The slump in the Dutch housing market deepened in July as prices posted the steepest drop on record, highlighting the challenges facing the Netherlands ahead of next month’s general elections.

With prices now plumbing levels last seen in 2004, the downturn is weighing heavily on household consumption and has raised concern about the country’s huge mortgage debt pile, among the largest in Europe

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House prices fell 8% from a year earlier, statistics bureau CBS said Tuesday, the largest decline in the 17-year history of the agency’s house-price index. Prices fell 4.4% in June and 5.5% in May.

“This is more than we had expected. The rate of decline has been volatile, but this is bad news,” said Rabobank economist Maarten van der Molen.

House prices have fallen about 15% since their peak in August 2008 amid a stagnant economy, more stringent bank-lending criteria and weak consumer sentiment.

The fall in house prices in the Netherlands isn’t as severe as the housing crashes that have hit Ireland and Spain, but it remains one of the biggest threats to one of Europe’s so-called core economies. The Dutch economy grew 0.2% in the second quarter from the previous quarter, joining Germany and France in escaping the slump hitting their southern neighbors.

The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, or CPB, expects gross domestic product to contract by 0.8% this year and return to a modest 0.8% growth rate in 2013. The CPB is an independent fiscal watchdog for the government and its economic adviser.

TOKYO—New minimum-price rules for Japan’s renewable-energy sector will likely help solar power shine, but bird strikes and tough environmental-assessment needs may make it tough for wind generation to take off.

By 2030, the government wants up to 35% of Japan’s energy needs to be supplied by renewable sources—up from roughly 10% today. Hydropower is the leading renewable, with solar, wind and geothermal energy adding up to just 1.4% of total power output.

Japan must import nearly all the fuel used to make electricity, and with its nuclear sector still almost entirely offline, it introduced last month a feed-in tariff system to promote renewable energy—in which it lags far behind the U.S. and the European Union. The system obliges Japan’s 10 regional power utilities to buy electricity generated by solar and wind projects, paying about ¥40 (50 cents) per kilowatt-hour and ¥23 per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Solar payments are set for 20 years, wind for 15.

Those rules apply to projects either receiving government approvals or finalizing power sales contracts with utilities by June 2015, after which there are no guarantees on future tariff amounts or duration. A rolling back of tariffs in cash-strapped and debt-laden EU countries has hit orders for new solar and wind equipment.

Despite this underpinning in Japan, prospective wind-farm operators will find investment decisions harder than those planning solar projects. Tough and potentially lengthy environmental assessments will be part of the approval process from October, due in part to worry more wind farms will mean more birds killed by windmill blades. A 2007-09 study by Japan’s Ministry of Environment found that wind turbines located in areas inhabited by raptors or used by migratory birds are a significant threat to those bird populations—prompting new wind-farm guidelines last year.

Animal-welfare groups argue that the careful siting of wind farms can keep deaths to a minimum. Migratory birds tend to take the same route year after year, while raptors live in specific areas, said Tomoko Shimura, a director of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan.

Solar projects don’t need environmental assessments unless their plans call for significant changes to topography, such as the flattening of a hill.

This and the new tariffs are good news for solar players like Toshiba Corp., 6588.TO +1.85% Sharp Corp. 6753.TO +2.87% and Kyocera Corp., 6971.TO 0.00% as well as for planned new entrants like mobile-phone service provider Softbank Corp. 9984.TO +1.43% and foreign entrants like China’s Suntech Power Holdings Co. STP 0.00% In the first month after the feed-in tariffs were introduced July 1, the government signed off on many thousands of mostly small projects, but more than 99% of them were in the solar sector.

“There won’t be a lot of wind-power projects coming online one after another,” said Toshio Hori, president of wind-farm developer Green Power Investment Corp.

Mr. Hori said his company will be able to take advantage of the tariff benefits for a 48-megawatt project in Shimane prefecture in western Japan—already iven regulatory approvals needed to ensure final government acceptance—but future projects could suffer. Next in the pipeline is a 126.5 MW wind farm in Aomori prefecture in the north.

For the third consecutive year, the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella will be hosting the Marbella Masters tennis tournament, where some 15,000 fans are expected to witness some of the world’s best tennis legends battle it out on the famous clay courts.

The tennis club, part of the prestigious Hotel Puente Romano situated in the heart of the golden mile staged a successful tournament back in 2010 which saw two time French open champion, Serge Bruguera beat former Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek while Younes ElAlanoui took the crown last year after defeating Pat Cash and Ronald Agenor in a very exciting three-way final.

And the success it set to continue this year with thousands of visitors flocking to Marbella between the 24^th and 26^th August to witness all the sporting action.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager of leading house builder Taylor Wimpey España and self-confessed tennis fan, explains,

“It is likely that this year’s tournament will surpass last year’s 15,000 spectators, with fans flocking to not only witness the legends at work but to bask in Marbella’s perfect setting, one that provides sunny skies, dazzling scenery and rich culture for such an esteemed event.  

