From an Antarctic research base and the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Empire State Building in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago, illuminated patches of the globe went dark for Earth Hour, a campaign to highlight the threat of climate change.

AN underground electric transformer exploded yesterday, sparking a fire that forced authorities to close streets and evacuate several buildings - including the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC.

An underground electric transformer exploded today, sparking a fire that forced authorities to close streets and evacuate several buildings – including the World Bank headquarters in Washington.

Finance officials from the world’s seven richest countries sought to calm jittery financial markets today by pledging “vigorous action” to deal with problems, including soaring energy prices, that could undermine global growth.

President Bush proposed today that the World Bank and other international lending institutions dramatically increase the share of their resources provided as grants rather than loans to poor nations.