WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. recession will probably be the longest since World War Two and could worsen without heavy government spending, according to a closely-watched survey of economists released on Saturday.

AP - Five people were shot as spectators left a crowded high school basketball game Friday in what police called a possibly gang-related drive-by attack that sent panicked students running into a snowy street on the city's South Side.

AP - For days, LeBron James insisted facing the NBA champions in January was no ordinary regular-season game. He and his teammates proved it.

Reuters - The U.S. recession will probably be the longest since World War Two and could worsen without heavy government spending, according to a closely-watched survey of economists released on Saturday.

AFP - The EU was set to continue efforts Saturday to resolve the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the transit of gas supplies that has left tens of thousands in Europe without heating.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel pressed on with a punishing Gaza offensive and Hamas fired more rockets into the Jewish state Saturday in a two-week-old war that defied international efforts to stop it.

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday to meet political and military leaders in the war-torn country, which will become a top foreign policy priority of the new administration.

AP - As President-elect Barack Obama assures intelligence officials that his complaints are with the Bush administration, not them, there are growing hints from Democratic Senate allies that spy agency veterans will not be prosecuted for past harsh interrogation and detainee policies.

AP - Will Ferrell says audiences should expect the unexpected from his upcoming one-man Broadway show and HBO special about President George W. Bush.

Reuters - Israel pressed on with a punishing Gaza offensive and Hamas fired more rockets into the Jewish state Saturday in a two-week-old war that defied international efforts to stop it.

Reuters - U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday to meet political and military leaders in the war-torn country, which will become a top foreign policy priority of the new administration.

AFP - Israeli troops battled Hamas fighters in Gaza into a third week on Saturday as both sides ignored a UN Security Council demand to end the fighting that has killed more than 800 people.

AFP - The Czech EU presidency said it was hopeful Saturday on a deal to end Europe's gas crisis ahead of talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin but Russia accused Ukraine of holding up an agreement.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft, tanks and ships pounded the Gaza Strip for a 15th day on Saturday and militants from Hamas fired rockets back at Israel, both sides defying international efforts to put a stop to the conflict.

AP - Israeli forces pounded dozens of targets and edged closer to Gaza City on Saturday while southern Israel was largely spared militant rocket fire in one of its quietest nights in the two-week offensive against Hamas.

AP - Georgia is hailing a new U.S. blueprint for cooperation as a sign that Russia has failed to impede its integration with the West. But it is unclear that the document, which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed Friday, makes Georgia any safer from Russian aggression.

Reuters - Israeli aircraft, tanks and ships pounded the Gaza Strip for a 15th day Saturday and militants from Hamas fired rockets back at Israel, both sides defying international efforts to put a stop to the conflict.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel pounded the Gaza Strip for a 15th straight day on Saturday and militants from Hamas fired rockets back at Israel, both sides defying international efforts to put a stop to the conflict.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals shows that between 3 million and 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

AP - The Israeli air force has dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip warning residents that it plans to escalate its two-week-old offensive.

AP - President-elect Barack Obama's economic team on Saturday announced its goal for new jobs, upping the target to 3.5 million new positions to help boost a troubled economy that has dominated the incoming administration's agenda.

AP - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin insisted Saturday that a written agreement on deployment of EU monitors to Ukraine must be signed before Russia resumes gas shipments to a freezing Europe.

Reuters - Israel pounded the Gaza Strip for a 15th straight day on Saturday and militants from Hamas fired rockets back at Israel, both sides defying international efforts to put a stop to the conflict.

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals shows that between 3 million and 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

AFP - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that a European gas crisis was 'worsening' despite EU mediation efforts, as a transit deal with Ukraine failed to materialise.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks and planes bombarded the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Hamas militants fired rockets into Israel, both sides ignoring a truce window and defying international efforts to stop the conflict.

AP - Facing growing criticism of his economic recovery plan, President-elect Barack Obama made public Saturday a detailed analysis by his economic advisers that estimates the $775 billion plan of tax cuts and new spending would create 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.

AP - Boys and girls in all sports, from football to tennis to cross country, have been randomly selected.

Reuters - Israeli tanks and planes bombarded the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Hamas militants fired rockets into Israel, both sides ignoring a truce window and defying international efforts to stop the conflict.

AFP - Israel signalled its intent to escalate the conflict in Gaza on Saturday despite mounting calls for a ceasefire, as troops battled Hamas fighters into a third week and the death toll topped 800.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks advanced on Gaza and Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel on Saturday, as both sides ignored international calls to stop the conflict and Israel warned it would escalate its assault.

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and military leaders on Saturday in Afghanistan, which will become a top foreign policy priority of the new administration.

Reuters - Israeli tanks advanced on Gaza and Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel on Saturday, as both sides ignored international calls to stop the conflict and Israel warned it would escalate its assault.

Reuters - U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and military leaders on Saturday in Afghanistan, which will become a top foreign policy priority of the new administration.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks advanced on Gaza and Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel on Saturday, both sides ignoring international calls to stop the conflict, and Israel warned it would intensify its assault.

NORFOLK, Virginia (Reuters) - President George W. Bush took his last official Air Force One flight on Saturday to Virginia for a ceremony to place a warship named after his father into active duty.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roland Burris, buoyed by a favorable court ruling, may return to the U.S. Senate next week and demand to be sworn in to fill the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, a Burris adviser said on Saturday.

AP - Facing growing criticism of his $775 billion economic plan, President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday released an analysis by his advisers that estimates his tax cuts and new spending would create 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.

