Gaza truce proposed after Israeli shell kills 30 (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:20:19 GMT
AP - France and Egypt announced an initiative to stop the fighting in Gaza late Tuesday, hours after Israeli mortar shells exploded near a U.N. school sheltering hundreds of people displaced by the onslaught on Hamas militants. At least 30 Palestinians died, staining streets with blood.

Democratic leaders seek to resolve Burris dispute (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:38:40 GMT
AP - Roland Burris failed to capture President-elect Barack Obama's old Senate seat Tuesday in a wild piece of political theater, but the Democrats' opposition cracked when a key chairwoman said seating him was simply the legal thing to do. Democratic leaders, set to meet with Burris on Wednesday, were searching for a way to defuse the dispute before it further overshadows the 111th Congress.

New Congress opens pledging to rescue economy (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:17:12 GMT
AP - The Capitol rang loud with vows to fix the crisis-ridden economy Tuesday as Congress opened for business at the dawn of a new Democratic era. "We need action and we need action now," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Republicans agreed, and pledged cooperation in Congress as well as with President-elect Barack Obama — to a point.

CNN: Gupta approached about surgeon general post (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:45:55 GMT
AP - President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN's chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, about becoming the country's next surgeon general, the cable network said Tuesday.

Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:19:38 GMT
AP - Republican Norm Coleman filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Democrat Al Franken's apparent recount victory in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, delaying a resolution of the contest for weeks or months.

Bush adviser: Iran, Pakistan key Obama challenges (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:09:19 GMT
AP - President George W. Bush's national security adviser said Tuesday that Iran is the biggest challenge President-elect Barack Obama will face in the Middle East and that more sanctions will be needed to force Tehran to forgo its nuclear ambitions and support for extremists.

Grand Canyon, Loch Ness compete as nature wonders (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:16:40 GMT
AP - The Grand Canyon, Mount Everest and Loch Ness will vie with more than 200 other spectacular places in the next phase of the global competition for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, organizers said Wednesday. The 261 nominees from 222 countries include some of the most famous mountain peaks, lakes, and other attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Niagara Falls.

Death of Travolta's son raises medical questions (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:19:30 GMT
AP - Millions of children and adults have seizures in the United States, but dying from one is rare. That only adds to the confusion and mystery surrounding the life and death of Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Lou the mule credited with saving woman from fire (AP)
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:27:40 GMT
AP - Jolene Solomon is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else. The Southern Standard in McMinnville reported Solomon had just finished eating supper on New Year's Day when Lou's braying and acting up got her attention.

Giambi close to completing deal to return to A's (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:12:32 GMT
AP - Jason Giambi might just finish his career where it began more than a decade ago. The free-agent first baseman was close to completing a deal Tuesday to return to the Oakland Athletics nearly 14 years after making his debut with the club, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. The sides had reached a preliminary agreement, pending a physical, on what is expected to be a one-year contract with an option.