Israel rebuffed a call from visiting European foreign ministers for an immediate ceasefire, vowing to continue its ground assault on the Gaza Strip even amid reports of mounting civilian casualties

The German government's second fiscal stimulus could total €50bn, making it far more ambitious than expected just a week ago, senior officials suggested if leaders of chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition can hammer out agreement on the package

The French president has begun a peace mission to the Middle East, underlining his intention to keep France at the forefront of European diplomacy

The crystal and porcelain tableware producer has been forced into insolvency and the receiver, Deloitte, is in talks with three US parties to secure a sale of the majority of the assets after the company failed to find fresh financing

The French energy group gave a policy deadline if the first of a new generation of reactors is to be ready for 2017

Steve Jobs has revealed that his recent weight loss was due to a hormone imbalance and that he was currently undergoing treatment to correct the condition, but would remain Apple chief executive

Figures from Spain and Italy show inflation is receding in two of the eurozone's largest economies, raising expactations that interest rates will be cut from the current 2.5%

A delegation led by Martin Riman, the Czech Republic's industry minister, flew to Kiev for talks with Ukrainian officials, while another EU team of experts was due to confer with executives of Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly

Unidentified gunmen armed with grenades and a Kalashnikov seriously wounded a police officer in central Athens, a police spokesman said, in an attack that appeared to be linked to the police shooting of a teenage boy on December 6

As US president-elect Barack Obama continues his silence on Gaza, the Bush administration reiterates support for Israel while calling for it to minimise civilian casualties