The EU unveiled an unprecedented plan for common defense spending on Wednesday to help Europe stand alone as a global military power, while urging the United States under Donald Trump to remain on the world stage.

The pound climbed Wednesday on the eve of the British general election, while European equities dipped ahead of a busy news day that will include an interest rate call in the eurozone and vital testimony from sacked FBI chief James Comey in the United States.

A wave of unauthorized transactions have hit a major Philippine bank, triggering fears of hacking even as company officials said Wednesday it was an internal computer error.

Most European and U.S. stock markets retreated Tuesday, two days before a British general election and an expected rise in U.S. interest rates.

A Saudi-led diplomatic and economic blockade against Qatar may threaten food imports but the tiny emirate still has a lifeline through its gas and oil exports, experts said Tuesday.

The United States approved two large military contracts totalling more than $1.4 billion on Monday after promising Saudi Arabia a huge arms package to counter any threat from Iran.

The International Monetary Fund could sign on to a deal between Greece and its creditors before debt relief measures it demands have been agreed, director Christine Lagarde said Tuesday.

In the first salvo in a week-long push to overhaul America's infrastructure, President Donald Trump on Monday announced a plan to privatize the nation's air traffic control system.

Shoppers in Doha were taking no chances on Monday despite Qatari officials reassuring residents there was no need to panic after Saudi Arabia imposed a de facto food blockade.

Stock markets were lower Monday as traders reacted to the latest terror attacks in London, just days ahead of a British general election.