Friday, November 30, 2012

Egypt parliament passes draft of new constitution



 Egypt, the parliament passed the draft of the new constitution defining the roles and responsibilities of the executive, judiciary and legislature. A marathon session of parliament which lasted for sixteen hours each of the 230 articles of the new constitution were read and voted upon by the Islamist and Salafist MPs.
The liberal ,secular and leftist opposition along with minority Coptic Christians boycotted the proceedings of the house.
Under the Egyptian law, the draft has to be ratified now by President Morsey and put up for a nationwide referendum within 30 days.
In a televised interview, President Morsey said that it would be expedited in time since Egypt needs a constitution to have a properly elected parliament, an independent judiciary, and a President who executes the law. He defended his decisions as a step to save the revolution that toppled Mubarak regime.
The newly formed National Salvation Front ,an umbrella of liberal,secular and leftist opposition and youth revolutionary movements has criticized the move as hasty and ill conceived.
In a statement it alleged that the regime is trying to impose a constitution monopolized by one trend and is the farthest from national consensus, produced in a farcical way.
The parliament decision is being seen as an attempt to pre-empt a court ruling that could dissolve the constitution drafting body.
The Supreme Constitutional Court was due to give its ruling on the dissolution of the constitution assembly and the upper house of parliament on Sunday.
Analysts say it may further aggravate the tensions between the Government and the opposition which has been demanding scrapping of the Presidential decree which granted sweeping powers to President Morse
FICCI Business Delegation to Taiwan
January 8th - 10th, 2013:  Taipei & Tainan


With a view to enhancing India-Taiwan business relations, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) jointly with Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), The Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, Taiwan (CNAIC), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) & Indian Taipei Association is mounting a high-powered business delegation to Taipei & Tainan from 8th to 10th of January, 2013.

As you are aware, Taiwan, the 5th largest economy in Asia and 17th largest economy in the world is an important trading economy with its external trade being in excess of US$ 500billion. Much has been known about its dominance in ICT products with Taiwanese companies controlling over 90% of the market share in many ICT Parts and Peripherals, it also home to some of the leading companies in other sectors such as Food Processing, Electronics, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Auto Parts, Gems & Jewelry, Textiles, Machinery & Machine Tools, Real Estate & Infrastructure, General Trading etc.

This visit will provide you with an opportunity to meet with the representatives of Taiwanese companies engaged in these sectors and will help in better understanding the business opportunities of the Taiwanese market. Based on your business interest, we would organize one to one business meetings with Taiwanese companies during the visit.

The major highlights of the event would be Business Forum, Specific B2B Meetings, Industry Visit etc.


In view of the business opportunities offered by Taiwan and your business interests in the region, may I request you to participate in this business mission to Taiwan. In case you are preoccupied, you may please depute a senior representative from your organisation for the same.

To defray a part of the expenses such as printing of who’s who, communication expenses, etc. incurred in connection with organising the visit, a delegation fee of INR 20,000/- + Service Tax @ 12.36% per person is being charged. The participants will have to bear their travel & accommodation expenses.

The last date of the registration is 15th December 2012.
 
For any further details, your office may please feel free to get in touch with my colleague Mr. Amit Tyagi, Joint Director, FICCI at Tel: 91-11-23736313 (D) or E-mail: amit.tyagi@ficci.com


Looking forward to hearing from you and with regards,

Yours sincerely,

Nirankar Saxena
Senior Director
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
New Delhi
UN Secretary General H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, unveils the Aakash2 Tablet at the United Nations

          On the occassion of India's Presidency of the UN Security Council, the Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York hosted a special event to unveil and launch the world's most cost competitive tablet Aakash2 at the United Nations today.

Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, was the Chief Guest at the Special Event, which was attended by a packed audience of 500 plus invitees, including 65 Ambassadors/PRs, media delegates, NGOs and select members of the Indian community.

In his remarks, Secretary General H.E. Mr. Ban Ki- moon congratulated India on its Presidency of the Security Council during an 'extremely challenging month' and emphasised that India was a critical player on security issues. Terming India as a 'superpower on the information superhighway', he appreciated the launch of technologies such as the Aakash2, which helped bridge the digital divide. Calling them as 'great enablers' with potential to transform people's lives, he encouraged partners around the world to work with the United Nations to help young people reach for the sky and meet their dreams.

