EU foreign ministers are expected to lift embargo restrictions April 22 to allow crude oil to be purchased from the Syrian opposition and oil industry equipment to be sold to the rebel forces, EU diplomats said April 17, Reuters reported.

Cyprus will ease its citizenship rules for foreign investors who lost 3 million euros (about $4 million) as a result of Cyprus' recent bailout deal, meaning some Russians could now get EU passports, Famagusta Gazette reported April 15, citing Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho urged banks to give more loans to businesses in order to fight the country's recession and increase the amount of credit flowing through the economy, AFP reported April 14.

Swiss President Ueli Maurer said changes to Switzerland's practices in banking secrecy were unnecessary, AFP reported April 14.

Egypt will not ask the International Monetary Fund to increase its proposed $4.8 billion loan to Cairo, Egyptian Central Bank Gov. Hisham Ramez said April 14, Reuters reported.

Two people in China's Henan province have been infected by H7N9, the new strain of avian influenza, and another four have been infected in Zhejiang province, Reuters reported April 14, citing Xinhua.

The United States penalized a Malaysian bank, an Iranian businessman and several companies that it accused of evading the sanctions against Tehran's nuclear program, Reuters reported April 11.

The Central Bank of Cyprus on April 11 denied reports of an imminent sale of gold reserves, Xinhua reported, citing a statement by a Central Bank spokeswoman.