[January 26, 2009]

AP Top News at 8:28 p.m. EST

(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Senate confirms Geithner as treasury secretaryWASHINGTON (AP) _ New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy Geithner won confirmation Monday as President Barack Obama's treasury secretary despite personal tax lapses that turned more than a third of the Senate against him. The 60-34 vote put Geithner at the helm of Obama's economic team as it races to halt the worst financial slide in generations.

Job-killing recession racks up more layoff victimsWASHINGTON (AP) _ The recession is killing jobs at an alarming pace, with tens of thousands of new layoffs announced Monday by some of the biggest names in American business _ Pfizer, Caterpillar and Home Depot. More pink slips, pay freezes and other hits are expected to slam workers in the months ahead as companies desperately look for ways to survive.

Green car rules give auto industry a new challengeWASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama wants automakers to make greener cars at a time when General Motors and Chrysler are hanging by the thread of a massive government loan and auto sales have plummeted to their lowest levels in more than two decades. Obama's plans could bring smaller cars, more hybrids and advanced fuel-saving technologies to showrooms, but car shoppers will probably pay more upfront because the new rules are expected to cost the hamstrung industry billions of dollars.

Ill. Senate begins trial as governor hits TV showsSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial opened Monday with a vacant chair reserved for the governor, who boycotted the proceedings and instead spent the day on the TV talk-show circuit in New York, complaining he is being railroaded. "The fix is in," Blagojevich declared on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Senate OKs 4-month delay to digital TV changeoverWASHINGTON (AP) _ The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12. The vote is a big victory for the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress, who have been pushing for a delay amid growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready for the currently scheduled Feb. 17 changeover.

Pentagon: Gitmo prisoner releases not fail safeSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ The re-emergence of two former Guantanamo Bay prisoners as al-Qaida terrorists in the past week won't likely change U.S. policy on transfers to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said Monday. More than 100 Saudis have been repatriated from the U.S. military's prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Saudi Arabia, where the government puts them through a rehabilitation program designed to encourage them to abandon Islamic extremism and reintegrate into civilian life.

UN's role in Gaza rises among the rubbleJEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip (AP) _ Crouching against piled mattresses in a room crammed with refugees, Bissan Abu al-Eish focused on her homework, blocking out the relentless shrieks of dozens of toddlers and the stench of overflowing latrines. "I'm so happy to be studying," said the 9-year-old girl, bent over the new textbook she received this weekend when classes resumed for 200,000 Gaza children at United Nations facilities.

Octuplets born 'screaming and kicking' in Calif.BELLFLOWER, Calif. (AP) _ A woman gave birth to eight babies in Southern California on Monday, the world's second live-born set of octuplets. The mother, who was not identified, gave birth to six boys and two girls weighing between 1.8 pounds and 3.4 pounds, doctors at Kaiser Permanante hospital told KCAL9.

Oscar 3453 is 'born' in Chicago factoryCHICAGO (AP) _ One of the biggest stars of this year's Academy Awards was born on Chicago's northwest side, brought into the world by Martin Vega and prepped for his big close-up by Eladio Gonzalez. Technically, his name is 3453, but he also goes by Oscar.

Zack Greinke and Royals agree to $38M, 4-year dealKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The Kansas City Royals stood by Zack Greinke. Now, Greinke is standing by them. Delaying a chance to make even more money as a free agent, the right-hander agreed Monday to a $38 million, four-year contract that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.

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