Retail trade volumes sank by 6.5% over the year earlier in December according to provisional figures for the month, or by 6.6% when sales of automotive fuel are excluded. This was after an already tough November, in which sales volumes including fuel dropped by 2.8% compared with November 2011. Sales slid by 0.5% over the

Concerns over a slowing Chinese economy and risks surrounding the huge Greek debt deal sent the euro and commodity-linked currencies lower on Monday and saw European stocks open down. China's Premier Wen Jiabao, speaking at the country's annual parliamentary session, cut the nation's growth target to 7.5 percent for 2012 to give the giant economy

A small bomb exploded near the Turkish prime ministry building in the capital Ankara on Monday, about an hour before a cabinet meeting was due to be held there, and one person was slightly injured, officials said. Police closed off the area where the explosion took place, at the entrance to a car park for

A Greek tanker carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil and diesel sank west of Athens on Monday and one person on board was unaccounted for, authorities said. "The ship had 11 persons on board. One is missing, it might be the captain. The other 10 are safe," a coastguard official said. He said the

 * Project will ensure energy security, allow exports * Israel and Cyprus began a feasibility study on Sunday for the construction of an underwater electric cable between the two countries that would ensure their energy security and offer Israel a channel to export energy to Europe. The Israel-Cyprus leg, with an estimated cost of half

Vladimir Putin faces new protests on Monday to challenge his victory in a presidential election he said had prevented Russia from falling into the hands of enemies trying to usurp power. Putin's opponents, complaining of widespread fraud in Sunday's election, said they did not recognise the results and would rally near the Kremlin at 7

Few close observers of the Syrian conflict believe the uprising that began nearly a year ago is anything like over, and nor do they believe that President Bashar al-Assad can use the siege of Homs as a springboard to regain full control of the country. Syrian troops entered the ruins of Baba Amro, the rebel

President Dmitry Medvedev held out an olive branch to opposition protesters on Monday, telling Russia's prosecutor general to study the legality of 32 criminal cases including the jailing of former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Medvedev also told the justice minister to explain why Russia had refused to register the liberal opposition movement PARNAS, whose leaders