Sorry Ma’am — we just didn’t see it coming. A British newspaper reported Sunday that a group of eminent economists have apologized to Queen Elizabeth II for failing to predict the financial crisis.

WASHINGTON — With the global economy mired in recession, the United States and China begin talks Monday to seek a solution together despite tensions over currencies, the U.S. budget deficit and the huge U.S. trade gap with China.

The government will not adopt a “Buy Australian” policy of giving preference to local firms when allocating multibillion dollar contracts because that would repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression, the prime minister said Sunday.

The government will resist union pressure to adopt a “Buy Australian” policy of giving preference to local firms when allocating multibillion dollar contracts, the finance minister said Sunday.

Robert Gates is on a roll. Question is, how long will it last? The politically savvy defense secretary scored big legislative wins when the Senate voted convincingly to end production of the high-priced F-22 jet fighter and killed an aircraft engine project that he says isn’t needed.

Ceramics artist Heidi Sowa had her eyes set on Portland for years. The city was not too big, had a cohesive arts community and plenty of easygoing and helpful people.

California officials are warily awaiting the next round of state revenue figures, concerned that their latest budget-balancing efforts may not be enough to end a seemingly endless stream of deficits.

It’s a tale of two economies, China and the United States. The United States, the world’s largest economy, remains mired in recession as do most of its fellow top industrial powers.

Short interest rose significantly on the Nasdaq in mid-July but rose only slightly on the New York Stock Exchange, while remaining well below levels seen at the height of the financial crisis, data from the exchanges showed on Friday.