EUROPEAN UNION

Asian shares rallied to two-week highs Thursday, building on strong global gains after the world's six major central banks moved to tame a liquidity crunch for European banks by providing cheaper dollar funding.

The world's major central banks acted jointly on Wednesday to provide cheaper dollar funding to European banks facing a credit crunch as the euro zone's debt crisis drove EU ministers to urge more IMF help to avert financial disaster.

Following the example set by the Arab League and the U.S., Turkey on Wednesday slapped a series of economic and financial sanctions on Syria over the government's continued bloody crackdown on an eight-month uprising.

Precious metals prices jumped Wednesday, with palladium surging nearly five percent, after the world's top central banks announced a coordinated rescue of the Eurozone's rapidly deteriorating finances.

The ongoing European debt crisis is threatening the global economy and must be dealt with swiftly and decisively, Canada's finance minister Jim Flaherty said at a conference on Wednesday.

Toronto's main stock index was set to open higher on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session after China unexpectedly cut its bank reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points, and ahead of Canadian growth data.

Europe's debt crisis has significantly worsened, threatening global markets, so it is essential to stabilise the region's bond markets, European Central Bank governing council member Christian Noyer said on Wednesday.

Gold prices fell Wednesday after eurozone finance ministers said there are only 10 days left to save the monetary union from financial catastrophe.

The Eurozone seems all set to enter a period of deep recession, with the credibility of governments' ability to keep the region in balance under serious doubt. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has already issued a warning that Eurozone and U.S. leaders must act urgently to stop their debt crises from spiralling out of control.

Asian shares fell and the euro trimmed gains on Wednesday as caution set in over the chance for more progress in resolving euro zone debt woes after officials agreed to strengthen a rescue fund and seek more aid from the International Monetary Fund.

Asian shares fell and the euro trimmed gains Wednesday as caution set in over the chance for more progress in resolving euro zone debt woes after officials agreed to strengthen a rescue fund and seek more aid from the International Monetary Fund.

In Northern Kosovo, ethnic Serbs went to battle with NATO and Kosovo Force peacekeepers

The two countries have already significantly downgraded diplomatic and financial ties.

The Eurozone finance ministers accept a bailout loan of €8 billion (approximately $10.7 billion) for Greece.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.15 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.27 percent at 4:19 a.m. ET.

Asian shares and the euro extended a rally into a second day Tuesday as investors were buoyed by expectations that European policy makers will outline details of how they will leverage a bailout fund to avert contagion in sovereign debt markets.

Asian shares and the euro extended a rally into a second day on Tuesday, as investors were buoyed by expectations that European policy makers will outline details of how they will leverage a bailout fund so as to avert contagion in sovereign debt markets.

Gold rebounded to a one-week high following the substitution of last week's selling pressures with expectations of a stronger effort by euro-zone leaders to stem the spread of the sovereign-debt crisis. Spot gold held steady above $1,700 per ounce on Tuesday.

Euro zone finance ministers are to agree on Tuesday on details of leveraging their EFSF bailout fund so it can help Italy or Spain should they need aid, and are likely to approve the next tranche of emergency loans for Greece and Ireland.

The Apple product was glowing red and emitting a significant amount of black smoke when it suffered a minor explosion on a Regional Express flight from Lismore to Sydney, Australia. This is not the first time Apple's lithium batteries overheating have caused fires and combustion, and the burning iPhone 4 incident still has no definite cause from Australian authorities.

Stocks rebounded from seven days of losses on Monday as investors used the latest effort from European leaders to resolve the region's debt crisis as an opportunity to cover short positions.