McDonald's courts moms as emissaries
McDonald's has recruited mothers to go behind the scenes of the company's operations, meet senior executives and then communicate what they see via the Web in a bid to brighten its image.
Pakistan summons U.S. envoy
Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador Thursday to protest a suspected U.S. missile strike deep inside its territory as militants threatened revenge attacks unless the cross-border raids stop.
Retirement dreams yield to despair
A rising number of people have seen their retirement plans evaporate. As 401(k)s dwindle, their dreams of golden years are being replaced by feelings of hopelessness and anger.
Senate group agrees on auto bailout
Four senators have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to assist the struggling automotive industry, the lawmakers announced in a joint statement on Thursday.
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.
Oil hits 3-year low; gas at $2 in many states
Oil prices on hit levels not seen in more than three years and retail gas prices are now below $2 across nearly half of the country on dour reports suggesting an economic pullback.
Bush set to relax rules protecting species
Animals in danger of becoming extinct could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams and other projects don't pose a threat, under a regulation the Bush administration is set to put in place.
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."
NYT: Daschle poses conflict-of-interest test
The choice of Tom Daschle for secretary of health and human services poses questions about how broadly Barack Obama will apply campaign promises to limit conflicts of interest among appointees.
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.