German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday stressed her continued support for an EU-U.S. trade agreement being negotiated but recently declared dead by her deputy and by a French minister.

Apple chief Tim Cook on Thursday slammed a European Commission ruling demanding the U.S. tech behemoth pay Ireland €13 billion in back-taxes as "political crap", urging the Irish government to launch an appeal. 

British Airways was on Thursday to become the first British airline in four years to fly directly to Iran following the lifting of some sanctions against Tehran.

Eurozone inflation and jobless data on Wednesday fell short of analyst forecasts as the economy bumps along amid speculation the European Central Bank will have to adopt more stimulus measures.

Cyprus and Egypt signed Wednesday an agreement paving the way for the supply of gas to the Arab nation via an undersea pipeline that officials hope will create a regional energy hub.

Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla said the deal sets the political framework for additional commercial agreements that will determine the details of how, where and when the gas will reach Egypt.

G20 leaders will meet in China this weekend in a climate of economic uncertainty and sluggish global growth –- but the absence of an urgent crisis means the forum will be short on breakthroughs, analysts say.

Eight years after the first G20 summit in Washington, when countries coordinated a response to the financial meltdown, Beijing has set a modest agenda for the Hangzhou gathering -- focusing on making the world economy “innovative, invigorated, interconnected, and inclusive”.

Canada will apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Ottawa's finance department said Wednesday, in a coup for Beijing after Washington had tried to dissuade US allies from signing up.

"Canada is always looking for ways to create hope and opportunity for our middle class as well as for people around the world," Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in a statement issued in Beijing. 

Oil prices extended losses in Asia Wednesday on the back of a strong dollar while reported comments by Iran's oil minister that his country planned to boost output ramped up oversupply worries.

The European Union on Tuesday ordered Apple to pay a record 13 billion euros in back taxes in Ireland, saying deals allowing the U.S. tech giant to pay almost no tax were illegal.

Oil prices edged up in Asia on Tuesday, a day after retreating on a stronger dollar, but worries about a global supply glut are keeping gains in check ahead of a key producers' meeting next month.