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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 federal government has ordered some of the nation's largest banks to raise a total of $75 billion. The Treasury Department revealed the results of its so called "stress tests" to assess the health of the financial system. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and others will be required to raise more capital.

The nation's 19 largest banks have gotten the final results from the government's stress tests. Some banks were told they need to raise more capital in order to be considered healthy. The results are scheduled to be released to the public Thursday.

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.

The former American Idol contestant, whom Paula Abdul dubbed "one funky white boy," just made Fight for Love, his second album since the competition. Yamin dishes on his soul sound, his time in the TV spotlight and, of course, his mom.

President Obama will soon have the chance to appoint a new justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the court's term.

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.