U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon led international appeals Monday for the major powers to reach a compromise on a landmark conventional arms trade treaty as final negotiations started.

The 193 U.N. members have until March 28 to conclude an accord on the $80 billion a year trade in small arms, tanks, warships, combat aircraft, ammunition and missile launchers.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has gotten off to a somewhat shaky start to 2013, but that will not jeopardize its expected recovery later this year, the Bundesbank said on Monday.

"The hesitant start to 2013 has not placed a question-mark over the anticipated rebound in economic activity," the German central bank wrote in its March monthly report.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will on Monday attempt to persuade lawmakers to back an EU bailout deal that slaps a levy on bank savings, amid fears of a run on accounts if he fails.

Anastasiades, in an address to the shell-shocked nation on Sunday night, said that rejecting the EU demands would have seen Cyprus exit the eurozone and face bankruptcy.

Australia's second-largest city Melbourne could possibly have the tallest building in the southern hemisphere after approval Monday for a new 388-meter (1,280 foot) apartment and hotel complex.

The Victorian state government said Australia 108 would become the world's 19th tallest building on completion and would be "an outstanding addition to Melbourne's skyline".

The United States is taking aim at "excessive" business class air travel by U.N. staff as it presses a campaign to restrain the global body's multi-billion dollar budget.

Complaints by the United States and other cash-strapped western nations have been bolstered by revelations that nearly three quarters of the money spent on air fares at U.N. headquarters goes on business class.

Qatar is considering an £8 billion ($12.1 billion, 9.2 billion euro) bid for British retailer Marks & Spencer, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported.

The Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, has approached leading banks and private equity houses ahead of a potential move on the high street chain, senior sources in London's financial industry told the broadsheet.

Ratings firm Moody's on Friday downgraded Argentina's foreign law bonds, citing an increased risk of default linked to the outcome of a U.S. lawsuit filed by hedge funds.

The bonds, the part of the country's debt that was restructured after Argentina's 2001 default, were cut from "B3" to "Caa1," seven notches below investment grade.

Toyota Motor will recall 209,000 sport utility vehicles it has sold in the United States due to a possible seat-belt fault, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.

FJ Cruiser models made between 2007 and 2013 will be recalled, Kyodo said, quoting company officials.

The Philippines was set to open a $1.2 billion giant casino on Saturday in a high-stakes bid to join the world's elite gaming destinations.

Solaire Manila Resorts is the first of four huge entertainment venues slated to rise on reclaimed land on Manila Bay that industry and government officials hope will draw millions of newly well-off Asian visitors.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed early Saturday on a bailout for Cyprus, the fifth international rescue package in three years of the debt crisis.

After Greece, Ireland and Portugal each secured massive bailouts, Spain proved a special case as Madrid sought limited help only for its stricken banks, insisting that it did not need and would not seek a full debt bailout.