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Mongolia looks at equity for royalties swap to break mining deadlock
![Mongolia looks at equity for royalties swap to break mining deadlock](/web/20150206142227im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image/2009-2014/AFR/2015/02/06/Photos/82000cc8-ada6-11e4-9c2b-d4e4dfef18c5_208132970--180x120.jpg)
Mongolia is looking to revive stalled foreign investment in large mining projects by cutting its equity stake in strategic mines in exchange for more royalties, according to a government plan due to be unveiled on Friday.
China faces easing options as economy slows
![China faces easing options as economy slows](/web/20150206142227im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2015/02/06/Photos/e8c3b750-ada8-11e4-9c2b-d4e4dfef18c5_2015-02-02T083242Z_63778247--90x60.jpg)
As China's leaders prepare for an annual gathering of the nation's legislature, they must make a choice: help growth by making it cheaper to borrow, or keep stimulus limited for fear of exacerbating credit risks.
Merkel, Hollande take peace plan to Moscow
The leaders of Germany and France announced a new peace plan for Ukraine on Thursday, flying to Kiev with a proposal they would then take on to Moscow.
Fourth time lucky? Denmark takes razor to rates again
Denmark's central bank cut its benchmark rate for a fourth time this year as it steps up efforts to fight back capital flows that threaten to strengthen the krone beyond the confines of its euro peg.
Russian inflation hits 15pc as economic pain deepens
Russia's inflation hit 15 per cent in January, official data showed on Thursday, underscoring the growing economic pain from sliding oil prices and Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine conflict.
Twitter revenue nearly doubles to $US479m
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Twitter said its revenue in the fourth quarter nearly doubled to $US479 million, but the growth rate of its monthly users slowed significantly.
Dialogue of the deaf as Greek, German ministers meet
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The maiden meeting between Greece's iconoclastic new finance minister from the Marxist left and his 72-year-old conservative German nemesis was never going to be easy. It turned out even worse than expected.
US trade deficit widens by 17.1pc
The US trade deficit in December widened sharply to its highest level since 2012 as a stronger US dollar appeared to suck in imports and weigh on exports. Slowing global growth didn’t help either.
Space is cool again as private funding soars
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Call it Space Race 2.0. Almost a half-century since the Apollo moon flights, entrepreneurs are expanding the boundaries of rocket and satellite technology as the U.S. makes room for private enterprise.
Greek banks ‘absolutely safe’, Tsipras defiant
Greek banks are "absolutely safe" and there is no problem with their liquidity, Greek central bank governor Yannis Stournaras said on Thursday in Athens.
Japan, China must co-operate on fighting IS
![Greg Earl Greg Earl](/web/20150206142227im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/greg_earl_small.jpg)
The murder of a Japanese journalist by Islamic State terrorists on the weekend should provide a warning to Japan and China.
Three free trade zones planned
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Tianjin, Fujian and Guangdong will feature free trade zones in addition to Shanghai.
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