India now has over 650 million mobile phone connections

NEW DELHI – India’s mobile phone market continued to expand at a robust pace with total connections estimated at 652.42 million as on Aug 1, thanks to 16.92 million new subscribers joining the network in July, official data showed Wednesday.

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the wireless phone user base grew … Read this article on Gaea Times at : India now has over 650 million mobile phone connections.

As Rahul spoke, farmer suicides continued in Vidarbha

NAGPUR – Five debt-trapped farmers in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha area committed suicide even as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was visiting Akola in the region, a farmer watchdog group said Wednesday.

The suicides on Tuesday came on the eve of the main festival of the farming community, Pola, and three days before the 10-day Ganapati festival, … Original source on Gaea Times at : As Rahul spoke, farmer suicides continued in Vidarbha.

Piramal concludes sale of formulations business to Abott

MUMBAI – Piramal Healthcare Wednesday announced it has concluded the first part of its $3.72-billion deal to sell its domestic formulations business to Illinois-based Abbott Healthcare.

In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Piramal Healthcare, which owned popular brands such as Phensedyl, Paraxin and Pentids, said the sale include 350 trademarks, as also …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mobile subscriber base crosses 652.42 million mark

NEW DELHI – The number of mobile subscribers in the country crossed the 652.42 million mark in July, with the addition of 16.92 million connections, official data show.

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the wireless user base grew 2.66 percent to 652.42 million in July from 635.51 million in the previous … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Mobile subscriber base crosses 652.42 million mark.

FBI: Thai Airways plane searched, no explosives or credible threat found, no arrests

FBI: Aircraft searched, no credible threat found

LOS ANGELES – The FBI says investigators have found no explosives aboard a Los Angeles-bound Thai Airways flight in which a bomb threat was found scrawled on a bathroom mirror.
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller says investigators conducted a thorough search of the plane Tuesday night and found no evidence to … Read more : FBI: Thai Airways plane searched, no explosives or credible threat found, no arrests.

Sensex back in green after shedding 104 points in early trade

MUMBAI – A benchmark index for Indian equities moved back into the positive terrain in afternoon trade Wednesday after retreating over 104 points in the earlier session on profit taking.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), opened deep in the red on negative Asian cues.
However, the index recouped …. Original article  : Sensex back in green after shedding 104 points in early trade.

Former NM governor, little known nationally, mulls presidential run on small gov’t platform

Former NM gov is little known but has big ideas

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Despite two terms as governor of New Mexico and recent visits to 26 states, most Americans have never heard of Gary Johnson.
The former Republican governor is mulling a run for president, and his libertarian views and small government platform fit the disenchantment many … Original source on Gaea Times at : Former NM governor, little known nationally, mulls presidential run on small gov’t platform.

Chicago mayor’s race promises to be most competitive in decades as Daley steps aside

Chicago mayor race wide open as Daley steps aside
CHICAGO – Suddenly, the race for Chicago mayor is on. Mayor Richard M. Daley has thrown the competition for the city’s top job wide open by announcing he won’t run for a seventh term, ending 21 years of token opposition and prompting speculation about who’s …. Read the original article  : Chicago mayor’s race promises to be most competitive in decades as Daley steps aside.

ADWATCH: Political ads stretch health care facts, omit others in volatile election year

ADWATCH: Ads attacking health plan miss some facts
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s health care initiative is getting toxic on the campaign trail.
With the country sharply divided over the sweeping new insurance law, Republicans and their allies are taking to the airwaves to attack it as elections near, often resorting to exaggeration and omissions …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ADWATCH: Political ads stretch health care facts, omit others in volatile election year.

Looking to show action on economy, Obama to promote trio of proposals for growth Wednesday

Obama to pitch trio of economic proposals
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is pitching a trio of economic proposals Wednesday in an effort to show the public he’s taking action to spur economic growth.
During a trip to Cleveland, the president will outline a $50 billion infrastructure investment, a permanent expansion of research …. Read the original article  : here.