In his welcome address, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York, noted that the device represented the 'actualization the an idea of development innovation' which had the potential to fundamentally alter the development discourse.

Emphasising that the innovation seeks to empower and give access to quality education for all, he called for the need promote research and innovation in national institutions and create an eco-system of excellence right from the elementary level upto the institutions of high-end research and innovation.

He emphasised that by partnering with key initiatives such as these, the UN development system would be able to 'force multiply' to achieve the MDGs of universal education and global partnership.

The architect of the device and CEO of Datawind, Mr. Suneet Singh Tuli, who flew in from Canada for the launch at the UN, also made a presentation and outlined that purpose of the device was not to create an 'Ipad killer' but to create a device for the most needy sections of society at costs that they could easily afford. Terming it a product of 'frugal innovation', Mr Tuli outlined that the device incorporated that best of innovative hardware design with a unique business model, and reflected Government of India's commitment to eliminating illiteracy by equipping all 220 million students in India over the next 5 years with low cost computers & internet.

An extremely interactive and interesting Q & A Session followed the presentations, in which several member states termed the device as 'revolutionary' especially from the perspective of requirements of developing countries and the need to replicate such technological innovations within the multilateral development agenda of the UN, which places increasing emphasis on public private partnerships.

Permanent Mission of India to UN, New York
28 November 2012

The full video of the event is available at the weblink:
 http://webtv.un.org/search/ban-ki-moon-launch-the-aakash2-tablet/1995233558001?term=aakash2

Enclosures:

1)    Pictures of the Launch of Aakash2 at United Nations
2)    UNSG H.E Mr. Ban Ki-moon's remarks at the Launch of Aakash2
3)    Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri's address at the Event

-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prakash Gupta

First Secretary Permanent Mission of India to UN

#19, 235 East, 43rd Street, New York - 10017

Tel:+1-212-490-9683

Cell:+1-917-445-2916

Fax: +1-212-4909683

E-Mail: prakashgupta.un@gmail.com
Shamim Khan fires 68, seizes the lead in round two

Local lad Shankar Das and Abhijit Singh Chadha post day’s best score

Kolkata, November 29, 2012: Delhi’s Shamim Khan fired a four-under-68
to seize the round two lead at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship
2012 being played at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). Shamim’s
total stands at six-under-138 at the halfway stage of the tournament.
Mukesh Kumar of Mhow shot a 71 on Thursday to be placed one stroke
behind the leader in second position.

Shamim Khan (70-68), who was overnight tied fifth, dropped a bogey
early on in his round after his tee shot found the rough on the third
hole. The 38-year-old, currently placed second on the Rolex Rankings,
soon turned the tide with eagle-birdie on the next two holes. Shamim
eagled the par-5 fourth after hitting the green in two shots and
subsequently converting the six feet putt. He then sank a 20-footer to
birdie the fifth.

Shamim, a three-time winner in the current PGTI season, conceded a
bogey on the sixth but came back fighting with a sublime effort on the
back-nine where he birdied the 13th, 16th and 17th. He sank a
monstrous 35-feet putt on the 13th and chipped-in from behind the
green on the 17th.

“I missed just two fairways today as I drove it really well. My
putting was also much better as compared to round one. I sank some
long putts. One has to be aggressive on this course since it is quite
long. Even though the fairways are narrow, using the irons instead of
a driver or 3-wood is not an option,” said Shamim.

He added, “The next two rounds are very crucial in the context of the
Rolex Rankings race as well. The difference between Rashid Khan and
myself is just over Rs. 11,000 in the rankings. If I finish even one
position ahead of him I would overtake him to become number one.”

Mukesh Kumar (68-71), the overnight leader, slipped to second position
on Thursday after returning a 71 that included five birdies and four
bogeys. His overall score reads five-under-139.

Local favourite Shankar Das’ five-under-67 was joint best score of the
day. It helped him climb from overnight tied 32nd to tied third.
Shankar’s super round featured seven birdies and two bogeys. He made
three straight birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th.

