International

Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Contaminated milk poisons thousands of Chinese toddlers

More than 6.200 babies have fallen ill after drinking milk made from contaminated powder, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu announced. The figure is five times higher than previously announced.
Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Barclays interested in other Lehman Brothers assets and staff

Barclays PLC said Wednesday it may pick up some of Lehman Brothers assets and employees in Europe and Asia, on top of the British bank's deal to acquire key US operations from the failed investment bank.
Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK sponsors consolidation of Lloyds TSB and HBOS

British bank HBOS confirmed it is in advanced talks with Lloyds TSB about creating a United Kingdom retail banking giant worth £30 billion. The UK government has also said it will overrule any concerns that competition authorities may raise, BBC Business Editor Robert Peston said.
Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
World malnourished soar to 925 million with global food crisis

The way out of the global food crisis, which has plunged at least 75 million more humans into hunger and poverty, lies in increased agricultural production, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf told Italy's Parliament on Wednesday.
Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
China/USA agree on trade, food security and intellectual rights

Chinese and US delegations at the 19th meeting of China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) reached this week several agreements on boosting trade ties at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library near Los Angeles, reports Xinhua the official Chinese news agency.
Wednesday, September 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU fisheries policy failed to protect stocks; new review

The European Commission has announced a full review of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, saying the current regime fails to protect fish stocks. EC says that fishermen who obey the fishing rules are being penalized by the irresponsible behavior of others who flout them.
Tuesday, September 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Global uncertainty settles oil prices below 100 US dollars

Oil prices lost five US dollars ending Monday below 100 US dollars a barrel for the first time in six months, spurred by concerns about the global economy. With banking giant Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy protection, US light sweet crude closed Monday in New York at 95.71 and London Brent 92.38 US dollars a barrel.
Tuesday, September 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uncertainties and “rough spots” ahead for world markets

Leading Asian markets plunged in the aftermath of the collapse of one of the US top investment banks, Lehman Brothers. Shares in Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan were down by 4 to 6%, having been shut on Monday for a bank holiday.
Tuesday, September 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
IMF chief predicts end of independent investment banks

The global financial crisis is not over and more banks could close, possibly leading to the disappearance of independent investment houses, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn told reporters in Cairo.
Monday, September 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Nobel Prize Stiglitz: crisis should be less serious than 1929

The crisis now gripping world financial markets should be less serious than that of 1929, Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz said on Monday because new monetary and fiscal “instruments” could prevent a Great Depression.