GERMANY

Inflation in Germany rose more than previously estimated in February, strengthening speculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) may hike interest rate as early as next month.

Euro zone leaders are set to agree a competitiveness pact at a summit on Friday and will push Portugal to announce new reforms to increase market confidence as they seek to draw a line under the regions' debt crisis.

Euro zone leaders will not decide much at Friday's summit on the bloc's debt crisis but a compromise deal is likely at the end of the month, a coalition ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

France said it has recognized the National Libyan Council (NLC), the leadership of rebels fighting against Moammar Gaddafi, as the legitimate government in the country, ahead of European Union (EU) talks on the conflict today and tomorrow.

The Libyan stalemate appeared to intensify on Thursday as Muammar Gaddfi's forces made further gains in rebel-held cities while the regime faced more international opposition to its plans to cling on to power.

The Notion Ink’s Adam tablet, the sleeping giant facing many issues relating to supply is still an iPad 2 killer waiting in the corner.

Airbus parent EADS returned to profit in 2010 and bagged a slew of new aircraft orders, boosting its shares even as airline customers fret about a massive surge in oil prices.

German industrial production rebounded sharply in January, following a contraction in the previous two months.

About three dozen mobsters were arrested across Italy and Germany following police raids in those countries.

Brown-Forman Corp , the maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey, posted a stronger-than-expected 30 percent rise in quarterly profit helped by strong demand abroad, and raised its full-year outlook, sending shares up as much as 9 percent to an all-time high.

German carmaker Volkswagen's premium brand Audi posted record-high margins, beating domestic rival Mercedes , and said it expected to stay ahead of the competition in fast-growing China.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged Europe on Tuesday to strike a balance between tough fiscal reforms and financial support for troubled member states ahead of two crucial EU summits to resolve the bloc's debt crisis.

German new factory orders rose more than expected in January, boosted by strong domestic demand.

They are the leaders, business heads, fashionistas and movie stars and they have come a long way since March 19, 1911 when the first IWD was celebrated in Germany following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.

The death knell for embattled BigLaw Howrey could ring as early as this week with firm partners reportedly set to vote on winding down its operations.

Germany's main business lobbies on Sunday called on countries sharing the euro currency to adopt tough rules at an upcoming summit aimed at sorting out Europe's debt crisis.

Ireland's new government will stick to the budget targets laid down in an 85 billion euro EU/IMF rescue package as it seeks to win European partners round to giving it easier terms on the loans.

Siberian craftsman Anatoly Konenko is responsible for the smallest aquarium in the world.

The Wind Explorer, touted as the world's first car that runs on wind-generated energy, was tested in Australia.

Microsoft has put the Internet Explorer 6 on the winding road as the company renews efforts to kill the web browser with a new website.

Against gold, the US dollar has been falling rapidly in recent years, which betrays some investors' lack of confidence in the currency.