BBC spends 50,000 pounds a day on taxis

LONDON – The BBC spent an astounding 18.2 million pounds in 2008-09 on taxis and hired cars, with the daily expenditure coming to almost 50,000 pounds, a media report said Sunday.

Much of the cost was incurred taking celebrities to and from news studios and driving presenters home when public transport stopped for the day.
Gerry …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : BBC spends 50,000 pounds a day on taxis.

Plan panel to tackle Bundelkhand drought

NEW DELHI – The Planning Commission has set up a high-level body to devise ways to tackle the perennial drought in Bundelkhand region that falls within Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The Advisory Committee on Implementation of Drought Mitigation Strategies in Bundelkhand Region will be chaired by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, an official …. Source  : Plan panel to tackle Bundelkhand drought.

Palace on Wheels: A royal caravan journey into history (Feature)

NEW DELHI – Exquisitely carved interiors, intricate gold tapestry, crisp white curtains and shimmering bejewelled walls – not for nothing is India’s Palace on Wheels one of the top 10 luxury trains in the world. And now it offers more.

A royal spa car and spruced up interiors are among the improved amenities introduced in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Palace on Wheels: A royal caravan journey into history (Feature).

Chinese firms get 169,000 patents in 2010

BEIJING – China’s top 500 research and development firms have got 169,000 patents for their innovations in 2010, up 13.3 percent from last year, the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) has said.

Among the top 500 companies, 41 had more than 1,000 patents, while 36 companies owned more than 200 patents for innovations, Xinhua reported citing the [..] Read the original article: here.

Nevada GOP Senate candidate accused of reprinting newspaper articles without permission

Nevada GOP candidate faces copyright lawsuit

LAS VEGAS – A company has sued Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, claiming she reprinted two Las Vegas Review-Journal articles on her campaign website without permission.
Las Vegas-based Righthaven is seeking unspecified damages in its complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.
The suit alleges Angle neither sought … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Nevada GOP Senate candidate accused of reprinting newspaper articles without permission.

In Ohio and around nation, economic woes threaten Democrats’ congressional majorities

Dems’ prospects threatened by economic woes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Frustrated, discouraged and just plain mad, a lot of people who have lost jobs – or know someone who has – now want to see the names of Democrats on pink slips. And that’s jeopardizing the party’s chances in …. Source article  : In Ohio and around nation, economic woes threaten Democrats’ congressional majorities.

Lamoriello and Devils get Kovalchuk; NHL and union reach deal on long-term contracts

Devils get Kovalchuk, NHL-union get long-term deal

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils did more than sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a $100 million contract.
A byproduct of the revised 15-year deal was that the Devils helped the NHL and its players union reach an agreement on long-term contracts that will define how much money will count … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lamoriello and Devils get Kovalchuk; NHL and union reach deal on long-term contracts.

Siemens to close Ohio distribution center by end of January, cutting 88 jobs

Siemens to close Ohio center, cutting 88 jobs

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG says it plans to shut down a distribution center in Ohio by the end of January, cutting 88 jobs.
The company plans to move the work from Columbus to Southaven, Miss.
Siemens spokesman Michael Krampe says having one distribution center will … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Siemens to close Ohio distribution center by end of January, cutting 88 jobs.

India to host Asian Nuclear Prospects conference in October

CHENNAI – Around 250 nuclear scientists, technologists and industrialists are expected to participate in the three-day Asian Nuclear Prospects 2010 conference to be held near here in October, a top official of atomic research unit said Saturday.

“The 2nd International Conference on Asian Nuclear Prospects 2010 (ANUP 2010) will be held Oct 11-13 at Mamallapuram. The …. Source  : India to host Asian Nuclear Prospects conference in October.

Obama salutes the middle-class worker as Republicans target rules and regs as threat to jobs

Obama pledges to work for a thriving middle class
WASHINGTON – A strong economy needs bustling Main Streets and a thriving middle class, not just a healthy stock market, President Barack Obama said in paying tribute to the American worker.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama on Saturday outlined what he’s … Read : Obama salutes the middle-class worker as Republicans target rules and regs as threat to jobs.

