AP - Israel fired missiles and sent tanks on a foray into Gaza on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians in the deadliest military action since Hamas militants took control of the coastal strip.

AP - Pushing back against the Democratic-led Congress, President Bush vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have eased restraints on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

AP - The second-ranking U.S. diplomat welcomed his Chinese counterpart to the State Department on Wednesday for two days of talks meant to ease tensions and strengthen ties between the world's strongest power and its fastest-growing upstart.

AP - Militants blew up three Sunni mosques south of Baghdad on Wednesday — apparently revenge strikes for a suicide truck bombing a day before that killed at least 87 people and badly damaged an important Shiite mosque in the capital.

AP - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg did little on Wednesday to quiet the fierce speculation about a possible independent presidential bid, declaring he intends to remain in his current job but saying of the White House race: "The more people that run for office the better."

AP - A United Airlines computer malfunction halted all departures systemwide for two hours Wednesday, the carrier said.

AP - The scarlet letter in education these days is an "R."

AP - The hagfish is a bottom feeder so repulsive it had a cameo on TV's "Fear Factor." It slimes its enemies, has rows of teeth on its tongue, and feeds on the innards of rotting fish by penetrating any orifice.

AP - Suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones will face two felony charges in a strip club melee that preceded a triple shooting in February, Las Vegas police and the Clark County District Attorney's office said Wednesday.