Charles Forte was the owner of a hotel and restaurant empire that ranged from the Waldorf Hotel in London to the budget chain Travelodge. Read more..

By JULIA WERDIGIER - The New York Times

While China’s markets rebounded, markets around Asia fell in reaction to the sharp drop on Wall Street and to disappointing figures on the U.S. economy. Read more..

By DAVID BARBOZA and KEITH BRADSHER - The New York Times

The economy inched ahead by 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, down sharply from the government’s prior estimate of 3.5 percent. Read more..

By EDUARDO PORTER - The New York Times

The House of Representatives voted to revise rules for foreign investments in the U.S., seeking to make them clearer for businesses while preserving national security. Read more..

By BLOOMBERG NEWS - The New York Times

A lawyer who helped engineer a settlement with State Farm argued that the deal should be approved because it could give millions to victims of Hurricane Katrina by the end of the year. Read more..

By JOSEPH B. TREASTER - The New York Times

Mel Karmazin said the companies would agree to price controls and other measures to gain regulatory approval for the deal. Read more..

By STEPHEN LABATON - The New York Times

Stocks rose modestly Wednesday, but concerns over Wall Street’s bet on subprime loans have not gone away. Read more..

By JENNY ANDERSON and VIKAS BAJAJ - The New York Times

If your work involves sensitive electronic documents, an ounce of prevention may come in Verbatim’s new Store ’n’ Go Corporate Secure U.S.B. drives. Read more..

By STEPHEN C. MILLER - The New York Times

NBC plans to replace the executive producer of the “Nightly News With Brian Williams,” after a ratings loss. Read more..

By BILL CARTER and JACQUES STEINBERG - The New York Times