The latest news on the Secretary of State, Gaza, U.S.-Israel, Health Care, Economy, Torture and Guantanamo, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Treasury, Obama Campaign Network, Theology, Afghanistan, China, and Select Features and Op-eds.

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Secretary of State. At Confirmation Hearing, Clinton Talks of Engagement With Iran "Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton said yesterday that the incoming Obama administration will seek to engage directly with Iran in an effort to persuade it to abandon its nuclear program and become 'a constructive regional actor,' underscoring a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy." Clinton Pledges Tough Diplomacy and a Fast Start " Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton deflected calls for greater limits on her husband's fund-raising, struck a sharper tone toward Israel on violence in the Middle East and emerged from a daylong confirmation hearing headed for swift approval as secretary of state." America to start playing 'smart,' says Clinton "She added that diplomatic engagement would include increased contact with former pariah nations such as Iran and Syria in an effort to broker a lasting settlement for the region."

Gaza. Israel's defense officials back immediate Gaza truce "Senior defense establishment officials believe that Israel should strive to reach an immediate cease-fire with Hamas, and not expand its offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group in Gaza." Israel pursues its Gaza offensive "Residents spoke of heavy machine-gun fire as Israeli troops fought Hamas gunmen near Gaza City. Israel said it launched 60 air strikes overnight." Palestinian death toll in Gaza reaches 1,000 "So far, 1,010 Palestinians have been killed, among them 315 children and 95 women." Ban: Sides should abide by U.N. resolution "'My call is [for] an immediate end to violence in Gaza, and then to the Israeli military offensive and a halt to rocket attacks by Hamas,' the secretary-general said." Offensive Unlikely to Put End to Hamas, Israel Says "Israeli military officials said Tuesday that their 18-day offensive in the Gaza Strip had weakened Hamas but that a knockout blow was unlikely. The conflict showed no signs of ending as diplomats reported little progress in negotiating a cease-fire."

U.S.-Israel. Rice: Olmert's U.N. vote claim 'fiction' "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday called Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's assertion that he had forced her to change her vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution 'fiction.'" State Department denies Israel's Ehud Olmert swayed U.S. vote on Gaza resolution "A boast by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he persuaded President George W. Bush to reverse U.S. policy toward a Gaza cease-fire is 'just 100 percent, totally, completely not true,' the State Department said Tuesday."

Health care. Struggling states cut health care for poor before Obama can bolster coverage "Even as President-elect Barack Obama plans an ambitious push to expand health coverage nationwide, states are slashing health services to their poorest residents amid the economic downturn."

Economy. Democrats See Progress on Proposal for Economy "After lunch at the Capitol with President-elect Barack Obama, Senate Democrats said that the proposed $800 billion economic recovery plan was on track for passage by mid-February, and that the incoming administration had agreed to substantially increase the amount of money in the package for energy-related tax breaks." Obama presses Dems not to block final $350 billion in bailout funds, warns of veto "Tested before taking power, President-elect Barack Obama privately delivered a pre-inauguration veto threat to fellow Democrats on Tuesday, saying they would not deny him use of the remaining $350 billion in federal bailout funds."

Torture and Guantanamo. Tortured, Says Official Overseeing Military Trials "The top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial has concluded that the U.S. military tortured a Saudi national who allegedly planned to participate in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." Obama to sign order next week to close Guantanamo prison "President-elect Barack Obama will sign an executive order in his first week in office that sets in motion the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison, the highest-profile symbol of the Bush administration's detention policies, two individuals familiar with Obama's thinking said on Monday."

Secretary of Education. Senators praise Education pick Duncan "Duncan, chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools, was lavished with praise for his work in Chicago by both Democrats and Republicans at Tuesday's brief hearing." Education Nominee Is Warmly Received in Senate "Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan, President-elect Barack Obama's pick for education secretary, promised yesterday to work to expand preschool, build the ranks of quality teachers and support such initiatives as charter schools and performance pay, setting out an agenda that won him broad bipartisan support at a Senate confirmation hearing."

Secretary of Treasury. Treasury nominee faces tax questions "President-elect Barack Obama's pick to head the Treasury Department -- and therefore oversee the Internal Revenue Service -- held a meeting Tuesday with key senators concerned about his failure to pay some personal income taxes and the immigration status of a onetime household employee."

Obama campaign network. Retooling Obama's campaign machine for the long haul "As Barack Obama builds his administration and prepares to take office next week, his political team is quietly planning for a nationwide hiring binge that would marshal an army of full-time organizers to press the new president's agenda and lay the foundation for his reelection."

Theology. Most U.S. Christians define own theology "American individualism has made its imprint on Christianity. A sizable majority of the country's faithful no longer hew closely to orthodox teachings, and look more to themselves than to churches or denominations to define their religious convictions."

Afghanistan. Marines uncover Taliban bomb factory "One of the largest hauls of weapons, explosives and bomb-making equipment ever found in southern Afghanistan has been uncovered by the Royal Marines in a huge underground cavern in Kandahar province."

China. China becomes world's third largest economy "China has overtaken Germany to become the world's third-largest economy earlier than expected, after estimates for the country's gross domestic product were revised higher."

Feature. Barack's Rock "[The Rev. Joseph] Lowery is a breathing testament to the nation's journey from the rule of Jim Crow to the presidency of Barack Obama, for whom Lowery will give the closing prayer at the inaugural ceremony. He will stand as one of the few Americans with the authority to place the young president-elect's narrative in the context of civil rights history."

Opinion. Reducing abortions: The time is ripe to break old stalemate (Alexia Kelley, Atlanta Journal Constitution) "Abortion has been the grand battle in our nation's culture wars for more than three decades. After years of polarization, a new consensus has emerged that can unite Democrats and Republicans behind a comprehensive abortion reduction agenda that addresses the connections between poverty and abortion. President-elect Barack Obama is well-positioned to help push this effort as a leader focused on pragmatic solutions and finding common ground."