‘Impact of nuclear liability bill unknown’

NEW DELHI – India’s move to bring in supplier liability could have an impact on its nuclear programme but the actual outcome is still unknown, an official of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said here Friday.

Last week, both houses of parliament passed the civil nuclear liability bill, which allows an operator to take recourse against … Read more »».

Frank McCourt: Wife only began representing herself as Dodgers co-owner last summer

McCourt: Wife concerned about nest egg
LOS ANGELES – Former Dodger CEO Jamie McCourt was more concerned with protecting the couple’s luxurious homes than dealing with baseball matters and didn’t want to take the risk associated with buying one of baseball’s most storied franchises six years ago, her estranged husband said.

Frank McCourt is scheduled to take … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Frank McCourt: Wife only began representing herself as Dodgers co-owner last summer.

Metro’s Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar line opened

NEW DELHI – Delhi Metro’s Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar link, that connects the city’s north with its satellite town of Gurgaon in Haryana, was opened to the public Friday by Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

Reddy, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit joining him, flagged off a ceremonial train on the occasion from the Udyog …. Source article  : Metro’s Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar line opened.

3G Capital Strikes Deal With Burger King

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- Burger King, the global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants and 3G capital has announced yesterday that the companies have entered into a definite merger agreement. The companies have sealed a deal which says that Burger King would be acquired by 3G in a transaction valued at approximately $3.3 billion. The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Have balanced approach to curb population: Hasina

DHAKA – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who heads the National Population Council that resumed work after 14 years, has called for “a balanced approach” to curb Bangladesh’s population growth that is projected to reach 170 million by 2020.

Registration of couples in the reproductive age, a bunch of incentives for those who keep their families small …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Have balanced approach to curb population: Hasina.

Swedish investment bank Carnegie buys troubled competitor HQ Bank

Swedish bank Carnegie buys troubled competitor

STOCKHOLM – Swedish investment bank Carnegie AB Friday said it will buy competitor HQ Bank AB, which had its banking license revoked by the financial watchdog last week.
Carnegie said it has signed an agreement to buy HQ for 268 million kronor ($37 million), which will make it the Nordic region’s …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Swedish investment bank Carnegie buys troubled competitor HQ Bank.

Oil falls below $75 a barrel in Asia ahead of US employment report

Oil falls below $75 ahead of US jobs report

BANGKOK – Oil prices fell below $75 a barrel Friday in Asia as investors awaited a report on U.S. employment that will influence guesses about the strength of future energy demand from the No. 1 economy.
Benchmark oil for October delivery was down 19 cents at $74.84 a … Read more >>>.

Many central, state ministers behind illegal mining: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE – Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said Friday many central and state ministers were involved in promoting illegal iron ore mining in the state in the last 10 years and he would expose them.

“If a thorough probe is held into the illegal mining in the state in the last 10 years, it will expose …. Original article  : Many central, state ministers behind illegal mining: Yeddyurappa.

Food inflation rises again to 10.86 percent

NEW DELHI – Food inflation in India rose to 10.86 percent for the week ended Aug 21 from 10.05 percent a week earlier, snapping a two-week decline, official data released Friday showed.

The inflation for the fuel and primary articles groups also inched higher, according to the data released by the commerce ministry.
The fuel … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Food inflation rises again to 10.86 percent.

China orders action to cool surging food prices, boost supplies amid shortages

China orders action to cool food prices
BEIJING – China has ordered local leaders to cool a surge in politically sensitive food prices by raising vegetable production amid rising tensions in poor countries over surging food costs.

Mayors were told to make sure local markets have a week’s supply of vegetables, said a Cabinet announcement on Friday. … Read more »».

Canadian delegation to begin India visit Saturday

NEW DELHI – A Canadian foreign affairs and trade delegation will visit India Sep 4-9 to meet ministers, officials and business leaders to understand the potential that the country holds as an emerging market and one of the fastest developing economies.

