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In his new book, Food Matters, Mark Bittman writes about the environmental impact of industrial farming — and how individuals can make a difference by cutting down on the amount of animal products they consume.

Hillary Clinton has taken charge at the U.S. State Department. The secretary of State named George Mitchell to be a special envoy to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to be a representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Thirteen nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but no Best Picture nod for The Dark Knight: NPR's Bob Mondello talks to Michele Norris about today's Oscar surprises, disappointments and don't-misses.

A large credit union in Seattle has started an ad campaign that stresses its nonprofit bona fides. Sprint advertises calling plans that are right "for these times." Does austerity sell? Or is that a ridiculous contradiction?

Microsoft, a component of all three major stock indexes, said business is so bad, it must cut 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months. That marks the software bellwether's first major round of layoffs in its history. Earlier this week, Intel also announced 5,000 cuts — not good news for the tech sector.

By most countries' standards, China's economy is flourishing. It grew almost 7 percent in the last quarter and 9 percent for 2008. Still, that was a slowdown, snapping a five-year streak of double-digit growth. China is the world's third-largest economy after the United States and Japan.

President Barack Obama is freezing all pending federal rules changes left by the Bush administration. He also froze salaries for White House staffers who make more than $100,000 a year. And because of some bungled wording during Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice John Roberts re-administered the oath to Obama Wednesday.

President Obama's pick for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, began his confirmation hearing with an apology Wednesday. He told members of the Senate Finance Committee the tax questions that delayed his confirmation were the result of his own careless mistakes. But he added the mistakes were unintentional. The panel is expected to vote Thursday on his nomination.

Caroline Kennedy has ended her bid to win appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton and once held by her late uncle, Bobby Kennedy. In a statement released early Thursday, Kennedy says she told New York Gov. David Patterson she is withdrawing for personal reasons. She was considered a favorite for the New York Senate seat, though she has never held elective office.

Caroline Kennedy has asked Gov. David Paterson to withdraw her name from consideration for the New York Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. A source familiar with the matter says she is no longer pursuing the seat for personal reasons. Robert Siegel speaks with New York Post reporter Fred Dicker about the story.