Finance & Economics

The challenges facing the EU in its relations with great powers this year

It’s not just in Europe that the EU faces many challenges. On a global scale it will have to find ways to successfully work together with its international partners such as the US, Russia and China.

New export credit rules will boost railway development and help countries achieve greener growth, OECD says

New international rules on state financing of rail exports will boost the development of cleaner transportation infrastructure and help countries meet green growth objectives, the OECD said.

Government of India and World Bank Sign $250 Million Agreement for Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project

About 2,500 permanent disaster resilient houses to be built and about 3,600 km of roads to be reconstructed

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The agreement was signed by Onno Ruhl, Nilaya Mitash, and Rakesh Sharma.

Violence Escalates as Libya Faces Oil Standoff

A standoff between Libya’s central government and militias who control oil fields threatens to escalate into conflict, after the rebels said they would sell oil directly to the world market despite a government ban. Militias in the east and south are demanding autonomy, threatening to derail Libya’s path to stability following the overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi in 2011. The lawlessness is feeding violence across the country.

Timor-Leste becomes first Asia-Pacific country to launch UN’s Zero Hunger Challenge

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Launch of “Zero Hunger Challenge” Campaign with Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Launch of tough negotiations on final step to banking union

Negotiators for Parliament and the Greek Presidency of the Council start talks on Wednesday in a bid to reach a deal in the coming months on the next step towards banking union –- an EU system for winding down failing banks, with a single fund to pay for this.

IMF Executive Board Completes Review of Poland’s Performance under the Flexible Credit Line

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed its review of Poland’s qualification for the arrangement under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) and reaffirmed Poland’s continued qualification to access FCL resources. The Polish authorities have indicated that they intend to continue treating the arrangement as precautionary.

IMF Completes Second Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement for Solomon Islands

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the second review of Solomon Islands' economic performance under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The Executive Board also approved a request for modification of the end-December 2013 performance criterion on net credit to the government.

Senior UN officials urge ‘Group of 77’ nations to work collectively on anti-poverty goals

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Foreign Minister RatuInoke Kubuabola (right) of Fiji hands over chairmanship of the "Group of 77 and China" to Bolivian President Evo Morales.

New beginnings: the EU laws that will change your life starting this year

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EP president Martin Schulz signs Erasmus+ into law. The revamped education programme will enable more than four million people to study abroad over the next seven years.