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The Labor Department reported Friday that the pace of layoffs slowed in April. Employers cut 539,000 jobs — the fewest in six months. However, the unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent.

The Boston Globe and its largest union say they plan to talk some more but negotiations have reached an impasse, largely over lifetime job guarantees. The 137-year-old newspaper says the guarantees have to end for it to survive. The Globe's owner, the New York Times Co., struck agreements with six of seven unions in an effort to cut $20 million in annual costs.

The swine flu virus has spread to at least 20 countries. Experts are now worried that pigs may start to get infected by humans with the virus. Top health officials are expecting a flu pandemic.

Until a video of "Stand by Me" had gone viral on YouTube, Roger Ridley had sung and played guitar anonymously on the streets for years. A new collection, Playing for Change: Songs Around the World, is a cross-continental effort that connects disparate cultures with the universal language of music.

To mark his 100 days in office, President Obama held a prime-time news conference Wednesday. It was the third news conference of his presidency and the first not dominated by the recession. The president promised to keep up the whirlwind pace.

The Commerce Department reports that the nation's economy shrank at 6.1 percent pace in the first quarter, worse than economists had expected. While consumer spending rebounded, businesses cut back sharply and U.S. exports saw their biggest drop in 40 years.

The United Nations today sent its top humanitarian official, John Holmes, to Sri Lanka to push for more protection for civilians trapped in the island's war zone. The UN estimates nearly 6,500 civilians have been killed there in the last three months. The conventional war now appears to be in its final stages. But does that mean the island's civil conflict is finally at an end? NPR's South Asia Correspondent Philip Reeves reports.

At 70, Hugh Masekela says he has personally healed. But the trumpeter and vocalist, long known as both a celebrated artist and an anti-apartheid activist, has recorded "songs of concern" on his new album, Phola.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday announced a number of cuts to big programs in the Pentagon's upcoming budget. He did, however, call for more money to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Obama used his second prime-time news conference to make the case for his economic agenda Tuesday night. But lawmakers are already making big changes to Obama's budget proposal.