German business confidence continues its upward trend in August

German business confidence up again
BERLIN – A leading economic survey shows Germany’s business confidence has maintained its upward trend in August.

The Ifo research institute, based in Munich, said on Wednesday its closely watched business confidence index rose to 106.7 points from 106.2 points in July.
The institute said that companies planned to hire more people, despite … Read : German business confidence continues its upward trend in August.

Iran says it successfully test-fires new generation of the short-range Fateh-110 missile

Iran says it test-fires new missile
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran said Wednesday that has it successfully test-fired an upgraded version of a short-range surface-to-surface missile.

Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said the third generation of the Fateh-110, which means “conqueror” in Farsi and Arabic, is equipped with a high accuracy guidance control system. He said the solid-fuel … Read more »».

Heineken H1 profits rise 42 percent on one-time gain, cost cutting

Heineken H1 profit rises on one-time gains

AMSTERDAM – Heineken NV, the world’s third-largest brewer, said Wednesday its first-half net profit rose by 42 percent thanks to one-time financial gains, cost cutting and positive currency effects.
The maker of Amstel and Dos Equis said net profit was ???695 million ($881 million), up from ???489 million in the … Read more : Heineken H1 profits rise 42 percent on one-time gain, cost cutting.

Nepal’s continuing political turmoil stalls government, development projects and peace process

Nepal struggles amid political turmoil
KATMANDU, Nepal – A power battle that has left Nepal’s political system in limbo for months has also frozen efforts to solidify peace, write a constitution and push ahead with development in this desperately poor nation.

With no one in charge, plans to build badly needed rural roads, increase electricity generation in … Original source on Gaea Times at : Nepal’s continuing political turmoil stalls government, development projects and peace process.

Chidambaram mulls transfer of funds to police forces

NEW DELHI – In a step likely to be resented by the states, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday mooted the idea of transferring central funds for modernising police forces to the police chiefs instead of the state governments.

“Should we try to put in place a system for transfer of funds under the MPF (Modernisation …. Source article  : Chidambaram mulls transfer of funds to police forces.

Incumbent GOP Sen. Murkowski struggling in primary; newcomer wins Fla. GOP governor’s race

Alaska GOP Sen. Murkowski in jeopardy
WASHINGTON – Her re-election quest suddenly in jeopardy, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski struggled to avoid becoming the latest incumbent lawmaker to be fired. She fought against a political novice with the backing of Sarah Palin and tea party activists in a stunningly tight Republican primary race.
With more than … Read : Incumbent GOP Sen. Murkowski struggling in primary; newcomer wins Fla. GOP governor’s race.

California governor considers bill that could make it easier for farmworkers to form unions

Bill in Calif. would help farmworkers form unions

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The temperature was nearly 100 degrees as 17-year-old Maria Vasquez Jimenez pruned grapes for nine hours at a vineyard near Stockton in California’s Central Valley.
By the end of the day, the pregnant teen was dead from heat stroke, and her death set off renewed calls …. Source  : California governor considers bill that could make it easier for farmworkers to form unions.

Thousands flee after Punjab floods

CHANDIGARH – Thousands fled their homes as the rain-swollen Satluj river flooded 15 villages in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab’s Ropar district, inundating vast acres of farmland.

A nearly 100-feet breach in the river bank turned the villages of Laudipur, Gajjpur, Burj, Nangli, Dasdgrain, Hariwal, Nikkuwal, Mehandli Kalan and Saini Majra into a sea of water.
Authorities … Read more »»».

New Medicare rule means more than 3M seniors may have to switch drug plans next year

More than 3M seniors may have to switch drug plans
WASHINGTON – A plan by Medicare to try to make it simpler for consumers to pick drug coverage could force 3 million seniors to switch plans next year whether they like it or not, says an independent analysis.
That risks undercutting President Barack … Original source on Gaea Times at : New Medicare rule means more than 3M seniors may have to switch drug plans next year.

State Bank of Indore branches to operate as State Bank of India branches from August 26, 2010 and not from August 27, 2010

All the branches of State Bank of Indore will function as branches of the State Bank of India from August 26, 2010 and not August 27, 2010 as mentioned in the Reserve Bank press release no 287 issued on August 24, 2010. This is due to the fact that … Read more >>.

