Powered by strong winds, California fires leave swath of destruction
Powerful Santa Ana winds fanned the flames of two large wildfires in south California, which left scorched homes and thousands of evacuees in their wake.
- In fighting wildfires, concerns about chemicals

At global finance talks, 20 different agendas
How world leaders approached the summit had a lot to do with how the financial crisis affected their political fortunes.
- China holds the cards at summit

Congo riches are plundered by renegade army brigade
The exploitation of a tin mine by a renegade militia is emblematic of the deadly role the Congo's immense natural wealth has played in its misery.

Across sectors, European recession deepens
Central bankers from around the world called for more economic stimulus programs to mitigate the effects of the global downturn as data confirmed that the euro zone had slipped into recession.
- U.S. retail sales post record decline
- Germany enters recession

Bust finally reaches technology industry
In the span of just a few weeks, orders for both business and consumer technology products have collapsed, and technology companies have begun laying off workers. The plunge is so severe that some executives are comparing it with the dot-com bust in 2001, when hundreds of companies disappeared.
- Laid-off Silicon Valley worker kills three

Military seizes key Tamil stronghold, Sri Lanka says
Sri Lanka's government says it has established a land link to Jaffna, the heartland of the country's ethnic minority Tamils, by seizing a rebel stronghold on the west coast.

Medvedev backs off missile threat
The Russian president backed away from the threat, on the condition that President-elect Barack Obama take up a call Russia issued with France to hold talks on European security.
- Engaging Russia, EU still criticizes missile threat

Cease-fire in Gaza Strip unravels
Tensions between Hamas and Israel increased markedly after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, sending 18 Israelis to the hospital with shock and mild injuries.

Long, hard road ahead for Lehman creditors
In a three-hour meeting, about 1,000 creditors were told that dismantling the investment bank's European business would take "many years."

Rice looks back on Bush's foreign policy
Rice believes the United States under Bush has been more active and more insistent that democracy is not just something for a few.

Shuttle lifts off, taking 'home improvement to new level'
The space shuttle Endeavour lighted the evening skies over Florida, rising beneath a brilliant moon as it raced toward the International Space Station.

In Israel, 'Yes we can, too'
The campaign Web site of Benjamin Netanyahu looks suspiciously like Barack Obama's.

Mexico blames pilot error in crash
The pilot of a small government jet that crashed last week, killing Mexico's interior minister, flew too close to a jumbo jet that it was following and lost control of the p*** in the turbulence created by the larger p***, the authorities said.

Duma clears way for longer terms in Russia
As a bill extending Russia's presidency from four to six years barreled through the Russian legislature, it fell to the Communist Party to put up a fight.

Fidelity to cut 1,700 jobs in 2nd round of layoffs
Fidelity Investments will eliminate 1,700 jobs early next year in a second round of cuts at the largest U.S. mutual fund company.

Change to believe in: Obama's clothes
Maybe if Barack Obama can get young men to do away with drooping pants, he can then take on the shrunken tailoring that has become popular.

Investment funds' dilemma: Environment or profit
Many pension funds and institutional investors in Europe are starting to pursue a green investment strategy. But other funds, even those with environmental interests, are reluctant to follow.