Australian farmers Tuesday welcomed a breakthrough which paves the way towards exporting up to one million live cattle to China each year, with the government saying the new market could open up within months.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce announced late Monday that Australian and Chinese veterinary authorities were formalizing an agreement on animal health certification requirements, bringing commercial trade one step closer.

Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines said it plans to buy 21 Airbus A320 planes for 12.45 billion yuan ($2.04 billion), citing growth in both international and domestic air travel.

The Shanghai-listed company intends to fund the purchase in part through a private placement of shares to raise 4.5 billion yuan, according to a statement to the exchange late Monday.

A new $100 billion international bank dedicated to the emerging BRICS countries opened in China's commercial hub Shanghai on Tuesday, officials said, as an alternative to other multilateral lenders.

The "New Development Bank", backed by the so-called emerging BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has been viewed as a challenge to Washington-based institutions.

Natural wonders it has in abundance, but natural resources are lacking. And now one of Jordan's main money-earners -- tourism -- is being killed off by regional conflicts.

A haven of peace surrounded by war, Jordan is turning to contingency measures to try to revive its tourism industry which is suffering because of the raging violence in its neighbors Iraq and Syria.

World oil prices fell further Monday on a stronger dollar and concerns that a supply glut will worsen following a landmark deal which will allow Iran to increase its crude exports.

Brent North Sea crude for September delivery dropped 48 cents to $56.62 a barrel nearing midday London trade.

Gold slumped Monday to the lowest point in nearly five and a half years, weighed down by reports of massive selling in China, dealers said.

The precious metal tumbled to $1,072.35 in Asian deals, striking the lowest point since February 11, 2010, and breaching the key psychological barrier of $1,100.

Greek banks reopened Monday after a three-week shutdown imposed to stop a run on ATMs from crashing the financial system, but citizens woke up to widespread price hikes as part of a cash-for-reform deal with the country's creditors.

The bank shutdown since June 29 is estimated to have cost Greece's crisis-hit economy 3.0 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in market shortages and export disruption.

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel flew to Iran Sunday, becoming the first top Western official to visit the country since world powers and Tehran reached a historic nuclear deal.

Gabriel, who is also Chancellor Angela Merkel's deputy and energy minister, embarked on the three-day trip with a "small delegation of representatives from companies, industry groups and the sciences", his ministry said in a statement.

Greece prepared Sunday to restart its struggling economy with a revamped government, a bank reboot and a new round of tax hikes agreed after months of fraught confrontation with its creditors.

Banks are set to reopen Monday after a three-week shutdown estimated to have cost the economy some 3.0 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in market shortages and export disruption.

U.S. aviation giant Boeing said Saturday it has asked airlines to address a maintenance issue after a passenger jet's landing gear panel fell after takeoff and fell on a Shanghai suburb.

The sheet of metal weighing 130 pounds (60 kilograms) plunged to the ground shortly after Air France Flight 111 took off from Shanghai headed for Paris on Monday, Boeing said.