EUROPEAN UNION

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti told reporters Tuesday that Italy won't need a Greek-style bailout, but said the country may need to tap into the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Europe's all-purpose bailout bucket, asking the fund to subsidize sovereign borrowing by buying Italian government bonds.

Ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond, who will still receive his salary and benefits worth in excess of £2 million, had given up the bonus payment voluntarily according to Barclays executive chairman Marcus Agius.

Amid the mixed global cues, Indian markets opened on a positive note Tuesday morning.

Asian shares crawled higher on Tuesday after sharp losses the day before but gains were limited as investors, worried about a global economic deceleration, waited for Chinese trade data due later in the day that could set the tone for risk appetite.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Sunday the return of sovereign bond yields to dangerous levels last seen before the European Union summit in June is a concern and needs to be addressed by euro zone finance ministers.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras requested on Friday that European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) creditors extend a ?237 billion bailout package for a grace period of two years to help the country survive its fifth year of recession.

Romanian President Traian Basescu has been suspended from his post for 30 days. A public referendum -- likely to take place within 30 days -- will decide whether he is removed from office.

Kenyan had signed a deal in June to purchase about 4 million tons of oil from the Iranian National Oil Company.

The European Central Bank, in a widely anticipated move aimed at limiting the number of euro zone nations falling into recession, on Thursday cut its main interest rate to a historic low of 0.75 percent and cut its overnight deposit and lending rates by 0.25 percentage points each, to 0 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

India is purchasing oil from Iran using euros to overcome the problems faced in making transactions in the rupee due to its limitations of direct conversion into foreign currencies abroad.

Oil prices remained near $87 a barrel during Asian trading hours Thursday as investors were awaiting the key monetary decisions from the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England.

Asian markets fell Thursday with the revival of investor concerns about the euro zone?s debt crisis intensifying and the economic downturn deepening.

Wednesday's protests against a Russian language bill belie a central conflict: Should Ukraine prioritize Russia or the West in diplomatic alliances going forward?

On Wednesday, Iran threatened to destroy U.S. military bases immediately following any attack on its own territory.

The European Parliament rejected Wednesday the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA, an international treaty that aims to standardize intellectual property and copyright enforcement efforts digitally and physically across signatory countries.

Asian stock markets mostly advanced Wednesday on hopes that major central banks around the world would act to tackle the deteriorating global economic conditions.

The U.N. drugs watchdog chief voiced dismay and serious concern in talks with an Iranian envoy Tuesday over claims by the Islamic Republic's vice president that Jews were behind global narcotics trafficking.

U.S. stock markets started the second half of this year with an encouraging uptick before turning down in midday.

Cameron has said he might be willing to consider a referendum on Britain?s EU membership but advised ?patience? on the subject.

''Britain's destiny is not a debating issue for leaders on the continent,? Fox said

Crude oil futures declined during Asian trading hours Monday after reporting their biggest one-day price surge in three years in the previous session as a breakthrough in the European Union summit in Brussels boosted sentiment.