CHINA

Walt Osterman is the author of Not Home Yet: A Tale Concerning Israel's Rebirth. He served in Vietnam and is a Bronze Star recipient. He lives in Wyoming.

Wall Street fell for a third straight day on Thursday after continued contraction in manufacturing in both the euro zone and China fueled worries about the global economy.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution urging Sri Lanka to investigate possible war crimes that may have been committed by both sides of the island nation's 26-year civil war.

The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits dropped to a four-year low last week, offering further evidence the jobs market recovery was gaining traction.

Its unique position straddling Europe and Asia and a tumultuous history tell only part of the story of why Russia faces an unprecedented challenge for an industrialized country.

The Ministry of Justice in China announced that lawyers working in the country will have to take an oath of allegiance to the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The euro zone slid back into recession in March as output fell for the second quarter running, reaching a new three-month low, according to Markit's Eurozone PMI Composite Output Index on Thursday.

Stocks fell at the open on Thursday as data on the U.S. labor market did little to counter concerns about weakness in the global economy after soft manufacturing data in the euro zone and China.

Putin, now Russia's president-elect, has said he would boycott the Group of Eight summit at Camp David and the NATO conference in Chicago this spring if U.S. missile defense plans weren't scrapped.

The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution Thursday asking Sri Lanka to re-investigate alleged war crimes during its 26-year-long war with Tamil tigers. The U.S-sponsored resolution was backed by 24 countries while 15 countries voted against it. Eight countries chose to abstain from the voting.

China's factory activities slumped for the fifth consecutive month as weakening domestic demand continued to weigh on growth. Spooked investors moved quickly out of riskier assets while hoping for further easing from Beijing.

Michael Bloomberg's charitable foundation will commit $220 million over the next four years to fight tobacco use globally, including for the funding of legal challenges against the industry.

Stocks were set for a weaker open on Thursday as data on the domestic labor market did little to counter concerns about weakness in the global economy after soft manufacturing data in the euro zone and China.

Stock index futures briefly extended their losses on Thursday after the latest reading on jobless claims.

Gold hit its lowest level since mid-January on Thursday, influenced by dollar strength, with the market having unwound all of the premium built up on expectations for further U.S. quantitative easing.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday after manufacturing data in the euro zone and China increased worry about a slowing global economy.

Boeing Co , Airbus and Embraer have come together to work with governments and biofuel producers to promote and speed up the availability of jet fuels that reduce carbon emissions.

A Chinese telecommunications equipment company has sold Iran's largest telecom firm a powerful surveillance system capable of monitoring landline, mobile and internet communications, interviews and contract documents show.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday after manufacturing data in the eurozone and China increased worry about a slowing global economy.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday after manufacturing data in the euro zone and China increased worry about a slowing global economy.

While shipping costs have been recovering over the past month from historical lows earlier this year, rates for the biggest vessels keep falling. Mistrust in the market, bad luck for iron exporters and a slowdown in world steel consumption are to blame.