Clinton yes to Secretary of State
Alex Spillius, Washington Senator Hillary Clinton accepts President-elect Barack Obama's offer to become secretary of state, arguably the second most important job in the United States, according to friends.
Like JFK, Obama is being called to rally a dispirited nation
Robert Dallek
The historic nature of Barack Obama's election victory, and of the challenges he faces, means it is only natural that the American political establishment is turning to the past for guidance about the future.
Loophole shut after teen abandoned
Nicholas Riccardi, Lincoln, Nebraska Nebraska closes a loophole in a controversial law that allowed parents to abandon their children at hospitals.
Shipowners urge declaration of war on Somali pirates
Xan Rice, Nairobi, and David Gow, Brussels Detours to avoid raiders could cost world trade a fortune.
Would-be space tourist sues
Matthew Barakat, Alexandria, Virginia Japanese millionaire Daisuke Enomoto claims that the company that was supposed to take him to outer space brushed him aside with little more than a "sorry, no refunds".
'Little geniuses' forced to face harsh realities
Alexander Chancellor, London Are your children all perfect little angels? A generation has been raised to overestimate their abilities.
Germany abandons bid to ban Scientology
Michael Fischer, Potsdam, Germany Germany is dropping its pursuit of a ban on Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity.
Let it be
Vatican excuses claim Beatles were bigger than Christ.
