WASHINGTON — Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator in history, has returned to the chamber after being absent for weeks due to illness.
The 91-year-old West Virginia Democrat, in a wheelchair, cast his first vote since May on an amen…
Posts Tagged ‘May’
Waterborne diseases rise in West Bengal
July 18th, 2009 |
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Residents of several districts in West Bengal, after having endured the aftermath of cyclone Aila in May, now grapple with an outbreak of diarrhoea
Waterborne diseases are spreading amongst the 6.8 million people affected by the May 25 cyclone. So far diarrhoea has killed 28 persons and another 85,000 diarrhoea cases have been reported from across [...]
Bosnia settles on dates for natl. holidays
July 17th, 2009 |
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Finally, after 15 years, Bosnia’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft law on public holidays, whereby citizens will receive 4 national holidays per year. Under the law in question, these would be New Year, May 1, May 9 (Victory Day) and June 26 (International Day for the Victims of Violence).
The 7 Worst First Pitches By Famous People Ever (VIDEO) (POLL)
July 16th, 2009 |
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President Obama threw out the first pitch at the All Star game this week, and while it wasn’t a rocket, it definitely could have been worse. Below are seven ways in which he could have seriously embarrassed both himself and the nation. Vote be…
House prices fall 12.5% year on year
July 14th, 2009 |
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• Government figures to May show big drop in house prices
• Sharpest falls in Northern Ireland followed by England
The price of the average UK house fell by 12.5% in the year to May, government figures showed today.
However, the pace of price falls has slowed, according to the monthly house price index published by the department of Communities and Local Government. In the quarter leading to May, prices edged down by 0.4%, compared with a drop of 4.8% in the quarter ending in February 2009.
Falls were steepest in Northern Ireland, where the price of a house has plummeted by 23.2% over the year. Average prices fell by 12.8% in England, 8.8% in Wales and 6.9% in Scotland.
According to today’s figures, first-time buyers paid 14.8% less for a property in May 2009 than they had in the same month last year. Owner-occupier price falls were slightly less pronounced, with prices dropping an average 11.6%.
The figures lag behind those issued by the lenders, which recently published indices for June.
Last week, Halifax reported a year-on-year fall of 15%, while Nationwide said prices had gone down by 9.3% over the year, despite a monthly rise of 0.9% in June.
Estate agents have been reporting signs of improvement in the property market, but many economists expect a sustainable recovery will be a long time coming.
Simon Rubinsohn , chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said the government’s data provided further evidence that house prices were stabilising.
“The May figures show that prices across the UK were essentially unchanged compared with April. Month-on-month, prices actually rose in Scotland and Wales, fell slightly in England and more so in Northern Ireland.
“The flatter trend in prices signalled by this report follows the lead provided by the monthly RICS survey which showed price expectations amongst surveyors turning positive for the first-time since May 2007. Significantly, the lack of new instructions of property to agents is providing a key element of support for the market.”
Meanwhile, consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers said today that recent signs of a recovery were a false dawn and predicted that prices would continue to fall over the next year, and that it was likely a recovery in house prices would stay modest until “the middle of the next decade”.
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Rise in eurozone factory output
July 14th, 2009 |
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Eurozone industrial output rose in May compared with April, the first month-on-month increase since August last year, official figures have shown.
Factory production across the 16 nations that share the single currency rose 0.5% last month from April, but was still down 17% from May last year.
The data comes two weeks after official figures showed eurozone retail sales fell in May, while unemployment rose.
Despite this picture, Brussels says the recession is now easing.
The European Commission has predicted that the official figures will show the eurozone economy contracted 0.6% between April and June, a slowdown on the 2.5% rate of decline seen between January and March.
Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, also revised up its industrial production data for April, saying it contracted by a rate of 1.4%, not the previously reported 1.9% fall.
‘Put in perspective’
"May’s first rise in industrial production is obviously very welcome news, and reinforces belief that the eurozone economy contracted at a substantially reduced rate," said Howard Archer, chief economist at IHS Global Insight.
"Nevertheless, it needs to be put into perspective – production was still down by 17% year-on-year."
As a result, Mr Archer said it was "premature at this stage" to say that industrial output would make a sustained recovery.
Industrial production accounts for about 17% of economic activity across the eurozone. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
New York Mets Stagger Through Miserable Season
July 12th, 2009 |
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NEW YORK (AP) — Hopes were so high when the New York Mets moved into Citi Field.
They had a new attitude in a new ballpark.
They were going to put consecutive September collapses behind them.
And then Mike Pelfrey faced San Diego’s Jody Ge…
Chart the ups and downs of UK house prices
July 11th, 2009 |
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US trade gap lowest in nine years
July 10th, 2009 |
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The US saw its deficit narrow to $26bn (£16bn) in May, its lowest level in more than nine years, according to figures from the Commerce Department.
Imports continued to fall while exports increased, pushing the deficit to its lowest level since November 1999.
The deficit, the difference between what the US exports and imports, was 9.8% lower in May compared to April.
The deficit in 2009 to date is running at a yearly rate of $350bn – around half what it was for the whole of 2008.
"I think this was a very positive report and consistent with the idea that the US recession will come to an end in the next few months," said Mark Zandi, economist for rating agency Moody’s.
But separate figures on Friday showed consumers were increasingly negative in early July.
Worries about a prolonged downturn and job security were key concerns hitting sentiment, the Reuters/University of Michigan survey suggested.
The preliminary reading for July dropped to 64.6 from June’s final reading of 70.8.
Fewer cars
The trade deficit between the US and its single biggest trading partner, Canada fell to its lowest level in 15 years at $628m.
And the US deficit with Japan dropped its lowest level in more than 20 years, at $1.9bn.
The deficit with China meanwhile added 4.4% to $17.5bn – though this is below the level seen in 2008.
Figures from China recently showed a fall in exports and imports for June – though less than predicted.
Fewer cars, auto-parts, civilian aircraft and computers were imported to the US in June. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.