Va. man named as passenger in small plane that struck, killed jogger during SC beach landing

Va. man was passenger in plane that killed jogger

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Authorities say a Virginia man was the passenger in a small plane that hit and killed a jogger during an emergency landing on a South Carolina beach.
The Island Packet newspaper in Hilton Head reported that the sheriff’s office Tuesday named the passenger … Original source on Gaea Times at : Va. man named as passenger in small plane that struck, killed jogger during SC beach landing.

German retailer Metro net income down 7 percent in 2009 to $716 million

Metro 2009 net income falls 7 percent
FRANKFURT – German retailer Metro AG says its 2009 net income fell 7 percent to euro519 million ($716 million) as the economic downturn cut into sales at most divisions, including its Kaufhof department stores and Cash & Carry wholesale outlets.

Metro, Germany’s biggest retail group, reported net income of euro558 … Read : German retailer Metro net income down 7 percent in 2009 to $716 million.

Asian markets climb as US, Japan central bank moves buoy recovery hopes; oil cracks $82

Asia stocks up after US, Japan central bank moves

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets pushed higher Wednesday as U.S. and Japanese central banks promised to maintain loose monetary policies, buoying hopes for recovery in the world’s two largest economies.
Major markets advanced as much as 2 percent and crude oil prices cracked $82 a barrel as … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Asian markets climb as US, Japan central bank moves buoy recovery hopes; oil cracks $82.

Italy’s largest bank Unicredit says 4th quarter earns fell 27 percent

Unicredit Q4 profit slides 27 percent
MILAN – Unicredit SpA, Italy’s largest bank, on Wednesday reported a 27 percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit due to a decline in interest income and an increase in provisions to cover bad loans.

The net profit of ???371 million ($509 million) was down from ???505 million a year earlier.
The bank … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Italy’s largest bank Unicredit says 4th quarter earns fell 27 percent.

Senate poised to clear jobs bill for Obama’s signature

Senate poised to clear jobs bill for Obama
WASHINGTON – Companies that hire unemployed workers get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill headed for likely Senate passage Wednesday.
A positive vote would send the legislation to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature.
It would be the first of several election-year jobs bills …. Source article  : Senate poised to clear jobs bill for Obama’s signature.

FACT CHECK: Obama’s claim that premiums would fall under his health plan misses the fine print

FACT CHECK: Premiums would rise under Obama plan
WASHINGTON – Buyers, beware: President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul will lower premiums by double digits, but check the fine print.
Premiums are likely to keep going up even if the health care bill passes, experts say. If cost controls work as advertised, … Read more : FACT CHECK: Obama’s claim that premiums would fall under his health plan misses the fine print.

Plane lands on SC beach, killing jogger who never knew what hit him

Beach jogger killed by plane likely never heard it

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – The kit-built single-engine plane had turned into a glider, almost silently trying to make an emergency landing along a stretch of beach. Pharmaceutical salesman Robert Gary Jones, ear buds in, listening to his iPod while jogging neither saw nor heard it and … Read more >>.

Paper company’s need for wood highlights problems with tree-destroying US gypsy moths

Need for wood highlights US insect problems

COLUMBIA, S.C. – International Paper Co. has had to look beyond its usual suppliers for wood for its central South Carolina mill and turn to places that are known to have tree-destroying gypsy moths.
That’s because months of rainfall in most of the South has left the ground soggy, which …. Source  : Paper company’s need for wood highlights problems with tree-destroying US gypsy moths.

Oil rises above $82 in Asia as US crude supply report suggests demand may be improving

Oil above $82 as traders eye US supplies, OPEC

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose above $82 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report showed U.S. crude inventories grew less than expected last week.
Benchmark crude for April delivery was up 55 cents to $82.25 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Oil rises above $82 in Asia as US crude supply report suggests demand may be improving.

Asian markets push higher as Fed, Greece news buoy confidence; HK up nearly 2 pct

Asia stocks up as Fed, Greece news buoy confidence

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets pushed higher Wednesday after the U.S. central bank again pledged to hold interest rates low and gave a mildly optimistic assessment of the world’s largest economy.
Major markets advanced by 1 percent or more and crude oil prices cracked $82 a barrel [..] Read the original article: here.

