IMF inspectors to meet Greek finance minister amid volatile borrowing costs

IMF, Greek officials to meet amid market worries

ATHENS, Greece – Inspectors from the International Monetary Fund will meet Greece’s finance minister to find ways to speed up fiscal reforms, as the debt-plagued country continues to grapple with volatile borrowing costs.
Wednesday’s meeting with George Papaconstantinou, which will be closed to the news media, comes at the … Read more >>>.

Renault-Nissan and Daimler agree to tie-up aimed at developing fuel efficient vehicles

Renault-Nissan, Daimler unveil tie-up plan

BRUSSELS – Carmakers Renault SA, Nissan Motor Co. and Daimler AG unveiled Wednesday a wide-ranging three-way tie-up to bolster their offerings in small, energy-efficient vehicles.
The partnership comes amid a painful industrywide slump and will be sealed with a cross-shareholding giving the three companies small, symbolic stakes in each other. The move … Read : Renault-Nissan and Daimler agree to tie-up aimed at developing fuel efficient vehicles.

India’s seafood exports to rise

KOCHI – Seafood exports are set to rise this fiscal due to favourable policies of the central government and the industry’s expansion to new markets in China and Southeast Asia, according to the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).

SEAI secretary Sandu Joseph told IANS that seafood exports till the end of January had registered a … Read : India’s seafood exports to rise.

Hyundai launches new i20 compact car

NEW DELHI – Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Wednesday launched a new i20 car with two additional variants – Era and Sportz – priced in the range of Rs.4.51-5.31 lakh.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the i20 with new features and two additional variants. While the variants are targeted at our customers who …. Original source  : Hyundai launches new i20 compact car.

Leader of striking employees held in Kashmir

SRINAGAR – The head of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), spearheading the Jammu and Kashmir government employees’ strike that entered its third day Wednesday, has been taken into “preventive custody” to maintain law and order, police said.

Abdul Qayoom Wani was nabbed from Srinagar’s Parimpora area.
“He has been taken into preventive custody in … Read more »».

Toyota warned European distributors about pedal problems well before telling US government

Europeans warned of Toyota pedals well before US

WASHINGTON – Long before Toyota told U.S. regulators about sticking accelerator pedals, the Japanese automaker warned its distributors throughout Europe about similar problems, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.
Concerns about sticking gas pedals and complaints from Toyota owners in the U.S. were rising at the end of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

10 Common Mistakes in Filing Online Tax Returns in USA

CALIFORNIA (GaeaTimes.com) — Tax returns in USA is used for calculating income tax or other taxes. Tax returns are one type of reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or with the state or local tax collection agency. The easiest and convenient way for tax returns is Efiling. But while filing tax returns … Read more »».

Underwriting Auctions for Government securities

The Government of India have announced the sale (reissue) of “6.85 per cent Government Stock 2012 “ for a notified amount of Rs. 5,000 crore (nominal), “6.35 per cent Government Stock 2020” for a notified amount of Rs.5,000 crore (nominal)  and "8.26 per cent Government Stock 2027"  for …. Source  : Underwriting Auctions for Government securities.

IDFC, IDEAcarbon enter into alliance to enhance carbon market mechanisms in India

MUMBAI – Infrastructure Development Finance Company Ltd. (IDFC) and IDEAcarbon, the company that instituted ratings of carbon assets, signed a strategic working alliance today to encourage the adoption of ratings of environmental assets by market participants and develop other products to help a structured growth of the Indian carbon market.

IDEAcarbon, that owns The Carbon Rating …. Original source  : IDFC, IDEAcarbon enter into alliance to enhance carbon market mechanisms in India.

‘Love motel’ upsets neighbours in New Zealand

AUCKLAND – New Zealand’s first so-called “love motel”, which will allow its customers to book rooms on hourly basis for “private intimacy”, is sparking outrage in Auckland with neighbours saying it is nothing more than a sleazy brothel.

The motel Desire will look just like other love motels around the world where couples and singles … Read : ‘Love motel’ upsets neighbours in New Zealand.

Unemployment rises to 14-year high in Spain

Madrid, April 7 (IANS/EFE) The number of jobless people in Spain has risen to a 14-year high of more than 4.16 million, with the addition of another 35,998 to the unemployment rolls in March, the government has said.

