United India Insurance mulls overseas foray

CHENNAI - Public sector non-life insurer United India Insurance Co Ltd is planning to launch overseas operations shortly, a top official said here Monday.

Obama economic adviser predicts 2nd quarter contraction, increases in unemployment

WASHINGTON — Unemployment will increase in the next several months, but the pace of the nation’s economic slide will moderate and level out in the second half of the year, a top Obama economic adviser told Congress Thursday.

Same-sex couples wed in Iowa on day court ruling allowing gay marriage takes effect

DES MOINES, Iowa — Same-sex couples in Iowa began holding hastily planned weddings Monday as the state became the third to allow gay marriage, a leap that even some supporters find hard to grasp in the nation’s heartland.

Obama promises major investment in scientific research and development

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama promised a new era of science and technology for the nation, telling the National Academy of Sciences on Monday that he wants to devote more funds to research and development.

Ford cheers world markets with lower cash burn as investors await stress test details

LONDON — European and U.S. markets rose sharply Friday as Ford Motor Co. unveiled better-than-expected first quarter results and investors awaited news about the stress tests on 19 of the big U.S. financial institutions.

Canadian economy falls at steepest pace in at least 50 years

TORONTO — Canada’s central bank said Thursday the country’s gross domestic product fell 7.3 percent in the first three months of 2009, dropping at the steepest pace in decades.

India’s Muslims denounce Taliban whipping of girl as un-Islamic

NEW DELHI - After video clips of a 17-year-old girl being flogged in public by Taliban fighters in Pakistan’s Swat valley were shown on TV, India’s Islamic scholars denounced it as ‘un-Islamic’ and ’satanic’ and condemned it as ‘gross violation’ of Quranic codes.

Levi Johnston says Sarah Palin knew he, Bristol were having sex

WASHINGTON - Bristol Palin’s former fiancé and babydaddy Levi Johnston has revealed that Sarah Palin knew he and her daughter were having sex when they lived under her roof.

Zimbabwe dollar no longer in use: Minister

HARARE - Zimbabwe’s new Finance Minister Tendai Biti Wednesday indicated that the country’s national currency Zimbabwe dollar is no longer in use, New Ziana reported.

Foreign investments transform once coal-rich Polish region

GLIWICE - The Gliwice mine in southern Poland no longer produces the coal that made the region known as an industrial powerhouse during communism. The mine’s smoky bricks have been polished to a lively orange, and its interior renovated to house a business and education centre with a state-of-the-art lecture hall.

No recovery until 2010, eurozone ministers warn

BRUSSELS - The European economy is in much worse shape than previously anticipated and will not recover from recession before 2010, eurozone finance ministers have warned.

Goa tourism minister takes on casino operators

PANAJI - Offshore casinos in Goa are committing ‘gross violations’ of the law, the state’s Tourism minister Francisco Pacheco has said.

Chhattisgarh’s industrial sector to grow over 9 percent

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh’s industrial sector is expected to grow 9.41 percent this fiscal, Chief Minister Raman Singh said here Wednesday.

Tripura’s development graph soars

AGARTALA - Thirtyeight years after it came into being as a young state, Tripura’s economy is finally blooming while terrorist attacks have almost stopped.