Japan machinery orders post biggest rise in 7 months in sign of higher business confidence

Japan machinery orders up 8.8 percent in July

TOKYO – Japan’s machinery orders, a key gauge of future business investment, rose the most in seven months, a sign that companies are more confident in the economic recovery.
The 8.8 percent jump in July from June was the second straight month of increase as solid overseas demand bolstered …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Japan machinery orders post biggest rise in 7 months in sign of higher business confidence.

Most Asian stocks fall on renewed worries over European bank debt, yen’s surge against dollar

Asia stocks down on Europe debt worries, yen surge

BEIJING – Most Asian stock markets slid Wednesday, pressured by the yen hitting a fresh 15-year high and new concerns about European banks after a report they may have more risky government debt than thought.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index dropped 214.73 points, or 2.2 percent, to … Read : Most Asian stocks fall on renewed worries over European bank debt, yen’s surge against dollar.

A White House visit ahead, China’s president calls for stable ties with US

China’s Hu calls for stable ties with US
BEIJING – Trying to smooth over recently rocky relations before he visits Washington, Chinese President Hu Jintao told aides to U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday that he wants to see healthy and stable ties between the two countries.
The meeting between Hu and a … Read : A White House visit ahead, China’s president calls for stable ties with US.

German exports dip 1.5 percent on the month in July; up 18.7 percent year-on-year

German exports slightly lower on month in July

BERLIN – Official data show that German exports dipped by 1.5 percent in July compared with the previous month but were still up a strong 18.7 over the same month last year.
The monthly drop reported by the Federal Statistical Office on Wednesday followed two months of big gains. …. Read the original article  : German exports dip 1.5 percent on the month in July; up 18.7 percent year-on-year.

Fruit bats destroy apple crop in Himachal

SHIMLA – Fruit bats, which play a critical role in controlling pests, have become a menace in the Jubbal-Rohru belt in the upper Shimla region of Himachal Pradesh, destroying a ripe apple crop.

Bats leave claw marks on most of the fruits, making these unfit for human consumption.
Roshan Lal Manta, an apple grower in Bhamnoli …. Read the original article  : Fruit bats destroy apple crop in Himachal.

Suicides, depression cost Japan’s economy $32 billion last year

Depression costs Japan’s economy $32 billion

TOKYO – Suicides and other depression cases cost Japan’s economy about 2.7 trillion yen ($32 billion) last year, the government said Wednesday, releasing such data for the first time in a bid to raise public awareness of the nation’s long-battled social woe.
The figure included an estimated income of 1.9 trillion … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Suicides, depression cost Japan’s economy $32 billion last year.

Dollar falls to 15-year low against Japanese yen, trades at low 83-yen level

Dollar sinks to 15-year low against Japanese yen

TOKYO – The U.S. dollar sank to a new 15-year low against the yen on Wednesday as investors continued to buy the Japanese currency as a safe haven for their money amid uncertainty about the global economic recovery.
The dollar sank to 83.32 yen in afternoon trade in Tokyo. [..] Read the original article: here.

Oil falls below $74 in Asia as traders eye equity slump, EU bank debt worries

Oil falls below $74 on EU bank debt worries

SINGAPORE – Oil prices skidded below $74 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as traders followed regional stocks down on reports European banks may be saddled with more debt than previously estimated.
Benchmark oil for October delivery was down 40 cents at $73.69 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oil falls below $74 in Asia as traders eye equity slump, EU bank debt worries.

India seeks Canadian investment in food processing

TORONTO – Subodh Kant Sahai, India’s minister for food processing industries, has called upon Canadian companies to invest in the fast growing sector of the Indian economy.

Sahai, who is here to seek investment and knowhow, said the Indian food processing sector was growing by more than 14 percent and many Canadian companies have evinced keen … Read more »».

GE and PepsiCo in India among 12 ACE finalists

WASHINGTON – GE and PepsiCo in India are among 12 American companies selected as finalists for the Secretary of State’s prestigious 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).

Chosen from a record number of 78 nominations submitted by American ambassadors around the world, ACE finalists are international business leaders who recognize the vital role that US businesses … Read more »»».