Hyundai to launch one new car model in India every year

SEOUL – Heartened by a maturing Indian automobile market, Hyundai Motor has decided to launch at least one new model in the country every year even as moves are afoot to expand the rural marketing network and localise more components.

“Our plan is to introduce more than one new model every year and refurbish more than … Read more : Hyundai to launch one new car model in India every year.

India sets quarterly targets for infrastructure growth

NEW DELHI – India Monday set quarterly targets for its infrastructure sector during this fiscal in a bid to monitor progress in power generation and building of roads and ports, critical to its economic growth.

“We will be able to tell how much we are targeting and how much we have been able to achieve,” Panning … Original article on : India sets quarterly targets for infrastructure growth.

Delhi Metro chief Sreedharan resumes work

NEW DELHI – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief E. Sreedharan resumed attending office Monday after heart surgery last month and is working according to schedule like before, an official said.

Sreedharan, who underwent a successful bypass surgery last month, reached DMRC office in central Delhi sharp at 9 a.m., the official said.
“He (Sreedharan) [..] Read the original article: here.

Indian shares under pressure amid depressed global cues

MUMBAI – Indian equities markets continued to be depressed in afternoon trade Monday, after falling sharply in the morning, taking cues from a global sell-off triggered by fears that the Euro zone financial woes could derail economic recovery.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,961.92 points, was ruling … Read : Indian shares under pressure amid depressed global cues.

Nepal reopens tainted passport deal

KATHMANDU – Nepal Monday reopened a deal to buy new passports after an earlier contract awarded to an Indian company had to be scrapped due to protests by lawmakers.

The foreign ministry Monday invited bids from international security printing companies to print about four million modern Nepali passports that will be machine-readable instead of the earlier … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Nepal reopens tainted passport deal.

Oil falls to near $70 in Asia as euro, equities drop as traders eye Europe debt crisis

Oil falls to near $70 as euro sinks to 4-year low

SINGAPORE – Oil prices dropped to near $70 a barrel Monday in Asia as the euro sank to a four-year low and stock markets tumbled on investor concern Europe’s economy will wither amid a debt crisis and fiscal austerity measures.
Benchmark crude for June delivery was …. Original source  : Oil falls to near $70 in Asia as euro, equities drop as traders eye Europe debt crisis.

China auctions sidewalks to street vendors

BEIJING – Street shops in China will be legalised soon with the government launching an auction of sidewalks to vendors, a move that many say was brought about due to hygiene concerns.

Instead of chasing away unlicensed street vendors off the sidewalks, urban law enforcement officials from China’s Jiangxi province are auctioning off public space for … Read more : China auctions sidewalks to street vendors.

Minnesota Legislature bound for budget special session after missing adjournment deadline

Minn. Legislature bound for budget special session

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Legislature missed a midnight Sunday deadline for approving a plan to balance the state budget, sending lawmakers into an immediate special session.
Legislative leaders said they had a settlement with Gov. Tim Pawlenty to fix a $3 billion deficit but ran out of time …. Original source  : Minnesota Legislature bound for budget special session after missing adjournment deadline.

Rogue Thai general reputed to be Red Shirt military strategist dies; Bangkok chaos continues

Wounded rogue Thai general dies as chaos continues

BANGKOK – A rogue Thai general who helped anti-government protesters and was shot by an unidentified sniper died Monday from his wounds, raising fears of new violence after five days of street battles that have killed 36 people in downtown Bangkok.
Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdiphol, a renegade army officer …. Source  : Rogue Thai general reputed to be Red Shirt military strategist dies; Bangkok chaos continues.

Sensex plummets in morning trade

MUMBAI – A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday fell 350 points within the first 30 minutes after the opening bell, amid depressed global cues.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,961.92 points, was ruling at 16,643.62 points, 350.98 points or 2.07 percent down from its previous close …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sensex plummets in morning trade.

