SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China pitched in nearly $600 billion to the global effort to avoid the worst economic downturn in decades, while grim Japanese data on Monday offered more proof of the damage caused by the global financial crisis.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Less than one week after his historic victory, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington on Monday to learn firsthand from President George W. Bush about the challenges that await him on January 20.

AP - Iraqi police say two bombs that exploded moments apart killed five people and wounded 21 in Baghdad.

AP - If there was any doubt the New York Giants rule the NFC East, the Super Bowl champions erased it Sunday night.

Reuters - China pitched in nearly $600 billion to the global effort to avoid the worst economic downturn in decades, while grim Japanese data on Monday offered more proof of the damage caused by the global financial crisis.

Reuters - Less than one week after his historic victory, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington on Monday to learn firsthand from President George W. Bush about the challenges that await him on January 20.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet warned that many nations lacked the fiscal ammunition to take a cue from China and spend billions of dollars to ride out the global financial storm.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he was ready to fight regional peacekeepers if they entered eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and supported the Congolese army and its allies.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's handling of the executions of three militants for the 2002 Bali bombings caused unnecessary suffering for victims of the blasts and helped fan domestic passions, Indonesian media said Monday.

AP - Barack Obama has never set foot in the Oval Office. Talk about making an entrance. In a sit-down discussion Monday with President Bush, the president-elect will get his first feel for the place where momentous decisions will soon fall to him.

AP - A suicide bomber struck Monday in a crowd gathered at the site of an explosion that had gone off moments earlier, killing 22 people and wounded 42 others, police said.

AP - Rescuers vowed to go on with their search for survivors at a collapsed Haitian school at least through early Monday, despite shrinking hopes amid the growing stench of dead bodies trapped beneath the rubble.

AP - Miriam Makeba, the South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist fondly known as 'Mama Africa,' died early Monday in southern Italy after performing at a concert against organized crime, hospital officials said. She was 76.

AP - An 8-year-old boy is due in court two counts of premeditated murder as mourners prepare to remember his father.

Reuters - European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet warned that many nations lacked the fiscal ammunition to take a cue from China and spend billions of dollars to ride out the global financial storm.

Reuters - Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he was ready to fight regional peacekeepers if they entered eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and supported the Congolese army and its allies.

Reuters - Indonesia's handling of the executions of three militants for the 2002 Bali bombings caused unnecessary suffering for victims of the blasts and helped fan domestic passions, Indonesian media said Monday.

AFP - At least 28 people were killed, including women and children, and dozens wounded in a double bombing in a Baghdad market on Monday, the deadliest attack to rock the Iraqi capital in weeks, security officials said.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Less than one week after his historic victory, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington on Monday to learn firsthand from President George W. Bush about the challenges that await him on January 20.

LONDON (Reuters) - Mounting economic gloom swept through Japan and several emerging nations on Monday and European banks bore the scars of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.

LONDON (Reuters) - World stock and commodity markets surged on Monday in reaction to China's plan to spend nearly $600 billion on stimulating its economy as G20 finance ministers pledged to do what is needed to revive financial markets.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed on Monday comments by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama about Tehran's disputed nuclear ambitions and said it did not expect any major change in the policies of its old foe.

GOMA, Congo (Reuters) - Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he would fight African peacekeepers if they backed government troops against him, as more regional states joined efforts to try to end the conflict.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad Monday and a suicide bomber blew himself up among police and civilians who rushed to help the wounded, a triple strike that killed 28 people and wounded 68.

AP - President-elect Obama's advisers are quietly crafting a proposal to ship dozens, if not hundreds, of imprisoned terrorism suspects to the United States to face criminal trials, a plan that would make good on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison but could require creation of a controversial new system of justice.

AP - A suicide bomber struck Monday in a crowd gathered at the site of an explosion that moments earlier had damaged a bus filled with schoolgirls, with both blasts killing at least 28 people and wounding 68 others, authorities said.

