DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Qatar Airways says it is buying a nearly 10 percent stake in International Consolidated Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways and Spain’s Iberia. The government-backed Gulf carrier said on Friday that the decision to buy 9.99 percent of the company, known as IAG, …

BEIRUT – Syrian warplanes struck several rebel-held areas across the country on Monday, killing over 40 people, activists said. Air raids on the village of Jassem in the southern Daraa province killed at least 12 people and wounded 25, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Daraa-based opposition activist …

JOHANNESBURG – The South African Press Association announced that it will soon shut down. The news agency said on its website Thursday that its last story will be published at midnight on March 31. The agency’s board chairwoman, Minette Ferreira, said in a statement that the organization’s operation will end …

PARIS – A French diplomatic source says a demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia is essential for a cease-fire but is a sticking point in a new international push for peace. The official said Monday night that the other main difficulties are how to police the Ukrainian-Russian border, and the …

GENEVA – After failing six years ago to craft a global agreement to fight climate change, world governments are hoping that this year will mark a breakthrough in the slow-paced U.N. climate talks. In Geneva this week, negotiators from more than 190 countries are working on an early draft of …

TOKYO – Japan’s economy grew at a 2.2 percent clip in the last quarter on a sharp recovery in exports. The preliminary data released Monday show the world’s third-largest economy emerged from recession in October-December, as many economists had forecast. The government also revised upward data for earlier in the …

BERLIN – Germany has responded coldly to Greece’s request for a six-month extension to its rescue loan agreement without the associated spending cuts. German Finance Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said in a statement Thursday that a letter from the new Greek government “is not a substantial proposal for a solution.” …

ROME – Italy and Switzerland have signed an accord ending Swiss banking secrecy. The neighboring countries, in the agreement signed in Milan on Monday, pledged to exchange information for tax purposes in line with international standards. Italy hopes the arrangement will help it fight tax evasion. Under a recent law, …

SYDNEY – Two men from Malaysia and Hong Kong have been charged with smuggling more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, worth 65 million Australian dollars ($50 million) into Sydney in a shipping container from China, authorities said on Thursday. The men, whose names have not …

BEIRUT – Activists and local residents say intense clashes between a Western-backed rebel group and al-Qaida’s Syrian affiliate have killed at least 20 fighters on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says fighters from the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front battled members of …