Nuclear liability bill needs to go through, says Ficci chief

WASHINGTON – Calling nuclear power as the “next frontier” where investments in India will come, Rajan Bharti Mittal, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), hopes the controversial civil nuclear liability bill goes through India’s parliament to bring in more foreign companies.

“Issue is India is power starved,” Rajan Bharti Mittal, … Original article on : Nuclear liability bill needs to go through, says Ficci chief.

US offers latest airborne radar to India

NEW DELHI – After a range of top fighter aircraft and other weapon systems, the US has now offered another sophisticated system to India, the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR), whose capability has been described as “unmatched” by a former US navy official.

According to Admiral Walter F. Doran, president Asia for Raytheon, Indian officials had already …. Source  : US offers latest airborne radar to India.

China may report trade deficit in March, minister says, while rejecting pressure on currency

Minister: China may report trade deficit in March

BEIJING – China could report a trade deficit in March, the country’s commerce minister said Sunday as he rejected U.S. pressure to ease currency controls and blamed Washington for the Sino-U.S. trade gap.
Washington and other trading partners are pressing China to ease currency controls that have kept its … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : China may report trade deficit in March, minister says, while rejecting pressure on currency.

Obama appeals for Democratic unity ahead of make-or-break health care vote

Obama urges party unity to pass health care
WASHINGTON – Democratic leaders appeared confident they had the votes needed to pass the landmark legislation Sunday, a day after President Barack Obama called on them to make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families.
On Saturday, Democratic leaders frenetically hunted for votes inside … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama appeals for Democratic unity ahead of make-or-break health care vote.

Finnair deploys all-new fleet as traffic to India spurts

NEW DELHI – Nordic carrier Finnair has deployed an all-new fleet to India even as its passenger load factor on the Helsinki-New Delhi route has seen a major spurt this year after the turbulent past season due to the global slowdown.

“The average age of aircraft deployed to India is just four months,” said Kari Stolbow, …. Source  : Finnair deploys all-new fleet as traffic to India spurts.

Tiny community in Montana’s struggling northwest buries young soldier killed in Afghanistan

Struggling town turns out to bury fallen soldier

COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. – Residents from the small communities just outside the mountains of Glacier National Park buried one of their own Saturday, a young soldier from Hungry Horse killed by Afghan insurgents earlier this month.
Nicholas Cook is just the eighth soldier from Montana to be killed in …. Source  : Tiny community in Montana’s struggling northwest buries young soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Malaysian Indian enterprises need 100,000 foreign workers

KUALA LUMPUR – Projecting a requirement of 100,000 foreign workers, a Malaysian Indian trade body wants a dialogue with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak over the prevailing shortage of foreign labour in the country.

Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce of Industry (Maicci) president K.K. Eswaran said various trade associations had sought the chamber’s help to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysian Indian enterprises need 100,000 foreign workers.

FICCI bats for nuclear liability bill to win ‘next frontier’

WASHINGTON – Calling nuclear power as the “next frontier” where investments in India will come, the FICCI chief hopes the controversial civil nuclear liability bill goes through Indian parliament to bring in more foreign companies.

“Issue is India is power starved,” Rajan Bharti Mittal, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), … Read more >>>.

Kamal Nath to seek Canadian investment, meet Indian-born ‘Warren Buffet’

TORONTO – India will woo Canadian investment in its infrastructure during the four-day visit of Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath to Canada from March 23.

During his visit, Kamal Nath will meet Canadian International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan, Transport Minister John Baird, and corporate leaders to give further push to economic ties …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kamal Nath to seek Canadian investment, meet Indian-born ‘Warren Buffet’.

Senate Leader Reid joins president in appeal for Democratic unity ahead of pivotal vote

Obama urges Dems to come together for health care
WASHINGTON – Victory within reach, President Barack Obama exhorted House Democrats on Saturday to stay true to their party’s legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families now left out. Leaders exuded confidence …. Source  : Senate Leader Reid joins president in appeal for Democratic unity ahead of pivotal vote.

