SPB News for Wednesday.

Al Qaeda No. 2 Blames Obama, Egypt's President for Gaza

Biden turned out from sold out movie

Alcoa to cut 13,500 jobs, reduce output

Dick Cheney Swearing In Biden In Senate Tuesday

Report: Former Clinton Official Lynn To Be Deputy Sec. Of Defense

Toyota To Shut Down Japan Plants For 11 Days As Sales Flag

Biden turned out from sold out movie

Alcoa to cut 13,500 jobs, reduce output

ABC: Biden Heading To Pakistan And Afghanistan

Al Qaeda No. 2 Blames Obama, Egypt's President for Gaza

Not Your Father's House: Congress' Language Becomes Gender Neutral

Americans: Burris Should Be Blocked, Special Election Held

Biden will visit Asia hot spots before Jan. 20 inauguration — WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday he and three other senators will join Vice President-elect Joe Biden this week on a trip to Southwest Asia that will effectively serve as the Obama administration's first foray into volatile Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Obama to ride in style in GM limo — Armored '09 Cadillac to carry new president in inaugural parade. — WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama is getting a new ride to go with his new address on Jan. 20. — General Motors Corp. recently delivered to the U.S. Secret Service a brand …

Panetta a ‘Brave’ Choice, Says Former CIA Agent — “Ishmael Jones” is a former deep-cover officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. He is author of The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture, published last year by Encounter Books.

Arlen Specter compares Eric Holder to Alberto Gonzales

Gates estimates 2009 war costs at $136 billion Defense Secretary Robert Gates says [illegal] military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan would cost almost $136 billion for the 2009 budget year that began Oct. 1 if they continue at their current pace. Gates told top lawmakers in a New Year's Eve letter that the Pentagon would need nearly $70 billion more to supplement the $66 billion approved last year.

Israeli 'eyes' fixed on Lebanon Tel Aviv has warned Hezbollah against intervening in the war on Gaza after Israeli fighter jets conducted overflights into Lebanon. In a veiled reference to Hezbollah on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tel Aviv is on high alert to respond to any threat coming from its northern fronts. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak also issued a strong warning to Hezbollah.

Egypt bars doctors from entering Gaza Strip Frustration is mounting at Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip, where many local and foreign doctors are stuck after Egyptian authorities denied them entry into the coastal area now under an Israeli ground invasion. Anesthesiologist Dimitrios Mognie from Greece idles his time at a cafe near the border, drinking tea and chatting with other doctors, aid workers and curious Egyptians. "This is a shame," said Mognie, who decided to use his vacation time to try help Gazans.

MAP: On the Ground in Gaza --The Injured Out of Reach MAP [Medical Aid for Palestinians] staff in Gaza report that over 70 Palestinians have been killed so far today including 40 in a UN school. Heavy Israeli fire continues to hit buildings across Gaza although it seems that the brunt of the actual fighting occurs at night. Although medical aid has been able to reach the central stores in Gaza city at present Israeli internal military checkpoints have prevented it reaching parts of the middle area and the south.

Iran bans companies with suspect Israel ties Iran announced on Tuesday that it would ban international companies in which Israelis may have shares from work in the country. The move was meant as a gesture of support for Hamas - a top Iran ally which is under an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The official IRNA news agency reported that Industry Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian issued the order in response to Israel's assault on Gaza

Feds intend to charge former Blackwater mercenary for Iraq death Federal prosecutors intend to charge a former mercenary with Blackwater USA in the killing of an Iraqi security guard in 2006, his lawyer said Tuesday. Attorney Stewart Riley said he received a letter from prosecutors outlining their intent to charge his client, Andrew Moonen, of Seattle.