Sunday 30 November 2014

 

Israeli cricket umpire dies 
Nov 30,
In Israel, Hillel Oscar, 55, an umpire and former captain of Israel's national cricket team died yesterday after being hit in the jaw by a ball in the southern port city of Ashdod, the country's cricket association said.

His death comes just two days after Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died of a severe head injury after being hit by a bouncer in a New South Wales match in Sydney.

Israeli police ruled out foul play in the incident that led to the death of the umpire. He was an international umpire.

Anirban finishes joint second at King Cup


Nov 30, 
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri has finished joint second behind Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant in the 500,000 US Dollar King's Cup tournament. At Khon Kaen in Thailand, Lahiri, who was one shot ahead of Wiratchant going into the final round today, carded a two-under 70 for a four-day total of 270. Lahiri settled for a share of second place with Australia's Andrew Dodt and missed out on a third Asian Tour title of the season. A win today would have meant more world ranking points for 27-year old Lahiri and allowed him to close the gap on Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States.

Wiratchant rewrote the record books by winning an unprecedented 18th Asian Tour title after he closed with a five-under-par 67 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club. With his second victory on the region's premier Tour this season, the Thai veteran also completed his royal collection having won the Queen's Cup twice in 2012 and 2014 when it was staged as an Asian Tour event.

Sindhu bags Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Title





Two-time World Badminton Championship bronze medallist P V Sindhu has lifted her first title of the season. At Macau today, the World Number Eleven successfully defended the 120,000 US dollar Macau Grand Prix Gold trophy. In the summit clash of the women's singles, she prevailed over 91st ranked Kim Hyo Min of Korea in straight games 21-12 21-17.

 



PM says tourism necessary for development of Manipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stressed the need to augment road connectivity and other infrastructure in Manipur so that tourism could flourish in the state and bring development along with it. 

Addressing a mammoth gathering at the concluding day of 'Sangai Manipur Tourism Festival' in Imphal on Sunday afternoon, Modi said the state needed road connectivity and other communication infrastructure system should be developed so that tourists were able to travel to the state.

He said north eastern states was an 'enchanting' place and all efforts should be made to develop the region.

Dwarka in Gujarat was liked by tourists not because of its religious connection but because it was developed, the Prime Minister said in his 15-minute speech. 

Likewise, the north eastern region, which is full of natural beauties, could be developed, said Modi, who was the chief guest of the 'Sangai Manipur Tourism Festival' in Imphal 

'Sangai Manipur Tourism Festival', the biggest tourism festival in the state, is named after 'Sangai', the brow -antlered deer, available only in Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur's Bishenpur district.

Besides tourism, the Prime Minister also mentioned the role of sports in the development of the state. 

Stating that a sports university would be set up in Manipur, he said the state's youth has lots of talent in various sports.

 

Nov 30,





















Petrol price has been cut by 91 paise per litre and diesel by 84 paise including VAT. The new rate will come into force from midnight tonight. Now, Petrol will cost 63 rupees and 33 paise per litre in Delhi, 70 rupees and 73 paise in Kolkata, 70 rupees 95 paise in Mumbai and in Chennai it will be 66 rupees and 5 paise per litre.

For Diesel, people will have to pay, 52 rupees and 51 paise a litre in Delhi, 57 rupees and 08 paise in Kolkata, 60 rupees and 11 paise in Mumbai and 55 rupees and 93 paise in Chennai.

In a statement, Indian Oil Corporation said that the decision has been taken in view of continued downtrend in the international prices of both Petrol and Diesel.
Rangpuri demolitions : Centre, LG protecting guilty officials, including chief secy
From: Media Cell AAP <mediacellaap@gmail.com> Sun, 30 Nov '14 3:35p
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers
                          November 30, 2014 (Sunday)

