巴克莱银行已经供认了简单的过错，但可能会吐露一些令人吃惊的大错。2005到2009的四年时间内，该银行在支付贷款的利率上撒谎，试图操纵所谓的基准利率来增加利润或将大宗交易的损失最小化。金融机构还称，巴克莱银行轻描淡写信贷紧缩期间的贷方要支付的利率，以制造它比实际上要强大的印象。

The European Union, the United States and Japan have reinforced their legal challenge to Chinese quotas on the export of rare earth minerals, which are needed to make a wide range of high-tech products. The European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said the quotas distorted global markets, giving Chinese companies an advantage. China says the quotas are to protect the environment.

欧盟、美国和日本对中国稀土出口配额进一步加大法律压力，稀土是制造多种高科技产品的材料。欧盟贸易专员卡洛·德古赫特说，配额扭曲了国际市场，使中国的公司享有优势。中国称配额是为了保护环境。

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she has great hope that an international meeting on Saturday on the conflict in Syria could prove to be a turning point. The meeting in Geneva is due to be attended by all five permanent members of the Security Council, including Russia and China. Mrs Clinton said the talks convened by the international envoy Kofi Annan could succeed if all parties backed Mr Annan's proposals.