EUROPEAN UNION

European Union competition ministers supported plans on Friday to remove barriers to electronic trade in a bid to spur economic growth and jobs by expanding the single market to the digital world, officials said.

Almost every major global economy showed positive momentum in the manufacturing sector during January, according to data compiled by various economic-research organizations.

In some cases, gas supplies have been reduced by as much as 30 percent.

Anonymous published a 15 minute transcript from the call, which was between officers from both countries discussing how to prosecute the hacking collective and its members. In a Twitter posting the group gloated, The FBI might be curious how we're able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now, after it emerged members of Anonymous had managed to intercept an email between the FBI and British authorities listing a time and password for the sensitive conference call.

The money Malev owed was equal to its entire annual revenue.

European stocks were up around midday on Friday, hitting a six- month high as investors cheered data that hinted the euro zone may avoid slipping back into recession, eclipsing a disappointing start to the earnings season.

A group of European regulators has written to Google Inc calling on it to halt the introduction of its new privacy policy, saying it needs to investigate whether the proposals sufficiently protect users' personal data.

Asian shares and the euro fell on Friday as debt restructuring talks between Greece and its creditors dragged on, undermining sentiment, and investors sat tight ahead of U.S. jobs data that will offer more clues on the health of the world's top economy.

Russia has accused European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton of interfering in the country's internal affairs.

Asian shares and the euro fell Friday as caution set in ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on and undermined sentiment.

US defence secretary Leon Panetta claims growing possibility Israel will attack Iran in nuclear row.

The United States, European governments and Arab states have begun discussing the possibility of exile for Bashar al-Assad despite skepticism that the defiant Syrian president is ready to consider such an offer, Western officials say.

The Dow and S&P 500 advanced for a second day on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected consumer confidence data and hopes for further progress on a solution to Europe's fiscal mess bolstered sentiment.

Eurozone finance ministers aim to agree a second financing package for Greece on Monday, a decision they hope will boost market confidence in euro zone public finances and help contain the two-year-old sovereign debt crisis.

Belgium has become the first eurozone member, not subject to a bailout programme, to formally fall into recession in the second half of last year, according to data released by the country's central bank.

Portugal and Greece dominated the headlines out of Europe Wednesday, as both nations appeared to be opening new chapters in the continuing Eurozone sovereign debt crisis. Paradoxically, positive developments in one country were actually seen as the reason negative news were emerging from the other.

Francois Hollande, the likely Socialist Party candidate in France's presidential elections, was hit in the face by flour during a speech in Paris on Wednesday. He joins a list of other great leaders who have been the victim of political pranks

Crumbling global demand restrained factory output in Asia and most of Europe in January, business surveys showed on Wednesday, putting pressure on policymakers to shore up growth and counter a spreading malaise.

Greece's prime minister is seeking backing from the country's political leaders for more austerity measures, with the International Monetary Fund warning that long-term commitment to reforms is key to securing a new bailout.

European Union regulators have blocked the merger of exchange operators Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext to avoid giving them a stranglehold on the European futures market.

Portugal seeks to sell 1.5 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in treasury bills on Wednesday, in a test of its ability to raise short-term funds after a recent surge in its long-term bond rates have raised fears it may be forced to follow Greece and seek a new bailout.