Syrian Demonstrations Gain Pace

Protesters took to Syrian streets, mosques and universities on Wednesday and planned demonstrations for Friday that could prove a watershed moment for a family autocracy that has ruled the country for more than four decades.

Kurds Clash With Turkish Police

Protesters clashed with police in southeast Turkey for the second day after several Kurdish parliamentary candidates were disqualified from national election ballots in June.

Scotland's Celtic Coach Targeted in Bomb Scare

Parcel bombs sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two prominent supporters of the Glasgow soccer club were live devices police said, the latest example of sectarian violence that is often played out among soccer fans.

Motorcycle Gunmen Strafe Yemen Protest

Gunmen on motorcycles sped by and opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators camped out in the early hours of the morning Wednesday in a Yemeni port city, killing one and wounding several protesters, an opposition activist said.

RWE Lashes Merkel's Nuclear Stance

RWE Chief Jürgen Grossmann criticized the German government's temporary suspension of the country's seven oldest nuclear plants following the crisis in Japan, saying the forced shutdown was hasty.

European Commission Eyes Budget Hike

The European Commission said it is seeking a 4.9% rise in the European Union's budget for 2012, a move that immediately ran into national opposition.

EU Firms Complain of China Access

European companies are being unfairly shut out of much of China's huge market for public procurement, according to a study by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, which echoed previous complaints by foreign firms.

Russia's Army Fights Losing Battle

Russia has abandoned an effort to transform its army by creating combat-ready units staffed by professional soldiers, not draftees, posing problems for the Kremlin.

• Video: Russian Army Disappointment

Unreliable Data Further Roil Oil Markets

Unreliable data on oil production—starting with the world's largest exporter, Saudi Arabia—are adding to the price volatility triggered by unrest in the Middle East, despite efforts to improve transparency.

OECD: Few Countries Punish Bribes

Figures released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed that only five of the 38 nations that have committed to stamp out bribery of foreign officials imposed penalties during 2010.

IEA Urges China to Cut Energy Subsidies

The head of the International Energy Agency called on China to more quickly reduce subsidies on gasoline, diesel and electricity, saying that prices should reflect the fact that the age of cheap energy is over.

Thailand Raises Benchmark Rate

The Bank of Thailand raised its benchmark rate for a fourth straight meeting, continuing its normalization efforts as inflationary pressure builds.

• Interactive: Global Interest Rates

U.N. Rights Officials Press for Mideast Meeting

Several members of the U.N.'s top human rights body are pressing for an emergency meeting to examine the government crackdowns against popular protests that have swept the Mideast and North Africa.