Eric Linton

Defeated Syrian rebels abandoned their shattered stronghold in Homs Thursday, giving way to a 26-day army assault on a city that had become a symbol of the year-long revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

A U.S. Justice Department inquiry into the packaging and sale of home loans by the biggest U.S. banks casts a wide net and appears to significantly overlap with other enforcement efforts, according to people who have viewed subpoenas sent to the firms.

Defeated Syrian rebels left their shattered stronghold in the city of Homs Thursday after a bloody 26-day army siege aimed at crushing a symbol of the year-long revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

The Senate narrowly backed a key plank of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform Thursday by rejecting a sweeping Republican measure that would have allowed employers to opt out of birth control coverage and other medical services on moral grounds.

Spot gold rose more than 1 percent Thursday, recovering from its biggest fall in more than three years in the previous session when U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke failed to signal further monetary easing.

The Senate is expected Thursday to defeat a largely symbolic measure that would exempt employers such as Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities from a controversial White House rule requiring free birth control coverage.

The Greek parliament approved an extension of pharmacy opening hours and cuts to drug spending Thursday as part of a package of healthcare reforms agreed in return for last week's 130 billion euro international bailout deal.

Facebook has unveiled new ways for businesses to reach its 845 million users directly across all devices, including mobile, as it races toward a multibillion dollar IPO.

Heavy fighting raged near Baba Amro in Homs Wednesday evening after elite Syrian troops attacked the rebel-held bastion that has endured 25 days of siege and fierce bombardment, activists said.

US prosecutors investigating managing director at Goldman Sachs as part of probe into company's hedge-fund clients.

Japan's Nikkei average retreated from a seven-month high Tuesday as traders took profits ahead of a key selling level, while the chip sector suffered losses after Elpida Memory Inc said it will seek bankruptcy protection.

A Canadian company's decision Monday to proceed with part of a U.S. pipeline might end up muffling one of the Republicans' loudest arguments in this election year: that President Barack Obama has pursued failed energy policies.

The Obama administration will not swerve from plans to move into an advisory role in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Monday, despite the killing of U.S. advisers over the weekend that underscored the risks foreign soldiers will face as they rush to train Afghan forces.

A student gunman opened fire with a handgun in the cafeteria of a high school near Cleveland Monday morning, fatally wounding one boy and injuring three other boys and one girl before he was chased from the building by a teacher and was caught, police said

Standard & Poor's on Monday cut Greece's credit rating to SD, or selective default.

The euro gained broadly Monday as signs of fresh steps from the Group of 20 major economies to contain the euro zone debt crisis boosted sentiment, but higher oil prices hurt Asian stocks.

Syria is expected to announce a vote of approval for constitutional changes on Monday when it announces the result of a referendum dismissed as a sham by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

Seven U.S. military trainers were wounded Sunday when a grenade was thrown at their base in northern Afghanistan, police said, underscoring the depth of anti-Western fury over the burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO base.

The anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks said it would begin publishing more than 5 million e-mails Monday from a U.S.-based global security think tank, apparently obtained by hackers.

Seven U.S. military trainers were wounded on Sunday when a grenade was thrown at their base in northern Afghanistan, police said, as anti-Western fury deepened over the burning of the Koran at a NATO base.

At least 59 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028.

At least 31 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed Sunday in fighting over Syria's future that coincided with a vote on a new constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028.

Thousands of Russians joined hands to form a human chain around the Moscow city center Sunday in protest against Vladimir Putin's likely return as president in the election next week.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who had a finger-pointing confrontation with President Barack Obama last month, on Sunday endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

Seven U.S. military trainers were wounded Sunday when a grenade was thrown at their base in northern Afghanistan, as fury deepened over the burning of the Koran at a NATO base. The Afghan Interior Ministry identified one of its employees as a suspect in the fatal shooting of two U.S. officers in its headquarters a day earlier.

The first wounded and sick women trapped in the most embattled district of the Syrian city of Homs have been evacuated, and talks were held to evacuate more Saturday, while pressure mounted on President Bashar al-Assad's government to call a ceasefire and let in humanitarian aid.

The Supreme Court will weigh next week whether corporations can be sued in the United States for suspected complicity in human rights abuses abroad, in a case being closely watched by businesses concerned about long and costly litigation.

Asian shares crept higher Friday as solid U.S. data improved sentiment, but gains may be limited by concerns that rising oil prices could deal a further blow to the fragile euro zone economy and moves to take profits after recent rallies.

Japan's Nikkei share average extended its rally and rose to a 6-1/2-month high on Friday above 9,600, heading for its best February performance in two decades.