Despite pressure from black activists, black support for Obama’s race-neutral stance is high

Black support high for Obama’s race-neutral stance
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In this banking center walloped by the Great Recession, where unemployment just hit a 20-year high and as many as one in three black people are out of work, blacks could easily be frustrated with President Barack Obama’s insistence that a rising …. Original source  : Despite pressure from black activists, black support for Obama’s race-neutral stance is high.

House Democrats confident they can overcome abortion rift in health bill

Obama calls on Dems to pass health care
WASHINGTON – Victory within reach, President Barack Obama rallied House Democrats on Saturday for a final health care push, and party leaders appeared confident they had overcome a flare-up over abortion funding restrictions in the legislation.
Building on Democrats’ momentum, House leaders decided on a straight up-or-down … Read more >>.

Senate Democratic leader says he has ’significant majority’ to revise health care bill

Top Senate Dem says he has votes for health bill

WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he has enough votes to push changes in the health care overhaul bill through the Senate.
House leaders expect to pass the Senate’s version of the legislation on Sunday.
House Democrats want to make changes in that bill – and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Senate Democratic leader says he has ’significant majority’ to revise health care bill.

A breakdown of fees paid by California drivers for traffic citations

California traffic citation fees at a glance

Fees paid by California drivers for traffic citations in addition to the base fine:
-$26 penalty assessment for every $10 of the base fine; funds courthouse construction, DNA identification, county emergency medical services and other programs.
-$35 criminal conviction fee; goes toward court construction.
-$30 court security fee.
-$1 county night court fee.
-Other …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : A breakdown of fees paid by California drivers for traffic citations.

Cities and states struggling with budgets cuts look to raise traffic fees, step up enforcement

Tight for cash, governments raise traffic fees

LOS ANGELES – Shomari Jennings was willing to pay the $70 ticket he received for driving without a seatbelt, but not the slew of tacked-on fees and penalties that ballooned the cost more than tenfold.
Every $10 of his base fine triggered a $26 “penalty assessment” for courthouse construction, a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cities and states struggling with budgets cuts look to raise traffic fees, step up enforcement.

Dubai records pearl trade worth over $27 mn in 2009

DUBAI – Pearls trade in Dubai has crossed the record $27 million mark last year, registering 30 percent increase in the import of the precious gem from several countries including India and Australia.

The total transaction of pearls was worth AED 99.6 million ($27.11 million) in 2009, the Dubai Pearl Exchange, a subsidiary of Dubai Multi … Original article on : Dubai records pearl trade worth over $27 mn in 2009.

Maharajas’ Express chugs out from Kolkata

KOLKATA – Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday night flagged off the Kolkata-Delhi luxury tourist train Maharajas’ Express from here.

The train is the latest offering from the railways on the lines of the palace-on-wheels to generate revenue and help tourists explore India. It possesses elegant features to give the guests a feeling of royalty.
The train …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Maharajas’ Express chugs out from Kolkata.

Major League Soccer and union sign a 5-year labor contract.

MLS and union sign 5-year labor deal
NEW YORK – Major League Soccer and its players signed an agreement in principle Saturday on a five-year labor contract that avoided a strike scheduled before next week’s season opener.

Negotiators began intensive talks Thursday in Washington, D.C., and the deal was signed shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, about 5?? …. Original source  : Major League Soccer and union sign a 5-year labor contract..

Government to decide on cooking gas, kerosene price hike

CHENNAI – The central government will take a decision on hiking the cooking gas and kerosene prices on the lines recommended by Kirit Parikh committee, an official said Saturday.

“The ministry of petroleum and natural gas is examining it and a decision will be taken. The implementation of the report will be from next fiscal …. Read the original article  : Government to decide on cooking gas, kerosene price hike.

Afcons bags Rs.938 crore Kolkata Metro project

KOLKATA – Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. (Afcons), the infrastructure arm of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has bagged a Rs.938-crore project for design and construction of a part of the East-West Metro project in the city.

Disclosing this at a media meet here Saturday, Afcons director for transportation Ramakrishna V. Ramanan said: “The project includes design and construction of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Afcons bags Rs.938 crore Kolkata Metro project.