European ministers say they are keen to proceed with the Iter nuclear fusion project, even though they may lose Japanese support. The ministers hope Japan will end the prolonged debate over Iter’s location by withdrawing its proposal to host the multi-billion-euro reactor

Recent surveys indicate the prospects for Europe’s economy in 2005 are not good. The CBI’s industrial trends survey shows that manufacturers’ order books have slipped to their lowest level since last January, citing a decline in demand for capital goods, plant and