NYT: Blackwater tied to CIA raids
Private security guards from Blackwater Worldwide participated in some of the C.I.A.’s most sensitive activities, according to former employees and intelligence officials.
Stocks close higher after trade deficit narrows
Stock indexes closed higher as a jump in exports offset concerns about an increase in unemployment claims.
ConsumerMan
It’s a ruby ... but it's not the real thing
Answer Desk
Adding up bailout losses
Browns show Steelers not Super anymore
The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers lost their fifth straight and had their playoff hopes sacked by the lowly Cleveland Browns, who ended a 12-game losing streak against their bitter rival with a 13-6 victory in subzero wind chills Thursday night.
Scoop: Winfrey doesn’t grill president in holiday show
Talk-show host tosses softballs at first couple, asking about their favorite Christmas gifts as children.
Nearly 10,000 U.S. deaths caused by swine flu
Swine flu has caused nearly 10,000 deaths in the United States, part of an outbreak that has infected about 50 million Americans, government health officials said Thursday.
Cosmic Log: Planets on the Web
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: What's the best way to stay on top of the planet boom? You'll find resources galore on the Web, including tart tweets from the planets themselves.
The world’s friendliest countries
The Middle East has long had a reputation for being one of the world's perennial trouble spots. But for expatriates, Bahrain ranks as one of the most welcoming places to work.
