Costa Rica congress draws ire by voting itself 60 percent pay raise after only month in office

Costa Rica congress votes itself 60% pay raise

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rica’s unicameral congress is drawing criticism by voting itself a 60 percent pay raise less than a month after legislators took office.
Congress members’ salaries will rise to about $8,400 a month if the bill is enacted.
President Laura Chinchilla said Tuesday she will …. Source article  : Costa Rica congress draws ire by voting itself 60 percent pay raise after only month in office.

Land deals up by 550 percent in UAE

Abu Dhabi, May 26 (IANS/WAM) Land and real estate transactions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) showed a whopping increase of 550 percent in April 2010 from the corresponding period last year.

Transactions in Abu Dhabi in April 2010 were worth a total of 12.3 billion dirhams ($3.3 billion). Property transactions amounted to 11.9 billion dirhams, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

South Indian Bank announces 1:10 stock split

TRISSUR – Kerala-based South Indian Bank has decided to split its stocks 1:10 to make it affordable to more people and broaden its retail shareholders base, a top official of the bank said Wednesday.

The bank’s board of directors has decided to split one share of Rs.10 face value into 10 shares of Re.1 each, said …. Original article  : South Indian Bank announces 1:10 stock split.

Sensex holds on to gains amid positive global cues

MUMBAI – A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday managed to hold on to its morning gains as sentiments improved across Asian markets and European bourses opened in the green.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,069.78 points, was ruling at 16,264.62 points, 242.14 points or 1.51 percent …. Original article  : Sensex holds on to gains amid positive global cues.

Rubber growers get Rs.95 lakh assistance for 2010-11

NEW DELHI – The government Wednesday said 18,915 rubber growers will receive financial assistance of Rs.95 lakh this financial year.

The growers will receive the amount on the basis of price spectrum band 2009, calculated on the basis of seven years’ moving average of international price for the commodity.
The amount has been provided under the …. Original source  : Rubber growers get Rs.95 lakh assistance for 2010-11.

IIT Delhi Graduate Introduces ‘Phokatcopy’

NEW DELHI, India (GaeaTimes.com)- Harsh Narang, an IIT Delhi graduate has launched the ‘PhokatCopy’, an idea which he had emulated from his days at the Delhi campus. The young boy has started this initiative with the aim to provide free photocopies to every student in the area, these photocopies being subsidized by the advertisements …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : IIT Delhi Graduate Introduces ‘Phokatcopy’.

BHEL fourth quarter net rises 41 percent

MUMBAI – State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) Wednesday reported a 41.7 percent rise in net profit at Rs.1,909.58 crore in the fourth quarter of 2009-10 against Rs.1,347.47 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Total income during the quarter grew to Rs.14,152.63 crore, against Rs.11,047.24 crore in January-March 2009.
Net profit for the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : BHEL fourth quarter net rises 41 percent.

NY and NJ hope fans put their mittened hands into deep pockets for 2014 Super Bowl

NY and NJ bet big on Meadowlands Super Bowl

The big bet for Super Bowl 2014? The weather.
Tourism leaders in New York and New Jersey are hoping thousands of football fans flock to the region in the dead of winter wearing overcoats with deep pockets.
The Super Bowl could bring in as much as $550 million to … Original source on Gaea Times at : NY and NJ hope fans put their mittened hands into deep pockets for 2014 Super Bowl.

Oil rises above $69 in Asia as stock rebound, US gasoline supplies drop

Oil rises above $69 on stocks, US gasoline drop

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose above $69 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as a drop in U.S. gasoline supplies and rebounding Asian stock markets bolstered confidence that demand for fuel is rising.
Benchmark crude for July delivery was up 65 cents to $69.40 a barrel at midday Singapore … Read more >>>.

Malaysian indigenous tribe wins $1.9 million in landmark settlement on land rights

Malaysian indigenous tribe wins land rights case

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Members of an indigenous tribe in Malaysia have won 6.5 million ringgit ($1.9 million) in a landmark settlement with highway authorities for forcibly taking away their ancestral land for development, a rights activist said Wednesday.
The settlement ended a 15-year legal battle for the Temuan tribe …. Source  : Malaysian indigenous tribe wins $1.9 million in landmark settlement on land rights.

