The first ever passenger flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel landed near Tel Aviv on Monday, a month after the countries signed an agreement normalizing ties.

Etihad Airways flight EY 9607 from Abu Dhabi landed at Ben Gurion airport early in the morning with only crew on board, a spokeswoman for the Israel Airports Authority told AFP.

The International Monetary Fund said Monday that Lebanon’s economy is heading towards a contraction by 25%, compared with an estimated shrinkage of 12% in April -- one of the region's sharpest economic contractions this year.

"Lebanon needs a comprehensive reform program that tackles deep-rooted issues," the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia director Jihad Azour, who is an ex-Lebanese finance minister, said.

Trading on the Paris stock exchange has been suspended due to a technical problem, bourse operator Euronext said Monday.

Asian markets rose Monday on lingering hopes for a new US stimulus package, though Shanghai and Hong Kong pared their initial rallies after data showed China's economy grew at a slower pace than forecast.

China has passed a new law restricting sensitive exports to protect national security, a move that adds to policy tools it could wield against the U.S. as tensions -- especially in technology -- continue to rise.

The British government said on Sunday it still wanted to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, despite deadlocked talks.

Moody's on Friday cut the rating on Britain's debt a notch to Aa3, citing a weakening economy "exacerbated" by Brexit.

Britain's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost on Thursday said London was "disappointed" at European leaders' insistence that it should keep its word and implement the Brexit treaty in full.

Chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday he had invited his British counterpart to resume trade talks next week, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson's threat to walk away.

European leaders insisted Thursday that Britain must implement the terms of its existing Brexit withdrawal treaty, European Council president Charles Michel said after the first stage of an EU summit.