conflict, one source said.

Read on…

Russia ‘ends Georgia Operation’ – BBC

According to the BBC Russia has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia.  However, there are a few lines further down the page that stand out,

According to a Kremlin statement, Mr Medvedev told his defence minister and chief of staff that “the goal has been attained”.

“I’ve decided to finish the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace. The safety of our peacekeeping forces and civilian population has been restored,” he said.

But Mr Medvedev warned that Russia would not tolerate any further Georgian military activity in South Ossetia, saying: “Should centres of resistance or other aggressive attempts arise, you must take the decision to destroy them.”

Even if the fighting is over there are still an estimated 100,000 driven from their homes.  The relief efforts will need to continue long after the current conflict ends.

Read on…

Spiegel Online Fotostrecke

Der Spiegel Online has a an incredible slide show of images from the fighting in South Ossetia.  Click on the image below to view the entire show:

Reuters

VIDEO: Georgian troops pound separatists – Reuters

More from Reuters:

Reuters

Russian tanks have entered South Ossetia, heavy fighting

Below is a screen clip from the BBC’s latest video of Russian tanks rolling into Georgia.  Click on it and you’ll be taken to the full BBC video:

BBC

I was told late last night that aid agencies are already planning their response, ReliefWeb has begun updating their maps for the region and the Red Cross is asking that a humanitarian corridor be established for evacuation of wounded civilians.

South Ossetia – If this isn’t war I don’t know what is

Russia Today reports on the current violence in South Ossetia:

‘Heavy fighting in South Ossetia’

BBC

Here’s the latest from the BBC:

“Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists have been exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks.

Fighting broke out after a brief lull in a day of heavy fighting in which 12 people were reportedly killed.”

Read on…

Trouble is brewing in Georgia! No, not THAT Georgia.

Reuters

Well, it looks like things are heating up in Georgia.  Reuter’s AlertNet has a story about the escalation in tensions between Georgia and the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  Apparently, Georgian jets flew eight missions over South Ossetia yesterday and the Russian peacekeepers in the region are not real happy about it.

Read the full story here and for those of you that still do not know which Georgia I am talking about here’s a map: