Top News Roundup

Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) will resign from the Senate to pursue "other opportunities," congressional sources say --- possibly more lucrative lobbying opportunities.

Oprah is stumping for Barack Obama, but TIME doubts that she'll do him much good. USA Today, however, is impressed that Obama is storming Iowa with a "front-runner's swagger." Fred Thompson has endorsed a voluntary flat tax, and Mike Huckabee says he is the only candidate who can defeat "the Clinton political machine."

Writers and producers are "cautiously optimistic" that the TV writers' strike may end by Wednesday.

A new report says that Washington D.C. is experiencing a modern HIV epidemic that crosses racial, ethnic, and gender lines.

Pres. Bush says that he's optimistic about Middle East peace conference in Annapolis. He may be more hopeful than the others involved: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. FOX News analyzes the risks.

The US may be in Iraq for a long time, now that Bush and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki have signed a declaration that paves the way for a long-term stay.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned from exile "to save Pakistan and save democracy," he says. Pervez Musharraf, military dictator, ousted Sharif in 1999 and established martial law earlier this month.

A British schoolteacher in Sudan was arrested for letting her classroom name a teddy bear Muhammmad. The 54-year-old teacher may face a punishment of 40 lashes.

Readers: Feel free to post newsworthy links we overlooked!