Economic growth in China exceeded forecast, helped by stronger retail sales at the end of the third quarter and bolstered by government stimulus efforts.

Aid began crossing into Gaza from Egypt for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago, addressing a key demand of US, European and Arab leaders as the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory worsens. Opening the border may allow foreigners to leave the enclave, although the US embassy earlier warned conditions would be “chaotic.”

Two days after the European Union declared it will push for a global phase-out of most fossil fuels well before 2050, Shell Plc signed a 27-year agreement to buy Qatari liquefied natural gas for the Netherlands.

Italy remains at two levels above junk at S&P Global Ratings after Giorgia Meloni’s government weathered the first of several possible assessments on its looser deficit prospects.

Roche Holding AG’s lung cancer drug scored a big win against a standard therapy in a study this week. Now, the Swiss drugmaker is turning to artificial intelligence to find patients who can benefit.

Leaders and senior officials from the Middle East and Europe will meet in Cairo on Saturday in a bid to ensure aid supplies get into Gaza and prevent the Israel-Hamas war becoming a wider conflict.