AFP - US stocks rallied, taking European markets sharply higher Friday as hopes the US Congress will pass a multi-billion-dollar bank rescue package offset a much weaker-than-expected US employment report.

AP - Human rights activists from China and Russia are considered front-runners to win the Nobel Peace Prize next week, while bettors are putting their money on an Italian, a Syrian or an Israeli for the literature award.

Reuters - France warned that the global economy stood "on the edge of an abyss" on Friday as European leaders grappled to find a unified response to the traumatic conditions on financial markets.

AP - Judging from the glamorous parties and store openings in Paris this week, you would be forgiven for thinking the economy is thriving — prompting some observers to say the fashion industry is fiddling while Rome burns.

Reuters - General Motors Corp. (GM) Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said on Thursday he expected U.S. and western European markets to stay weak in the first half of 2009.

Reuters - The chairman of euro zone finance ministers sided with Germany on Thursday in rejecting any need for a European rescue fund for distressed banks, but the Dutch government endorsed a similar idea.

AP - France will host a European financial summit Saturday in Paris, bringing together leaders of four countries to deal with the international financial crisis.

AP - Auto executives agree: their industry is headed into a giant storm.

AP - Conservative Party leader David Cameron pledged Wednesday to prove his ability to revive Britain's faltering economy — but warned he has no miracle cure.

AP - Paris designers whipped up a rainbow burst of colors on Wednesday as an antidote to the economic blues plaguing the luxury industry.