Business News – Newsletter for December 5, 2010

British shops to be stopped from selling provocative items

LONDON – Retailers in Britain would be told to stop selling “highly sexualised products” including T-shirts that bear provocative slogans like “Want me, need me, love me”, a media report said Sunday.

A government inquiry has been launched that will examine whether shops should be prevented from selling inappropriate items to pre-teens and children, such … Original article on : British shops to be stopped from selling provocative items.

Nepal’s Maoists fail to bring economy under state control

KATHMANDU – The battle by Nepal’s former Maoist guerrillas to push for a new economical model next year in which the state would control economy and all resources with the private sector was defeated Sunday with the major ruling parties thumbing down the proposal.

Giving in to pressure, the opposition party has now agreed to … Read more »»».

Teenagers obsessed with mobile phones: Survey

NEW DELHI – Teenagers are obsessed with mobile phones and carry them to schools, tution centres and other public places, a study released here Sunday said.

The study, conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), attributed this to socio-economic factors such as excess pampering by parents, easy access to pocket … Read more >>>.

This time, mobile phone users hope for real relief from pesky calls

NEW DELHI – Dheeraj Kumar, a real esate broker here and frequent traveller, finally hopes he will be spared from the unwanted calls from tele-marketing firms and the hole they burn in his wallet following new norms announced by the telecom watchdog.

Experts also agree that this time the penalty on errant companies that can … Original source on Gaea Times at : This time, mobile phone users hope for real relief from pesky calls.

India more important market than Pakistan: Afghan minister

CHANDIGARH – Afghanistan, ravaged by years of war, considers the Indian market more lucrative than Pakistan and wants both Indian expertise and investment in restructuring its agriculture and trade, an Afghan minister said here.

“India and Pakistan are major business partners for Afghanistan but we are more focused on India as it is … Original source on Gaea Times at : India more important market than Pakistan: Afghan minister.

Brand Bewakoof rings success in Jharkhand town

GIRIDIH – What’s in a name? Had legendary playwright Shakespeare posed this question in Jharkhand’s Giridih town, he would have got a collective reply – “everything”. Because not only has the word ‘bewakoof’ (stupid) made many a fortune here, it also commands an unflinching loyalty.

Within 20 metres of Court Road there are six Bewakoof …. Original article  : Brand Bewakoof rings success in Jharkhand town.

Apple updates iPhone operating system

CUPERTINO – The newest version of the operating system that powers iPhones, iPads and the iPod touch – iOS 4.2 – is ready for installation.

IPad users will notice the biggest changes, since this is the first ever update for that machine’s operating system. It will allow multitasking on the tablet computer, so multiple applications …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Apple updates iPhone operating system.

Farm-reliant Ethiopia is fertile for India Inc: Dy Prime Minister (Interview)

NEW DELHI – Ethiopia not only seeks Indian investment but also offers itself as a base for import of farm and industrial goods produced there for a partnership that can help both the countries, says the east African country’s Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Choosing India for his first overseas visit after being appointed a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Farm-reliant Ethiopia is fertile for India Inc: Dy Prime Minister (Interview).

BlackBerry buys Swedish software developer

TORONTO – BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) is buying Sweden’s The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) which specializes in developing software that lets smart phone users personalize their device the way they like.

The unique software designed by TAT is found on 15 percent of all smart phones globally. By downloading the TAT software, even those … Original article on : BlackBerry buys Swedish software developer.

Snow grounds over 325 flights in Chicago

CHICAGO – Over 325 flights were cancelled at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport due to heavy snowfall Saturday morning, reports Xinhua.

Flights in and out of O’Hare have also been delayed by about 30 minutes, Chicago Department of Aviation said.
Aviation officials are advising travellers to check their airlines’ website to find out the status of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Snow grounds over 325 flights in Chicago.

On course to reach tax revenue target: Pranab

KOLKATA – The government is on course to reaching its target of mopping up direct tax revenue of Rs 4.30 lakh crore this year, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Saturday.

“Following the rationalisation of direct tax rates, the government is progressing well towards its target of collecting direct taxes of Rs 4.30 lakh crore this …. Source article  : On course to reach tax revenue target: Pranab.

Sarkozy’s Taj trip hustles tourists out

AGRA – Thousands of foreign and domestic tourists were asked to leave the precincts of the Taj Mahal just before French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni came to visit the hitoric monument Saturday. Many others could not even enter though holding valid tickets.

“We came here from Sholapur on Thursday. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mahindra, Italian firm tie-up for farm equipment

CHANDIGARH – The farm equipment wing of automobile giant Mahindra and Mahindra Saturday announced its tie-up with Italian company Maschio-Gaspardo, a leading global brand manufacturing rotary tillage equipment.

As a result of this partnership, Mahindras AppliTrac business will receive an exclusive supply of a complete range of rotary tillage equipment from Maschio-Gaspardo, company officials said …. Source article  : Mahindra, Italian firm tie-up for farm equipment.

DGCA asks airlines to be reasonable, transparent on airfares

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE – Aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Saturday said the airline industry should be reasonable and transparent on the air fare pricing issue.

“We have asked the airlines to be reasonable about their demands and to be transparent about their bucket seats,” said newly-appointed DGCA director, E.K. Bharat Bhushan after …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : DGCA asks airlines to be reasonable, transparent on airfares.

ICICI Bank hikes lending, deposit rates

MUMBAI – ICICI Bank, the country’s largest private sector lender, said Saturday it will raise its lending as well as deposit rates by up to 50 basis points effective Dec 6 on the back of tightening monetary policy by the country’s central bank.

The bank will increase interest rates for various tenors of retail fixed …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ICICI Bank hikes lending, deposit rates.

Sarkozy wants more Indians to learn French

BANGALORE – French President Nicolas Sarkozy Saturday hoped that more and more Indians would learn to speak French and know about his country.

“French companies in India employ nearly 200,000 people and this number is expected to continue to rise. But how many of them were trained in France and do they speak French,” Sarkozy … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sarkozy wants more Indians to learn French.

Spain declares emergency to beat off wildcat air strike

MADRID – The Spanish government Saturday decreed a state of emergency, in an attempt to force air controllers staging a wildcat work protest to return to work immediately.

If the air controllers refused, they would face being prosecuted for disobedience under military law, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said.
The government …. Source  : Spain declares emergency to beat off wildcat air strike.

Pawar favours introducing GM crops in India

CHANDIGARH – Ignoring criticism from various quarters, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Saturday strongly favoured the introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in the country to ensure food security.

Pawar, who was here to inaugurate the ninth edition of Agro Tech 2010, said that GM food crops are necessary to meet the increasing demand of …. Original source  : Pawar favours introducing GM crops in India.

‘Filthy, expensive Goa no longer attracts German tourists’

PANAJI – Goa is no longer a favoured tourist destination for Germans because it is “expensive and dirty”, the Indo-German Friendship Society Goa (IGFSG) said Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here at a press conference called to announce a weeklong celebration to mark the arrival of the first German hippies to Goa sixty years ago, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Filthy, expensive Goa no longer attracts German tourists’.

Sex ratio, literacy rate of Tibetans-in-exile up: survey

DHARAMSALA – The sex ratio, literacy rate and population of the Tibetans-in-exile have increased in the past 11 years, said a report released here Saturday.

The sex ratio for Tibetan population in exile has gone up. Its presently 798 females for 1,000 males against 792 in 1998, said the planning commission of the central Tibetan …. Source  : Gaea News Network.