Spain takes over EU presidency (AP)

AP – Spain took over the presidency of the European Union on Friday, with the prime minister promising to work to end the continent’s economic crisis.

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Soviet-era Lithuanian nuclear plant shuts down under EU deal (AFP)

AFP – Lithuania Thursday shut down its Soviet-era nuclear plant under an EU deal in a move set to drive up electricity prices amid an economic crisis and leave it counting on ex-master Moscow for power.

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Soviet-era Lithuanian nuclear plant shuts down: director (AFP)

AFP – Lithuania Thursday shut its Soviet-era nuclear plant under an EU deal, a move set to drive up electricity prices amid an economic crisis and leave it counting on ex-master Moscow for power.

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FTSE 100 gains 22% in 2009 (AFP)

AFP – The leading stock exchange closed higher in a half-day session on Thursday — the final trading session of 2009 — to chalk up an impressive annual gain of more than 22 percent.

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A bonus for New Year’s: Champagne is cheaper (AP)

AP – Partygoers worldwide have at least one good reason to forget the economic pain, job fears and mortgage woes of 2009: unusually cheap Champagne for New Year’s.

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