Top headlines:
Analysis: Obama's challenges in Mideast: One of President-elect Barack Obama's biggest challenges in Middle East policymaking will be to craft diplomatic solutions that do not have unintended consequences. ›07:43
Bank of America sells China bank stake: Bank of America Corp. raised more money Wednesday to cope with U.S. economic turmoil by selling part of its stake in China Construction Bank Ltd. for $2.8 billion. ›13:30
Fire survivor: Lou the mule saved me: Jolene Solomon is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else. She says Lou's braying alerted to a fire that consumed her house but she escaped unharmed. ›03:31
U.S. 2008 planned layoffs most in five years: Planned layoffs at U.S. firms eased in December from the previous months seven-year high but they were up an astounding 275 percent annually, according to a new report. ›13:27
Study: Hawaii's pygmy killer whales stay close: A new study of pygmy killer whales one of the least understood marine mammal species shows that those living off Hawaii tend to stay close to the islands and don't swim out to the open ocean. ›15:25 2 Jan, Fri
Cubans pin hopes on Obama: In central Havana, many people hope that President-elect Barack Obama will do something almost anything to help end the official hostilities between Cuba and the U.S. ›11:50
DiCaprio, Eastwood take Palm Springs honors: Palm Springs Film Festival honorees include many who are widely considered strong Oscar contenders. ›17:03
Bikers strap on fruit to dodge helmet law: Police in Nigeria have arrested scores of motorcycle taxi riders with dried fruit shells, pots or pieces of rubber tire tied to their heads with string to avoid a new law requiring them to wear helmets. ›15:41
Researchers make car parts out of coconuts: A team at Baylor University has made trunk liners, floorboards and car door interior covers using fibers from the outer husks of coconuts, replacing the synthetic polyester fibers typically used in composite materials. ›23:59 6 Jan, Tue
Cool ice-skating rinks in America: Enjoy the season with a dash of winter air at rinks around the country. ›16:16 5 Jan, Mon
House to vote on Obama-favored health plan: House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care with a vote next week on legislation to expand a children's health insurance program. ›18:01
Europe shivers as Russia cuts gas shipments: Russia shut off all gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine on Wednesday leaving more than a dozen countries scrambling to cope during a winter cold snap. ›15:26
China, U.S. praise 'pingpong diplomacy': A senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday that relations with China would strengthen further, as the countries played a game of table tennis to commemorate 30 years of ties warmed by "pingpong diplomacy." ›17:50
Satyam scandal could be 'India's Enron': The head of Indian outsourcing firm Satyam Computer Services resigned on Wednesday, disclosing that profits had been falsely inflated for years. ›16:42
Test Pattern: Time for surgery on House: I love the predictability of House (which returns Monday, Jan. 19, with new episodes on Fox). The last time I was visiting my sister, as soon as the show's patient of the week walked in, I yelled out lupus! while my sister countered with cancer! and her housemate chipped in brain tumor! ›16:45
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
U.S. tourist stabbed in Rome, in critical condition: An American tourist from California is in serious condition in a Rome hospital after being stabbed outside a bar in downtown Rome. ›12:41 5 Jan, Mon
Trucker's sunset shot voted Photo of the Week: David Kellum's fire-in-the-sky sunset photo outside his home in Yakima, Wash., was this week's top-rated image. ›23:57 2 Jan, Fri
Lawyer gets 5-cent IRS bill, 4-cent refund: James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service. ›17:31 3 Jan, Sat
Clinton confirmation hearing set for Tuesday: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's confirmation hearing to become secretary of state will be Tuesday. ›18:21
Wallet-friendly getaways to Puerto Rico: This winter, travelers who book a four-night air-inclusive package to the island will save $200 off regular rates. ›01:36 3 Jan, Sat
Tenn. gov. pledges more oversight of ash ponds: Tennessee's governor promised greater oversight of coal ash retention ponds Wednesday after viewing damage from a spill that released more than a billion gallons of ashy sludge. ›01:37 1 Jan, Thu
Stonehenge: One totally awesome rave location: Stonehenge was built as a dance arena for prehistoric "samba-style" raves, according to a study of the acoustics of the 5,000-year-old stone circle. ›16:40
Stores worry holiday sales may be permanent: Shoppers are getting used to those 75 percent off sales, and that's bad news for merchants who worry they will also have to quickly slash prices on spring goods to attract customers. ›05:27
