EWS-
TheVista Thursday, April 23, 2009 Page 5
Global economy is expected to shrink this year Jeanne Aversa IP It titer WASHINGTON (AP) — The world economy is likely to shrink this year for the first time in six decades. The international Monetary Fund projeced the 1.3 percent drop in a dour forecast released Wednesday. That could leave at least 10 million more ?eople around the world jobless, some private economists said. "By any measure, this downturn represents by far the deepest global recession since the Great Depression," the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook. "All corners of the globe are being affected." The new forecast of a decline in
Fidel Castro: Obama 'misinterpreted' Raul's words Will Weissert . 11 tiler
HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro says President Barack Obama "misinterpreted" his brother Raul's remarks regarding the United States and bristled at the suggestion that Cuba should free political prisoners or cut taxes on dollars people send to the island. Raul Castro touched off a whirlwind of speculation last week that . the U.S. and Cuba could be headed toward a thaw after nearly a half-century of chilly relations. The speculation began when the Cuban president said leaders would be willing to sit down with their U.S. counterparts and discuss "everything, everything, everything," including human rights, freedom of the press and expression, and political prisoners. Obama responded at the Summit of the Americas by saying Washington seeks a new beginning with Cuba. But as he prepared to leave the summit Sunday, Obama also called on Cuba to release political prisoners and reduce taxes on remittances from the U.S. That appeared to enrage Fidel Castro, 82, who wrote in an essay published Wednesday that Obama "without a doubt misinterpreted Raul's declarations." The former president appeared to be throwing a dose of cold water on growing expectations for improved bilateral relations — suggesting Obama had no right to dare suggest that Cuba make even small concessions. He also seemed to suggest too much was being made of Raul's comments about discussing "everything" with U.S. authorities. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had a different perspective on Fidel Castro's essay while speaking about Cuba policy with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. She said that while Fidel Castro had "contradicted" his brother's previous statements about Cuba's willingness to discuss a whole range of issues with the U.S., it shows "there is beginning to be a debate" inside Cuba about how to move forward with U.S. relations. Fidel Castro's remarks put into doubt the true meaning of his brother's statements and raised questions about Cuba's position on detente with the United States. Although he surrendered the presidency to Raul in February 2008, he retains enormous influence and remains head of Cuba's Communist Party. Raul Castro himself, meanwhile, has not jumped in to clarify the confusion and is not likely to, out of respect for his older brother.
global economic activity for 2009 is much weaker than the 0.5 percent growth the IMF had estimated in January. Big factors in the gloomier outlook: It's expected to take longer than previously thought to stabilize world financial markets and get credit flowing freely again to consumers and businesses. Doing so will be necessary to lift the U.S., and the global economy, out of recession. The report comes in advance of Friday's meetings between the United States and other major economic powers, and weekend sessions of the IMF and World Bank. The talks will seek to flesh out the commitments made at a G-20 leaders summit in London last month,
when President Barack Obama and the others pledged to boost financial support for the IMF and other international lending institutions by $1.1 trillion. The IMF's outlook, for the U.S. is bleaker than for the world as a whole: It predicts the U.S. economy will shrink 2.8 percent this year. That would mark the biggest such decline since 1946. Among the major industrialized nations studied, Japan is expected to suffer the sharpest contraction this year: 6.2 percent. Russia's economy would shrink 6 percent, Germany 5.6 percent and Britain 4.1 percent. AP. Photo Mexico's economic activity would G20 leaders pose for the second group photo, at the G20 contract 3.7 percent and Canada's Summit in the Excel centre in London, Thursday, April 2, 2.5 percent. 2009.
THE LONDON SUMMIT 2009
NONE OF YOU
MBERS
ARE just MBERS. At U.S. Cellular: we believe every number's important. That's why we have My Contacts Backup for free. So you can save, store and erg transfer your numbers if you get a new phone.
.
Go online!
riffisrialsoom
U.S. Cellular My Contacts Backup: easyedge Pay-As-You-Go users who incur data access charges for My Contacts Backup while roaming should dial 611 for a bill credit. ©2009 U.S. Cellular.
believe in something better-