In Friday's Europe papers

FINANCIAL TIMES

BA and Iberia agree merger
British Airways and Iberia on Thursday night agreed the terms of a merger to create Europe’s third-largest airline by revenue, one of the biggest deals in the global aviation industry.

EU delays adoption of accounting rule changes
Brussels has delayed the introduction in the European Union of a radical overhaul of accounting rules for banks and insurers which on Thursday came into force across most of the rest of the world outside the US.

Intel and AMD settle antitrust dispute
Intel sought to quell a rising tide of complaints over its business practices as it agreed on Thursday to pay $1.25bn to settle a private antitrust lawsuit from rival chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices.

Overview: Dollar rebound takes shine off equities
The dollar enjoyed some respite on Thursday as the recent selling pressure that has pushed it to a succession of 15-month lows eased off.

Health officials cite growing flu alarm in Asian nations
Emergency supplies of antiviral drugs are being sent to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where hospitals report that they are being overwhelmed by patients with swine flu.

Afghan development model: small is better
People in the Jurm Valley have taken charge for themselves, using village councils and direct grants as part of an initiative called the National Solidarity Programme.

British Airways and Iberia plan to merge
A $7bn merger of the two European airlines would conclude more than 16 months of talks.

Oil slides, and Wall Street pulls back
Stocks wavered as investors reacted with caution to signs of a strengthening job market and a pledge by President Obama to host a forum on job creation.

Medvedev promises to bring democracy to regions
President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday held out the remote republic of Tuva to illustrate Russia’s need for political reform and promised to make electoral changes that would promote democracy.

Foreign Ministry gets investment portfolio
The Foreign Ministry should become the locomotive driving foreign investments to Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday in his state-of-the-nation address, stressing that foreign partners and knowledge would be key to implementing his plan for modernisation and innovation.

Medvedev to address APEC summit
Medvedev will carry out bilateral talks with Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and US President Barack Obama at the APEC summit in Singapore.

Three state corporations to lose status in ’10
Russian Technologies, Rusnano and Vneshekonombank could be transformed into state-controlled joint-stock companies in 2010.

Geert Wilders’ one-man crusade against Islam
Geert Wilders wants to ban the Koran, impose a tax on headscarves and calculate the cost of immigration.

Gold rush in the Smartphone software market
Programmes for smart mobile phones are popular and currently applications for the iPhone by Apple are ruling the market.

Judicial decision on wiretapping shakes judiciary
The leading prosecutor in the Ergenekon case has been snared in the investigation’s own web as it comes to light that he, too, is being wiretapped for potential connections to suspected members in the alleged Ergenekon gang.

Georgian media most trusted in Caucasus, poll reveals
International observers say Georgia has the best laws in the Caucasus safeguarding media freedom.

TeliaSonera, Altimo eye control of Turkcell
The ownership disputes over Turkcell take a dramatic turn when TeliaSonera and Altimo agree to combine stakes and form a new firm.

OYAK plans acquisition in 2010
The Turkish Armed Forces Pension Fund, or OYAK, is expected to expand through an acquisition in 2010.

A nation remembers 91 years of independence
"The great nation of Poles cannot be stripped of our freedom. Free we were, we are and will be," said President Lech Kaczyński during the celebrations of the 91st anniversary of regaining independence.

Internet costs
Only one in ten workers makes little or no use of internet for private purposes at the workplace, a recent survey by Gemius for money.pl has revealed.