WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Washington Post included the following items on its front page on Dec. 30. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared "an all-out war against Hamas" on Monday as fighter jets raked the Gaza Strip with bombs for the third straight day and Palestinian fighters sent dozens of rockets flying deep into Israeli territory.

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CHICAGO - Chicago schools chief executive Arne Duncan, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for education secretary, has pushed a performance-pay plan and other innovations to transform a school system once regarded as one of the country's worst. As Duncan heads to Washington, the lessons of Chicago could provide a model for fixing America's schools.

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