WAR OF THE WEB: David Drummond, a Google senior vice president, said that the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo could undermine competition on the Internet
Yahoo Inc would consider a business alliance with Google Inc as one way to rebuff a US$44.6 billion takeover proposal by Microsoft, a source familiar with Yahoo's strategy said on Sunday.

[ FULL STORY ]

Yahoo Inc will cease operating its online music subscription service and switch its customers to RealNetworks Inc's Rhapsody music service as part of a new deal between the companies that stipulates that Yahoo promote Rhapsody on its site.

[ FULL STORY ]

The World Bank cut its economic growth forecast for China this year to 9.6 percent from 10.8 percent yesterday because of cooling global export demand and said storms battering southern China should have little long-term impact.

[ FULL STORY ]

'REAL PROBLEMS': Snowstorms in China, flooding in Australia and power shortages in South Africa have caused mines to be closed and reduced the global output of coal
Coal prices jumped to a record of more than US$100 a tonne at Australia's Newcastle port, a benchmark for Asia, as snowstorms in China, power cuts in South Africa and floods in Queensland reduced output.

[ FULL STORY ]

Platinum rose to a record in London, buoyed by mining disruptions in South Africa, the source of almost 80 percent of global supplies. Gold also advanced.

[ FULL STORY ]

JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION: Charges have been filed against trader Jerome Kerviel for forgery, breach of trust and unauthorized computer activity at work
French investigators have questioned several executives at Societe Generale as part of a probe into the futures trader that the bank has blamed for billions of euros in losses, a judicial official said on Sunday.

[ FULL STORY ]

August Busch III, an AT&T Inc board member since 1980, bought US$2.27 million of shares in the biggest US phone company last month, his largest purchase on record. Monsanto Co director William Parfet added to his holdings in the world's No. 1 seed producer for the first time in eight years.

[ FULL STORY ]