Standard & Poor’s hikes Ukraine’s credit rating a notch after new government was formed

S&P raises Ukraine’s credit rating
KIEV, Ukraine – Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s says it has raised Ukraine’s sovereign credit rating by one notch, citing reduced political risks in the country.

Ukraine’s parliament voted Thursday to appoint a new prime minister, Mykola Azarov, who is a staunch ally of new President Viktor Yanukovych.
S&P said in a statement …. Original article  : Standard & Poor’s hikes Ukraine’s credit rating a notch after new government was formed.

Acclaimed Spanish novelist Miguel Delibes dies at 89

Spanish novelist Miguel Delibes dies at 89

MADRID, Spain – Miguel Delibes, an acclaimed and prolific novelist whose work featured gritty depictions of rural life in post-civil war Spain and psychological analyses of characters facing turning points, died Friday. He was 89.
Delibes, who had been fighting cancer of the colon for several years, died at his …. Original article  : Acclaimed Spanish novelist Miguel Delibes dies at 89.

Tax collection has to be more humane: Mukherjee

NEW DELHI – Tax collection has to be more humane, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said, asking revenue officials to consider tax payers as important stake-holders in nation-building.

We have to administer taxes with a human approach. The shift in policy whereby tax payers are not seen as adversaries has resulted in a significant growth in …. Source article  : Tax collection has to be more humane: Mukherjee.

Asian stocks mixed as investors await more economic clues; European shares inch higher

Asian stocks mixed as US data eyed; Europe gains

HONG KONG – Asian stocks were mixed Friday as investors held out for additional clues to the strength of economic recovery. European shares rose in early trade.
Markets in Asia opened higher but sold down toward day’s end, reflecting uncertainty surrounding the U.S. rebound, China’s policies and debt … Original article on : Asian stocks mixed as investors await more economic clues; European shares inch higher.

Diplomats say North Korea demands 20 percent hike in rent for foreign embassies

Diplomats: North Korea seeks hike in embassy rent

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has demanded a hike in rental fees for embassies and international organizations in Pyongyang, diplomats said Friday, in what could be a move to raise foreign currency amid tightened international sanctions.
The United Nations slapped new restrictions on North Korea following its second …. Read the original article  : Diplomats say North Korea demands 20 percent hike in rent for foreign embassies.

Industrial production grows 16.7 percent in January

NEW DELHI – India’s industrial production rose 16.7 percent in January from one percent a year earlier, official data showed Friday.

The output was a better-than-expected 16.8 percent in December 2009. In January 2009, the figure stood at just 1 percent.
The index of industrial production (IIP), which measures the country’s factory output, stood at 9.6 … Read more »»».

Left, SP MPs walk out against food prices

NEW DELHI – Left and Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs Friday walked out of the Lok Sabha in protest against rising food prices and demanded a White Paper on inflation.

Ramachandran Dome of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) raised the issue and asked the government to explain the causes that have led to the situation.
Gurudas …. Read the original article  : here.

India, Canada expected to sign nuke deal in June

CHENNAI – India and Canada are expected to sign a civil nuclear deal during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the country in June that will increase the prospects of bilateral trade between the two countries, a Canadian High Commission official said.

“Bilateral trade between India and Canada will increase manifold once the two …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India, Canada expected to sign nuke deal in June.

US connects to India with apples, nuts

NEW DELHI – With a healthy booty of Washington apples, Indiana popcorns, Georgian pecan nuts, Californian pistachios and prunes, the US is looking to forge new “diplomatic” ties by increasing its presence in the Indian health food market.

“We connect to other cultures with book diplomacy, but food is also another great tool of diplomacy. Food …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US connects to India with apples, nuts.

Out for results in a compressed year, Obama maintains a juggle beyond jobs and health care

Need for results drives Obama’s domestic juggle
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s intense juggling of domestic issues reflects all the realities he faces: a vast agenda, a smaller window for results this year and a need to keep promises to constituencies that will have a huge say in the fall congressional elections.
Obama … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Out for results in a compressed year, Obama maintains a juggle beyond jobs and health care.

