Brussels / AFP The European Union begun training the Libyan coast guard as part of efforts to curb the growing influx of irregular migrants from North Africa, EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said on Thursday. “Today we are starting the training of the Libyan coast guard in Operation Sophia which is a very important step,” Mogherini said as she …

  London / AFP The British pound rallied briefly on Thursday on brighter-than-expected economic growth data, while European stock markets sagged amid a dearth of eurozone news. Sterling bounced after official data showed that Britain’s economy grew by a better-than-expected 0.5 percent in the three months following the country’s refere- ndum in favour of exiting the European Union. The currency …

DUBAI / Reuters Banking shares that had been beaten down earlier this month by fears of slowing global economic growth headed for a seventh day of gains on Thursday, boosting Gulf stock markets despite weakness in Asian bourses and oil prices. The Saudi bank sector has been strong since last week’s big international bond sale by the government partially eased …