Etihad Airways net profits surged by more than half in 2014 to $73 million, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier said Thursday, buoyed by increased passenger numbers and further expansion into the European market.

Revenue for the fast-growing carrier rose 26.7 percent to $7.6 billion, with net profits increasing 52.1 percent from $48 million in 2013, Etihad said in a statement.

A court in New Delhi on Wednesday ordered  authorities to unfreeze Greenpeace India's local bank accounts in a partial victory for the environmental campaigner in its ongoing battle against the government.

In an interim ruling, the High Court said Greenpeace could also receive local donations into those two accounts, handing the group a lifeline which would allow its operations to continue in India for now.

The European Union and Switzerland signed a major accord Wednesday that will end banking secrecy for EU residents and prevent them from hiding undeclared income in Swiss banks, the European Commission said.

The agreement deals "another blow against tax evaders, and (represents) another leap towards fairer taxation in Europe," said Pierre Moscovici, the EU commissioner for tax issues.

The dollar was sitting around eight-year highs against the yen Wednesday following upbeat U.S. data, while the euro came under further selling pressure over growing fears Greece will default on its debt obligations.

In Tokyo, the greenback bought 123.08 yen, little changed from 123.09 yen in New York, where it passed the 123.30 yen level at one point, its highest since mid-2007.

The Greek government, struggling to keep up its debt repayments,  announced on Tuesday that any dormant public sector accounts holding less than 100 euros ($109) should be emptied and the funds handed over to the central bank.

"It covers bank accounts which on March 15 held a total of 0-99 euros," the finance ministry said in a decree.

Africa has long been the El Dorado just over the horizon for airlines, but sustained economic growth and the emergence of a middle class on the continent may finally clear the obstacles from the runway.

"Today, Africa accounts for just a small portion of global air traffic: less than 3 percent of passengers when it has 15 percent of the world's population," said Bertrand Mouly-Aigrot, an air transport expert at Archery Strategy Consulting. 

Oil prices rose in Asia Wednesday on bargain-hunting following sharp falls in the previous session triggered by a strong U.S. dollar and continued concern over the global supply glut, analysts said.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for July delivery gained 44 cents to $58.47 while Brent crude for July gained 30 cents to $64.02 in afternoon trade. 

The world's poorest nations, the bulk of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, are receiving less than a third of development aid, and this support is waning, a non-governmental organisation founded by U2 frontman Bono said Tuesday.

World leaders should target the most disadvantaged nations when they adopt a new set of goals to eradicate extreme poverty this September, the advocacy group ONE said in a statement.

Charter Communications is nearing a $55.1 billion deal to buy out fellow American cable giant Time Warner Cable, which also has been courted by France's Altice, U.S. media reported Monday.

As part of the deal, Charter would pay about $195 a share for Time Warner Cable -- $100 in cash and the rest in shares -- The Washington Post reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the deal.

Thousands of Mexico City taxi drivers snarled traffic in the mega-capital on Monday in a protest demanding that the government ban U.S. ride-sharing service Uber.

In response, Uber fired back by offering free cab service "on a day so complicated to move" around the metropolis of 20 million people and four million vehicles.