Shutdown hits life in Telangana, bus services halted

HYDERABAD – Hundreds of commuters were stranded as government-run bus services came to a halt in Telangana Saturday after mobs attacked vehicles in several places during a daylong shutdown called by pro-Telangana groups against the firing on protesters in Warangal district, officials said.

At least six private buses and one state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Shutdown hits life in Telangana, bus services halted.

Jindal finally enters Nepal’s hydropower sector

KATHMANDU – After Indian infrastructure company GMR broke the ice in Nepal’s hydropower sector and entered the Himalayan republic with a licence to develop the 900 MW Upper Karnali hydropower project, a string of other Indian firms have turned their attention to Nepal, with GMR’s competitor Jindal being the latest entrant.

Jindal, which had even gone …. Original article  : Jindal finally enters Nepal’s hydropower sector.

Sensex rises in tandem with world markets (Weekly market review)

MUMBAI – Indian equities advanced this week as concern about the euro zone debt crisis eased a bit after China assured the world it was not selling European bonds and investors and traders indulged in some bottom fishing after last week’s sell-off.

Market sentiment was also boosted by a rapprochement between the Ambani brothers. Mukesh …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chinese tobacco industries target women consumers

NEW DELHI – Chinese tobacco industries have now shifted their focus to women as their targets for selling cigarettes, creating a surge in the number of women smokers in the country.

The 2010 China Tobacco Control Report says that 3 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BP, Western Union, Costco, Yahoo, Tiffany among big market movers Thursday

BP, Western Union, Costco, Yahoo among big movers

NEW YORK – Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:
NYSE:
BP PLC, up $2.97 at $45.38
The Coast Guard and BP said an untested procedure to stop the massive Gulf oil spill by injecting mud seemed to be working.
Western … Original article on : BP, Western Union, Costco, Yahoo, Tiffany among big market movers Thursday.

House approves proposal to end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell;’ Senate panel also votes for repeal

House votes to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
WASHINGTON – The House has voted to repeal the 1993 law known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allow gays to serve openly in the military.
The House vote Thursday came several hours after the Senate Armed Services Committee took the same course and approved a measure …. Original article  : House approves proposal to end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell;’ Senate panel also votes for repeal.

After devastating fire, Universal Studios gets its own happy ending with reopening of backlot

Universal gets happy ending with new backlot

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Hollywood loves a sequel, and Universal Studios got one of its own.
The studio officially reopened its new backlot on Thursday, two years after a fire decimated the popular filming area.
The $200 million project will once again allow filmmakers to shoot on the streets of New … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : After devastating fire, Universal Studios gets its own happy ending with reopening of backlot.

Obama, Senate GOP talk border security budget durkng ‘frank’ private meeting

Obama, Senate GOP, talk border security, budget
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans called a high-noon cease-fire in their long-running political feud Tuesday, holding a rare, private meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss what legislation can be achieved during this volatile election year.
“We want to see if we can get some more … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama, Senate GOP talk border security budget durkng ‘frank’ private meeting.

Road construction at Zion National Park to shut down east entrance on weekdays until Oct. 28

Road work at Zion park to close east entrance

SALT LAKE CITY – Major road work starting June 7 will shut down Zion National Park’s east entrance at times.
The national park says the Mount Carmel Junction Road will be closed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 28.
It’s the first major reconstruction since state … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Road construction at Zion National Park to shut down east entrance on weekdays until Oct. 28.

Survey finds most big companies plan to keep offering health benefits despite reform costs

Survey: Big companies expect reform to raise costs

INDIANAPOLIS – Big companies think health care reform will hike their costs, but most expect to continue offering subsidized benefits to workers, according to a new Towers Watson study.
The benefits consultant surveyed 661 companies this month and found that 94 percent of those that responded believe the reform … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Survey finds most big companies plan to keep offering health benefits despite reform costs.

Iberdrola selling 3 natural gas utilities; proceeds to finance Maine power grid improvements

Iberdrola deal to finance Maine power grid upgrade

PORTLAND, Maine – The parent company of Central Maine Power is selling three natural gas utilities in New England to help pay for a $1.4 billion power grid upgrade in Maine that’s aimed at assuring reliability and creating capacity for future wind power projects in the state.
Utility company …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Questions over MLS players caused Klinsmann to break off US talks

Klinsmann broke off US talks partly over MLS

BRISTOL, Conn. – Juergen Klinsmann broke off talks to become coach of the U.S. soccer team in 2006 because he wasn’t guaranteed top players the following summer for two preparation tournaments ahead of World Cup qualifying.
The former German national team coach, who will be an ESPN analyst for … Read : Questions over MLS players caused Klinsmann to break off US talks.

