Sky-high oil and gas prices risk tipping the U.S. economy back into recession. But Washington isn't powerless when it comes to oil prices: Here are five things that the federal and state governments can do that would quickly reduce pain at the pump.
And that means it may be time for owners of gas-thirsty SUVs and cars to start considering the switch so many Americans are loath to make: to a far more fuel-efficient vehicle. Looking out over the next several years, it's hard to see oil -- and gasoline -- falling back to earlier lows.
In the long run, the changes being demanded in the Mideast may prove to be a cornerstone of further global economic growth and political stability. More immediately, though, the uprisings are likely to create exactly the type of uncertainty that investors dread.
Global capitalism is near death and the world needs a new economic system, according to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He did not offer an alternative, but called for a "just and humane order in the light of which the rights of all are preserved and peace and security are safeguarded."
The State Department's "Travel Warnings" list defines the countries the U.S. government believes are dangerous to visit. Yet some countries on the list are quite interesting -- and popular tourist destinations to boot.
OPEC is expected to keep oil supplies flat in 2010, but could gamble that international events will drive up prices.
Twitter, the Web wunderkind with a $1 billion valuation, was attacked Thursday night by a group calling itself the "Iranian Cyber Army."
