Defining moment expected for corporate mergers, takeovers (Comment)

There is widespread anticipation regarding possible revision of the threshold limit for mandatory open offers for the purpose of takeovers from current level of 15 percent to 25 percent. If that eventually happens, interesting shareholders’ activity can be expected in several listed companies.

Under the regime of existing guidelines, at the time of the structuring of …. Read the original article  : Defining moment expected for corporate mergers, takeovers (Comment).

Gaza’s Hamas police ban women from smoking water pipes in cafes, claim it leads to divorce

Hamas bans women from smoking water pipes in cafes

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Gaza’s Hamas rulers are banning women from smoking water pipes in cafes, claiming it violates tradition and leads to divorce.
Plainclothes security officials handed out the ban order to Gaza City cafes over the weekend.
Police spokesman Ayman Batneiji said Sunday that officers are … Original source on Gaea Times at : Gaza’s Hamas police ban women from smoking water pipes in cafes, claim it leads to divorce.

In Gaza tour, EU foreign policy chief checks impact of easing the blockade

EU foreign policy chief tours Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The EU foreign policy chief launched a tour of Gaza Strip on Sunday by urging Israel to throw open the territory’s long-blockaded borders.

Catherine Ashton is the most senior diplomat to visit Gaza since Israel announced earlier this month that it would ease its three-year-old blockade …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : In Gaza tour, EU foreign policy chief checks impact of easing the blockade.

World’s oldest champagne found in Baltic Sea

Moscow, July 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Swedish diver may have found the world’s oldest drinkable sparkling wine when he recovered several bottles of champagne amid the wreckage of a 230-year-old ship in the Baltic Sea, Swedish and Finnish media reported.

Fishermen of Finland’s Aland archipelago told Christian Ekstrom of the sunken ship several years ago, but …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

For NRIs, India has now arrived (Comment)

“Oh nooooo!” groan many non-resident Indians (NRIs) as they stood in long queues for immigration after arriving at Delhi airport. Battling jet lag after a long-haul flight and then waiting in an almost immobile queue becomes their first experience of coming to their motherland. No more.

Earlier, as NRIs arrived from New York, Toronto, London or …. Read the original article  : here.

Twitter hopes to earn money with special deals

NEW YORK – The popular microblogging service Twitter is exploring new business models.

The newest idea is special deals for Twitter users. The deals would be financed by companies that use the Twitter account @earlybird for advertising, reported Twitter on its website.
Deals will initially be almost exclusive to American markets. But, over time, it’s possible … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Twitter hopes to earn money with special deals.

Colombia’s ‘green gold’ coffee a major hit in China

SHANGHAI – A coffee dubbed “green gold” produced in Colombia has become a hit in China, with people flocking to markets to buy the “light and silky” beverage.

Though neither strong as the Brazilian coffee nor sour as African, the Colombian coffee is quickly making its foray into the Chinese market and the ongoing world expo … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Colombia’s ‘green gold’ coffee a major hit in China.

20,000 phone lines cut in New Jersey

NEW YORK – Over 20,000 government telephones in New Jersey have been disconnected after an audit found they were lying useless and costing the economy over $3 million.

Telecommunications authorities disconnected the phones that “no one was using”, after the audit report was released.
New Jersey State Comptroller Matthew Boxer said the Office of Information …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 20,000 phone lines cut in New Jersey.

BP’s oil cap tests extended for 24 hours

WASHINGTON – BP Plc and the US government agreed Saturday to extend pressure testing on the new cap sealing the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, which was holding with no reports of fresh oil flowing.

BP’s 48-hour window for pressure testing the cap expired Saturday afternoon, and further testing will now go on … Read more >>>.

Steinbrenner family mourns at cemetery near Tampa 4 days after death of Yankees owner

Steinbrenner family mourns at Florida cemetery

TRINITY, Fla. – The family of George Steinbrenner placed a casket inside a mausoleum at a cemetery near Tampa on Saturday, four days after the death of the New York Yankees owner.
The two sons and two daughters of the 80-year-old owner were joined by his wife, Joan, at Trinity Memorial … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Steinbrenner family mourns at cemetery near Tampa 4 days after death of Yankees owner.

