The U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled the new design for the $100 note, in hopes that the redesign will combat counterfeiting efforts. Tim Geithner said, "As with previous U.S. currency redesigns, this note incorporates the best technology available to ensure we're staying ahead of counterfeiters," like this woman caught using a fake $100. The Treasury also posted a YouTube video highlighting those changes, with the bill flying around to some intense MIDI fanfare. more ›

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says that the U.S. government pressured Bank of America to buy Merrill Lynch. Cuomo had questioned BoA CEO Ken Lewis over Merrill's $15 billion loss for the 4th quarter of 2008—namely whether the company hid that information from shareholders—and Lewis said that he was warned by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (pictured) and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that failing to take over Merrill, as troubled as it was, would "impose a big risk to the financial system." Further, Paulson "may have threatened to remove the bank’s management and board if they didn’t comply," according to Cuomo's letter to Congress. Cuomo has been investigating BoA and Merrill after Merrill handed out extravagant bonuses to executives. more ›