AP - Job cuts, factory closures, unpaid export shipments — stalling worldwide demand for products made-in-China is driving home a new economic reality for businesses that until recently were struggling to keep up with soaring exports.

Reuters - Less than one week after his historic victory, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington on Monday to learn firsthand from President George W. Bush about the challenges that await him on January 20.

Reuters - Mounting economic gloom swept through Japan and several emerging nations on Monday and European banks bore the scars of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.

Reuters - World stock and commodity markets surged on Monday in reaction to China's plan to spend nearly $600 billion on stimulating its economy as G20 finance ministers pledged to do what is needed to revive financial markets.

Reuters - Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed on Monday comments by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama about Tehran's disputed nuclear ambitions and said it did not expect any major change in the policies of its old foe.

Reuters - Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he would fight African peacekeepers if they backed government troops against him, as more regional states joined efforts to try to end the conflict.

AFP - At least 28 people, including women and children, were killed and dozens wounded in a double bombing in a Baghdad market on Monday, the deadliest attack to rock the Iraqi capital in months, security officials said.

AFP - Barack Obama is to hold his first post-election meeting with President George W. Bush on Monday even as aides said he would reverse current White House policy on oil drilling and stem cell research.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve said on Monday the U.S. government would buy $40 billion of shares in insurer American International Group as part of a restructured bail-out package intended to prevent the firm from collapsing.

LONDON (Reuters) - Economic gloom swept through Japan and several emerging nations on Monday and U.S. authorities bailed out struggling insurer AIG, buying $40 billion in new shares to prevent its collapse.

LONDON (Reuters) - World stock and commodity markets surged on Monday in reaction to China's plan to spend nearly $600 billion on stimulating its economy as G20 finance ministers pledged to do what is needed to revive financial markets.

AP - China's massive stimulus package is meant to help support global growth by boosting Chinese investment and consumer spending, Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday.

AP - Wall Street headed for a higher open Monday, boosted by hopes that China's $586 billion economic stimulus package will help ease the global recession.

AP - The government on Monday provided new financial assistance to troubled insurance giant American International Group, including pouring $40 billion into the company in return for partial ownership.

AP - Dallas Councilman Dwaine Caraway is on a mission: He wants those wearing low-hanging, baggy pants to pull them up.

AP - The status quo remained unchanged. The surging Tennessee Titans keep winning, and the listless Detroit Lions keep losing. Kerry Collins threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee beat the Chicago Bears 21-14 Sunday to stay perfect through nine games — despite rushing for just 20 yards, a franchise-low for a team that had been third in the league.

Reuters - Circuit City Stores Inc filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a court in Richmond, Virginia, according to a court filing. Highlights:

Reuters - The Federal Reserve said on Monday the U.S. government would buy $40 billion of shares in insurer American International Group as part of a restructured bail-out package intended to prevent the firm from collapsing.

Reuters - Economic gloom swept through Japan and several emerging nations on Monday and U.S. authorities bailed out struggling insurer AIG, buying $40 billion in new shares to prevent its collapse.

Reuters - Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad on Monday and a suicide bomber blew himself up among police and civilians who rushed to help the wounded, a triple strike that killed 28 people and wounded 68.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc, the No. 2 U.S. consumer electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday just a few weeks before the start of the key holiday shopping season, becoming the largest retailer to file under Chapter 11 this year.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve hiked its support for insurer American International Group Inc to about $150 billion on Monday after an initial bailout attempt failed to stem massive losses.

LONDON (Reuters) - Economic gloom swept through Japan and emerging nations on Monday and U.S. authorities upped support for struggling insurer AIG to about $150 billion to prevent its collapse.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad Monday and a suicide bomber blew himself up among police and civilians who rushed to help the wounded, a triple strike that killed 28 people and wounded 68.

GOMA, Congo (Reuters) - Congolese rebel chief Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he would fight African peacekeeping troops if they attacked him, as concerns grew that east Congo's conflict could suck in neighboring armies.

