GAZA - As Israelis begin house searches, diplomatic push picks up steam
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP):Israel seized control of high-rise buildings and attacked houses, mosques and smuggling tunnels as it pressed its offensive against the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers on Monday, while European leaders joined a stream of countries...

Palestinians want quick UN ceasefire resolution
UNITED NATIONS (AP): The Palestinians are urging the United Nations Security Council to quickly adopt a resolution calling for an immediate end to Israeli attacks in Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, including international border...

Bush justifies invasion
WASHINGTON (AP): President George W. Bush, in his first public reaction to Israel's ground invasion of Gaza, said Monday that the Jewish state was justified in protecting itself against Hamas militants...

Obama chooses new director of national intelligence
WASHINGTON (AP) Retired Admiral Dennis Blair is Barack Obama's choice to be director of national intelligence. Two Democratic officials said yesterday that the former head of United States Pacific Command was the president-elect's choice for the post.

... picks Panetta for CIA
Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff, Leon Panetta, to run the CIA. Panetta was a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world.

US watchdog undertakes wide-ranging Madoff review
WASHINGTON (AP): The internal watchdog at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission said yesterday that an investigation of the agency's failure to uncover the alleged $50-billion fraud involving Wall Street figure Bernard Madoff will extend...

Man charged in NY crane collapse
NEW YORK (AP): The contractor who raised the crane that toppled in midtown Manhattan last year and killed seven people was charged yesterday with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for failing to stabilise it, prosecutors said...