UNITED KINGDOM

Iran will not back down even one step over its nuclear work, a senior adviser to the country's top authority said in remarks published on Thursday, making clear Tehran's continued defiance in a row with the West.

U.S. President Barack Obama said at the G8 summit on Thursday there is still time to close the gap with developing powers on climate change, after the U.N. chief criticised the G8 for not going hard enough.

The Bank of England decided on Thursday to stick to its program of pumping 125 billion pounds into the economy, defying expectations it would expand its bond purchases and boosting fears it may be about to end the scheme.

Leaders of the world's richest nations and major developing powers meet on Thursday to seek common ground on global warming and international trade, with the poorer countries seeking concessions.

American International Group Inc has resumed talks to sell its American Life Insurance Co unit to MetLife Inc in a transaction that could help the stricken insurer raise more than $15 billion, the Financial Times said.

The Bank of England surprised markets on Thursday by keeping its quantitative easing program unchanged at 125 billion pounds, boosting speculation that it may soon finish its unprecedented asset-buying scheme.

The Bank of England surprised markets by announcing no expansion of its quantitative easing scheme on Thursday as it left interest rates unchanged at a record low of 0.5 percent for a fourth month running.

Forecast-beating results from U.S. bellwether Alcoa helped lift European stocks and draw global equities out of the red on Thursday, while currency markets reversed some of their recent cautious patterns.

Australian Dollar: The Australian Dollar opens lower on Thursday at 0.7780 in what may be the beginning of the correction we had to have.

The G8 agreed on Wednesday to try to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent, but it failed to persuade China and India to join a bid to halve world emissions.

For the millions of people who spend hours glued to their computer screens chatting on social networks came the good news this year that they could finally get out more often.

Six employees of Wall Street retail brokerage Sky Capital ran a $140 million transatlantic boiler room to defraud investors in the United States and Britain, authorities charged on Wednesday.

The first day of the meeting will group the leaders of the Group of Eight -- United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Canada and Japan -- plus European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and current EU president Sweden.

Global economic recovery is not yet guaranteed and governments will worry about the bill for heavy stimulus spending once it has succeeded, world leaders are set to say at a summit in Italy.

The leaders of the Group of Eight -- United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Canada and Japan -- plus European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and current EU president Sweden gathered in Italy to discuss the end of recession, financial regulation, Doha trade round.

G8 leaders believe the world economy still faces significant risks and may need further help, according to summit draft documents that also reflect failure to agree climate change goals for 2050.

Leaders from the Group of Eight major industrial nations will warn against complacency over economic recovery on Wednesday at a world summit that will also tackle trade, climate change and food security.

A U.S. judge dismissed some damages claims in a copyright infringement lawsuit against Google Inc and its video-sharing Web site YouTube.com but left open the possibility that non-U.S. based rights owners could seek damages for live broadcasts, if they prevail.

The Australian Dollar opens lower on Wednesday at 0.7886. The local unit moved towards US80 cents late on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left rates on hold at 3.00 per cent in a decision that was more predictable than an NRL off-field incident.

Chinese officials on Tuesday vowed severe punishment for the mob in the deadliest riot since New China was founded in 1949, while international organizations urged restraint in China.

Rich nations sought to persuade China and India on Tuesday to agree to a goal of halving world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at a summit of major economies in Italy later this week.