Barack Obama opened his presidency by breaking sharply from George W. Bush's unpopular administration, but he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands. He focused instead on fixing the economy, repairing a battered world image and cleaning up government. "What...

Hundreds of embattled Palestinians ventured outside to shop for food on Wednesday during a three-hour Gaza truce, a first step toward an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire under discussion by Israel and Hamas. "Food and milk -- what else can we hope for...

For an outfit known for its lack of drama, Team Obama has become a downright thrill show. Bill Richardson! Rick Warren! Rod Blagojevich! Roland Burris! Talk about a ride through the fun house. President-elect Barack Obama doesn’t bear responsibility for...

Israeli tanks and infantry entered Gaza after nightfall Saturday, launching a ground offensive that the military said would be a "lengthy operation" in a widening war on Gaza's Hamas rulers. Israeli security officials said the operation is likely to go...

Israel allowed several hundred Palestinians with foreign passports to flee Gaza on Friday, even as its warplanes bombed a mosque it said was used to store weapons and destroyed homes of more than a dozen Hamas operatives. The evacuees told...