Qatar Airways said Wednesday it will seek compensation for losses sustained from an "illegal airspace blockade" imposed since 2017 by four Middle East nations.

Fresh hopes for a coronavirus vaccine and another round of U.S. stimulus handed strong gains to most stock markets on Wednesday, although advances were tempered by the reimposition of lockdown measures, while China-U.S. tensions weighed on Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The United States hailed Britain's decision Tuesday to order the phased removal of China's Huawei telecoms giant from its 5G network, following months of pressure from Washington.

World stock markets fell Tuesday as fears resurfaced over a spike in coronavirus infections around the world, dealers said.

Network equipment providers Ericsson and Nokia, Huawei's biggest competitors, said Tuesday they were ready to step in after the UK announced it was phasing out the Chinese telecoms giant from its budding 5G network.

Britain's economy slumped by almost a fifth in the three months to May compared with the prior December-February period, as the coronavirus lockdown ravaged activity, official data showed Tuesday.

Chinese trade enjoyed surprise growth in June as the world slowly emerges from economy-strangling lockdowns, though officials warned of headwinds for recovery owing to the spread of the pandemic.

Britain on Monday launched another Brexit advertising blitz, urging businesses and individuals to get ready for cutting ties with the European Union at the end of the year.

World stock markets advanced Monday, helped by investor confidence in upcoming U.S. third-quarter earnings and hopes for progress towards a coronavirus vaccine, dealers said.

Wall Street stocks opened decisively higher Monday as progress on a coronavirus vaccine offset unease at worsening outbreaks in many parts of the United States.