A Skype outage Wednesday cut millions of users’ connection to the popular worldwide network.

Sales of existing homes in November rose 6.7 percent over the previous month, but still 27.3 percent below the level a year ago.

Mortgage relief program, already under fire, has more than half of its recipients dropping out.

AP - Buoyant in political victory, President Barack Obama on Wednesday wrapped up a long, rough year in Washington by rejoicing in a rare, bipartisan "season of progress" over tax cuts, national security and civil justice. Halfway through his term, he served notice to his skeptics: "I am persistent."

AP - After a last-minute compromise, Congress passed legislation Wednesday to provide up to $4.2 billion in new aid to survivors of the September 2001 terrorism attack on the World Trade Center and responders who became ill working in its ruins.

AP - President Barack Obama signed a new law Wednesday that will allow gays for the first time in history to serve openly in America's military. And he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist.