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President Bush signs a housing bill that could help struggling homeowners stay in their homes and stabilize the nation's troubled housing market, while tightening regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. NPR's Brian Naylor discusses the bill and explains the key points that every homeowner should know.

Leaders from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., over the weekend to discuss the global financial crisis. After the meeting, they issued a 10-page action plan for reform, enhancing regulation and reinforcing international cooperation.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has told supporters that they cannot "let up" with eight days left in the presidential campaign. As part of what his campaign is calling "closing arguments," Obama is reiterating the key points of his platform.

The government's bailout of Wall Street and the mortgage market is changing almost daily. Is the $700 billion financial bailout working? David Wessel, economics editor at The Wall Street Journal, tells Ari Shapiro that some parts are working, but more funds may be needed to solve the problem.

The U.S. economy took more hits this week as automakers reported huge losses. Then on Friday, the Labor Department released a worse-than-expected unemployment rate. President-elect Barack Obama responded by calling for a new stimulus package.

The Labor Department reports that the nation's unemployment rate rose 6.5 percent last month. The number of jobs lost were a lot higher than expected. The report indicates that the downturn in the economy this year has been even deeper and more dramatic than most economists had expected. The jobless rate is at a 14-year high.

Executives from Detroit's Big Three car companies met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday to ask for billions of dollars to help rescue the ailing industry. The request comes amid the worst auto sales in a quarter-century. It's unclear whether Ford, GM and Chrysler will get the answers they want.

India's navy says one of its warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden battled Somali pirates and destroyed one of their so-called mother ships — a supply vessel that helps the pirates operate in open water. The attack occurred the same day Somali pirates hijacked two more ships. What can be done to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes?

With companies warning of lower sales and smaller profits, stock investors around the world are fleeing for the exit. Gloomy forecasts from big Japanese exporters sent the Nikkei index plunging 10 percent Friday, and all the European stock markets are plummeting, with Russia down 14 percent.

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has been convicted of lying about free home renovations and gifts he received from an oil contractor. The Senate's longest-serving Republican was found guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on Senate financial documents.