8+JANV

 **** __E.P.A. Seeks Stricter Rules for Pollutants Causing Smog__ **** By JOHN M. BRODER If adopted, the standard will impose large costs on local governments and industry but will also bring substantial health benefits.

**** __Obama Orders Improvements in Security Policies__ **** By JEFF ZELENY and HELENE COOPER President Obama ordered a series of steps to improve the government’s ability to act on terrorist threats, saying a review of the attempted airline bombing on Christmas Day revealed shortcomings in national security.

**** __Further Slide Seen in N.Y. Commercial Real Estate__ **** By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY Vacancy rates have been rising, and prices have been falling since the 2007 market peak. One expert says it hasn’t hit bottom yet. **** __Yemen Says Bomb Suspect Met With Qaeda Figures__ **** By STEVEN ERLANGER The government’s account differs from others regarding a Nigerian who is accused of trying to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner on Dec. 25.

**** __China Turns Drug Rehab Into a Punishing Ordeal__ **** By ANDREW JACOBS The minimum stay is two years, involving physical abuse and forced labor without any drug treatment, say former inmates.

**** __6 Cited in Honduran Leader’s Ouster__ **** By MARC LACEY The charges against six military officers involved in the ouster of Manuel Zelaya are expected to be dropped as part of a deal to ease tensions. **** __Seeing Old Age as a Never-Ending Adventure__ **** By KIRK JOHNSON The limitations of age are being tossed aside by active men and women as the global travel and leisure industry races to keep up.

**** __Gunman Opens Fire in St. Louis__ **** By LIZ ROBBINS A man walked into a North St. Louis factory with an assault rifle and shot at least five people early Thursday morning, St. Louis police officials said.

**** __Trial Pending, Suspect’s Cars Will Soon Be Freed__ **** By KIRK JOHNSON Authorities will auction off nearly 200 cars and motorcycles belonging to a man charged with running an $18 million Ponzi scheme. **** __Late-Night Shift Sinking, NBC Wants Leno Back in Old Slot__ **** By BILL CARTER Faced with the failure of the biggest recent gamble in television, NBC is shuffling its late-night deck one more time.

**** __Retailers See Holiday Sales Rebound From 2008__ **** By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM Retailing chains on Thursday confirmed that they had a better Christmas in 2009 than the previous year, which was the worst holiday season in decades.

**** __Fed Advice to A.I.G. Scrutinized__ **** By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH Revelations that the government stopped A.I.G. from releasing bailout details called in to question whether the information had to be disclosed under federal securities law.