The BJP’s central government and the Delhi administration are protecting the officials, including the chief secretary, who are guilty of having ordered illegal and targeted demolitions at Rangpuri Pahari in Vasant Kunj, South Delhi.
Delhi administration’s silence of guilt cannot hide its illegal action and it will have to answer whether the demolitions were carried out despite an advisory from the union poverty alleviation ministry based on a Supreme Court directive that such drives should not be carried out during winters.
Can the BJP’s central government, which is also ruling Delhi through the back door allow such a chief secretary to continue who has shown utter disregard for the Supreme Court’s directive ?
The union home ministry must in the first place answer the question why it chose to appoint an individual of doubtful integrity as Delhi chief secretary, against whom the CBI has recently recommended strict action and imposition of major penalty for his involvement in the Rs 100 crore CNG fitness scam of 2002 during the Sheila Dikshit regime ?
The nine-month old President’s rule will be remembered as a dark chapter in Delhi’s history, during which an unresponsive administration run by the BJP in connivance with the Congress, appointed a compromised lot of top officials who unleashed their whims and fancies to heap miseries on the people.
The mysterious silence of the entire BJP top brass on the Rangpuri Pahari demolitions and turning of the blind eye by the Congress on the appointment of a chief secretary indicted by the CBI in a corruption scam which took place during its tenure, makes the connivance complete and beyond doubt.      
It is shocking that nearly a week after the inhuman and insensitive demolition was carried out under pressure of the local BJP MLA SP Rana, no answers have been provided by the Delhi administration on what was the reason for throwing out poor people of their homes in biting cold.
The Aam Aadmi Party demands that heads must roll to send out a strong signal that residents in the national capital can lead their lives without fear and politically motivated officials will not be allowed to work with a vindictive and biased mindset to please their political masters, who are protecting their act of omission and commission.
The AAP challenges the BJP’s central government and Delhi administration break their silence on following questions :
1)       Is it not a fact that the CBI has recently sent a report to the union home ministry and Delhi’s department of vigilance asking for departmental action and further inquiries against three top bureaucrats, including the present chief secretary ?
2)       Was the home ministry aware of the ongoing probe when it appointed the current chief secretary to the post in August this year ?
3)        Is it not a fact that the former Sheila Dikshit government had tried to scuttle a probe into this scam by the Anti-Corruption Branch citing an order from the LG that no inquiry was required ?
4)       Is it not a fact that the contract for giving CNG fitness certificates to commercial vehicles was fraudulently awarded to a company in 2002 despite it having lost in the tendering process ?
5)       Is it not a fact that the LG gave a clean chit to officers against whom the Delhi ACB had registered an FIR in 2012 ?
6)       Is it not a fact that the LG ignored the ACB opinion that a case under Prevention of Corruption was made out against these officers and chose to close the probe ?
(ENDS)


Regards.
AAP Media Cell
 Haryana CM is ill-informed about water release for Delhi
From: Media Cell AAP <mediacellaap@gmail.com> Sun, 30 Nov '14 2:14p
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers
                             November 30, 2014 (Sunday)
·         Haryana CM is ill-informed about release of water for Delhi
·         Mr Khattar’s statement on Munak Canal is irresponsible
·         It is not a matter of option or discretion of the Haryana govt
·         Mr Khattar’s govt is legally bound to release 80 million gallons everyday
·         BJP is trying to complicate the water issue and postpone release of water for Delhi


New Haryana chief minister Mr Manohar Lal Khattar appears unaware of the fact that his state government is legally bound to release 80 million gallons of water into the Munak Canal for Delhi everyday, according to the memorandum of understanding signed between two states in 1993.
Mr Khattar’s irresponsible statement on Saturday that his government cannot release water for Delhi and would be able to do so only if other neighbouring states also help, clearly shows he still does not know about the legal obligations of his state government.
The Aam Aadmi Party clearly states that Haryana chief minister should take a proper briefing about facts particularly on issues concerning relations with other states, since his ill informed statements could have serious repercussions for relations between the two states.
 It is not a matter of option or discretion for the Haryana government, it is mandatory for it to release water for Delhi in accordance with the terms of the 1993 MoU. Mr Khattar would do well to go through the Delhi High Court order of Thursday in which Haryana government has been directed to release water for Delhi.
The Haryana chief minister’s attempts to shift the onus on the central government is misplaced, since the release of water can no longer be postponed and the BJP attempts to complicate the issue will be strongly rebuffed.
 Delhi government has spent Rs 400 crore on the construction of Munak Canal over the last two decades and any attempt to scuttle water supply for the national capital will be resisted.
The BJP is trying to follow in the footsteps of the Congress by confusing the matter, and its designs will be thoroughly exposed.
The terms and conditions of the 1993 MoU between Haryana and Delhi are absolutely clear and Delhi government has honoured all its commitments, including bearing more than 80% cost for the construction of the canal. The BJP now should not try to test the patience of the residents of the national capital.
Delhi administration should strongly oppose any move to postpone immediate release of water for the national capital.
The AAP will take all possible steps, including recourse to legal action once its government is formed again in Delhi after the assembly elections, in case Haryana government does not honour its legal commitment to release water into the Munak Canal.
Nearly 40 lakh residents of South, Southwest, West and Northwest Delhi, including areas of Sangam Vihar and Dwarka are reeling under acute water shortage.
Further, water treatment plants at Bawana, Dwarka and Okhla are still unused due to water shortage. (ENDS) 

