EUROPEAN UNION

Juppe’s stand would seem to contradict the more belligerent tone that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken with respect to the Iranians.

The comments come as more private investors signed up to a crucial debt swap deal set to make or break the country's continued use of the Euro and its membership of the EU.

Iran, which insists it seeks to develop atomic energy for purely peaceful purposes, has not set a date or locale for such talks.

A U.S. trade bill targeting Chinese imports goes against international rules and Beijing will not adjust the value of its currency to try to bridge a trade deficit that is Washington's problem to fix, China's commerce minister said on Wednesday.

The European Commission may on Wednesday tell Hungary it still has concerns over disputed laws, potentially further delaying new talks on an aid deal needed to keep the country solvent.

Asian shares fell for the third day in a row Wednesday as investors grew more risk averse, with renewed uncertainty over Greece's bailout and mounting worries about slowing global economies overshadowing support provided by ample liquidity.

Asian shares fell for a third day in a row Wednesday as investors grew more risk-averse, with renewed uncertainty over Greece's bailout and mounting worries about slowing global economies overshadowing support provided by ample liquidity.

Equities worldwide were in sell-off mode Tuesday, as nagging uncertainty about Greece, sobering news about China's economy and traders' realization that U.S. and European central banks might be finished with cash infusions all seemed to weigh on investors.

Gold fell 2 percent in heavy volume on Tuesday after breaching a key support, as renewed concerns about Greece's debt triggered economic fears, while some analysts say the metal looks oversold and poised for a rebound.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko quipped that it is better to be a dictator than gay – an apparent swipe at Germany’s openly homosexual foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle.

The matter also has great urgency given Israel’s warnings that it won't tolerate a nuclear Iran and that it may launch a pre-emptive military strike on Iranian atomic facilities.

Only 8.6 percent of Greeks polled held a favorable view of the Germans (who, not coincidentally, happen to be Athens’ largest creditor).

The much beleaguered people of Greece have apparently turned the bulk of their anger upon Germany, the most powerful economy in Europe.

The European Central Bank is likely to signal on Thursday that it has done all it intends to do to fight the euro zone crisis, putting the onus back on governments after cutting interest rates and flooding the market with cash in recent months.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has plan to cut its annual import deal with Iran by 44 percent according to the latest report.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy warned against complacency in handling the euro zone debt crisis and stressed the need for meeting budget rules and reducing deficits.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces an unexpected challenge in getting new euro-zone budget-discipline rules approved at home, after the government confirmed on Saturday the new treaty will require a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.

Moody's Investors Service on Friday cut the credit ratings of Greece, saying that the recently announced debt-exchange proposals for the country imply expected losses to investors of more than 70 percent.

The week ahead will largely be defined by two major events. First, on Friday, the February U.S. nonfarm payrolls report will be released, providing important data about the economic recovery. Second, also on Friday, euro-zone finance ministers will hold a conference call to decide whether Greece can get its second, €130 billion ($175 billion) bailout.

Despite agreeing to the new European Union fiscal stability pact, Spain has autonomously decided to defy the established deficit target. Spain will not reach the previously set deficit target of 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and instead opts for more flexibility, setting a new target of 5.8 percent of GDP.

The EU's decision was taken at a summit in Brussels late Thursday night, and launched the former pariah state on what will be a lengthy process towards full blown membership of the Union.