Congress scrambles for rescue plan

Congressional leaders scrambled Tuesday to come up with changes to help them sell the failed $700 billion financial bailout to rank-and-file members.

Pirates: Holiday celebrated on hijacked ship

Disagreements between Somali pirates holding a Ukrainian ship escalated into a shootout and three pirates are believed dead, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday. The pirates denied the report.

Walter: Dems face big opportunity and risk
This year, Democrats have a rare, not to say unprecedented, opportunity to increase their advantage in Congress. But, winning big in November means playing defense in 2010.

Man saves dog from Fla. shark attack

A dog is recovering after a Florida Keys carpenter dove in to save his pet from a shark.

Pro or con, readers decry lack of leadership

It was hard to tell who was angrier Monday: Readers who were terrified by the failure of the  $700 billion Wall Street bailout or those horrified that the massive economic life-saver came within 23 votes of passage. Msnbc.com's Kari Huus reports.

Study links birth size, breast cancer
Women who were bigger and longer babies may be more likely to develop breast cancer, researchers reported on Tuesday.

Cosmic Log: Action urged on asteroids

Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Astronauts and other space experts are calling for the formation of new international organizations to monitor threats from asteroids and comets.

World reacts to the U.S. crisis
As the United States wallows in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the world looks on with horror, fear and sometimes guilty pleasure.

Study: Urban bears fatter, die earlier

Urban black bears are much heavier and more likely to die violent deaths than their wilder peers, a new study found. And if female, they're more likely to get pregnant at a younger age.