AFP - EU finance ministers gave Slovakia the final greenlight on Tuesday to adopt the euro on January 1, 2009, leaving the ex-communist country less than six months to prepare for the changeover, an EU official said.

AFP - Britain's EU partners piled pressure on London Tuesday to improve its public finances, setting a deadline of the 2009-2010 budget year for cutting its deficit to EU norms, an official said.

AP - European and most Asian stock markets fell Tuesday, hit with renewed fears over U.S. credit problems and their impact on financial companies after weakness in the previous session on Wall Street.

AFP - Britain's economy, buckling under the credit crunch and a slowing property market, faces a "serious risk" of recession as firms face soaring costs and falling orders, according to a survey published Tuesday.

Reuters - Serbia's new government will focus on quick entry into the European Union, strengthening the country's economy and keeping Kosovo as a part of Serbia, Prime Minister designate Mirko Cvetkovic said on Monday.

Reuters - "Who paid money to be a prisoner?" reads the graffiti on the wall of an illegal migrant detention camp in Ukraine where hundreds of Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Somalians and Vietnamese are being held.

Reuters - Serbia's new government will focus on quick entry into the European Union, strengthening the country's economy and keeping Kosovo as a part of Serbia, Prime Minister designate Mirko Cvetkovic said on Monday.

Reuters - The European Central Bank's interest rate rise sends a signal that it is serious about combating inflation, policymakers said as they staged a public relations offensive to justify Thursday's increase.

Reuters - The dollar's fall is a source of global concern and the European Union wants a better balance between the U.S. unit and other major currencies, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Friday.

AP - European markets fell and Asian markets were mixed Friday as investors digested uneven readings on the U.S. economy and oil prices that remained near records. Japan posted its 12th straight day of losses.

Reuters - The euro fell and shares and government bonds rallied on Thursday as the European Central Bank poured cold water on speculation of further aggressive interest rate hikes after raising them as expected.