Taiwan's coast guard on Saturday commissioned its biggest ships for duty in the form of two 3,000-ton patrol vessels, as the island boosts defenses amid concerns about China's growing footprint in the disputed South China Sea.

• June 6, 2015

A bigger-than-expected slide in China's imports in May strengthened expectations more policy stimulus may be needed to avert a sharp slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

• June 6, 2015

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday there was not much time left for a debt deal to keep Greece in the euro zone and that Europe was prepared to show solidarity if Athens implemented economic reforms.

• June 6, 2015

History has become a weapon in Russia's battle with the West over Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin looks increasingly to the past to whip up patriotism and rally support.

• June 6, 2015

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday the situation with Russia had taken a "sad turn" and he was gathering U.S. military leaders and diplomats to assess the effectiveness of NATO strategy toward Moscow in response to the Ukraine crisis.

• June 4, 2015

EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday he was sure Greece and its creditors would reach an agreement on a cash-for-reforms deal and that Greece would remain in the euro zone.

• June 4, 2015

Tens of thousands attended a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong on Thursday to mark China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing, an anniversary given added poignancy by protests that gripped the Chinese-run city last year

• June 4, 2015

Philippine President Benigno Aquino made a veiled comparison on Wednesday between China's activities in the South China Sea and Nazi Germany's expansionism before World War Two, echoing similar remarks he made last year that outraged Beijing.

• June 3, 2015