Reuters: Top News

Israeli troops deepen push into Gaza	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:37:00 -0500
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces pressed closer and into cities in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday despite new international calls for a ceasefire in an 11-day-old conflict in which hundreds of Palestinians have been killed.

New Congress set to convene with economy in focus	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:18:23 -0500
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new U.S. Congress convenes on Tuesday under pressure to deal with a worsening economy by passing a stimulus package that Barack Obama could sign into law soon after being sworn in as president.

Toyota to shut plants	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:53:08 -0500
TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp will shut all its factories in Japan for 11 days to combat a global slowdown that is not only hitting company profits but could, a report says, unleash a wave of social unrest in China.

Prosecutors seek to jail Madoff	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:13:47 -0500
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.

Retail sales seen falling despite deep discounts	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:54:24 -0500
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deep discounts failed to coax consumers to shop in December, but are sure to sap margins and will likely lead to a number of profit warnings when retailers report sales for the all-important holiday month this week.

Obama picks former Clinton aide Panetta for CIA	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:48:21 -0500
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.

Democrat wins Minnesota Senate seat in recount	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:23:17 -0500
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.

California gay marriage battle turns to court role	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:46:42 -0500
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The legal battle over gay marriage in California turned on Monday to whether the state's top court could strike down a change in the state constitution that was approved by voters.

Bulgaria says Russia gas supplies halted	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:55:04 -0500
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Supplies of Russian gas via Ukraine to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey stopped flowing on Tuesday because of a dispute between Moscow and Kiev over gas prices, officials in Sofia said.

Apple's Jobs reassures investors about his health	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:01:46 -0500
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.