27+DEC

 **** __Officials Point to Suspect’s Claim of Qaeda Ties in Yemen__ **** By ERIC SCHMITT and ERIC LIPTON The Nigerian man charged in a failed attack on a jet told investigators that he had obtained the explosives from an expert in Yemen linked to Al Qaeda. The suspect’s father had warned the U.S. about his son.

**** __Passengers’ Quick Action Halted Attack__ **** By SCOTT SHANE and ERIC LIPTON Despite the billions spent on counterterrorism efforts since 2001, something simpler averted disaster on a Christmas Day flight.

**** __New Restrictions Quickly Added for Travelers__ **** By MICHELINE MAYNARD and LIZ ROBBINS Authorities imposed tighter security and new in-flight restrictions in the wake of Friday’s attempted attack. **** __Elite U.S. Force Expanding Hunt in Afghanistan__ **** By ERIC SCHMITT Secretive branches of the military’s Special Operations forces have increased counterterrorism missions against some of the most lethal groups.

**** __Brazil Aims to Prevent Land Grabs in Amazon__ **** By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO In a huge stretch of the Amazon, the state has been nearly nonexistent, giving way to a culture of land seizures, often at the tip of a gun.

**** __Tehran Protesters Defy Ban and Clash With Police__ **** By NAZILA FATHI Demonstrations in Iran underline the government’s inability to suppress the opposition despite beatings with batons and chains. **** __Taking Work Home (Even When Home Means Hawaii)__ **** By PETER BAKER An attempted terrorist attack aboard an airliner is a reminder that a president can never completely check out of the day job, particularly in the post-Sept.-11 era.

**** __States With Expanded Health Coverage Fight Bill__ **** By KATE ZERNIKE States that have already broadened health care coverage say that the Senate overhaul bill unfairly penalizes them.

****MONTHS TO LIVE**** **** __Hard Choice for a Comfortable Death: Sedation__ **** By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS Inducing sleep with drugs near the end of life is a widely used treatment even as it vexes families and doctors. **** __Back From the Brink (but Watch Your Step)__ **** By JULIE CRESWELL Despite overall improvement in the economy, the top financial stories of 2009 are still unfinished.

****DIGITAL DOMAIN**** **** __Sorry, Shoppers, but Why Can’t Amazon Collect More Tax?__ **** By RANDALL STROSS At a time when many governments could use more revenue, Amazon.com must collect sales taxes in only five states.

****PROTOTYPE**** **** __Seeing Customers as Partners in Invention__ **** By MARY TRIPSAS Companies are increasingly using face-to-face interaction to involve their customers in the innovation process.