UK regulator criticizes Kraft Inc. for promising to keep Cadbury factory open, later recanting

UK regulator criticizes Kraft on Cadbury takeover

LONDON – The British agency which regulates business takeovers on Wednesday criticized U.S. food company Kraft Inc. for promising to keep a Cadbury factory open, then changing its mind after taking control of the British chocolate company.
The Takeover Panel Executive said Kraft did not have a reasonable basis to … Read more »».

Summary Box: Surging home sales likely to fizzle despite low rates

Summary Box: Home sales rise but may soon fizzle

HOME SALES RISE: A now-expired homebuyer tax credit and low mortgage rates helped boost sales of previously occupied homes by 7.6 percent in April.
MORTGAGE RATES FALL: Worries over the European debt crisis have sent investors into the safety of U.S. Treasury bonds. As a result, the average … Read more »».

Animal welfare group: Video shows Ohio cows beaten with crowbars, stabbed with pitchforks

Welfare group: Hidden video shows Ohio cows beaten

CLEVELAND – An animal welfare group said Tuesday that a graphic video it secretly recorded shows workers at a dairy farm beating cows with crowbars, stabbing them with pitchforks and punching them in their heads.
The video was recorded in an undercover investigation at Conklin Dairy Farms Inc., said …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Animal welfare group: Video shows Ohio cows beaten with crowbars, stabbed with pitchforks.

Earnings roundup: Toll Brothers income nearly doubles, Sigma Designs 1Q profit drops 59 pct

Earnings roundup: Toll Brothers, Sigma Designs

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, May 26, from AP Financial News:
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – VeriFone Systems Inc.’s fiscal second-quarter net income nearly doubled as its technology helped process more electronic payments to businesses and government agencies.
MILPITAS, Calif. (AP) – Chip designer Sigma Designs Inc. said that its first-quarter … Read more : Earnings roundup: Toll Brothers income nearly doubles, Sigma Designs 1Q profit drops 59 pct.

Crystal Bowersox’ hometown fans say ‘American Idol’ runner-up still a winner in their eyes

‘Idol’ runner-up still hero in struggling hometown

TOLEDO, Ohio – Crystal Bowersox’ second-place finish on “American Idol” didn’t change how people on her home turf feel about her.
“She’s already won” said Judi Clapper, 60, of Whitehouse, who watched the results of the Fox singing competition Wednesday night at one of the bars where Bowersox first started … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Crystal Bowersox’ hometown fans say ‘American Idol’ runner-up still a winner in their eyes.

IMF sees economic rebound in Mideast, North Africa on oil’s strength, warns over banks

IMF: Mideast, NAfrica economies rebounding in 2010

CAIRO – Mideast and North African oil exporters will see a “strong recovery” in 2010, pulled ahead by increasing capital inflows and oil prices, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday even as it lowered its projection for the countries’ growth amid a sharp drop in oil prices and worries … Read more »»».

Analyst sees Origin Agritech shares more than doubling as revenue, market share grow

Analyst expects Origin Agritech shares to rise

NEW YORK – Shares of Origin Agritech Ltd. jumped more than 20 percent Monday after a Rodman & Renshaw analyst raised his price target on the Chinese agricultural biotechnology company’s stock.
Analyst Lewis Fan said the bioengineered hybrid seed market is expected to double over the next five years. So, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Analyst sees Origin Agritech shares more than doubling as revenue, market share grow.

Asia stocks rebound, but investors wary of Europe debt crisis, Korean tension

Asian stocks up, but traders wary on Europe, Korea

SINGAPORE – Asian stock markets rebounded Wednesday on bargain-hunting following steep losses, but investors traded with caution on growing fears that Europe’s debt crisis could hamper global economic growth.
Oil, meanwhile, rose above $69 a barrel as a drop in U.S. gasoline supplies and gains in stock markets … Read : Asia stocks rebound, but investors wary of Europe debt crisis, Korean tension.