Stories for April 17th 2009

Friday, April 17th 2009 - 10:45 UTC
US Fed “Beige Book” tries to send “stabilizing message”

United States economic activity weakened in March, but there were some signs of stabilisation, the Federal Reserve said in its influential Beige Book. The report, used to set US interest rates, said “overall economic activity contracted further or remained weak”.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 10:40 UTC
Stimulating domestic demand and unemployment, China’s priorities

Annual growth in China's GDP slowed in the first quarter of 2009 to 6.1%, said the National Bureau of Statistics. This is the weakest growth since quarterly records began in 1992, but some analysts see signs of a recovery, reports BBC.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 08:48 UTC
IMF predicts 2009 as “an awful year” but all are aware it’s a “global crisis”

The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said Thursday that 2009 is essentially a lost year for the world economy, with millions of people at risk of being thrown back into poverty.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 08:22 UTC
Gibraltar-Madrid daily flights will resume next April 30

Flights between Gibraltar and Spanish capital Madrid will be resumed later this month (April 30th) according to Andalus General Director Fernando Guerrero, who made the announcement this week at a presentation by the regional airline in the Campo Mancomunidad, in Algeciras.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 07:53 UTC
Uruguay completes Electoral Roll for 2009/10 voting calendar

Uruguay’s Electoral Roll for the coming October presidential and legislative elections was closed this week with the incorporation of 273.916 new voters. The total number of Uruguayans over 18 by April 2009, and which must vote (compulsory) in the coming elections, now totals 2.562.000.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 07:34 UTC
Unasur charter triggers controversy in Uruguayan Congress

The Uruguayan Senate, with the votes from the ruling coalition, approved Wednesday the founding charter of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, while the opposition rejected in block the initiative describing it as an “ideological integration”.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 07:30 UTC
US second largest shopping mall owner files for bankruptcy protection

General Growth Properties, United States second-largest shopping mall owner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday after failing to reach an out of court consensus on how to restructure its 27 billion US dollars debt. The Chicago based corporation which owns more than 200 malls in 44 states said shoppers at its malls will not be affected by its bankruptcy filing.
Friday, April 17th 2009 - 07:25 UTC
French fishermen suspend blockade of English Channel ports

French fishermen suspended their blockade at three English Channel ports Thursday, allowing ferry traffic and freight to move through after two days of disruption, union leaders said.