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Obama says Ukraine crisis reinforces U.S.-EU unity

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that the Ukraine crisis had reinforced unity of the United States and its European allies, although he did not rule out the possibility of providing lethal weapons to the Ukrainian forces, an act opposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Australia's defense chief moves to clarify gov't stance on submarine contract

​Australia's Defense Minister Kevin Andrews has dampened hopes that an Australian company might yet win the contract to build Australia's next generation of submarines.

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Bank reserve cut props up confidence in stock bull run

China's liquidity injection may ratchet up investors' confidence in the Chinese stock market as its hot streak loses steam.

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EC proposes 1 bln euros funding for unemployed young

​The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday proposed mobilizing 1 billion euros (about 1.14 billion U.S. dollars) for the Youth Employment Initiative as early as this year.

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Japan's PM condemns IS's purported beheading of Goto

​Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on early Sunday morning harshly condemned the purported killing of Kenji Goto, following the latest video message uploaded by the militant group Islamic State shows the beheading of a man suspected to be the captured Japanese national.

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Italy's presidential election begins in Parliament amid high expectations

​Italian parliament gathered in joint session of both Houses on Thursday for the first round of voting to elect the new president, after 89-year-old Giorgio Napolitano resigned on January 14th.

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Russia to lose 200 bln USD as economic shocks seep in

​External shocks, including plunging oil prices, would cost the Russian economy 200 billion U.S. dollars, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Wednesday, warning that two sovereign wealth funds would be exhausted within the next two years if budget expenditures remain unchanged.

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Italian analysts to monitor possible Greek debt renegotiations after Syriza victory

Italian analysts are keeping a close watch on what they expect to be a compromise solution to debt problems of bailed-out Greece following Syriza's electoral victory on Sunday.

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Sliding oil prices in feverish discussions at WEF Davos annual meeting

As oil prices recently slid below the symbolic threshold of 50 U.S. dollars per barrel, the possible future scenario of the vital energy, which is more than just a fuel but also a maker and a wrecker of global wealth and growth, was naturally a subject of feverish discussions among elites gathering for the annual Davos meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

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Israeli PM rejects criticism over upcoming speech in U.S. congress

​Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the criticism upon his acceptance of an invitation by U.S. Republicans to speak at the country's congress next month.

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Nigerian leader vows to transform railway system

​Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday that his administration had intensified efforts to modernize and transform the nation's railway system for national prosperity and development.

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Obama urges Iran to work toward nuke deal for better ties with U.S.

​U.S. President Barack Obama, in an interview aired on Monday, challenged Iran to seize the chance to ink a deal with the world powers over its controversial nuclear program to make way for better relations with the United States.

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S.Korea revises down 2015 growth outlook, economic reform heralded

​South Korea's Finance Ministry on Monday revised down its 2015 growth outlook to 3.8 percent from an earlier forecast of 4 percent due to sour consumer sentiment and economic uncertainties.

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Extended border services to boost Macao-mainland ties

A central government decision on the extension of service hours in Macao's three border ports, which came into effect Thursday, is expected to greatly facilitate exchanges and cooperation between Macao and the mainland.

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Amazon staff in Germany start three-day strike amid busy Christmas season

​Workers in online retailer Amazon's warehouses in Germany started a three-day strike on Monday, asking for higher payment and better working conditions.

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Russia hopes coordination in E. Ukraine would support ceasefire

​Moscow hoped coordination on the division line between conflicting sides in eastern Ukraine would support the ceasefire regime and the withdrawal of heavy armaments, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

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Oil prices won't fall to lower level: expert

​Oil prices which hit the lowest level for four years at global market will not fall downer, an Algerian energy expert said Sunday in Algiers.