AP - Thousands of people have rallied across Russia to denounce the government's economic policy and demand more freedom in a new challenge to the Kremlin reflecting increasing disillusionment and a growing potential for protests.

AFP - Germany will agree to European countries providing bilateral assistance to debt-stricken Greece, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Saturday.

AFP - EU financial services commissioner Michel Barnier sought on Friday to calm US fears of discrimination over European financial services reforms that would regulate hedge funds.

Reuters - The European Union's monetary affairs chief urged the bloc's leaders on Friday to agree a standby aid package for Greece next week but France and Germany struck different notes and the euro slid.

AP - Prince Harry says he hopes to join a group of disabled soldiers in a charity expedition to the North Pole to raise money for wounded troops.

AFP - FTSE 100 shares were upbeat at the end of trade on Friday boosted by state-rescued bank Lloyds' forecast of a return to profit in 2010 after two years of losses.

AFP - Europe split over IMF intervention for debt-ridden Greece on Friday, upping pressure on national leaders to resolve crisis plans just days from a crunch EU summit.

AP - The wreckage of Spain's economic growth model stands neatly aligned on the roads leading out of Madrid — row after row of unsold houses, windows dark, for-sale signs out front.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets advanced on Friday, with London boosted by British state-rescued bank Lloyds' forecast of a return to profit in 2010 after two years of losses.

AP - The European Union's finance executive called Friday for banks to pay into a fund that could be drawn upon in case of collapse, an effort to shield taxpayers from the fallout of future crises.

AP - Greek unemployment rose to 10.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, the country's statistics agency said Thursday — the highest since 2005 and the largest jump in 11 years.

AP - World stock markets fell Thursday and the euro weakened on concerns the European Union will not agree to give Greece concrete financial support, leaving it to potentially seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund.