GERMANY

The escherichia coli (E.coli) outbreak has infected more than 1,500 people and killed 17 others. Vegetable sellers are suffering due to E.coli outbreak.

The 17-nation euro zone should consider establishing a central finance ministry as it tightens coordination of national economic policies to fight crises, the head of the bloc's central bank said on Thursday.

The outbreak of E. coli in Western Europe has led Russia to impose a ban on fresh vegetable imports from the European Union (EU).

Europe should consider strengthening central control of economic policy if efforts to deal with its debt crisis do not deliver results, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks slumped on Wednesday, marking the biggest decline since August, as weaker-than-expected reports on ADP private sector employment and ISM manufacturing raised concerns about the current economic soft patch.

NYSE Euronext's bid for European clearinghouse LCH.Clearnet would give Markit a majority stake and control of the lucrative over-the-counter swaps business, a source familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.

Italian carmaker Fiat SpA will invest $1.1 billion and build 120,000 cars a year in Russia to take advantage of state investment incentives and a recovering car industry, Russia's Economy Ministry said.

Greece should complete talks by the end of the week with EU and IMF inspectors on a medium-term budget plan plus a vital next slice of international aid, sources close to the negotiations said on Wednesday.

German health officials say 16 people have been killed in the country so far by an E.coli outbreak. Officials have yet to figure out the source of the outbreak.

Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd's has agreed to buy German electronics retailer Medion AG for around $900 million, boosting its market share in Europe.

Germany expects the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to remain involved jointly in any continued aid program for debt-laden Greece, a finance ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. The comments contradict an earlier report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper which had said it appeared certain the IMF would not contribute its share of the next tranche of aid under Greec...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday the stability of the euro was paramount but her government will only decide how to handle the Greek situation after a team of inspectors make their report.

Beautiful images taken on vegetables after the E. Coli breakout.

Barneys New York will ship internationally on e-commerce site Barneys.com.

Speculation is rising that the cash-strapped Greek government is nearing an agreement with officials from the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank on then next round of bailout financing.

Greece should complete talks by the end of the week with inspectors from the EU and IMF on a medium-term budget plan plus a vital next slice of international aid, sources close to the negotiations said on Wednesday.

China's Lenovo is buying Germany's Medion in a deal valuing the consumer electronics retailer at around $900 million as the world's No.4 PC brand expands its market share in developed economies.

Greece and a team of EU/IMF/ECB inspectors are set to conclude talks by Thursday on a medium-term fiscal plan including the government's progress toward meeting budget targets, a Greek newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> said on Wednesday it will recall 105,784 early model Prius cars in Japan and overseas to fix a fault with the model's steering and gearbox.

Lenovo, the world's No.4 PC brand, is launching a takeover offer worth more than $800 million for Germany's Medion, the first public takeover of a German company by a Chinese firm.

Greece appears to have agreed a tax cut with its international lenders, aimed at forging a broad consensus for more austerity to avoid a debt default, but the opposition said on Tuesday this would still not win its support.