| Dismal holiday season leads retailers to shutter stores
Taking stock of a rough holiday season, retailers are shuttering stores and trimming expansion plans as they stare down edgy consumers.
Industry analysts said Thursday that there was little mystery behind the plans announced by several chains this month. "We're in poor economic times, and when you're in poor economic times, retailers close stores" and reduce the number they plan to open, said Eric Beder of Brean Murray, Carret & Co. "That will accelerate into the second half of 2008."
.
Hillary Clinton: my teary moment won me New Hampshire
And then she just went out and essentially gave her heart to the people of New Hampshire. She didn't ask me anything, talk about anything, say, 'Here's why I'm doing it', and they came back, they turned." In a Fox News interview, Mr Obama put a brave face on his defeat, pointing that he had been trailing by as much as 20 points in New Hampshire as recently as two months ago and he remained in a strong position. "This is a high-stakes election and I don't think voters are going to let any candidate take anything for granted," he said. "They want to lift the hood and kick the tyres." Tabloids in New York, where Mrs Clinton serves as senator, plastered shots of her laughing face on the front page with headlines, 'Who’s Crying Now?' in the New York Daily News and, 'Back From the Dead' in the New York Post.
Kris Petersen: ‘Welcome To Gaza!’
It was my first trip to the occupied territories, despite having studied the situation for so long, and as I approached the Eretz Military Checkpoint, I felt the excitement of finally getting into this tiny piece of land. In early 2007, I had begun inquiring about traveling to Gaza with various Israeli embassy officials, mostly unfamiliar with the process of acquiring proper security clearance and one of whom flatly hung up when I asked. Undaunted and clearly in need of additional for additional help, I contacted academics, journalists, Palestinian bloggers, aid workers and the Israel Defense Force (IDF) only to receive different explanations from each source. As I discovered, getting into Gaza is a convoluted, Kafkaesque process and is virtually impossible if you are unable to provide a "good" reason to the Israel Defense Force; indeed, many qualified people are barred from entry without explanation almost as a matter of routine.
LPG marketing cos increase price again
ISLAMABAD: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketing companies have once again increased the ex-plant rate of LPG to Rs 950 or per 11.8 kilogram domestic cylinder further putting burden on domestic consumers.
The increase is against Oil and Gas Regulatory Authoritys...
.
Bush hopes rebate kick-starts economy Seattleites dubious
Sometime this year, you might get a nice chunk of change from the federal government: a check for $500 to $1,000. President Bush is willing to bet $150 billion in tax relief that you're going to shop away those one-time rebates (New mobile phone! New camera! A nice pair of shoes!) and give the sagging economy the equivalent of defibrillation -- a much-needed jolt to a damaged system. "Crank this sucker up," Bush said Friday, referring specifically to a standup lawnmower at a Maryland factory -- an economic symbol. His cheerful ride moments later was meant to show confidence amid growing fears of a recession. But local residents revealed an inclination not to blow that wad of cash. Around Seattle, most people held a more pragmatic view. .
|
