081112-Europe Agrees On Stimulus

Europe Agrees On Stimulus

European leaders agree an economic recovery package to revive Europe's flagging economies.

Meeting in Brussels, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was "ambitious stimulus package" that would provide "a good platform to build on."

The global car industry has been one of the worst hit since the credit crisis began.

Manus Cranny from MF Global says we may see a much smaller car industry in 2009.

SOUNDBITE: Manus Cranny, MF Global Spreads, saying (English):

"I think there's root and branch change going to come in 2009 which is going to be a good thing in terms of efficiencies and actually facing up to some of the harsh realities in terms of what the consumers, and indeed the consumer market can actually bear next year. It may be we end up with a much diminished or reduced global car industry and there are some very substantial employment and deceleratory effects that will come with that."

Japan's Prime Minister Tara Aso, announced a stimulus package today, worth 251 billion dollars.

He said the U.S. financial crisis is starting to affect the Japanese real economic at a much faster rate than expected.

In the U.S, the senate failed to agree a 14 billion dollar bailout for Detroit's big three car makers.

The problem was getting Republican Senators to back the plan.

This sent the Yen to a 13-year high against the U.S. dollar and Asian stock markets tumbled.

The failure of any of America's big three carmakers would threaten countless jobs and send shock waves around the world.

SOUNDBITE: Manus Cranny, MF Global Spreads, saying (English):

"I personally don't see a situation where GM, Ford and Chrysler will be allowed to all fail all at the same time. I think there's been such a substantial bailout of Wall Street that the political, the social and economic political fallout, one million jobs and many many more attached to it. I cannot see that the Americans will allow these car companies to go to the wall."

The question now is which industry is next to need taxpayers money - and can they survive without it?

Hayley Platt Reuters

081112-Hamilton Combats Drunk Driving

Hamilton Combats Drunk Driving

Lewis Hamilton is the Formula One world champion.

But for at least one day, he could be found behind the wheel of one of London's iconic black cabs to back an anti-drunk driving campaign.

Hamilton along with double world champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland drove cabs across Tower Bridge towards City Hall to hail public transport drivers who get people home safely as "the real champions."

Hamilton, who is the youngest driver to win the world title, says he wants to enjoy life a bit more that he did this year.

SOUNDBITE: Lewis Hamilton is the Formula One world champion, saying (English):

"There was so much pressure on me this year, that I didn't go out, I didn't socialize, I've stayed at the hotel every night at the race weekends. So I, people say you get to travel to all this countries but I never really get to see anything because I'm in my hotel room the whole time. So I want to enjoy it more."

Now that he has a taste of the street life in London, a new kind of race may be on.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.

081111- Five Star Canine Comfort

Five Star Canine Comfort

This is Munich's newest luxury hotel.

But if you haven't got paws and a waggy tail, don't even think about trying to book a room here - as it's strictly for dogs.

The Canis Resort, opening soon in the southern German city, says it is the world's first five star canine getaway.

Dog-lover Sabine Gerteis helped set up the hotel - she says they want to offer four-legged friends a little bit of luxury.

SOUNDBITE: Sabine Gerteis, Canis Resort manager, saying (German):

"The dog can decide for itself if it wants to lie indoors, or be outside and it can also relax. If it wants to be stroked, there's a dog sitter there. We have a big meadow where the dogs can run around and play, and they are looked after individually by our dog sitters."

These so-called dog lodges can each hold up to five pooches and have an outdoor space with a lawn.

20 dog sitters will be on hand to look after a maximum of 40 guests.

Gerteis thinks the hotel is perfect for people who travel a lot, and want their pets to have a little holiday too.

SOUNDBITE: Sabine Gerteis, Canis Resort manager, saying (German):

"Our check-in is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's useful for business travellers, as we are nine kilometres away from Munich airport."

The dogs can relax during the day while their owners are busy, before being transported to the airport to meet them in the arrivals hall.

Or they can book in for an overnight stay, which costs 80 euros - or just over a hundred U.S. dollars.

While some humans may balk at paying so much for a room for their dog - Canis Resort's managers have big expansion plans - with a second dog hotel planned in Munich, and later on in Stuttgart and Zurich.

Joanna Partridge, Reuters

081109-Greek PM On Riots

Greek PM On Riots

Stepping into the limelight, and facing a political crisis in the aftermath of three days of rioting and unrest across Greece, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sounded a tough line on dealing with the rioters:

(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS KARAMANLIS SAYING:

"I have updated the president on the situation of the last days after the unfair loss of the student. No mercy will be taken in the placing of responsibility, no one has the right to use this incident as an excuse for acts of violence against innocent citizens, against their property, against all society and against democracy. In these crucial hours all political parties are obliged to condemn the perpetrators of this violence, this is our democratic duty, this is what citizens want and it is what our national obligation dictates."

The riots have left an ugly mess on the streets of Greek cities which reflects the mood of the nation, if its newspapers are to be believed.

Karamanlis has the narrowest of majorities in the Greek parliament, and the riots are partly a reflection of popular disenchantment of his economic reform programme.

Greece is starting to feel the effects of the economic slowdown - some analysts say the current unrest could topple the fragile conservative government.

Benet Allen, Reuters

limelight - a focus of public attention; "he enjoyed being in the limelight"
aftermath - effects of, a period of time following a disastrous event: in the aftermath of war.
tough strong and difficult to break, cut, or tear: this fabric is tough and water-resistant
unrest - a feeling of restless agitation
topple - fall down, as if collapsing