In Arab-America capital, ancient hookah tradition threatened by Michigan smoking ban

Mich. hookah fanciers fume about smoking ban

DEARBORN, Mich. – The main thoroughfares of this Detroit suburb, like those of many Michigan cities, aren’t as busy as they used to be. Thousands of jobs shed locally by the Ford Motor Co. have forced smaller businesses to shutter and left fewer customers for those that remain.
Yet there … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : In Arab-America capital, ancient hookah tradition threatened by Michigan smoking ban.

Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat says closure of family bank will not halt campaign

Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat undaunted
CHICAGO – Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias appeared undaunted by the shuttering of his family’s bank, saying he would continue his bid to keep President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in Democratic hands with renewed purpose.
“My campaign for the United States Senate goes forward with …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat says closure of family bank will not halt campaign.

Indian markets end week with modest gains (Weekly market review)

MUMBAI – Benchmark indices for Indian equities ended with modest gains this week even as lesser valued scrips outshone the larger stocks.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) moved up a modest 103.02 points or 0.59 percent to end at 17,694.2 points Friday.
The broader S&P CNX Nifty of …. Original article  : Indian markets end week with modest gains (Weekly market review).

Lenders seek austerity measures from Greece in exchange for emergency economic aid

Will tough love fix Greece’s economic woes?
WASHINGTON – Global finance officials are sending Greece a tough love message: Move ahead on economic reforms and we’ll come to the rescue with an emergency loan package.
The rapidly escalating Greek debt crisis was expected to dominate discussions at Saturday’s gathering of the 186-nation International Monetary … Original article on : Lenders seek austerity measures from Greece in exchange for emergency economic aid.

G-20 fails to agree on global bank tax, financial reforms

WASHINGTON – Finance ministers of the world’s 20 leading economies, including India, have failed to agree on a controversial proposal for a global tax on banks or other reforms, suggesting one size does not fit all.

“The global recovery has progressed better than previously anticipated, largely due to the G-20’s unprecedented and concerted policy effort,” the … Read more >>>.

Whitman wraps up Calif. fundraising tour with Romney, McCain as protesters attack her spending

Whitman ends California tour with Romney, McCain

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman wrapped up a week of fundraising Friday with help from some big GOP names while facing protests about the amount of money she is spending on her quest for California’s highest office.
Whitman’s political mentor, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, joined her … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Whitman wraps up Calif. fundraising tour with Romney, McCain as protesters attack her spending.

India, China growth helping developing nations: World Bank

WASHINGTON – But for the rapid progress made by India and China, the pace of poverty reduction in developing countries would have been still slower after the global economic crisis, according to World Bank’s lead economist.

“The crisis struck just when the developing countries were making significant strides, especially in poverty. Poverty rates were …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : India, China growth helping developing nations: World Bank.

Insurgent attacks against contractors surge as US makes rebuilding key to strategy

Attacks against contractors surging in Afghanistan
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The message, very often, is sent with bloodshed.
A suicide bombing last week on a fortified Kandahar guesthouse shared by Western contracting companies killed four Afghans and injured several Americans. An Afghan engineer was shot dead in March as he helped inspect a school not far … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Insurgent attacks against contractors surge as US makes rebuilding key to strategy.

Colt ‘85: Cleveland Browns select Texas quarterback Colt McCoy in 3rd round of NFL draft

Browns rescue Colt McCoy, take Texas QB in draft

BEREA, Ohio – Colt McCoy’s slide finally stopped in Cleveland. The Browns roped the Texas quarterback before he could fall any further.
Passed over in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, McCoy was selected in the third round with the No. 85 overall pick on Friday …. Read the original article  : here.

Carroll bypasses local hero and former player Mays in his first draft for Seattle

Mays unhappy to be passed over by his former coach

RENTON, Wash. – Friends and fans in Seattle weren’t the only ones to notice Pete Carroll didn’t draft hometown hero and USC star Taylor Mays for the Seahawks.
Mays was picked in the second round Friday by the San Francisco 49ers and passed over by his old … Original article on : Carroll bypasses local hero and former player Mays in his first draft for Seattle.

