The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing new air-quality rules that would make it easier to build coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other major polluters near national parks and wilderness areas, even though half of the EPA's 10 regional administrators formally dissented from the...

The layoffs, 90 percent of which will be in Hong Kong, is a further indication that the Asian financial community is being affected by the global financial crisis.

The chief executives of two of Detroit's Big Three automakers told lawmakers today that they face imminent collapse without immediate help from the federal government.

Reuters - U.S. auto executives warned Congress on Tuesday that their industry was teetering on the brink of disaster as they pleaded for a $25 billion aid package despite political opposition to another multibillion-dollar government bailout.

Lawmakers accused Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. yesterday of haphazardly managing the $700 billion financial rescue, as fault lines widened over what the government should try next to contain the fallout of the financial crisis.

Reuters - Japan's recession could last even longer than feared, the country's economy minister warned on Tuesday, and reflecting increasing efforts by governments to provide a cushion against a global downturn, Taiwan said it would give its citizens $108-worth of shopping vouchers.

Democrats in the Senate called on President Bush to halt any effort by his administration to place political appointees in career jobs just weeks before his team leaves office.

Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein will be online to discuss the automotive bailout.

The chief executives of G.M., Ford and Chrysler are making the case for federal assistance before a Senate committee.

Reuters - Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ (8306.T) and Australia's Macquarie Group became the latest Asian lenders to post sharp falls in profits, but relief Macquarie was not tapping investors for more cash sent its shares soaring.

With MobileASL, deaf people can chat and "sign" on cell phones.

The Foreclosure King expands to Detroit to tackle rising foreclosures.

AP - Wall Street finished sharply lower Monday as investors pored over more signs of economic weakness, including a huge round of layoffs in the financial sector.

In a matter of days, the former AIG CEO lost his fortune and his legacy.

Mutual fund investors, even those who lost money, could pay higher taxes soon.

Everything you need to know about being fired, even if you aren't at Lehman.

The chief executives of G.M., Ford and Chrysler are making the case for federal assistance before a Senate committee.

Reuters - U.S. auto executives were set to take their case for a $25 billion industry bailout to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday as they hope to overcome political opposition from influential congressional Republicans and the White House.

Today and tomorrow top executives from the three largest U.S. automakers are scheduled to converge on Capitol Hill to plead their case for $25 billion in government aid. In addition to money, some wonder whether the industry needs new leadership.

AP - Hong Kong's main stock index tumbled 4.5 percent Tuesday as another wave of bank layoffs spurred selling in financial shares.