UNEMPLOYMENT

Jurre Hermans, an 11-year-old boy from the Netherlands, has astounded economists by offering a simple solution to the problem of Greek solvency in the European Union. He has been awarded a special mention for the prestigious Wolfson Economics Prize. Five shortlisted entrants have also been announced.

Spain's debt levels will jump to their highest since at least 1990 this year as the economy sinks into recession and borrowing costs rise.

The US stocks rose Monday on the back of strong manufacturing data, lifting Dow Jones Industrial Average to the highest level since 2007.

With an economy four to five times the size of Greece, a financial collapse and bailout of Spain would be unthinkable for Europe.

Unemployment in the euro zone grew to 10.8 percent in February, up from 10.7 percent in the prior month and the highest since the euro was adopted as a currency, Eurostat, the statistical arm of the European Commission, said Monday.

The unemployment rate in the eurozone increased to its highest level in 14 years in February, as the region’s faltering economic growth left more than 17 million people jobless in the month.

Australia is looking at recruiting American workforce to solve the acute shortage of skilled labor in the country's civil engineering sector. Australia has been facing severe workforce crunch, but the relatively good economic growth has further increased the demand for the workers.

Unemployment in the euro zone reached its highest level in almost 15 years in February, with more than 17 million people out of work, and economists said they expected job office queues to grow even longer later this year.

Casey Anthony, America's most hated mother, is still unemployed, but has been attending her school, according to her March probation report.

In a sense, a controversial radio talk show host, and former Fox News commentator, had it right: The United States could be headed for a major period of social unrest -- or worse -- but not for the reasons he stated.

In a sense, the controversial radio talk-show host and former Fox News commentator Glenn Beck had it right: The United States could be headed for a major period of social unrest -- or worse -- but not for the reasons Beck stated.

The U.S. nonfarm payroll report on Friday will highlight the economic calendar this week -- April 2 to 6 -- even though it will be released on Good Friday when the stock market is closed.

U.S. consumer sentiment rose in March to the highest level in more than a year as sustained job gains and consumer spending offset rising gasoline prices, according to data released Friday by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan.

The euro zone has fallen into a technical recession, according to Eurocoin, an economic activity indicator, confirming the economic weakness of the battered region.

Americans spent their hard-earned money a bit more freely in February, the most in seven months, even as income rose only modestly, according to government data released Friday.

Household income grew at a faster pace in the fourth quarter than previously thought as the jobs market strengthened, a development that could underpin consumer spending.

Most of the Asian stock markets ended lower Friday as weaker-than-expected U.S. jobless claims and industrial production data in Japan hurt investors sentiment.

Positive jobs data from the U.S. and Germany were not enough to keep investors bullish Thursday, as a moderate asset sell-off continued, with traders apparently squaring up their positions in anticipation of earnings season.

South Africa's government is to plough $420 million into a public-private platinum venture with Pallinghurst Resources that has ambitions to become the world's third-largest producer of the precious metal.

Union workers held a general 24 hour strike across Spain Thursday to protest austerity cuts, labor reforms, and its record 23 percent unemployment rate.

Unions brought Spain to a halt to protest heavy budget cuts by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's three-month-old government, but the government vowed to press on with its tough austerity measures and labor reforms.