The global economy is ending the year in a fragile state with factory activity shrinking in China, euro zone business growth remaining weak, and emerging market giant Russia in a spiraling currency crisis.

• December 17, 2014

The European Union will widen its ban on investment in Crimea to target Russian Black Sea oil and gas exploration, EU officials said on Wednesday, tightening sanctions first imposed over Moscow's annexation of the region.

• December 17, 2014

Russia has made constructive moves in recent days toward possibly reducing tensions in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

• December 16, 2014

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras begged the Greek parliament on Tuesday not to throw away sacrifices made to keep the country solvent, a day before deputies begin a vote that could force a snap election and reignite financial crisis.

• December 16, 2014

U.S. stocks opened lower on Tuesday as a further slide in crude oil prices and the Russian ruble sent traders fleeing from risky assets on global economic concerns.

• December 16, 2014

The head of the European Central Bank is set to tell European leaders in stark terms at a summit next week that they need to reform straggling economies or risk blunting an ambitious monetary offensive to help revive the stagnant euro zone.

• December 15, 2014

U.N. talks on slowing climate change were threatened with collapse on Saturday after China clashed with the United States and led emerging nations to reject a compromise outline of an agreement.

• December 14, 2014

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has insisted the $40 billion South Stream natural gas pipeline can still go ahead and accused Russia of holding EU-member Bulgaria to ransom when it said it had abandoned the project.

• December 4, 2014