Unemployment has grown for eight consecutive months, and by 561,221 people, the Labour and Immigration Ministry said … Read more : Unemployment rises to 14-year high in Spain.

Woof! It’s a dog’s world at Kerala supermarket

THRISSUR – Thrissur is fast becoming the “kennel capital” of Kerala, thanks to a supermarket for dogs. From NRIs to foreigners, people are flocking to it for electronic toys, toothbrushes, vaccines, shoes and more – all for the canines.

Owned by Anoj Cheeran, the supermarket is known as “Cheeran’s”. It has been in business for five …. Read the original article  : Woof! It’s a dog’s world at Kerala supermarket.

33 firms fined for deforestation in Brazil

Brasilia, April 7 (IANS/EFE) Thirty-three companies in Brazil have been fined for deforestation and irregularities in managing their industrial activities, the Brazilian Environmental Institute (Ibama) has said.

The violators, most of them operating in the Amazon region, were fined a total of 275 million reais ($152.7 million) and most of the sanctions were due to … Read more >>.

Spain sets $789 mn budget for electric vehicles

Madrid, April 7 (IANS/EFE) Spain has presented a 590-million euro ($789 million) budget to promote electric vehicles in the country and is set to register more than 70,000 all-electric and hybrid cars by 2012.

The aim is a total registration of 250,000 units by 2014, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Tuesday.
Subsidies of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Spain sets $789 mn budget for electric vehicles.

Oil hovers below $87 in Asia after mixed US crude, gasoline inventory report

Oil hovers below $87 after mixed US supply report

SINGAPORE – Oil prices hovered below $87 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report showed U.S. gasoline supplies fell more than expected last week while crude and distillate inventories rose.
Benchmark crude for May delivery was down 1 cent to $86.83 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore … Original source on Gaea Times at : Oil hovers below $87 in Asia after mixed US crude, gasoline inventory report.

SEC would require Wall St. firms to provide fuller disclosure on asset-backed securities

SEC seeks tighter rules on asset-backed securities

WASHINGTON – Remember mortgage-backed securities? They were the go-go house of cards that collapsed and nearly brought down the financial system, helping usher in the recession.
In response, lawmakers and government agencies have been trying to lay down stricter rules for asset-backed securities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission will weigh in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : SEC would require Wall St. firms to provide fuller disclosure on asset-backed securities.

Earlier Easter, signs of consumer strength likely helped March sales rise in many sectors

Shoppers likely gave March sales Easter boost

NEW YORK – An earlier Easter and modest consumer spending rebound helped retail sales rise in March, particularly furniture and luxury goods, categories that were the worst hit during the recession, according to an early measurement.
The latest numbers out Wednesday from MasterCard Advisor’s SpendingPulse show sales rose in most …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Earlier Easter, signs of consumer strength likely helped March sales rise in many sectors.

Japan central bank keeps key interest rate unchanged at 0.1 percent

Japan central bank stays put on interest rates

TOKYO – Japan’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged and held off on new easing steps Wednesday, saying the economy is improving.
The Bank of Japan’s policy board voted unanimously to keep its overnight call rate at a super-low 0.1 percent. The bank has not tweaked that … Read : Japan central bank keeps key interest rate unchanged at 0.1 percent.

Fruita voters make town first in Colorado to impose extra tax on medical marijuana

In Colorado town, voters tax pot before it arrives

FRUITA, Colo. – A small western Colorado town has become the first in the state to levy a city tax on medical marijuana, even though it doesn’t yet have a dispensary.
Voters in Fruita, a town of about 11,000 at the foot of the majestic Colorado National Monument, …. Read the original article  : here.

Asian stock markets mostly rise on hopes low interest rates will boost economic growth

Asian shares higher amid strong economic growth

SINGAPORE – Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday amid expectations low global interest rates will continue to fuel strong economic growth.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng stock index jumped 1.8 percent while Thailand rose 1.3 percent and Singapore gained 0.7 percent. China’s Shanghai index fell 0.3 percent and Malaysia, Australia, …. Original source  : Asian stock markets mostly rise on hopes low interest rates will boost economic growth.