European policymakers have higher hopes than expectations of change in German policies after a general election next Sunday that has kept much European business on hold for months.

• September 16, 2013

Spending cuts to European Union food aid programs could leave Portugal's growing ranks of poor with even emptier plates.

• September 16, 2013

Japan has launched the first in a new generation of space rockets, hoping the design will make missions more affordable.

• September 14, 2013

A Belarussian court on Friday rejected a second appeal by the chief executive of Russian potash producer Uralkali, despite calls by Russia for his release, and ruled he be kept in detention pending investigation into alleged abuse of power, his lawyer said.

• September 13, 2013

The European Commission has warned Russia that it is "unacceptable" to use threats against ex-Soviet states which are seeking closer ties with the EU.

• September 12, 2013

The European Union Commission has approved a plan to spur investment in communications networks and create a single market for telecoms services despite concerns that some parts may favor big operators, two officials said on Tuesday.

• September 11, 2013

A plan to tax financial transactions in 11 European Union member states from 2014 is illegal, the bloc's lawyers have concluded, dealing what could be a final blow to the measure as proposed.

• September 10, 2013

U.S. stock index futures advanced on Monday in the wake of upbeat economic data from China, though concerns remained about the possibility of a Western strike against Syria.

• September 9, 2013