Users of the voice technology can ask any question, ranging from ?Where?s the nearest Starbucks?? to ?How tall is Mount Everest??

New figures are set to show the eurozone is in recession, as world leaders gather in the US for a crucial economic summit.

The company set up to manage government stakes in three High Street banks will not interfere in their day-to-day running.

Reuters - Asian shares rose on Friday as this week's sharp losses were seen as excessive, but a rally in oil fizzled and the yen edged up as signals flashed 'danger' for the global economy before the G20 meeting this weekend.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc is cutting at least 10,000 jobs in its investment bank and other divisions throughout the world, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Reuters - Belgian-French financial services group Dexia agreed on the sale of its troubled U.S. bond insurance subsidiary and launched a cost-saving drive after reporting a heavy third-quarter loss.

Royal Bank of Scotland will cut around 3,000 jobs worldwide over the next several weeks.

The Salvation Army is experimenting with a plastic alternative for people who do not have cash to throw in a holiday red kettle.

The eurozone officially slips into recession after new figures show that the economy contracted 0.2% in the third quarter.

Leaders of the G20 developed and emerging economies will begin talks over the weekend in Washington.

Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet are planning a joint bid for Gatwick airport, which has been put up for sale by its owner BAA.

The closure of one suspect web host has reduced the levels of global junk mail by 70%, an anti-spam firm says.

The pound's dismal run continues as fears about the health of the UK economy persist.

Europe's largest economy enters recession as falls in exports and slowing demand for goods take their toll.

Reuters - Shares in Asia and Europe followed Wall Street higher on Friday as steep falls earlier this week attracted bargain hunters, while intensifying concerns about the UK economy knocked sterling to fresh 13-year lows.

The economy of the euro zone slipped into recession during the third quarter, the European Unions?s statistics agency confirmed.

European aerospace group EADS says it returned to profit in the third quarter thanks to cost-cutting measures and fewer delays in aircraft programs.

European and Asian shares spring to life on hopes that a global economic summit in Washington will make some progress in tackling the worst financial crisis in a century.

New car sales in Europe fall 14.5% in October for the sixth month in a row, say Europe's carmakers.

Figures show a surprise increase in spending on plastic cards in the UK in September, despite a smaller rise in borrowing.

Reuters - Three big European credit insurers have removed cover from suppliers of troubled U.S. carmakers General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

Retail sales fell 2.8 percent last month, led by a huge drop in auto purchases, as the financial turmoil and the slumping economy caused consumers to sharply cut back.

The mortgage finance giant, now under government conservatorship, recorded the loss as it wrote down a tax-related asset that had buoyed its capital and the housing slump worsened.

European and Asian markets spiked Friday as investors bought up heavily sold-off stocks ahead of key economic data later.

U.S. markets swung wildly on Thursday, flirting with new lows before rebounding, with the Dow closing up 552 points.

The announced cuts amount to 15 percent to 18 percent of the work force at Sun Microsystems, which is reeling from a severe decline in sales and a plummeting share price.

Users of the voice technology can ask any question, ranging from ?Where?s the nearest Starbucks?? to ?How tall is Mount Everest??

US retail sales fell sharply last month, recording the biggest monthly decline since 1992, as hard-up consumers avoided the shops.

More doubts have been raised about chances of a US car industry rescue plan being approved by Congress soon.

Severe disruptions to Air France flights are expected after pilots begin a four-day strike against legal changes to the retirement age.

Administrators of the European arm of failed bank Lehman Brothers are meeting in London with creditors, who want to hear if they will get their money back.

Hong Kong's economy falls into recession for the first time in five years amid a global economic slowdown.

Reuters - Stocks fell at the open on Friday on more gloomy news pointing to a deepening global economic downturn, a day after Wall Street had its biggest surge in two weeks.

Sun Microsystems has started a restructuring that could see up to 6,000 employees lose their jobs as it joins a growing list of technology companies reeling from the crisis.

A day after closing more than 5 percent higher in an afternoon buying frenzy, shares were down almost 3 percent Friday at the major exchanges.

