Oil chiefs summoned to Senate
Top executives at some of the biggest oil companies in the US have been summoned to Washington to answer increasingly hostile complaints from lawmakers that the energy industry is enjoying record profits at the expense of American consumers. Nov 2 2005 | Read

• In depth: Oil
• Republicans urge oil companies to act on prices
• Baghdad to start lifting subsidies on petrol

G8 seeks to heal climate change rift
Environment ministers from the Group of Eight industrialised nations met in London to discuss action to tackle climate change ahead of crucial negotiations on the future of the Kyoto protocol. Nov 1 2005 | Read

• FT Briefing: Cutting greenhouse gases
• The bottom line on carbon dioxide
• US unveils alternative plan to Kyoto treaty

Action urged to curb panic over avian flu Growing panic over bird flu is causing “unnecessary economic damage” and countries should take steps to reduce public anxiety about a pandemic, a high-level conference was told. Nov 1 2005 | Read Report warns on threat of illegal fishing fleets Illegal fishing fleets are plundering the seas and endangering depleted fish stocks by taking advantage of international rules by which they can adopt “flags of convenience” from other countries to provide a cover for their activities. Nov 1 2005 | Read		Guy de Jonquières Doha failure harms Asia most More than any other part of the world, east Asia needs the multilateral trade system and the rules and disciplines that underpin it. Oct 31 2005 | Read

UN piles pressure on Syria over Hariri
UN Security Council foreign ministers unanimously agreed to measures that threaten the heart of the Syrian regime, demanding it detain any individuals suspected of plotting the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Nov 1 2005 | Read

Canada finds flu in ducks, H5N1 strain unlikely
Canada has discovered a strain of H5 avian flu in 33 wild migratory ducks but it is unlikely to be the killer H5N1 strain which has spread from Southeast Asia to Europe, a top health official said. Oct 31 2005 | Read

Finland stomachs nuclear growth
When Finns switch on the bulk of their 1.5m saunas for the Saturday evening ritual, power demand surges in the country of 5.2m people. Oct 31 2005 | Read

EU farm offer helps keep Doha talks moving
The EU’s improved offer to allow more farm imports has met with scepticism and disappointment from the EU’s main trading partners, but it has helped shift the stalled Doha talks. Oct 31 2005 | Read

UN warns of poverty as world’s lakes evaporate
Lakes around the world are shrinking and becoming less productive because of climate change, pollution, poor irrigation practices and neglect, the United Nations warned. Oct 31 2005 | Read

UN to put more pressure on Syria over Hariri death
Foreign ministers will meet in New York for a highly charged meeting of the United Nations Security Council, increasing international pressure over Syria’s alleged involvement in the murder of Rafiq Hariri, former Lebanese prime minister. Oct 30 2005 | Read

More International economy stories WHO considers centralised flu vaccine orders  Oct 30 2005 17:59 Social audits 'are failing to detect factory abuses'  Nov 2 2005 02:00 Business activity up in US Midwest  Nov 1 2005 02:00 Canada's economy grows 0.5%  Nov 1 2005 02:00 British consumer confidence wanes  Nov 1 2005 02:00 Eurozone inflation dips to 2.5%  Oct 29 2005 02:00 Unemployment in France drops  Oct 29 2005 02:00 US economy sees 3.8% growth  Oct 29 2005 02:00 European sentiment improves  Oct 29 2005 02:00 Mandelson takes on Chirac with gamble  Oct 29 2005 02:00