What investment bankers can expect in 2018

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces that the tech giant will invest $1 billion over the next five years to allow for faster and more affordable internet access and support entrepreneurship in Africa. Internet reliability is a problem in Africa where less than a third of the continent's 1.3 billion people are connected to broadband, according to the World Bank. But the continent, where nearly half the population is under 18, is a promising market.

The standoff over migrants entering the EU between Minsk and Warsaw has hit local Polish businesses near the border, many reliant on tourism. With the winter coming and no end in sight to the crisis, DW visited the area.

India invested heavily in Afghanistan's development projects after the 2001 US invasion of the country. It is unclear what impact the Taliban's return to power will have on these projects.

Experts question whether Google's planned $1 billion investment in Africa stands to benefit the continent in the long term. Instead, some see it as another avenue for big tech companies to acquire budding start-ups.

Report: Africa to see less funding for fossil fuels - Nigeria introduces eNaira digital currency - Solar powered vehicles made in Germany?

Benefitting from soaring demand for online ads, Google's parent company Alphabet reported nearly $19 billion in profits between July and September, up 68 percent from the same period last year. Microsoft's earnings also beat expectations, while French consumers are gearing up for some price hikes at the bakery.

Bar owner Mohamed Lamin Mansaray told everyone to run away from his bar just before a fuel tanker exploded following a traffic collision, killing at least 99 people and injuring hundreds more on Friday (November 5) in Sierra Leone. The explosion destroyed Mansaray's business killing a staff member and destroying his home, which he had built for himself and his 10 family members. "We are getting into festive season....I have just purchased a brand new musical set, lots of drinks from the Sierra Leone brewery and chairs that worth about Le 270,000,000 (24,700 USD). Property that I have lost and one of my staff died”, said Mansaray while pointing at what is left of his business.

The EU Commission on Wednesday (1 December) unveiled its plan to invest €300bn by 2027 in global infrastructure in digital and climate projects - as an alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative.

Chinese private investment in Uganda is growing while Westerners are losing appetite to put money to work in the country, President Yoweri Museveni told Reuters, pledging to step up efforts to tackle corruption which has made slow progress. Museveni, in power since 1986 and one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, said Uganda was working to sign a number of deals with Chinese private sector lenders in sectors from agro- and fertilizer-processing, minerals processing or textiles.

2021 brought big changes to households and businesses around the world. In the last show of the season, Stephen Carroll and Kate Moody take a look at some of the biggest business and economic stories of the year and how they might evolve in 2022.

Tensions between China and Lithuania soared after Taiwan was allowed to open a de facto embassy in Vilnius. Now, Taiwan wants to help offset the financial cost that comes with angering Beijing.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is poised to win a fourth consecutive term in Sunday's presidential elections. But there's mounting pressure from the US and the EU who are using economic sanctions to promote change.