Shankar, a three-time winner on the PGTI, said, “I changed my putter
today. I was not feeling very comfortable with my old putter after
missing a lot of short putts in round one. The change had the desired
effect as I putted better today. I also played brilliantly on the
back-nine.”

Abhijit Singh Chadha of Chandigarh, who also shot a 67 in round two,
joined Das in tied third place at three-under-141. Chadha made six
birdies against a bogey on day two.

Jyoti Randhawa with four birdies and two bogeys in his round of 70 was
the third golfer in tied third position.

Kolkata’s SSP Chowrasia is a further shot back and shares the sixth
spot with Vijay Kumar of Lucknow and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera.

Bangalore’s Anirban Lahiri and Rashid Khan of Delhi are joint ninth
with totals of one-under-143.

Thursday, November 29, 2012


गरीब बच्चों का हक मार रही है दिल्ली सरकार
गाजियाबाद, 29 नवंबर. आम आदमी पार्टी(आप) ने दिल्ली सरकार के सरकारी जमीनों पर बने निजी स्कूलों की सभी कक्षाओं में गरीब बच्चों के दाखिले के लिए पूर्व निर्धारित 20 फीसदी के कोटे को घटाकर 15 फीसदी करने के निर्णय को गरीब विरोधी बताते हुए इसे वापस लेने की मांग की है.
25 जनवरी 2007 को दिल्ली सरकार ने अधिसूचना जारी करके सरकारी जमीन पर बने दिल्ली के 395 निजी स्कूलों को गरीब तबके के बच्चों के लिए सभी कक्षाओं में 20 फीसदी सीटें आऱक्षित करके उन्हें मुफ्त शिक्षा देने का आदेश निकाला गया था. लेकिन दिल्ली सरकार ने शिक्षा का अधिकार कानून को लागू करने की आड़ में 7 जनवरी 2011 को एक नई अधिसूचना जारी करके 2007 की अधिसूचना में व्यक्त अधिकारों को निरस्त कर दिया. इसका फायदा उठाते हुए निजी स्कूलों ने गरीब वर्ग के बच्चों को सभी कक्षाओं में दाखिला देना बंद कर दिया.
आम आदमी पार्टी के कौशांबी दफ्तर में हुए एक संवाददाता सम्मेलन में पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता गोपाल राय ने कहा, “ सरकार ने जानबूझकर अधिसूचना में ऐसे प्रावधान डाले ताकि निजी स्कूलों को गरीब वर्ग के छात्रों के लिए नामांकन की बाध्यता से मुक्त किया जा सके. निजी स्कूलों को फायदा पहुंचाने के मकसद से चली गई इस सरकारी चाल की वजह से हजारों बच्चे निजी स्कूलों में अच्छी और मुफ्त शिक्षा पाने से वंचित रह गए.
7 जनवरी 2007 की अधिसूचना को दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट में चुनौती भी दी गई थी जिस पर दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट ने सरकार से फिर से विचार करने को कहा था. लेकिन सरकार के गलत कदम उठाने की वजह से निजी स्कूलों ने पिछले दो साल में गरीब बच्चों को किसी भी कक्षा में दाखिला ही नहीं दिया.
एंट्री प्वाइंट (यानी कक्षा एक) में तो दाखिले हुए लेकिन उसके ऊपर की कक्षाओं में यानी कक्षा दो से कक्षा 12 तक जो दाखिले मिलने चाहिए थे, उससे गरीब वर्ग के छात्र वंचित रह गए. निजी स्कूलों और सरकार की मिलीभगत से गरीबों तबके का अधिकार छीने जाने पर कड़ी प्रतिक्रिया देते हुए गोपाल राय ने कहा, दिल्ली सरकार को जवाब देना होगा कि उसने किन मजबूरियों के तहत ऐसे फैसले किए जिससे निजी स्कूलों को नाजाय़ज फायदा हो और आम जनता का हक मारा जाए.
मीडिया में जो खबरें आ रही हैं अगर वे सही हैं तो इससे गरीब तबके के छात्र बुरी तरह प्रभावित होंगे. इसके दो तात्कालिक परिणाम होंगे. पहला गरीब वर्ग के बच्चों को पांच फीसदी कम दाखिला मिलेगा. दूसरा शिक्षा का अधिकार के तहत सरकार को निजी स्कूलों को जो भुगतान करना होगा उसकी राशि पांच फीसदी बढ़ जाएगी यानी सरकारी राजस्व का नुकसान होगा.
आम आदमी पार्टी(आप) की राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी के सदस्य श्री अशोक अग्रवाल ने कहा,  शिक्षा विभाग ने तो निजी स्कूलों में गरीब तबके के छात्रों का कोटा 20 फीसदी रखने की ही सिफारिश की थी लेकिन शिक्षा मंत्री प्रो. किरण वालिया औऱ मुख्यमंत्री श्रीमती शीला दीक्षित ने गरीब वर्ग के कोटे को घटाकर 15 फीसदी कर दिया. दिल्ली सरकार गरीब तबके के हितों की अनदेखी करके निजी स्कूलों को फायदा पहुंचा रही है जो गैर-कानूनी और अनैतिक भी है. हम शीला सरकार से यह पूछना चाहते हैं कि आखिर वह ऐसे कदम क्यों उठाना चाह रही हैं जिससे आम गरीब जनता का हक भी मारा जाए साथ-साथ सरकारी खजाने को नुकसान भी हो.
आप ने निजी स्कूलों की नर्सरी कक्षा में दाखिले के लिए सरकार द्वारा प्रस्तावित प्वाइंट सिस्टम आधारित नर्सरी एडमिशन गाइडलांइस पर भी सवाल उठाए हैं. शिक्षा का अधिकार कानून नामांकन में प्राथमिकता के लिए दूरी और लॉटरी सिस्टम के अलावा किसी भी दूसरे मापदंड को मान्यता नहीं देता. नियम कहते हैं कि दो बच्चों के बीच किसी भी आधार पर भेदभाव नहीं किया जा सकता और चयन Random Method से ही होगा लेकिन सरकार के प्रस्तावित प्रावधान भेदभाव वाले हैं. इसमें स्कूलों को मनमाने तरीके से मानदंड निर्धारित करने का अधिकार दिया गया है. यह शिक्षा के अधिकार अधिनियम का सरासर उल्लंघन होगा.
Phatlum gunning for a third Hero Women’s Indian Open title

