GEORGE W. BUSH

Fifty-four percent of Americans expect a recession in the next year as the housing downturn deepens, inlfation rises and credit conditions worsen, according to a new poll released Wednesday. As economic anxiety grows, nearly half said they planned to use their government tax rebate checks to pay down debt or pad savings.

Kosovo's parliament voted unanimously to separate from Serbia on Sunday. Members of parliament voted 109-0 for the action. Kosovo will seek to be recognized as a European country after being under United Nations control since 1999 following a civil war with Serbia.

President George W. Bush set-off on Friday for a five-nation tour, touting American compassion for the poor on the continent.

Tax payers can expect to receive rebates starting in May, after President George W. Bush today signed into law a bill authorizing payments from $300 to $1,200 to more than 130 million people. The rebates are part of $168 billion plan approved by lawmakers this month to give a booster shot to the slowing U.S. economy. The stimulus package also includes tax breaks for businesses when they invest in new plants and equipment.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday he backed a brief pause in U.S. troop reductions from Iraq once an initial pullout of five combat brigades has been completed in July.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday visited Tennessee, one of the areas that were affected by the tornadoes that swept through five states earlier this week.

At least 45 people confirmed dead, more than 150 others seriously injured when the tornadoes and thunderstorms struck five US states.

U.S. President George W. Bush insisted on Monday he had plenty of unfinished business for his last year in office but he will leave some serious challenges for his successor in January, 2009. In his State of the Union address, Bush focused on passing an economic stimulus plan and cutting wasteful spending.

President Bush, standing before Congress one last time, urged the nation Monday night to persevere against gnawing fears of recession and stay patient with the long, grinding war in Iraq. He pressed Congress to quickly pass a plan to rescue the economy. We can all see that growth is slowing, Bush said in a blunt acknowledgment of rising food and gas prices, increasing unemployment and turmoil in the housing and financial markets.

As President George W. Bush addresses lawmakers and the American people in his final State of the Union speech tonight, among his goals will be to boost the nation's economy, reauthorize education and anti-terrorism surveillance laws, maintain active support for war in Iraq and diversify the nation's energy supply.

U.S. Stocks moved towards a higher opening on Friday, buoyed by strong earnings from Microsoft and a quick decision to implement a U.S. economic stimulus package boosted investors confidence. Following the biggest global stocks rally in two and a half years on Thursday, U.S. stocks are set to make their first string of three consecutive days of gains since December, and first weekly rise in five weeks.

France stepped up efforts to restore confidence in the banking system as Societe Generale faced tough questions on Friday over why it failed to prevent the biggest financial dealing scandal in history.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark 30-share sensitivity index, the Sensex, plummeted by over 2000 points or almost 11 percent on Monday - its biggest ever intra-day fall - and dragged down stock prices of blue-chip companies to a record low, forcing the stock exchange to shut down trading twice abruptly.

Crude Oil dropped on Monday below $89 a barrel as stock markets in Asia and Europe fell on concerns over a global economy slowdown.

Stock markets around the world plummeted on Monday, taking their lead from the U.S., where a leading index fell more than 4 percent last week following increased concern that the U.S. will head for a recession.

World stocks nosedived and demand for safe-haven bonds and currencies soared on Monday as fears gripped investors that a deteriorating U.S. economy would drag others down with it. MSCI's main world stock index, a benchmark gauge of stock markets globally, sank 2.6 percent, falling below its 2007 bottom to lows last seen in December 2006.

World stocks took a beating on Monday and demand for safe-haven bonds and currencies rose as fears gripped investors that a troubled U.S. economy would drag others down with it. MSCI's main world stock index was down 1.9 percent, nearing its 2007 low. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 was down 2.4 percent, taking its 2008 year-to-date losses to 12 percent.

Copper futures gained on Friday after inventories dropped and President Bush presented a proposal to stimulate the slowing U.S. economy.

U.S. gold futures ended a volatile week on a slightly higher note, after an emergency tax-relief plan announced by President Bush did not ease investor recession concerns, raising the appeal of the precious metal.

President Bush on Friday proposed a shot in the arm for a slowing but fundamentally strong U.S. economy in the form of a broad-based, temporary economic stimulus package worth up to $150 billion that would provide tax incentives for businesses and tax rebates for individuals.

An economic stimulus package helped boost retail stocks but buyers beware.