GERMANY

Europe's first Vega rocket blasted off from French Guiana Monday in a successful inaugural flight aimed at giving Europe a vehicle for scientific satellite missions.

Germany is running out of patience with throwing money into the bottomless pit of Greece's debt crisis and any lingering sympathy in Berlin is being undermined by anti-German slogans on the lips of politicians and austerity protesters in Athens.

China Investment Corp remains wary about investing in European government bonds despite a plea from Germany's chancellor, but will look for opportunities in infrastructure and real industrial projects, the head of the country's $410 billion sovereign wealth fund said on Monday.

Relief over the passing of austerity measures by the Greek parliament saw bank shares lead European stocks higher on Monday, while the euro also gained even though more steps are needed before the shadow of a messy debt default can be lifted.

Three years after China launched its most ambitious experiment yet to give its currency more global clout, some market watchers are writing its epitaph, saying Beijing is not loosening its grip on the yuan fast enough to attract sustained interest.

Greece's parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill Monday to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.

Just after midnight Monday, the Greek parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.

Black-masked protesters throwing petrol bombs created a wall of fire on Sunday outside Greece's parliament as lawmakers inside looked set defy public rage by endorsing a new austerity deal to secure an EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy.

Historic cinemas, cafes, shops and banks were set ablaze in central Athens Sunday as black-masked protesters fought Greek police outside parliament, while inside lawmakers looked set to defy the rage by endorsing a new EU/IMF austerity deal.

Bahraini riot police engaged in pitched battles with petrol-bomb throwing youths on Sunday as violence escalated ahead of Tuesday's anniversary of the uprising last year, while King Hamad mocked the opposition for its bad manners.

Historic cinemas, cafes and shops went up in flames in central Athens Sunday as black-masked protesters fought Greek police outside parliament, while inside lawmakers looked set to defy the public rage by endorsing a new EU/IMF austerity deal.

Black-masked protesters throwing petrol bombs created a wall of fire Sunday outside Greece's parliament as lawmakers inside looked set defy public rage by endorsing a new austerity deal to secure an EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy.

Greek lawmakers looked set to agree to a deeply unpopular bailout deal on Sunday to avert what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be economic chaos, and Germany demanded Greece dramatically change its ways to stay in the euro.

The Pentagon's fiscal 2013 budget plan calls for the spending of $178.8 billion to develop and buy new warships, fighter jets, and other major weapons, a 7.5 percent drop from the level initially projected for the coming year.

Greek lawmakers looked set to agree to a deeply unpopular bailout deal on Sunday to avert what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be economic chaos, and Germany demanded Athens dramatically change its ways to stay in the euro.

Greek promises on austerity measures are no longer good enough because so many vows have been broken and the country that has been a bottomless pit has to dramatically change its ways, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

Greek promises on austerity measures are no longer good enough because so many vows have been broken and the country that has been a bottomless pit has to dramatically change its ways, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in remarks published on Sunday.

Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction against the official Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS device which the South Korean electronics giant has developed in collaboration with Google.

The oppressive world of Communist East Germany was brought back to life in a haunting new film called Barbara at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, the first of three German productions in the main competition.

Tens of thousands of protesters took part in rallies across Europe on Saturday against an international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement they fear will curb their freedom to download movies and music for free and encourage Internet surveillance by governments.

U.S. overspending on the military has diverted resources from civilian / social investments, including public goods, weakening the U.S. economy, and, by extension, weakening the nation.