China faces protests and riots in 2009 as at comes to terms with rising unemployment and a sharp economic downturn. Linda Yueh from Oxford Analytica considers the situation.

UK retailer Next reaffirmed its full-year profit forecast and Debenhams reported a rise in pre-tax profits Tuesday. Richard Perks from Mintel International considers the outlook.

Russia's gas dispute with Ukraine hit supplies to a swathe of European countries Tuesday, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria and Turkey. Katinka Barysch from the Centre for European Reform discusses.

Germany could soon agree a second fiscal stimulus package worth around $67 billion. Ralph Solveen from Commerzbank considers the outlook for the German economy.

"This night, Ukrainians unilaterally shut down three pipelines through which Russian gas went to Europe," Alexander Medvedev, deputy chief executive of Gazprom, told CNBC Tuesday. He also accused Ukraine of stealing gas.

Iceland was the biggest emerging market causality of 2008, but could another country run into similar problems in 2009? Arnab Das from Dresdner Kleinwort considers the outlook.