World Business
Austerity plan doubted
ATHENS — Not long after Greece made the politically unpopular decision to slash government spending to ease its debt crisis, Germany’s finance minister questioned whether the deal goes far enough to earn approval of a crucial C130 billion bailout.
Greece’s new austerity plan would make deep cuts to jobs and wages and it ignited fresh criticism from unions and the country’s labour minister, who resigned in protest. Finance ministers from the 17 countries that use the euro are meeting in Brussels to scrutinize the plan. READ
Apple to unveil new iPad in March: report
NEW YORK — A news report says Apple plans to unveil a new iPad early next month. READ
Watchdog clears State Department of impropriety in Keystone pipeline review
WASHINGTON — The State Department’s internal watchdog cleared the agency Thursday of any impropriety in its review of a permit for a controversial pipeline that would carry oil produced from Alberta’s oilsands to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast. READ
Kodak to phase out it camera, digital picture frame business
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Picture it: Except for a few disposable point-and-shoots, Kodak is exiting the camera business. READ
Agreements prompt talk of free trade
BEIJING — A raft of agreements between Canada and China may see the two countries ready to set sail on free trade talks. READ
State Department cleared of impropriety in Keystone pipeline review
WASHINGTON — The State Department’s internal watchdog cleared the agency Thursday of any impropriety in its review of a permit for a controversial pipeline that would carry oil produced from Alberta’s oilsands to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast. READ
States reach $25 billion settlement over foreclosure abuses
WASHINGTON — U.S. states reached a landmark $25 billion deal Thursday with the nation’s biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses that occurred after the housing bubble burst. READ
Greek deal on cuts appears to not yet fulfil bailout conditions: German finance minister
ATHENS — Not long after Greece made the politically unpopular decision to slash government spending to ease its debt crisis, Germany’s finance minister questioned whether the deal goes far enough to earn approval of a crucial C130 billion bailout. READ
Murdoch’s News Intl settles most phone hacking lawsuits but Charlotte Church case loom
LONDON — Rupert Murdoch’s News International has settled nearly all the cases against the company in the first wave of lawsuits for phone hacking by its journalists, with a new round of apologies and payouts announced Wednesday in a London court. READ
Balkan nations suspend shipping on freezing Danube River
SOFIA, Bulgaria — At least four Balkan nations suspended shipping on the Danube River because of severe frost and the vast amount of ice blocking the heavily travelled waterway. READ
Greek parties mull harsh new cuts in crucial debt talks
ATHENS — After three days of delays, Greek coalition leaders were locked in crucial debt talks Wednesday with the prime minister to review a draft deal on steep cutbacks demanded by creditors in return for a C130 billion ($170 billion) bailout. READ
Greek debt talks drag on but banks signal progress on bond-swap deal to forgive some debt
ATHENS — Greece’s private creditors signalled progress late Tuesday on a debt-relief deal but crucial talks between Greek coalition leaders about forcing more austerity upon a hostile public were again postponed. READ
Greece to hand out pink slips to thousands of civil servants
Greece’s coalition government on Monday caved in to demands to cut civil service jobs, announcing 15,000 positions would go this year, amid mounting international pressure to agree on austerity measures needed to secure major new debt agreements. READ
Greece crisis talks coming
Crisis talks on a debt deal for Greece among the three leaders of parties supporting the coalition government were suspended and will continue today. READ
Greek crisis talks for debt deal to continue Monday
ATHENS — Crisis talks on a debt deal for Greece among the three leaders of parties supporting the coalition government were suspended and will continue Monday. READ
As Russian gas supply dwindles, EU braces for another potential crisis
BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Union is bracing for another potential energy crisis in the dead of winter as Russian gas supplies to some member states have suddenly dwindled by up to 30 per cent. READ
Facebook IPO aims to raise $5 billion
Facebook made a much-anticipated status update Wednesday: the Internet social network is going public eight years after its computer-hacking CEO Mark Zuckerberg started the service at Harvard University. READ
Facebook IPO aims to raise $5-billion
NEW YORK — Facebook made a much-anticipated status update Wednesday: the Internet social network is going public eight years after its computer-hacking CEO Mark Zuckerberg started the service at Harvard University. READ
Equipment orders rise in December
John Deere farm tractors sit on display at Sloan’s Implement John Deere Dealership, in Virden, Ill. Orders to U.S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods increased in December after business stepped up spending on machinery and other capital goods. READ
Merkel resolved to end Europe crisis
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has insisted that Europe will remain an economic power only if it deepens the integration that has caused it so many problems. Without that, she warned the global elite gathered in a Swiss ski resort, Europe will remain little more than a pleasant vacation destination. READ
