Stocks plummeted across the world on Monday amid fears of a global recession, with markets in Europe suffering their biggest one-day losses since the September 11 attacks on the United States. Dealers said a major new plan by President George Bush to prevent a United States recession was not enough to offset the stream of bad news from banks.
Tony Blair's hopes of becoming Europe's first president are running into mounting opposition across the European Union, with Germany determined to stymie the former prime minister. "There was surprise in Berlin when Blair's name came up so soon," said a European ambassador.