Dramatic 10-fold surge seen in kids hospitalized with MRSA; docs shift antibiotics to fight it

Dramatic surge seen in kids hospitalized with MRSA

CHICAGO – The number of children hospitalized with dangerous drug-resistant staph infections surged 10-fold in recent years, a study found.
Disease incidence increased from 2 cases to 21 cases per 1,000 hospital admissions from 1999 to 2008. Most infections were caught in the community, not in the hospital.
The study … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Dramatic 10-fold surge seen in kids hospitalized with MRSA; docs shift antibiotics to fight it.

Late payment data shows credit card reforms provide immediate help to overstretched consumers

Late payment drop shows impact of credit reforms

NEW YORK – Consumers struggling to pay their bills in the first few months of the year got an immediate benefit from credit card reforms.
Late credit card payments fell sharply in the first quarter, and at least part of the drop can be attributed to the law that …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Money Market Operations as on May 14, 2010

… Read : Money Market Operations as on May 14, 2010.

Sides trade offers as Minn. session pushes against midnight deadline; deal deemed ‘doable’

MN session pushes deadline; deal deemed ‘doable’

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota leaders closed in Sunday night on an agreement to fix a $3 billion budget deficit as lawmakers worked against a midnight deadline to finish the legislative session.
Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller emerged from a negotiation session just before 10 p.m. with an upbeat report.
“We’re … Read more >>>.

Asian stocks tumble in early trading on fresh worries over debt woes in Europe

Asian stocks fall on worries over Europe debt woes

TOKYO – Asian stock markets tumbled in early trading Monday as fresh worries over debt woes in Europe dampened sentiment across the region.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 207.50 points, or 2.0 percent, to 10,255.01.
South Korea’s Kospi lost 2.1 percent to 1,660.85. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Asian stocks tumble in early trading on fresh worries over debt woes in Europe.

Japan machinery orders rise in March, the first upturn in 3 months on economic recovery

Japan machinery orders rise 5.4 percent in March

TOKYO – Japan’s machinery orders, a closely watched indicator of future business investment, rose in March for the first time in three months, indicating companies are becoming bullish on spending in line with an economic recovery.
The Cabinet Office said Monday that Japan’s core machinery orders in March increased …. Original source  : Japan machinery orders rise in March, the first upturn in 3 months on economic recovery.

Sestak, Specter try to project confidence in tight Democratic primary race for US Senate

Sestak, Specter try to project confidence in race
MEDIA, Pa. – With the election just days away, the candidates in Pennsylvania’s too-close-to-call Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate jockeyed Sunday to project confidence and control and prove who will be the stronger man against the Republicans in the fall.
At a rally on the Delaware …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sestak, Specter try to project confidence in tight Democratic primary race for US Senate.

UAE, South Korea pledge close ties

Seoul, May 17 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea have agreed to form a joint committee to explore cooperation in small and medium ventures, technology and healthcare.

UAE Economy Minister Sultan Al Mansouri recently held a series of meetings here with South Korean officials, including Economy Minister Tchoy Kwingwan, on enhancing cooperation between … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UAE, South Korea pledge close ties.

Calif. solar cell company plans $20 million manufacturing plant in Las Vegas area

Company plans manufacturing plant for solar cells

LAS VEGAS – A California company is planning to build a $20 million manufacturing plant for solar power cells in the Las Vegas area.
The operation will employ about 278 workers, according to officials at Amonix Inc., which is based in Seal Beach, Calif.
The plan was announced Saturday during a …. Original article  : Calif. solar cell company plans $20 million manufacturing plant in Las Vegas area.

NBC launching aggressive fall schedule, hoping to climb out of fourth place

NBC will be new at 10 _ but it won’t be Leno

NEW YORK – NBC will give viewers a turn-the-page schedule next fall that attempts to erase the memory of this season’s failed Jay Leno experiment and another fourth-place finish by presenting new scripted programming each weeknight at 10 p.m.
That 10 p.m. schedule has four …. Source  : NBC launching aggressive fall schedule, hoping to climb out of fourth place.