Regards.
AAP Media Cell

Sunita Narain Shamed Us Again – Lame Duck NGT Orders


November30, 2014 (C) Ravinder Singh ravinderinvent@gmail.com

Sunita Narain & Bhure Lal had shamed India again in procuring Lame
Duck NGT Orders and have caused ‘More Degradation of Environment’ –
they had failed in 15 years and must be replaced. Even Worst were
Sunita’s Lunatic Campaign of ‘RWH in Buildings, Than Capture 7 BCM
Yamuna Monsoon Waters’ in DAMS on Yamuna But Favoring Sharda-Yamuna
Link – Most Lunatic of All, Failed Sewage Treatment etc.

When Electric BUSES or Trams were required on Delhi’s Main Highways in
2000 both Compromised/Favored Bus Manufacturers recommending CNG
vehicles, Buses & Taxis – LPG vehicles could have been equally
effective, cheaper and fast to roll out. Later Private Cars were
allowed to draw CNG and most inefficient MARCOPOLO Buses were
introduced which effectively burn 3 times more CNG per passenger
served than standard buses, their larger size meant half the DTC
FEEDER routes were withdrawn.
Delhi BRT is WORST COPY of BOGOTA BRT - 1254 Large + 516 Feeders Buses.

Delhi Metro is performing well serving 2.7m Trips but could have done
5.0m – There is no Feeder Bus service nor GoNCT approved E-Rickshaws
till date to provide last mile connectivity to DM Stations. CNG autos
charge Rs.25-30 for last mile.

Parking was available for 2 million Motor Vehicles but GoNCT allowed
over 8m MV. There is No PARKING tax for using Road Side Public Space,
Shop Owners park Vehicles all day in front of their Shops or Parking
Lots for Shoppers & BRT, Cars continue to Block Streets even around
Underground Parking.

It is Scandalous to ask Old Private Vehicle Owners to JUNK them, as
New Registration of PV is and buy new ones even as GoNCT had not
improved PUBLIC TRANSPORT, and let SUVs and other Large Private
Vehicles run freely on city roads.

SUVs & Large Cars burn 10 times more FUEL than a Motorcycles, Occupy
ten times more space. NGT didn’t Ban or Restrict their registration or
use at Peak Hours.

When Nepal allows Cars on road on alternate days, on Even-Odd basis
why can’t Delhi follow this and BAN Movements of Worst Polluting SUVs
and Large Cars during 7-11AM and 5-9PM and Ban all Cars for 8-10AM and
6-8PM on week days.

BAKER STREET in London has Banned Entry Of All Vehicles for 40 years,
Why can’t MARKET Zones be Free of Cars and SUVs? Most of the Shops in
Lajpat Nagar have come up on main roads illegally in Residential
Buildings? Supreme Court of India was unsuccessful in Demolishing
Commercial Building on residential plots on main roads.

Burning of Leaves

Over 95% of Trees are owned by GoNCT and it is 100% CIVIC
responsibility to Maintain trees in SAFE condition and Collect all the
Leaves for safe disposal along with garbage.

There is more than enough Cleaning Staff engaged By GoNCT to Clear All
Leaves & Garbage. But they show up once a month. It is Better to Burn
Leaves in Special PORTABLE Furnaces than composting which releases
Methane Gas much more Environmental Hazard than Carbon Dioxide.

Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, India. Ph; 091- 9718280435, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power,
Transportation, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing,
Technologies and Projects.
Bahrain voters cast ballots in runoff election 
Bahrain voters cast ballots in runoff election
Bahraini voters are returning to the polls for a runoff election being boycotted by the opposition for the country's first new parliament since widespread Arab Spring-inspired protests nearly four years ago. 

