Obama pledged change, picks insiders
President-elect Barack Obama promised the voters change but has started his Cabinet selection process by naming several Washington insiders to top posts.
Bush to sign legislation to extend jobless aid
Because of the tight job market, the White House says President George W. Bush would sign legislation pending in Congress to further extend unemployment benefits.
Pirates free two ships after ransoms paid
Somali pirates released two hijacked ships after ransoms were paid, U.S. military officials said Thursday.
U.S. jobless claims jump to 16-year high
New claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to a 16-year high, the Labor Department said Thursday, providing more evidence of a rapidly weakening job market.
Napolitano eyed for Homeland Security
An early Barack Obama supporter from the southwestern part of the country, the former Arizona attorney general is a leading contender for the job of secretary of homeland security.
U.S.: Raid kills militant blamed in GI death
An al-Qaida in Iraq leader blamed in the 2004 abduction and murder of an Army reservist and other deadly attacks was killed in an American raid in Baghdad, the U.S. military said Thursday.
Massive search for S. Pacific fishermen
The New Zealand air force searched for 29 fishermen Thursday after the charred remains of their boat was found abandoned near the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati.
Scoop: Jennifer Aniston gets a kick out of ‘Friends'
The "Marley & Me" star tells New York Times magazine, "This is horrible to say, but there are times when I laugh my rear end off."
Governors pledge fight on global warming
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his counterparts in 12 states and regional leaders from four other countries signed a declaration Wednesday pledging to work together to combat global warming.
Oil hits 3-year low; gas below $2 in many states
Oil prices have hit levels not seen in more than three years and retail gasoline prices are below $2 in nearly half of the country.
