Iraq sets date for long-awaited elections
Iraq said that it will hold long-awaited provincial elections on Jan. 31, a step forward for U.S.-backed efforts to promote reconciliation, although a key northern area will not participate.

NATO fires on insurgents in Pakistan
NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan fired 20 artillery rounds at insurgents inside Pakistan after coordinating with Islamabad, officials said Tuesday.

Asia stocks sink as layoffs add to gloom

Asian stock markets sank after Wall Street retreated and global financial firms announced another round of massive layoffs, adding to gloom about the world economy. European stocks traded lower.

Lawyer: Jackson too sick to travel for trial

Michael Jackson's attorney said Tuesday that the pop star might be too sick to travel to London to testify in a suit claiming he owes an Arab sheikh $7 million.

Homes sought for dogs as tracks close

Pet adoption agencies are pushing to find homes for a growing number of retired greyhounds amid a struggling dog racing industry and a weak U.S. economy.

NYT: Bill Clinton's dealings under review

Aides to Barack Obama said the president-elect would not formally offer Hillary Rodham Clinton a Cabinet post unless he was satisfied that Bill Clinton's activities would not pose a conflict.

Woman fined in toilet corpse case
A woman accused of helping her religious leader hide a decaying corpse in her toilet so they could collect Social Security was convicted of a misdemeanor in a deal for her to testify against the leader.

Paulson, Bernanke defend bailout
Treasury Secretary Paulson expressed fresh reservations Tuesday about tapping  bailout pool for mortgage guarantees to help stem soaring home foreclosures.

Tainted meats point to superbug C. diff in food

A nasty intestinal germ found in hospitals is also showing up in grocery store meats, raising the possibility that C. diff is transmitted through food, research shows.