U.S. Concerned as Syria Moves Chemical Stockpile

Envoy Hails 'Significant' Turn in Afghan Talks

A peace forum in Japan attended by a high-ranking member of the Taliban represented a promising new development in efforts to reach a negotiated end to the Afghan war.

Nigeria Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills 95

A fuel-laden truck that crashed as it transited the cratered roads of Nigeria's oil-rich swamps exploded Thursday, killing at least 95 villagers who had rushed to siphon oil from the truck.

Mexican Vote Fight Undercuts New Leader

The second-place candidate in Mexico's presidential ballot planned to ask that the election be annulled, alleging widespread vote buying.

Asia Moves to Thwart Slowdown

Asian governments have begun a wave of stimulus measures to try to block a potential downward spiral. China reported its GDP on Friday.

• Deeper Slowdown Suspected in China

Clinton Urges Talks on South China Sea

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged China and Southeast Asian nations to keep negotiating to resolve disputes in the South China Sea, despite Chinese efforts to keep the issue off the table in international talks.

IEA Sees Rise in Global Oil Demand

Global oil demand is expected to rise by one million barrels a day next year, faster than growth this year, but "well below" the levels seen before the financial crisis as economic recovery remains muted, the International Energy Agency said.

Estonia Court Backs ESM

Estonia's highest court ruled that the euro-zone's European Stability Mechanism is constitutional, clearing a key hurdle for the nation's financial participation in a permanent bailout fund.

Chinese Luxury Appetite Wanes

China's voracious appetite for luxury goods is starting to wane, and companies like Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Burberry are seeing slower sales there.

Rwandan President Denies Aiding Congo Rebels

Rwanda's president rejected accusations by the United Nations that his country is supporting a group of Congolese army mutineers staging a rebellion in Congo's mineral-rich eastern region.

Kinross Says Chartered-Flight Crash in Mauritania Kills 7

Kinross Gold said Thursday a military plane chartered by it to carry gold from its Tasiast mine in Mauritania crashed, killing seven people.

Colombia Fighter Plane Goes Missing

Colombia's Air Force launched a search-and-rescue operation for one of its fighter planes that went missing in southwest Colombia during intense combat operations against leftist rebels.

U.S. Concerns Grow Over Mali Unrest

The U.S. moved Thursday to boost assistance to people fleeing violence in northern Mali, where radical Islamists and rebels have taken advantage of political chaos to attack villages and destroy historic monuments.

Hong Kong Minister Resigns

A top Hong Kong government minister resigned after being arrested by the city's anticorruption agency in a scandal that has undermined the administration, less than two weeks after it was sworn in.

Nine Climbers Die in Alps Avalanche

A climber trying to scale Mont Blanc accidentally caused a slab of ice to snap off Thursday high in the French Alps, sparking an avalanche that swept nine European climbers to their deaths, authorities said.

China Hits EU Over Trade Spat

China said that a trade dispute with the EU represents a "lack of trust" from the European side, and that the EU would be "beggaring its neighbor" if it were to continue investigations into subsidies given to telecom companies Huawei Technology and ZTE.

Militants Take Pakistani Villagers Hostage

Militants from Afghanistan took villagers hostage in Pakistan's northwest, sparking fighting that killed at least 10 people, Pakistani officials said. In the east, Taliban gunmen opened fire on a compound housing policemen, killing nine.

BOJ Adjusts Purchase Program

The Bank of Japan will shift tactics in its war on deflation, maintaining the overall size of its centerpiece $879.2 billion asset-purchase program but buying more short-term treasury bills.

India Factory Data Add Pressure for Rate Cut

India's industrial output grew faster than expected in May but remained relatively weak, heightening concern that the economy is in the midst of a slowdown and maintaining pressure on the central bank to cut interest rates.

• Economists React

Codelco, Anglo American to Extend Sur Mine Talks

Mining group Anglo American and Chilean state copper-mining company Codelco will extend negotiations over a contested stake in Anglo's Sur complex through mid-August, Codelco said Thursday.

Brazil Rate Cut Shows Growth Battle

Many economists say Brazil's once-successful model that depended on its vast natural resources has run out of steam, as the country's central bank was expected Wednesday to cut rates an eight straight time.

• Interactive: Global Interest Rates

Tax Probe Hits Credit Suisse Clients

German authorities are investigating thousands of Credit Suisse customers who are suspected of evading taxes with the help of insurance products sold by the Swiss bank.

Afghan Torture Allegations Rattle U.N. Relations

Relations between the U.N. and the Afghan government have deteriorated over allegations that Afghanistan's intelligence agency used torture to extract confessions in its investigation of mysterious illnesses striking schoolgirls.