Romania put an attempt to privatise its rail freight business back on track on Friday, in line with conditions laid down by the IMF and EU, saying that three disqualified candidates had re-qualified. Under an agreement on financial help in 2011, the International Monetary Fund and European Union required Romania to privatise the company, CFR Marfa. The state intends to sell 51.0 percent of the company at a price set initially at 180 million euros ($233 million).

Japan on Friday welcomed the recent moves by North Korea toward dialogue with other countries that have urged Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile development programs. "It is a positive development that North Korea halts provocative acts and shows signs of accepting dialogue. We will closely watch this," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

By Kevin Yao BEIJING (Reuters) - China's plan to spend $6.5 trillion on urbanization to bolster the economy is running into snags, sources close to the government said, as top leaders fear another spending binge could push up local debt levels and inflate a property bubble. Premier Li Keqiang has rejected an urbanization proposal drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), seeking changes to put more emphasis on economic reform, according to the sources, who are familiar with the matter.

Bulgaria's caretaker government approved Wednesday new regulations requiring state-owned companies to diversify their deposits in local banks to end the current concentration of funds in one institution. The new rules oblige all companies with a government stake of over 50 percent to hold no more than 25 percent of their funds in one lender. Companies were given a six-month deadline to comply.