Analysis: The second debate between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama came across on television as a remarkably sedate, low-voltage and perhaps at times tedious affair.

John McCain called on the government to buy up Americans bad mortgages and renegotiate new loans that reflect their homes diminished value in an effort to reverse his sagging fortunes.

A small airplane crashed and caught fire Wednesday as it tried to land in foggy weather near Mt. Everest, killing 18 people, including 14 tourists from Germany and Australia, an official said.

The British government announced plans on Wednesday to partially nationalize major banks, with taxpayers taking a share stake in a bid to restore stability.

Americans' retirement plans have lost as much as $2 trillion in the past 15 months, Congress' top budget analyst estimated Tuesday.

The Treasury Department has set an extremely short timetable for picking the companies that will help manage its $700 billion bailout program.

Dusting off Depression-era emergency powers, the Federal Reserve is extending its reach over the economy as never before, pushing the limits of its authority, if not exceeding them.

Gov. Sarah Palin's practice of charging the state when she stays in her home must be reviewed to determine if she should pay taxes on the payments, state Finance Director Kim Garnero said Tuesday.

The Iraqi foreign minister said Tuesday it will require "bold political decisions" to resolve the major issue standing in the way of a deal allowing American troops to remain here next year who would try U.S. troops accused of crimes.

A military officer told the Pentagon that an American detainee was being driven nearly insane by punishing isolation and sensory deprivation, according to documents obtained by the AP.

Nevada authorities seized records Tuesday from a group they accused of submitting fraudulent voter-registration forms including for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys.

Less than a week after the federal government had to bail out American International Group Inc., the company sent executives on a $440,000 retreat to a posh California resort, lawmakers investigating the company's meltdown said Tuesday.

A Kansas man whose girlfriend was physically stuck to the toilet in their home wins $20,000 in the state Lottery, for the second time this year.

As many viewers suspected, Misty May-Treanor's early exit from "Dancing With the Stars" meant that all of the other dancers were safe. Even you, Rocco.

Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry, is taking on Apple Inc. with a touch-screen phone that puts a new twist on the technology.

A lifelike baby Triceratops that children can ride on, a Wall-E robot that responds to your voice, a dancing game that eliminates wires and mats.

Seven teams that began the season with high hopes are already in deep holes: San Diego and Jacksonville in the AFC; Seattle, Philadelphia, Green Bay and Minnesota in the NFC, with the Vikings (1-3) playing in New Orleans on Monday night.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Tuesday that the financial crisis has not only darkened the country's current economic performance but also could prolong the pain.

U.S. retail gasoline prices fell 15 cents a gallon over the last week, dropping below an average $3.50 a gallon for the first time in six months, the government said on Monday.

Get moving: The nation's new exercise guidelines set a minimum sweat allotment for good health. For most adults, that's 2 hours a week.

If you do a lot of listening at home or at work, a bit of knowledge about online music is the way to save money on your music listening routine

China's foreign ministry suggested Tuesday that it hopes Chinese human rights activists will not win this year's Nobel Peace Prize, saying the award should go to the "right people."