Diesel price hiked LPG Cylinder cost reduced

Diesel price for bulk consumers like Railways has been hiked by almost a rupee per litre, while the price of cooking gas (LPG) is cut by Rs 37.50 a cylinder that consumers buy beyond their quota of subsidised bottles.

 Neither the retail prices of diesel sold through petrol pumps nor rates for subsidised LPG cylinders has been changed.  The government had in January allowed state-owned oil firms to sell diesel to all consumers taking supplies from their installations at market price.  Pursuant to the decision, oil companies sold diesel to bulk consumers like Defence, Railways and State Road Transport Corporations at a rate of Rs 58.58 per litre as compared to Rs 48.16 per litre price of the fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi.  Industry sources said the oil firms yesterday hiked the price of diesel for the bulk consumers by 94 paisa, excluding local sales tax or VAT.  The actual increase for consumers will be up to Rs 1.25 per litre.  The hike in bulk diesel price was necessitated by the firming up of international oil rates.  This has led to loss on diesel sold through petrol pumps rising to Rs 11.26 per litre from Rs 10.72 last month.  Also, oil companies cut the price of cooking gas (LPG) that consumers will have to buy beyond their quota of 9 subsidised cylinders in a year.  The non-subsidised LPG will cost Rs 904.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder as against Rs 942 a bottle previously.  Just yesterday, the oil companies had raised petrol price by Rs 1.40 a litre, excluding VAT on firming global oil rates.  The hike in Delhi translated into Rs 1.68 and petrol now costs Rs 70.74 a litre in the national capital.  Together with Rs 1.50 per litre hike in rates effected from February 16, petrol price have been raised by about Rs 3 per litre in two weeks.  Sources said oil firms continue to incur a loss of Rs 439 on sale of every 14.2-kg cylinder at subsidised rate of Rs 410.50 in Delhi.  On kerosene, they lose Rs 33.43 per litre and will end the fiscal with a loss of Rs 163,500 crore on fuel sales. 

UN:Kenyan elections must be free of sexual violence

March 2, 2013

Kenyan elections must be free of sexual violence, UN official stresses ahead of polls

Women sit together outside a dormitory at the Heal Africa Transit Center for victims of sexual violence. Photo: Aubrey Graham/IRIN

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1 March 2013 – As Kenya prepares to go to the polls on Monday, a senior United Nations official has called on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls, recalling that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented during the violence that followed the 2007 elections.
“I urge the authorities in Kenya to ensure that civilians of all ethnic and political backgrounds can exercise their right to vote in safety and security, and to guarantee that in the post-election period we do not witness the rise in politically-motivated rape which occurred in the wake of the last elections,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, said in a statement.
Monday’s election will be the first presidential polls since the December 2007 vote, which was followed by post-election violence in which more than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500 injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced.
As Kenya goes to the polls, national and international observers and human rights actors have warned of the risk of election violence, including the deliberate targeting of civilians due to political or ethnic affiliations, Ms. Bangura noted, adding that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented after the last elections.
“I call on all candidates to speak out against election violence, and for the Kenyan authorities to take the necessary steps to avert the risk of increased sexual violence and ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls,” she stated.
“Above all, the Kenyan authorities must remain alert to the warning signs and send the signal that such crimes will not be tolerated.
Also today, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it is deploying a four-person team to monitor the human rights situation during the electoral period and to support the Kenyan National Commission of Human Rights as well as civil society groups.
Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope that all Kenyans will work together to ensure that the 4 March election will be peaceful and credible, and said he trusted that efforts made at many levels to prevent a repeat of past violence will be redoubled during the remainder of the campaign.

Shamim Khan edges out Mukesh Kumar in playoff Classic Golf Resort

Mewat, Haryana, March 1, 2013: 

Shamim Khan of Delhi edged out Mukesh Kumar of Mhow in a playoff to win the PGTI
Players Championship played at the Classic Golf Resort in Mewat,
Haryana. Shamim and Mukesh headed to a playoff after finishing the
regulation 72 holes with matching totals of 12-under-276.

Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore finished third at 11-under-277.

Shamim Khan (66-70-70-70), who was in third position overnight placed
three strokes behind the leader Mukesh, made a solid start to the day
with pars on the first eight holes and followed that up with a birdie
on the ninth. He landed his approach shot from 115 yards to within a
foot of the pin on the ninth. The 34-year-old reigning Rolex Rankings
champion went two-under for the day with a birdie on the 14th after
landing his chip within three feet of the hole.

Shamim bogeyed the 15th as a result of finding the bunker and missing
a four feet putt. He trailed Mukesh by two shots after the 15th.
However, there was a reversal of fortunes over the next two holes as
Shamim birdied the 16th and Mukesh bogeyed the 17th. ShamimⳠsecond
shot from 200 yards stopped just six inches from the hole on the 16th
and led to a birdie while Mukesh played a poor chip to bogey the 17th.
The two players headed for a playoff after being tied at 12-under at
the end of their rounds.

The first playoff hole (18th hole) turned out to be the decider as
Shamim made par and Mukesh dropped a bogey. While Shamim found the
green in three shots and made a two-putt, Mukesh missed the fairway
and couldnⴠconvert a three feet par putt.

Shamim, who registered his ninth professional win on Friday, said, ぼbr> come-from-behind win is always special. This is also a very satisfying
win as the playing conditions were quite tough due to the strong
winds. The sideways wind made club-selection and putting extremely
difficult. However, I hit some fabulous approach shots today and made
a number of good chip-putts.

