Tax-free budget in Assam, sops for rural poor

GUWAHATI – Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday presented a populist tax-free budget with lots of sops for the rural poor, besides incentives for the education sector, jobs for the unemployed and welfare measures for women in a bid to woo voters ahead of next year’s assembly elections.

The Rs.3.464.46 crore deficit budget for the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tax-free budget in Assam, sops for rural poor.

L&T bags Rs.2,000 crore order from Managalore Petrochemicals

MUMBAI – Engineering and construction major Larsen and Toubro Friday said it has won a Rs.2,035-crore order from the state-run Managalore Petrochemicals, a unit of Oil and Natural Gas Corp.

The fresh order is for setting up a new complex which will manufacture aromatic products like paraxylene and benzene at the Mangalore Special Economic Zone in … Read : L&T bags Rs.2,000 crore order from Managalore Petrochemicals.

Indian fertiliser company set up unit in Ghana

NEW DELHI – Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (Iffco), a multi-state non-profit organisation, is setting up a unit in Ghana to meet the needs of the African nation and also export the surplus to India, says Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

“We have recently discovered gas in our country. This will be available for fertilisers. Accordingly, Iffco …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indian fertiliser company set up unit in Ghana.

US lawmakers step up attacks on China’s currency policies ahead of Nov. elections

US lawmakers attack China ahead of Nov. elections
WASHINGTON – China is once again the country Congress loves to hate.
After a lull last year, U.S. politicians jockeying ahead of crucial November elections have stepped up attacks on China as a way to win support from voters worried that the Asian power is taking American …. Original source  : US lawmakers step up attacks on China’s currency policies ahead of Nov. elections.

Health Care 101: If Obama’s bill passes, the changes start small and keep getting bigger

Health Care 101: A consumer primer on Obama’s bill
WASHINGTON – It took lawmakers a year to shape President Barack Obama’s health care bill. If it finally passes Congress, it’ll take the better part of a decade to write the user manual for consumers and doctors, employers and insurance companies.
Some health insurance consumer protections …. Original source  : Health Care 101: If Obama’s bill passes, the changes start small and keep getting bigger.

Obama travels to Ohio, rallying support for health care overhaul that Dems admit lacks votes

Obama heads to Ohio looking for health care votes
WASHINGTON – Still seeking votes for his proposed health care overhaul, President Barack Obama appears ready to reverse his position and allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures in the hopes of finding Democratic support for legislation whose future will be decided in coming days.
Increasingly eager to finish … Original article on : Obama travels to Ohio, rallying support for health care overhaul that Dems admit lacks votes.

With money and politics at stake, US census forms arrive in the mail; next few weeks critical

US census forms arrive in the mail: What to expect

WASHINGTON – Let the count begin.
More than 120 million U.S. census forms begin arriving Monday in mailboxes around the country, in the government’s once-a-decade population count that will be used to divvy up congressional seats and more than $400 billion in federal aid. Fast-growing states in … Original article on : With money and politics at stake, US census forms arrive in the mail; next few weeks critical.

India-Africa business conclave opens with large African participation

NEW DELHI – Making a strong pitch for scaling up trade and investment with Africa, India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday inaugurated a two-day conclave that is set to renew economic momentum between the two sides with business projects worth at least $10 billion.

“We wish to make the positive emotive engagement between India …. Source  : India-Africa business conclave opens with large African participation.

Investors meet on Kerala’s Vizhinjam port next month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – An investors meet will be held next month for the proposed Vizhinjam port in Kerala and work on the project will start during the tenure of the Left government, Ports Minister M.Vijayakumar told the assembly Monday.

He said the meeting would help identify the investor for the proposed port.
“By November-December, we are confident … Read more »»».

India’s annual inflation rose to 9.89 percent in February

NEW DELHI – Driven by increasing food prices, India’s annual rate of inflation, based on the wholesale price index, rose to 9.89 percent in February from 8.56 percent in the previous month, official data revealed Monday.

The annual inflation rate was 3.5 percent in February 2009.
The latest data released by the commerce ministry showed food …. Read the original article  : here.