Gurgaon, November 29, 2012: Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum may be dressed up by Loudmouth Golf – the manufacturer endorsed by John Daly – but she is anything but that. On Thursday, the shy and soft-spoken Phatlum makes her sixth straight appearance in the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which she considers as her favourite event. There is good reason for that.
After finishing tied 30th in her first appearance as a 17-year-old in the first Indian Open in 2007, she emerged triumphant in 2008 and 2009. In 2010 she was tied sixth and in 2011 she was second to Caroline Hedwall.
Phatlum, who turns 23 two days after the end of the 2012 Hero Women’s Indian Open, now wants an early birthday present and become the first woman to win the title three times – in fact she is the only to win the Indian Open more than once.
Phatlum, 23,  hails from Chaiyaphun, a satellite town near Chiangmai in north Thailand. She said, “There’s no pressure on me. My game is on song and I like playing in India. There is a chance for me to go for my third win, this explains why I’m here – to make it happen.”
Having played 27 events on the US LPGA this season, Phatlum only missed the cut six times. “Playing in the US LPGA has made me a better player. The courses are tough, the greens are sleek and tough and there are good players,” said Phatlum, who won the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup 2012 and recorded top-15 finishes in two other events.
She added, “Don’t forget, there are strong players taking part in this event too. The Hero Women’s India Open always holds a special place in my heart. I hope my form and my mental strength will help me win once more to put my name on the record books.”
Phatlum, 55th on the LPGA Tour, wants to get into top10 in a year or two. “I want to be part of that force from Asia. So, winning a joint-sanctioned event by Ladies Asian Golf Tour and Ladies European Tour will justify my actions,” said Phatlum.







The Environment in India and China:
Histories and Innovations
When: November 30-December 1, 2012
Where: Theresa Lang Center, 55 W 13th St, 2 Fl., New York, NY
For more information visit www.indiachinainstitute.org
Co-sponsored with Environmental Studies Program, Global Studies Program, GPIA and The Starr Foundation.




