An $838 billion economic stimulus bill backed by the White House narrowly advanced in the Senate on Monday over strong Republican opposition, and Democratic leaders vowed to deliver the emergency legislation for President Barack Obama’s signature within a few days.
The vote was 61-36, one more than the 60 needed to move the measure toward Senate [...]

Israel bombarded dozens of Hamas targets Saturday hours before a government vote on an Egyptian brokered cease-fire, prompting Egypt to demand an immediate halt to the 3-week-old Gaza offensive.
Hamas sent mixed signals about whether it will accept the cease-fire proposal. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman linked to the group’s leadership-in-exile in Syria, said militants would [...]

Israel’s Security Cabinet will vote Saturday night on an Egyptian proposal for a truce to end the 3-week-old offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers, a senior government official said.
The official said a vote to approve the truce would amount to a “unilateral” cease-fire, though Israeli forces would only leave Gaza after an official declaration that the [...]