Karzai family owns empire in Dubai, claims daily

LONDON – The family and close aides of Afghan President Hamid Karzai have been linked to over a dozen high-end villas in Dubai, raising fears that Western aid money sent to Afghanistan is being misused.

The Daily Telegraph Friday revealed a property empire in Dubai assembled at a cost of 90 million pounds that is … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Karzai family owns empire in Dubai, claims daily.

Cricket snapshots, African canvases at Gurgaon art mart

GURGAON – High action cricket snapshots on canvas, 50 art works from Tanzania and silk art – nearly 1,000 works by over 100 artists were showcased at the two-day annual Art Mart II here.

The fair aims to meet the growing demand for affordable drawing room art among new segments of buyers in this millenium city … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cricket snapshots, African canvases at Gurgaon art mart.

Protesters to confront thrifty Greek government, as more cuts planned

Greek protesters to confront thrifty government

THESSALONIKI, Greece – Some 4,500 police are on duty Saturday in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki as unions vow to hold rallies against possible new spending cuts by the government to cope with country’s major debt crisis.
Prime Minister George Papandreou is due to speak about the economy on Saturday … Read more >>>.

China’s inflation, food prices record steep rise

BEIJING – China’s inflation and food prices both rose sharply in August, its the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Saturday.

China’s consumer price index (CPI), a major gauge to measure inflation, rose by a 22-month high of 3.5 percent in August from one year earlier, the bureau said.
Food prices climbed 7.5 percent year on … Read more : China’s inflation, food prices record steep rise.

China’s inflation edges up in August as flooding drives food costs higher

China’s inflation edges up, driven by food costs

BEIJING – China’s inflation edged higher in August as the nation’s worst flooding in a decade drove an increase in food costs and industrial growth continued to quicken.
Consumer prices rose 3.5 percent in August compared with a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics announced Saturday. It was … Read more >>>.

With concerts, games and meet-and-greets, Fashion’s Night Out takes shopping party nationwide

Celebrities, shoppers meet at Fashion’s Night Out

NEW YORK – Naomi Campbell danced on the sidewalk of Madison Avenue in leather hotpants. Alexander Wang led a dance party in a department store. And Vogue’s Anna Wintour wore a (gasp) T-shirt.
It could only be Fashion’s Night Out, the one-night celebration dreamed up by Wintour to lure shoppers …. Read the original article  : With concerts, games and meet-and-greets, Fashion’s Night Out takes shopping party nationwide.

Minnesota Public Radio’s Bill Kling, founder and CEO, to step down in June 2011

Minnesota Public Radio CEO, founder to step down

MINNEAPOLIS – Bill Kling started Minnesota Public Radio with just one station in a college town more than 40 years ago and built a broadcasting empire that stretches into southern California and South Florida. Now, MPR’s parent company will look for a new leader after Kling, its founder … Original article on : Minnesota Public Radio’s Bill Kling, founder and CEO, to step down in June 2011.

TransCanada says it will seek US crude for planned oil pipeline from Alberta to Gulf of Mexico

TransCanada seeks US crude for oil sands pipeline
BILLINGS, Mont. – A Canadian company is inviting U.S. oil producers to bid on rights to use a proposed pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, easing worries that domestic crude could get left out of the project.
TransCanada Corp. and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer plan … Read more »».

Nebraska tax revenue tops projections by 2.7 pct in August, brightening state budget picture

Neb. tax revenue beats projections in August

OMAHA, Neb. – Nebraska tax revenue beat projections in August for the first time since May, so the state budget picture looks a little better, according to a report released Friday.
The Nebraska Department of Revenue said net tax revenue topped projections by 2.7 percent last month.
The positive revenue report [..] Read the original article: here.

Schwarzenegger, Palin trade Twitter jabs over 2008 Russia comment, California budget deficit

Schwarzenegger, Palin trade Twitter jabs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Flying over Alaska on his way to Asia, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t help but take a lighthearted jab at the state’s former governor.
His Twitter message Thursday night said he was “looking everywhere but can’t see Russia from here,” a reference to an infamous remark from … Read more >>.

