AFP - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek urged his fellow EU leaders Saturday on the eve of an EU summit not to divide Europe again through “beggar thy neighbour” protectionist policies as recession bites.

AFP - The European Commission gave its blessing on Saturday to France’s aid plan for its ailing auto sector, easing tensions on the eve of an EU summit overshadowed by a row over economic protectionism.

Reuters - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for more rigorous supervision of the global banking system on Saturday, a day before EU leaders meet to thrash out ways to tackle the financial crisis.

Reuters - Leaders of Southeast Asian nations have agreed to ease monetary policy and resist protectionism as they fight the financial crisis that is hurting their export-dependent economies, a draft statement showed.

AFP - Shares in London fell markedly Friday in a session marked by fresh selling in the banking sector and notable weakness amongst pharmaceutical shares.

AP - European and U.S. markets plunged Friday after economic data showed the U.S. economy shrank in the fourth quarter at the fastest pace in over a quarter century.

AP - Eastern Europe’s struggling banks will receive euro24.5 billion ($31.1 billion) worth of emergency help to shore up their battered finances, leading international financial institutions said Friday ahead of a meeting of regional leaders this weekend.

AFP - EU Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek are urging European leaders to commit to the fight against economic protectionism when they meet at a Brussels summit on Sunday.

Reuters - France, Germany and Britain are proposing extra EU sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, the Financial Times reported Thursday but France said no such measures would be passed any time soon.

AFP - German unemployment rose this month as the country was gripped by its worst recession in six decades, and analysts say worse is to come despite another uptick in consumer confidence.