World News

From The Financial Times

Madoff aide pleads guilty
Frank DiPascali, a key lieutenant to Bernard Madoff, pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising from his role in the $65bn Ponzi scheme orchestrated by his long-time boss
Fed under spotlight on interest rates
US Federal Reserve policymakers end a two-day meeting on Wednesday with a statement that could provide a hint about the timing of interest rate rises, but no more.
US productivity grows faster than expected
Productivity soared by a higher-than-expected 6.4 per cent in the non-farm business sector in the second quarter, its highest level since 2003, as hours worked fell faster than output, the Department of Labor said
Expanded Fed tackles staffing explosion
Its unprecedented role in rescuing the US financial system has meant unexpected calls on Federal Reserve resources, writes Aline van Duyn
New York Fed in hiring spree
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is aggressively hiring traders as it seeks to manage its burgeoning securities holdings, making the central bank one of Wall Street's most active recruiters of financial talent
Eunice Kennedy Shriver dies at 88
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics and is a member of one of the most prominent American political families of the 20th century, died at the age of 88
Kuwait foils al-Qaeda bomb plan
Kuwait said it had foiled an al-Qaeda-linked plan to bomb a US army camp and other 'important facilities' in the Opec oil-exporting state
Ex-Soviet officer escapes US extradition
Viktor Bout, the former Soviet military officer suspected of arms trafficking on four continents, has won the first stage of his battle to avoid extradition from Thailand to the US on charges of offering to supply weapons to Colombian rebels
DPJ chief hits at 'US-led' globalism
Yukio Hatoyama, leader of Japan's opposition Democratic party who is strongly placed to become prime minister, has vowed to shield his nation from globalisation
Obama faces tough choices on Afghanistan
At a time when the US president is under acute pressure to rein in a huge US fiscal deficit and when the Pentagon is severely overstretched, another hefty troop request would be hard to satisfy
US 'shifts stance' on Afghan war
The Obama administration has raised the stakes in Afghanistan by expanding the war to include a full-scale attack on illegal narcotics and has authorised the killing or capture of 50 drug lords, according to a report to be released on Tuesday.
Testing week for US bond investors
US bond investors are braced for a testing week, dominated by record $75bn in debt sales by the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, which concludes on Wednesday
Ebay and GM set for online car deals
Buyers of new cars will be able to haggle with dealers over the internet under a joint venture between General Motors and Ebay
Oil sands test of Obama's green credentials
The administration faces a test of its environmental credentials in deciding whether to approve a pipeline carrying greenhouse gas-intensive oil sands fuel from Canada