Base lockdown causes ‘frantic’ scenes

Residents and personnel at Fort Hood turned to cell phones, clogging up lines as everyone sought information from one another as news of the shooting spread

• Shooting leaves 13 dead at US army base
• Video: Fort Hood attack

Impulse buying gives way to US frugality

Tights, sunglasses and boneless chickens have joined the list of casualties of America’s economic crisis, as the era of impulse shopping gives way to more wary behaviour in the nation’s grocery aisles.

Battle looms over UN funding

The UK Foreign Office leads the charge in a looming battle over the rising cost of funding the UN. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has asked for $4.9bn to finance the organisation’s regular budget over the next two years

Outside Edge: When presidential siblings go rogue

None of America’s 44 presidents has been an only child; and many siblings have proved thorns in the flesh, writes Jurek Martin

Consumers face tiny cuts as companies pare costs

Residents across Houston, and the US as a whole, have noticed little cutbacks apparently aimed at easing companies through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression

Lovells in merger talks to create legal firm

City law firm is proposing a merger with Washington-based Hogan & Hartson that would be aimed at creating a rare successful big transatlantic legal tie-up with a strong litigation focus

Crisis reveals worry about retirement funds

American savers watched in horror this year and last as the balances on their retirement accounts evaporated with the meltdown in the financial markets.

Proposal aims to curb raids on 401(k)s

US lawmakers were set to propose a new law on Wednesday that would discourage people from raiding their retirement savings early to see them through tough financial times or to splash out on expensive items.