EUROPEAN UNION

The credit agency’s downgrade of Spain follows a similar cut by Fitch Ratings last week.

The Eurozone debt crisis will dominate a summit of G20 finance chiefs and central bank heads in Paris, with a downgrade of Spain's credit rating highlighting the risk of a much larger economy than Greece coming under threat.

G20 finance chiefs and central bank heads meet in Paris on Friday urgently needing to find a convincing solution to a deepening euro zone debt crisis that has fanned fears of a global slide into recession.

Asian shares inched down on Friday, tracking New York and European shares lower as weak Chinese trade data raised concerns about the global economy, while the euro eased after another sovereign debt ratings downgrade.

Asian shares inched down on Friday, tracking New York and European shares lower as weak Chinese trade data raised concerns about the global economy, while the euro eased after another sovereign debt ratings downgrade.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was found guilty of abuse of power and sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, but her legal troubles are far from over, and the government has now accused her of embezzling $400 million.

Slovakia's parliament ratified a plan to bolster the euro zone's EFSF rescue fund on Thursday, after voting to hold an early election as demanded by the opposition.

Slovakia's parliament voted on Thursday to hold an early election in March next year, meeting an opposition demand and opening the path for ratification of a plan to bolster the euro zone's EFSF rescue fund.

Malawi will allow Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir into the country for a regional trade summit starting on Friday and has no plans to arrest him under an International Criminal Court warrant, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Slovakia's parliament ratified a plan to bolster the euro zone's EFSF rescue fund on Thursday, after voting to hold an early election as demanded by the opposition.

Slovakia's parliament ratified a plan to bolster the Eurozone's EFSF rescue fund on Thursday, after voting to hold an early election as demanded by the opposition.

The European Central Bank reiterated a broad warning on Thursday that any form of government debt writedown that forces the private sector to take losses could damage the euro and the bloc's banks.

The euro zone could fall back into recession and the European Central Bank will discuss cutting interest rates at its policy meeting next month, ECB policymakers said on Thursday.

Slovakia's parliament ratified a plan to bolster the euro zone's EFSF rescue fund on Thursday, after voting to hold an early election as demanded by the opposition.

Gold prices fell modestly Thursday as a rising dollar, boosted by signs the world's No. 2 economy is slowing, offset both steady Asian demand for jewelry and bullion as well as safe-haven buying by Euro-wary investors.

Italy was set Thursday to test fragile investor confidence in the euro zone's ability to heal its debt problems, with a sale of bonds, while weaker Chinese trade data acted as a reminder of broader economic problems.

Gold prices held steady on Thursday, as optimism for a solution to the Eurozone crisis underpinned sentiment, while tight physical supply in Asia continued to lend support.

U.S. officials indicated that the Iranian operatives as well as members of Hezbollah were transported across the Middle East by Mahan.

After Tuesday's scare, Slovakia seems poised to expand the size of the Eurozone bailout fund EFSF. In doing so, the EFSF's lending power will be expanded from 250 billion euros to 440 billion euros.

Serbia was given European Union candidate status on Wednesday, which is the first step in becoming a member state of the international organization. But for ascension, the country must make amends with Kosovo.

Two years into the Greek sovereign debt crisis, Eurozone countries are still finger-pointing and not working toward a long-term solution based on mutual interest. Further, the most recent $11 billion band-aid for Greece will buy no peace for stakeholders, nor any resolution to the crisis.