GERMANY

Gold prices fell back Friday, just hours after an apparent deal between debt-choked Greece and potential Eurozone lenders reinvigorated hopes the nation would not be forced to default on its loans.

Greek workers went on strike against austerity measures on Friday, docking ships and halting public transport, hours after euro zone finance ministers said Athens needed to make more cuts to convince them to release a financial bailout.

Hours after Greece's ruling coalition announced it had concluded an 11th-hour agreement on new austerity measures in an effort to satisfy foreign lenders, it seemed that everyone - from creditors abroad to political allies back home - was turning on the Greek leadership.

Bruins goaltender and reigning Conn Smythe Winner Tim Thomas refused to speak with reporters today after making controversial remarks on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Greek political leaders clinched a long-stalled deal on Thursday on harsh austerity measures and reforms required to secure a second international bailout in two years but the country's financial backers reacted skeptically.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with parliamentary floor leaders on Friday to discuss Greece's bailout after euro zone ministers meet in Brussels later on Thursday, parliamentary sources said.

Bruins netminder Tim Thomas wades into the debate on birth control.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's reworked tablet PC does not look like a copycat version of the iPad, a German court said, affirming a preliminary assessment and dealing another legal blow to Apple Inc.

The Beatles seemed to arrive from another planet – their looks, their music and their infectious personalities had a charm and appeal that America had never witnessed before.

New York Fashion Week 2012 is taking a step in a decidedly technological direction. Designers are turning to the digital highway to promote their runway shows. Where can you watch the BCBG Max Azria Fall 2012 show? Find out here.

Just in time before Valentine’s Day, TripAdvisor, a leading travel site, has announced the ten the most romantic hotels in Europe.

Vodafone posted third-quarter results slightly below forecasts as increasingly tough trading in Spain and Italy overshadowed solid performances in emerging markets and northern Europe at the world's largest mobile operator.

Vodafone, the world's largest mobile phone operator, missed quarterly revenue forecasts on Thursday as increasingly tough trading in Spain and Italy overshadowed solid performances in emerging markets and northern Europe.

Asian shares struggled but the euro recovered on Thursday, as markets were left without a clear direction after Greek political leaders failed again to conclude a deal for a bailout package, which Athens needs to avoid a messy debt default.

Asian shares and the euro struggled Thursday, as sentiment grew cautious after Greek political leaders failed to conclude a deal for a bailout package crucial to avoiding a messy debt default.

Cisco Systems, the No. 1 provider of Internet equipment, reported second-quarter results that blew past estimates for both earnings and sales.

Gold fell on Wednesday as technical resistance prompted investors took profits after the previous session's rally and on moreuncertainty about Europe's economy.

Taxes go uncollected, deficit targets are routinely missed, job cuts from the state payroll are postponed, privatizations have barely begun and pharmacies still shut in the middle of the day.

As ACTA loses support in Europe, where a number of countries are putting the brakes on plans to ratify the controversial treaty, its opponents are planning new protests around the world.

Though the Maldives capital Malé remains in turmoil after the ousting of president Mohamed Nasheed, officials say resorts in the popular tourist destinations remain safe and open for business.

Poland's economy is on a roll, averaging a 4.4 percent economic growth over the last 20 years, and investors are taking note: The nation's bonds have been easily outperforming those of Europe's traditional economic powerhouse, Germany.