The companies? feud, most recently exemplified by a Disney move that temporarily prevented Cablevision customers from viewing the Academy Awards, promises to spread across the country to other cable providers and stations.

The Obama administration will offer distressed homeowners $1,500 to sell for less than the mortgage balance, along with incentives for banks.

Songwriters and music publishers get royalty payments, but musicians and record companies do not. Now there is a renewed push to revisit that.

Major League Baseball Advanced Media will handle the technology infrastructure and customer support for the nearly 3,500 live events that ESPN streams each year.

An attempt by a public television stalwart to bring the young into the fold with punchy takes on social issues.

The News Corporation will import a three-year-old foreign channel focusing on natural history to the United States this month.

Cablevision customers in the New York area faced the prospect of Oscar night without Channel 7, the Oscar channel, because of a contract dispute.

Florida?s ambitious plan to reclaim the famed wetlands is instead on track to rescue the fortunes of United States Sugar.

The Treasury Department will issue a general license for the export of free personal Internet services and software geared toward Iran, Cuba and Sudan.

The French president also vowed a European crackdown on financial speculators, whom Athens blames for its woes.

AP - Asian stocks gained Monday as a better-than-expected report about the U.S. job market lifted confidence in the economic recovery.

AP - Oil prices rose to near $82 a barrel Monday in Asia, extending gains from Friday amid signs the global economy may be improving.

AP - South Korea's finance minister warned Monday the country's economic recovery remains too fragile to withstand an increase in borrowing costs from a record low, cautioning the central bank just days ahead of a rate-setting policy meeting.

The Obama administration will offer distressed homeowners $1,500 to sell for less than the mortgage balance, along with incentives for banks.

After a decade of near-death experiences, the Internet music service is attracting attention from investment bankers who think it could go public.

Asian shares gained on Monday as encouraging U.S. employment and consumer data reinforced views that the world's largest economy is slowly but steadily recovering.

A push to make European safety standards for nuclear power plants binding worldwide might benefit France.

In its 10th anniversary issue, the magazine Real Simple looks at what it most wants to save you.

Public opinion has not been kind to the Democrats lately, but there may be hope for them in a finance-regulation bill.

JPMorgan Chase shares have been stuck trading around book value, or assets less liabilities, since last summer. Put in perspective, that?s not all bad.

Women at many of the world?s top companies continue to lag behind their male peers in pay and opportunities for professional advancement, a new report says.

Greece's financial crisis is unlikely to spread to other eurozone countries with high debt levels, says the head of the IMF.

Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina launch a joint takeover bid for Australian liquefied natural gas group Arrow Energy.

Shares in Fujitsu fall 2.7% due to a dispute with its former president over the reason for his resignation last year.

Three parties are interested in bidding to take control of Rangers, BBC Scotland has learned.

The Coventry Building Society is discussing the possibility of merging with the Stroud and Swindon.

AFP - US insurance giants American International Group and MetLife will announce a 15.5-billion-dollar deal Monday for AIG's second-largest foreign life-insurance business, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Kraft is being investigated over plans to close a Cadbury factory it had indicated it would keep open, a report says.

About 2,000 manufacturing jobs in the West Midlands have been safeguarded by production of the Jaguar XJ sedan, a car industry advisory group says.

Rangers confirm that principal shareholder Murray International Holdings has opened discussions about a possible takeover.

Cardiff City supporters show their dissatisfaction with the current board, which is headed by Peter Ridsdale.

Russia hopes a scrappage scheme will lift car industry

Up to 270,000 staff are staging a 48-hour walkout in a dispute over cuts to public sector redundancy terms.

AP - World stock markets gained Monday as a better-than-expected report about the U.S. job market lifted confidence in the economic recovery.

AP - Oil prices rose above $82 a barrel Monday in Asia, extending gains from Friday amid signs the global economy may be improving.

AFP - US insurance giants American International Group and MetLife will on Monday announce a $15.5 billion deal for AIG's second-largest foreign life-insurance business, The Wall Street Journal reported.

AP - With an economy based on pumping oil and landmarks that include one of the Mideast's grandest mosques, buttoned-down Abu Dhabi has little obvious in common with freewheeling media magnets like Hollywood or midtown Manhattan.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp's president said on Monday he believed that sales in North America could recover in March after a sharp decline last month when the automaker suspended sales of some recalled models.

