Bangkok - In one of the first blows to be felt from the "Hamburger Crisis" in Thailand, General Motors Thursday announced plans to close its Thailand plant for two months, paying employees 75 per cent of their wages.
"If we don't close down we will have an oversupply," said GM spokesman Chartchai Suwannasevok, confirming the US giant's plan to close its plant in Rayong province for the months of December and January.
Washington - Chief executives from the United States' iconic Big Three automakers faced a skeptical audience this week as they took their plea for a 25-billion-dollar bail-out to US lawmakers.
Despite warnings of an economic "tsunami" if any one of General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co or Chrysler LLC declares bankruptcy, legislators are unwilling or unable to give the ailing automakers what they want, at least for now.
Washington - Federal Reserve board members believe the US economy will contract between now and mid-2009, and suggested more interest rate cuts could be necessary, according to the minutes of the central bank's October meeting that were released on Wednesday.
The minutes made no mention of a recession, though two straight contracting quarters is typically defined as a recession. The world's largest economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the third quarter, according to an initial government estimate.
Washington - US central bank officials believe the US economy will contract between now and mid-2009 and suggested more interest rate cuts could be necessary, according to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's October meeting that were released on Wednesday.
The minutes made no mention of a recession, though two straight contracting quarters is typically defined as a recession.
Berlin - The global financial crisis could present the international community with the chance to lay aside the recent tensions that have emerged with Russia, World Bank chief Robert Zoellick said in a speech delivered in Berlin Wednesday.
"Relations with Russia have been strained in recent years," Zoellick told an audience at Berlin's Humboldt University.
Dubai, 19 Nov. 2008 - Economy Minister H. E. Sultan bin Saeed Al mansouri today announed the launch of the Ministry's new strategic plan for 2008-2010.