GERMANY

International talks on Iran's nuclear activity got under way in Geneva on Monday amid Tehran's claims of achieving self-sufficiency in the fuel cycle. Analysts say that little is expected from the talks. But the latest developments in Iran are likely to give it the confidence to put forward demands of sanctions against the Islamic Republic to be lifted. The talks between Iran and the five UN powers - the US, Russia, China, France and Britain - plus Germany were stalled 14 months ago.

Russia won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2018 and the tourism industry in United Kingdom has expressed disappointment as it had expected to tap its potential as a tourist destination had it won the bid to host the international tournament

Stocks were little changed on Monday as investors were cautious before moves by euro zone officials to keep a debt crisis contained, but the S&P 500 stood within points of a new high for the year.

Stocks edged lower on Monday as investors took profits before moves by euro zone officials to keep a debt crisis contained, but the S&P 500 stood within points of a new high for the year.

Stocks dipped on Monday with investors taking profits and looking for further action from European officials to prevent a debt crisis from spreading.

The euro zone should have a bigger rescue fund for member states in trouble, and the European Central Bank should boost its bond buying to prevent the sovereign debt crisis from derailing economic recovery, an IMF report obtained by Reuters said.

China needs to slow down its economy enough to cool inflation at home without putting a drag on growth in the rest of the world.

Iran has delivered the first consignment of locally produced raw uranium making its nuclear program self-sufficient, the country's top nuclear boss said on Sunday. The announcement came just a day before the Islamic republic is to resume the stalled nuclear talks with Germany and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on Monday and Tuesday in Geneva.

A weaker-than-expected US jobs data on Friday forced investors to sell dollars and seek shelter in precious metals, helping silver and palladium post two-digit weekly rise and reach fresh multi-year highs in the week to December 3. An IB times study on gold and dollar index suggests investor interest to sell dollar for buying gold probably increased in the week.

Youth unemployment is a growing problem and the implications are frightening. Young people are suffering high levels of unemployment in many parts of the world as global economic uncertainty continues.

The European Union's permanent rescue fund should be larger than the money available currently and the increase could be made before 2013, Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said on Saturday.

Transit systems in the U.S. are beginning to adopt new payment technologies and saying goodbye to tokens, tickets and even fare cards.

US Administration, by all means, is trying to win over Wikileaks, firstly by ousting it from the servers and now by blocking its transaction by Paypal. But the whistle-blower group is highly unlikely to accept defeat. In possession of over 25,0000 United States diplomatic cables, the group would only force the Government worldwide into a war of attrition.

Germany on Saturday categorically denied a British newspaper report that Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Berlin might leave the euro during a heated exchange at a summit of European Union leaders at the end of October.

German strength propelled the recovery of the euro zone's dominant services economy in November, surveys showed on Friday, after China declared a new prudent monetary stance to help regulate its fervent growth.

Spot Gold jumped over $1400 per ounce in wholesale dealing on Friday in London, holding onto an earlier drop vs. the Euro as the single currency rose sharply on news of weaker than expected US jobs growth in November.

Disparities in the global economy were evident on Friday with weak jobs data underscoring the long road to recovery in the United States while China and Brazil took steps to contain rapid growth.

Whistle-blower website Wikileaks struck its first blow, as German vice-chancellor Guido Westerwelle sacked his office manager on charges of spying for the United States. Helmut Metzner has reportedly admitted to have given regular information to the US embassy in Berlin.

Eurozone retail sales rose unexpectedly in October for the first time in three months, showing an improvement in household demand.

The U.S. dollar was steady on Friday ahead of payrolls data for November that could show more evidence of a strengthening recovery and give investors a reason to push benchmark U.S. Treasury yields above 3 percent and put more money in equities.

Stocks rallied for a second straight session as traders sentiment was buoyed by some strong November chain-store retail sales figures and by the European Central Bank (ECB) to maintain liquidity safety measures for troubled banks.