Amsterdam - The share value of Dutch insurer Aegon dropped sharply on Tuesday to 2.92 euros (3.63 dollars), down 13.73 per cent, just before closing time.

Frankfurt - German airline Lufthansa AG joined on Tuesday the growing list of European companies issuing profit warnings after high fuel costs hit the group's earnings.

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Tuesday for early reforms of world financial markets as she met with a panel of German experts who have been appointed to draw up proposals.

Tokyo  - Britain's Prince Charles on Tuesday called for concerted efforts to build a low-carbon society to combat global warming while on a visit to Japan.

"We must not abandon the drive towards a low-carbon economy," the prince of Wales said in a speech marking the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations between Japan and Britain.

He arrived in Tokyo late Monday with his wife, Camilla, for a five-day visit.

The prince called climate change "the biggest challenge our planet has ever seen."

He said that even as the world now faces a financial crisis, it should not divert attention and efforts from protecting the earth.