Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost more than 2 per cent in Tuesday morning trading after the Dow Jones index hit record low in almost 12 years.

The Nikkei index declined 191.66 points, or 2.6 per cent, to 7,184.5.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 13.41 points, or 1.82 per cent, at 721.87.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 94.37-42 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 93.35-38 yen.

Taipei  - A frail former Taiwan's president Chen Shui-bian appeared in a Taiwan court for pretrial hearings on corruption allegations.

Chen, who ended a three-day hunger strike to protest against what he claimed was political persecution and injustice, was brought to court in handcuffs from the Taipei Detention Centre, where he has been jailed since late December.

When asked how he felt, he told Taipei District Court Judge Tsai Shou-hsun that he felt weak and uncomfortable.

Berlin - Business confidence in Germany remained unchanged in February, economists expect a key survey to be released Tuesday to say, as boardrooms in Europe's biggest economy face up to a dramatic economic slump.

In a major test of the economic mood in Europe, the closely- watched Ifo business confidence index is forecast to have come in at 82.9 points this month after posting a surprise increase to 83 points in January.

Havana  - This year's unprecedented parade of foreign leaders in Havana - six from Latin America and one from Africa - is a sign that at least one thing has changed in Cuba since February 24, 2008, when Raul Castro took over as president of the communist island.

Within the country, however, the great expectations about far- reaching structural changes in Cuba have virtually died over the last year.

For the international community, Cuba appears to have taken large strides.

Vienna  - Journalists expecting a scandalous play about the incest case of Josef Fritzl were disappointed Monday when Vienna theatre artist Hubsi Kramar turned the tables and offered a scathing critique of the intense media coverage of the crime.

Addressing the large group of reporters in the audience, Kramar started off the premiere of his play Pension F by suggesting that all camera teams present should be locked into the theatre's cellar.

"And then we'll see how they are doing," Kramar said.

Ankara  - Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu should recognize Palestine as a state if Israel genuinely wants lasting peace in the Middle East, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday night.

Keeping up his fierce criticism of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, Erdogan said the only solution to the problem is for Hamas to be brought to the negotiating table.