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• Russia's Medvedev: Avoid wage arrears

  President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the government Monday to ensure that overdue wages do not become a major problem, showing concern that the persistent financial turmoil could revive a problem that plagued Russia in the 1990s.

• Correction: Food Waste Story

  In a Nov. 28 story about cutting food waste, The Associated Press misspelled the surname of LeanPath Inc.'s chief executive. He is Andrew Shakman, not Shackman.

• Alitalia deal to be signed mid-December

  Investors relaunching Alitalia will officially take possession of Alitalia's profitable assets in mid-December, but the new airline probably will not launch until January, officials said Monday.

• Paulson says other rescue programs being examined

  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Monday that the administration is looking for more ways to tap a $700 billion financial rescue program and will consult with Congress and the incoming Obama administration.

• UK charities brace for 2009 fundraising shortfall

  The British Red Cross has canceled its winter fundraising ball - and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

• UK launches prosecution over huge oil depot fire

  Five companies including Total UK Ltd. will face prosecution over a massive fire three years ago at an oil depot north of London, the government's Environment Agency said Monday.

• Bernanke: lower interest rates are "feasible"

  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday that further interest-rate cuts are "certainly feasible," but he warned there are limits to how much such action would revive an economy likely to stay weak well into next year.

• Government bond yields hit fresh lows

  Yields on long-term U.S. government debt sank to record lows Monday as worries about mounting economic problems and a stock market plunge touched off another investor rush to safety. The possibility that the Federal Reserve could enter the Treasury market as a buyer also helped drive down yields.

• Swiss court imprisons ex-manager of Israeli bank

  A Swiss court has sentenced a former branch manager of Israel's Bank Leumi to eight years in prison for a string of fraud-related offenses.

• Mexico sells off foreign reserves to help peso

  Mexico's central bank has sold off $400 million in foreign reserves to stabilize the peso as it continues to weaken against the U.S. dollar.

• ECB to relaunch bid process for building new HQ

  The European Central Bank will reopen the bidding process for companies that want a hand in building its new headquarters.

• Jaguar shooting suspect attends pretrial hearing

  A man accused of shooting Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier 14 times appeared Monday at a pretrial hearing, only to have another pretrial hearing set next week.

• EU, Australia toast new wine deal

  The European Union and Australia signed an agreement Monday that will protect such European names as "Champagne" in Australia while further opening European markets to wines from Down Under.

• EU moves toward new hedge fund rules

  The European Union will this week take the first step toward new rules governing high-risk hedge funds, the EU's financial services chief said Monday.

• It's official: US has been in a recession all year

  It's official. The U.S. economy has been in a recession for the past year.

• European central banks under pressure to cut rates

  The European Central Bank and the Bank of England are under mounting pressure to cut interest rates aggressively this week amid signs that the economic slump will be deeper and more prolonged than previously expected.

• Aston Martin laying off 600 employees

  Aston Martin, maker of James Bond's luxury sports car, said Monday that it is laying off as much as a third of its work force because of falling sales during the economic slump.

• Pilgrim's Pride files for bankruptcy protection

  Pilgrim's Pride Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, hurt like other meat producers by volatile feed prices and slumping demand but also hobbled by an unmanageable debt load.

• US-China talks will include currency issues

  Administration officials say they will urge the Chinese to continue allowing their currency to rise in value against the dollar and to avoid raising protectionist trade barriers amid the global economic crisis.

• Pro-government protest targets court in Thailand

  Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators swarmed around a court building Tuesday, forcing the relocation of judges who will rule on the fate of a Thai government beset by protests and a virtual shut-down of international air links.