AP - A report on unemployment claims and a forecast of U.S. economic activity pointed Thursday to an economy mending slowly, without the job growth needed to fuel a vigorous recovery.

AP - Two suspected U.S. missile strikes, one using multiple drones, killed 17 people in a Pakistani tribal region along the Afghan border Thursday, local intelligence officials said.

AP - Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry died Thursday, a day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during what police said was a domestic dispute with his fiancee.

AP - A Senate panel on Thursday approved the nomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to run the nation's central bank for another four years.

AP - The United States and China searched for common ground Thursday in a bid to put new life into flagging U.N. climate talks and deliver agreements for President Barack Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao at Friday's historic climate summit.

AP - It's an annual ordeal for many seniors living on a budget.

AP - Citigroup Inc. will suspend foreclosures and evictions for 30 days in a temporary break for about 4,000 borrowers during the holiday season.

AP - Budget deficits are in the stratosphere. Unemployment has hit 10 percent. The health care overhaul is incomplete.

AP - The stepfather of a 2-year-old boy found with 42 needles in his body has confessed to jabbing them into the toddler as part of a religious ritual, Brazilian police said Thursday.

AP - "Up in the Air," "Precious" and "Inglourious Basterds" led the Screen Actors Guild Awards with three nominations each Thursday, among them honors for George Clooney, Diane Kruger and Mo'Nique.