Portugal said it had finally decided to request financial assistance from the European Union, paving the way for a third bailout of a eurozone country.
In the dry wording of prosecution documents, sex parties at Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's villa followed a well scripted routine drawing in erotic dancers and underage prostitutes.
Japan imposed a legal limit for radioactive iodine in fish, as the operator of Fukushima nuclear plant pumped toxic water into the Pacific Ocean for a second day.
In the Barry Bonds trial, prosecutors said they had a recording of Bonds' surgeon discussing Bonds and steroids with the slugger's ex-business manager.
Japanese business confidence is set to plunge in the months following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis, the Bank of Japan said.