The nine-member delegation of Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade will …. Read the original article  : here.

India looks at South America for farm revolution

NEW DELHI – India, looking to launch a second green revolution to boost its food security, has begun looking at distant South America where countries have been able to ramp up food production with new technology and farming methods. And to take lessons first-hand, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will visit Argentina, Brazil and Mexico this … Read more >>>.

Public watchdog groups fault secrecy around bidding for lucrative Illinois Lottery contract

Critics: Ill. lottery contract cloaked in secrecy

CHICAGO – With less than two weeks before Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn awards a lucrative, first-of-its-kind contract for the private management of the state’s $2 billion-a-year lottery, some are criticizing the selection process as too secretive and questioning whether it favors one powerful bidder.
Lottery officials have released little information, …. Original article  : Public watchdog groups fault secrecy around bidding for lucrative Illinois Lottery contract.

Tractor rollovers _ the top cause of death on US farms _ decline as farmers upgrade equipment

Tractor upgrades reduce farm deaths from rollovers

Dairy farmer Anthony Marco was compressing a long row of chopped hay beneath his tractor two weeks ago, preparing it as winter feed for his cows, when the 4-ton machine suddenly toppled over as he drove it along the pile’s steep sides.
Marco’s wife and mother, who watched the accident …. Original source  : Tractor rollovers _ the top cause of death on US farms _ decline as farmers upgrade equipment.

Former egg farm workers say complaints about conditions ignored by USDA employees at site

Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored

DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak and massive recall, but two former workers say they didn’t respond to complaints about conditions at one site.
Agency spokesman Caleb Weaver says the employees’ main duties are … Original source on Gaea Times at : Former egg farm workers say complaints about conditions ignored by USDA employees at site.

Euro barely changed at $1.2815 as markets await US jobs report

Euro steady ahead of US jobs report
BERLIN – The euro is barely changed against the dollar as markets focus on the upcoming release of a closely watched U.S. jobs report.

The euro bought $1.2815 in Friday morning European trading, close to its level of $1.2812 in New York late Thursday. The British pound edged up to …. Original article  : Euro barely changed at $1.2815 as markets await US jobs report.

Defense Secretary Gates gets firsthand look at operations in southern Afghanistan

Gates visits US forces in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – As the last of 30,000 U.S. reinforcements arrive in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday got a firsthand look at operations in the dangerous south where Afghan and international troops are ramping up security.
Gates traveled to Kandahar province, a region where U.S., Afghan and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Defense Secretary Gates gets firsthand look at operations in southern Afghanistan.

Australian tax authorities allow ‘Crocodile Dundee’ star to return to US despite tax dispute

‘Crocodile Dundee’ to return to US amid tax fray

SYDNEY – Actor Paul Hogan, star of the “Crocodile Dundee” movie trilogy, has been cleared to return home to the United States after he was barred last month from leaving Australia because of a disputed tax bill, his lawyer said Friday.
The 70-year-old Australian-born actor, who currently lives …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Australian tax authorities allow ‘Crocodile Dundee’ star to return to US despite tax dispute.

Economic recovery in N.America slipping: Bank

TORONTO – Despite reports from the US Thursday that initial jobless claims fell to 472,000 last week and pending home resales were up 5.2 per cent in July, Canada’s top Toronto Dominion (TD) Bank said the economic recovery in North America is slipping after positive hints four months ago.

“Does the world look as good as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Economic recovery in N.America slipping: Bank.

Reclusive New Zealand billionaire unwraps packaging ambitions with big deal in US

NZ tycoon unwraps packaging ambitions with US deal

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The reclusive New Zealand billionaire buying the U.S. maker of Hefty brand trash bags to create the world’s second-biggest packaging business started out as a tow truck driver and bounced back from the brink of bankruptcy more than a decade ago to become his … Read more : Reclusive New Zealand billionaire unwraps packaging ambitions with big deal in US.