UN Security Council extends South Sudan peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council renewed a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for second year on Thursday as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned the future of the year-old state was tied to developing good relations with former civil war foe Sudan.

West Bank high life masks deepening economic crisis

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Past the Israeli sentry towers blackened by firebombs and the entrance to a refugee camp emblazoned with posters of rifle-clenching militants, downtown Ramallah sparkles.

Spain to unveil new austerity steps soon: Sources

MADRID: Spain's government is putting finishing touches to an up to 30 billion euro ($38 billion) package of spending cuts and tax hikes to help it meet this year's deficit targets, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Manufacturing shrinks, first time in nearly three years

(Reuters) - Manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in nearly three years as new orders plummeted, according to one measure of the sector that showed the starkest sign yet of the extent of the slowdown in the economy.

Iran vows to confront "malicious" embargo

(Reuters) - Iran pledged to counter the impact of a European Union oil embargo which took full effect on Sunday, saying it had built up $150 billion in foreign reserves to protect itself.

Fed officials eye darker U.S. growth, jobs picture

(Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials on Friday said they were keeping an eye out for any signs that slowing growth is raising deflation risks but differed on how worrisome sluggish job markets are for the modest U.S. economic recovery.

Europe's bold rescue plan still awaiting details

BRUSSELS: Europe's leaders surprised skeptics with a bold plan to pump cash into troubled banks, reduce borrowing costs for Italy and Spain and stop forcing austerity on every government that needs aid.