Key talks on the Afghan peace process involving the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan are due to start at the country retreat of UK PM David Cameron.

BBC: Afghan-Pakistani co-operation talks due to begin in UK

Germany just informed UK PM Cameron that it was adding FTT to its list of demands for treaty-change measures being addressed on Friday, December 9, 2011.

FORBES: While Europe Slides, Germany Plays Hardball On Financial Transaction Tax

Should the members of the eurozone decide to pursue agreement on their own, the PM said the UK would still be able to exert "some leverage".

BBC: Boris Johnson adds to Tory EU referendum pressure on PM

Deputy PM Nick Clegg, whose Liberal Democrats are the most pro-European of the three biggest UK parties, has said the eurozone crisis should not be used as a justification to radically alter the UK's relationship with the European Union.

BBC: Cameron: 'Moment of danger' for global economy

The PM has said leaving the EU and negotiating trade agreements would leave the UK in the worst of all positions where it would still be bound by many EU rules but unable to influence its decisions.

BBC: UK will ultimately join euro says Lord Heseltine

The UK Statistics Authority said the PM's comments were "widely interpreted" as giving an indication of the data.

BBC: David Cameron during prime minister's questions

"We will be seeking talks between the Irish PM, the assembly and the UK finance minister and the British prime minister to review this in the context of the need to have a good retail structure like Ulster Bank remain, particularly in Northern Ireland, " he added.

BBC: Ulster Bank says 950 jobs to go on island of Ireland

The PM said on the No 10 website that he would use arguments of the "head and heart" to keep the UK together.

BBC: Scotland politics