Iran marked 'nuclear technology day' on Saturday by saying it had improved the equipment used to enrich uranium — the process which many Western countries fear Iran is using to try to produce a nuclear bomb. The annual celebration of its nuclear programme was overshadowed this year by the delay in starting up Iran's first
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A junior Czech coalition party demanded a wide cabinet reshuffle on Saturday in a rift that has threatened the survival of the centre-right coalition as it tries to push ahead with reforms to cut the budget deficit. The row weakens the cabinet as it prepares reforms of the central European country's pension and health systems
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Syrian security forces opened fire on mourners near a mosque in the flashpoint city of Deraa after a mass funeral for pro-democracy protesters, two witnesses said on Saturday. Security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse thousands of people who were chanting freedom slogans after assembling near the old Omari mosque in the
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A Libyan opposition group is asking the United States for immediate access to frozen assets of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to pay for humanitarian needs in rebel-held areas. Ali Aujali, who resigned in February as Libya's ambassador to the United States and now represents Libya's most prominent rebel organization in Washington, in a letter to
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Somali pirates have freed a Greek-owned oil tanker seized two months ago off Oman, the Greek coastguard and pirates said on Friday. Shipping industry sources welcomed the news but said pirate attacks were getting out of control in the region, threatening international trade. Analysts say more than 40% of the world's seaborne oil supply passes
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. * Core Tier 1 capital must be above 5% in stress test * EBA says 90 banks to be tested * Pre-crisis German "silent participation" capital excluded * German state Hessen says EBA "overreached its authority" Europe raised the bar for its banks, demanding more, better-quality capital in a test aimed at reassuring taxpayers
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U.S. student Devin Valencia, the first member of her family to graduate from college, hopes others will do the same with her prizewinning idea for a Facebook application for finding financial aid. The idea won the 24-year-old Nevada woman a national contest and a $10,000 prize at a College Affordability Challenge in San Diego, where
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Jean-Claude Trichet appears to have taken a leaf out Theodore Roosevelt's book, adopting the former U.S. president's mantra to "speak softly and carry a big stick" by discretely pushing Portugal to accept European aid. In a show of behind-the-scenes strength, the European Central Bank told Portuguese banks to cut their exposure to government debt, the
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The UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon has made it clear that there is no timetable in the ongoing dialogue on the Cyprus question, according to US Congress sources. Ban, who has visited Washington, discussed developments in Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, Afghanistan and other trouble spots of the planet as well as UN reforms and finance
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Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots took to the streets in the occupied northern part of Cyprus on Thursday protesting against Turkey’s economic policy and influence in the territory. This was the third demonstration organised by the Turkish Cypriot Trade Union platform since January, put political groups refrained from taking part. Turkish Cypriot police clashed with the
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