
A.P. Moller-Maersk, one of the world's biggest shipping firms, said on Thursday it was re-routing some of its huge merchant fleet to avoid the Gulf of Aden because of piracy.
It will take the efforts of China and other emerging nations to lead the global economy out of what is likely to be a long and painful recession, according to a gathering of economic experts.
President George W. Bush has been briefed about increasing attacks by Somali pirates off east Africa, and the United States is consulting with other U.N. Security Council members on ways to combat the threat, the White House said Wednesday.