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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has the clout to determine winners and losers in the health-care debate. Several former staffers are now industry lobbyists with a unique brand of access to the man at the debate's center. In Washington, access is money.

The global recession has hit Mexico harder than most other countries in the region. Mexico is suffering a drop in exports to the United States, a decline in remittances from Mexicans living and working in the United States, the continuing impact of swine flu on tourism, and the shrinking of the oil sector.

Companies are doing more temporary hiring, and employees are working longer hours. But as long as employers remain skittish, the recovery will likely be weak. Companies won't add permanent jobs until they see demand growing, economists say.

For years, oil production has been largely banned in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. In large part, that's because of concerns that a spill could devastate the state's tourism industry. But now, some elected officials seem willing to take another look at offshore drilling after years of opposition.

Employers eliminated a net total of 216,000 jobs in August as the nation's jobless rate reached its highest level since June 1983. But the number of job cuts is the smallest decline in payrolls in a year.

Economists have begun describing the current financial crisis as a "worldwide recession." But they also say some countries are doing better than others — and they're some of the most fascinating places on Earth.

The German government has resisted pressure to do more to stimulate its economy. However, the government is offering a $3,300 bonus to people who trade in their old clunkers and buy new, fuel-efficient cars. But critics question the plan's economic and environmental benefits.

Democratic Rep. Hilda Solis of California seemed headed for confirmation as labor secretary, but a Senate committee put off a vote when it was revealed that her husband had unresolved tax issues with his business. Republican lawmakers also say they worry about her association with a pro-union organization. Republicans want more information. Democrats say it's time to vote.

About 10 years ago, Taiwan created a national health care system from scratch by adopting good ideas from other countries. Patients say they're satisfied and never go into debt for medical care. The government, however, is borrowing to finance the system.

With a car, a country villa and frequent travel, the Shengs, a family of three, readily admit they emit more carbon dioxide than the average Chinese family. But how does their "carbon footprint" stack up against an American family's?