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American Red Cross President Marsha Evans announces she is stepping down from her post, effective at the end of December. During her tenure, the charity faced criticism over its response to Hurricane Katrina. Evans characterizes her departure as a long-planned retirement, though others at the agency cite problems with communication and coordination.

Israel Wednesday again closed the border crossings into the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rocket attacks from Gaza into the southern city of Sderot. Hamas called the move a violation of a truce, but urged Palestinian factions to hold their fire.

Colombia says it rescued three Americans and a French-Colombian politician from leftist FARC rebels who held them for years. John Otis, South America bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle, says all the former hostages are in reasonably good health.

Shot-putter Adam Nelson has been picked to participate in the Olympics for a third time. In the final round of the shot put in Eugene, Ore., this weekend, he took third place with a 20.89-meter toss. Nelson is a two-time Olympic silver medalist.

Some of Major League Baseball's prominent active and former players will be linked to the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs. They will be named in a 300-page report based on former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigation on doping in baseball.

The political landscape has been remade ahead of the New Hampshire primaries next week. The win for Barack Obama redefines the Democratic contest, as he was backed by a variety of constituents. Mike Huckabee's boost comes from conservative voters and a strong turnout.

The U.S. and Iran are talking for the second time in as many months after nearly three decades of silence. Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, and his Iranian counterpart are due to meet in Baghdad to discuss the worsening security situation there.

The ultimate clean fuel, at least at first glance, is vegetable oil. Plants make it from sunlight, water, and a greenhouse gas — and they remove carbon dioxide from the air as they grow. The oil is easily converted into fuel for diesel engines. Around the globe there's now a rush toward so-called "biodiesel."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's Capitol Hill colleagues react to news of his malignant brain tumor with sadness, prayers and disbelief. Some are contemplating what Congress might look like without one of the Senate's most prolific legislators.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama announced Thursday he won't take part in the public-finance system for the presidential campaign. Obama becomes the first candidate in a general election to opt out of the primary system.