Reuters - Japan became the latest major economy to fall into recession on Monday with France close behind, and the IMF said it needed at least $100 billion to fight the billowing economic crisis enveloping the world.

The Detroit auto companies and the United Automobile Workers union face waves of criticism as they argue for a federal bailout.

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday that solid progress has been made in stabilizing the U.S. financial system but it will take considerable time to restore it to health.

The business software maker confirmed today it offered BEA Systems $17 per share, a 25 percent premium over Thursday's closing price of $13.62.

Reuters - The White House and congressional Democrats launched a post-election showdown on Monday over how to rescue U.S. automakers with millions of jobs, more than a century of iconic brands, and potentially economic confidence, riding on the outcome.

The Federal Reserve said that industrial output rose 1.3 percent last month, reflecting a return to more normal operations after hurricanes and a strike at Boeing in September.

European carriers canceled flights Thursday to Britain, where airports were experiencing massive delays after authorities said they thwarted a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft in flight.

Respected survey finds little difference in reliability between high-end cars and less expensive models.

A Chicago jury has ruled that subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson must pay $16.6 million to the family of a woman who died of a drug overdose after using a defective Duragesic patch as a pain killer.

The celebratory mood did not extend to the outlook for an economic recovery measure or a separate bailout for the nation?s automakers.

State Treasurer Richard Moore has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate the timing of stock sales made by the chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp.

With higher ticket prices and fuller planes driving up revenue, Delta Air Lines Inc. said it turned its first adjusted profit in nearly six years during the second quarter.

While major hotel companies are reeling from a drop in demand, many bargains can be had for those with the inclination and money to travel.

In a classic example of a futile government intervention, British Leyland went through billions in taxpayer money before going out of business.

BP PLC said it is working with a number of suppliers in hopes of quickly amassing materials needed to replace 16 miles of aging oil pipes on Alaska's North Slope.

The 53,000 job cuts are in addition to the 22,000 already being eliminated.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc said on Monday it sees it's headcount expected to decline 20 percent in near-term from peak levels. Highlights:

Just weeks before leaving office, the Interior Department's top lawyer has shifted half a dozen key deputies -- including two former political appointees who have been involved in controversial environmental decisions -- into senior civil service posts.

The afternoon video show, which ended Sunday after being an MTV flagship for 10 years, was just a little too 20th-century to survive the YouTube age.

Export Development Canada has stopped writing new polices to protect Canadian auto parts makers in the event of a bankruptcy filing by Chrysler.