World News

VIENNA (AP) — OPEC's secretary general says oil prices could rise by about $25 from their present levels without threatening the world economy. Crude prices have dropped steeply in recent months with the U.S. benchmark selling Friday at just below $85 a barrel...

The price of oil is struggling for direction as OPEC ministers debate how much oil to produce while global economic growth is slowing. Benchmark crude rose 10 cents to $82.72 per barrel Thursday in New York. Brent crude fell 24 cents to $96...

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel is holding talks with the country's opposition leaders to forge a compromise on proposals for a European growth initiative. Her center-right government needs the support of opposition parties to secure a two-thirds majority for the EU's new treaty enshrining fiscal discipline in Parliament...

NEW YORK (AP) — The euro is falling against the dollar as leaders from the world's seven wealthiest nations discuss solutions to Europe's ongoing debt crisis. The euro fell to $1.2435 in afternoon trading from $1.2494 late Monday. Finance ministers and central bank presidents from the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Canada and Italy are holding a conference call to review options f

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II will make a rare address to the nation at the conclusion of festivities marking her 60 years on the throne. Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that the broadcast will be transmitted at 1700 GMT today in Britain and the Commonwealth...

BERLIN (AP) — Vladimir Putin can expect to face pressure from the leaders of Germany and France for a change of heart on Syria when he visits Berlin and Paris on Friday — but there's little sign that the Russian president is prepared to tighten the diplomatic screws on Bashar Assad...

GENEVA (AP) — A spokesman for international Syria envoy Kofi Annan says the United Nations hopes to have 30 cease-fire monitors in the country next week. Ahmad Fawzi says seven observers are already on the ground and another two will arrive on Monday...

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising on strong U.S. corporate earnings and promising economic signs in Europe. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude added $1.59 to $104.52 per barrel in New York. Prices rose after a closely watched survey in Germany showed that investor sentiment unexpectedly rose for a fifth straight month...

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are falling as tensions eased over Iran's nuclear program. Benchmark U.S. crude lost 60 cents to $102.23 per barrel in New York while Brent crude lost $2.01 to $119.22 per barrel in London. Iran, the world's third-largest oil exporter, has been accused of developing a nuclear weapon...

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning North Korea's rocket launch and warning it will take further action if it conducts another launch or a new nuclear test. A presidential statement, approved by all 15 council members and read at a formal meeting Monday morning, said Friday's launch, as well as any future use of ballistic missile technology, is "a serious vi