Nepal asks India to lift 1,000-rupee note ban

KATHMANDU – Less than a fortnight after an Indian minister was detained in Nepal for carrying banned Indian currency notes, Nepal has reiterated its call to India’s banking transaction regulator to lift the prohibition.

Yubaraj Khatiwada, governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the republic’s apex bank, has asked Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor D. Subbarao …. Source  : Nepal asks India to lift 1,000-rupee note ban.

Nasdaq Dubai shares start trading on Dubai Financial Market in effort to boost business

Dubai’s 2 stock exchanges start to act as 1

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Dubai’s two stock markets are moving closer together by linking their trading platforms in a bid to boost the number of shares changing hands.
Shares listed on the Nasdaq Dubai stock exchange began trading on the more active Dubai Financial Market at the …. Original source  : Nasdaq Dubai shares start trading on Dubai Financial Market in effort to boost business.

Now Bihar has roads to drive development

PATNA – Octogenarian farmer Madhav Singh is a happy man these days. Though his village Alawalpur is only 12 km away from Bihar’s capital, it used to take him over two hours of travel each way for his weekly shopping and farm chores. Not any longer.

The state’s motto, “aap ki sarkar, aap ke dwaar” (your … Original source on Gaea Times at : Now Bihar has roads to drive development.

Patna to have its own Marine Drive (With Bihar roads story)

PATNA – The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar has given its go ahead to a Rs 2,100 crore driveway project that will recreate Mumbai’s Marine Drive along the river Ganga and will serve as an arterial road for the city.

The project will be dovetailed with the state’s plan for at least two large bridges on …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Patna to have its own Marine Drive (With Bihar roads story).

Left deliberately misleading on fuel pricing: Ahluwalia

NEW DELHI – Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has charged Left parties with deliberately misleading the public on pricing of petroleum fuels and said there was no alternative but to hike prices.

Ahluwalia also rubbished the theory that since oil retailing companies were making profits there was no reason to hike fuel prices, arguing …. Read the original article  : Left deliberately misleading on fuel pricing: Ahluwalia.

China’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $2.45 trillion in 2Q, 15.1 percent increase on year

China’s foreign reserves rise to $2.45 trillion

BEIJING – China’s foreign reserves reached $2.45 trillion dollars by the end of June, a 15.1 percent increase year on year, the central bank said Sunday.
However, its reserves increased by only $7.2 billion in the second quarter, a sharp drop from the first quarter when it grew by $126.5 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : China’s foreign exchange reserves rise to $2.45 trillion in 2Q, 15.1 percent increase on year.

Bangladesh baby boom bigger than earlier estimates

DHAKA – Bangladesh’s family planning programme has shown a declining trend and its population may touch 185 million by 2020, higher than the earlier projection of 178 million, making their sustenance difficult, a senior official has said.

The country’s family planning programme, which had earned kudos from international agencies some years ago, has shown a …. Read the original article  : here.

Former tea garden owners are Tripura’s new entrepreneurs

KAMALPUR – A tea garden worker until seven years ago, 48-year-old Matang Tanglua is today among over 5,500 entrepreneurs who own small tea estates of their own, making meaningful contributions to the state that is emerging as a significant exporter of the commodity.

More than four decades ago, Tanglua’s poverty-stricken family had come to Tripura … Read more »».

Tourism eating into Goa’s fish?

PANAJI – Goans and hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the state annually may soon have to pay a premium to sink their teeth into a fried mackerel or slurp their way through thick prawn curry. Mackerels, sardines and prawns could well be the first in the line of casualties of a fish famine …. Original source  : Tourism eating into Goa’s fish?.

Bangladeshi batteries seek global market

DHAKA – A Bangladeshi car battery maker is targeting export of a million pieces to Australia and Europe by next summer after covering markets across South Asia, including India, and Africa.

Rahimafrooz Globatt Ltd exported 175,000 pieces of car batteries worth $5.5 million during October-June period last fiscal.
India and other South Asian countries … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bangladeshi batteries seek global market.

Car plant a rare win for poor Indian farmers as battles rage with industry over land use

Land wars bedevil India’s rush to industrialize
SANAND, India – It doesn’t look like he’s won much from industrialization. Take his face, weathered beyond his 30 years, or the earth stuck to his bare ungainly feet.
Jaisar Khan Pathan, one in a long line of farmers, is simply too scrawny.
But Pathan, and scores like him …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Car plant a rare win for poor Indian farmers as battles rage with industry over land use.