Friday, Nov. 30, 2012
3:00 – 4:00pm | Opening Registration
4:00 – 4:15pm | Welcome
Ashok Gurung, Senior Director, India China Institute
Ron Kassimir, Associate Provost For Research And Special Projects
4:15 – 6:45pm | Session I – Ecology
ChairMark Frazier, ICI Academic Director
Panelists:
Kamaljit Bawa – University of Massachusetts – “India, China and the Environment”
Steward Pickett – Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies – “Meaning, Model, and Metaphor in Ecological Science as Tools for Interacting with Innovators”
Lu Zhi – Peking University – “Integrating Science and Traditional Culture into Conservation Policies on the Tibetan Plateau”
DiscussantsJayanta BandyopadhyayTimon McPhearson
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012
9:30 – 10:00am | Continental Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30pm | Session II – History
ChairSanjay Reddy, ICI Academic Director
Panelists:
Ranjan Chakrabarti – Vidyasagar University – “Writing Environmental History of Asia: Climate, Water and the Issue of Sustainability”
Judith Shapiro – American University – “Nature-Conquest in Revolutionary China: Lessons for China’s Search for Sustainability”
Donald Hughes – University of Denver -“Environmental History in China and India”
DiscussantsDavid LuddenLi Bo
12:30 – 2:00pm | Lunch Break
2:00 – 4:30pm | Session III – Innovations
ChairBrian McGrath – The New School
Panelists:
Sanjay Chaturvedi – “Struggles for Innovation: The Chipko Movement in Retrospect”
Shikui Dong – “Adaptive Management for Sustainable Resource Use”
Victoria Marshall – “Designing Urban Environmental Activism”
Nidhi Srinivas – “Politics of Innovation: Cases from India and China”
DiscussantsMichele KahaneGuobin Yang
4:30 – 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks
Ashok Gurung, Senior Director, India China Institute
Michael Cohen, Director, Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA)

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Center for Public Integrity  

Weekly Watchdog

November 28, 2012
Enable images Secrecy for Sale: Inside the Global Offshore Money Maze

The Center's global network of reporters, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, this week launched the first part of a multi-year project aimed at stripping away the biggest mystery associated with tax havens - the owners of anonymous companies.

Secrecy For Sale: Inside The Global Offshore Money Maze is one of the most ambitious and complex pieces of journalism the ICIJ has ever undertaken.

This first part of the project was done in collaboration with The Guardian and the BBC's flagship investigative program, Panorama, and focused on Britain - one of the centers of the offshore industry.

The first day of our series identified more than 21,500 companies around the world who use a group of some 28 so-called nominee directors.

The nominees play a key role in keeping hundreds of thousands of commercial transactions secret. They do so by selling their names for use on official company documents, while giving addresses in obscure locations all over the world.

Hiding behind nominee fronts are the real owners. They are of widely varying types, ranging from Russian oligarchs to perfectly legal but discreet speculators in the British property market. Their only common factor: the wish for secrecy.

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Turn on images Revealed: the Real Identities Behind Britain's Secret Property Deals

The real identities behind British property deals previously cloaked in secrecy were revealed in the second part of our investigation.

By then, the revelations had prompted the British government to promise that it would investigate any abuses revealed involving sham nominee directors. The second story showed how previously secret owners were identified in a sample of almost 60 UK homes and offices, ranging from multimillion-pound commercial premises in the heart of London to a small hotel in Essex.

They typified the 100,000 such purchasers who have set up offshore companies, largely registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), since 1999. The owners of BVI entities use them to hide their dealings in UK property and to take advantage of tax loopholes.

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View images Post Soviet Billionaires Invade UK, Via British Virgin Islands

Britain's friendly regime of offshore secrecy has tempted an extraordinary array of post-Soviet billionaires to descend on London, sometimes to the sound of gunfire.

They include a magnate who once tried to take over the SAAB motor company.

These billionaires on the run tend to offer similar justifications for their use of British-controlled secrecy jurisdictions. They say they must protect themselves from corporate predators and political enemies in their home countries.

The final day of the series will concentrate on military and intelligence figures using offshore entities.

