NPR 2009-01-08

After 12 days of airstrikes and intense ground fighting which began this past weekend, Israel today ordered a three-hour pause in its offensive in Gaza. The brief respite 1 allowed food and fuel to enter the territory and medics to retrieve 2 bodies from areas that have been deemed too dangerous to enter. However, Israel then resumed its offensive against Hamas while Hamas again fired rockets at Israel. Israel said it's sending an envoy 3 to Cairo tomorrow to discuss a ceasefire proposal from the presidents of Egypt and France.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is extending her trip to New York as the US tries to promote what it says would be a more durable 4 solution to the crisis in Gaza. NPR's Michele Kelemen has more.

White House and State Department officials say Secretary Rice has been working around the clock to bring about a ceasefire that would be durable. That means stopping Hamas rocket attacks into Israel and preventing Hamas from rearming through tunnels from Egypt. Rice has backed Egypt's initiative to mediate 5 then work on security issues at Gaza's border with Egypt. She's also welcomed Israel's decision to open a humanitarian 6 corridor, but the Bush administration has stopped short of calling for an immediate 7 humanitarian truce 8 as France and others have suggested. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

President-elect Barack Obama is remaining above the fray 9 in the dispute of the possible successor to his vacant Senate seat, even though Senate Democrats 10 appeared to be moving closer to a resolution. NPR's Giles Snyder reports.

Roland Burris's appointment by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been mired 11 in controversy 12 because of the troubles facing Blagojevich who allegedly attempted to sell the seat. During a news conference, Mr. Obama said he's not taking a stand on the issue.

"That is a Senate matter, but I know Roland Burris. Obviously, he's from my home state. I think he's a fine public servant. If he gets seated, then I’m gonna work with Roland Burris just like I work with all the other senators to make sure that the people of Illinois and people of the country are served. "

Burris was initially 13 rejected by the Senate, but Senate Majority Leader Harry 14 Reid suggested, after meeting with him, that Burris could be seated once it's settled whether the Illinois Secretary of State must certify 15 his appointment. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

Treasury 16 Secretary Henry Paulson today said the mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cannot be allowed to return to their old ways. Speaking to the Economic Club of Washington, Paulson said Congress and the next administration will need to decide what role the government should play in supporting homeownership.

"The debate about the future of Fannie and Freddie requires answering the much larger and more important question of the federal government's role in the mortgage market and in housing policy generally."

After the bursting of the housing bubble, the government in September moved to take control of Fannie and Freddie. Paulson discussed options for the mortgage finance companies, though he said (he) does not think privatization is the way to go.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 245 points today to close at 8, 769. The NASDAQ was down 53 points.

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US officials say raid on an insurgent 17 stronghold in eastern Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 32 insurgents 18. In a statement today, the military says coalition 19 forces raided what was described as a bomb-making factory. It says troops also destroyed two weapon stockpiles as well as materials for making roadside bombs. According to one local lawmaker, there were civilian 20 casualties when buildings collapsed 21 as the weapons were destroyed. However, the military is disputing the claim.

Most of fishermen in Mexico are out on strike over a hike by the government in diesel 22 fuel prices. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports from Mexico City.

Ninety-five percent of the Mexican fishing fleet has pulled into ports on both sides of the country to protest the rise in fuel costs. In Mexico, diesel and gasoline are only sold by the state-run petroleum 23 company PEMEX. The government raised diesel fuel prices 20% in November. Some fishermen started idling their boats last month, but the strike has gained momentum 24 over the New Year. And an industry group says this week almost the entire fleet is refusing to fish. Boat owners are demanding the government boost subsidies 25 to commercial fishermen to completely cover the 20% hike in diesel costs. Prices for seafood 26 and shellfish have started to rise in markets across the country. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Mexico City.

It’s not necessarily the most scientific analysis, but St. Louis-based United Van Lines says based on its records Americans continue to head west and to the Mid-Atlantic States while leaving the Great Lakes region. The moving company which has been tracking Americans migration 27 since 1977 says its 2008 study looked at nearly 200, 000 household moves. Washington D.C. topped the list for inbound migration. Michigan saw the largest out migration with around 2/3 of the interstate moves there outward.