
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced he will step down as Labour leader by September, as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.

Global stock markets soared after the European Union and International Monetary Fund intervened to stop the Greek debt crisis spreading and support the weakened Euro.

German scientists announced on Monday they believe they have discovered sunken islands in the Caribbean Sea following a deep sea expedition in April.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) honoured Brazilian President Lula da Silva for his leadership in the fight against hunger and inadequate nutrition in his country and across the world.

Sir Elton John, 63, has been banned from performing in Egypt over his views on homosexuality and religion. The outspoken British pop icon was due to play a private show on 18 May but has been told he is not welcome.

French resistance to the resumption of Mercosur European Union trade talks caused great disappointment among the block’s members, but Brazil believes it has a strong bargaining chip for a greater opening of the European agriculture market: the several billions US dollars fighter planes contract for the Brazilian Air Force.

Negotiators for Conservative David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg completed their third session in search of a deal to form a new British government as they faced pressure to reassure investors over political stability.

European leaders unveiled an unprecedented loan package worth almost one trillion US dollars and a program of bond purchases in an attempt to bolster the Euro that has become highly vulnerable because of the Greek sovereign-debt crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party and its coalition allies have been defeated in regional elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, projections suggest. If confirmed, this would see Ms. Merkel's national coalition lose its slim majority in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.

Germany's highest court on Saturday rejected a request by a group of academics to block the immediate release of Berlin's multi-billion-euro loan to debt-stricken Greece.