Governments’ approach to CAG reports ’sluggish’: Meira Kumar

NEW DELHI – Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Monday criticised the “sluggish” approach of the central and state governments towards the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) reports and underlined that transparency was the driving force of good governance.

“The response of ministries in taking action on the CAG’s reports has not been very encouraging,” Meira Kumar …. Source  : Governments’ approach to CAG reports ’sluggish’: Meira Kumar.

Israel eases Gaza blockade, but restrictions on construction materials remain in place

Israel completes list of items banned in Gaza
JERUSALEM – Israel on Monday redefined the rules of its Gaza Strip embargo, spelling out on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House visit what will be restricted from entering the territory under a much-eased land blockade.
Officials said Israel would allow in virtually all …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Israel eases Gaza blockade, but restrictions on construction materials remain in place.

President calls for better delivery of welfare schemes

HYDERABAD – President Pratibha Patil Monday called for making delivery systems more effective and non-corrupt to ensure that the benefits of welfare programmes reach all segments of society.

Inaugurating the 500th year of the coronation of Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishnadevaraya here, she said modern day rulers and policymakers could draw many lessons from the legacy of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : President calls for better delivery of welfare schemes.

Shutdown disrupts life in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party activists Monday took to streets, stopped trains and clashed with police in Uttar Pradesh to enforce an all-India shutdown in the state against rising prices of food and other essential commodities.

BJP leaders including Arun Jaitley, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Lalji Tandon joined hundreds of party activists … Read more : Shutdown disrupts life in Uttar Pradesh.

World stocks mixed after weak jobs report raises worries over US economic recovery

World stocks mixed on new worries over US recovery

BANGKOK – World stocks were mixed Monday in light trading, with some markets dragged down by a disappointing jobs report from the U.S. and concerns over bank lending and slackening growth in China.
Oil prices hovered above $73 a barrel in Asia as investors worried about a weak …. Original source  : World stocks mixed after weak jobs report raises worries over US economic recovery.

All India stir hot topic on twitter

NEW DELHI – The all-India strike called by opposition parties against rising fuel prices made quite an impact on the virtual world too, with ‘Bharat bandh’ being the top trend topic on Twitter, beating the American Independence Day.

On the home page of twitter, the phrase, ‘Bharat Bandh’ (India strike), was at the head of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : All India stir hot topic on twitter.

Near total shutdown in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL – Madhya Pradesh saw a near total shutdown Monday as part of a daylong strike called by opposition parties against the hike in fuel prices. Protesters clashed with the police at several places and over 200 of them were arrested.

The strike hit normal life in capital Bhopal, Jabalpur and Gwalior cities. At a …. Source article  : Near total shutdown in Madhya Pradesh.

China projects won’t affect Brahmaputra water flow: Minister

NEW DELHI – China has told India it will only carry out ‘run-of-the-river’ projects on the Brahmaputra that will not affect the flow of water, says Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.

“There is intimation from China that it will only carry out run-of-the-river projects, which would not affect the flow of water from the Brahmaputra …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China projects won’t affect Brahmaputra water flow: Minister.

Oil hovers above $73 as traders eye uneven US recovery amid light holiday trading

Oil hovers near $73 amid light 4th of July trading

SINGAPORE – Oil prices hovered above $73 a barrel Monday in Asia as investors worried about a weak U.S. economic recovery amid light holiday trading volume.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was up 22 cents to $72.36 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading …. Read the original article  : here.

Shutdown against rising prices complete in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The nationwide shutdown called by opposition parties was total in Kerala, a Left-ruled state, with schools and colleges shut and public transportation going off the roads.

Attendance in private and government offices was minimum and all educational institutions were given a day off. Shops and markets across the state remained shut.
All university and …. Read the original article  : Shutdown against rising prices complete in Kerala.

Lloyds Banking Group sells majority stake in Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance

Lloyds Banking Group sells control of finance unit

LONDON – Lloyds Banking Group has agreed to sell a controlling stake in its Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance business.
Lloyds said monday that Coller Capital, a private equity company, is paying 332 million pounds ($504 million) for a 70 percent stake in the unit. Lloyds will remain as …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Lloyds Banking Group sells majority stake in Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance.

Free facebook access for Airtel users for two months

NEW DELHI – Leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel has made access to online social networking site Facebook free for its over 130 million subscribers, the company said Monday.

The offer will, however, be available only for two months till Aug 31.
The Facebook site will be available in English, Hindi and five more Indian languages – … Read more »».

Near total shutdown in Jammu

JAMMU – Jammu witnessed a near total shutdown Monday following the opposition call for a nationwide stir against rising fuel prices.

The strike in Jammu was marked by rallies and processions. Shops and business establishments were closed and public transport too remained off the roads.
“It’s shocking that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government is oblivious … Read more : Near total shutdown in Jammu.

Strike over fuel price hike puts India on hold (Afternoon Lead)

NEW DELHI – Flights cancelled, trains disrupted, trucks and buses off the roads and shops and educational establishments closed — life was on hold in many parts of India Monday due to a daylong shutdown called by opposition parties against the hike in fuel prices.

Though the response to the shutdown varied from state to state, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Roads blocked, markets closed in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Huge traffic snarls, blocked roads and protests in the national capital marked the daylong shutdown called by opposition parties against the rising fuel prices.

Shutters were down in most shops in the city, with small groups of people roaming the streets to enforce the strike, especially to check the stray shopkeepers who had …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sterlite-Leighton to build multipurpose berth at Paradip port

BHUBANESWAR – A consortium of Sterlite Industries and Leighton Contractors will build a multi-purpose berth at Orissa’s Paradip port at an estimated cost of Rs.387.31 crore, a port official said Monday.

“The board of trustees of the Paradip Port Trust has approved issue of letter of award in favour of the consortium at a revenue … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sterlite-Leighton to build multipurpose berth at Paradip port.

Hundreds court arrest in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Hundreds of activists of non-Congress parties courted arrest in Orissa Monday during a dawn-to-dusk nationwide shutdown to protest against the fuel price hike in India.

Activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Biju Janta Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offered themselves for arrest during separate protests here.
“The … Read : Hundreds court arrest in Orissa.

Sensex volatile, broader markets steady

MUMBAI – A key index for Indian equities Monday was trading volatile in a narrow range even as broader markets were steady, although the volume was very low as many traders were inactive because of the “Bharat Bandh” called by opposition parties against the rise in fuel prices.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the …. Read the original article  : Sensex volatile, broader markets steady.

Demand for vegetables from Asia, Africa, Latin America provide opportunity for small farmers

Farmers find opportunity in immigrant vegetables

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. – Maxixe, a Brazilian relative of the cucumber, is relatively unknown in the U.S., but it may one day be as common as cilantro as farmers and consumers embrace more so-called ethnic vegetables.
Agriculture experts at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and elsewhere are teaching farmers to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Poor response to strike call in Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH – Punjab and Haryana witnessed a lukewarm response to the nationwide strike called by opposition parties Monday against rising fuel prices.

All educational institutes, banks, hospitals, shops and transport services in the region, including Chandigarh, functioned normally.
“I thought buses will not run. But everything is normal and there is no bandh like situation,” … Original article on : Poor response to strike call in Punjab, Haryana.