British royal family told to cut expenses

LONDON – The British royal family have been told to slash spending on palaces and travel by about 25 percent, a media report said Saturday.

The Whitehall officials said they expect the royal family to share the burden of budget cuts in the toughest review for a generation, due Oct 20, Daily Express reported.
The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : British royal family told to cut expenses.

Chhattisgarh’s new 660 MW plant to start by December

RAIPUR – The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will commission the first of three 660 MW of units of a new power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sipat village by December, the corporation said here Saturday.

“The first 660 MW of the total 1,980 MW Sipat expansion project of the NTPC will be commissioned by December while … Read more >>>.

Seeing light at the end of world’s longest rail tunnel

GENEVA – Seeing light at the end of the tunnel will be more than just a catch phrase when Swiss engineers blast through the last Alpine granite barrier Oct 15 at the Gotthard Base Tunnel – the world’s longest rail tunnel.

After 25 years of planning and construction, that blast will clear the way for … Read more >>>.

India’s Jain Irrigation gets IFC award

WASHINGTON – India’s Jain Irrigation Systems Limited has been honoured with the annual IFC Client Leadership Award for its pioneering work to promote sustainable agriculture and raise farmers’ incomes through the efficient use of water, energy, and fertiliser.

The award was presented the award to Jain Managing Director Anil Jain by IFC Executive Vice President …. Read the original article  : India’s Jain Irrigation gets IFC award.

Dow industrials close above 11,000

NEW YORK – The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 11,000 points for the first time in months amid hopes that the Federal Reserve will buy debt as economic stimulus amid stubbornly high unemployment.

The blue-chip Dow industrials gained 57.9 points, or 0.53 percent, to 11,006.48. The broader Standard and Poor’s 500 Index climbed …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Dow industrials close above 11,000.

Wal-Mart ends profit sharing with employees, replacing it with retirement contributions

Wal-Mart ends profit sharing with employees

NEW YORK – Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest private employer, plans to end automatic profit-sharing contributions for its employees in a revamp of its benefits package that it says will give workers more chance to share in its financial success.
The discounter will replace profit-sharing starting in February with retirement …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Wal-Mart ends profit sharing with employees, replacing it with retirement contributions.

NJ Gov. Chris Christie agrees to rethink decision to cancel big rail tunnel connecting NJ, NYC

NJ gov. agrees to rethink rail tunnel cancellation

TRENTON, N.J. – Under pressure from the Obama administration, Republican Gov. Chris Christie agreed Friday to rethink his decision to cancel construction of a $9 billion rail tunnel connecting New Jersey and New York City.
Christie, a rising star in the GOP with a reputation as a fearless protector … Read : NJ Gov. Chris Christie agrees to rethink decision to cancel big rail tunnel connecting NJ, NYC.

Schwarzenegger says California got ‘best’ offer to sell state office buildings amid downturn

Schwarzenegger: State got best offer for buildings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While there are good reasons to own, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday that California has received solid offers to sell 24 state office buildings to private investors and then rent that space back.
“It went through the bidding process … so let me tell you, we got …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Schwarzenegger says California got ‘best’ offer to sell state office buildings amid downturn.

Emerging Europe stuck in ‘debt shadow’ of West: World Bank

WASHINGTON – Eastern and Central European countries could face another economic slowdown if their Western neighbours cannot gain control of their finances, the World Bank warned Friday.

Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s chief economist for the region, said that emerging economies in Europe had come out of last year’s economic crisis more dependent than ever …. Source article  : Emerging Europe stuck in ‘debt shadow’ of West: World Bank.

In ugly Nevada Senate race, Angle says Reid helped to put Viagra in hands of child molesters

Angle: Reid helped child molesters get Viagra

LAS VEGAS – In the ugliest ad so far in Nevada’s contentious Senate race, Republican Sharron Angle accuses Democrat Harry Reid of helping to put Viagra in the hands of child molesters. The TV spot is the latest in a string of scare-tactic ads flooding the Nevada airwaves in …. Read the original article  : here.