The Takeover Panel receives a complaint over assurances given by Kraft that it would save a Cadbury plant it is now closing.

Scotland's five mountain ski centres are enjoying their best season in years, national body Ski-Scotland says.

The CBI wants the Budget to deliver a strategy to balance public finances by 2016 - two years earlier than the chancellor planned.

E.on will cut its gas bills for domestic customers by 6% from 31 March, the company announces.

AIG is selling an overseas insurance group to rival MetLife for $15.5bn, as it continues to raise funds to pay off a federal bailout.

Homebuilder Bovis returned to profit in 2009, but sales were far below pre-recession levels, the company says.

Indian conglomerate Essar Group is reported to be planning to float on the London Stock Exchange, a move that could raise up to $3bn.

AP - American International Group will sell its overseas life and health insurance unit for $15.5 billion to MetLife Inc., the insurer said Monday, as it attempts to repay billions in government aid.

AP - Arrow Energy Ltd. said Monday that a company jointly owned by Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina has sent it a takeover bid worth $3.3 billion Australian dollars ($3 billion).

AP - China's banks might face risks if finance arms set up by local governments to invest in real estate and infrastructure projects cannot repay heavy borrowing, a deputy central bank governor said Monday.

Reuters - AIG is selling its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for about $15.5 billion, in its second major asset sale in a week to repay the U.S. government billions of bailout money.

AP - The head of the International Monetary Fund on Monday proposed a plan for the world's governments to pool together to raise money needed to adapt to climate change, a rare step for an organization that normally does not develop environmental policies.

AFP - The price of oil briefly climbed above 82 dollars on Monday, extending last week's rally on positive jobs data from the United States -- the world's biggest energy consuming nation, analysts said.

AP - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda met with Japan's prime minister Monday and promised to restore trust in the automaker's cars as it embarks on a broad campaign to repair its tarnished reputation.

The latest deals leave the American International Group with no obvious sales to raise the money to pay the rest of its debt, roughly $50 billion, to the U.S.

With little economic data and few earnings reports, European markets were sluggish. But concerns continued to ease about Greece and its debt.

The Australian company said Monday that it had received a takeover offer worth about $3 billion from a company owned by Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina, the state-run gas and oil giant.

Florida?s plan to reclaim the wetlands is instead on track to rescue the fortunes of United States Sugar.

Portugal?s plan relies on reducing investment, capping public sector wage growth, and selling off state assets.

The UK's Takeover Panel receives a complaint over assurances given by Kraft that it would save a Cadbury plant it is now closing.

AP - Stock futures rose slightly Monday as investors welcomed a fresh round of corporate deals.

AP - Greek officials expressed relief Monday at European support over the country's debt crisis, but labor unions stepped up strikes, angry at recent wage cuts and sales tax increases they say will hurt the poor.

AP - The European Union plans to create a European Monetary Fund to better coordinate the economies of the 16 countries that use the euro and prevent financial debacles such as the Greek debt crisis from undermining the credibility of Europe's single currency.

Reuters - AIG is selling its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for about $15.5 billion, its second major asset sale in a week as it raises funds to repay a massive U.S. government bailout.

AP - Oil prices headed higher toward $82 a barrel Monday, extending gains from last week amid signs the global economy may be improving.

AFP - Iran's conservative-dominated parliament on Monday approved a 347-billion-dollar budget for the year to March 2011 based on an oil price of 65 dollars a barrel, news agencies reported.

BusinessWeek - ITT Educational Services didn't pay $20.8 million for debt-ridden Daniel Webster College in June just to acquire its red-brick campus, 1,200 students, or computer science and aviation training programs.

The results were driven by strong overseas growth and a small rise in United States sales, including its breakfast dollar menu and McCafe drinks.

Investors took in a new round of corporate deals and became a bit more confident that Greece was getting a handle on its debt.

ChatRoulette, a nascent Internet phenomenon, is providing Web researchers with a social networking case study into the nature of online togetherness.

The Treasury Department will issue a general license for the export of free personal Internet services and software geared toward Iran, Cuba and Sudan.

