News Cycles: Top Stories

Bush signs jobless benefits extension (AP)

AP - With no end in sight to economic bad news, President George W. Bush on Friday ensured that millions of laid-off workers will keep getting their unemployment checks as the year-end holidays approach.

Iraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy to protest US pact (AP)

AP - Thousands of followers of a radical Shiite cleric protested a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal Friday, burning an effigy of President George W. Bush in the same square where Iraqis beat a toppled Saddam Hussein statue five years ago.

Gov't: AG gets clean bill of health after collapse (AP)

AP - A Justice Department spokeswoman says that Attorney General Michael Mukasey has been given a "clean bill of health" by doctors and is expected to check out of the hospital shortly.

Kenya: Somali pirates make $150M in a year (AP)

AP - Somali pirates have collected more than $150 million in ransoms over the past year, Kenya's foreign affairs minister said Friday, calling on ship owners not to pay when their vessels are hijacked.

Neb. lawmakers OK age limit in safe-haven law (AP)

AP - Nebraska lawmakers have given final approval to adding a 30-day age limit to the state's safe-haven law.

Wal-Mart names Duke to succeed Scott as CEO (AP)

AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, unexpectedly announced Friday that its chief executive will retire in February and be replaced by the head of its international division.

Stocks show moderate decline after sell-off (AP)

AP - Wall Street sagged again Friday but took a break from the heavier selling of recent days as energy, utility and technology stocks showed some advances and bank stocks declined.

Palin pardons turkey while others slaughtered (AP)

Madonna, Ritchie granted preliminary divorce (AP)

AP - The show-business marriage that began in a Scottish castle came to an end in a drab London courtroom Friday as Madonna and Guy Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce.

For toilet-less Vermont library, a new chapter (AP)

AP - When you gotta go, you gotta go. But for decades, when you had to go in the Roxbury Free Library, you really had to go — somewhere else, that is.

Obama on track to name Clinton as top diplomat (Reuters)

Reuters - Retired Marine Gen. James Jones emerged as a leading contender for White House national security adviser as President-elect Barack Obama worked on Thursday to assemble his foreign policy team.

Pressure grows on Obama as world economy deteriorates (Reuters)

Reuters - US stocks recovered some ground on opening on Friday, though Citigroup fell further, amid continued fear that central bank moves to stabilize financial markets might not be enough to prevent a prolonged global recession.

Mukasey had fainting spell: official (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was doing well in hospital on Friday after an apparent "fainting spell" that caused his collapse during a speech the night before, a spokeswoman said.

Bush signs law extending unemployment insurance (Reuters)

Reuters - President George W. Bush on Friday signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits, the White House said.

Thousands protest in Iraq against U.S. troops pact (Reuters)

Reuters - Followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched on Friday against a pact letting U.S. forces stay in Iraq until 2011, toppling an effigy of President George W. Bush where U.S. troops once tore down a statue of Saddam Hussein.

Citigroup shares drop as CEO plans to keep Smith Barney (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc shares tumbled for a fifth straight day, as Chief Executive Vikram Pandit tried to downplay speculation the banking giant might sell major businesses to restore its health and investor confidence.

Verizon staff had unauthorized access to Obama's cell (Reuters)

Reuters - Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that some employees had gained unauthorized access and viewed a personal cell phone account held by President-elect Barack Obama that is now inactive.

Islamists on trail of Somali pirates (Reuters)

Reuters - Dozens of Somali Islamist insurgents stormed a port on Friday hunting the pirates behind the seizure of a Saudi supertanker that was the world's biggest hijack, a local elder said.

Use of nuclear weapons more likely in future: US intelligence (AFP)

AFP - The use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely by 2025, according to a bleak US intelligence report that warns that US global dominance is likely to weaken over the next two decades.

Thousands of Sadrists protest Iraq-US military pact (AFP)

AFP - Thousands of Shiite followers of firebrand anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday to protest a security accord that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011.