Top headlines:
Scientists turn into virtual body snatchers: Shaking hands with yourself is an amusing out-of-body experience. The illusion of having your stomach slashed with a knife, not so much. Both sensations, however, can feel real in a Swedish body-swapping experiment. ›00:17 3 Dec, Wed
The best toy trends for all budgets: Penguins are so 2007! This year, there are plenty of new, amazing toys, with a heavy emphasis on dinosaurs, board games and even a green agenda. ›16:15 3 Dec, Wed
Factory orders drop in October: Orders to U.S. factories plunged in October by the sharpest amount in over eight years as a deepening recession caused big cutbacks in demand for steel, autos, computers and heavy machinery. ›19:31
TV listings:
Fans and stores eager for new Rowling book: Recession-hit booksellers are hoping for a magical boost from the new book by Harry Potter author. A day before publication, "Beedle the Bard" was ranked No. 1 on Amazon's British and U.S. Web sites. ›16:14
Slide show: The week in celebrity sightings: Britney gets her Bambi, Cruise and Beckham do Broadway, Oprah plants a tree and more. ›12:57 2 Dec, Tue
Funky Islamic fashion struts catwalk: For many, Islamic fashion might seem synonymous with strait-laced garments that leave everything to the imagination, but some Asian designers are trying to equip modern Muslim women with a wardrobe that obeys both sartorial trends and spiritual dictates. ›16:04 3 Dec, Wed
NBC to pull plug on ER on March 12: NBC says "ER" will treat its last patients during a two-hour series finale set to air March 12. ›01:39
2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Cars Makers Should Greenlight: The concept cars that we think should become production models. ›07:00 31 Oct, Wed
Top Chef: Alex not creme de la creme: All chefs want to get their 15 minutes of fame, and this week the "Top Chef" contestants only had two. Competing for a chance to show their skills on the TODAY show, the chefs had to create a dish for a two-and-half minute live demo.Find out who stole the spotlight and who was sent out of the kitchen. ›13:59
Treasury weighs action on mortgage rates: Department considers plans to intervene directly to force down rates and stimulate the moribund housing market, according to sources. ›08:30
Flood washes away barrier project qualms: Monday's deluge Venice's biggest in 22 years may help wash away remaining resistance to an elaborate project to build mobile barriers that will prevent future flooding here. ›19:29
Tom Arnold reveals he was molested as a child: In his new film, Gardens of the Night, Tom Arnold tackles the role of a child molester. But in real life, Tom said he was the victim of sexual molestation when he was a young child. ›02:30
3 dead in Puerto Rico plane crash: An emergency response team on Thursday reached the remote site of a small-plane crash in the Puerto Rican rainforest, recovering the remains of a Caribbean pilot and two U.S. tourists. ›19:45
Newsweek: Do the Big Three deserve $34 billion?: Newsweek: Do the Big Three deserve $34 billion? ›15:13 2 Dec, Tue
Movies no place to learn real history: Moviesbased on history, such as "Frost/Nixon," create a current of discontent among those who prefer letter-perfect depictions, but historians and film experts caution they are intended to entertain, not inform. ›22:51 2 Dec, Tue
Final OK for Iraq-U.S. security pact: Iraq's three-member presidential council on Thursday approved a security pact with the United States setting out a three-year timeframe for the full withdrawal of U.S. troops, a spokesman said. ›16:13
49 detained over 'satanic' clothes: Police have arrested 49 people this week in a northern Iranian city during a crackdown on "satanic" clothes, IRNA news agency reported Thursday. ›20:46
Ruling could mean end to saucy Bratz dolls: Pouty-lipped Bratz will stay on store shelves until after the holidays, but their fate after that was uncertain after a court ruling banning MGA from making the Barbie alternative. ›20:37
Real fish story about a long-lost ring: The one that didn't get away held an unlikely surprise for a Texas man: A blue-stoned class ring inside an 8-pound bass 21 years after it was lost. ›03:01
Money 911: Your recession, credit woes: Should the recession affect your money management? Is it a good idea to take money out of a 401(k) to pay off your mortgage? TODAY financial editor Jean Chatzky offers useful advice to protect your credit, manage your investments and more. ›15:20
Great wines from off the beaten track: Trying to scale back on your wine budget but still drink well? TODAY wine columnist Edward Deitch says it worth considering bottles from the Languedoc region in the far south of France. ›20:31
Cops: Man swallows stolen earrings at mall: An X-ray marked the spot for southwest Florida police who say a teenager swallowed a $16 pair of earrings after taking them from a JCPenney store at a mall. ›02:36 2 Dec, Tue
Automakers pitch Congress anew on rescue: U.S. automakers drew fresh skepticism from lawmakers Thursday in a rocky confrontation over their pleas for an expanded $34 billion rescue package they say they need to survive. ›21:04
