EUROPEAN UNION

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.

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.