AP - President George W. Bush landed Saturday on the USS George H.W. Bush, a new aircraft carrier named after his father — the ultimate honor for a decorated Navy pilot from World War II.

AP - When community groups and the Board of Education were caught in an acrimonious dispute over an arts program, education officials brought in a fixer: Caroline Kennedy.

AP - A deal to combine the brokerages of Citigroup and Morgan Stanley — which would give Citi more cash, and Morgan Stanley more manpower — appears just days away.

AP - His parents were against it, but student Shendon Goh smiled as a tattoo of a skull with a knife through it reading 'Live Free or Die Hard' was drawn on his right calf at the first annual Singapore Tattoo Show on Saturday.

Reuters - Israeli tanks advanced on Gaza and Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel on Saturday, both sides ignoring international calls to stop the conflict, and Israel warned it would intensify its assault.

Reuters - President George W. Bush took his last official Air Force One flight on Saturday to Virginia for a ceremony to place a warship named after his father into active duty.

Reuters - Roland Burris, buoyed by a favorable court ruling, may return to the U.S. Senate next week and demand to be sworn in to fill the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, a Burris adviser said on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals shows that up to 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

AP - A top Hamas leader says the Gaza war has killed the last chance for settlement and negotiations with Israel.

AP - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Europe and in Lebanon Saturday, shouting protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

AP - Barack Obama countered critics with an analysis Saturday by his economic team showing that a program of tax cuts and spending like he's proposed would create up to 4.1 million jobs, far more than the 3 million he has insisted are needed to lift the country from recession.

AP - It's the perfect gift for an old Navy flier: 1,092 feet of flattop.

AP - It may be the final days of business for the Scandia Bake Shop.

AP - The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles aren't only playing for a trip to the NFC title game. This one is personal.

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals shows that up to 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

AFP - Israel vowed to escalate its war in Gaza on Saturday as it pounded the impoverished territory with air strikes and troops battled Hamas fighters into a third week and the death toll rose past 850.

AFP - Russia and the EU signed an accord Saturday to monitor Russian gas shipments to Europe, piling pressure on transit country Ukraine to accept the deal that would resume supply to gas-starved countries.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc is in advanced talks to sell its Smith Barney brokerage unit to Morgan Stanley, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, in a move that would further dismantle the financial supermarket that has been bailed out by the U.S. government.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals shows that up to 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

AP - Standing on a porch near the Widows Creek power plant Saturday, Charlie Cookston took a drag off a cigarette and ticked off the reasons he distrusts the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc is in advanced talks to sell its Smith Barney brokerage unit to Morgan Stanley, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, in a move that would further dismantle the financial supermarket that has been bailed out by the U.S. government.

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday an analysis of his stimulus proposals showed that up to 4 million U.S. jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent of them in the private sector.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel sent tanks deeper into Gaza on Saturday and threatened to intensify its offensive against Hamas as both sides spurned international calls to end the conflict.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - President George W. Bush deflected Israel's secret request last year for bunker-busting bombs it wanted for an attack on Iran's main nuclear complex, saying he had authorized covert action to sabotage Tehran's suspected atomic weapons development, The New York Times said.

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Saturday to expel a U.S. diplomat he said may have advised opposition leaders on how win a vote on whether the leftist can run for re-election.

AP - President George W. Bush rejected a plea from Israel last year to help it raid Iran's main nuclear complex, opting instead to authorize a new U.S. covert action aimed at sabotaging Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, The New York Times reported.

AP - Matt Stover's 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining Saturday lifted the Baltimore Ravens into the AFC championship game, 13-10 over the mistake-riddled Tennessee Titans.

Reuters - Israel sent tanks deeper into Gaza on Saturday and threatened to intensify its offensive against Hamas as both sides spurned international calls to end the conflict.

Reuters - President George W. Bush deflected Israel's secret request last year for bunker-busting bombs it wanted for an attack on Iran's main nuclear complex, saying he had authorized covert action to sabotage Tehran's suspected atomic weapons development, The New York Times said.

AFP - Ukraine has signed an accord to allow the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Sunday.

AP - A powerful winter storm blasted large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast with snow and freezing rain on Saturday, grounding flights and stranding vehicles along icy roads.

AP - Edgerrin James scored on a 4-yard run to give the Arizona Cardinals a 14-7 lead Saturday night over the Carolina Panthers after the first quarter of their NFC divisional playoff game.

AFP - Israel pressed its air and ground assault on Hamas in Gaza on Sunday as the death toll in the 16-day-old war passed 850 and the Islamist movement vowed it would not negotiate a truce 'under fire.'

AFP - Russia and Ukraine have signed an accord on natural gas transit allowing resumption of Russian supply to Europe as early as Sunday and an end to one of Europe's worst energy crises, officials said.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas vowed to fight on on Sunday, ignoring international calls to stop the Gaza conflict which entered a 16th day with heavy clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

AP - The Arizona Cardinals were expected by most to be easy prey in another futile trip to the East Coast. Instead, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals are a victory away from their first Super Bowl appearance — with a big assist from Jake Delhomme and the bumbling Carolina Panthers.

Reuters - Israel and Hamas vowed to fight on on Sunday, ignoring international calls to stop the Gaza conflict which entered a 16th day with heavy clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

AFP - Tanks and warplanes pounded the outskirts of Gaza City before dawn on Sunday after Israel warned it would escalate its war on Hamas targets, as the death toll in the 16-day-old conflict passed 850.