EUROPEAN UNION

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.

The European Union's economic sanctions on Iran became fully effective on Sunday, but the Islamic Republic's deputy oil minister claimed the country will have no difficulty finding replacements for recent EU purchasers of its crude.

Asian markets are expected to begin the week on the upswing gains after leaders of the European Union agreed on action to stem the region's debt crisis.

The United States gave China and Singapore exemptions from new sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and oil industry, which took effect on Thursday.

European leaders established Friday a set of measures to address the euro zone debt crisis, including an agreement to allow some rescue funds to be sent directly to struggling banks instead of adding to the public debt of reeling economies.

Fushi Copperweld, Bank of America, Banco Santander, Caterpillar, Citigroup, Research In Motion, Nike and Infosys Ltd are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Friday.

Asian stock markets rallied Friday as sentiment was buoyed after leaders at the European Union summit in Brussels agreed on important plans to tackle the region's debt crisis.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Friday as euro zone leaders at a Brussels summit agreed upon emergency measures to lower Italy's and Spain's borrowing costs and create a single regulatory oversight body for euro zone banks.

European markets rose Friday following encouraging announcements at the European Union summit in Brussels, where EU leaders are tackling the debt crisis threatening the financial union.

Crude oil futures rallied during Asian trading hours Friday after European Union leaders agreed on support for Spain and Italy.

Most Asian markets rose Friday as investors remained hopeful that policymakers would reach an agreement on bold steps to save the euro zone at the EU summit.

Following an extended game of chicken, the Obama administration granted China and Singapore an exception to the Iranian oil sanctions, senior White House officials said Thursday.

National stereotypes and the European debt crisis entwine as Italy and Germany meet Thursday for the European Cup semifinal.

U.S. stock index futures declined Thursday morning, pointing to a lower opening on Wall Street ahead of a decisive European Union summit in Brussels, where EU leaders will meet to tackle the euro zone debt crisis head on. The summit will take place June 28-29.