Brussels - The European Commission said Thursday that it had given the green light to a planned multibillion-euro bail-out for Germany's ailing mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate.

Washington - US legislators were hearing a changed tune on on Thursday as business and retired communities made a desperate last -minute push for final approval of a sweetened US financial rescue by the House of Representatives on Friday.

Business leaders met with US President George W Bush Friday morning at the White House, while the US Chamber of Commerce made an urgent appeal on its website for members to contact their legislators "and urge them to support this vital piece of legislation."

Riga - Estonia's economy continues to stagnate after a decade of spectacular growth, according to official figures released Thursday.

In August 2008, industrial production decreased by 3 per cent year-on-year Statistics Estonia said.

Manufacturing production fell by 2 per cent owing to dwindling orders in domestic and external markets driven by a sharp drop in consumer demand as the effects of the global "credit crunch" make themselves felt.

One of the most telling figures was a 20 per cent reduction in beer production, while Statistics Estonia also noted that wood manufacturing, which is an important industry and major employer in Estonia "is endangered by a serious shortage of materials."

With seemingly softened Republican opposition, the $700 billion ‘sweetened’ bailout found a second life on Wednesday - winning lopsided passage in the Senate and gaining ground in the House.

In a rare case of consensus between Senate Democrats and Republicans, the economic bailout bill - loaded with more than $100 billion in tax breaks and other aid – was passed by a wide margin, 74-25, and sent back to the House for a second chance on Friday.

Washington, Oct 2 : Americans fear that the current financial crisis has far-reaching effects for the nation as a whole, and are split over whether the current bailout plan is the answer.

Meanwhile, the approval ratings for both President George W. Bush and Congress have plummeted to historic lows, according to a new CBS News poll.

Americans overwhelmingly see the financial crisis as hurting everyone, with 92 percent saying it hurts the nation as a whole. Just 39 percent, however, say the bailout would help everyone, while more than half of those surveyed think it would help only Wall Street.

London - The British government has expressed its concern to Ireland over its decision to offer blanket guarantees on savings held by the six leading banks in the Irish Republic.

Reports Thursday said that Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, had spoken twice on the telephone with Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, amid fears that the move was causing an exodus of funds from Britain.