British Airways in merger talks with Qantas
British Airways said it is in talks with Australia's Qantas Airways about a merger, sending its shares soaring as it confirmed expectations of consolidation in the aviation industry.

Canada's opposition moves to oust PM

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper faces two highly unpalatable choices after opposition parties signed an unprecedented deal on Monday to bring down his minority Conservative government.

Carbon monoxide kills 11 girls at China school
Eleven girls died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a school in northern China's Shaanxi province, an education official said Tuesday evening. The girls had reportedly lit a fire to keep warm.

Obama reaches out to governors

The president-elect pledged quick work Tuesday on an economic recovery plan to include tax cuts and increased federal spending, and told the nation's governors he wants their advice.

Patient photos help docs read CT scans better
An intriguing Israeli study found adding photos of patients' faces to the file made radiologists more meticulous when looking at the X-rays

Rice gives piano recital fit for a queen

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a piano recital for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Celizic: Burress should've packed his brain, not a gun

Celizic: I keep getting this mental picture of Plaxico Burress going through his mental checklist last Friday night as he left his palatial home in New Jersey and headed for the bright lights of Manhattan: aftershave, check; wallet, check; credit cards, check; wad of cash, check; Glock, check. What a moron.

GM's U.S. sales drop 41.3 percent
General Motors' November U.S. sales plunged 41 percent, while Ford's dropped 31 percent, dashing hopes that the industrywide drop in vehicle demand might be easing.

Ruling dissolves Thai government

Thailand's prime minister resigned on Tuesday after protests that paralyzed his government and closed the capital's airports. Protesters promised to lift their siege by Wednesday.