Saturday's election follows a first-round vote last weekend and is for 34 seats in the 40-seat lower house of parliament where no candidate won a majority. 

Bahraini authorities say more than half of registered voters cast ballots last weekend, though leading Shiite opposition group al-Wefaq disputes that figure. 

It estimated turnout at closer to 30 percent. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and is part of the US-led coalition striking the Islamic State group. 

It continues to face street clashes and other low-level unrest as its majority Shiites push for greater political freedoms from the Sunni monarchy. 

 
15 killed, 14 injured in terror attack in China
Fifteen people, including 11 "mobsters" have been killed and 14 others injured in a terrorist attack in China's restive Xinjiang province on Saturday. 

The attack occurred Shache County in the northwestern province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. 

Tianshan news website said that the attackers used vehicles, knives and explosives in the assault. 

It also claimed that the dead included 11 of the attackers branded as "mobsters" by state media. 

Xinjiang, home to ethnic Uygur Muslims, has been restive for several years due to conflicts between locals and migrant Han Chinese from other provinces. 

The region has experienced a spate of violent attacks in the last few years which China blames on the al-Qaeda-backed East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). 

The violence in Xinjiang and some parts of the country have resulted in scores of deaths. 

Posted: 28 Nov 2014 09:43 AM PST
In the past decade or so, bicycles have taken western cities by storm. London has introduced both bike-sharing and bike lanes, and Paris even has a bike-sharing programme for children. In Copenhagen, ever the bicycle champion, 41% of rides to work and education now take place on bicycle seats. But what if you’re not super fit, don’t want to arrive at work sweaty, or if you simply live far from your job? A new hybrid “e-bike” promises to fix that dilemma.

To be precise, the Copenhagen Wheel is not truly an e-bike at all. It’s a wheel that can be attached to a regular bike. That wheel, equipped with a motor, batteries, sensors and wireless connectivity, transforms the bike into a smart bike that multiplies pedal power and even measures the rider’s heart rate and monitors potholes. “The experience is very natural,” claims Assaf Biderman, associate director of MIT’s SENSEable City Lab, which developed the Copenhagen Wheel, and CEO of Superpedestrian, the startup that makes the wheel. “You can essentially ride as far as you like.”
फिल्मों की वजह से खराब हुई पुलिस की छवि, सुधारने की जरूरत- पीएम
blows the lid off air ticket scandal involving ,other VIPs

Snippets 

Ebola death toll approaching 7,000 – WHO

Almost 7,000 people have died from the Ebola virus in West Africa, according to new data released from the World Health Organization, AFP reported. According to the UN health agency, of the 16,169 people infected with the deadly virus in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, 6,928 have perished. The latest figures are about 1,200 more deaths than reported on Wednesday, which AFP attributed to possible "unreported cases."

Moldova heads to the polls in crucial Russia-EU contested election

Moldova is heading to the polls for parliamentary elections on Sunday, which will show the degree of public support for the current government EU-integration stance. About 3.22 million people are eligible to cast their ballots to elect 101 parliament members. At least 1978 polling stations have been opened. In total, the Central Electoral Commission has registered 26 entities running for the seats – twenty-one political parties, one electoral bloc and four independent candidates. To enter Moldova’s parliament, a party has to receive at least 6 percent of the popular vote.

No Russian tanks crossed into Ukraine - OSCE

The OSCE has not picked up on any Russian tank movement across the border into Ukraine, its chief in the region Paul Picard told Polskie Radio. The allegations have been made by the Ukrainian side on November 28. Picard also added that lately there have increasingly been people in military uniform crossing the border.

Nicolas Sarkozy elected leader of France's main opposition party

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been elected leader of the oppositional right-wing party UMP (Union for Popular Movement), with 64.5 percent of the votes. Over 155,000 members of UMP took part in the election. The win makes Sarkozy the party's candidate for the 2017 presidential election. Sarkozy was first elected party leader back in 2004, with 85 percent of votes. He then served as president from 2007 to 2012, when he was defeated by Francois Hollande. However, September polls showed Sarkozy’s growing popularity.

UN draft resolution on Palestinian state to be submitted in days – Arab League

The head of the Arab League has stated that a draft resolution on Palestinian statehood will be presented to the UN Security Council in the “next few days,” Reuters reported. A committee comprised of Kuwait, Mauritania, Jordan, and Arab League chief Nabil al-Araby made the comments in their closing statement, adding that Jordan is likely to present the draft.