AP - Circuit City Stores Inc., the nation's second-biggest electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday but plans to stay open for business as the busy holiday shopping season approaches.

AP - Deutsche Post AG will close all of its DHL Express service centers, cut 9,500 jobs in the United States and eliminate U.S.-only domestic express shipping by land and air, the company said Monday, citing heavy losses and fierce competition.

Reuters - The Federal Reserve hiked its support for insurer American International Group Inc to about $150 billion on Monday after an initial bailout attempt failed to stem massive losses.

Reuters - Economic gloom swept through Japan and emerging nations on Monday and U.S. authorities upped support for struggling insurer AIG to about $150 billion to prevent its collapse.

Reuters - Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad Monday and a suicide bomber blew himself up among police and civilians who rushed to help the wounded, a triple strike that killed 28 people and wounded 68.

BONN (Reuters) - Deutsche Post will spend more than planned and cut an additional 9,500 jobs to turn around its U.S. express business, which has been hit by the global economic crisis and hurt third-quarter earnings.

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - China's $586 billion stimulus plan lifted world stock and commodity markets on Monday and the United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG as world governments remained engaged in the economy to battle the global financial crisis.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will put politics aside in his first post-election visit to the White House on Monday, as his advisers pore over some of President George W. Bush's more controversial decisions with an eye to reversing them.

AP - President-elect Obama's advisers are quietly crafting a proposal to ship dozens, if not hundreds, of imprisoned terrorism suspects to the United States to face criminal trials, a plan that would make good on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison but could require creation of a controversial new system of justice.

AP - The proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact removes language authorizing Iraq to ask U.S. soldiers to stay beyond 2011 and bans cross-border attacks from Iraqi soil, according to a copy of the draft obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

AP - In a record bailout of a private company, the government on Monday provided a new $150 billion financial-rescue package to troubled insurance giant American International Group, including $40 billion for partial ownership.

AP - The convicted felon questioned in the killings of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew is staying in prison after authorities say a witness reported seeing him with a gun.

AP - In its latest move to increase Internet search traffic, Microsoft Corp. has turned to an old rival, Sun Microsystems Inc., for marketing help.

Reuters - China's $586 billion stimulus plan lifted world stock and commodity markets on Monday and the United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG as world governments remained engaged in the economy to battle the global financial crisis.

Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will put politics aside in his first post-election visit to the White House on Monday, as his advisers pore over some of President George W. Bush's more controversial decisions with an eye to reversing them.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The government restructured its bailout of American International Group Inc, raising the package to a record $150 billion with easier terms, after a smaller rescue plan failed to stabilize the ailing insurance giant.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc, the No. 2 U.S. consumer electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy on Monday just weeks before the start of the holiday shopping season, becoming the largest retailer to file for Chapter 11 since Kmart in 2002.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG on Monday, a day after China announced a $586 billion plan to stimulate domestic demand, as world governments took new action to battle the global financial crisis.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet responded on Monday to a final draft of a long-awaited security pact that would require U.S. troops to leave the country by the end of 2011, the media advisor to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

AP - An Iraqi government spokesman says the U.S. should offer new amendments to a draft security agreement that would keep American troops in Iraqi until 2012.

AP - Rafael Nadal will miss Spain's Davis Cup final against Argentina because of a knee injury.

Reuters - The government restructured its bailout of American International Group Inc, raising the package to a record $150 billion with easier terms, after a smaller rescue plan failed to stabilize the ailing insurance giant.

Reuters - The United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG on Monday, a day after China announced a $586 billion plan to stimulate domestic demand, as world governments took new action to battle the global financial crisis.

Reuters - Iraq's cabinet responded on Monday to a final draft of a long-awaited security pact that would require U.S. troops to leave the country by the end of 2011, the media advisor to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

Reuters - There were fresh calls on Sunday for the Bush administration to help stalled U.S. automakers, but Democratic and Republican officials said taxpayers cannot repeatedly support business rescues.

