Financial crisis

Italy has begun the process of forming a new government, with economist Mario Monti the front-runner to succeed Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned as prime minister Saturday under criticism of the way he handled the country's worsening debt crisis. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was holding ...

Besides Europe's financial crisis, France has been riveted this week by the trial of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, known to many as Carlos the Jackal. The trial has sparked debate about old-style terrorism - and what has, and hasn't, changed. Sanchez high-profile trial begins This is not ...

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says talks by Asia Pacific trade ministers, who have been meeting this week in Hawaii, have been productive. On Saturday and Sunday, the leaders of the 21 economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will be featured. The exchanges have focused on trade, ...

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy is set to step down this weekend, leaving behind a legacy of scandal.

The Italian Senate has approved new austerity measures, the first step to ease the country's financial crisis and open the path for the expected resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The upper house of the Italian Parliament approved the financial reforms Friday, ...

The Italian parliament paved the way for Silvio Berlusconi to resign as prime minister as it passed a package of economic reforms and austerity measures.

The Italian parliament paved the way for Silvio Berlusconi to resign as prime minister as it passed a package of economic reforms and austerity measures.

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report. The economic situation in Italy is worrying investors and may have cost its prime minister his job. Like Greece, Italy is facing pressure to make unpopular cuts in government spending. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been seeking to enact measures ...

Europe got more bad news on Thursday, as the European Union's executive arm sharply downgraded growth forecasts for the region. This has major implications for a continent buffeted by the financial and political crises in Italy and Greece. The new figures predict economic growth across the ...

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. For months, people around the world have watched the strikes and violent protests in Athens. But Greeks in rural areas say the country's debt crisis is hitting them even harder. And they say the government is ignoring their problems. In the West Macedonian ...