You can watch our video on this series as well.

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Secrecy for Sale: Hidden Off-Shore Money

This week, The Center for Public Integrity's global investigative arm, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists or ICIJ, has launched the first part of a multi-year project on tax havens, such as those based in the British Virgin Islands.

Secrecy for Sale: Inside The Global Offshore Money Maze is the most ambitious and complex journalism project we have ever been involved with. The first part of our project is being done in collaboration with The Guardian and the BBC's flagship investigative program, Panorama. The initial reporting focuses on Britain - one of the centers of the offshore industry.

All week, the front page of The Guardian has been dominated by this project, providing the names behind the existence of a global network of sham company directors, most of them British.

The UK government claims such abuses were stamped out long ago, but our worldwide joint investigation has uncovered a booming offshore industry that can lead to tax avoidance and hidden assets.

Our project has already had an impact - the British government has promised to investigate the abuses we have uncovered.

This type of cross-border investigative work has been the purpose of ICIJ since it was founded in 1997 as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. And this complex investigation is the brain-child of the Center's Irish ICIJ Director, Gerard Ryle, who came to the Center from a distinguished journalism career in Australia. Working closely with Gerard is ICIJ Deputy Director and Argentina native Marina Walker Guevara, a distinguished international investigative reporter. Three cheers, Gerard, Marina and ICIJ, and congratulations on this important work and excellent launch with much more to come.

Until next week,


Bill Buzenberg
Executive Director

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Energy & Renewables E-Zine
December 2012

This Month´s Featured Articles, Papers & Reports
What stops banks from lending to energy efficiency projects?
Four years after the US credit market crashed, energy efficiency projects continue to struggle to secure financing. What’s the problem? A slow economy, of course. But when it comes to energy efficiency – and on-site renewable energy – the problem runs deeper. It’s not lack of interest in green energy. To the contrary, says Angela Ferrante, director of alternative energy solutions at Energi, a Massachusetts reinsurance company that provides  insurance and risk management ...
Using biogas for combined heat and power
An integral part of the majority of anaerobic digestion facilities across the world is the CHP combined heat and power (CHP) engine. For the first time builder of a biogas plant, it is often neglected as the focus is on reducing the capital costs of the installation. However, the engine is integral to the plant, and is the key component in the production of renewable electricity, hence the realisation of revenues for the plant. There are a number of technical factors that must be considered when ...
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, one of Europe’s oldest and largest trade fair organisers. With a portfolio of 28 trade fairs in eight major cities, Messe Frankfurt (HK) is committed to providing high-quality platforms for companies wishing to expand or improve their business in China and Asia. Retaining a focus on the core industry sectors of automotive technology, building technology & lighting, consumer goods, textiles, andcommunications & leisure, the company has started to diversify its business scope, and is now organising fairs in otherindustry sectors such as environmental awareness and industrial automation.


McLeod Russel Tour Championship - Race to Royal Calcutta Golf Club to tee-off on November 28th 

·         PGTI’s Year Ending Championship:      Prize purse of Rs. 1.25 Cr, highest-ever in India
·         Only top 60 players on the Rolex Rankings to be eligible
·         Top names in the field include Jyoti Randhawa, SSP Chowrasia, Anirban Lahiri, Chiragh Kumar, Rahil Gangjee, Digvijay Singh, Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar

Kolkata, November 26, 2012: McLeod Russel, the world’s largest tea producer, and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will stage the McLeod Russel Tour Championship, the PGTI’s Year Ending Championship, from November 28th to December 1st, 2012. The tournament will be staged at the esteemed Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). The tournament’s prize purse of Rs. 1.25 crore is the highest-ever in India.

