EUROPEAN UNION

Spot gold rose nearly 1 percent on Wednesday to its highest level in more than a month, as safe-haven demand returned on growing doubts over a resolution to the Eurozone debt crisis ahead of a key European Union summit later in the day.

U.S. oil prices shot to a 12-week high on Tuesday in a second day of frenetic spread trading, with dealers racing to claw back a record discount versus Europe's Brent as they gave in to evidence of tightening supplies.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after discouraging corporate outlooks cast a pall over the economy's outlook, while fresh doubts arose about European efforts to find a solution to the debt crisis.

With ongoing turmoil in Africa and the Middle East, illegal immigration is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge in Europe.

Toronto's main stock index turned higher on Tuesday morning, hitting a one-month peak and reversing steep losses in volatile trade as gold prices rallied following grim U.S. consumer confidence data.

A lack of steady progress in tacking the debt crisis raised pessimism among investors and the market.

Stocks fell on Tuesday on news that a meeting by euro zone finance ministers was canceled, adding to doubts about the region's efforts to tackle its debt crisis.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced growing pressure Tuesday over European Union demands for economic reforms with his main coalition partner warning the government could fall over the issue.

Ennahda has vowed it will not establish an Islamic state, but rather a secular, multi-party democracy.

While the humanitarian tragedy arising from the quake will not occupy the hearts, minds and bodies of the local population – the longer-term struggle between Kurds and Turks will likely not abate.

South African stocks closed at their highest level in nearly three months as demand for resources firms rose with hope that European Union leaders will agree on a solution to their region's debt woes later this week.

U.S. grain and soybean futures rose over 1 percent on Monday in a broad commodities rally as investors bet that European leaders would reach a deal to tackle a euro-zone debt crisis and took heart from an improved manufacturing indicator in China.

There are 27 nations in the European Union (EU), but only 17 members in the Eurozone – Britain is not in the currency bloc.

The European Union is now discussing two options for giving the euro zone rescue fund more firepower -- an insurance model and a special investment vehicle , a paper obtained by Reuters on Monday showed.

China urged the European Union on Monday to deal with its debt crisis as soon as possible and prevent contagion from spreading, as the country's number four-ranked leader arrived for a visit of the continent, including Greece.

China urged the European Union on Monday to deal with its debt crisis as soon as possible and prevent contagion from spreading, as the country's number four-ranked leader arrived for a visit of the continent, including Greece.

The BSE Sensex rose as much as 1.9 percent on Monday, with index heavyweight Reliance Industries and banking stocks leading the gains, as investors grew optimistic about renewed efforts by European leaders to limit the region's debt crisis.

Canada warned on Sunday it will defend its interests if the European Union (EU) goes through with a proposal to rank Canadian oil sands as a highly polluting fuel.

The government of Alberta, home to the bulk of Canada's oil sands, has written to EU experts voicing grave concerns that the bloc's plans to rank unconventional oil as a highly polluting fuel are unfair and a potential threat to trade ties.

European Union leaders piled pressure on Italy on Sunday to speed up economic reforms to avoid a Greece-style meltdown as they began a crucial two-leg summit called to rescue the euro zone from a deepening sovereign debt crisis.

The European Union is ready to adopt decisive measures to tackle its sovereign debt crisis, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Sunday.