The Senate opened debate Monday on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, an issue Republican strategists hope will help drive conservative voters to the polls during fall congressional elections.

The idea of holding a national referendum was planted in the mind of the Palestinian president as soon as the election results were announced on January 25 and the extent of Fatah's shellacking became clear.

Australia, the holder of about 40 percent of the world's known uranium reserves, will investigate adopting nuclear power to ensure energy supplies and cut pollution from burning coal.