“International events of such magnitude help boost Marbella’s and indeed Spain’s global appeal and of course, it doesn’t hurt that world events such as these are located in parts of Spain where the sun always shines. Building on the Costa del Sol’s clear appeals, we are happy to announce our pre -released development at Los Arqueros Beach in Marbella, where for the first time in 15 years we are able to offer properties in Marbella with direct access to all amenities and the beach from just €205,000.”

Scottish house prices rose by 7.3 per cent in the three months ending July 2012, according to Lloyds TSB Scotland, leaving the average value of property close to its all-time high. On a year-on-year basis, prices dropped by 1.5 per cent but nonetheless the market is picking up, says the report, as values reach £164,122 – 95 per cent of their peak of four years ago.

The latest house price movement has been generated from a market with a low but increasing number of transactions. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of transactions in the Monitor is up by 37% and by 29% when compared to the same quarter one year ago. Although the number of transactions has increased in the Monitor over the past year, prices continue to show volatility.

For the market as a whole, Scottish house purchases during the second quarter of 2012 showed an increase of 9.2% on the same quarter of last year. For the month of June, the number of transactions was up 1.9% on the same month in 2011.

Donald MacRae, chief economist, Lloyds TSB Scotland, said:

“The Scottish housing market had adjusted to the recession with a halving of sales and a period of price volatility. However, these latest Monitor results show a pick-up in both activity and prices. Average house prices are now 95% of their peak of four years ago. Although consumer confidence has become less negative during the first six months of the year, it still remains low with retail price inflation in excess of average increase in earnings continuing to squeeze disposable income. The rate of increase in consumer spending remains modest.

“The largest pick-up in the market is at the higher value end with the number of transactions for detached properties in the Monitor increasing by 47% compared to the same quarter one year ago. While all property types are showing a quarterly price gain, the average prices of flats has increased the least. The Scottish housing market is showing a pick-up in both activity and price.

A castle. A palace. A fortress. An army barracks. These are just a few of the properties that are now up for sale across Italy.

Ever wanted to live in an 18^th Century Venetian palace? Now you can: the iconic Diedo Palace, which once served as a criminal court, is just one of 18 properties the city is trying to sell.

For those more interested in fashion, Milan’s Palazzo Bolis Gualdo is also up for the chop. The city has even more history for sale than Venice, with 100 unique buildings on the market.

But these buildings come with a hefty price tag. The Diedo Palace will set buyers back €19 million, while Milan’s Palazzo is even more expensive with an asking price of €31 million.

Why is Italy selling off its heritage? It’s the latest step from the government, which is trying to find ways to reduce the country’s financial deficit. A total of 350 historical properties have been put onto the market by Agenzia del Demanio in an attempt to raise funds for the cash-strapped economy. The impressive roster includes everything from an army barracks in Bologna, which used to be occupied by the Italian Defence Ministry, to the Orsini Castle in Lazio, which was built by the pope in the 13^th Century.

The move is hoped to generate €1.5 billion as the Eurozone crisis continues to hang over Italy’s head. It is not the first time Italy has sold off surplus real estate – hundreds of state-owned properties were sold in 2007, reports the Wall Street Journal. But those deals involved investors leasing the buildings back to local authorities. Now, the inventory sits empty, although the government will retain part ownership in some cases to maintain the properties.

The drastic decision arrives as Italy’s property market continues a downward spiral. The total volume of property sales plummeted by 92 per cent in the second quarter of 2012 compared with last year, according to Real Capital Analytics.

But Prime Minister Mario Monti remains positive. The economist-turned-politician, elected last year to introduce a wave of austerity measures, said that Italy’s economy has made progress since 2011.

“Are we really in crisis? A year ago, we thought we were less so, but perhaps we were more so,” Monti said at a conference in Rimini. “I see the moment approaching in which we’ll emerge.”

Indeed, Italy still remains popular among overseas investors. The country was the fifth most popular destination for buyers on TheMoveChannel.com in July, holding its position from the previous month.

The question is: can any of them afford to buy a palace?

Knowledge, ideas and creativity swirl around us every day. Television transmits information on finance, weather and sport.

Lifestyle programs show us how to sing, cook and exercise. Radio stations bombard us with gardening tips, entertainment and music.

It is information overload.

Businesses are built on knowledge, expertise, talent and know how. Every business is in the “knowledge business”.

The businesses and personal brands that succeed may not have the best products or services but know how to package that information and share it so they cut through the  noise of billions of online ads, crowded social media networks and TV advertising.

Artists, authors and musicians have services that are now easily digitized and can be sold to a global audience. Don’t think of 1,000 potential customers,  add some more zeros.

Don’t think local, dream of world domination.

Social media can help you display that knowledge,expertise and talent to the world and facilitate the spread of your brand.