Goldman, ABN misled investors during IPO: court

ABN AMRO, Goldman Sachs and World Online misled investors during the 2000 initial public offering of the Dutch Internet provider, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

Karzai reaches out to Afghan Taliban on holiday

Afghan President Hamid Karzai reached out to the Taliban on Friday, part of a call for reconciliation that the palace says will be the main focus of his second term that began last week.

Black Friday draws strong traffic, less frenzy

U.S. consumers kicked off the holiday shopping season on Friday, with a strong turnout for early-morning bargains, though many said they were being more selective about what they buy and paring back what they spend.

Australia carbon vote delay raises poll prospect

Australia's parliament delayed a final vote on a government carbon trade plan on Friday, missing a key deadline, throwing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's climate change policy into doubt and raising the possibility of a snap election.

China says no emissions checks without foreign funds

A top Chinese climate envoy said on Friday only emissions curbs carried out under its newly announced carbon intensity targets that have international financial support will be open to outside scrutiny.

U.S. risks isolation over Honduras election: Brazil

The United States risks souring relations with much of Latin America if it recognizes upcoming elections in Honduras, the foreign policy adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in an interview on Wednesday.

China climate goal faces test of trust

Three little letters could spell big trouble for global climate change negotiations even after China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced its first firm goals to curb emissions.

China, Japan plan first joint military exercise

Japan and China agreed on Friday to conduct their first joint military training exercise, in the latest sign of warming ties between the Asian neighbors, long marked by mutual suspicion and spats over a range of issues.

European carbon prices down after temporary boost

Prices for benchmark European Union carbon emission permits fell 2 percent on Friday, as traders viewed the previous session's gains as short-lived.

Big U.S banks may be forced to raise more capital soon: analyst

Most big U.S. banks may be forced to make public offerings soon if the Treasury demands payback of the funds it issued under the Troubled Assets Relief Program, veteran banking analyst Richard Bove said.

China to put 2010 economic stress on climate change

China will step up construction of major projects related to energy conservation and environmental protection next year, the ruling Communist Party agreed on Friday.

DEALTALK-Cez, Macquarie set for defeat on German energy market

Foreign utilities and investors such as CEZ or Macquarie face another setback in the lucrative German power market, this time beaten by an eastern German city.