D Friday, December 18, 2009 METRO Tourists pose for a souvenir photo in the snow next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday Picture: AP ivory tower Slump not quite over just yet...EXPERTS yesterday warned about declaring the recession over despite official figures signalling the first signs of a return to growth. Irelands beleaguered economy ap- peared to stabilise between July and September as gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 7.4 per cent the lowest rate this year. But amid the glimmer of hope, poli- ticians, business chiefs and econo- mists warned it was too early to call a turnaround as multinational firms were providing the only real boost. Richard Bruton, Fine Gaels finance spokesman, said claims that the Irish economy has turned a corner ap- peared to be pretty rash. Almost every day, another new set of economic data is published which makes Minister Lenihans Budget boast that the worst is over look dan- gerously complacent, Mr Bruton said. The Central Statistics Office quar- terly national accounts detailed a slow but steady fall-off in the rate of eco- nomic decline since January, effective- ly meaning the end of recession, de- fined by two quarters in a row of falling GDP. This measures the value of goods and services produced in Ireland but some experts gauge economic figures on gross national product (GNP), which ignores the input of foreign- owned multinationals. The CSO report shows Irish firms are suffering on this front, with a drop in consumer spending, investment, construction and industrial output. Friends First economist Jim Power said: The fact that GDP increased between the second and third quarters would suggest that perhaps the reces- sion is ending. But he also warned the country still has a long way to go. Fergal OBrien of business lobby Ibec said: In terms of the pace of contraction... the worst is clearly now behind us. But Ulster Bank said it was premature to declare the country was moving out of recession. By COLM KELPIE A FORMER Playboy Model of the Year punched a former friend in a nightclub toilet cubicle during a bust-up about her husband. Louise Glover, 26, also tried to push the head of Maxine Hardcastle the daughter of 80s musician Paul Hardcastle down a toilet during the attack, Hove Crown Court in the UK heard. It is alleged Glover (pictured) launched her assault following a perceived slight involving her husband. Playboy model on trial for loo attack SILVIO BERLUSCONI waved weakly to photographers yesterday as he left a Milan hospital with his face covered in bandages, four days after an attack at a political rally. The 73-year-old Italian prime minister (pictured), whose nose and two of his teeth were broken when mentally ill Massimo Tartaglia hurled a souvenir statue of Milans cathedral into his face on Sunday, is expected to have cosmetic surgery at the Ars Medica Clinic in Switzerland where he had a face lift in 2003. Bandaged Silvio is out of hospital index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html