On Tuesday, Nokia, the world's largest mobile handset manufacturer, launched the N97 handset and also showcased updates to its navigation and messaging services. The latest set will act as another potential rival to Apple's iPhone.

In the first half of 2009, the N97, Nokia's second touch-screen device in as many months, will begin shipping.

It was described as the most powerful mobile computer the world has ever seen by the company's president and CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

Frankfurt - The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to deliver Thursday a deep cut in borrowing costs as the wave of rate cuts across the global economy gains momentum.

But economists are divided on the size of the reduction the ECB will deliver with many believing that slumping economic growth and dwindling inflation will result in the bank slashing rates by 75 basis points or even 100 basis points.

The top end ‘N-Series’ range of Nokia handsets has now strengthened further to include a new multimedia device known as the ‘Nokia N97’, which  will hit the European markets during the first half of the coming year (2009).

The N97, which offers a different feature pack, is Nokia’s second touch-screen device in as many months to regain lost ground in the touch-screen market.

The company’s president and CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo called ‘N96’ as the most powerful mobile computer the world has ever seen.

Brussels - European Jewish groups plan to train volunteers to protect their local comm

Madrid  - European socialists and social democrats on Monday advocated more government intervention in the economy.

The ongoing economic crisis demonstrated the failure of the "economy of egoism" advocated by conservative parties, Spanish Socialist Party deputy leader Jose Blanco told the council of the Party of European Socialists in Madrid.

Some 30 leading politicians, including Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and recently elected French Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry, were to discuss the first common programme of socialists and social democrats for European elections.

Berlin, Nov. 28 : Counter-terrorism officials and experts said the scale, sophistication and targets involved in the Mumbai attacks were markedly different from previous terrorist plots in India and suggested the gunmen had received training from outside the country.

The Washington Post quotes officials in India, Europe and the United States as saying the likely culprits included Islamist networks based in Pakistan that have received support in the past from Pakistan''s intelligence agencies.