THE International Monetary Fund's threat to pull out of bailouts for Greece unless European partners grant Athens massive debt relief poses a stark challenge to Germany, the biggest creditor, which insists on IMF involvement in any future rescue.

A bitter dispute over the proposed merger of two Samsung affiliates comes to a head Friday with a shareholder vote that could -- whatever the result -- force a shift in corporate governance practice among South Korea's giant, family-run conglomerates.

The effects of air pollution cost France some 100 billion euros ($110.1 billion) each year, a French Senate committee report estimated Wednesday, citing impact to health as the major expense.

China's GDP expanded 7.0 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, official data showed Wednesday, beating expectations as months of central bank policy stimulus helped support the world's second-largest economy.

Canada's central bank cut its key lending rate by a quarter-point to 0.5 percent Wednesday in a bid to stimulate an economy that fell into recession in the first half of the year.

Twenty years ago today Amazon sold its first book, created the first online book store and went on to become a hugely profitable internet superpower. Today it's celebrating that anniversary with Amazon Prime day, 24 hours of special offers which will be the biggest day of e-commerce the world has ever seen.

Sri Lanka is seeking cheaper funding sources to replace billions of dollars in debt from Chinese banks, government officials said, as the six-month-old government distances itself from Beijing weeks before a general election.

HSBC should have made deeper checks before buying a Swiss private bank that allegedly allowed customers to dodge taxes and a Mexican business that breached anti-money laundering rules, its former chairman said.

From steelmakers to construction firms, industrial companies in Asia hope an end to sanctions in Iran can provide a new source of sorely-needed demand.

Britain's unemployment rate climbed to 5.6 percent in the quarter ending in May, with the number of jobless up for the first time in over two years, data showed Wednesday.

Oil futures slid Wednesday as markets started to price in the impact on supplies of Iran's historic deal with Western powers regarding the Islamic republic's suspected nuclear ambitions.

Japan's central bank on Wednesday cut its annual growth and inflation forecasts for the world's third-largest economy, with analysts warning weaknesses remained and the downgrade hinted at a disappointing second quarter.

FEDERAL Reserve Chair Janet Yellen stuck to her forecast for an increase in the Fed's key interest rate later this year on Wednesday, predicting a pickup in the US economy.

Toyota recalls 625,000 hybrid vehicles globally, mostly the Prius model favoured by the eco-conscious including Hollywood celebrities, over a defect that can bring the car to an unexpected stop.

China's total trade slumped in the first half of this year, official data showed Monday, falling well short of the government's targets and dealing a blow to the global economy from its biggest trader in goods.

Oil prices fell in Asia Monday as Iran and major western powers said they were closer than ever to a landmark nuclear deal that would lift sanctions and see Tehran's crude exports return to global markets.

India is meeting stiff resistance in its drive to make the buying of gold jewellery more transparent and to channel demand into paper gold to stop the metal being used to hide billions of dollars of undeclared 'black money'.

Come December, Thailand will have more solar power capacity than all of Southeast Asia combined as record sums of money is poured into the sector in the hopes of nurturing a new energy source to help drive the region's second-biggest economy.

EUROZONE leaders have reached agreement over a third Greek bailout after marathon talks in Brussels.

GREEKS greeted news of a deal with creditors on Monday with a measure of relief mixed with much anger, particularly at Germany, after it became clear Greece will have to swallow more austerity that could fracture the government and spark a backlash.