Mariano Rajoy, Spain's newly elected prime minister, selected a well-known former deputy finance minister and investment banker to spearhead his government's efforts to pull the euro zone's fourth-largest economy out of its worst crisis in decades.

BTA Bank Joint-Stock Company located at: 97, Zholdasbekov str., Samal-2 mcrd., Almaty, 050051, Republic of Kazakhstan, kindly informs on convocation of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of BTA Bank JSC in accordance with Resolution of the Board of Directors No.51 dated December 19, 2011.

ASTANA. December 22. KAZINFORM Yerlan Baizhanov has been appointed Director General of Nur Media Holding.

ASTANA. December 22. KAZINFORM Today the Board of Directors of Samruk-Kazyna JSC in consultation with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan has come to decision to terminate the authority of Chairman of the Board of KazMunayGas National Company JSC Bolat Akchulakov.

ASTANA. December 22. KAZINFORM The Head of State has signed the Law "On appointment of B.Mukhamedzhanov governor of Mangystau region".

ASTANA. December 22. KAZINFORM Today President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has met with the residents of the town of Zhanaozen in Mangystau region. Secretary of Nur Otan People's Democratic Party, politician Yerlan Karin has informed of it.

Teliasonera has signed an agreement with Kazakhtelecom to acquire 49 percent of the shares in GSM Kazakhstan LLP, operating under the brand Kcell. The purchase price is USD 1.519 billion. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to be finalized during the first quarter of 2012.

New York, California and other high- cost U.S. states may lose residents as the economy recovers, continuing a trend during the past decade of Americans searching for more affordable regions to settle.

On Monday, eurozone ministers collectively agreed to the IMF's firepower by 150 billion euros ($195 billion).

We've heard both sides of the debate of how China's economy will land.

In addition to domestic risks, Britain not immune from euro crisis.

The Federal Reserve proposed on Tuesday new capital and liquidity rules for the largest banks that would roll out in two phases and not likely go further than international standards.

German business and consumer confidence readings both improved in December, a sign that Europe's largest economy may avoid slipping into a recession early next year when it is expected to start to feel a fallout from slowing global growth.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi billionaire and an investor in some of the world's top companies, has bought a stake in microblogging site Twitter for $300 million, gaining another foothold in the global media industry.

She preached a gospel of self-discipline, free enterprise and national autonomy.