TEHRAN, Feb. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — Iran's oil minister called on the European Union to review its decision to impose sanctions on the Islamic state's oil exports and said that the international oil market was balanced. ...  > full story

TEHRAN, Feb. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — Iran's oil minister said that the Islamic state would certainly cut its oil exports to "some" European countries, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday. ...  > full story

Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — Chipmaker Micron Technology said chief executive Steve Appleton died in a plane crash in Boise, Idaho. ...  > full story

ZURICH, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — The first indictment of a Swiss private bank over hiding untaxed money for wealthy Americans has heightened tension among private bankers fearful of being next in the firing line. ...  > full story

DAMASCUS, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — With the enemy at the gates, Bashar al-Assad was dining out. ...  > full story

CAIRO, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — Gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula kidnapped two American women on Friday in an apparent attempt to hold them for ransom, security sources said. ...  > full story

TEHRAN, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday Iran would retaliate over Western-backed oil sanctions and any threat of attack, after U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was cited as saying he feared a possible Israeli strike as early as April. ...  > full story

LONDON, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — In June 2000, when American medical regulators posted a warning letter on the Internet about problems at a breast-implant maker in southern France, French authorities didn't pay much attention. ...  > full story

ATHENS, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — Greece expects its 2011 budget deficit will be smaller than expected at between 9.1 and 9.4 percent of GDP, thanks to an emergency property tax, a finance ministry official said on Friday, a development that could help Athens in its bailout talks with the EU and IMF. ...  > full story

SYDNEY, Feb. 3, 2012 (Reuters) — An $80 billion marriage of commodities trader Glencore and miner Xstrata could lead to a new round of takeovers in iron ore, creating a goliath eager to muscle its way onto one of mining's richest and most closely guarded industries. ...  > full story