Gunmen attack compound in Kabul

Taliban gunman besieged a compound in the Afghan capital on Saturday and engaged in combat with local security forces. The militants claimed responsibility for the attack shortly afterwards, saying they had deliberately targeted a Christian organization, aimed at converting Muslims, Reuters reported. However, city police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told the agency that the objective of the attack was not immediately clear.

Russia urges EU to abandon ‘meaningless sanctions spiral’

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Meshkov has called for the European Union to lift sanctions imposed on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. “We don't expect anything from our European partners. The only thing we expect is for them to stop the meaningless sanctions spiral and move on to lifting sanctions and dropping the blacklists. This would allow us to drop our lists,” Meshkov was quoted by Interfax as saying. In August, Moscow reactively banned Western food imports. “This will be conducive for us to waive counter-measures,” Meshkov added.

​Four victims, 11 assailants killed in Chinese terrorist attack

An attack in China’s Yarkant County in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Friday left four victims dead and another 14 injured, Chinese CCTV reported. Police, responding to the emergency, killed 11 attackers. Police said the assailants drove to a lively street in a local town and started throwing bombs and stabbing people. The Chinese authorities described the incident as a terrorist attack. The province, home to a considerable Muslim Uyghur minority, suffers from such outburst of random violence regularly.

Venezuela president plans government salary cuts over lower oil prices

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has said that he and other officials should have their salaries reduced in response to lower oil prices, Reuters reported. "This is a test for me," Maduro said in a TV speech, adding that Venezuela would carry on lobbying the oil price target of $100. The South American country gets 96 percent of its export revenues from oil, the price of which fell to $70 a barrel on Friday.

Bahrain votes in parliamentary elections

Bahrain has opened 49 polling stations on the morning of November 29. The people will be electing representatives for the lower house of Parliament, as well as other local ones. The first tour of voting has finished last week, with repeat voting scheduled for 34 polling stations, after only 6 MPs were chosen. Candidates for the lower house are voted in, while members of the higher house are chosen by the King.

Australian customs seize $1.5 bln in drugs

A $1.5 million worth of drugs was seized by Australia’s Join Organized Crime Group, with six men being charged “for their involvement in the attempted importation of almost three tonnes of MDMA and crystal methamphetamine into Sydney,” the press release said. The drugs were intercepted by customs and were hidden in a mixed container loaded with furniture and unmarked boxes. It was determined that the load was shipped from Germany and reached Australian shores on November 19.

Four killed, several missing in French flash floods

Four people have died, and others are missing following heavy storms that caused flash flooding in the southeast of France, authorities said, as quoted by AFP. A 50-year-old man’s body was discovered on Friday, and three women also died. One of the female casualties was found near her car. Her daughter is missing, and might have been killed as well, Pierre Soubelet, prefect of the Var department on the Mediterranean coast, told AFP. Local authorities added that another three people were missing.

30 protesters arrested by Hong Kong police amid rally dispersal

Hong Kong police have reportedly detained around 30 anti-government protesters after they clashed in the Mong Kok district. Ten people, 8 of them officers, have been injured. Security forces cracked down on demonstrators with pepper spray and batons, saying the assembly was unlawful. The pro-democracy movement kicked off in September, after the government appointed candidates to run for election in 2017.

​11 killed in bus crash in Nepal

At least 11 people have been killed and 29 others injured after a bus veered off a mountain road near the village of Sahajpur in western Nepal. According to police officials, the driver lost control of the vehicle due to a punctured tire. The accident happened about 400 kilometers west of the country’s capital, Katmandu.

​Mexican comedy legend Chespirito dies at 85

Known as Chespirito, or “Little Shakespeare,” Roberto Gomez Bolanos was one of Latin America’s most beloved comedians. The actor and screenwriter died at home in Cancun on Friday, according to Broadcaster Televisa, for whom Gomez Bolanos had worked for many years. One of Gomez Bolanos’ most iconic roles was Chapulin Colorado, a comic superhero who served as the inspiration for the Simpsons’ Bumblebee man. Gomez Bolanos’ work has been translated into dozens of languages and is aired around the globe. In a post on Twitter, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto called Gomez Bolanos an “icon whose work transcended generations and borders.”
Media agencies