GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli tanks, planes and ground forces pounded Gaza on Monday and the defense minister said the offensive against Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave would go on until Israel was safe. International efforts to secure a ceasefire moved ahead with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Middle East …

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Monday rebuffed European proposals for international observers in the Gaza Strip after any ceasefire, pushing instead for teams that will help search out and seal off tunnels that could allow Hamas to rearm. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a leading candidate to become Israel’s next prime …

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – The European Union on Monday scheduled talks with Russia to press for a speedy resolution of a dispute with Ukraine that has hit gas supplies to countries in eastern and southern Europe facing freezing temperatures. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on January …