European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Thursday that risks facing the euro zone economy meant interest rates will stay low for an extended period.

"The risks surrounding the economic outlook for the euro area remain on the downside," Draghi said at a news conference after the bank had left interest rates unchanged.

• July 4, 2014

Moscow on Wednesday said tying Moldova closer to the European Union violated the rights of the people in the former Soviet republic's breakaway, Russian-speaking region of Transdniestria and said it would foster closer ties with the enclave.

• July 2, 2014

Manufacturing activity in Asia's industrial powerhouses China and Japan gained pace in June, fueled by improving demand at home, but euro zone growth faltered as main motor Germany slowed.

• July 1, 2014

In the latest shift away from the austerity of the euro zone crisis, European Union leaders signaled at a summit that they were ready to give member states extra time to consolidate their budgets as long as they pressed ahead with economic reforms.

• June 30, 2014

Annual profit growth of China's banks could slow to 9 percent in 2014 as they face increased liquidity and lending risks due to slower economic growth and Beijing's battle on excessive factory capacity, the banking industry body said a report.

• June 30, 2014

China's top official in charge of relations with self-ruled Taiwan said on Friday that he understood and respected the choices of its people, as he was met by noisy protests in the traditionally anti-China far south of the island.

• June 28, 2014

In the latest shift away from the austerity of the euro zone crisis, European Union leaders signaled at a summit that they were ready to give member states extra time to consolidate their budgets as long as they pressed ahead with economic reforms.

• June 28, 2014

The European Union signed an historic free-trade pact with Ukraine on Friday and warned it could impose more sanctions on Moscow unless pro-Russian rebels act to wind down the crisis in the east of the country by Monday.

• June 28, 2014