United States

Austrian stocks fall 3.9 per cent in aftermath of Lehman crisis

Vienna  - Shares traded on the Vienna stock exchange fell by 3.9 per cent in the first hour of trading Monday, following the news that the US investment bank Lehman Brothers was bankrupt.

Banking stocks pulling down Paris Bourse

Paris - Reacting to the collapse of US bank Lehmann Brothers, the Paris Bourse plunged by nearly 3.5 per cent shortly after opening, led downward by financial shares.

Barclays says Lehman bid would not have served shareholders

Barclays says Lehman bid would not have served shareholdersLondon - Britain's Barclays bank, which had been among potential bidders for Lehman Brothers, said Monday it ruled out a bid which would not have been in the interest of shareholders.

In a statement in London, Barclays said, "We confirm that Barclays considered a combination with Lehman Brothers and did not proceed because it was not possible to conclude a transaction in the best interests of Barclays shareholders."

Still no US visa issued for Iranian president, says spokesman

Tehran - The United States has not yet issued a visa for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend the United Nations General Assembly later this month in New York, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday.

The spokesman said it was hoped that the visa would still be issued in time.

The Fars news agency had on Saturday reported that despite a

timely application, no visas have yet been issued for the president and any of the Iranian delegation members.

Tehran accused the US last year of purposefully delaying the process to disrupt the president's travel schedule. The visas were, however, eventually issued.

‘Xena’ Sarah Palin washes away Obama’s polling lead in swing states

Sarah PalinWashington, Sep 15 : The moose-hunting Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, has sent Barack Obama’s campaign into a state of panic as support for the Democratic presidential candidate drops in the battleground states he must win to reach the White House.

Palinmania has washed away Obama’s polling leads in several swing states that he had been counting on to win.

A clutch of polls last week showed McCain ahead by five points in Missouri, four in Ohio, four in Virginia and eight in Florida. New Mexico and Nevada, two top Obama targets, recorded narrow leads for McCain.

Obama, McCain raise stakes in their rhetorical battle

New York, Sept. 15 : Barack Obama and John McCain are engaged in a rhetorical battle over who is further out of touch with ordinary Americans.

According to a FOX News report, each is attempting to cast his presidential ticket as the force for reform in Washington.

Though the candidates diverge sharply over taxes, Iraq, diplomacy, abortion and other issues, a week after the close of the GOP national convention both candidates are trying to run on an increasingly similar message, with McCain even borrowing some of Obama’s phrases to make his case.

Obama, speaking at a rally in Manchester, N. ew Hampshire on Saturday., accused McCain of being divorced from current economic troubles.

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