Senators question lobbying, nearly $1 million in compensation for CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs

Senators question $1 million pay for charity’s CEO

WASHINGTON – A group of Republican senators is questioning high salaries and expensive travel bills for executives at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, raising issues that could jeopardize millions in federal funding for the national charity.
The four senators said they were concerned that the chief executive … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Senators question lobbying, nearly $1 million in compensation for CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs.

Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC rescuers, recovery workers who sued over 9/11 illnesses

Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC responders

NEW YORK – A settlement that could pay up to $657.5 million to more than 10,000 ground zero rescue and recovery workers sickened by dust from the destroyed World Trade Center goes before a judge Friday, and he has said he favored a settlement but planned …. Read the original article  : Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC rescuers, recovery workers who sued over 9/11 illnesses.

Google denies ‘exit China’ rumor

BEIJING – Search engine Google on Thursday denied it was planning to shut down its business in China by the end of the month.

Google’s spokeswoman Marsha Wang told China Daily on Thursday that the company had not ordered its domestic advertising agents to stop doing business.
“That’s not possible. Our China operations are still at normal,” …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dems whittle disputes over health overhaul, sharpen strategy for pushing it through Congress

Democrats pare differences over health overhaul
WASHINGTON – Top Democrats say they are resolving disputes over President Barack Obama’s health overhaul plan, but they face decisions on subsidizing coverage and are still hunting votes to push the vast package through Congress.
House Democrats were meeting again Friday to discuss the still-evolving plan and for leaders …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Lawmakers, GAO probe lax enforcement of animal welfare rules following slaughterhouse abuse

Lawmakers probe lax enforcement of animal rules

FRESNO, Calif. – The knives at the slaughterhouse weren’t properly sanitized, a government investigator said, and employees at the meatpacking plant didn’t know how to test the carcasses of days-old veal calves for a dangerous pathogen. Food safety conditions were so poor at the Vermont processing facility that it …. Original source  : Lawmakers, GAO probe lax enforcement of animal welfare rules following slaughterhouse abuse.

Norwegian fertilizer group Yara won’t up bid for Terra after higher CF acquisition offer

Yara won’t up bid for Terra
OSLO – Norwegian fertilizer company Yara International ASA said Friday it will not increase its offer to acquire U.S. competitor Terra Industries after Terra’s board chose to favor a higher bid from CF Industries.

Yara CEO Joergen Ole Haslestad said that while Terra is “a perfect fit” for Yara at the … Read more : Norwegian fertilizer group Yara won’t up bid for Terra after higher CF acquisition offer.

China’s Haier: Joins with GE to sell appliances in Chinese countryside

Haier selling GE appliances in rural China

SHANGHAI – Chinese appliance maker Haier says it has joined with General Electric in selling GE appliances to rural areas, the focus of subsidies intended to boost spending by hundreds of millions of farmers.
Haier, headquartered in the eastern city of Qingdao, is the world’s fourth largest white goods manufacturer, …. Source  : China’s Haier: Joins with GE to sell appliances in Chinese countryside.

Diplomat: North Korea demands 20 percent hike in rent for foreign embassies

Diplomat: North Korea seeks hike in embassy rent

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has demanded a hike in rental fees for foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations in Pyongyang, a diplomat said Friday, in what could be a move to raise foreign currency amid tightened international sanctions.
The United Nations slapped new restrictions on North Korea …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Diplomat: North Korea demands 20 percent hike in rent for foreign embassies.

Be more productive, stop forgetting things and organize your life

CHANDIGARH – In today’s dynamic world, forgetting is something, we all do. It is bad enough when it is someone’s birthday, but when it is a business or monetary issue it can be costly. By keeping in mind the information overload and today’s life style, Yaad the recall services has introduced YaadiT – the recalling …. Read the original article  : Be more productive, stop forgetting things and organize your life.

Himalaya International Ltd. enters nutraceuticals and dietary supplements market

NEW DELHI – The Himalaya International Limited, India’s first frozen food company, has entered the rapidly expanding nutraceuticals and dietary supplements market with the launch of its product under the brand name-’1 Daily’.

Speaking during the brand launching ceremony here, Chairman of the Himalaya International Limited, Manmohan Malik said that his company has tied up … Read more >>.