Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a divisive pension reform plan that the government said was vital to safeguard benefits, according to initial estimates.

The Vatican said Sunday it had been forced to oust its former auditor general -- who resigned without explanation in June -- because he had been spying on senior officials.

In the latest scandal to embroil the centuries-old institution, Libero Milone had accused the Vatican of getting rid of him because his investigations into possible illegal activity had hit too close to home.

Petrol prices are being pumped higher in Pyongyang in the wake of United Nations sanctions restricting exports of oil products to nuclear-armed North Korea.

China will limit exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea starting October 1, its commerce ministry said, confirming Beijing's participation in new UN sanctions intended to rein in its rogue neighbour.

Russia's energy minister said Friday that he was in favor of continuing cooperation with the OPEC oil cartel as their joint accord to cap output bears fruit in boosting the price of crude.

An increasing amount of Chinese-made components are reaching the U.S. market through Mexico and Canada, at the expense of American manufacturers, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday.

On the eve of the third round of talks aimed at revamping the 23-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement -- which U.S. President Donald Trump has vilified and repeatedly threatened to abandon -- the U.S. released figures showing how China is benefiting from the pact, replacing American-made material.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday signed sweeping changes to France's complex labor code into law, ramming through a landmark reform four months into his administration despite protests from hardline unions.

Asian markets turned lower Friday as investors cashed in at the end of a mostly positive week while the dollar weakened against its main peers with analysts questioning the chances of a third US interest rate hike this year.

The dollar fell back against the euro Thursday but firmed against the yen, as markets assessed the Federal Reserve's outlook for U.S. interest rates.

A landmark free trade deal linking EU and Canada went into effect on Thursday despite lingering opposition from activists worried about the pact's consequences on the environment and health.