NYT: Daschle poses conflict-of-interest test

The choice of Tom Daschle for secretary of health and human services poses questions about how broadly Barack Obama will apply campaign promises to limit conflicts of interest among appointees.

McDonald's courts moms as emissaries

McDonald's has recruited mothers to go behind the scenes of the company's operations, meet senior executives and then communicate what they see via the Web in a bid to brighten its image.

eHarmony agrees to provide same-sex matches
Online dating service eHarmony said Wednesday it will launch a new Web site which caters to same-sex singles as part of a discrimination settlement with New Jersey's Civil Rights Division.

Congress votes to extend jobless benefits
Congress has passed legislation extending jobless benefits through the December holidays, keeping checks flowing to laid-off workers who would otherwise lose them.

End of an era: The Boss' reign is officially over

George Steinbrenner's 35-year reign as boss of the New York Yankees ended Thursday when he passed control of the New York Yankees to his youngest son, Hal.

Congress demands plan for auto aid

Democratic leaders in Congress decided to delay a vote to bail out automakers until December and will first demand the Big Three show how the funds would transform the industry.

Deflation poses economic threat
Strapped consumers are rejoicing at falling prices. But some economists warn of the growing risk of a ruinous downward price spiral  called deflation. Here's what's at stake.

Pakistan summons U.S. envoy
Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador Thursday to protest a suspected U.S. missile strike deep inside its territory as militants threatened revenge attacks unless the cross-border raids stop.

3 airports opening new runways

At some major U.S. airports today, you'd hardly know there's an economic slowdown. In Seattle, Chicago and near Washington, D.C., new runways are being opened up today. This, despite a projected 10 percent drop in domestic flights this winter.