The mortgage finance giant, now under government conservatorship, recorded the loss as it wrote down a tax-related asset that had buoyed its capital and the housing slump worsened.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown urges leaders of the G20 summit in Washington to resist calls for protectionism.

US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke says that the world's central banks are ready to take further action to ease credit market

Reuters - Stocks dropped on Friday as data showing a record drop in retailers' sales last month deepened worries about an economic downturn and prompted investors to book profits from Thursday's large gains.

Reuters - The Treasury Department is 'aggressively' looking at ways to reduce skyrocketing home foreclosures under a $700 billion financial rescue program that so far has aimed at shoring up banks, the official in charge of the program said on Friday.

AP - Car maker Adam Opel GmbH, a unit of General Motors Corp., said Friday it will seek loan guarantees from German authorities as the financial crisis grips the European auto industry.

Sun Microsystems has started a restructuring that could see up to 6,000 employees lose their jobs as it joins a growing list of technology companies reeling from the crisis.

Computer hardware maker Sun Microsystems is to cut up to 6,000 jobs in a bid to reduce costs.

Leading US shares fall on Friday as renewed worries about the economic outlook lead to profit-taking.

HBOS says that it could face nationalisation if its proposed takeover by Lloyds TSB is not approved by shareholders.

Some creditors of the European arm of failed bank Lehman Brothers will likely lose their money, the bank's administrators say.

Seoul-based airline Korean Air posts a second quarterly loss, hit by the weakness in the South Korean currency and high fuel costs.

Reuters - Stocks slid on Friday after a record slump in retailers' sales last month heightened concerns about a protracted economic downturn and an ailing consumer appetite.

Reuters - World leaders vowed to work together to overhaul the financial system as they headed to Washington on Friday for a summit on wresting the global economy from recession and avoiding future meltdowns.

Shares climbed back after being down almost 4 percent in the face of lower corporate earnings and a record decline in retail sales.

Ben S. Bernanke told a conference that ?policy makers will remain in close contact, monitor developments closely and stand ready to take additional steps should conditions warrant.?

Reuters - The Dow and the S&P 500 turned positive on Friday, as gains in the energy sector overshadowed a record drop in retail sales last month.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc is expected to soon announce job cuts amounting to about 10 percent of the company's workforce, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Friday recapitalizing banks is the most effective use of a $700 billion financial bailout war chest but acknowledged the United States' reputation has been tarnished as a result of the financial crisis that has spread worldwide.

AP - Grim seemed an understatement for the retail sector on Friday, as J.C. Penney Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. both posted quarterly profits that fell by about half, and gave outlooks for the rest of the year that were far below Wall street expectations.

After creeping into positive territory in late trading, markets did a U-turn and slid back to close down 4 percent.

Breaking with the Bush administration?s position, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation proposed to use $24 billion in government financing to help 1.5 million households avoid foreclosure.

A sort of low-grade fear has set in among policyholders at insurance companies of all sorts.

Stella Artois brewer Inbev gets approval from regulators to take over Budweiser maker Anheuser Busch in a $52bn deal.l

More doubts have been raised about chances of a US car industry rescue plan being approved by Congress soon.

The remaining UK staff at the failed investment bank Lehman Brothers are to receive their annual bonuses despite the firm being in administration.

Reuters - Fidelity Investments, the world's biggest mutual fund company, told employees on Friday it will cut a further 1,700 jobs on top of 1,300 already announced.

Reuters - The White House on Friday said it stood ready to accelerate loans to the troubled auto industry, but that congressional Democrats were headed for 'partisan gridlock' by proposing to use funds from a $700 billion financial rescue package.

AP - The worst monthly drop on record for retail sales set off new alarm bells about the economy Friday, stepping up pressure on policymakers to figure out how to combat what increasingly looks to be a severe recession.

Sun Microsystems has started a restructuring that could see up to 6,000 employees lose their jobs as it joins a growing list of technology companies reeling from the crisis.

