Germany on Thursday slashed its growth outlook for next year, saying it expects trade conflicts, Brexit and other sources of uncertainty abroad to continue weighing on an economy that remains buttressed by domestic strength.

China said Thursday that its negotiators have "accelerated efforts" to hammer out the details of a partial deal with the United States, as the two sides edge towards an agreement in a lingering trade war.

Sterling tumbled Thursday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's key ally in parliament said it "could not support" his plans for a Brexit deal, throwing a spanner in the works just as Britain and the European Union were closing in on an agreement.

The pope on Wednesday contrasted the world's 820 million hungry people with those who turn food into "an avenue of personal destruction" through overeating, in comments to mark World Food Day.

Switzerland's main airline said that it expected more than half its fleet of Airbus A220s to resume flying on Wednesday after checks proved their engines were in "perfect condition."

A Polish court on Wednesday jailed a married couple who swindled 18,000 clients out of a total of 200 million euros ($225 million) in a massive Ponzi scheme.

Sterling slid Wednesday on a report that a Brexit deal might be impossible unless the UK government budges from its stance, dealers said.

China said Tuesday there was "no difference" with the United States on reaching a trade agreement, amid scepticism over what US President Donald Trump has called a "substantial phase one" deal.

Asian markets mostly rose but investor caution returned as the optimism fanned by Donald Trump's much-vaunted China trade deal wore off, while the pound was boosted by a report saying a Brexit deal was taking shape.

Bangladesh's already congested capital Dhaka was further disrupted Monday as thousands of Uber drivers went on strike in the city of 20 million, demanding a cut in the commission they pay to the global ridesharing giant.