GERMANY

Airbus on Tuesday rejected U.S. calls to renounce government loans for its next airliner after the WTO gave a preliminary ruling against earlier loans, while a Boeing executive hit out at unfair subsidies.

Afghanistan's U.N.-appointed election watchdog said on Tuesday it had found clear and convincing evidence of fraud in last month's presidential election and ordered a recount of suspicious returns.

The German government called for clarity from General Motors on its long-term plans for Opel should the U.S. carmaker reverse course this week and decide to keep its European business.

The German government seemed to soften its stance on the possibility of U.S. carmaker General Motors GM.UL scrapping plans to sell Opel and keeping the European carmaker instead when GM's board meets this week.

Data in the coming week should deliver more proof that a global recovery is at hand, but policy-makers are facing up to how sub-par growth over the long haul might constrain their policy choices.

Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska's carmaker GAZ, the Russian industrial parter in a Magna-led bid for Germany's Opel, is not interested in an equity stake in Opel, Deripaska told Vedomosti newspaper.

Chinese machinery maker Tengzhong is still working to close a deal with General Motors Co to buy the U.S. automaker's Hummer brand after a regulatory setback, Chinese media reported on Monday.

Top executives from some of the world's leading banks will gather for a conference in Frankfurt this week as lenders seek to rebuild trust in the global financial system almost a year after Lehman Brothers collapsed.

Iran's president snubbed on Monday U.S. President Barack Obama's end-September deadline to talk to world powers on its disputed nuclear program, saying in his opinion discussion on the issue is finished.

Abu Dhabi's state-owned ATIC offered to buy Chartered Semiconductor for $1.8 billion, while major shareholders in Hynix began the sale of a $2.8 billion stake, kickstarting consolidation in a chip sector emerging from its worst ever downturn.

Three watercolours believed painted by a young Adolf Hitler were auctioned off for a total of 42,000 euros ($60,000) in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg on Saturday.

The World Trade Organisation ruled on Friday that European loans for Airbus were illegal subsidies under world trade rules, U.S. lawmakers said, but European sources said Washington did not win a sweeping victory.

G20 finance leaders struggled on Saturday to pin down specific measures to tighten bank pay and lending rules to prevent a repeat of the financial chaos that triggered the worst global recession in decades.

NATO officers met air strike victims and their families in Afghanistan on Saturday and their commander took to the TV airwaves in a bid to cool anger over an incident that undermines efforts to win hearts and minds.

The World Trade Organization ruled on Friday that European loans for Airbus were illegal subsidies under world trade rules, U.S. lawmakers said, but European sources said Washington did not win a sweeping victory.

Hitch-hikers have always used their thumbs to get a ride. Now a new invention aims to update the technique -- allowing mobile phone users to dial-a-driver.

The World Trade Organization ruled on Friday that European loans for Airbus were illegal subsidies under world trade rules, U.S. lawmakers said, but European sources said Washington did not win a sweeping victory.

New car sales in Britain rose for a second consecutive month in August, helped by the government's

Daimler's (DAIGn.DE) chief executive told German newspaper Bild that the auto maker would perform better in 2010 and was set to achieve significantly more than 4 billion euros ($5.71 billion) in savings in 2009.

Finance leaders clashed on Friday over how to stop banks plunging the world into another crisis.

Recession Worries Persist; Escalating Pressure at GM; Pivotal Trade Decision