Jobless rate jumps to 7.2 percent

The Labor Department reported Friday that the jobless rate rose to 7.2 percent in December and payrolls dropped by 524,000 jobs.

Gators swamp Sooners for BCS title

Sooners' record offense stymied as Florida wins 2nd national title in 3 years.

Ex-‘Sopranos' actor gets 10 years in prison

A former actor on "The Sopranos" was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for a botched burglary in the Bronx in which an accomplice shot and killed an off-duty police officer.

Kennedy's bid reignites 'mommy wars'

The bid by Caroline Kennedy for the Senate has reignited the "mommy wars" between mothers with careers and those who take a break from paid employment.

Patrick Swayze checks into hospital

Patrick Swayze has pneumonia and has checked himself into a hospital for observation, it was revealed Friday at a press event for the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.

Somali pirates free Saudi supertanker

Somali pirates freed a Saudi supertanker seized in the world's biggest ship hijacking for a $3 million ransom on Friday, an associate of the gang said.

Gaza aid held as U.N. truce plan rejected

Israeli jets and helicopters bombarded Gaza Friday and Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets on at least two cities as both sides defied a U.N. call for an immediate cease-fire.

Greece riots rise again as youths, cops clash

Masked youths clashed with police in central Athens Friday in the first major test of the Greek government's vow to crack down on violent protesters after a month of nationwide riots.

Obama picks Panetta for CIA chief

President-elect Barack Obama on Friday announced his unusual choices for CIA director and a national intelligence director. The pair are likely to face tough Senate questioning.

Tourists rescued after Costa Rica quake

Helicopters plucked tourists from a destroyed, mountaintop resort as the death toll from Costa Rica's magnitude-6.1 earthquake was at least 9 victims, the Red Cross said Friday.