New York - The world is witnessing a nuclear power renaissance at a time when demands for fossil fuel-based energy and its prices have increased, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Monday.

But the expected increase in civilian nuclear power plants is accompanied by the risk of mounting nuclear material being converted into weapons, IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei told the UN General Assembly, which met to discuss the work of the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog.

"Nuclear power is undergoing something of a renaissance," ElBaradei said, comparing the situation to 10 years ago when nuclear power had stopped growing in developed countries because of security and safety risks.

Berlin - German business confidence plunged to its lowest level in more than five years in October, a key survey released Monday said, as the world financial crisis triggered panic selling on global stock markets and fears grew about a looming recession.

The closely watched Ifo business confidence index dropped more than expected to 90.2 points this month from 92.9 points in September, adding to the prospects of the European Central Bank (ECB) cutting rates again possibly as early as next meeting on November 6.

ECB chief Jean Claude Trichet signalled Monday that the bank's rate-setting council might deliver another cut in borrowing costs at its meeting next month.

Berlin - Anti-globalization demonstrators invaded the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on Monday, chanting, waving banners and scattering leaflets inside Germany's principal financial marketplace.

"We are criticizing the dominance of financial markets," said Stephan Schilling, a member of the Attac Network coordinating circle, in Frankfurt after stock exchange guards had ushered the group outside again.

Although the world financial crisis has not yet affected the bulk of Germans, the daily gloom of the past few weeks has prompted a resurgence of interest in political protest and in leftist remedies in Germany.

London - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem Monday accused the US of "criminal and terrorist aggression" by launching a raid on civilians in which seven people, including three children, wer

Washington - Republican presidential candidate John McCain met with economic and business leaders on Monday, while Democrat Barack Obama was to address voters with remarks he dubbed his "closing argument" as the campaigns made their final pushes ahead of next week's elections.

The faltering US economy remained the key issue of the race with McCain arguing that voters can trust him to handle the crisis. Both were in Ohio, one of a select few hotly contested states that will decide the outcome of the election.

Paris  - The back-pain drama which has limited Marcos Baghdatis to just 24 ATP starts this season came back to haunt the Cypriot as he was forced to retire for the third time in four matches on Monday at the Paris Masters.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist has struggled in the 2008 season with ankle and back problems. But after completing a match last week in Basle - even a loss - his spirits were again rising.

That all ended at the Bercy arena as American Sam Querrey earned a victory 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 3-2 when Baghdatis was again frustratingly forced to retire.