Berlusconi convenes final Cabinet meeting, to quit

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has convened his final Cabinet meeting before his expected resignation that will set in motion a political transition aimed at bringing back the country from the brink of economic crisis.
Berlusconi met with his ministers Saturday after parliament’s lower Chamber of Deputies passed European-demanded economic reforms. The Senate passed the legislation Friday, […]

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Surveys show slow growth in China manufacturing

Surveys show China’s manufacturing remained sluggish in October, with a government industry group reporting the slowest growth in nearly three years.
The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Tuesday that its monthly purchasing managers index fell an unexpectedly large 0.8 percentage point to 50.4, just above the 50-level that signifies expansion.
It forecast the economy would […]

Ask the expert: Gary Fischer, Ross & Baruzzini

What is a lean health care project, and what is its most important ingredient?
Lean health care construction projects are, by their nature, fast-track and don’t leave room for redesign. Under such projects, contractors order materials and begin construction while the design is being completed. Redesign can lead directly to cost increases. Poor starts in design […]

Welcome to the new arms race between online protection and oversharing

The rise of social media is pitting people who value privacy against those who want to share their lives with others.
That

Putin praises himself as ‘most hardworking’ leader

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has praised himself as Russia’s “most hardworking” leader since World War II.
In his first lengthy interview since last month’s announcement that he will seek a third presidential term, the 59-year-old prime minister said that Communist-era leaders were not physically capable and did not have “the will” to run the country […]

Dollar cost averaging smooths out volatility

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could smooth out all the rough spots in your personal investments?
Many investors have wondered just that during this frenetic market year that is constantly being buffeted by world events. Too often, they boldly invest when stock prices are high, then fearfully halt their investing or sell their holdings altogether […]

Italy’s Berlusconi wins confidence vote

Premier Silvio Berlusconi has survived a confidence vote in parliament, but his narrow majority raises doubts over his ability to govern effectively when Italy needs a steady hand during its economic crisis.
Berlusconi’s conservatives won the vote in the lower house of parliament Friday 316-301.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. […]

Dexia shares plummet after partial nationalization

Shares in embattled bank Dexia plummeted 33 percent when they resumed trading Monday after the lender became the first major victim of a worsening credit squeeze in Europe.
Shares slid to 0.57 euro Monday afternoon in Brussels. They had been suspended Thursday as governments in Belgium, Luxembourg and France were figuring out how to save the […]

Eurozone set to struggle over Greek bailout

Finance ministers from the 17 euro countries will grapple over Greece’s ever-worsening debt crisis, a day after Athens revealed its deficit will be higher than previously promised.
Meeting the budget targets is a precondition for getting the next euro8 billion ($10.8 billion) installment of the country’s first, euro110 billion bailout.
Although the ministers have already said they […]