-- A look at economic developments and stock market activity around the world Thursday:

Reigning World Series champion Philadelphia might lose second baseman Chase Utley for the start of the 2009 Major League Baseball season due to hip surgery he will have next week.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion to the mega-popular online game, sold 2.8 million copies in its first 24 hours last week, setting what its publisher said is an all-time record for PC games.

World stocks fell sharply Thursday as recession fears gripped markets and briefly sent oil prices below $50 a barrel.

LONDON - England's Football Association hired ATP Europe chief executive Andy Anson on Thursday to lead its bid committee as it seeks to host the 2018 World Cup.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni demanded in a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday that the world stop ignoring attacks on Israel by Gaza militants.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday demanded in a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the world stop ignoring attacks on Israel by Gaza militants.

South Africa has set aside an extra $140 million to cover World Cup stadium cost overruns, the government said Thursday.