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As the debt crisis spreads across Europe, the economy in the region is slowing to a crawl. One place that's starting to feel the impact of the slowdown is the massive port of Rotterdam in Holland. It's the biggest port in the world outside Asia. Much of what's bought and sold in Europe goes through Rotterdam.

As North Korea prepares for the funeral of leader Kim Jong Il, attention is being focused on the country his son, heir apparent Kim Jong Un, will inherit. Like almost everything to do with North Korea, the picture of how the country's economy works is cloudy.

Nearly three decades ago, Kenny Buchanan decided to drop out of school. Over the last 26 years, he's jumped from job to job and unemployment. He now has a full-time job and for the first time in years, he and his family have health insurance and can enjoy a few luxuries.

They're enormously popular — an estimated $27.8 billion worth have been given this holiday season. But many also never get fully used. What to do? Swap them. Regift them. Invest them. Or, perhaps, give them to charity.

In the city of Homs, as Arab League monitors arrived the Army moved its tanks. But activists say they didn't go very far.

Between 100 and 120 Sears and Kmart stores are going to be shut down as the retailer looks to trim costs and move ahead after it endured a pretty poor holiday shopping season. There are about 4,000 Sears and Kmart stores in the U.S. and Canada.

The Conference Board's gauge of consumer sentiment is back at a level not seen since last April. That could bode well for consumer spending — and the economy in general — in coming months.

Little Cooper Wall Wagner grabbed for the president's teeth. The president cheerfully mugged for the cameras. Mom says she was embarrassed, but it doesn't appear she needed to be.

Four Arab leaders have been driven from power this year, but only one is facing trial. Democracy activists say prosecution is necessary to establish the primacy of the rule of law. But some pragmatists say the threat of prosecution encourages dictators to cling to power rather than consider exile.

Customer satisfaction for credit unions soared this year, and roughly a million Americans moved their money into credit unions, according to the Credit Union National Association. This was partly due to backlash against big banks instituting new fees. Host Michel Martin hears from regular financial contributor Alvin Hall.