Vatican defends move to beatify wartime pope

Moving Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood is not a hostile act against Jews, the Vatican said in a statement on Tuesday.

Pakistan Taliban ‘helping’ beef up Afghan fight

AIG bonus return pledge goes mostly unfulfilled

  Earlier this year, executives at AIG Financial Products agreed to return about $45 million in bonuses.  But as 2009 draws to an end, a majority of that money remains unpaid.

Obama rejects criticism on health legislation

New-home sales fall to lowest level since March

  Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in seven months in November, data showed on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the housing market's recovery.

  Stocks give up gains after housing report

Davis: Forget Kentucky, Kansas — Texas will lose last

Davis: No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Texas faced stiff challenges at home Tuesday night, but both pulled away late to win. The Jayhawks defeated hot-shooting Cal 84-69. And the Longhorns held off Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans 79-68. Who is No. 1? Leave that to the pollsters. Who will be the last undefeated team? That leads us to your questions.

No. 2 Texas runs past No. 9 Michigan State

Scoop: No Tiger cub on way for Rachel Uchitel

Golfer's alleged mistress bluntly denies magazine's claim that she is expecting a baby.

Report: Simon Cowell will leave ‘American Idol’

How to avoid common cancer-causing agents

There are over 100,000 chemicals used in the consumer products that we come in contact with every day, and only a fraction have ever been tested for safety.

Do you get good abs from sex — or vice versa?

10 best video games of 2009

The last year has been a difficult one for the game industry. And yet, 2009 has still managed to deliver a bumper crop of truly excellent and even inspiring games.

Cool gifts for shutterbugs

10 years of twisted travel

Ring out the old, ring in the new and rack up another decade in the annals of bizarre travel behavior. That’s right, folks, it’s time to celebrate the end of 2009 with a look back at some of the strangest stories of the last 10 years.

Top 10 ski resorts for nonskiers