More top stories

• With stimulus deal, bill's passage appears likely in Senate

• Biden says US will talk to Iran

• British milkman supplied pot with bottles of milk

• NATO chief urges more European countries to step up Afghan involvement

National news

• McCain, back in Senate, plays against hype

• Moderate Democrats, GOP forge deal to trim $100 billion from stimulus bill; passage now likely

• California Medical Board investigates doctor who implanted embryos in mother of octuplets

• FDA: Peanut company shipped products after receiving tests confirming salmonella

• Man arrested, issued 50 traffic citations in 1 day after fleeing from Florida police

• Ex-California transit officer charged with fatally shooting unarmed man freed on $3M bail

• Obama starting to hit the road to sell economic plan, get a break from White House

• AP Interview: Franken frustrated by lingering Senate race, studying issues in meantime

World news

• Pope intervenes as Italy grapples with right-to-die case; affirms need to protect life

• Candidates backed by anti-US cleric appeal Iraq election results, allege voting irregularities

• Obama said to be considering Iraq withdrawal timetables that could keep troops there 2 years

• BBC host insults Gordon Brown in latest dust-up

• Red Cross requests safe passage for hundreds of patients trapped in Sri Lanka's war zone

• Top Hamas strongman emerges from post-war hiding to lead delegation to Egypt

• Former US envoy: North Korea officials say they're willing to move forward with nuclear talks

• Pakistan defends lifting of nuclear smuggler Khan's house arrest

• Pakistani militants say they have killed Polish hostage after 4 months of captivity