Israel tries diplomacy to explain fighting
GAZA, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Israel turned to diplomacy to try to explain its operation in Gaza Thursday amid reports that a Hamas military commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
As its troops and tanks gathered along the Gaza border, positioning Israel for a ground invasion, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni traveled to Paris for meetings with French leaders, who are looking for a way to implement a cease-fire, The New York Times reported. Livni said prior to her trip that her country wanted more time to carry out its military operation, which Israeli official say is intended to put an end to rocket attacks on Israel.
The Israeli government rejected a French proposal for a humanitarian truce Wednesday, with government spokesman Mark Regev saying a "real and sustainable solution" to attacks by Palestinian militants was needed.
Nizar Rayan was one of 10 people killed when an Israeli missile hit his house in the Jabalya Palestinian refugee camp north of Gaza, CNN reported. He was described by Israeli media as the most senior Hamas leader killed since the air assault began six days ago.
Palestinian medical sources told CNN 400 people have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli raids began Saturday, with 42 children, 13 women and two medical workers included in toll. Medical personnel said 2,000 people have been wounded, 216 of them critically.
Four Israelis, three of them civilians, have been killed and 56 wounded by Palestinian rocket fire, Israeli officials said.
Israeli airstrikes hit targets south, west and north of Gaza, Palestinian sources said, including legislative and ministry buildings and a civil defense headquarters. Israeli military officials said the air force and navy hit 20 targets overnight.
Meanwhile, five rockets were launched into Israel, including two medium-range rockets that fell near the Beersheva, military officials said.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, whose office in Gaza was hit Wednesday, said Israel must "stop attacking and killing our children, women and men."
U.N. ambassadors, meanwhile, met in emergency session to consider a draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The United States indicated the resolution wasn't balanced enough.
Obama, Pelosi to discuss stimulus package
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- The scope of a recovery plan for the punk U.S. economy will be discussed by President-elect Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, party officials said.
Obama and the California Democrat are scheduled to meet Monday as Congress prepares to reconvene and consider a substantial recovery plan, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
The sit-down between Obama and Pelosi will be one of the president-elect's first acts after relocating his family to a hotel in Washington during the weekend.
Obama and Pelosi will discuss the scope and timing of the economic recovery package, which Obama pledged would be his first priority once he is sworn in. Pelosi has said she wants recovery legislation on Obama's desk ready to be signed Jan. 20, the day he takes the oath of office.
That target date may fall aside as Republican and conservative Democrats have raised concerns about the impact on the federal deficit of spending hundreds of billions of dollars on an economic stimulus package with little congressional evaluation. The spending package is estimated to be between $675 billion and $775 billion.
Heavy snowstorm hits parts of Canada
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Travel throughout Canada's Maritime provinces was nearly impossible Thursday as heavy snowfall and winds struck the region, authorities say.
While authorities issued travel warnings for all potential drivers in provinces like Prince Edward Island, a number of regional flights and New Year's Day celebrations were canceled due to the inclement weather, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said.
The near-zero visibility in the Maritimes Thursday even prevented many snowplows from cleaning up the heavy snowfall as the emergency vehicles were pulled from area roads.
Parts of the Maritimes are expected to get nearly 16 inches of snow minimum, forecasters said.
Environment Canada meteorologist Ted McIldoon has warned that the Gulf of St. Lawrence could endure storm surges as winds of up to 62 mph are predicted for the area.
A spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Power told the CBC that emergency crews were on hand to fix any power outages caused by the weather, but she warned heavy winds could delay such efforts.
North Korea claims it will denuclearize
SEOUL, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- North Korea said Thursday it will denuclearize in the coming year and rebuild its ailing economy.
The statement was seen as a possible bid for a fresh start with the United States.
Pyongyang continued criticism of Seoul in a joint newspaper editorial that summed up policy goals for 2009.
But officials made no hostile mention of Washington, which inaugurates a new administration in three weeks. Yonhap news service said.
Six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea are on hold until after Barack Obama takes office on Jan. 20.
Some observers say Pyongyang sees the Obama inauguration as an opportunity to start afresh after eight years of largely sour relations with the outgoing Bush administration.
North Korea is expected to continue to uphold its military-first policy, but this year's statement showed an increased focus on the economy, particularly on feeding its people.
