UN to urge revamp of Afghan aid

Spanish house sales drop sharply
Spanish house sales fall steeply, as fears rise that the crumbling property market could soon tip the country into recession.

US shares slide on bail-out fears
US shares close sharply lower as uncertainty about the massive US financial bail-out plan grips the markets.

Alitalia airline cancels flights
Alitalia cancels a number of flights from Rome's Fiumicino airport, increasing fears that it may soon go into liquidation.

Oil prices reach seven-month low
Oil prices fall sharply on fears that the renewed woes in the US banking sector will hit the wider global economy.

Fears for package holiday firm XL
Package holiday firm XL files for administration after experiencing financial difficulties, industry reports say.