Top News

• Afghanistan decision coming within days, White House says
  President Obama will announce within days whether he will send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, the White House said late Monday night.
  
• BART police seek arrest video
  Authorities have begun questioning witnesses to a confrontation that led to a BART police officer shoving an unruly man into a window, a top official said Monday.
  
• Abortion, politics tough for Catholics
  A dispute over abortion between the only remaining Kennedy in Congress and his Roman Catholic bishop has highlighted the political volatility of the issue.
  
• Two executed over tainted milk
  Two people were executed Tuesday in China for their part in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six babies and sickened about 300,000 others, state-run media reported.
  
• Black Friday shopping expected to soar
  Black Friday shopping is expected to pick up more than 16 percent this year, according to a survey released Tuesday.
  
• Sanford faces 37 ethics charges
  The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of violating state ethics laws, according to a complaint released by the commission on Monday.
  
• Health care bill moves ahead
  Senate Democrats cleared a major hurdle this weekend by voting to move ahead with debate on health care reform, but it was hardly a unified party standing behind the bill.
  
• Fort Hood victim 'died as she lived'
  Huddling under umbrellas in a chilly rain, friends, relatives and comrades gathered at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to lay to rest another of the victims of the massacre at Fort Hood, Texas.
  
• Philippines massacre blamed on 'thugs'
  Gunmen kidnapped and killed at least 21 people in the Philippines today in what a presidential adviser called the most "gruesome massacre of civilians" in recent history.
  
• U.N. worker's body found after 24 years
  The body of a United Nations worker, who had been missing for 24 years, has been found in eastern Lebanon, a representative of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.
  

Business

• Credit cards: No holiday help from Congress
  A congressional effort to enact swift rules to protect credit card consumers during the holiday shopping season is all but dead.
  
• Black Friday shopping to jump 16%
  Black Friday shopping is expected to pick up more than 16% this year, according to a survey released Tuesday.
  
• Stimulus cash runs out for small business loans
  The stimulus cash that helped boost small business lending this year just ran out.
  
• Hello Bing: News Corp's search for search
  
  
• A Chinese-owned GM, it could happen
  GM could one day be Chinese owned.
  
• Crib recall: 2.1 million deemed unsafe
  The federal agency in charge of product safety announced the recall of 2.1 million cribs Monday, citing defective hardware that can cause toddlers and infants to suffocate.
  
• Mazda's penny-pinching path to cleaner cars
  When you have lemons, make lemonade.
  
• Behind the Zhu Zhu mania
  Zhu Zhu Pets, the inexplicably cute robotic hamsters that have become this year's overnight holiday toy sensation, are selling out across the country.
  
• Banks' newest game: Debit card fees
  Could debit cards be the next cash cow for banks? If banks have their way, they will.
  
• Gold surges to a fresh record
  Gold rallied to an all-time high Monday, climbing ever closer to $1,200 an ounce, as the U.S. dollar slid and investors showed nervousness about the economy.
  
• Buffett's big bet: Trailing behind after lap one
  Remember "Buffett's Big Bet", in which the noted investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway maintained that an S&P 500 index fund would outperform five funds-of-hedge-funds over 10 years? Well, the results for the first lap, the agonizing year of 2008, are finally in, and the funds-of-funds soundly whipped the index. Vanguard's S&P 500 Admiral shares, the index fund "bought" by Buffett, were down 37%. On the average, and net of all fees, costs, and expenses, the five funds-of-funds backed by Buffett's opponent, Protégé Partners LLC, a New York money-management firm, delivered: -23.9%.
  
• Existing home sales at highest level since 2007
  Existing home sales surged in October to the highest level in more than 2-1/2 years, according to a real estate industry report issued Monday.
  
• State tax collections in steep drop
  State tax collections nationwide plummeted in the third quarter, and the forecast for the remainder of the year looks grim, a report released Monday shows.
  
• Bonds ease ahead of auction
  
  
• Dow spikes to 13-month high
  Stocks surged Monday, with the Dow touching its highest point in more than a year, on a strong housing report and a rally in commodities.
  