Cuba opens up to allow more cell phones

Havana, April 24 (IANS/EFE) The number of cell phone subscribers in Cuba will exceed one million by the end of this year after the government in 2008 allowed cell phone service for ordinary Cubans, a luxury previously reserved for foreigners, companies and state agencies.

Cuba has invested some $150 million since 2003 to develop the island’s … Original article on : Cuba opens up to allow more cell phones.

Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat

Feds shuts down bank owned by Giannoulias
CHICAGO – Regulators shut down the bank owned by Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ family on Friday, setting up an expected but daunting challenge in his bid to keep President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in Democratic hands.
Broadway Bank, which was heavy into real …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Feds close bank owned by family of Ill. treasurer, candidate for Obama’s old US Senate seat.

Crude prices rise as US home sales surge

NEW YORK – Crude prices rose above $85 per barrel Friday as strong sales of new homes in the US boosted investor confidence about an economic recovery.

The Commerce Department said that new home sales rose 27 percent in March, rebounding from the previous month’s record low and blowing past expectations. The data boosted the outlook …. Source article  : Crude prices rise as US home sales surge.

Russian gas exports increase 120 percent in first quarter

MOSCOW – Russia’s natural gas exports in the first quarter of this year reached 52.1 billion cubic metres, a 120 percent increase year-on-year, the energy ministry said Friday.

Russia exported 15.15 billion cubic metres of gas in March, a 110 percent growth over last March, Xinhua reported.
Hit by the economic crisis, Russia’s gas exports dropped …. Read the original article  : here.

Regulators shut down 7 banks in Illinois; 57 closures for the year

FDIC shuts down 7 banks in Illinois
NEW YORK – Regulators on Friday shut down seven banks in Illinois, putting the number of U.S. bank failures this year at 57.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over four banks in Chicago: New Century Bank, with $485.6 million in assets; Citizens Bank&Trust Company, with $77.3 million … Read more >>>.

Former CEO of Continental Airlines got compensation valued at $3.3 million in final year

Former Continental CEO’s 2009 pay worth $3.3M

DALLAS – The former CEO of Continental Airlines Inc. got a compensation package valued at $3.3 million in his final year leading the nation’s fourth-largest carrier, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing made Friday.
The airline’s new CEO has vowed to reject his $730,000 salary and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Former CEO of Continental Airlines got compensation valued at $3.3 million in final year.

CEO of American Airlines parent AMR got $4.7 million in compensation, down 7.7 percent

AMR CEO 2009 compensation slipped to $4.7 million

DALLAS – The chief executive of American Airlines parent AMR Corp. got compensation valued at $4.7 million last year, down 7.7 percent from 2008, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing made Friday.
The decline was due largely to the lower value placed on stock and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : CEO of American Airlines parent AMR got $4.7 million in compensation, down 7.7 percent.

Washington Gov. Gregoire signs tax package hitting bottled water, soda, beer, candy and more

Washington governor signs package of tax hikes

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Calling it a “sensible and modest” solution to Washington’s historic budget crisis, Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday approved a revenue package that nets roughly $780 million to avoid deeper cuts in education, health care and human services.
Consumers will pay more for a basketful of convenience-store favorites: …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Washington Gov. Gregoire signs tax package hitting bottled water, soda, beer, candy and more.

G20 ministers hold off on global bank tax

WASHINGTON – Finance ministers of the world’s 20 leading economic powers on Friday stopped short of endorsing a controversial global tax on banks, instead calling for the International Monetary Fund to conduct more research into measures that would hold banks responsible.

In a communique released after their meeting in Washington, the Group of 20 (G20) bloc …. Read the original article  : G20 ministers hold off on global bank tax.

Regulators shut down 4 banks in Illinois; 54 closures for the year

FDIC shuts down 4 banks in Illinois
NEW YORK – Regulators shut down four banks in Illinois on Friday, putting the number of U.S. bank failures this year at 54.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over three banks in Chicago: New Century Bank, with $485.6 million in assets; Citizens Bank&Trust Company, with $77.3 million …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Regulators shut down 4 banks in Illinois; 54 closures for the year.