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Israel deaf to truce calls as Gaza battles rage on
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days.
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U.S., Germany mull tax cuts
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The prospect of new tax cuts in the United States and Germany injected a measure of New Year cheer on Monday, even as automakers wrapped up 2008 as their worst in more than 15 years with yet another month of slumping U.S. sales.
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Prosecutors seek to jail Madoff
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge to jail accused swindler Bernard Madoff on Monday, saying he sent jewelry and other items worth more than $1 million to family and friends in violation of his bail.
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Democrat wins Minnesota Senate seat in recount
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Democrat Al Franken beat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to win the U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota, officials conducting a final recount said on Monday, though the loser promised to challenge the result.
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Obama picks former Clinton aide Panetta for CIA
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to lead the CIA, which has been widely criticized for harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects, Democratic officials said on Monday.
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Obama seeks swift passage of fiscal package
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama pressed congressional leaders on Monday to pass his huge spending and tax-cut package amid signs the centerpiece of his economic stimulus plan may face delays.
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Apple's Jobs reassures investors about his health
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs sought to soothe investor concerns about his health on Monday, saying his weight loss was caused by a hormone imbalance that is relatively simple to treat.
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U.S. opens new Iraq embassy
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States dedicated its new embassy building in Baghdad on Monday, a step meant to symbolize its transition from occupying power to an ally of a sovereign Iraqi government.
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Russia reduces gas flows to Europe via Ukraine
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Russia reduced gas flows to Europe via Ukraine on Monday, a measure it said was to stop its neighbor siphoning off fuel but which Kiev said could jeopardize supplies to European countries including Germany.
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U.S. anti-kidnap expert's vanishing spins Mexico mystery
MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - The abduction of a U.S. anti-kidnap expert in northern Mexico last month remains a mystery with no clues to the man's whereabouts and no ransom demanded by his captors, police said on Monday.
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Thousands of claim forms sent to Madoff customers
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 8,000 forms have been mailed to customers of accused swindler Bernard Madoff so they can make claims by March or July for any money they may have lost, the trustee overseeing the liquidation of Madoff's firm said on Monday.
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U.N. urges nations to accept Guantanamo detainees
VIENNA (Reuters) - More countries should offer to take in Guantanamo prisoners to help U.S. President-elect Barack Obama close the detention camp for terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s torture investigator said on Monday.
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India says hands Mumbai attack evidence to Pakistan
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India handed over evidence on Monday to Pakistan that it said linked Pakistani militants to the Mumbai attacks and demanded a prompt investigation, piling diplomatic pressure on its nuclear-armed rival.
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Regulators probed Madoff eight times over 16 years: report
(Reuters) - Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC was examined at least eight times in 16 years by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulators, who often came armed with suspicions, the Wall Street Journal said.
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Obama takeover augurs financial regulator shakeup
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress will take over the government this month with big plans to overhaul U.S. financial regulation and a surge of momentum behind them.
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Fed, ECB prepare to tackle deflation head-on
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Officials from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank on Sunday vowed to fight the damaging effects of deflation as the global economy suffers a deep and lengthy recession.
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Obama transition hits bump as Richardson withdraws
CHICAGO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama stumbled in his quest for a smooth transition on Sunday when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew as his nominee for commerce secretary in the face of a legal inquiry.
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Travolta "heartbroken" over son's death
NASSAU (Reuters) - Actor John Travolta broke a two-day silence over the death of his 16-year-old son Jett on Sunday, saying he and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, were "heartbroken" by their sudden loss.
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Reid cites "legal authority" to bar Illinois pick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Sunday that "legal authority" exists under the Constitution to bar embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, but added there is also room to negotiate.
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Gaza civilians suffer as Israel troops tighten grip
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops and tanks split the Gaza Strip and ringed its main city on Sunday in an offensive against Hamas that has killed 500 Palestinians, including a growing number of civilians.
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