Europe may set up a version of the International Monetary Fund to bolster the eurozone's financial stability.

Portugal announces a series of new austerity measures as it seeks to avoid a debt crisis like the one in Greece.

Almost four in five people worldwide see internet access as a fundamental right, a poll for the BBC World Service suggests.

UK car sales in February were up by 26.4% compared with the same month last year, industry figures show.

AP - Portugal announced new austerity measures Monday to avoid a debt crisis like the one engulfing Greece, cutting welfare benefits and government hiring as well as selling assets and raising taxes on the well-off.

AP - Police using tear gas clashed with protesters Monday at the headquarters of French oil giant Total, which is permanently closing a site in northwest France.

AP - Stocks traded in a tight range Monday after a new round of mergers and acquisitions raised hopes for the economy.

AP - Strong overseas growth for McDonald's Corp. in February outweighed U.S. sales that barely nudged upward as the world's largest fast-food chain posted a 4.8 percent increase in sales at restaurants open at least a year.

Reuters - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Monday urged the Group of 20 to take the lead in efforts to rein in market speculators, warning that failing to do so could trigger another global financial crisis.

AP - Motorists are well down the road to higher pump prices as warmer weather and the driving season approaches.

Aer Lingus, the Irish airline, has delayed plans to unveil its results Tuesday after cabin crew rejected a cost-cutting proposal.

A deal is reached in the long-running dispute at Royal Mail over modernising the postal service which led to strikes last year.

AP - Brazil announced trade sanctions on a range of American goods Monday in retaliation for the United States' failure to eliminate billions in illegal cotton subsidies — a move that affects products from Ford automobiles to Heinz ketchup.

AFP - Oil prices climbed above 82 dollars on Monday, extending last week's rally on positive jobs data from the United States, the world's biggest energy consuming nation, analysts said.

The exotic market bets, the prime minister said, will make it difficult for Greece to put its austerity program in place.

Reuters - MetLife Inc pursued AIG's foreign life insurance business for two years before finally clinching a $15.5 billion purchase that will give it beachheads in 47 nations from Peru to Bangladesh.

Reuters - Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Monday urged the Group of 20 nations to crack down on market speculators, warning that failing to do so could trigger another global financial crisis.

Reuters - The Obama administration has more work to do to help struggling U.S. homeowners, despite signs of a stabilizing housing market, a senior Treasury official said on Monday.

Reuters - State-owned refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has tendered to buy one or more cargoes of crude oil for loading in May, a tender document showed on Monday.

Somewhat upbeat economic data, new tensions in Nigeria and reports that China plans to build up its reserves have lifted crude prices. Gasoline prices have followed.

The company had complained that the requirements favored Boeing, and Northrop?s executives had questioned whether the $40 billion contract would be profitable.

Pfizer and two competitors with their eyes on global growth pursue a big maker of generics.

The exotic market bets, the prime minister said on Monday, will make it difficult for Greece to put its austerity program in place.

Greece's fiscal problems seemed to be nudging Europe toward closer integration Monday, as the European Commission endorsed a German proposal for a European monetary fund to prevent future debt crises, while officials called for new regulations to prevent speculators from exploiting countries' economic woes.

Business has become so global that companies are giving cultural training even to those who never go overseas, because they work with people around the world.

Investors took in a new round of corporate deals and became a bit more confident that Greece was getting a handle on its debt.

The Brazilian government says it might raise tariffs on some American goods, but adds that the problem could be settled through negotiations.

AP - Stocks ended mixed after a new round of mergers and acquisitions raised some hope for the economy.

Reuters - U.S. researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down U.S. adults' calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds (2 kg) per year.

AP - H&R Block Inc. says its fiscal third quarter profit rose 7 percent, as lower costs offset a revenue drop that stemmed from handling fewer returns.

The carmaker said reports of continued acceleration problems after a repair could be traced to improper work.

Business has become so global that companies are giving cultural training even to those who never go overseas, because they work with people around the world.

The largest shareholder and the largest unsecured creditor in General Growth Properties are planning to team up and invest about $3.93 billion in the bankrupt mall operator as part of the company's plan to emerge from bankruptcy in partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, a person briefed on the matter told DealBook.

