Retailers tiptoe between Christmas, holidays

As American shoppers embark on their annual shopping binge , a prickly marketing question splits American consumers and stores: "Christmas" or "holiday"?

Scoop: ‘Idol's' emotional focus will highlight Abdul

"American Idol" plans to give the show a more emotional focus, which will play to the strengths of judge Paula Abdul.

Carbon monoxide kills 11 girls at China school
Eleven girls died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a school in northern China's Shaanxi province, an education official said Tuesday evening. The girls had reportedly lit a fire to keep warm.

Rice gives piano recital fit for a queen

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a piano recital for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

NYT: Pardon back in focus for Justice nominee

In the career of Eric H. Holder Jr., President-elect Barack Obama's attorney general choice, there is one notable blemish: Holder's role in the 2001 pardon of billionaire financier Marc Rich.

Trampled NY worker lacked crowd training
A worker trampled to death when customers stormed a Wal-Mart for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving had no experience in crowd control and was placed at the entrance because of his hulking frame, police and a lawyer said Monday.

Panel: Biological attack likely by 2013
The U.S. can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study being briefed Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Governors to press Obama for shortfall help

The nation's governors are meeting with the President-elect today to press their case for at least $40 billion to help pay for health care for the poor and disabled and even more for infrastructure projects.

Bush faces historic pardon choice

Anticipation is growing over possible pardons by President  Bush. Conservative columnist William Kristol argues that the president should consider pardoning "everyone who served in good faith in the war on terror."