AFP - Barack Obama was to take his first steps in the Oval Office on Monday and hold talks with US President George W. Bush just 71 days before inheriting two wars and a global economic crisis.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama visited the White House on Monday for his first post-election meeting with President George W. Bush, a strikingly symbolic moment in the transition of power.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet responded on Monday to the final U.S. draft of a long-awaited security pact that would require American troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media adviser said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. auto industry's best chance for $25 billion in immediate government help for surviving its steepest financial slide rests with Congress, which may have a brief window next week to act.

AP - The Bushes welcomed the Obamas to the White House on Monday, offering a symbolic glimpse of what's in store for the country: a new first family along with a new administration.

AP - In a move that could greatly scale back a possible venture between UPS and Deutsche Post's DHL, the German company said Monday it will significantly reduce its air and ground operations in the U.S. and cut 9,500 jobs within the country.

AP - Wall Street erased an early rally Monday, sinking as enthusiasm fizzled about a $586 billion Chinese stimulus package and gave way to anxiety about how U.S. companies will survive a severe pullback in spending. The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 160 points.

AP - Evan Longoria won the American League Rookie of the Year award Monday by unanimous vote, and Geovany Soto ran away with the NL honor. Following a season of breakthroughs for the AL champion Rays, Longoria became the first Tampa Bay player to win a national award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

AP - This stacks up among the better finds at a Goodwill store: $7,500 in cash stuffed in a shoebox. A recent Bulgarian immigrant found the money during her first day on the job last week at a Goodwill near St. Louis in Glen Carbon, Ill.

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama visited the White House on Monday for his first post-election meeting with President George W. Bush, a strikingly symbolic moment in the transition of power.

Reuters - Iraq's cabinet responded on Monday to the final U.S. draft of a long-awaited security pact that would require American troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media adviser said.

Reuters - The U.S. auto industry's best chance for $25 billion in immediate government help for surviving its steepest financial slide rests with Congress, which may have a brief window next week to act.

AFP - Barack Obama and President George W. Bush held their first meeting at the White House on Monday, a cherished US political ritual ahead of the president-elect's historic January 20 swearing-in.

AFP - At least 28 people were killed, including women and schoolgirls, and dozens wounded in a triple bombing in a Baghdad market on Monday, the deadliest attack to rock the Iraqi capital in months, security officials said.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG on Monday as international action to halt the financial crisis failed to dent investor sentiment that the economy was in for a long and deep recession.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet has drawn its conclusions on a final U.S. draft of a security pact that would require American troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media adviser said on Monday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Gov. David Paterson's plan to wring $2 billion of cuts out of the Legislature could be derailed by several obstacles and may even have to be put off until new senators are sworn in next year, according to state officials.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's historic victory does not bode well for comedians who have thrived on jokes about President George W. Bush, experts say.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - NASA scientists said on Monday they could no longer communicate with the Phoenix Mars Lander and were calling an effective end to its five-month-plus mission on the Red Planet.

AP - The Bushes welcomed the Obamas to the White House on Monday, visiting for nearly two hours and offering the nation a glimpse of a new first family at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. President-elect Obama and President Bush met in the Oval Office, their first substantive one-on-one session, while first lady Laura Bush and Obama's wife, Michelle, talked in the White House residence.

AP - President-elect Obama's advisers are crafting plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and prosecute terrorism suspects in the U.S., a plan that the Bush administration said Monday was easier said than done.

AP - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spent part of the weekend going through her clothing to determine what belongs to the Republican Party after it spent $150,000-plus on a wardrobe for the vice presidential nominee, according to Palin's father.

AP - A suicide bomber struck a crowd rushing to help schoolgirls trapped in a bus by an earlier bombing Monday, killing at least 31 people — the deadliest in a string of blasts that raise doubts about Iraqi security forces as the U.S. prepares to reduce troops.