The show business trade paper said ?economic reality? dictated jobs cuts, eight in total.

Toyota rejects claims that faulty electronics could be behind its worldwide recall of more than eight million cars.

Further rises in house prices may be held back by more properties coming onto the market, surveyors have said.

UK retail sales bounced back in February after a tough January on the High Street, figures from the British Retail Consortium show.

Rebuilding a devastated economy

Brendan Barber on pension scheme closures

AP - A year after the stock market hit bottom and began a spectacular comeback, it's getting harder to dazzle investors.

Reuters - A deal to sell healthier drinks in U.S. schools has slashed the amount of fattening beverages offered to students, former President Bill Clinton said on Monday as New York leaders pushed for a soda tax to tackle obesity and budget shortfalls.

AP - Casey's General Stores reported Monday that its profit grew 23 percent in the third quarter, though bad weather hampered business.

AP - THE SALE: American International Group Inc. sold its American Life Insurance Co. division, or Alico, to MetLife Inc. for $15.5 billion. The deal is AIG's second big asset sale in two weeks. On March 1, it said it would sell its AIA Group unit to Prudential PLC for $35.5 billion.

AP - The retailer Limited Brands Inc. said Monday it has amended its existing credit agreement, extending it by two years and reducing lender commitment amounts.

AP - Real estate investment trust Glimcher Realty Trust said Monday it has extended and changed its agreement for its $470 million unsecured credit facility with its lenders, including KeyBank National Association and Bank of America NA.

The company is using its network to push the limits of translation technology; its free service has become the favored source for millions.

Pfizer and two competitors with their eyes on global growth pursue a big maker of generics.

The country, which kicked out oil firms in 1938, now needs assistance to get its oil out of the ground.

The carmaker said reports of continued acceleration problems after a repair could be traced to improper work.

Investors took in a new round of corporate deals and became a bit more confident that Greece was getting a handle on its debt.

Newly frugal companies used a lot of previously seen commercials during the Academy Awards show, but there were some notable new spots.

AP - Asian stock markets were little changed early Tuesday, taking a breather after gains Monday fueled by a better-than-expected jobs report from the U.S.

AP - Amazon.com Inc. cut ties Monday with Colorado online businesses that help it sell products because of a new state law aimed at getting out-of-state, online retailers to collect sales tax.

AP - BankFinancial Corp. on Monday reported a fourth-quarter loss due to a larger provision for loan losses, higher expenses and an investment loss. Last year's quarter was inflated by a $10.1 million tax benefit.

PR Newswire - WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz delivered the keynote address yesterday at the inauguration of the annual session of the Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council). His speech addressed a variety of issues, including employment, education, counterterrorism, women's rights, economic policies, oil prices, the Arab-Israeli conflict and humanitarian aid. The audience included members of the Saudi royal family, foreign diplomats, ministers and senior government officials.

Even as big companies are moving their pension funds out of stocks, state governments are chasing higher returns for their plans by making riskier investments.

The investigation will focus on Select Medical, which runs more long-term care facilities than any other company.

The company, which operates shopping malls, has been fighting off an unsolicited $10 billion takeover bid from a rival.

Andre Berto is a boxing champion who is sometimes mistaken for other people, especially the football player Reggie Bush.

Selling exit-row seats to all comers raise questions about whether all buyers are suitable to perform emergency evacuation procedures.

While a national commitment to solar power transformed one mining community, generous subsidies also resulted in unsustainable growth.

Several members of the Senate Banking Committee are said to support a deal to strip the Fed of its regulatory powers over all but the 23 largest banks.

The joint venture offered $4.04 a share for the Australian energy company, which produces natural gas from coal beds.

Increasing demand for phone systems and industrial machinery allowed the chip maker to forecast a profit at the high end of estimates.

JetBlue and Delta said they feared that repair work at Kennedy International Airport would penalize them unfairly for delays.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac owned more than 131,000 properties between them at the end of 2009, according to annual filings.

AP - A California Highway Patrol officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph to a safe stop on Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck on a San Diego County freeway, the CHP said.

AFP - Toyota sought to discredit fears over the automaker's electronics here Monday but were forced onto the defensive hours later when a Prius went speeding out of control along a California highway.