Category: World

FRANKFURT, October 3, 2008 (AFP) – The European Central Bank has opened the door to a rate cut in the coming months as its president Jean-Claude Trichet prepares for high-level financial talks in Paris on Saturday, analysts said. ECB policymakers “threw the door wide open for a rate cut in the foreseeable future,” commented Bank […]

WASHINGTON, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – The US Senate on Wednesday approved a 700-billion-dollar Wall Street bailout package by a vote of 74-25 amid a widening global crisis sparked by the collapse of the US housing market.Earlier in the day, Democratic House Majority leader Steny Hoyer sounded a note of caution, appearing to indicate the […]

SINGAPORE, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – World oil prices were up more than one dollar in Asian trade on Thursday shortly after the US Senate approved a revised government proposal to bail out the US financial sector. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for November delivery, was 1.23 dollars higher at 99.76 dollars a […]

KIEV, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – The pirate hijacking of a Ukrainian cargo ship loaded with tanks off Somalia has refocused attention on arms-trafficking by the former Soviet republic, one of the world’s 10 biggest arms exporters.Experts say Ukraine has greatly improved arms-export controls after a string of scandals but remains a potential source of […]

BRUSSELS, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – Customs authorities at Brussels airport have seized over two million counterfeit medical pills from India which were bound for Africa, the biggest such seizure ever in Europe, officials said Thursday. Blister packs of the fake medications — copies of Tramal, a strong analgesic made by German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal, […]

WASHINGTON, October 1, 2008 (AFP) – The US Senate will vote Wednesday evening on a revised 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout, after the House of Representatives sparked economic turmoil by rejecting the original package. A Democratic Senate aide speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the surprise vote would go ahead and the bill is […]

WASHINGTON, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – US regulators Tuesday offered new guidelines aimed at easing accounting rules blamed by some analysts for worsening the crisis for banks with heavy losses from mortgage securities The Securities and Exchange Commission made the announcement offering clarification to companies preparing to report their financial results for the third quarter, […]

PARIS, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has warned in an interview to appear Wednesday that the country’s banks are vulnerable given the global financial crisis, which he compared to the Great Depression.Fillon, however, said in the interview with Les Echos business newspaper that the state would not allow any banks […]

CHICAGO, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – The privatization of the first major US airport could net the city of Chicago 2.5 billion dollars, officials said Tuesday. The 99-year lease of Chicago’s secondary airport, Midway, must still be approved by the city council and federal regulators but officials expressed confidence it would pass. “With this agreement […]

NEW YORK, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – Global markets panicked Monday after US lawmakers rejected a 700-billion-dollar rescue of the financial system, raising the prospect of deeper financial turmoil. Wall Street blue-chip stocks suffered their worst single-day point decline after the US House of Representatives defeated the measure billed by President George W. Bush’s administration […]

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – Shocked, open-mouthed and fearful US lawmakers stood in the well of the House of Representatives Monday, dumbfounded by the magnitude of the chamber’s decision to kill a bid to save Wall Street. Democratic and Republican party leaders who had battled to pass a 700 billion dollar bailout bill, stared […]

NEW YORK, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – The euro and the pound slid against the dollar Monday after the rescue of several European banks deepened worries about the global financial system. The currency market showed little reaction off US lawmakers’ rejection of a 700-billion-dollar financial rescue plan touted by President George W.Bush’s administration as vital […]