• Jet lands safely in Baltimore after emergency call 1/16/2009, 1:32 p.m. EST
LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) — A commercial passenger jet that had reported a possible nosegear problem touched down safely Friday at Baltimore's airport.

• Obama: 'Dramatic action' needed now to fix economy 1/16/2009, 1:28 p.m. EST
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) — Taking his economic pitch on the road, President-elect Barack Obama promoted his plans to create long-lasting, well-paying jobs in cutting-edge industries like alternative energy as part of his mammoth plan to pull the country out of recession.

• Obama's AG pick earns praise, GOP support 1/16/2009, 1:28 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Director Louis Freeh urged the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday to confirm Eric Holder as the next attorney general as Barack Obama's pick won key support from another GOP senator.

• Interior issues offshore drilling plan 1/16/2009, 1:22 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Interior Department on Friday issued a detailed proposal for widespread oil and gas drilling off both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts in areas that have not had energy exploration for decades.

• Putin: EU is supporting Ukraine in gas dispute 1/16/2009, 1:19 p.m. EST
BERLIN (AP) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the European Union on Friday of siding with Ukraine in the highly charged dispute that has kept Russian natural gas from reaching Europe for a full ten days.

• Aloha spirit welcomes Obama to presidency 1/16/2009, 1:19 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hawaii wants to send favorite son Barack Obama to the White House aloha style.

• Jakes, Caldwell, Wallis join inaugural services 1/16/2009, 1:19 p.m. EST
(AP) — Bishop T.D. Jakes, the Dallas megachurch pastor, will preach at the private church service that President-elect Barack Obama will attend the morning of his inaugural, The Associated Press has learned.

• Hungary gorilla recovering after rare surgery 1/16/2009, 1:14 p.m. EST
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The Budapest Zoo says a 32-year-old female gorilla has undergone gynecological surgery, the first such operation in Hungary and rare even worldwide.

• Obama: `Dramatic action" needed now to fix economy 1/16/2009, 1:13 p.m. EST
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) — Taking his economic pitch on the road, President-elect Barack Obama promoted his plans to create long-lasting, well-paying jobs in cutting-edge industries like alternative energy as part of his mammoth plan to pull the country out of recession.

• Qatar suspends ties with Israel 1/16/2009, 1:07 p.m. EST
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The Gulf nation of Qatar announced a freeze in its ties with Israel to protest the bloodshed in Gaza at an Arab summit Friday that deepened the divisions between pro-U.S. Arab nations and their rivals in the Middle East.

• Big chill clamps down on upper Midwest 1/16/2009, 1:02 p.m. EST
CHICAGO (AP) — A bone-numbing Arctic blast drove temperatures down Friday to 11 below in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, closing schools to spare children from freezing at bus stops and prompting police to keep a watchful eye out for the homeless.

• Gaza war fuels anti-Israeli anger in Indonesia 1/16/2009, 1:00 p.m. EST
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Islamic hard-liners enraged by Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip marched to the synagogue's gates chanting: "Go to hell Israel!"

• Latvia likely to see early elections 1/16/2009, 12:57 p.m. EST
RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Latvia's senior ruling coalition party is calling for early parliamentary election following violent protests this week.

• Mideast protests against Israel attacks on Gaza 1/16/2009, 12:55 p.m. EST
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi worshippers dropped money in boxes and gave up their jewelry Friday as clerics called for donations to help Palestinians suffering under an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

• Investigation begins in plane's NYC splash landing 1/16/2009, 12:55 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators brought in a giant crane, divers and a barge Friday to help pull a US Airways jetliner from the Hudson River, as many of the 155 people aboard recounted survivor stories and hailed the pilot as a hero who delivered them from certain death.

• Israel hopes end of Gaza offensive is near 1/16/2009, 12:54 p.m. EST
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Friday it was close to winding up its offensive against Hamas, and the U.S. agreed to provide assurances on ending weapons smuggling into Gaza as part of a cease-fire.

• Iraqi candidate for provincial vote assassinated 1/16/2009, 12:52 p.m. EST
BAGHDAD (AP) — A Shiite candidate for provincial elections was assassinated Friday while campaigning south of Baghdad, officials said.

• US man jailed for stealing pages from rare books 1/16/2009, 12:52 p.m. EST
LONDON (AP) — A wealthy U.S. businessman with a passion for books about the Middle East was sentenced to two years in jail Friday for stealing pages from rare texts at two of Britain's most venerable libraries.

• Bush claims economy on track to recovery 1/16/2009, 12:48 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — President George W. Bush said Friday that while the current economic crisis has sent shock waves around the world, he believes steps taken by his administration have "laid the groundwork for a return to economic growth and job creation" early in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama.

• HRW wants investigation of Chechen exile's killing 1/16/2009, 12:42 p.m. EST
MOSCOW (AP) — A human rights group urged Russian and Austrian authorities to investigate the slaying of a Chechen man who, they say, claimed Chechnya's Kremlin-backed leader personally tortured him.

• US, Israel sign deal to boost Gaza truce effort 1/16/2009, 12:39 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Israel signed an agreement Friday intended to assure that Hamas militants will not be able to rearm if the Jewish state agrees to a Gaza cease-fire.

• Misery mounts in gas-deprived European nations 1/16/2009, 12:36 p.m. EST
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Stefan Markovic slipped and stumbled on Belgrade's icy streets and cursed both the Russians and the Ukrainians for the bad air he's breathing.

• Doctor cleared in British terror plot free on bail 1/16/2009, 12:31 p.m. EST
LONDON (AP) — A Jordanian doctor cleared of involvement in botched car bomb attacks in Britain but still facing deportation has been granted bail and freed.

• Chinese man convicted of killing English author 1/16/2009, 12:28 p.m. EST
LONDON (AP) — A Chinese man was convicted Friday of murdering an elderly author and attempting to steal his identity in a trial held partly in secret for reasons of national security.

• Brother visits Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush 1/16/2009, 12:25 p.m. EST
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Iraqi journalist detained after throwing his shoes at President George W. Bush is in good shape and was allowed to meet with his brother on Friday, although he has been denied access to his lawyer, his family said.