Summary Box: Wholesale inventories and sales both post better-than-expected gains in July

Summary Box: Wholesale inventories rise in July

STOCKPILES UP: Inventories held by wholesalers increased 1.3 percent in July, the biggest gain since July 2008 and triple what economists had expected.
SALES UP: Sales at the wholesale level rose 0.6 percent, double what had been expected and the first increase after two months of declines.
OUTLOOK: Businesses restocking store …. Source  : Summary Box: Wholesale inventories and sales both post better-than-expected gains in July.

Rendell comes to aid of financially troubled capital city that warned of skipping bond payment

Rendell comes to aid of troubled capital city

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Gov. Ed Rendell is working on ways the state can help Pennsylvania’s capital city avoid a rare default on a general obligation bond, a step that could settle worried municipal bond investors and prevent further damage to Harrisburg’s ability to borrow, a top aide said …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers received $18.9M in 2010 compensation, up 33 pct from year ago

Cisco CEO Chambers got $18.9M 2010 pay package

NEW YORK – Cisco Systems Inc. CEO John Chambers received about $18.9 million in compensation for the latest fiscal year, a 33 percent increase from last year’s payout due to more generous bonus and stock awards, according to an Associated Press calculation of figures filed with regulators on …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Regulators shut down small bank in Florida; makes 119 US bank failures this year

Regulators close small Florida bank
WASHINGTON – Regulators on Friday shut down a small Florida bank, bringing to 119 the number of U.S. bank failures this year amid mounting loan defaults.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over Horizon Bank, based in Bradenton, Fla., with $187.8 million in assets and $164.6 million in deposits. Bank of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Regulators shut down small bank in Florida; makes 119 US bank failures this year.

Pro Bowl lineman Kevin Mawae retires after 16 seasons, will serve out term with union

Mawae, NFLPA president, retires after 16 seasons

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The president of the NFL Players Association said he got one offer from a team this year. It came too late, and Kevin Mawae said Friday he decided being with family was more important than his passion to keep playing in the league.
The veteran offensive lineman …. Source article  : Pro Bowl lineman Kevin Mawae retires after 16 seasons, will serve out term with union.

Wal-Mart to split merchandising responsibilities among 4 executives _ for now

Wal-Mart to divide merchandising jobs
NEW YORK – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is splitting the position of chief merchandising officer among four executives.

The decision, which may not be permanent, raises some uncertainty about how the world’s largest retailer will shape its merchandising strategy following the departure of John Fleming. Fleming left in June amid a series of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

General Mills files for arbitration with French dairy company that owns Yoplait brand

General Mills files for arbitration over Yoplait

MINNEAPOLIS – General Mills Inc. has filed for arbitration over a contract issue with the French company from which it has licensed the Yoplait brand for more than three decades.
The food maker said in a regulatory filing that dairy company Sodima sent it a letter on Sept. 3 saying … Original article on : General Mills files for arbitration with French dairy company that owns Yoplait brand.

Evergreen Energy chairman resigns; CEO to take over role, new lead director named

Evergreen Energy chairman resigns; CEO takes role

DENVER – Clean-tech company Evergreen Energy Inc. on Friday said its chairman resigned, eight weeks after being named to the post. The company’s chief executive, Thomas H. Stoner, will take over the role.
William G. Gibson, 61, who was elected by the board in January, was named chairman in July …. Source  : Evergreen Energy chairman resigns; CEO to take over role, new lead director named.

It’s hard meets soft, country meets city as NY Fashion Week embraces opposites

Opposites attract at NY Fashion Week
NEW YORK – At Fashion Week as in life, opposites attract.

A yin-yang theme emerged on Friday on the second day of New York Fashion Week as designers turned to a harmonious blend of opposites.
At Rag & Bone, that meant mixing delicate, pretty pieces with the hard-edged style of an adventurer. … Original source on Gaea Times at : It’s hard meets soft, country meets city as NY Fashion Week embraces opposites.

Thomas Guinzburg, who helped found the Paris Review and ran Viking Press, dies at 84

Thomas Guinzburg, former Paris Review editor, dies

NEW YORK – Thomas Guinzburg, who helped found the Paris Review, the celebrated literary journal, and later ran the publisher Viking Press, died Wednesday in New York at the age of 84.
The cause was complications from heart surgery, said his longtime companion, Victoria Anstead.
A Yale graduate and World War …. Original source  : Thomas Guinzburg, who helped found the Paris Review and ran Viking Press, dies at 84.