Air India to lose Kathmandu-Kolkata monopoly

KATHMANDU – From Oct 1, India’s national carrier Air India will lose its monopoly on the Kolkata-Kathmandu-Kolkata sector with independent Nepali airline Buddha Air beginning its inaugural flights between the two cities.

The 13-year Nepali airline, which went international this month by becoming the first foreign airline to fly to the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, may … Original article on : Air India to lose Kathmandu-Kolkata monopoly.

Sensex drops sharply, Asian cues depressing

MUMBAI – A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday slipped further into the red during noon trade and was ruling 102 points lower than its previous close, joining other depressed Asian markets.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,308.51 points, was at 18,208.69 points, 102.9 points or … Read more : Sensex drops sharply, Asian cues depressing.

Koch Industries Inhumanitarian Grounds Exposed

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com) — Koch Industries have come up to the limelight not because it is one of the largest American Oil industry, but because of its poor environmental records. Koch Industries deal in petroleum, natural gas, paper, and all sorts of other resource-depleting industries generating a revenue of around $100 billion. Over the time these … Read more : Koch Industries Inhumanitarian Grounds Exposed.

China bestseller slams Goldman Sachs, as conspiracy theories over crisis crowd shelves

Chinese bestseller slams Goldman Sachs for crisis

SHANGHAI – Goldman Sachs & Co., reviled in the U.S. for its role in the financial crisis, is now getting hammered in the world’s No. 2 economy with a sensationalist new book accusing the investment bank of trying to destroy China.
The “Goldman Sachs Conspiracy,” which has sold over 100,000 … Read more »».

Plunging US home sales spark fears of slower recovery

WASHINGTON – US home sales plunged to their lowest level in 15 years, leading economists to warn that a likely double-dip in housing prices could further slow America’s recovery from its worst downturn in decades.

Existing home sales sank 27.2 percent in July, twice as much as analysts expected, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of … Read more : Plunging US home sales spark fears of slower recovery.

BlackBerry snaps up California app store developer

TORONTO – With even its updated App World platform offering just 9,500 apps as compared to Apple’s 225,000 and Android store’s 65,000, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has acquired California-based Cellmania which delivers back-end infrastructure for application stores.

Based at Mountain View, Cellmania drives mobile ecosystems for the world’s largest mobile operators, infrastructure providers and … Read : BlackBerry snaps up California app store developer.

Shutdown against Yamuna Express, train stopped near Mathura (Lead, Changing dateline)

LUCKNOW – Farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district Wednesday stopped a train and disrupted rail routes while joining in the statewide shutdown called by the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti for enhanced compensation for farmers’ land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway, officials said.

A large number of farmers, backed by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing … Original article on : Shutdown against Yamuna Express, train stopped near Mathura (Lead, Changing dateline).

Report: Major League Baseball investigation into financial documents focusing on insurance

Report: MLB investigation focusing on insurance

NEW YORK – The New York Times is reporting that Major League Baseball is focusing on leaked financial documents in an investigation on insurance companies that do business with clubs.
The paper reported on its Website on Tuesday night citing two anonymous MLB executives.
The Times reported the companies under investigation sell …. Source article  : Report: Major League Baseball investigation into financial documents focusing on insurance.

High alert as farmers along Yamuna Expressway begin shutdown

AGRA – Farmers demanding higher compensation for their land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh began a daylong shutdown in Mathura, Agra and Aligarh districts Wednesday, threatening to disrupt road and rail traffic and asking shopkeepers to down shutters.

Security forces were also put on high alert as farmers tried to disrupt rail …. Original article  : High alert as farmers along Yamuna Expressway begin shutdown.

Oil lingers under $72 a barrel in Asia after 13 percent drop over 3 weeks

Oil rises slightly as economic data tempers gains

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Oil prices rose slightly Wednesday in Asia after a 13 percent fall over three weeks drew buyers but weak economic indicators tempered gains.
Benchmark crude for October delivery was up 24 cents at $71.87 a barrel at late afternoon Kuala Lumpur time in electronic trading …. Source  : Gaea News Network.