Top headlines:
Video: Managing debts, and expectations: Jan. 7: The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday the projected federal deficit for 2009 is $1.2 trillion, and that does not include the $800 billion economic stimulus package President-elect Barack Obama is proposing. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.(Nightly News) ›23:43 7 Jan, Wed
Newsweek: Obama's Mideast peace offensive: Barack Obama has put on a good show of focusing his pre-inaugural attention on the economy while largely ignoring the rest of the worldbut he clearly has big plans for the Mideast. ›16:19
Small retailers struggle in tough season: Like a lot of small retailers, Henry Burton depends heavily on the holiday season to ring up sales, and, like a lot of retailers, this past holiday season proved especially challenging. ›16:10
Drugmakers aim to polish image with ad blitz: The pharmaceutical industry, confronting sluggish growth, low prestige and the prospect of more-aggressive government oversight, is moving on several fronts to burnish its image. ›11:09
African men jailed for 8 years over gay sex: Nine men, including a prominent activist, have been convicted of homosexual acts and sentenced to eight years in prison, their lawyer and a gay rights group said Thursday. ›16:08
Satyam executives try to soothe investors: Top executives of beleaguered Indian outsourcing company Satyam Computer struggled to reassure investors, employees and clients Thursday after its chairman resigned following an admission he cooked accounts and inflated profits for years. ›15:21
Obama: Pass stimulus or recession lasts years: President-elect Barack Obama warned Thursday that the nation's recession could "linger for years" unless Congress acts to pump huge sums from Washington into the U.S. economy. ›16:41
Panda attacks zoo visitor for third time: For the third time, Gu Gu the panda has attacked someone who climbed into its space, prompting officials at the Beijing Zoo to consider changes to keep visitors away from 240-pound animal. ›13:30
On a tight budget? Apply to Harvard: The nation's top colleges have gotten to be so expensive that only the wealthiest families can possibly afford them, especially during bleak economic times like these. Right? Not necessarily. A new report shows that such schools might not be as costly as you think. ›14:50
Prediction: Trendy sex not so hot in 2009: Every new year is a time for trend prediction and, in 2009, even sex isnt immune. So heres my 2009 prediction about trendy sex: Its over, writes Brian Alexander. ›13:24
Toyota to roll out safety, driver assist services: Toyota said Wednesday that it plans to roll out new safety and driver-assist programs on certain Toyota and Lexus models beginning late this summer. ›01:27
Timber giant drops plan for forest roads: The nation's largest owner of timberland disclosed Monday that it will no longer pursue changes that critics complained could transform forests into housing subdivisions. ›19:02 6 Jan, Tue
2 hours screen time a day may lead to unfit kids: Researchers have found that young teens who spend more than two hours in front of the TV or computer each day showed less endurance during a running test than their peers. ›21:40 7 Jan, Wed
Yahoo unveils partners for Web TV push: Yahoo unveiled on Wednesday a list of partners to aid its push to bring the Internet and television together, hoping their joint effort will finally connect with consumers. ›04:06
Sony rolls out world's lightest 8-inch laptop: Japan's Sony Corp plans to launch the world's lightest 8-inch notebook PC, taking aim squarely at a rapidly growing market for ultra-portable personal computers. ›01:38
NYT: Bush's homeland security setup faces ax: Barack Obama is reportedly preparing to scrap the way President Bush oversaw domestic security in the White House and name a former CIA official to coordinate counterterrorism. ›09:14
Draft report: Vote on Blagojevich impeachment: A draft report from the Illinois House committee investigating Governor Rod Blagojevich calls for the full chamber to vote on impeaching him. ›15:19
Drugmakers aim to polish image with ad blitz: The pharmaceutical industry, confronting sluggish growth, low prestige and the prospect of more-aggressive government oversight, is moving on several fronts to burnish its image. ›11:09
Weekly jobless claims drop unexpectedly: New claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, but the number of people continuing to seek aid rose sharply. ›16:38
Video: Israel resumes airstrikes in Gaza: Jan. 7: Israel Wednesday warned residents along the border between Gaza and Egypt that airstrikes are coming, saying it will continue to attack Hamas during any peace talks. NBC's Richard Engel reports.(Nightly News) ›23:52 7 Jan, Wed
Newsweek: The bumpy road to the inauguration: Howard Fineman notes that rather than give Obama a clean, quick coronation, Washington (and especially Obama's own party) seems intent on giving the president-elect as much trouble as possible. ›16:21
Statins can cause rare eye disorders: Treatment with a cholesterol-lowering "statin" drug may very occasionally cause double-vision, eyelid-droop, or weakness of the muscles that control eye movement. ›20:09 7 Jan, Wed
Bush creates huge marine sanctuaries: Announcing the largest marine conservation effort in history, President George W. Bush on Tuesday designated three remote Pacific island areas as national monuments. ›19:21 6 Jan, Tue
Obama pledges to tackle government spending: President-elect Obama says he'll have to juggle the competing interests of economic stimulus and deficit control, but that restoring general business health must come first. ›23:48 7 Jan, Wed
