The FINANCIAL -- Germany and Ireland said on Thursday that they were committed to trying to reach a deal on the EU's long-term budget, as national stances hardened ahead of a crunch summit this month.

The FINANCIAL -- British Prime Minister David Cameron was battling to reclaim authority on Thursday, after rebels in his Conservative party delivered his first major parliamentary defeat by defying him over the EU budget.

The FINANCIAL -- Iran's "mistreatment" of prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh makes Tehran look worse in the eyes of the world, Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and six rights groups said on Wednesday.

The FINANCIAL -- British Prime Minister David Cameron was battling to reclaim authority on Thursday, after rebels in his Conservative party delivered his first major parliamentary defeat by defying him over the EU budget. 

The FINANCIAL -- A top Iranian lawmaker blamed Euro MPs for making an "irrational request" of meeting two jailed winners of 2012 Sakharov awards that led to Saturday's cancellation of their visit to Tehran.