Goa ropes in famed Konkani singer to draw tourists

PANAJI – After roping in Bollywood actress Prachi Desai as the face of tourism in Goa, Lorna — known as the nightingale of the state — will now play the pied piper to attract music-loving tourists to the state, which has faced a couple of lean tourism seasons on the trot.

After a lull of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Goa ropes in famed Konkani singer to draw tourists.

Four Indian ministers to visit Canada next month

TORONTO – Four Indian cabinet ministers will visit Canada next month to bolster ties between the two countries which signed nuclear, mining and other deals during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit here in June.

Making this announcement at India’s Independence Day celebrations here, Indian Consul General Preeti Saran said Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Commerce Minister Anand [..] Read the original article: here.

India’s annual inflation eases to single digit

NEW DELHI – Helped by food prices cooling somewhat, India’s annual inflation slipped just below double digits to 9.97 percent in July, compared to 10.55 percent the previous month, official data released Monday showed.

The annual inflation figure, based on whoesale prices, is a more broad-based barometer of the price change in items.
May’s wholesale … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : India’s annual inflation eases to single digit.

Chhattisgarh creates 3,825-km roads in one year

RAIPUR – The Chhattisgarh government has built 3,825-km-long new roads in the past one year, Chief Minister Raman Singh said Monday.

“The state is working out a plan to build up a massive road infrastructure in all the 18 districts, including in forested interiors, which is evident from the figure that we constructed 3,825-km roads in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chhattisgarh creates 3,825-km roads in one year.

Pumpkins in August? Warm spring, hot summer have many fruits, vegetables ahead of schedule

Heat brings early harvest in New England, Midwest

BOSTON – Many fruit and vegetable farmers in New England and the Midwest say they expect an early harvest this year – if it hasn’t already started.
Early varieties of apples are already ripe for picking in many places. Sweet corn was a couple of weeks ahead of schedule, …. Original source  : Pumpkins in August? Warm spring, hot summer have many fruits, vegetables ahead of schedule.

China overtakes Japan as world’s second-largest economy

LONDON – China has overtaken Japan in the second quarter, after three decades of spectacular growth, to become the world’s second-largest economy behind the United States.

The milestone, though anticipated for some time, is the most striking evidence yet that China’s ascendance is for real and that the rest of the world will have to …. Original article  : China overtakes Japan as world’s second-largest economy.

Vedanta to pick up majority stake in Cairn India

MUMBAI – Global metals and mining major Vedanta Group Monday said it will acquire 51-60 percent of oil producer Cairn India in a deal worth $8.5-9.6 billion.

The all-cash deal will see Vedanta Resources Plc hold a 31-40 percent stake in Cairn India directly, while its Indian subsidiary Sesa Goa will control 20 percent, the mining … Read : Vedanta to pick up majority stake in Cairn India.

Italy’s Ferrero to set up $125 mn second chocolate unit in India

NEW DELHI – Ferrero, the $8- billion Italian confectionery giant, has firmed up plans for a new production facility in Maharashtra with an investment of over $125 million to whip up some of its popular brands that include Rocher and Kinder.

“The company’s new facility will be located near the existing plant at Baramati, near …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

China overtakes Japan in 2Q as world’s No. 2 economy amid slowdowin in recovery

China overtakes Japan in 2Q as No. 2 economy

TOKYO – Japan lost its place as the world’s No. 2 economy to China in the second quarter as receding global growth sapped momentum and stunted a shaky recovery.
Gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of just 0.4 percent, the government said Monday, far below the …. Read the original article  : China overtakes Japan in 2Q as world’s No. 2 economy amid slowdowin in recovery.

Oil hovers under $76 a barrel in Asia amid expectations world growth to slow in second half

Oil hovers under $76 in Asia amid demand doubts

BANGKOK – Oil prices hovered under $76 a barrel Monday in Asia as expectations for stronger fuel demand in the second half were undermined by weaker economic figures from the world’s three biggest economies.
Benchmark crude for September delivery was up 40 cents at $75.79 a barrel at …. Original article  : Oil hovers under $76 a barrel in Asia amid expectations world growth to slow in second half.