A sort of low-grade fear has set in among insurance policyholders. How can you protect yourself?

The economy of the euro zone slipped into recession during the third quarter, the European Union?s statistics agency confirmed.

Ben S. Bernanke told a conference that ?policy makers will remain in close contact, monitor developments closely and stand ready to take additional steps should conditions warrant.?

The freeze in credit markets and a collapse of the city?s real estate market have made the financing of the Winter Games a critical issue.

Retailers are creating alternatives to the infuriating packages that make products almost impossible to open.

Congress has an endless capacity to disappoint, but then there is a week like this one, a week that?s almost enough to restore your faith.

World leaders arrive in Washington to discuss measures to contain the recent financial turmoil as the G20 summit begins.

A severe downturn is unavoidable and the recession will be painful and prolonged, the British Chambers of Commerce warns.

Energy suppliers are being accused of making some of their biggest profits from their poorest customers.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc plans to shed about 10 percent of its global workforce, a person familiar with the matter said Friday, as the bank tries to return to profitability and faces mounting criticism of Chief Executive Vikram Pandit.

Reuters - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Friday said Bush's proposal to drop a requirement for U.S. automakers to use an existing $25 billion in aid on energy efficiency is 'unacceptable'.

Many workers are finding that the buffet of options in their medical plans has been trimmed to a very short menu.

The White House accused Democrats of gridlock by also insisting on tapping into the financial industry bailout fund to help the auto makers.

The mortgage finance giant, now under government conservatorship, recorded the loss as it wrote down a tax-related asset that had buoyed its capital and the housing slump worsened.

The freeze in credit markets and a collapse of the city?s real estate market have made the financing of the Winter Games a critical issue.

The fallout from the financial crisis is striking nonprofit groups and charities fast and hard.

Santanu K. Baruah, acting administrator for the Small Business Administration, discusses the changes the agency is making to help small companies weather the economic downturn.

Neil M. Barofsky, an assistant U.S. attorney in Manhattan, was named to be special inspector general for the Treasury?s Troubled Assets Relief Program.

A survey of the losses suffered by 175 chief executives of U.S. companies shows that they lost $52.3 billion through Oct. 27.

The world?s largest cellphone maker cited pressure from the economic crisis and currency volatility.

Retailers are creating alternatives to the infuriating plastic ?clamshell? packages that are hard to open.

A vintner of the year leads a novice, Harry Hurt III, in making a custom wine.

At a House hearing, Barney Frank used a witness to send a strong message to the securitization industry.

World leaders arrive in Washington to discuss measures to contain the recent financial turmoil as the G20 summit begins.

Reuters - Bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has filed court papers seeking approval to communicate with its European operations for help unwinding billions of dollars in assets that 'sit unmanaged' and at risk of losing significant value.

In the span of just a few weeks, orders for technology products have collapsed and companies have begun laying off workers.

Automakers are offering cash rebates and dealers steep discounts to try to make room on lots for new models.

The canned meat product has become the emblematic food for hard times as consumers look for ways to stretch their grocery budgets.

With the global economy slipping into its most serious downturn in decades, the Group of 20 is said to seem likely to agree on a few modest measures.

Lehman?s administrators explained to about 1,000 creditors that dismantling the bank?s European business would take ?many years.?

The economic crisis made its first obvious mark on American professional sports Friday when a major cycling event and Nascar announced substantial changes because of financial woes.

Retailers are creating alternatives to infuriating plastic ?clamshell? packages and cruelly complex twist ties.

Two rounds of job cuts represent 3,000 employees, or about 7 percent of the company?s 44,400-member work force.

Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch fell the most in eight years after the teen-apparel retailer cut its profit forecast as shoppers held off on buying upscale jeans.

Boeing reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its white-collar engineers, but was forced to delay the latest cargo version of its 747 jumbo.

The company said mall traffic has been weak so far this month and issued a fourth-quarter forecast that was well below analysts? expectations.

Belgium?s InBev cleared the last hurdle to buying Anheuser-Busch, creating the world?s largest brewer.