US resumes Bahrain arms sales despite rights concerns‎

WASHINGTON - The administration of US President Barack Obama has said it will resume some arms shipments to Bahrain after most were suspended last year during a government crackdown on political dissent.

Spanish PM defends cuts day after massive protests

MADRID (AP) — Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Sunday defended his government's harsh austerity measures aimed at correcting Spain's grim economic forecast, one day after tens of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets to protest his handling of the country's worst crisis in decades.

German Finance Minister eyes growth measures for Greece

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is ready to consider additional measures to promote growth in Greece but the struggling economy must still carry out agreed reforms, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag weekly on Saturday.

Spain to be in recession in 2012 and 2013: European Commission

BRUSSELS: Spain will have to approve big additional savings this year and next if it is to meet its ambitious deficit reduction targets as the Spanish economy will be in recession in 2012 and 2013, forecasts from the European Commission showed on Friday.

UN official: Plight of Afghan poor may worsen

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan's security situation has overshadowed the glaring humanitarian needs of the nation's poorest, and their plight may worsen as international assistance wanes, a top U.N. official said Wednesday.

Brussels, Berlin tell Europe to stick to austerity

BRUSSELS (AP) — Germany and the European Commission on Tuesday called on EU nations to stick to their promised budget cuts despite mounting voter discontent, but promised some new efforts to boost growth to alleviate economic hardship.

Clinton wants India to further cut Iranian oil imports

NEW DELHI: Even as the US was pressing India to further reduce its oil imports from Iran, a 56-member delegation from Tehran was in the capital to push trade ties.