Beijing will issue 3.75 trillion yuan ($526 billion) in special government bonds this year, said Premier Li Keqiang on Friday, in a bid to boost infrastructure spending in the virus-hit economy.

China took the rare move of not setting an annual growth target this year after the coronavirus battered the world's second-largest economy and ravaged global growth, Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Asian markets fluctuated Thursday after rallying for much of the week, with any gains dragged by profit-taking while concerns over the long-term impact of the virus and worsening China-US relations added to the selling pressure.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that a decision would come "soon" on a potential rescue program for coronavirus-stricken airline giant Lufthansa after weeks of talks.

Greece will restart its tourism season on June 15 in a key boost to the economy after the virus lockdown, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday, adding that international flights would resume on July 1.

"The tourism period begins June 15, when seasonal hotels can reopen, and direct international flights to our tourist destinations will gradually begin July 1," Mitsotakis said in a televised address.

German car giant Volkswagen apologized Wednesday for an Instagram ad that showed a giant white hand pushing around a black person, after an online backlash slamming the clip as racist.

The U.S. economy risks suffering "permanent damage" the longer the lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday.

Angola on Tuesday awarded the licence for its fourth telecoms network to Lebanese group Africell, as sub-Saharan Africa's second-biggest oil producer opens other economic sectors to foreign competition.

Automakers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi have hinted that they may unveil a strategic plan next week to repair their troubled alliance as the coronavirus pandemic lashes the industry.

Facebook on Tuesday reached out to businesses struggling to survive the pandemic with free tools for creating online "Shops" at the social network and Instagram.