• Why Kozlowski should get clemency
  For inmate No. 05A4820, the days are pretty much the same. At the Mid-State Correctional Facility in upstate New York, Dennis Kozlowski, 63, sorts prison laundry, awaits mail call, enjoys his private supply of fresh fruit, watches Yankees games (he's a minority owner), and tries to sleep in a cell where the bright light never goes out.
  
• Fed rage boils over on Capitol Hill
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has a tough road ahead.
  
• What Congress has in store for the Fed
  More than a year after the financial meltdown of 2008, Congress is moving forward on plans to drastically curtail the power of the Federal Reserve.
  
• 5 ways to pump up your income
  Wish you had a little more money in your wallet these days? Who doesn't?
  
• Dollar falls broadly on Fed comments
  
  

Entertainment

• Kardashian, new husband nesting
  Khloe Kardashian and basketball player Lamar Odom have found themselves a newlywed love nest.
  
• Shakira shakes it up with new album
  Her hips may not lie, but Shakira's fingernails sure know how to do some damage..
  
• Life lessons from a celebrity guru
  Laura Day doesn't call herself a psychic. She prefers the term "intuitionist." Whatever you call whatever she has, actors, studio heads, and corporate and financial titans pay her $10,000 a month for 24/7 access to it.
  
• Heidi Klum takes Seal's last name
  Heidi Klum has officially changed her name to Heidi Samuel, taking Seal's last name, four years and four kids after getting hitched.
  
• Clooney gives co-star dating advice
  Ladies' man George Clooney isn't short on romance pointers -- even if they're for a younger, female co-star.
  
• Lambert delivers man-on-man kiss at AMA
  Adam Lambert's sexually suggestive choreography on the American Music Awards stage Sunday night happened "in the moment," he told CNN.
  
• 'New Moon' to eclipse box office records
  "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" grossed an astounding $140.7 million; it's expected to become the biggest autumn opening weekend in history.
  
• 'Housewives' ex to be exhumed
  Officials have agreed to exhume the body Kandi Burruss' ex-fiancé to get a second look at what may have caused his death.
  
• It pays to be an 'Idol' loser
  
  
• Jackson physician resumes practice
  The doctor at the center of the homicide investigation into Michael Jackson's death has resumed his practice.
  

Sports

• Peter King: Favre passes biggest preseason test
  If Brett Favre can develop a quick rapport with his teammates and remain healthy for his 19th NFL campaign, the Vikings might be on the brink of something special, writes Peter King.
  
• Favre, Peterson tally TDs in Vikes' 17-10 road victory
  Benefitting from a full week of practice, Brett Favre showed glimpses of his future Hall of Fame self and played a strong role in the Vikings' 17-10 victory over the Texans.
  
• 'Not-so Amazins' lead lengthy list of disappointments this season
  The Mets and Cubs have fallen woefully short of expectations, which is why the beleaguered clubs are headlining Jon Heyman's in-depth look at this season's biggest disappointments.
  
• Will Brady play in Pats' opener?
  
  
• 'Pacman' strikes deal to play with CFL
  If controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is going to return to the NFL, it will be via the Canadian Football League. Jones agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers late Monday night and is expected to join the team as early as Wednesday.
  
• Alabama DL Deaderick shot, wounded in robbery
  TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick was hospitalized in good condition Tuesday after being shot in the arm during an apparent robbery attempt at an off-campus apartment complex.
  
• Dodgers net Thome, Garland
  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big push to lock up the NL West, acquiring slugging first baseman Jim Thome from the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Jon Garland from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  
• Rubio shuns Wolves, inks deal with Spanish club
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Point guard Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain for the next two seasons instead of coming to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves this fall, according to two published reports.
  
• Pettitte flirts with no-no
  BALTIMORE(AP) After an error ruined Andy Pettitte 's bid for perfection, the left-hander's effort to console his dejected teammate was absolutely flawless.
  
• Michigan's Rodriguez denies practice allegations
  ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that his football program has abided by NCAA rules, despite allegations from players and former players who say the team has practiced far beyond the time allowed.
  

Health

• Parkour teaches the art of moving
  Parkour -- the "art of moving" -- is a physically challenging practice where participants move through the landscape using obstacles, like stairs and benches, to propel themselves forward and gain speed.
  
