Up to 80,000 people could die in an outbreak of a drug-resistant infection because of new superbugs, a British government forecast has warned.

American Airlines and US Airways have reached a deal with the US government that lets the two form the world’s biggest airline and opens up more room at key US airports for low-cost carriers.

The US federal government and six states have taken legal action aimed at blocking a gigantic merger between American Airlines and US Airways.

AMR Corp and US Airways Group unveiled an $11bn (€8.25bn) all-stock deal that gives creditors of the bankrupt American Airlines parent control of the combined airline.

American Airlines and US Airways will merge and create the world's biggest airline after the boards of both companies approved the deal early today, sources close to the situation said.

AMERICAN Airlines and its parent company AMR Corp filed for bankruptcy yesterday after failing to win a labour deal with pilots and suffering from mounting fuel costs.

American Airlines and American Eagle’s parent companies have applied for bankruptcy protection.`

Fears of a global swine flu pandemic sent travel and airline stocks reeling today as reports of new cases mounted across the globe.

US investors sold stocks moderately lower today, ending a five-day rally as rising oil prices and disappointing results from Lowes raised concerns about a slowdown in consumer spending.

Israel’s Cabinet today approved an immediate freeze on the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars to the Palestinian Authority, in a first response to Hamas militants’ takeover of the Palestinian parliament.

Iraqi troops will take over security at Baghdad Airport, replacing the British company which stopped working today in a pay dispute with the government, a top Iraqi official said.

THE airline company seeking to open two new routes between Ireland and the US is expecting huge fourth-quarter losses and planning to lay off at least 1,100 workers.

ISEQ-listed exploration company Ovoca Resources said it has signed an agreement on the formation of a new joint venture (JV), focused on gold exploration in Ireland and Northern Ireland with MinMet and Aurum Mineral Resources (AMR).

In the US, airlines opened the second quarter of the year higher today since losing ground during the first three months of 2004.

Airline stocks have fallen in New York on today since the series of bomb attacks on commuter trains in Madrid, killing at least 173 people.

Wall Street shot higher today on better-than-expected manufacturing data, but gave up much of its gains after the Dow Jones industrials surpassed the 9,000 mark for the first time since December.

THE flight attendants union at American Airlines is calling for a new vote on a concession package aimed at keeping the airline out of bankruptcy, saying its ratification a few days ago was tainted

Wall Street pushed higher today as investors remained hopeful that the US economy would improve despite a murky corporate outlook and a disappointing jobs report.

War euphoria wore off on Wall Street today as investors realised that Operation Iraqi Freedom might not be so quick after all.

Wall Street has posted a seventh straight day of gains as investors remained hopeful the US-led war with Iraq would be quick and successful.

Share prices were higher in choppy trade as defensive buying in the pharmaceutical sector, gains among technology stocks and tobacco companies helped offset a weak retail sector after Sears issued a third-quarter profit warning, dealers said.

The US government has set a deadline of August 14 for many of the nation’s largest companies to submit sworn statements from their chief executive and chief financial officers guaranteeing the accuracy of recent financial reports, in an unprecedented move to help restore investor confidence.

Share prices were lower in early trade, after stronger than-expected inflation and labor data intensified the market's concerns that the Federal Reserve is poised to raise rates soon, dealers said.

American Airlines' parent company has posted massive losses.

The flight of Taliban forces from Afghanistan's capital gave US investors a surge of optimism and sent stocks climbing sharply.

A jetliner crash in New York today gave Wall Street a sharp reminder that more terrorist attacks are possible and prompted shaken investors to refrain from any major moves.

Investors sent technology issues higher for a second straight session today despite worries about Cisco Systems.