Netherlands, Venezuela to boost cooperation following Chavez airspace complaint

Dutch, Venezuelan diplomats discuss differences

CARACAS, Venezuela – The foreign ministers of the Netherlands and Venezuela agreed to strengthen cooperation after President Hugo Chavez’s government protested what it called violations of its airspace by a Dutch military aircraft, authorities said Saturday.
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, who called it a … Read more : Netherlands, Venezuela to boost cooperation following Chavez airspace complaint.

Rules of the game: Believe the owners’ claims of losing money when they start selling teams

Owners not believable when crying poverty
The players, we all get.

Doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to know there’s something wrong with guys like Ryan Howard or Joe Mauer pocketing $1 million or so every two weeks to play a kid’s game. Easy to understand that a role player on the Orlando Magic getting $19 million over [..] Read the original article: here.

Tennis, pool and harborside lunch as Obamas enjoy weekend respite in Maine

With policy fights looming, Obamas relax in Maine

BAR HARBOR, Maine – Spending the weekend in Maine, President Barack Obama and his family played tennis and took in the sights around this upscale resort on Saturday, even as he contemplated a new struggle over jobless benefits with his GOP foes.
After a first vacation day packed with …. Source  : Tennis, pool and harborside lunch as Obamas enjoy weekend respite in Maine.

Abbas says Israel must accept 1967 borders as baseline if direct talks are to resume

Abbas says Israel must accept foreign border force
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he’ll resume direct peace talks if Israel accepts its 1967 frontier as a baseline for the borders of a Palestinian state and agrees to the deployment of an international force to guard them.
Abbas is under growing pressure … Original source on Gaea Times at : Abbas says Israel must accept 1967 borders as baseline if direct talks are to resume.

Blagojevich trial raises big question: How did this guy ever win 2 terms as Illinois governor?

Trial mystery: How did Blagojevich get elected?
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Who says Illinois politics is a tough business? The trial of Rod Blagojevich shows that even a foul-mouthed clotheshorse can be elected to the state’s highest office. Twice.
Wiretap tapes played in court portray Blagojevich as dim and lazy. He was so disconnected …. Read the original article  : Blagojevich trial raises big question: How did this guy ever win 2 terms as Illinois governor?.

EU foreign policy chief seeks open Gaza borders to allow territory’s economy to flourish

EU foreign policy chief seeks open Gaza borders
RAMALLAH, West Bank – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says Gaza’s borders must open to enable the territory’s battered economy to recover.
Ashton spoke at a news conference Saturday with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Ashton is to tour Gaza on Sunday to gauge whether Israel’s decision …. Read the original article  : EU foreign policy chief seeks open Gaza borders to allow territory’s economy to flourish.

West Bengal rules out fare hike

KOLKATA – West Bengal’s ruling Left Front Saturday ruled out any hike in public transport fares but said a meeting of state finance ministers July 21 in New Delhi will deliberate on ways to provide relief to operators due to recent increase of fuel prices.

Briefing media persons after a meeting of ruling combine partners here, …. Source  : West Bengal rules out fare hike.

4,000 km-long cable system to link Middle East with Europe

Dubai, July 17 (IANS/WAM) Leading cable operators from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria have signed an agreement to build a cable network linking the region with Europe.

The multi-terabit cable system will provide robust bandwidth connectivity for the region’s growing broadband community. It is expected to provide greater diversity for each of the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Flydubai launches flight to Iraq

Dubai, July 17 (IANS/WAM) The low cost airline Flydubai has launched its first flight to Iraq by flying to the city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region, the company announced Saturday.

The FZ201 aircraft completed a three-hour journey to Erbil Friday after it took off from the Dubai International Airport.
Flydubai’s chief commercial …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Flydubai launches flight to Iraq.

Sell more policies for better renewal ratio: Insurance regulator

CHENNAI – In order to increase the persistency or continuity of life insurance policies by policyholders, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has suggested agents sell more policies per year.

In an exposure draft on persistency of life insurance policies, the IRDA has suggested a series of measures, including asking them to procure a minimum …. Read the original article  : Sell more policies for better renewal ratio: Insurance regulator.