The Next Crisis for German Banks — Shipping

FRANKFURT — For all the talk about Germany’s financial exposure to Greece, it turns out that some German banks have a problem of more titanic proportions — their vulnerability to the global shipping trade. Germany’s 10 largest banks have €98 billion, or $128 billion, in outstanding credit or other risks related to the global shipping industry, according to Moody’s Investors Service. That...

Read More..

Ericsson seeks U.S. import ban on Samsung products

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Swedish telecoms gear maker Ericsson has filed a request with the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban U.S. imports of products made by South Korean group Samsung,The request from Ericsson, which said on Monday the products infringe on its patents, came after it sued Samsung for patent infringement in a U.S. court last week.“The request for an import ban is a part of the...

Read More..

Kristin Chenoweth Dating Jake Pavelka

By Patrick Gomez 12/03/2012 at 04:40 PM EST Kristin Chenoweth and Jake Pavelka FilmMagic (2) Everything appears to be rosy between Kristin Chenoweth and her new beau Jake Pavelka."We have been spending a little time together," Chenoweth tells PEOPLE of her dates...

Read More..

Fossil fuel subsidies in focus at climate talks

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Hassan al-Kubaisi considers it a gift from above that drivers in oil- and gas-rich Qatar only have to pay $1 per gallon at the pump."Thank God that our country is an oil producer and the price of gasoline is one of the lowest," al-Kubaisi said, filling up his Toyota Land Cruiser at a gas station in Doha. "God has given us a blessing."To those looking for a global response to climate...

Read More..

Wall Street sours on weak domestic factory data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks struggled to extend the previous week's gains, dropping on Monday as disappointing U.S. factory numbers dampened optimism about China's economic growth. The declines broke a three-day streak of gains for the S&P 500, keeping it shy of its 50-day moving average of about 1,420, a level that the index has been below since October 22, and now serving as a key...

Read More..

Young and Educated in France Find Employment Elusive

Colin Delfosse for The New York TimesFrance’s Floating Generation: As youth unemployment hits 22 percent, many young people cannot find jobs that get them on the path to being tax-paying, property-owning adults.LILLE, France — Justine Forriez wakes up early to go onto the computer to look for a job. She calls university friends and contacts; she goes to the unemployment office every week, though mostly...

Read More..

Angry Birds Star Wars updated with 20 additional levels, Princess Leia cameo

Rovio on Thursday updated its immensely popular Angry Birds Star Wars game to include 20 additional levels. The latest game in the bird-slinging franchise was released earlier this month and was an instant hit, topping the iTunes App Store in less than three hours. In the most recent update, gamers must help the birds escape from the AT-ATs and Pigtroopers on the remote ice world of Hoth. Luckily,...

Read More..

Lady Gaga Goes on Safari in South Africa

By Maggie Coughlan 12/02/2012 at 04:15 PM EST As if Lady Gaga could get any more wild, she recently embarked on a safari while touring in South Africa.Gaga – who surprised fans in Rio de Janeiro by playing soccer with neighborhood children earlier this month – took to Twitter to share her excitement over a pride...

Read More..

Cliff fight may knock out December rally

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In normal times, next week's slew of U.S. economic data could be a springboard for a December rally in the stock market. December is historically a strong month for markets. The S&P 500 has risen 16 times in the past 20 years during the month. But the market hasn't been operating under normal circumstances since November 7 when a day after the U.S....

Read More..

Egyptian Court Postpones Ruling on Charter

Wissam NassarEgyptian police officers stood guard outside Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court on Sunday, while supporters of President Mohamed Morsi protested near the entrance of the building. CAIRO — Egypt’s highest court on Sunday postponed its much-awaited ruling on the legitimacy of the legislative assembly that drafted a new charter last week, accusing a crowd of Islamists of blocking...

Read More..