UNITED KINGDOM

The European Commission presented legislation on Monday to open up access to public sector data, in a move that could prove valuable to developers of smartphone applications such as maps or restaurant finders.

Olympus Corp's former president Tsuyoshi Kikukawa personally dismissed the auditing firm that raised objections about the acquisitions used to cover up loss-making investments, the Nikkei business daily reported, citing sources familiar with the ongoing investigations.

It may be a little longer until a global BBC iPlayer launches in the U.S, but the app is already extending its reach in Europe and Canada as it now streams on the iPad, iPhone and iTouch.

Prime Minister David Cameron tried to limit the political damage from an historic break with his European partners, insisting on Monday that remaining a member of the 27-nation EU was in Britain's national interest, despite his veto on a new treaty.

Wealthy jewelry collectors, movie fans and the just plain curious are training their eyes on this week's auctions of Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor's collection of jewelry, haute couture and memorabilia.

Gold prices tumbled to a six-week low Monday as bank selling and a skyrocketing dollar offset support from central bank buying.

Barclays Plc. (BCS) chief executive Bob Diamond has fired as many as 30 bankers for violating his newly imposed "no-jerk" rule and acting in a way that embarrasses the company.

Girl band Little Mix became the first group to win Britain's X Factor television talent show on Sunday, beating hairdresser Marcus Collins in the final.

European shares posted their biggest fall in three weeks on Monday, as investors worried the measures outlined at last week's EU summit to strengthen budget discipline would be of only limited value in resolving the Eurozone debt crisis.

Sarkozy maintained that Britain will remain an integral part of the EU

Van Morrison has been left devastated following the death of his former lover and mother of his youngest child, Gigi Lee, who passed two months ago after a long battle with cancer. She was 44.

Prime Minister David Cameron can expect a hero's welcome from his Conservative party but faces a backlash from Liberal Democrat allies on Monday when he explains a European Union veto that has cast Britain adrift from its continental partners.

Precious metals assets tumbled Monday on doubts that last week's Eurozone restructuring plan addresses immediate threats of dollar liquidity, bank defaults and national bankruptcies.

Countries from around the globe agreed on Sunday to forge a new deal forcing all the biggest polluters for the first time to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but critics said the plan was too timid to slow global warming.

Prime Minister David Cameron can expect a hero's welcome from his Conservative party but faces a backlash from his Liberal Democrat allies on Monday when he explains a European Union veto that has cast Britain adrift from its continental partners.

But skepticism crept in as investors are unconvinced apparently that the Eurozone has solved its problems and finally has it right in the attempt to solve Europe's sovereign debt crisis. Credit rating agency Moody's summed it up best in a weekly credit report, perhaps, saying last week's summit and plan offers few new measures.

A European summit deal to strengthen budget discipline in the Eurozone failed to restore financial market confidence on Monday, forcing the European Central Bank to step in again gingerly.

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first Ice Cream Sandwich-powered smartphone, is expected to hit stores Dec. 15.

Gold prices dropped 1.8 percent Monday as the dollar rose on disappointment with last week's Eurozone summit and key price support for gold failed.

Sandro cost Tottenham around £8 million.

People across the globe are increasingly concerned about unemployment according to a survey conducted by BBC World Service.