IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday expanded financial sanctions against North Korea amid signs that the isolated nation is hoping for an early resumption of stalled nuclear talks.

The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit has been asked to submit a report within the next three days on an investigation into alleged corruption within the Pakistan team.

U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp unveiled a deal on Monday to buy German chipmaker Infineon Technologies AG's wireless unit for $1.4 billion (905 million pounds), as it claws its way into the booming smartphone market and cuts its reliance on personal computers.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi met Muammar Gaddafi on Monday looking to reinforce business ties, after the Libyan leader aroused a media storm by suggesting to a group of young women they convert to Islam.

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will give India access to secure data from Sept 1, a government source said on Monday, as the country looked to push RIM, Google and Skype to set up servers in India amid security concerns.

U.S. consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

France will not stop its policy of repatriating Roma after almost 1,000 people were sent back to Romania and Bulgaria since a government crackdown on crime and immigration at the end of July, ministers said Monday.

Hewlett-Packard Co said on Monday its board approved the buyback of an additional $10 billion of shares to boost investor confidence as it finds itself involved in a bidding war for high-end data storage company 3PAR Inc .

U.S. biotech group Genzyme rejected an $18.5 billion (11.9 billion pound) takeover proposal by French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis on Monday, setting up what could be a protracted battle.

Stocks fell in the year's lightest volume on Monday as worries about the pace of economic recovery overshadowed data showing a rise in consumer spending and income.

BHP Billiton , denied on Monday that it would divest some of Potash Corp's assets if its $38.6 billion (24.9 billion pound) hostile bid for the world's largest fertiliser producer proved successful.

U.S. stocks fell in the year's lightest volume on Monday as worries about the pace of economic recovery overshadowed data showing a rise in consumer spending and income.

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will give India access to secure data from Sept 1, a government source said on Monday, as the country looked to push RIM, Google and Skype to set up servers in India amid security concerns.

Consumer spending rose in July at the strongest pace in four months, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope that consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

A gunman shot dead six members of a Roma family and another woman in the Slovak capital Bratislava on Monday before killing himself, government officials said.

U.S. biotech group Genzyme rejected an $18.5 billion (11.9 billion pounds) takeover proposal by French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis on Monday, setting up what could be a protracted battle.

U.S. consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

A toilet that belonged to late Beatle John Lennon fetched 9,500 pounds at auction on Saturday, around 10 times its estimate, the sale organisers said.

Biopsies taken to diagnose prostate cancer commonly cause temporary erectile dysfunction and, in some cases, lingering urinary problems, according to a new study.

U.S. chipmaker Intel is to buy German chipmaker Infineon's wireless unit for $1.4 billion (905.3 million pounds) as it seeks to claw its way into the booming smartphone market, reducing its reliance on personal computers.

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will give the Indian government access to encrypted data from September 1, while the Indian home ministry wants BlackBerry, Google and Skype to set up servers in India, a government source familiar with the matter said Monday.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Europe Monday to throw its weight behind U.S.-led efforts to secure a peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that it was in the country's interest to reach loan agreements with the IMF if necessary -- but not to have the Fund shaping its economic policy.

Consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

U.S. consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest recovery.

Stocks fell on Monday as a statement from President Barack Obama fell short of addressing worries the recovery is faltering, while investors looked ahead with caution to important economic data coming this week.

Japanese powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa may withdraw his challenge to Prime Minister Naoto Kan in a party leadership race, Jiji news agency said on Monday, as Kan's predecessor sought to avert a clash that could split the party.

Consumer spending rose at the strongest pace in four months in July, supported by a small gain in incomes that offered hope consumers will be able to keep contributing to a modest economic recovery.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn will take his central banking expertise to the Brookings Institution after he retires this week from four decades at the Fed, Brookings announced on Monday.