A surreal calm settled over the Gaza Strip for three hours yesterday afternoon, as the 12-day-old Israeli military campaign to destabilize the militant Islamist group Hamas came to a a temporary halt. (Today)

The drive for quick action on a huge economic stimulus package has become entangled in the push and pull of Washington politics, and now may not clear Congress until mid-February. (Today)

WASHINGTON -- The Social Security Administration, bracing for the coming eligibility of 80 million baby boomers, is introducing an online application that will allow people to apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. (Yesterday)

WASHINGTON -- The federal budget deficit will hit an unprecedented $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year, according to grim new Congressional Budget Office figures. (Yesterday)

NEW YORK -- Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff and his wife sent at least 16 watches, a jade necklace and a diamond bracelet to family and relatives, proving he will continue to dissipate what little is left from his $50 billion fraud, a prosecutor told a judge in arguing that Madoff be jailed. (Yesterday)