Israeli mortar shells struck outside a U.N. school where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge Tuesday, killing at least 30 people. Meanwhile, Venezuela ordered the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to protest Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN's chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, to be the country's next surgeon general, the cable news network said Tuesday.

Noted Memphis soul singer Ruby Wilson suffered a mild stroke on New Year's Day and is hospitalized in Jackson, Miss., her agent said today. She is expected to return to Memphis today or Wednesday to begin rehabilitation, agent Rollin Riggs said.