CHINA

In a fairly light week of data, Friday's first take on the U.S. second-quarter gross domestic product will be the main event. Economists expect a feeble reading of 1.4 percent. This will be the final major data point to influence participants at the July 31 - Aug.1 meeting of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

The World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, ranked Vietnam the worst country for wildlife protection among 23 nations assessed for enforcement and protection of species prone to poachers, such as rhinos, elephants and tigers. (Check out the full report and list here).

China's giant oil and gas conglomerate Cnooc Ltd. said Monday it will pay $15.1 billion in cash for Canadian oil and gas company Nexen Incorporated (NYSE: NXY), among whose assets are large oil sands and shale gas properties.

Rumors are rife that Apple will launch a significantly redesigned iPhone later this year. One of the much-talked about design overhauls is a smaller dock connector, replacing the existing 30-pin one. While many rumored features of the next iPhone, aka iPhone 5, are still uncertain, this particular feature seems to be getting closer to fruition with more reports surfacing online in its favor.

The Arab League has offered a safe exit for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family if he quickly resigns and leaves the country, in the latest attempt from the international community to end 17 months of bloodshed in Syria.

Asian stock markets slumped Monday as renewed concerns over the euro zone debt crisis and worries about the Chinese economic slowdown dented investor sentiment.

Crude oil futures plunged Monday as renewed concerns over the euro zone debt crisis weighed on the financial markets and commodities.

Most European markets fell Monday amid continuing concerns about the deepening economic conditions in Spain and Greece.

China will establish a military garrison on a disputed island in the South China Sea, amid escalating tensions that have strained its ties with the neighboring nations and the U.S.

The Apple iPhone 5 release date may not be that far off, judging by a hint dropped by a top Verizon executive that industry observers are interpreting to mean that the long-awaited smartphone will hit stores by the end of 2012.

Internet users and investors were heartened last week when Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), elected Marissa Mayer, 37, as its third CEO in less than a year. A hedge fund gets part of the credit but not all hedge funds score as well in the tech sector: how about Eastman Kodak (Pink: EKDKQ)?

China will be in focus again in Asia as the slowdown in the second quarter economic activity and the dovish comments by Premier Wen raised expectations of a further reserve requirement ratio cut.

Karlo Dizon, a Guam Redditor for three years, is competing in a primary race against longtime Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo to be the party's candidate in the general election for Guams' nonvoting delegate seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Should Dizon win, it could be, as one person says, the biggest upset victory in the history of Guam politics.

Asian markets were mixed this week as investors continued to have concerns about the faltering global economy and the mounting debt crisis in the euro zone.

What guns laws are like elsewhere in the world, and how the U.S. outranks every other nation in gun ownership

The 2012 Olympics are finally at hand, after four long years of training and anticipation by the world's best athletes and fans of sport from every corner of the globe.

Communal tensions continued to flare in western Myanmar six weeks into the declaration of a state of emergency in the region, even as targeted attacks and human rights violations by the security forces against the minority community of the Rohingya and other Muslims have increased, said Amnesty International on Friday.

Asian stock markets mostly lowered Friday as weak economic data from the U.S. and concerns over the euro zone debt crisis weighed on the sentiment.

Asian markets were mixed Friday as investors remained watchful amid worries of the deepening debt burden faced by the euro zone and worsening global economic growth.

Tourists in Southern China spotted a mother dolphin carrying her dead calf on her back in what is now being called as dolphin mourning, NTDTV reported. The video was posted on YouTube on Wednesday and has already yielded over 85 thousand views.

China uses Africa conference as an opportunity to respond to foreign criticisms of its expanding relations with the continent.