• Flying with the flu? Some may be tempted
  Air travelers bracing themselves for the annual Thanksgiving rush this week may have something else to fret about: passengers who could be bringing a little extra baggage of the viral kind on board.
  
• Scrutiny for cancer screenings
  It's been a confusing week for women, with new guidelines for breast cancer and cervical cancer exams. Though the guidelines triggered controversy, one expert said, there could be a silver lining.
  
• With discord in the ranks, health bill moves ahead
  Senate Democrats cleared a major hurdle this weekend by voting to move ahead with debate on health care reform, but it was hardly a unified party standing behind the bill.
  
• Commentary: Herbal remedies need real scrutiny
  Did you know that there exists an all-natural remedy for memory loss? Weight gain? Macular degeneration? Prostate enlargement? These products are so successful that clinical testing has already begun! Just listened to the following testimonial from an unidentified person ...
  
• CDC: H1N1 cases down, vaccine availability grows
  Health officials on Friday reported a slight decrease in H1N1 flu activity nationwide.
  
• 'I want my mammograms!'
  A government task force says women in their 40s don't need annual mammograms, but Sara Fought would beg to differ: She says she's alive today because a routine mammogram found cancer when she was 42.
  
• New cervical cancer screening guidelines released
  The new mammogram recommendations out earlier this week caused quite an uproar. Now comes another change in screening tests for women -- this one for cervical cancer.
  
• Vicks nasal spray recalled over bacteria
  Procter & Gamble is recalling Vicks Sinex nasal spray in the United States, Britain and Germany after finding it contained bacteria, the company said.
  
• Two men reflect national divide over health reform
  Aisha's Fish and Chicken is named for Stanley Walker's 16-year-old daughter; it's a small family business known for its wings, catfish and signature sauce.
  

Technology

• Hacked e-mails fuel climate debate
  An online debate over global warming science has broken out after an unknown hacker broke into the e-mail server at a climate-research center, stole more than 1,000 e-mails about global warming and posted them online.
  
• EBay apologizes for Web site glitch
  Online auction giant eBay apologized Sunday for a daylong glitch that inactivated the search function on its Web site, and said it will compensate sellers for their losses.
  
• Report: Risings seas could cost trillions
  A possible rise in sea levels by 0.5 meters by 2050 could put at risk more than $28 trillion worth of assets in the world's largest coastal cities, according to a report compiled for the insurance industry.
  
• Three Mile Island radiation leak investigated
  Authorities at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear plant were investigating what caused a weekend radiation leak that resulted in 150 workers being sent home, officials said Sunday.
  
• Large Hadron Collider back online
  "The LHC is back," the European Organization for Nuclear Research announced triumphantly Friday, as the world's largest particle accelerator resumed operation more than a year after an electrical failure shut it down.
  
• Orbiting astronaut welcomes daughter
  Space shuttle astronaut Randy Bresnik has welcomed a daughter -- from space.
  
• How Microsoft blew it on Windows Mobile
  Microsoft Windows continues to dominate the PC market with a 90 percent market-share stronghold, but when it comes to smartphones, Microsoft is getting beat up worse than a mustachioed villain in a Jackie Chan movie.
  
• Google OS: the end of the hard drive?
  Google today unveiled more details of Chrome OS, a lightweight, browser-based operating system for netbooks.
  
• Russian corruption fight explodes on YouTube
  The month of November has been a poignant one for Russia and its fight against corruption -- arguably its biggest vice.
  
• Android's growth worries some
  A year after its release, Google's open source Android operating system has become a sensation.
  

Science

• Mars Science Lab launch delayed two years
  NASA's launch of the Mars Science Laboratory -- hampered by technical difficulties and cost overruns -- has been delayed until the fall of 2011, NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday in Washington.
  
• Shuttle lands at California air base
  NASA officials Sunday waved off the first opportunity for space shuttle Endeavour to return to Earth, citing poor weather conditions.
  
• iReporters watch planets, moon align
  
  
• Inspiration for 'Contact' still listening
  From a remote valley in Northern California, Jill Tarter is listening to the universe.
  
• Indian lunar orbiter hit by heat rise
  Scientists have switched off several on-board instruments to halt rising temperatures inside India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft.