EUROPEAN UNION

Gold prices settled moderately lower Wednesday after a string of European developments during the trading session boosted investor hope that the continent's sovereign debt crisis is finally getting the attention it requires.

The United States gave Libya's new rulers a very visible show of support on Wednesday when a senior envoy visited the capital and praised their efforts to assert control of armed groups three weeks after Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown.

Canada should see modest economic growth and avoid a double-dip recession, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Wednesday.

Gold extended its losses Wednesday after Italian lawmakers approved a major austerity program, the latest in a string of signs that Europe's debt crises may be finally getting the attention they deserve.

Gold prices fell Wednesday as stock markets in Europe posted gains from European Commission plans to push euro zone bonds and China's premier expressed support for struggling European countries.

Greece's exit from the euro zone would inflict untold damage on Europe's economy, further burnish the attractiveness of a rising Asia and hasten the emergence of China's yuan as a global currency.

After an explosion at a Nuclear power plant in France on Monday, President Nicholas Sarkozy has remained mum. Sarkozy is perhaps the world's biggest political proponent of nuclear energy, and he has repeatedly insisted that France's plants are the safest, most modern in the world.

Samsung is alleging that its Cupertino-based rival's iPhone and iPad devices infringe on three Samsung-owned patents.

Gold and gold receivables held by euro zone central banks rose by 1 million euros to 363.249 billion euros in the week ending Sept. 9, the European Central Bank said on Tuesday.

U.S. investors remained concerned that Europe's leaders are not getting ahead of the Greek crisis, which could result in a full-fledged Europe bank crisis, even as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, while not committing more German funds to possible intervention, again dismissed talk of a Greek default.

Two workers were reportedly exposed to radiation when a fire broke out at the Marcoule nuclear power plant in the south of France on Monday. One person was killed and another four injured.

Growing fears of a Greek default sent a hurricane through heavily exposed French banks on Monday and hit the euro as investor confidence in the European currency area's ability to surmount a sovereign debt crisis ebbed.

In France, a nuclear explosion has killed one and injured four more. The event comes on the heels of a re-investment in nuclear energy by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Aisling McNiffe's voice crackles when she talks about her son's school prospects.

Near the peak of General Motors Co's financial crisis, Opel workers laid a coffin at the feet of the brand's founder Adam Opel to mark what they considered the death of the brand.

The euro area needs a full-time financial leader to better respond to its sovereign debt crisis, Eurogroup leader Jean-Claude Juncker said on Saturday, signaling that the pressures of the job are too much.

Samsung must take its Galaxy Tab 10.1 somewhere else besides Germany because a German court backed Apple, the world's most valuable technology company, and banned sales of the tablet computer in the country.

Musicians are likely to win longer copyright protection of their work in Europe next week, helping artists and record labels as music revenues decline, and bringing Europe closer into line with the United States.

U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday after the top German official at the European Central Bank resigned in protest of the bank's bond-buying program, which has been a major tool in fighting the region's debt crisis.

European Central Bank Executive Board Member Juergen Stark will step down from his post because of a conflict over the central bank's controversial bond-buying program, two sources told Reuters on Friday.

European Central Bank board member Juergen Stark resigned Friday, three years before his term was scheduled to end.