AP - Israel said Wednesday that it "welcomes" an Egyptian-French ceasefire proposal for Gaza as long as such a deal guarantees a halt to militant rockets and weapons smuggling, in a possible sign that a bloody 12-day offensive could be winding down.

AP - Congressional estimators are projecting an unparalleled budget deficit of $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year.

AP - "We have three foreigners, including women," the gunman said into the phone.

AP - Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris is closer to taking President-elect Barack Obama's seat in the Senate, say knowledgeable officials in both parties, despite Democratic leaders' vows to reject any appointee of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

AP - Mississippi now has the nation's highest teen pregnancy rate, displacing Texas and New Mexico for that lamentable title, according to a new federal report released Wednesday.

AP - Wall Street has opened sharply lower, as aluminum producer Alcoa Inc.'s decision to slash jobs provided investors with a sobering reminder that the economy remains in rough shape.

AP - The recession figures to tone down the flashiness of this week's International Consumer Electronics Show, but the lineup of innovative products likely will measure up to those of past years.

AP - Alyssa Milano is engaged to marry a Hollywood agent. Publicists for Milano said Tuesday that the actress accepted a marriage proposal on Dec. 18 from David Bugliari, an agent at Creative Artists Agency. The two have been dating for over a year. No wedding date has been set.

AP - Nuremberg's celebrity polar bear cub, Flocke, has a new friend: a Russian bear.

AP - The team that pushed around the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals now isn't even tough enough for the Charlotte Bobcats. And suddenly, the slumping Boston Celtics aren't scaring anyone.

AP - Israel said Wednesday that it "welcomes" an Egyptian-French ceasefire proposal for Gaza as long as such a deal guarantees a halt to militant rockets and weapons smuggling, in a possible sign that a bloody 12-day offensive could be winding down.

AP - "We have three foreigners, including women," the gunman said into the phone.

AP - Forces from the U.S.-led coalition killed 32 armed insurgents during a clash in eastern Afghanistan, the military said Wednesday.

AP - Nuremberg's celebrity polar bear cub, Flocke, has a new friend: a Russian bear.

AFP - Zimbabwe has delayed the opening of schools by two weeks, state media reported Wednesday, amid fears that teachers may not show up for classes due to the country's worsening humanitarian crisis.

AP - Bank of America Corp. raised more money Wednesday to cope with U.S. economic turmoil by selling part of its stake in China Construction Bank Ltd., China's second-biggest commercial lender, for $2.8 billion.