Passengers livid over Air India strike, management offers talks (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Representatives of striking Air India staff and top officials of the financially-drained carrier are to hold talks here Wednesday in a bid to end the standoff that has left thousands of passengers across the country stranded with as many as 80 flights cancelled since morning.

“We were invited by the management for talks. … Read more »»».

CBS comes out on top for the 7th TV season in 8 years; ‘American Idol’ still a winner

CBS comes out on top for the 7th season in 8 years

NEW YORK – Television’s champions for the season that concludes Wednesday will be familiar: the CBS network and Fox’s “American Idol” juggernaut.
CBS’ status as the nation’s most-watched prime-time network for the seventh time in the past eight years isn’t in doubt. The network averaged … Read more >>>.

Nicklaus tournament gives Calcavecchia an exemption final PGA start

Calcavecchia to end PGA Tour career at Memorial

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mark Calcavecchia has teed it up 736 times on the PGA Tour, winning 13 tournaments and earning just under $24 million in a career that has not had very many dull moments.
Calcavecchia turns 50 on June 12, and he was thrilled – as thrilled as …. Read the original article  : here.

Consumer confidence rises to 63.3, marking third straight month of improvement

Summary Box: Consumer confidence up in May

RISING CONFIDENCE: The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 63.3, sailing past economists’ forecasts for a 59.0 reading. It marks the third straight month of improvement.
BEHIND THE FIGURES: The index is still a long way from the 90 that’s considered healthy.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: Consumer spending, including major items …. Read the original article  : Consumer confidence rises to 63.3, marking third straight month of improvement.

Forbes buying online news startup True/Slant, marrying old and new media

Forbes buying online news startup True/Slant

NEW YORK – Forbes Media is buying the online news startup True/Slant, marrying two companies with vastly different approaches to journalism and publishing.
Lewis Dvorkin, who founded True/Slant and was once an editor at Forbes magazine, announced the deal in a blog post Tuesday. He didn’t say how much Forbes is … Read more >>.

Ill. House votes to borrow pension money, give governor sweeping budget powers

Ill. House OKs borrowing, emergency budget plan

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House approved a new state budget Tuesday that would borrow billions of dollars, give the governor broad new control over spending and leave a mountain of unpaid bills at the end of the year.
Republicans, and one or two Democrats, condemned the proposed budget as … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ill. House votes to borrow pension money, give governor sweeping budget powers.

Tips on how to make the temp-to-perm transition; Wedding spending jumps, survey finds

Tips on how to make the temp-to-perm transition

TEMP POSITION TRANSITION: Contract work and temporary employment are on the rise as the economy improves, especially for companies that need to meet increased demand but are hesitant to commit to permanent employees and higher benefit costs.
Working a temp job can be a great opportunity to keep skills …. Original source  : Tips on how to make the temp-to-perm transition; Wedding spending jumps, survey finds.

Passengers suffer as Air India cancels 76 flights

NEW DELHI – Over 76 Air India domestic and international flights were cancelled Wednesday following the strike by 15,000 crew members against a gag order and delay in the payment of salaries, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country.

“I had a flight to Hong Kong at 11 p.m. on Tuesday and reached the … Original article on : Passengers suffer as Air India cancels 76 flights.

Mahindra and Mahindra acquires electric car maker REVA

BANGALORE/MUMBAI – Automobile major Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Wednesday announced it has taken 55.2 percent stake in electric car-maker REVA through a combination of equity purchase and fresh capital infusion of Rs.45 crore ($10 million).

Post acquisition, the Bangalore-based REVA will be renamed Mahindra REVA, spokespersons of both the companies told reporters here.
M&M’s automotive …. Original source  : Mahindra and Mahindra acquires electric car maker REVA.

Google’s Pac-Man logo cost $120 mn to economy

LONDON – Google’s Pac-Man logo led to almost five million wasted hours and cost the economy about $120 million, an analyst estimated.

Google apparently had about 505 million users Friday when the Pac-Man doodle went live. The game took up 4,819,352 hours of employee time and cost the economy a whopping $120,483,800, said Tony Wright, founder … Read more >>.