Scott McCartney reports in the Wall St. Journal (subs. reqd.) about lobbying by credit card companies for new legislation that would protect them from potential liability if an airline shuts down.

Diners Club North America CEO M. V. Rajamannar is interviewed on Business Travel News.

Former US national security advisor Richard Clarke spoke to the Smart Card Alliance's fall conference in San Francisco last week.

In its third quarter financial results reported this afternoon, American Express reported a 16% increase in Amex cardmember spending over the same quarter last year and a 14% increase in discount revenue paid by card accepting merchants. Amex's average discount rate declined 3 basis points from 2.60% to 2.57% as compared to the same quarter last year.

Denver's Rocky Mountain News takes a look at micropayments.