National Budgets

PHOENIX - Arizona legislators are still struggling to conclude their special session on the state's budget troubles but already are working on ideas for another one that could be held in December to do more to close the $2 billion shortfall.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Despite multiple attempts to balance California's budget, the state can still expect to confront shortfalls approaching $20 billion during each of the next five years, according to a long-range forecast released Wednesday.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California will face a nearly $21 billion budget gap over the next year and a half, extending a fiscal crisis that already has led to steep cuts to public schools, social services and health programs, a state analyst said Wednesday.

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Monday: BRUSSELS - The surging economies of the East should be granted more power in the traditionally Western-dominated global financial institutions, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said at the opening of the Euro-Asian summit.