AP - Prosecutors in the trial of a woman accused of a MySpace hoax that allegedly led a 13-year-old girl to kill herself will likely be prohibited from presenting evidence of the suicide, a federal judge said Monday.

AP - It's a delicate and daring experiment: Could doctors switch a leg nerve to make it operate the bladder instead? Families of a few U.S. children whose spina bifida robs them of the bladder control that most people take for granted dared to try the procedure — and early results suggest the surgery indeed may help, in at least some patients.

AP - Indiana state police said that after a mother was arrested for drunken driving, the three relatives who came to pick up her 1-year-old son also had all been drinking. A state trooper stopped a minivan for speeding early Saturday on U.S. 30 in Schererville in northwestern Indiana. He arrested the 24-year-old woman on a drunken driving charges.

AP - Star outfielder Matt Holliday appears headed to the Oakland Athletics in a surprising move for a franchise known more for shedding stars than adding them. Two people familiar with the proposed deal said Monday the A's and the Colorado Rockies have reached a tentative agreement. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized and details were still in the works.

Reuters - The United States pledged more support for struggling insurer AIG on Monday as international action to halt the financial crisis failed to dent investor sentiment that the economy was in for a long and deep recession.

Reuters - Iraq's cabinet has drawn its conclusions on a final U.S. draft of a security pact that would require American troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media adviser said on Monday.

Reuters - New York Gov. David Paterson's plan to wring $2 billion of cuts out of the Legislature could be derailed by several obstacles and may even have to be put off until new senators are sworn in next year, according to state officials.

AFP - US president-elect Barack Obama, gearing up for his historic January 20 swearing-in, held his first face-to-face talks with US President George W. Bush on Monday and got his first look at the Oval Office.

AP - All smiles and compliments, President-elect Obama and his wife, Michelle, called on President Bush and first lady Laura Bush Monday in a White House visit that was part political ritual, part practical introduction and a striking symbol of the historic transfer of power to come.

AP - When the government offered an emergency loan to insurer American International Group in September, eyebrows shot up at the $85 billion price tag. Now it looks like pocket change.

AP - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean plans to step down from his post when his term expires in January, wrapping up a tenure in which the party heavily invested in all 50 states for a payoff that helped elect Barack Obama president.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's team cautioned on Monday he had not yet decided whether to reverse executive orders on topics such as stem cell research and oil drilling imposed by President George W. Bush.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Phoenix Mars Lander, which made history by finding definitive proof of water on the Red Planet, has lost contact with Earth, effectively ending its more than five-month mission, NASA said on Monday.

AP - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, amid speculation she'll run for president in four years, blamed Bush administration policies for the defeat last week of the GOP ticket and prayed she wouldn't miss 'an open door' for her next political opportunity.

AP - All smiles and compliments, President-elect Obama and his wife, Michelle, called on President Bush and first lady Laura Bush Monday in a White House visit that was part political ritual, part practical introduction and a striking symbol of the historic transfer of power to come. The president and Obama talked war and financial crisis. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama talked about raising daughters in the nation's most famous house.

Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's team cautioned on Monday he had not yet decided whether to reverse executive orders on topics such as stem cell research and oil drilling imposed by President George W. Bush.

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Express Co said it won approval to become a bank holding company, in a step that could cut its borrowing costs and give it more access to government money.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Evidence of a weakening Chinese economy and feeble data from Australia and Britain reinforced fears of a prolonged global recession on Tuesday, as policymakers groped for a co-ordinated response to the downturn.

AP - Paul Pierce scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Boston Celtics to a 94-87 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

Reuters - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin suggested in an interview broadcast on Monday that she might run for higher office in 2012 if the right opportunity presents itself.

Reuters - Evidence of a weakening Chinese economy and feeble data from Australia and Britain reinforced fears of a prolonged global recession on Tuesday, as policymakers groped for a co-ordinated response to the downturn.