Washington / AFP The World Bank and the new China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), originally seen as possible rivals, joined hands with an agreement to co-finance projects. The two development banks signed off on a framework for working together on infrastructure programmes over the coming year which will give the World Bank some crucial oversight on how projects are …

  FRANKFURT / Reuters Lufthansa is in talks with the owners of Scandinavian carrier SAS and Brussels Airlines to expand the number of destinations it flies to and grow its low-cost Eurowings business, people close to the German airline said. Two sources said that Lufthansa had been in talks with the owners of SAS since the autumn, which could lead …

  Reuters US retail sales fell in March, dragged down by the auto sector, according to official data that suggested tepid consumer spending. The Commerce Department said retail and food services sales fell 0.3 percent in March and after sales in February were flat. The month-over-month decline was due to a 2.1 percent drop in motor vehicle sales. Stripping out …