WASHINGTON -- The Social Security Administration, bracing for the coming eligibility of 80 million baby boomers, is introducing an online application that will allow people to apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. (Yesterday)

WASHINGTON -- The federal budget deficit will hit an unprecedented $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year, according to grim new Congressional Budget Office figures. (Yesterday)

NEW YORK -- Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff and his wife sent at least 16 watches, a jade necklace and a diamond bracelet to family and relatives, proving he will continue to dissipate what little is left from his $50 billion fraud, a prosecutor told a judge in arguing that Madoff be jailed. (Yesterday)

President-elect Barack Obama yesterday stunned the national intelligence community by selecting Clinton White House chief of staff Leon E. Panetta, a longtime Washington insider with little intelligence experience, to serve as the next head of the CIA. (01/06/2009)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a European delegation yesterday pleaded for Israel to call a temporary halt to its 10-day-old offensive in Gaza, but top Israeli leaders -- with explicit backing of President George W. Bush -- made clear that they aren't ready to end the fighting. (01/06/2009)