Australia signals approval of China-based AIIB; Japan divided
Australia said on Friday there was a lot of merit in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) while Japan's finance minister signalled cautious approval of the institution that the United States has warned against.
Merkel sees progress with Greece, no date for fresh funds
Greece promised on Friday to speed up implementation of its extended bailout agreement and send a full list of detailed reform proposals to its euro zone partners in the coming days, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Ex-Soviet states battle challenge of low oil prices
The three main members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union face a big economic challenge from the fall in global oil prices, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Friday.
EU likely to keep Russia sanctions after Merkel weighs in
European Union leaders look likely to keep economic sanctions on Russia in place until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully working, after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday it would be wrong to ease pressure on Moscow prematurely.
Iran nuclear deal may open oil taps in months, not weeks
A possible deal over Iran's nuclear program that would phase out economic sanctions against Tehran is unlikely to flood world markets with more oil any time soon, despite Iran's declared intention to claw back market share lost because of the curbs.
Russia starts nationwide show of force
More than 45,000 Russian troops as well as war planes and submarines started military exercises across much of the country on Monday in one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows.
Germany still wants to keep Greece in euro zone
The German government remains committed to keeping Greece within the euro zone, a spokesman said on Monday, after Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said last week that he could not rule out an accidental exit of the country from the euro zone.
China displaces Germany as world's third largest arms exporter
China has surpassed Germany to become the world's third largest arms exporter, a Stockholm-based think tank said in a report on Monday.
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