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The U.S. unemployment rate continues to drop and the economy keeps improving, but the European debt crisis looms. What are countries doing to prepare themselves? Not much. Still, 2012 could be a good one for the global economy.

A case in the Supreme Court today may determine the fate of millions of inventors' patents. A law says that an invention can't be patented if it is "obvious," but the definition of "obvious" isn't clear after decades of litigation. Now, many companies have filed briefs calling for a change to the rule.

The Pentagon transcript of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's wide-ranging confession to plotting terrorist attacks has led many to question whether Mohammed could have been involved in all the plots mentioned.

The Bush administration announced in December that it was replacing seven federal prosecutors around the country. In the following weeks, Democrats became the majority party in Congress and began holding hearings on the subject. Developments have piled up since then.

Hazleton, Pa., a small town near Scranton, passed a law punishing businesses who hire illegal immigrants and landlords who rent to them. A federal judge blocked enforcement of the law, pending a trial on its legality. That trial began Monday.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin visits President Bush at the Bush family summer home in Maine this weekend, they will try to revive some of the personal rapport the two seemed to have early in their relationship.

The National Transportation Safety Bureau laid blame Tuesday for last year's Big Dig ceiling collapse in Boston that killed a motorist. Officials said the wrong epoxy was used to secure the ceiling panel, and pointed the finger at designers and inspectors.

This year, Democrats get their shot at an energy bill. It's a sprawling effort that aims to reduce global warming, curb dependence on foreign oil and keep energy costs low. But those can be contradictory goals.

Researchers say they've successfully treated monkeys who were infected with Marburg virus, a cousin of the Ebola virus. This is the first time a vaccine has been shown to be effective as a treatment for deadly viruses like Marburg.

The Senate has passed the most sweeping revision of the nation's immigration laws in two decades. The vote was 62 to 36; most of the ayes came from Democratic senators, who were joined by a minority of the ruling Republicans.