TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp, reeling from its worst U.S. sales decline in more than a quarter of a century, will shut all its factories in Japan for 11 days as the global economic slump hits demand and company profits.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel pressed on with its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip for a fourth day on Tuesday despite new international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict in which more than 540 Palestinians have been killed.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The legal battle over gay marriage in California turned on Monday to whether the state's top court could strike down a change in the state constitution that was approved by voters.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The prospect of new tax cuts in the United States and Germany injected a measure of New Year cheer on Monday, even as automakers wrapped up 2008 as their worst in more than 15 years with yet another month of slumping U.S. sales.

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge to jail accused swindler Bernard Madoff on Monday, saying he sent jewelry and other items worth more than $1 million to family and friends in violation of his bail.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days.

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Democrat Al Franken beat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to win the U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota, officials conducting a final recount said on Monday, though the loser promised to challenge the result.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge to revoke the bail terms for alleged swindler Bernard Madoff and detain him on Monday, claiming he was a flight risk.

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Democrat Al Franken beat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to win the U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota, officials conducting a final recount said on Monday nearly two months after the November 4 election.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama pressed congressional leaders on Monday to pass his huge spending and tax-cut package amid signs the centerpiece of his economic stimulus plan may face delays.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama went to the U.S. Capitol on Monday to press for swift passage of a huge spending and tax-cut package amid signs his centerpiece economic stimulus plan may face delays.

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - The prospect of new tax cuts in the United States and Germany injected a measure of New Year cheer on Monday, and a euro zone investor survey indicated new hope that the worst of the financial crisis had passed.

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Russia will reduce gas flows to Europe via Ukraine from Monday by the same amount it says Kiev is siphoning off, a measure that could further hurt supply to European countries facing freezing temperatures.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said on Monday he expected "sobering" unemployment figures at the end of this week as he went to Capitol Hill to campaign for his economic stimulus package.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs sought to soothe investor concerns about his health on Monday, saying his weight loss was caused by a hormone imbalance that is relatively simple to treat.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. construction spending fell a slim 0.6 percent in November, the Commerce Department reported on Monday, showing that building at the end of 2008 was stronger than Wall Street had expected.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said it had handed over evidence on Monday that linked Pakistani militants to the Mumbai attacks and demanded a prompt investigation by Islamabad, piling diplomatic pressure on its nuclear-armed rival.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple Inc, said on Monday a hormone imbalance had caused him to lose weight but that he would continue as CEO during his recovery, sending its shares up 3.4 percent.

LONDON (Reuters) - The prospect of tax cuts in Germany and the United States brought investors a measure of New Year cheer on Monday, and a survey of euro zone investor sentiment showed an unexpected improvement.

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.

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.

(Reuters) - A letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Monday explained he has a hormone imbalance and will continue as CEO during recovery.

(Corrects to clarify that venue for EU talks with Russia not yet confirmed)

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The European Union decided on Monday to send a mission to Russia this week to press for a speedy resolution of a dispute with Ukraine that has reduced gas supplies to eastern and southern Europe.