As the euro crisis drags on and no end seems to be in sight, two players have emerged that will be key to solving the deficit problems of many ailing states like Greece, Spain and Portugal: Germany and the European Central Bank (ECB).

Germany is the strongest economy in the eurozone and the one of the few that has not yet been sucked into recession by the economic downturn on the continent. The Germans, led by Angela Merkel, have the economic firepower to withstand market forces that could possibly drag weak eurozone countries into recession.

On the other hand the ECB also has major monetary firepower and a chequebook that could be used to purchase bonds from those countries at risk of defaulting. The problem is that EU treaties do not allow the ECB to finance member nations’ debts directly. FULL POST

For decades there have been dreams of a railway network spanning from Asia to Europe, linking cities as diverse as Kuala Lumpur and Kabul in what is known as the "Iron Silk Road".

But the project is stalled and is facing major obstacles. One in particular is in South Korea. A map of the proposed railway network included the Korean peninsula, but restoring the North – South Korean rail network remains difficult.

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Editor's note: The Outlook series spotlights a country to give a deeper understanding of the business, industry and consumer trends that fuel its economy. While exploring the current challenges and opportunities facing a country's economic progress, Outlook also seeks to provide an insight into its future development.

(CNN) Every day Monaco’s population more than doubles with around 50,000 workers arriving in the Principality every morning. With more than 3,000 staff the country’s biggest employer is the Societe des Bains de Mer (SBM) which runs the majority of Monaco’s tourist activities. The state remains it's biggest shareholder, but in the last few years it has been badly affected by the credit crunch.

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