Congress, Obama gird to fight slump

The House and Senate have convened for a new Congress that will immediately confront the country's struggling economy.

Turn to generics slows ‘07 health care spending
Spending on health care slowed slightly in 2007 as consumers turned more to generic drugs instead of brand-names to fill their medicine cabinets, the government reported.

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.

Aw, snap! It's Colbert & Colmes — for a day

Jettisoned by his longtime co-host Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes was adopted by Stephen Colbert — for a day, at least. "The Colbert Report" anchor introduced the Fox News commentator as his new co-host, but later turned him into a bat.

Policeman feared missing arrested in Vegas

An Alabama police organized crime specialist who vanished last week was arrested in Las Vegas and accused of staging his disappearance to cover up a theft, police said Tuesday.

Gladiators to ‘fight' again at Rome's Colosseum

Gladiators are to return to Rome's most famous fight arena almost 2,000 years after their bloody sport last entertained Roman crowds, local authorities announced.

Pending home sales hit record low

Pending sales of existing U.S. homes dropped to a seven-year low in November, data showed on Tuesday.

Burris rejected in bid for Senate seat

Roland Burris failed in his bid to take President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois Senate seat on Tuesday in a scripted piece of political theater staged just before the opening of the 111th Congress.

U.N.: 30 die in strike near Gaza school

Red Cross warns 500,000 civilians in danger; Israel rejects calls for truce.