msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines

Israeli leaders reject immediate Gaza truce

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:41:01 GMT

Israel is considering halting its Gaza offensive temporarily to give Hamas militants an opening to halt rocket fire on Israel, an Israeli defense official said Tuesday.

Uneasy alliance behind Gaza strikes

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:34:52 GMT

The Israeli campaign on Gaza is being led by an unlikely group of three Israeli leaders who have all but staked their political futures on the highly risky military operation.

Blagojevich makes Senate pick

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:41:14 GMT

Defying U.S. Senate leaders and his own state's lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Tuesday the appointment of a Senate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama.

NYT: Burris — a low-key groundbreaker

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:02:27 GMT

In Illinois, where politics ranks among the dramatic arts (sometimes the theater of the absurd), Roland W. Burris has long been seen as steady, deliberate, even boring.

Activists urge Obama to rethink role in Mideast

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:15:00 GMT

A handful of pro-Palestinian activists protested outside President-elect Barack Obama's vacation home on Tuesday and urged a new approach to the Middle East.

Flu season mild, but other bugs lurk

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:26:00 GMT

Winter’s here, heralding the season of sickness. While there haven't been any major flu outbreaks so far this year, plenty of other bugs are lurking, including nasty norovirus.

NBC: What's next for U.S.-Cuba ties?

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:24:37 GMT

Cuba marks the 50th anniversary of the Communist revolution this week, awaiting the 11th U.S. leader to face the Castro brothers as adversaries across the Florida Straits. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News' Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, reports.

'Famous last words' of the financial crisis

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:11:16 GMT

Few could have predicted the financial tsunami that hit the U.S. economy in the latter part of this year, but a handful of powerful men should have at least had an inkling.

Race enters fight over Obama's Senate seat

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:50:46 GMT

Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed not to seat embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill the vacancy left by President-elect Barack Obama, prompting a House Democrat to object to the nation's only prospective black senator being denied a seat.

Ex-wife's friend: Gunman distant after wedding

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:12:59 GMT

When Roxanne Jauregui heard Christmas Day that there had been a horrible shooting on her best friend's street, she called her soul mate of 30 years. She didn't realize her friend was among the victims.

Broncos fire coach Shanahan

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:10:56 GMT

He was known as a genius, a mastermind and, yes, a Super Bowl champion. Shockingly, though, Mike Shanahan has a new title: Unemployed coach.

Got the sniffles? Try our readers’ remedies

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:26:52 GMT

At the first sign of a scratchy throat or runny nose, we all have our go-to strategies to keep from catching a full-blown cold. Some strategies just might be stranger than others.

Cowher out of running for Jets opening

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:34:11 GMT

Bill Cowher is out of the running for the New York Jets’ vacant coaching job. The team planned to sit down soon with the former Super Bowl-winning coach, and Cowher had expressed interest in the job, a person familiar with the search said earlier Tuesday. But the negotiations never advanced to scheduling a formal meeting.

Oregon tops Oklahoma State in Holiday Bowl

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:29:32 GMT

Now this was a Holiday Bowl. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ran through and over Oklahoma State’s defense for three touchdowns and threw for another to lead the No. 15 Ducks to a 42-31 win over the No. 13 Cowboys in a wild, record-setting Holiday Bowl on Tuesday night.

Parents in China's milk scandal criticize payout

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:55:26 GMT

Chinese families whose babies suffered painful kidney stones from drinking tainted infant formula said a planned payout by dairies is too low.

Woman gives naked intruder the 'squeeze'

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:01:54 GMT

The Multnomah County, Ore., Sheriff's Office said an 88-year-old woman fended off a naked intruder by grabbing the man's crotch and squeezing.

Judge OKs detention of 2 Gitmo detainees

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:07:58 GMT

Two Guantanamo Bay detainees, including a Yemeni man accused of being a bodyguard for Osama bin Laden, were correctly labeled as enemy combatants and are being held lawfully, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Obama’s health secretary hears reform ideas

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:21:21 GMT

Note to President-elect Barack Obama: Health reform doesn't have to be all about expanding health insurance.

FDA approves new HIV blood test

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:17:39 GMT

Federal regulators said Tuesday they have approved a new HIV test that screens for two, less common forms of the virus.

Viacom could pull MTV off Time Warner Cable

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:19:25 GMT

Media giant Viacom Inc. is threatening to pull MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and 16 other channels from Time Warner Cable Inc. if a new deal is not agreed upon by midnight Wednesday.

Encouraging signs for travel in ‘09

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:52:18 GMT

Will 2009 turn out to be the best travel year ever — or will the miserable economy have us all hiding beneath our beds with what little money we managed to get under the mattress before it all went to hell?

10 ways to save money in 2009

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:13:19 GMT

CNBC's Sharon Epperson offers advice on creating a financial plan for the new year and shares tips on building up savings in these tough times.