The economic summit is supposed to address global economic concerns and, hopefully, give some confidence to the global markets. What is the cost if the talks instead are hijacked by tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Syria and Snowden. The Mexican Senate passes education reform as teachers continue to protest in the country. And as New York Fashion Week moves more and more into the digital realm, will social media take away some of the spectacle that fashion week has become?  

Workers in Volkswagen’s factory in Tennessee are expected to hear this week about a bid to give them a greater voice with management. And a look at how your social media presence could affect your credit rating.    

Cellphone maker Nokia and tech giant Microsoft used to be co-workers who collaborated on smartphones using Windows software. But that relationship has blossomed into a full union. Microsoft will pay $7.2 billion for the handset business and intellectual property of the company. And in France, a group of unemployed workers grew frustrated with the job search, so they developed a new tactic to put themselves in front of potential employers. 

An impending $130 billion dollar deal between Verizon Wireless and Vodafone could change the telecom industry. There are renewed signs of life from one of the engines of the global economy – a new survey shows factories in China are doing well. And if you’re flying this Labor Day, you know the logisital problems bringing a carry on can bring. Some strategies to avoid the hassle. 

With Brazil and India reporting their economic growth figures today, we take a look at how emerging markets are fairing around the world. Cigarette ads have been banned from TV since 1971. But next month, tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, maker of Camels, plans to start airing commercials in Colorado for its new electronic-cigarette. And, it’s been the summer of surveillance — revelations of pervasive government tracking in the name of national security. One industry that raised early warnings about the potential for abuse of tracking technology is, actually, Hollywood.

There is a simmering deal in the telecom industry that could soon remove a British accent from many U.S. mobile phones. Vodaphone of Britain owns a chunk of Verizon Wireless, and Verizon of New Jersey would like it back — but is going to have to pay big money to get it. “Rich in anti-oxidants.” “Low-fat.” “All-natural.” Today’s shoppers are seeing more and more so-called health-conscious food labels. One brand trying to ride the wave is Campbell Soup Company, which reports its profits and losses today. But a green “Heart Check” label on its soup cans is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. And, when it comes to retirement savings, statistics show too many people won’t have nearly enough and it’s something the slow economic recovery isn’t fixing on its own

As tensions over a possible U.S.-led military strike against Syria drive up the U.S. dollar, other currencies around the globe are suffering — especially India’s rupee. A perfect storm of economic factors are leading to India’s worst economic crisis in two decades. A new report shows a persistent disconnect between the pay of corporate chiefs and their performance. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, nearly 40 percent of the highest paid CEOs either led firms that received bail-out money, lost their jobs, or had to pay fraud related fines after the financial crisis hit. And, at the start of the school year, many teachers are digging into their own bank accounts to pay for classroom supplies.

After reports that Syria’s government used chemical weapons outside of Damascus last week, the Obama administration is warning that the regime of Bashar al-Assad will be held accountable for the attacks. As financial markets adjust to the potential for military engagement with Syria by the U.S. and its allies, oil prices in the U.S. and Europe are near a five-month high. And, as employees of the San Francisco Bay Area’s mass transit system are in the middle of a 60-day cooling off period over a labor dispute with management, a look at a day in the life of one BART worker.

Greece’s finance minister announced that the economically blighted nation might need around $13 billion to keep itself afloat, setting up the possibility of a third bailout.  Currently, about 16 percent of equity partners at big law firms are female — a number that has barely budged in a decade. This despite the fact women graduate from law school in almost the same numbers as men. And, the U.S. Open tennis tournament starts today. It calls itself the biggest annual sporting event in the world.  That’s by calculating attendance. But what about the dollars?