U.S. weighs action on mortgage rates

Department considers plans to intervene directly to force down rates and stimulate the moribund housing market, according to sources.

Long-term risk in troop brain injuries
Many of the thousands of troops who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of long-term health problems including depression and Alzheimer's-like symptoms, researchers say.

Disgraced Spitzer debuts as columnist

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is back in the media, this time as a member of the Fourth Estate.

Israelis can't escape troubles in world travels
Accustomed to war and instability at home, Israelis have long looked overseas for an escape, earning them a reputation as among the most intrepid — and noticeable — world travelers.

Second-tier jobs will have clout in Obama era

We know who the new secretary of state will be in president-elect Barack Obama's administration. But what about the second-tier appointees who could end up immensely powerful?

Airlines cram to obey obesity ruling

Canadian airlines are scrambling to figure out how to meet the January 10th deadline for complying with the "one-person, one-fare" policy mandated by the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Zimbabwe declares health emergency

Zimbabwe has declared a national emergency over its cholera epidemic and the collapse of its health system due to the country's economic crisis.

Automakers pitch Congress anew

U.S. automakers drew fresh skepticism from lawmakers Thursday in a rocky confrontation over their pleas for an expanded $34 billion rescue package they say they need to survive.

Teen girls charged in nursing home abuse

Two teenage girls who worked at a Minn. nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping residents who suffered from Alzheimer's and other disorders.