㉠took my opportunities on the par-5s and made some solid pars on the
last two holes and the playoff hole. ItⳠgreat to have a win under
the belt early in the season. This gives me a huge boost ahead of some
important events in the next few weeks,䠡dded Shamim, who also won
PGTIⳠlast event at the Classic Golf Resort in September 2012.

Mukesh Kumar (68-67-68-73) lost the opportunity to make it two titles
in two weeks as he shot an ordinary 73 on Friday. MukeshⳠcard
featured three birdies and four bogeys as he struggled with his
chipping and putting towards the end of his round.

Bangalore's,Chikkarangappa S (69-68-70-70) ended third with a total
score of 11-under-277. He made a promising start to the day with four
birdies on the first 14 holes but then stumbled with bogeys on the
15th and 16th to finish one stroke behind Shamim and Mukesh.

Delhi's, Rashid Khan claimed fourth place at 10-under-278 while Ashok
Kumar, another Delhi golfer, secured fifth position with an
eight-under-280 total.

Ainesh Ahluwalia of Gurgaon, the lone amateur to make the cut, won the
trophy for the best performance by an amateur. Ahluwalia ended up in
tied 11th place with a total of four-under-284.

Vijitha Bandara clinches 8^th NCR Cup trophy

1^st March, New Delhi: Gannon Dunkerley 8^th NCR Cup has seen a Sri Lankan winner second time in a row as Vijitha Bandara ran away with the trophy on the final day at the Delhi Golf Club. N Thangaraja who has turned professional now, won the trophy last year. Bandara shot four-over 76 for the total of 293 in windy conditions to lift the trophy.

India’s Prince Kajotia who has joined Indian Navy recently, returned with the career best finish after shooting three-over 295 as a runner up. India born Thai Samarth Dwivedi ended the day with 3^rd position as he scored 300 while coming from behind another Indian Lakhan Singh WAS tied for fourth place along with Amit Kumar at 303.

Bandara started the day with a birdie on 1^st and was one-over after front nine. After taking a lot of pressure on himself, 24-year-old Bandara dropped two shots and made a double bogey on 10^th. Number one on Sri Lanka amateur circuit, Bandara got confused in choosing the clubs on 11^th hole as the wind speed high and he used 3-wood for the tee shot where in he normally uses his 52 wedge. His best shot of the tournament came on the finishing hole where he rescued the ball from a difficult condition as he landed his tee shot in right bushes but managed a par with advice from his caddy.

A delighted Bandara said, “I am so excited to show the trophy to the defending champion N. Thangaraja in my country. The pressure, which was built on me throughout the day, helped me in choosing the right clubs at the right place. Though, I am not very happy to tell my today’s scores but I can take this kind of victory any day.”

Another highlight of the day was a hole-in-one on 7^th hole by Devendra Singh who finished 22^nd. Lakhan Singh took the longest drive challenge prize on 6^th hole, which was also a hat-rick in NCR Cup by him. Sunny Nagar won the straightest drive on 10^th hole.

 

President Obama’s solution for resolving the sequester

March 2, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

Starting today, our government will need to grapple with a set of arbitrary budget cuts that will hurt the economy, make life harder for middle-class families, and threaten our national security. That’s what Washington means when it talks about the sequester. Not everyone will feel the consequences of these cuts immediately, but if sequestration is allowed to continue, it will make life more difficult for Americans all across the country. That’s a fact that no one disputes. And the reason we are here is because some members of Congress have made a choice to prioritize these cuts over closing tax loopholes for the wealthy. But there is still time for them to make a different choice and undo this manufactured crisis. Today, President Obama discussed this situation and answered questions from the press. “This is not a win for anybody,” he said. “This is a loss for the American people.” Help us make sure your friends and neighbors know what’s at stake. Share this video of President Obama on Facebook or Twitter — or even just forward this email to your friends. Watch: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sequester-briefing PS — We put a page together that outlines President Obama’s solution for resolving the sequester, explains what these cuts will mean for communities across the country, and asks you to share your story. Check it out: WH.gov/Sequester. Stay Connected     Facebook Twitter YouTube

Spielberg to head up Cannes festival jury

March 1, 2013

Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg head this year’s Cannes Film Festival jury, the organisers announced Thursday.Spielberg, 66, will head up the Cannes jury that runs between May 15 and May 26 this year. He has presented several films at the festival.
His work cuts across a broad spectrum “between entertainment films and serious reflections on history, racism and the human condition,” Cannes festival organisers said in a statement.
Thierry Fremaux, of the festival’s organising committee, said of Spielberg that “his films, but also his wide-ranging commitment make him, year after year, the equal of the greatest Hollywoods filmmakers.”We are proud to welcome him.” Media agencies

Obama : Passage of the Violence Against Women Act

March 1, 2013

President on the House Passage of the Violence Against Women Act

I was pleased to see the House of Representatives come together and vote to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act.  Over more than two decades, this law has saved countless lives and transformed the way we treat victims of abuse. Today’s vote will go even further by continuing to reduce domestic violence, improving how we treat victims of rape, and extending protections to Native American women and members of the LGBT community.  The bill also reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, providing critical support for both international and domestic victims of trafficking and helping ensure traffickers are brought to justice.  I want to thank leaders from both parties – especially Leader Pelosi, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Leahy – for everything they’ve done to make this happen.  Renewing this bill is an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear, and I look forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits my desk.