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Syria blames rebels for Houla massacre

2:01pm BST

AMMAN - Facing growing world outrage over the killing of at least 109 people in a restive town, Syria on Sunday accused rebels of carrying out the massacre, in which dozens of children perished.

Spain's Bankia eyes stake sales after record bailout

26 May 2012

MADRID - Spain's fourth biggest lender, Bankia, on Saturday prepared to sell stakes it holds in companies to meet European competition rules after a state rescue that has so far cost 23.5 billion euros (18.77 billion pounds). | Video

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BOE'S Dale says expects euro zone uncertainty set to continue

11:04am BST

LONDON - Uncertainty in the euro zone will continue for the next few years, acting as a drag on the UK economy, Bank of England policy maker Spencer Dale was quoted as saying in a newspaper on Sunday.

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SNB considers capital controls if euro falls apart

10:12am BST

ZURICH - Switzerland is drawing up plans for emergency measures including capital controls in case the euro collapses although it does not expect to need them and will continue to defend a cap on the franc in the meantime, the head of the central bank said.

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Greek pro-bailout conservatives regain lead - polls

26 May 2012

ATHENS - Greece's conservatives have regained an opinion poll lead that would allow the formation of a pro-bailout government committed to keeping the country in the euro zone, a batch of new surveys showed on Saturday.

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Putin puts Medvedev in charge of Russia's ruling party

26 May 2012

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin steered Dmitry Medvedev into the chairmanship of Russia's ruling party on Saturday and demanded reforms to the flagging organisation he will rely on to keep his grip on the country's far-flung regions.

Pope conducts Pentecost amid scandal

May 27 - Pope Benedict gives the Pentecostal Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, praying for unity and truth as his butler is under investigation for possessing secret documents alleging corruption in Vatican contracts. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Pierre Briancon

Summit silence on Greece is best option for now

Euro zone leaders can’t yet soften their demands for Greek austerity, for fear of encouraging radicals in the next election. And while insisting they want to keep the country in the euro, they must prepare for a messy exit while pretending not to - since it would spook markets.  Commentary 

Edward Hadas

Markets vote for the euro

The single currency is falling because traders fear it will break up. That means they must think the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. That’s right, and not just because the retrograde transition to national currencies would be costly. Scale and unity are valuable.   Commentary 

Felix Salmon

Mark Zuckerberg’s unpleasant new life

Here's the main reason why Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg wanted an opening-day IPO pop of at least modest proportions: the last thing he wants or needs is an adversarial relationship with his shareholders.  Commentary 

Hugo Dixon

What is the long-term euro vision?

The standard vision of the euro zone’s future is a fully-fledged fiscal, banking and political union. But a headlong dive into a United States of Europe would be bad politics and bad economics, and the European people are not remotely ready for such steps.  Commentary 

Wei Gu

China doesn’t need a policy U-turn

The Chinese premier has given investors hope for a new stimulus. But Beijing shouldn’t panic this time. Unlike in 2008, there are no massive job losses threatening stability, and still too much money sloshing around from the last stimulus. Structural reforms are the right remedy.  Commentary