Woman with Italian ship captain defends his effort

A young Moldovan woman who says she was called to the bridge of the stricken Costa Concordia to help evacuate Russian passengers defended the embattled captain on Thursday, saying he worked tirelessly and “saved over 3,000 lives.”
Domnica Cemortan, who says she was translating Capt. Francesco Schettino’s orders during the frenzied evacuation, has emerged as a […]

Nigeria Labor Unions Plan to Proceed With Strike Over Fuel Subsidy Removal - Bloomberg

Nigerian labor unions plan to go ahead with a nationwide strike to protest the scrapping of fuel subsidies that more than doubled gasoline prices, said Owei Lakemfa, general secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress.

German Unemployment Drops More Than Forecast as Mild Winter Fuels Building - Bloomberg

German unemployment (GRUECHNG) fell more than forecast in December as exports of cars and machinery boomed and one of the mildest winters on record helped support jobs in construction.
The number of people out of work fell a seasonally adjusted 22,000 to 2.89 million, the Nuremberg-based Federal Labor Agency said today. Economists forecast a decline […]

US seals $3.48B missiles, technology sale to UAE

The United States has reached a deal to sell $3.48 billion worth of missiles and related technology to the United Arab Emirates, a close Mideast ally, as part of a massive buildup of defense technology among friendly Mideast nations near Iran.
Pentagon spokesman George Little announced the Christmas Day sale on Friday night.
He noted that the […]

China to Balance

China will balance

U.S. Business Activity Grows Faster Than Forecast Despite Europe Slowdown - Bloomberg

Companies cranked out more goods in December and pending sales of existing homes jumped in November for a second month, pointing to a pickup in U.S. economic growth as 2011 comes to a close.
The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago Inc. said today its business barometer (CHPMINDX) was little changed at 62.5 from a seven- month […]

Centene expects greater revenue, profits in 2012

Centene Corp.

What lies ahead for the U.S. economy? Offer your forecast!

A year ago, economists Ken Matheny and Gary Thayer were both optimistic about 2011. Going into 2012, they’re decidedly less so.
“You have a lot of things coming along in early 2012 that really slow the economy down,” says Matheny, of Macroeconomic Advisers in Clayton.
The biggest problems are the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and a […]

Apple, major e-book publishers in EU antitrust probe

BRUSSELS

India in bind, may delay coming of foreign retail

India’s ruling party faced a potentially damaging setback Sunday after an important coalition ally said the government had reversed its decision to throw open the country’s huge retail sector to foreign investors.
The government has not officially announced a change in its policy on foreign direct investment, but a reversal would be an embarrassment for the […]