Europe

World Bank expands investment consulting in CEE, Central Asia

World Bank GroupVienna - The World Bank Group has launched a new office in Vienna on Tuesday to help a wider range of countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia attract direct foreign investment.

Expanding its previous work in Vienna that was focused on the West Balkan region, the World Bank's investment climate advisory service FIAS is expanding to countries such as the Ukraine and Armenia, programme coordinator Margit Mischkulnig said.

"It's going deeper and wider," she said.

Confidence returns to European share markets

Frankfurt - Signs of confidence returning to share markets emerged Monday as stocks in Europe and Wall Street gained ground following solid rises across Asia.

By late afternoon trading, Europe's blue-chip Stoxx 50 was up 3.7 per cent at 2349 points as an element of calm characterized share trading amid signs of an easing in the global credit crunch.

Triggered by the surge in defaults in risky US mortgages, the credit squeeze has been a key factor in unleashing the recent round of world share market turmoil.

The pickup in global shares Monday also came after a tumultuous week on stock markets and with companies around the world continuing to roll out third-quarter corporate results.

European Stock Markets close higher as Investor sentiment improves

Frankfurt - Signs of confidence returning to share markets emerged Monday as stocks in Europe and Wall Street gained ground following solid rises across Asia.

European shares enjoy positive start to trading week

Frankfurt  - European shares began the new trading week Monday on a positive note.

Seven new countries get visa-free access to US

Washington - Seven new countries will be added to the United States' visa-waiver programme after meeting new security requirements aimed at reducing the threat of terrorism, President George W Bush announced Friday.

In about one month, citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea will be able to visit the US for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

The admission was part of a long process that began some two years ago and has strained relations with US allies. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the US has placed a variety of new security requirements on all foreign travellers.

Seven new countries get visa-free access to US

Seven new countries get visa-free access to US Washington - Seven new countries will be added to the United States' visa-waiver programme after meeting new security requirements aimed at reducing the threat of terrorism, President George W Bush announced Friday.

In about one month, citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea will be able to visit the US for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

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