AP - Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday declared a national election for May 6 — a bitterly contested race that will be dominated by a recession-wracked economy and a sense that 13 years of Labour rule may be coming to an end.

AFP - European shares weakened on Wednesday as investor sentiment was rattled by news that the eurozone economy ground to a halt in the fourth quarter of last year, analysts said.

AP - The European Central Bank is set to indicate Thursday that borrowing costs will remain low for much, if not all, of this year as the recovery from recession in the 16 countries that use the euro currency remains fragile.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rebounded slightly on Friday, after recent sharp losses on the back of Greek debt worries, as traders eyed rising commodity prices and the upcoming US results season.

Reuters - Euro zone finance ministers agreed unanimously at a Eurogroup teleconference on Sunday on how to help Greece if needed, Cyprus' finance minister told reporters.

AP - Greece's borrowing costs dipped Monday in positive early market reaction after eurozone countries filled in key details of their financial backstop aimed at quelling fears the heavily indebted country could default.

AP - Debt-ridden Greece raised euro1.2 billion in a heavily oversubscribed auction for 26- and 52-week treasury bills Tuesday, the first debt sale since details were announced of a eurozone and International Monetary Fund rescue package over the weekend.

Reuters - A German economist plans to launch a Constitutional Court challenge to the 30 billion euro aid package for Greece agreed by euro zone finance ministers, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Reuters - The Greek aid deal is a turning point in the crisis that shows suggestions of a euro zone break up and Greek default are absurd, a top European Central Bank policymaker said on Thursday.

AP - Eurozone finance ministers gathered Friday to seek ways to halt a government debt crisis as Greece asks the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to step up work on a potential multibillion bailout.

AFP - Greece said Tuesday it could call on loan backup from the EU and the IMF by next month as its bond yields hit a record high and it was forced to once again pay steep rates to borrow money.

AFP - A mission of EU and IMF officials began talks with Greece's finance minister on Wednesday on details of an emergency loan mechanism to help the country face its rising borrowing costs.

AP - A Roman Catholic diocese in Germany says its bishop has offered his resignation after allegations of physical abuse and financial misconduct.

AFP - Britain's economy expanded by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2010, decelerating from growth of 0.4 percent in the previous three months, official data showed on Friday.

Reuters - Advanced economies must make good on pledges to tighten regulation and curtail government debt or the fragile recovery could unravel, a top European official said on Saturday.

AFP - The European Union was split Monday over an economic bailout plan for Greece, with Germany warning against 'taking the pressure off' while Italy lashed Berlin for 'intransigence.'

Reuters - Greece might have to quit the euro zone for a time if the country failed to tighten its belt sufficiently to qualify for emergency aid, a budget expert with Germany's junior coalition party said on Tuesday.

AP - Portugal's prime minister and the leader of the main opposition party say they have agreed on measures to help steer the country out of a financial crisis that threatens to engulf the eurozone's poorest member.

AP - Britain's final TV election debate Thursday may be Prime Minister Gordon Brown's last chance to repair his tarnished reputation, after an open microphone caught him dismissing a retiree who had long voted for the Labour party as a 'bigoted woman.'