Feb 9, 2012 — Roy Fleming, 100, was 20 when he exchanged vows with his bride Dorothy, who was 15. The secret to their long marriage? Dorothy jokes that she's the boss.
Feb 9, 2012 — A British magazine sponsored the LAFTA awards. Here's the joke of the year from comedian Tom Vine: Conjunctivitis.com — that's a site for sore eyes.
Feb 9, 2012 — Assuming all goes as planned, at least 49 states will have signed on to a broad settlement between the banks and state attorneys general over robo-signing. Troubled homeowners may see some benefit, the banks will get some immunity provisions and the Obama administration is hoping to get some credit for negotiating the deal.
Feb 9, 2012 — A trading scandal last year cost UBS more than $2 billion and pushed it into the red. The bank plans to take back some of that money, according to The Wall Street Journal. UBS's board of directors decided to take back half of stock-based bonuses awarded last year, if the bonuses exceeded $2 million.
Feb 9, 2012 — Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad has put it on the defensive, and its reluctance to embrace the Arab Spring has alienated traditional friends. This week, Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution aimed at pressuring Assad, and reports began circulating of a tiff between Russia and Qatar.
Feb 9, 2012 — Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti meets President Obama at the White House Thursday for talks, just as confidence in Italy's economy is beginning to return. The technocrat who succeeded the flamboyant Silvio Berlusconi is trying to change Italy's image abroad.
Feb 9, 2012 — The U.S. and NATO have pledged to stay in Afghanistan through the end of 2014 and hand off responsibility for security to Afghan troops by then. How to get to that point, though, is not clear. And recent statements by key U.S. officials have only confused things more.
Feb 9, 2012 — One day after winning caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, as well as a "beauty contest" primary in Missouri, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum traveled to Texas for a series of campaign appearances. He met with evangelical pastors in the morning and members of the Tea Party in the afternoon.
Feb 9, 2012 — European leaders are working on a $172 billion bailout aimed at preventing Greece from falling into bankruptcy. But the Greek finance minister will go to EU leaders empty handed. Greek lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on pension cuts among other things.
Feb 9, 2012 — One day after losing three contests to former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney traveled to Atlanta for a campaign event. Georgia holds its primary on March 6, which is Super Tuesday. And the state would seem to have built-in advantages for another of Romney's rivals. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is from Georgia.
Feb 9, 2012 — After years of trying, Russian scientists say they have drilled into an Antarctic lake that is buried beneath more than two miles of ice. They are looking for signs of life that haven't been exposed to sky in 20 million years.
Feb 9, 2012 — Lawmakers in the House are scheduled to vote Thursday on a bill cracking down on members of Congress who trade on insider information. In an election year, when Congress is having trouble reaching an agreement on much, the measure has enjoyed wide bi-partisan consensus. But that doesn't mean passage is assured.
Feb 9, 2012 — Groupon was expected to show a profit in its first earnings report since going public last fall. Instead, the company booked a net loss of about eight cents a share last quarter. But Groupon's revenues nearly tripled compared to a year earlier. Wall Street was still disappointed that growth-- especially of new customers-- wasn't stronger.
Feb 9, 2012 — A federal watchdog confirmed it is looking into Freddie Mac investments that act as bets against homeowners being able to refinance. In addition, U.S. senators are expected to probe Freddie Mac's investment practice at a hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
Feb 9, 2012 — Four bills quickly moving through the state Legislature could make last year's Wisconsin labor laws look modest by comparison. Three restrict the way unions collect dues and the way workers get paid for union activities; the fourth bans collective bargaining between governments and government workers.
Feb 9, 2012 — Egypt might put nongovernmental workers on trial because it says they are operating illegally. But the U.S. insists Egypt needs to allow the pro-democracy groups to continue their work. American groups say they are helping political parties develop platforms around citizens' needs.
Feb 9, 2012 — The band's performance during last year's Grammy Awards show gave the song a second life.
Feb 9, 2012 — The ancient Chinese martial art has been shown to benefit older people by maintaining balance and strength. Now, researchers find Tai Chi can also benefit patients who suffer from Parkinson's, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement and motor control.
Feb 9, 2012 — China's consumer market is massive, and breaking in isn't easy. Some U.S. products have struggled. But in recent years, an old American sneaker has become an unlikely success story: the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star.
Feb 9, 2012 — The most powerful superPAC in this election may be one that hasn't visibly flexed its muscles yet. But the man who runs American Crossroads and its nonprofit sibling Crossroads GPS says the groups have a clear goal: Stop President Obama's agenda and replace him as president.
Feb 9, 2012 — Even the guy in charge of the Dow doesn't check it every day. Yet we're constantly bombarded by news of the Dow's daily movements.
Feb 8, 2012 — "Iran is so strong," Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee tells NPR, and "the consequences would be devastating for [Israel] and maybe for whoever helped them. ... There are wise enough people around the world to tell them not to do such a crazy thing."
Feb 8, 2012 — Trophy categories include Best 'Stache Growth Story and Best 'Stache Shaving Story. It is an international film festival and founder Nick Callanan says submissions are coming in from three continents.
Feb 8, 2012 — Donald Trump won't be living in the White House, but his brand will be a few blocks away. The Obama administration has chosen Trump to redevelop the Old Post Office. His company plans to build a luxury hotel in that stone Victorian landmark in Washington, D.C.
Feb 8, 2012 — As Western nations increasingly push to end the violence in Syria, tension has reached the capital Damascus. Last June, a woman there who blogs under the pseudonym "Jasmine Roman," described Damascus as a city removed from the demonstrations that were taking place elsewhere in the country. Renee Montagne talks with her again, to see how things have changed 11 months after the anti-government uprising began...
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