Local Skanks

Israel yesterday sought to fend off growing international pressure over civilian casualties from its ongoing military assault on Gaza, saying it would expedite and increase humanitarian aid and work with its allies to build a durable, long-term truce.

Israel resisted mounting international pressure today to suspend its devastating air offensive against militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza, sending more troops and tanks to the border as signs of an impending ground invasion multiplied.

Israel’s military is using YouTube to explain its bruising air offensive against the Gaza Strip to the world.

Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has scheduled an afternoon news conference amid reports that he plans to name someone to U.S. president-elect Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Chinese families whose babies suffered painful kidney stones from drinking tainted infant formula said Tuesday that a planned payout by dairies is too low and their lawyers pledged to continue attempts to sue for more compensation.

Eager to say goodbye to the worst economic year since the Great Depression? You’ll have to wait a second.

Palestinian militants, armed with deadlier missiles than ever before, kept up rocket assaults against Israel on Tuesday, despite relentless air attacks against Gaza’s Hamas rulers and unwelcome word from Egypt that it would not bail them out.

The number of roadside bombs and kidnappings doubled in Afghanistan in 2008 from last year, the U.S. ambassador said Tuesday, grim statistics that underscore the country’s deteriorating security situation.

The trial of a journalist who has been hailed as a hero in the Arab world after throwing his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush was postponed on Tuesday pending a review of the case by a higher court, a spokesperson for Iraq’s Higher Judicial Council said.

Deaths continue to climb as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza grinds through its third day. At least 322 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli raids so far, and more than 1,400 wounded.