German Chancellor Angela Merkel has sought to calm market nerves over a possible Greek debt default, saying the eurozone must stick together. The collapse of Greece and its exit from the euro would have a domino effect, she told German radio. Her comments came after reports that Germany was preparing for Greece to potentially leave the euro. Fears of a Greek default caused sharp falls in shares on Monday, but markets ultimately rose on Tuesday. Read More
Angela Merkel tries to allay Greece default fears
Republican contenders clash at Florida TV debate
Texas Governor Rick Perry’s outspoken views on Social Security have come under fire as Republican White House contenders hold their latest TV debate. Read More
Jobs Act: Obama plan eyes taxes on rich
US President Barack Obama is proposing to pay for his $447bn (£282bn) jobs plan with taxes on the wealthy. Republicans objected to the proposal, saying the president wanted to bill “job creators”. Read More
Kim Jong-il in talks with Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev
The BBC's Leonid Ragozin says the visit to Russia is very rare
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il has held rare talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and economic co-operation. Mr Kim said his country was ready to discuss ending nuclear tests if six-party talks on denuclearisation resumed, Russian media reported. Read More
European and US shares rise in volatile trading
European and US shares rise in volatile trading
Shares have risen on both sides of the Atlantic in a day of volatile trading on the stock markets. Despite continuing concerns about weak economic growth and high levels of national debt in both the US and eurozone, the UK’s FTSE 100 index ended up 1.9%, while France’s Cac added 1.6%. Read More
Voters go to polls in Wisconsin’s two final recalls
Voters take to the polls as Wisconsin holds the nation's largest ever recall elections in River Hills August 9, 2011.
EAGLE RIVER, Wis — Voters in two Wisconsin state Senate districts headed to the polls on Tuesday in the last of nine recall elections triggered by the fight earlier this year over Republican-backed curbs on union rights of public workers. Read More
Shell says North Sea oil spill is under control
A plane has been monitoring the water's surface around the platform
Oil giant Shell says a leak in a North Sea pipeline is under control. A leak in a flow line leading to the Gannet Alpha oil platform, 180 km (113 miles) east of Aberdeen, was found on Wednesday. Read More
Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn
Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn
Internet giant Google has announced a deal to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn (£7.7bn). A joint statement said the boards of both companies had unanimously approved the deal, which should be completed by the end of this year, or early in 2012. Read More
Barack Obama launches campaign-style Midwest tour
Mr Obama asked voters to tell Washington "it's time for the games to stop"
US President Barack Obama has begun a campaign-style speaking tour to make a case to voters for action to boost the US economy and create jobs. Mr Obama’s three-day Midwest swing comes as his poll ratings continue to slip amid poor economic news. Read More
Four EU nations ban short-selling on banking stocks
French banking shares have been most affected by the recent market turbulence
France, Italy, Spain and Belgium have banned short-selling on the shares of banks and other financial companies. It follows sharp gains and losses in bank stocks in recent days, especially in France, on fears about their exposure to eurozone government debt. Read More