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Several books have been published about the subprime crackup, the housing bubble and the financial meltdown, but Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown by reporter Edmund Andrews is special. That's because as he was writing about the issue, he himself was sinking as fast as anyone.

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.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has told nonessential Mexican workers to stay home for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy. The move is an effort to stem the spread of the swine flu that has killed up to 176 people and sickened thousands.

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.

President Obama traveled to St. Louis for a town hall meeting to mark his 100th day in office. Questions dealt with the economy, health care, social security and the environment.

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.

Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of William Strunk and E.B. White's Elements of Style, the grammar manual used by millions of students, including commentator Marc Acito.

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.