The event will see the top 60 players from the Rolex Rankings 2012 compete for top honours. The tournament will be a 72-hole stroke-play championship and there will be no cut applied after 36 holes. All players will be guaranteed prize money.
The biggest names in Indian professional golf will be teeing it up at the RCGC including the likes of three-time Indian Open champion Jyoti Randhawa, local favourite and a two-time winner on the European Tour SSP Chowrasia, Asian Tour regulars Anirban Lahiri, Sujjan Singh, Digvijay Singh, reigning Rolex Rankings champion Chiragh Kumar and current Rolex Rankings leader Shamim Khan. The other established names from the PGTI include Mukesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Gaurav Ghei, Rashid Khan, Harendra Gupta, Om Prakash Chouhan, Vinod Kumar, Sri Lankans Mithun Perera and Anura Rohana and Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah.
The local challenge will be led by SSP Chowrasia, Rahil Gangjee, former Indian Open champion Feroz Ali Mollah, Shankar Das, Raju Ali Mollah, Rafick Ali Mollah, Ranjit Singh Rathore, Md Sanju, Divyanshu Bajaj and Karan Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aditya Khaitan, Managing Director, McLeod Russel, said, “McLeod Russel’s heritage is based on values, culture and commitments. We have always strongly believed in supporting and backing the right talent and moving forward. This association will hopefully give a boost to Indian Golf and take it from strength to strength on a global scale. The city of Kolkata and The Royal Calcutta Golf Club are etched in tradition and culture, and it is our small way of giving back. We thank the PGTI for giving us this opportunity and we are committed to the McLeod Russel Tour Championship for the next three years.”

Announcing the event, Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “The McLeod Russel Tour Championship provides the ideal setting for the culmination of a successful PGTI season. The top names in Indian professional golf will be vying for the highest prize purse on Indian soil at one of the most prestigious golfing venues in India, the RCGC.
I would like to thank McLeod Russel for their strong support to Indian professional golf, and we look forward to building on the event year on year. We are confident, the McLeod Russel - PGTI partnership will give a strong boost to the growth of the sport in the region, and help create new champions in the coming years.”

Mr. Gaurav Ghosh, Committee Member (In-Charge of professional golf), RCGC, said, “It’s a matter of pride and privilege to host the McLeod Russel Tour Championship at the RCGC. It’s the return of big ticket golf to RCGC and we would like to thank McLeod Russel and PGTI for bringing the tournament to RCGC. This tournament has been possible due to the support of the committee members and all other members of the RCGC.”
About McLeod Russel:
McLeod Russel India Limited (McLeod Russel) is the largest tea plantation company in the world. McLeod Russel, along with its subsidiaries, currently produces about 100 million kilograms of tea over a cultivable area of 38,000 hectares, employing nearly 1,00,000 in personnel. The geographical spread of tea estates of McLeod Russel and its subsidiaries are situated in Asia (India & Vietnam) and Africa (Uganda & Rwanda). McLeod Russel also has operations in the Middle East, through its subsidiary in Dubai, engaged in tea blending and trading activities. India, as a single geography, has the largest share of its produce – with the estates located in the states of Assam and West Bengal (Dooars).

About Royal Calcutta Golf Club:
The world-renowned Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC), affectionately known as the ‘Royal’, is steeped in history, as it is the oldest golf club outside of the British Isles, having been established in 1829. It is widely regarded as the founder of the game in the country and has staged some of the most prestigious tournaments on Indian soil, including the Indian Open and the All India Amateur Championship. The 7014-yard course favours long hitters and inaccurate shots are punished severely. The large number of water hazards makes this course a real challenge to master.

About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognized official body of professional golf in India. PGTI’s objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Gautam Thapar (President), PGTI’s governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information regarding PGTI please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan, Asst. Manager - Media, PGTI
M – 09910974846, E - media@pgtofindia.com

INVITATION
 
RATNAMALA ATELIER
Words and images traveling between Italy and India
 
by Prof. Alessandra Consolaro, University of Turin
 
Thursday, November 29th, 2012 at 6:00pm
 
Istituto Italiano di Cultura- New Delhi
50-E, Chandragupta Marg,
(Entry from Nyaya Marg)
Chanakyapuri

RATNAMALA ATELIER

Ratnamala is a precious collection of contemporary fiction from Indian literatures in parallel text edition, published by AOriente! ( Milan ). Born as a pearl string of less commonly translated works, it developed into a journey across cultures and languages, a workshop which involves literary, artistic, and academic fields, and joins together suggestions, imagery, and contributions from manifold and dynamic expressive worlds. This multi-modal presentation will illustrate literary and visual translations of three Hindi short stories
 

Alessandra Consolaro is presently Adjunct Professor of Hindi Language and Literature and research scholar at the Department of Humanities of the University of Turin . Her field of interest and research covers the following topics: South Asia history, colonial and postcolonial theory; contemporary Hindi fiction, critical study and translation, feminist critique and gender studies

For security reasons, you are requested to kindly bring the attached invite and your valid membership card/photo id.
 
