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The Senate this week pushed through the nomination of Democrat Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The FHFA controls Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Watt replaces an official who was a thorn in the side of Democrats, and the move changes the landscape of housing finance reform.

The latest installment in the Hobbit movie trilogy opens this week. And some hard-core fans plan to celebrate not just with a marathon screening of the Lord of The Ring films that came before it, but with a full day of feasting — seven meals, hobbit-style. We offer up a sample menu.

In the male-dominated world of cars and trucks, Mary Barra put herself into the driver's seat. On Tuesday, General Motors chose Barra, the daughter of a Pontiac plant worker, to become its new chief executive. Analysts say she may bring fresh ideas about how to sell autos to women.

President Obama shook hands Tuesday with Cuban leader Raul Castro, a move that led to speculation about the future of ties between the two Cold War-era foes. But one expert says none of the issues separating the U.S. and Cuba will be resolved by a handshake alone.

All medications come with risks, and one of the risks with popular heartburn medicines seems to be that they interfere with the absorption of vitamin B-12. That can cause troubling symptoms, from anemia and depression to dementia.

Governments at all levels are trying to save money by scaling back retirement benefits. Public employees may still end up with more generous plans than their private sector counterparts, but the days of feeling totally secure about their pension income may be numbered.

The court said only Parliament can change the colonial-era law. The decision, which reverses a landmark lower court ruling that decriminalized homosexual acts, is being called a major setback to gay rights in the country.

Photographers and a cake baker who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds are challenging rulings that compel them to provide wedding services to gay couples. Lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in.

After a few moments of review, the top life events people reported in 2013 can read like a 10-sentence short story — perhaps a fable, or a coming-of-age tale. In the U.S., hot topics included the Super Bowl, Pope Francis, and the Harlem Shake.