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The nation's unemployment rate shot up to 7.2 percent last month. It's the highest level in nearly 16 years. Governments and businesses cut more than half a million jobs in December. For all of 2008, the economy lost 2.6 million jobs.

U.S. officials tell NPR about what they say is a "significant" victory in the war against al-Qaida in Pakistan. A CIA strike on New Year's Day is said to have killed the terrorist organization's chief of operations in Pakistan, along with his top lieutenant. If the U.S. intelligence is true, this is an important development.

Citigroup has reached a deal with top Democrats in the Senate on legislation to prevent home foreclosures. The lawmakers want to empower bankruptcy judges to force lenders to lower homeowners' payments.

Listeners sent in their thoughts in response to a review of the highs and lows of the Bush presidency.

The chairman of one of India's largest technology outsourcing companies has resigned after admitting the company's profits had been inflated for several years. The scandal at Satyam Computer Services Ltd. threatens future foreign investments in India and tarnishes the once-booming outsourcing sector.

In his 2008 book, Torture Team, British lawyer Philippe Sands accuses the Bush administration of condoning harsh interrogation techniques.

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to choose former congressman Leon Panetta to head the CIA. Panetta has relatively little experience in national security matters, although he did participate in daily intelligence briefings with President Bill Clinton when he served as Clinton's chief of staff between 1994 and 1997.

In her new book, Animals Make Us Human, Temple Grandin examines common notions of animal happiness and concludes that dogs, cats, horses, cows and zoo animals — among other creatures — possess an emotional system akin to that of humans.

The comedian, actor and author Steve Martin looks back on his life as a stand-up comic and talks about how he put some distance between himself and the person he used to be.

It was an unusually strong year for great unknown artists. While bigger, more established bands continued to attract the most attention, smaller, lesser-known acts made the most memorable music of 2008. All of the great unknown artists featured here made music that was inspired, original and heartfelt.