World champion Spain wins 3-1 against Lithuania in Euro 2012 qualifier

Spain beats Lithuania 3-1 in Euro qualifier

SALAMANCA, Spain – Fernando Llorente scored twice to help world champion Spain beat Lithuania 3-1 Friday in a 2012 European Championship qualifier.
Spain struggled to break down the visitors’ defense until Llorente scored his fifth international goal in the 47th minute with a header from a perfectly placed cross from …. Read the original article  : here.

Calif. budget vote ends 100-day impasse but not state’s deficit, which will face new governor

California budget perpetuates deficit spending

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Even as California lawmakers passed a budget Friday to end an unprecedented 100-day impasse, their spending plan looked to be so tenuous that the next governor was expected to face a multibillion dollar deficit from the moment he or she steps into office next year.
Two-thirds of the budget … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Calif. budget vote ends 100-day impasse but not state’s deficit, which will face new governor.

Sen. Reid’s son Rory struggles to gain traction in Nevada governor’s race

Rory Reid fights to gain traction in NV gov race

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid has dumped his famous last name, enlisted charismatic former President Bill Clinton as a political wingman and relentlessly attacked his opponent. None of it seems to be working. The son of Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid … Read more >>>.

Summary Box: Wholesale inventories and sales rise in August, as businesses remain confident

Summary Box: Wholesale inventories
WHAT’S UP? Inventories at the wholesale level rose by 0.8 percent in August, while sales rose by 0.5 percent, the Commerce Department said Friday.

WHAT’S CHANGED? The economic crisis led wholesalers to cut their inventories for 13 consecutive months starting in September 2008. When they started restocking last year, that boosted orders to …. Original source  : Summary Box: Wholesale inventories and sales rise in August, as businesses remain confident.

Summary Box: A weak jobs report gave traders confidence the Fed will soon start buying bonds

Summary Box: Treasury rates slip on jobs report

JOBS REPORT: The Labor Department said the economy lost 95,000 jobs in September. The unemployment rate stayed at 9.6 percent.
WAITING FOR THE FED: The labor report looked better than Wall Street expected, but it still painted a bleak picture of the country’s economy. Bond traders expect the Federal … Read more »»».

Summary Box: Economy loses 95,000 jobs as government layoffs surpass private hires

Summary Box: Economy loses 95K jobs last month

JOB LOSSES: A wave of government layoffs in September outpaced weak hiring in the private sector, pushing down the nation’s payrolls by a net total of 95,000 jobs. It was the fourth straight month that the economy lost jobs. The unemployment rate remained stuck 9.6 percent.
PRESSURE’S ON: The …. Source article  : Summary Box: Economy loses 95,000 jobs as government layoffs surpass private hires.

Steward Title writes new rules on foreclosure sales associated with flawed paperwork

Stewart Title clamps down on foreclosure sales

NEW YORK – Stewart Title Guaranty Co. is clamping down on sales of foreclosed homes that may be linked to flawed documentation.
In an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press, Houston-based Stewart is issuing guidelines to its agents that make it difficult to write policies on property foreclosed upon …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Steward Title writes new rules on foreclosure sales associated with flawed paperwork.

Bank of America stops foreclosures across the country, expanding review of mortgage documents

Bank of America stops US foreclosures for review

WASHINGTON – Bank of America on Friday halted foreclosures on homes across the country so it could review paperwork in tens of thousands of cases for flaws, expanding a crisis at a perilous time for the housing market.
The move came as PNC Financial Services became the fourth major …. Source  : Bank of America stops foreclosures across the country, expanding review of mortgage documents.

Al Pacino to star in HBO film as Phil Spector, famed record producer imprisoned for murder

Al Pacino to star in film as producer Phil Spector

NEW YORK – HBO says Al Pacino is set to star as legendary record producer Phil Spector in a TV film to be written and directed by David Mamet (MAM’-eht).
The film will tell the story of Spector, who long ago recorded such acts as the Beatles, … Read more >>.

Fire officials rescue 2 maintenance workers injured injured in fall at Florida water tower

2 workers rescued at Florida water tower
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Two maintenance workers who were injured while working on a water tower in South Florida have been rescued.

Hollywood city officials say the workers were sandblasting the inside of the Hollywood Water Tower Friday morning when the scaffolding somehow came loose. The men fell about 45 feet …. Original source  : Fire officials rescue 2 maintenance workers injured injured in fall at Florida water tower.