Dhaka to upgrade its second largest port

DHAKA – Bangladesh plans to upgrade Mongla, its second largest port, and to build a third sea port at Kuakata. The twin moves are aimed at providing greater sea access to neighbours India, Nepal and Bhutan.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed with David Wignal Associate, a Singapore-based private company. The upgradation of … Read more >>.

Asian markets mixed as slowdowin in Japan growths add to evidence of cooling world recovery

Asian markets mixed as Japan’s growth slows

BANGKOK – Asian stocks markets were mixed Monday as a sharp slowdown in Japan’s growth added to evidence the global economy is losing momentum.
Recent figures on the U.S. and Chinese economies have also suggested global growth is facing headwinds as the initial burst of expansion in the wake of …. Read the original article  : here.

BlackBerry dispute leaves Indian users confused

NEW DELHI – Yamini Panth, 24, was hoping to buy a BlackBerry phone with her first salary. A part of computer major Dell’s corporate communications team, she saw in the device all the services she needed — e-mail, messenger, SMS and voice.

Now she is confused like many others, after the government set Aug 31 as …. Source article  : BlackBerry dispute leaves Indian users confused.

Report: Campaign spending in state judicial elections more than doubles since last decade

Report: Judicial spending doubles in last decade

Campaign fundraising for elections to the nation’s top state courts has doubled to more than $200 million over the last decade, fueled partly by super-spending individuals and groups investing big money to influence down-ticket races, according to a study released Monday.
Between 2000 to 2009, campaign spending for state Supreme … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Report: Campaign spending in state judicial elections more than doubles since last decade.

Governor of Maharashtra visits RBI Archives, Pune

His Excellency, Shri K. Sankaranarayanan,  the Governor  of Maharashtra visited the Reserve Bank of India’s Archives Museum, Pune, on August 14, 2010.
Welcoming His Excellency, Shri Deepak Mohanty, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India said that the archives not only nurtured the sentiments for culture and history of an organisation … Original article on : Governor of Maharashtra visits RBI Archives, Pune.

Money Market Operations as on August 13 , 2010

… Original source on Gaea Times at : Money Market Operations as on August 13 , 2010.

Federal agents investigating fire at Northern Calif. post office

Feds investigating fire at Calif. post office

HEALDSBURG, Calif. – Federal agents are investigating a fire that roared through a post office in Northern California.
Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the downtown Healdsburg post office Sunday, leading the investigation into Saturday evening’s four-alarm fire.
The blaze sent black smoke pouring … Read more >>.

Planned UAW vote on concessions deal canceled at up-for-sale GM stamping plant in Indianapolis

UAW halts vote on giveback deal at Indy GM plant

INDIANAPOLIS – The United Auto Workers union has decided not to go ahead with a vote on a new wage-cutting contract for a General Motors Co. stamping plant in Indianapolis that is facing sale.
UAW Local 23 bargaining chairman Gregory Clark says members won’t vote on the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Planned UAW vote on concessions deal canceled at up-for-sale GM stamping plant in Indianapolis.

Apple staff faces probe for selling secrets to Asian firms

WASHINGTON – A senior employee of Apple Inc. has been arrested for passing on secret information of the technology firm to its six Asian suppliers and receiving at least $1 million in kickbacks.

Paul Shin Devine, a global supply manager at Apple, was arrested Friday. He has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering and unlawful …. Read the original article  : here.

NY district attorney who prosecuted Long Island Lolita, commuter train gunman dies at age 76

NY DA who prosecuted Long Island Lolita dies at 76

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The district attorney who prosecuted Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher and the gunman in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre has died.
Former Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon was 76. Spokesman Ed Grilli says Dillon died Sunday from lymphoma at his … Read more »».