Mexico’s government announces austerity plan to trim spending $3 billion over 3 years

Mexico announces austerity plan to save $3 billion

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s government has announced an austerity plan for trimming general spending $3.2 billion (40.1 billion pesos) over the next three years so it can provide more money for social and infrastructure programs.
The Finance Department says the plan includes a freeze on pay raises this year …. Original source  : Mexico’s government announces austerity plan to trim spending $3 billion over 3 years.

State prison population drops for 1st time since 1972; report suggests budget woes responsible

State prison numbers drop for 1st time since 1972

NEW YORK – Spurred by budget crises, California and Michigan together reduced their prison populations by more than 7,500 last year, contributing to what a new report says is the first nationwide decline in the number of state inmates since 1972.
The overall drop was slight, according to … Original article on : State prison population drops for 1st time since 1972; report suggests budget woes responsible.

Money Market Operations as on March 15, 2010

…. Source article  : Money Market Operations as on March 15, 2010.

Visteon bankruptcy judge denies request to halt termination of retiree benefits pending appeal

Visteon judge won’t halt benefits termination

WILMINGTON, Del. – A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Tuesday refused to halt implementation of his order allowing auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. to terminate its retirees’ health and life insurance benefits.
An attorney for a union representing some 2,100 people who worked at two Visteon plants in Indiana argued Tuesday that … Read more : Visteon bankruptcy judge denies request to halt termination of retiree benefits pending appeal.

Recalled products linked to potential salmonella risk: Tostachos corn chips, onion dip mix

Product recalls: Tostachos corn chips, dip mix

The following products are being recalled because they could be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems:
Barcel USA is recalling certain lots of Tostachos. The recalled flavored corn chips come in 3.17-ounce packages and …. Original article  : Recalled products linked to potential salmonella risk: Tostachos corn chips, onion dip mix.

Senators introduce bill to pressure China to allow currency to rise in value against dollar

Senators back bill to pressure China on currency
WASHINGTON – A group of 14 U.S. senators unveiled legislation Tuesday that seeks to increase pressure on China to let its currency to rise in value against the dollar, saying Chinese “currency manipulation” is hurting the U.S. economy.
The bill calls for stiff trade sanctions if China …. Original source  : Senators introduce bill to pressure China to allow currency to rise in value against dollar.

Rockford jobless rate nears 20 percent; 11 of 12 metro area rates at 10 percent or higher

Rockford jobless rate nears 20 percent
CHICAGO – The greater Rockford area is just a few tenths of a point shy of an inglorious milestone: a 20 percent jobless rate.

Data released Tuesday showed none of Illinois’ top 12 metropolitan regions are fairing well, but unemployment in the Rockford area is the state’s highest at 19.7 percent.
“It … Read more »»».

Bernanke to make case for Federal Reserve keeping all banking supervision powers

Bernanke to wage fresh battle for Fed powers

WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke plans to wage a fresh battle against Senate efforts to scale back the Fed’s role in supervising the nation’s banks.
In testimony prepared for a House hearing on Wednesday obtained by The Associated Press, Bernanke argued that the Fed factors in information … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bernanke to make case for Federal Reserve keeping all banking supervision powers.

15 GOP lawmakers join Democrats in rejecting Senate earmark ban

Senate rejects freeze on earmarks
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday easily killed a move by conservative Republicans to temporarily ban senators from earmarking spending bills with back-home projects like roads, water projects and grants to local governments.

Fifteen Republicans joined with most Democrats in rejecting the moratorium on earmarks by a 68-29 vote.
It’s a far different … Original source on Gaea Times at : 15 GOP lawmakers join Democrats in rejecting Senate earmark ban.

Nebraska lawmakers begin closing budget gap, but have eye toward a bigger hole in future

Neb. lawmakers begin closing budget gap
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday gave first-round approval to a plan to close a roughly $48 million gap in the current, two-year state budget while casting an eye toward what could be a massive budget hole next year.

“There’s not much that would have to go awry and we [..] Read the original article: here.