Regards,
 
Istituto Italiano di Cultura - New Delhi
(Italian Cultural Centre)
50-E, Chandragupta Marg,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021
Phone:0091-11-26871901/03/04
Fax:0091-11-26871902
www.iicnewdelhi.esteri.it

       
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SportzPower Daily www.sportzpower.com
Nov 28 Vol 01, Issue 1089
TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES
Advantage OneAsia as S'pore court rules against Asian Tour
Singapore High Court rules that plaintiffs had faced “unreasonable restraints of trade” by the Asian Tour in their pursuit to play professional golf competitively
World Cup Kabaddi edition 3 from 1 Dec; women's section prize money doubled
Prize money of this edition of tournament doubled in women's section; prize money in men's section remains the same at Rs20m to winner team
Dish TV, Videocon secured, Sony Six adds Tata Sky, Airtel
Just under eight months after Sony launched its sports channel Six, network has signed deals that ensures carriage on all the main DTH platforms barring Sun Direct
Hong Kong Squash Open prepares for IOC inspection
27th edition of Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open chosen by IOC to judge the sport's credentials to join the Olympic Games programme in 2020
Rs12.5m McLeod Russel Tour C’ship tees off
Tea producer McLeod Russel and PGTI to stage event, which will see the top 60 players from the Rolex Rankings 2012 compete for top honours
'Sidvin Festival of Speed' at BIC from 1 Dec
These include the finale of JK Racing Asia Series 2012, the JK Tyre-Volkswagen Polo-R Cup, the 15th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship 2012 and Round 2 of the MRF Challenge
Feature – Kick It Out: Tackling Racism in Football
The controversy concerning racism in English professional football over the past year came to a conclusion earlier this month, as the English Football Association (“FA”) sanctioned Chelsea Football Club (“Chelsea”) captain John Terry over alleged racist comments made to Queens Park Rangers (“QPR”) defender Anton Ferdinand.

FROM THE HOME PAGE
 
VIEW POINT
IPL gets back some sheen; corporate stakeholders need to ensure better governance from BCCI
SPORTZPOWER VIEW - Apart from a doubling of title sponsorship amount, Pepsi brings a sheen and promise of activation around the IPL brand that could take it to the next level, something that should have been achieved at least two, if not three, years ago


COMMMENTARY

Brazilian GP – Vettel Is The Youngest Triple World Champion

PIT STOP PUNDIT - 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix was probably the last race for a few drivers on the current grid; with HRT in trouble, this could also be the last race for Narain Karthikeyan
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Two Zee editors arrested for Rs1bn 'extortion bid' (Times of India )
RIL fined $1 bn for shortfall in KG-D6 gas production(Business Today )
CRICKET
IPL team to turn a profit in three years: Sun TV(Businesss Standard)
MOTORSPORTS
JPSI offers to host Formula One pre-season tests(Times of India )
IOA ELECTIONS
Shocked to know about mess IOA is in: Abhinav Bindra(NDTV )
RO accepted nomination after deadline, alleges NFI secretary(Times of India )
OLYMPIC CHARTER
Kuwait: Sports law amended after IOC warnings (The Hindu )
GOLF
Court rules against Asian Tour in restraint of trade case (Reuters )
Rio is Jyoti’s target(Telegraph )
OTHER SPORTS
Bols brandy extends assn with Aircel Chennai Open for 2nd year (SportzPower )
NVT Group partners with Glasgow 2014 (SportzPower )
London Olympic Park gets $468 million post-Games makeover (Reuters )
Pressure group set up by leading sponsor to force change on UCI (Inside the Games )
FEATURED COMPANY RELEASE
Bangalore set for Regional qualifiers of World Corporate Golf Challenge

NASA : Search for Alien Life on Saturn’s Moon On Thursday NASA announced a mission to land a car-sized robot quadcopter on S...