Jose Manuel Barroso, head of the European Commission, said the European Union is facing the biggest challenge of its 50 year history.

By Laurence Knight amp; Ian Pollock Business reporters, BBC News Last month, the BBC asked viewers what questions they had about their finances, particularly given fears about a renewed financial crisis and recession.

A seagull flies over the River Thames with skyscrapers from the Canary Wharf financial district seen behind in London February 9, 2011.

LONDON—Man Group shares plummeted as much as 22% Wednesday after the worlds largest listed hedge-fund group said investors have pulled billions of dollars from its funds since June.

A miner who died in an accident at a North Yorkshire pit has been named by UK Coal as 49-year-old Gerry Gibson. Two men were trapped by falling debris after a roof collapse at Kellingley colliery on Tuesday afternoon.