Israeli prime minister issues warning to Hamas

January 13, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stood within Hamas rocket range Monday and warned Islamic militants that they face an “iron fist” unless they agree to Israeli terms for an end to war in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas showed no signs of wavering, however, with its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, saying the militants were “closer to victory.”

Despite the tough words, Egypt said it was making slow progress in brokering a truce, and special Mideast envoy Tony Blair said elements were in place for a cease-fire.

As Olmert spoke in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, Israeli tanks, gunboats and warplanes hammered suspected hiding places of Hamas operatives who control the poor, densely populated territory just across the border.

Burris says he is thankful for Senate opportunity

CHICAGO — Roland Burris says he’s “humbled and honored” to be Illinois’ next junior senator, and is thankful for the opportunity to serve.

The former Illinois attorney general thanked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois at a news conference Monday and said their scrutiny was motivated by trying to do the best thing for the chamber.

Senate Democrats said earlier Monday that they’ll accept Burris as President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate successor and expect to swear him in soon.

Even though Burris doesn’t stand accused of wrongdoing, Senate Democrats initially rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pick. Blagojevich is accused by federal investigators of seeking to trade the Senate seat for personal favors.

The impasse has served as a distraction for Democrats trying to tackle an ambitious agenda.

Madoff avoids jail

NEW YORK — A judge on Monday allowed Bernard Madoff to remain confined to his Manhattan penthouse, rejecting a bid to jail the disgraced financier but imposing new restrictions to keep him from mailing any more valuables to family and friends.

In a ruling that provided limited satisfaction to investors wiped out in what may be the largest Ponzi scheme ever, Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis ordered Madoff to take an inventory of the items in his $7 million apartment and submit his outgoing mail to security checks.

Prosecutors said they would ask another judge to jail Madoff while he awaits trial.

Biden meets with Iraqis

BAGHDAD — Vice President-elect Joe Biden conferred Monday with Iraqi leaders after a trip to Afghanistan, capping a tour of U.S. battlefronts on a day when police reported that bombings killed 10 people in Baghdad.

The four attacks were a reminder that major violence may still return, complicating the incoming administration’s plans to draw down troops in Iraq and focus more attention on Afghanistan.

Biden, a frequent visitor to Iraq as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with President Jalal Talabani, Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh after arriving in Baghdad.

U.S. officials issued no public statement.

States look to Internet sales tax for revenue

NEW YORK — Shopping online can be a way to find bargains while steering clear of crowds — and sales taxes.

But those tax breaks are starting to erode. With the recession pummeling states’ budgets, their governments increasingly want to fill the gaps by collecting taxes on Internet sales, which are growing even as the economy shudders.

And that is sparking conflict with companies that do business online only and have enjoyed being able to offer sales-tax-free shopping.

The amount of money at stake nationwide is unclear; online sales were expected to make up about 8 percent of all retail sales in 2008 and total $204 billion, according to Forrester Research. This is up from $175 billion in 2007.

Study: Sleep helps ward off the common cold

CHICAGO — Fluff up the pillows and pull up the covers. Preventing the common cold may be as easy as getting more sleep.

Researchers paid healthy adults $800 to have cold viruses sprayed up their noses, then wait five days in a hotel to see if they got sick. Habitual eight-hour sleepers were much less likely to get sick than those who slept less than seven hours or slept fitfully.

“The longer you sleep, the better off you are, the less susceptible you are to colds,” said lead author Sheldon Cohen, who studies the effects of stress on health at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University.

Associated Press