Brazil: Air France jet makes emergency landing after bomb threat; all aboard safe

Brazil: Air France jet lands after bomb threat

RIO DE JANEIRO – An Air France passenger jet headed from Rio to Paris made an emergency landing in northeastern Brazil Saturday night due to a bomb threat.
All 405 passengers and 18 crew members were safely evacuated from Air France Flight 443, said Jorge Andrade, a spokesman for [..] Read the original article: here.

Japan votes in parliamentary election seen as test for Democrats’ young rule

Japan votes in election seen as test for Democrats
TOKYO – Japan voted in a parliamentary election Sunday as the ruling Democrats highlighted reforms and cuts in wasteful spending during their 10-month rule – while apologizing for creating “confusion and mistrust” over tax-hike talk and a dispute involving a U.S. base.
The main opposition …. Original source  : Japan votes in parliamentary election seen as test for Democrats’ young rule.

Montana advocacy group shuts down its traveling medical marijuana caravans amid criticism

Mont. advocacy group shuts down cannabis caravans

HELENA, Mont. – A Montana advocacy group is shutting down its traveling medical marijuana clinics amid criticism that the so-called cannabis caravans have added thousands of people to the state registry without conducting thorough patient screenings.
The Montana Caregviers Network has hosted the one-day clinics in hotels and conference centers … Read more : Montana advocacy group shuts down its traveling medical marijuana caravans amid criticism.

Gaza aid ship leaves Greece for Egypt, Greek foreign ministry says

Gaza aid ship leaves Greece for Egypt
ATHENS, Greece – A ship commissioned by a Libyan charity organization has left Greece headed for the Egyptian port of al-Arish, and not for Gaza, as originally planned, according to Greek authorities.

The Moldovan-flagged cargo ship Amalthea left around 8 p.m. local (1700 GMT) Saturday from the port of Lavrio, …. Source article  : Gaza aid ship leaves Greece for Egypt, Greek foreign ministry says.

Governors seeking to spur economic recovery press Obama administration for more assistance

Struggling states seeking more aid from Washington

BOSTON – Governors hamstrung by the sluggish economic rebound in their states and bound to balance their own budgets are pressing anew for Washington to step up with more help, some say even if it means adding to the nation’s red ink.
Republicans and Democrats alike wrestled with how to … Read : Governors seeking to spur economic recovery press Obama administration for more assistance.

Mega Millions Winning Numbers

San Francisco (GaeaTimes.com) The Mega Millions winning numbers for July 9, 2010 are 1, 31, 33, 34, 50 and the Mega Ball is 41, and Megaplier is 4, as reported. The Mega Millions website seems to be down or very slow due to huge number of people checking their numbers on their website. There … Read more >>.

Sign of the times: 10-story-tall mural of LeBron James being taken down in Cleveland

LeBron’s mural coming down in Cleveland
CLEVELAND – LeBron James is being dropped off a building.

And his jerseys, at least the ones not on fire, are almost being given away.
Workers began dismantling the 10-story-tall iconic image of James on a mural in downtown Cleveland on Saturday. The billboard has dominated the city’s skyline for years but … Original article on : Sign of the times: 10-story-tall mural of LeBron James being taken down in Cleveland.

Big changes ahead for financial world from government crackdown more than a year in the making

New rules, big changes coming for financial world
WASHINGTON – Big changes are in store for the financial world from a government crackdown more than a year in the making.
Democratic leaders in the Senate are trying to secure the final votes needed to pass legislation this coming week that …. Original source  : Big changes ahead for financial world from government crackdown more than a year in the making.

Haryana to seek Rs. 1,022.94 crore aid for flood losses

CHANDIGARH – On the basis of a preliminary assessment of losses incurred in the flood-affected districts, Haryana has sought financial assistance of Rs.1,022.94 crore from the central government, officials said Saturday.

“We are going to submit a memorandum to the government of India seeking an approximate assistance of Rs.1,022.94 crore for the flood affected districts. This …. Read the original article  : Haryana to seek Rs. 1,022.94 crore aid for flood losses.