IBT Staff Reporter

A confidential analysis by staff of the U.N. nuclear watchdog has concluded that Iran has acquired sufficient information to be able to design and produce an atom bomb, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who resigned his key post after being forced to deny he was drunk at a G7 news conference in February, has died, Tokyo police said on Sunday.

Indonesians dug a pit for a mass burial in the earthquake shattered city of Padang on Sunday, while in nearby hills villagers with wooden hoes clawed in the mud in a near-hopeless search for hundreds entombed by landslides.

A powerful typhoon moved out to sea on Sunday after thrashing the remote northeastern Philippines and killing 17 people and may remain there for days, bringing more rain and possible landslides, officials said.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il made a rare appearance to greet visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, starting a trip that swiftly drew a statement from the North that it was willing to discuss its nuclear weapons.

U.N. experts will inspect Iran's newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant on October 25, the IAEA nuclear agency chief said on Sunday, praising a shift from conspiracy to cooperation in Tehran's dealings with the West.

The head of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said on Sunday that she wanted to end the too big to fail doctrine and shrink the shadow banking system that operates outside the reach of regulators.

Fierce disagreement over how much power rich nations should cede to developing countries clouded talks between global finance chiefs on expanding the role of the International Monetary Fund.

BAE Systems turned down the chance to pay 300 million pounds ($477 million) to settle a bribery investigation and is seeking to review evidence against it before trying to agree a deal, newspapers reported on Sunday.

The head of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said on Sunday that she wanted to end the too big to fail doctrine and shrink the shadow banking system that operates outside the reach of regulators.

The leading emerging BRIC nations maintain their demand for a 7 percent shift in voting power to developing countries at the International Monetary Fund, Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Saturday.

The Group of Seven rich nations urged China on Saturday to strengthen the yuan, but gave no sign of how it might overcome Chinese resistance to that suggestion or resolve other tensions over global currency rates.

Australians are being encouraged to set aside some time to go for a walk and to continue to be active as part of Walk to Work Day today.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a big investor in Citigroup , urged the U.S. government to sell its stake in the bank as soon as this year to boost investor confidence, Emerging Markets magazine reported.

Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D Double Feature, the two pioneering Pixar films which have been digitally remastered and have been altered with 3-D effects, hit theaters on Friday October 2, for only two weeks.

The head of the International Finance Corp said on Saturday that the group plans to work with private equity funds, debt servicing companies and major banks to soak up toxic assets held by banks in emerging markets.

Amid job losses, workers and small businesses can seek gov't help

Ashley A.J. Jewell, the former fiancé of a cast member from The Real Housewives of Atlanta died after a fight late Friday outside an Atlanta strip club, police said, according to the Associated Press.

The Group of Seven rich nations urged China on Saturday to strengthen the yuan, but gave no sign of how it might overcome Chinese resistance to that suggestion or resolve other tensions over global currency rates.

Private equity firm Bridgepoint is eyeing a dual track process for pet food retailer Pets at Home, sources said, exploring the options of a listing and an outright sale in tandem.

Education Management Corp rose 20.9 percent in its first day of trading on the Nasdaq on Friday, above average for a U.S. initial public offering this year.

Mexican construction company ICA and partner Goldman Sachs placed a package of toll highways on the stock market on Friday, the first use of a new investment vehicle meant to boost financing for infrastructure projects.

A group of investors including Starwood Capital Group and private equity firm TPG are the likely winner of the auction for assets of failed Corus Bank, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday.

Israeli holding company IDB Holding Corp said on Saturday it was close to signing a deal to acquire from HSBC the bank's headquarters in Manhattan for $330 million.

International real estate firm Hines plans to set up a $1 billion distressed asset fund focusing on the United Arab Emirates, a company official was quoted on Saturday as saying.

Cities and municipalities are having trouble spending the money allotted by the controversial Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which was passed by Congress last year to acquire houses in blighted neighborhoods.

Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke made a case to Congress on Thursday that the Fed needed additional powers to oversee banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, and others. He also admitted that the Fed hasn’t done a good job protecting consumers but said improvements are being made.

The United Nations scientist whose report set the global standard for climate change sees biofuels as a good investment bet and advised on Friday that people eat less meat to help curb global warming.

Three U.S. banks failed on Friday, bringing the total to 98 this year, as regulators continue to shutter financial institutions that are overwhelmed by bad loans and liquidity problems.