Trinamool Congress does not support shutdown politics: Mamata

KOLKATA – Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Saturday termed the Sep 7 general strike spear-headed by the trade unions of the Left parties and other outfits as “one imposed on the people” and said her party did not support the “shutdown politics”.

“Trinamool Congress does not support the shutdown politics as it will … Read more >>.

Beggars swept out of central Dakar as Senegal attempts to appease US

US pressure leads to ban on beggars in Dakar

CAMBERENE, Senegal – Abdoulaye Ba, 10, looked right, then left, before timidly approaching the taxi and holding out his hand.
A 10-year-old begging is nothing new in this destitute African country, but the fear in his eyes is.
A few days ago police chased him away from the intersection … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Beggars swept out of central Dakar as Senegal attempts to appease US.

Irreverent filmmakers bringing a zombie revolution to Cuba’s capital

Irreverent Cuban movie promises zombie revolution

HAVANA – What would you do if your entire city was taken over by flesh-eating zombies and communist leaders insisted it was nothing but a plot by U.S-backed dissidents to destabilize the government?
If you were the protagonist of Juan de los Muertos – “Juan of the Dead” – the first … Original source on Gaea Times at : Irreverent filmmakers bringing a zombie revolution to Cuba’s capital.

Defiant Gujarat BJP legislator opposes cement plant

MAHUVA – By pushing ahead with a farmers’ protest in Bhavnagar district Sunday against a proposed cement plant, Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Kanu Kalsariya appeared to be heading for a showdown with the party leadership.

The legislator is organising a “maha sammelan” (convention) at Dodiya village in Mahuva taluka of the district against the Nirma …. Source article  : Defiant Gujarat BJP legislator opposes cement plant.

Concession agreement signed for Hyderabad Metro

HYDERABAD – The concession agreement for the Rs.12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project was signed here Saturday.

The Andhra Pradesh government signed the pact with Larsen & Toubro Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd for development of Hyderabad Metro Rail project in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
Leading construction group Larsen & Toubro, which bagged the project in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Concession agreement signed for Hyderabad Metro.

Small Michigan community eliminates police department in effort to address budget problems

Mich. town facing deficit cuts police department

CLARKSTON, Mich. – A small town in Michigan has eliminated its police department as a way to save money.
The Oakland County sheriff’s department began patrolling the village of Clarkston on Friday night.
Clarkston previously had a police chief, one full-time officer, eight part-time officers and some reservists. WDIV-TV and the …. Source  : Small Michigan community eliminates police department in effort to address budget problems.

Travel industry seeks better infrastructure, tax sops

UDAIPUR – The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the apex body of the travel and tourism industry, has recommended vigorous development of infrastructure, logical taxation and creation of land banks for hotels.

The 26th annual convention here of IATO also pushed for rationalisation of visa fee, better air connectivity and the setting up of a …. Original source  : Travel industry seeks better infrastructure, tax sops.

New Jersey Devils GM says team acted in ‘good faith’ during Ilya Kovalchuk negotiations

Devils tout ‘good faith’ in Ilya Kovalchuk deal

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils say they acted in good faith during their contract negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk.
The NHL signed off on Kovalchuk’s latest contract with the Devils on Friday, approving a revised 15-year, $100 million deal. The league reached an agreement with the NHL players’ … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New Jersey Devils GM says team acted in ‘good faith’ during Ilya Kovalchuk negotiations.

UAE posts $599 mn trade surplus with India

Abu Dhabi, Sep 4 (IANS/WAM) UAE’s trade surplus with India rose to 2.2 billion dirhams ($599 million) in the first quarter of 2010 from a deficit of 7.3 billion dirhams in the corresponding period last year, the foreign trade ministry said in a report.

The report attributed this positive change to the big increase of 273 … Original article on : UAE posts $599 mn trade surplus with India.

‘Hiring talent challenge for hotels in south India’

CHENNAI – With 119 hotels coming up in the four southern states and 11,000 rooms likely to be added to the capacity, hiring trained manpower will be a challenge for the sector, said a hotel industry official Saturday.

“Hiring talent is a major challenge for the industry now with more properties coming up. Unlike earlier, the … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Hiring talent challenge for hotels in south India’.