Israel launches air strikes on Gaza, 155 dead  —  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes Saturday, killing at least 155 and wounding …

Pak textbooks build hate culture against India  —  Text:  —  The empowerment of terror in Pakistan has not happened overnight.  This is the logical culmination of the politics and policies pursued by Pakistan for years now.  —  Terrorism in Pakistan has its roots in the culture of hate …

NY1 Exclusive: Caroline Kennedy Discusses Senate Hopes, Remembers Her Family  —  For the first time since announcing her interest in assuming Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, Caroline Kennedy opened up in an exclusive NY1 interview Friday about her qualifications for high office as well as private reminisces of her family.

Obama Visits Marine Corps Base for Christmas  —  FROM ABC NEWS' SUNLEN MILLER IN HAWAII:  —  President-elect Obama stopped by the Marine Corps base in Hawaii Kaneche Bay where servicemen and -women were eating Christmas dinner in Kailua Thursday evening.  —  “Just wanted to say hi …

Dear Mr. Obama  —  Between now and Jan. 20, the Post-Gazette will publish letters written by local students to President-elect Barack Obama, who will be inaugurated as the nation's 44th president.  They will appear intermittently in the My Generation section.  The following are from fifth-graders at Liberty Elementary School.

Phila. man shot because family talked during movie  —  A South Philadelphia man enraged because a father and son were talking during a Christmas showing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took care of the situation when he pulled a .380-caliber gun and shot the father, police said.

Obama's Down Payment  —  A Stimulus Must Aim for Long-Term Results  —  When President-elect Barack Obama takes office, he will face what may well be the bleakest economic outlook since World War II.  Economic forecasts have been revised significantly downward over the past several months …

Bush Data Threatens to Overload Archives  —  WASHINGTON — The National Archives has put into effect an emergency plan to handle electronic records from the Bush White House amid growing doubts about whether its new $144 million computer system can cope with the vast quantities of digital data …

After a Season of Cutting, Stores Sweeten Discounts  —  For weeks, reluctant consumers have forced retailers to lower their prices — and lower them again and again — before they even considered opening tight wallets and purses.  —  Now shoppers are expecting even better deals …

CIA give Afghan warlords Viagra in exchange for information on Taliban  —  The CIA has secured co-operation from ageing Afghan warlords by providing them with an unusual incentive - Viagra.  —  “Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people - whether it's building a school or handing out Viagra …

A Water Park, but No Pool  —  HONOLULU - In the news-free zone that is Barack Obama's pre-inaugural Hawaiian vacation, this passes for a bulletin: The president-elect ditched his “press pool” of media minders to take his daughters to a water park on Friday morning.