FLYING START: The new agreement's main innovation is that it will allow any EU carrier to fly from anywhere in the bloc to any point in the US, and then onto a third country
Passengers flying between Europe and the US should get more choice and cheaper tickets if all goes as officials plan under a new EU-US aviation pact taking effect yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

US President George W. Bush said the government will expand efforts to help homeowners avoid foreclosure as Democrats increase pressure on his administration to reduce unaffordable home-loan payments.

[ FULL STORY ]

CHEESE KICKS UP STINK: A health scare about dioxin-tainted mozzarella is costing producers US$780 million a day according to estimates by an Italian farmers group
Italy ordered checks on hundreds of mozzarella factories as part of safety measures following the detection of dioxin-tainted products, authorities said on Saturday.

[ FULL STORY ]

BHP Billiton Ltd is considering partnering with Chinese miners to seek and invest in mineral ore mines overseas to meet increasing demand for raw materials.

[ FULL STORY ]

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it plans to sue Marubeni Corp, Japan's fifth-biggest trading company, to recover "fraudulently misappropriated" funds that newspaper reports say may amount to more than US$250 million.

[ FULL STORY ]

New Zealand's prime minister said yesterday she would sign a groundbreaking free trade agreement with China on April 7 at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

[ FULL STORY ]

Countrywide Financial Corp's chief executive and president will receive a combined US$19 million in stock next week as part of the company's pending takeover by Bank of America Corp, according to a regulatory filing.

[ FULL STORY ]