Vermont dairyman targeted in immigration probe says he thought workers had proper documents

Vermont dairy farmer talks about immigration probe

BAKERSFIELD, Vt. – A Vermont dairy farmer who was among those targeted in a federal crackdown on undocumented workers says he thought three illegal workers had proper documentation.
Clement Gervais (JAR-vis) believes his family’s farm has been cleared following the November inspection by immigration officials, but federal officials say four …. Read the original article  : here.

Israeli media: US demanding cancellation of contentious east Jerusalem building plan

Reports: US wants Israel to cancel building plan

JERUSALEM – Israeli media reported Monday that the U.S. is pressing Israel to scrap a contentious east Jerusalem building project whose approval has touched off the most serious diplomatic feud with Washington in years.
Top U.S. officials have lined up in recent days to condemn the Israeli plan to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Israeli media: US demanding cancellation of contentious east Jerusalem building plan.

Punjab National Bank gets nod for IT subsidiary

NEW DELHI – The state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s third-largest lending institution, will soon set up an IT susidiary to provide technology-related assistance to the country’s growing financial sector.

“We have the technical know-how in the area of financial services and we want to share this know-how. So we applied for permission and the finance … Read : Punjab National Bank gets nod for IT subsidiary.

Asian stocks fall after mixed reports about US economy; oil dips below $80 a barrel

Asian stocks fall after mixed US economic reports

HONG KONG – Asian stock markets sank Monday after mixed economic reports about the U.S. economy inspired caution among investors.
Major bourses were down as much as 1 percent after a lackluster session on Friday. Oil prices dropped below $81 a barrel and the dollar gained against the euro …. Source article  : Asian stocks fall after mixed reports about US economy; oil dips below $80 a barrel.

Survey: Online news consumers have favorites, but little loyalty, and don’t want to pay

Survey: Readers don’t want to pay for news online

NEW YORK – Getting people to pay for news online at this point would be “like trying to force butterflies back into their cocoons,” a new consumer survey suggests.
That was one of several bleak headlines in the Project for Excellence in Journalism’s annual assessment of the state … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Survey: Online news consumers have favorites, but little loyalty, and don’t want to pay.

India, US set to boost high-technology trade

WASHINGTON – India and the US hope to significantly expand bilateral cooperation in critical areas like defence/strategic trade, civil nuclear cooperation, biotechnology, nano-technology and civil aviation after two-day talks on high technology starting here Monday.

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao arrived here Sunday to co-chair the seventh meeting of the India-US High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), … Read this article on Gaea Times at : India, US set to boost high-technology trade.

Money Market Operations as on March 12, 2010

…. Original article  : Money Market Operations as on March 12, 2010.

French voters slap Sarkozy’s conservatives down in round 1 of regional election

Sarkozy’s party humbled by leftists in French vote

PARIS – French voters scarred by economic crisis dealt President Nicolas Sarkozy and his conservative leadership a stern blow Sunday by strongly favoring leftist candidates in regional elections, according to near-complete official results.
Some took their worries about immigration and France’s growing Muslim population to the ballot box – … Read this article on Gaea Times at : French voters slap Sarkozy’s conservatives down in round 1 of regional election.

World’s biggest state wealth fund in oil-rich Abu Dhabi sheds new light with first-ever report

Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund starts to open up

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority broke with its customary privacy by issuing its first yearly statement Monday, marking one of the biggest steps yet by the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund to increase transparency.
The document, called an “annual review,” provides a … Original article on : World’s biggest state wealth fund in oil-rich Abu Dhabi sheds new light with first-ever report.

France’s Socalist-led left dominate Sarkozy’s conservatives in regional election

Sarkozy’s party loses first-round vote in France

PARIS – France’s Socialist-led left defeated Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservatives in the first round of regional elections Sunday, according to partial official results, in a new blow to the increasingly unpopular president.
Many voters blame Sarkozy and the governing conservatives for failing to protect jobs amid France’s worst economic downturn since … Original article on : France’s Socalist-led left dominate Sarkozy’s conservatives in regional election.