Monday, January 15, 2018

PM Netanyahu in India

T20180115.JPG
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara, were granted a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan ahead of his delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PM Netanyahu was given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those present during the ceremony. Talking to reporters after the ceremony, Israel Prime Minister said, his visit to New Delhi is the dawn of a new era in the friendship between India and Israel.
PM Mr Netanyahu said it began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel that created tremendous enthusiasm. Mr Netanyahu said it continues with his visit to India. He added that the flourishing partnership can bring prosperity, peace and progress for the people of both the countries.
Later, PM Mr Netanyahu laid a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Raj Ghat. It is the first visit of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to India. He yesterday arrived on a six-day visit. IndiaIsrael likely to sign 8 MoUs today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding delegation-level talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in New Delhi. During the talks, both the leaders will discuss host of issues including defence cooperation, trade, innovation, counter terrorism, agriculture and water harvesting. Several MoUs are expected to be signed in different areas after the talks. Mr Netanyahu will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind in the evening.

M7.3 – near the coast of southern Peru

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude7.3
Date-Time
  • 14 Jan 2018 09:18:42 UTC
  • 14 Jan 2018 09:18:42 near epicenter
  • 14 Jan 2018 13:18:42 standard time in your timezone
Location15.782S 74.765W
Depth12 km
Distances
  • 25.4 km (15.7 mi) SSE of Lomas, Peru
  • 73.1 km (45.4 mi) SSE of Minas de Marcona, Peru
  • 106.9 km (66.3 mi) S of Nazca, Peru
  • 137.6 km (85.3 mi) SSW of Puquio, Peru
  • 216.2 km (134.0 mi) SSE of Ica, Peru
Location UncertaintyHorizontal: 7.5 km; Vertical 4.3 km

Dear Sagar Media Inc, Today, India marks Army Day

Dear Sagar Media Inc,
Today, India marks Army Day to celebrate and honour the soldiers of our country.
In her petition Sagina writes, “Our policemen and soldiers are dying because they don’t have bulletproof jackets… This is an urgent request to the Home Minister and Defence Minister. Please provide adequate bulletproof armour for our army and policemen. Let us try and give our soldiers the best protection possible.”
You could also start your own petition to address any issues being faced by our defence personnel. 
Petitioning Smt. Nirmala sitharaman
Prime Minister of India: We don’t want bullet trains; we want proper bulletproof jackets for our soldiers
Petition by Adv Sagina Walyat
 1,18,486 
Supporters
Sign the petition
We don’t want bullet trains. We want proper bulletproof jackets first.
A lot of our soldiers don’t have proper bulletproof jackets. Our policemen and even our SWAT teams are fighting terrorists wearing cricket helmets and knee pads. This is gear for sportsmen, not soldiers. They stop cricket balls, not bullets.
I am proud of our soldiers because they fight for India. But I am terrified for them because the country is not providing them with the protection they need.
Our army had asked for lightweight bulletproof armour 10 years back and they still don’t have it. Our policemen and soldiers are dying because they don’t have bulletproof jackets.
The Defence Minister asked for 50,000 emergency jackets to be procured 6 months back. The army still hasn’t got them. If they had, we might not have lost our brave soldiers who were martyred in Mumbai, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and many more before.
Why are we talking about bullet trains and giant statues when our army and police are not protected while fighting terrorist attacks?
This is an urgent request to the Home Minister and Defence Minister. Please provide adequate bulletproof armour for our army and policemen. Let us try and give our soldiers the best protection possible.
Sign and share my petition to keep our soldiers safe.
Sign the petition

The United States and India: Forging an Indispensable Democratic Partnership

CPR Invite
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and the Center for American Progress (CAP) are pleased to invite you to a discussion on
The United States and India: Forging an Indispensable Democratic Partnership
Introductory Remarks:
Yamini Aiyar, President and Chief Executive, CPR
Speakers:
Nirupama Rao, Co-Chair, CAP Task Force on U.S.-India Relations,
Rich Verma, Co-Chair, CAP Task Force on U.S.-India Relations
Moderated by Ashok Malik, Press Secretary to the President of IndiaTuesday, 16 January 2018, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research
This event will be live streamed through Facebook live on CPR’s Facebook page.
The relationship between India and the United States has become an important priority for both nations, and is increasingly important to advancing shared interests in global peace, prosperity, and freedom. Over the past year, the Center for American Progress organized a binational group of Indian and American experts in a wide variety of fields to work together to craft a vision for the future of U.S.-India relations.
The resulting task force report – The United States and India: Forging an Indispensable Democratic Partnership – outlines a path forward for the bilateral relationship, along with a series of concrete recommendations that both sides can take to advance shared interests. The report focuses on five key areas: investing in jobs and economic opportunities; building a clean energy future from the bottom up; creating a U.S.-India security advantage in Asia; strengthening democratic institutions at home and around the world; and strengthening ties between Indians and Americans.
Please join the Centre for Policy Research and the Center for American Progress on Tuesday, 16 January for the release of the report and a discussion with the task force co-chairs – Ambassadors Nirupama Rao and Rich Verma, moderated by Ashok Malik – on the future of the U.S.-India relationship.
Introductory remarks:
Yamini Aiyar, president, Centre for Policy Research
Speakers:
Nirupama Rao, Co-Chair, Center for American Progress Task Force on U.S.-India Relations; former Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India and former Indian Ambassador to the U.S.
Rich Verma, Co-Chair, Center for American Progress Task Force on U.S.-India Relations; Vice Chairman, The Asia Group and former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of India
Moderator:
Ashok Malik, Press Secretary to the President of India
Please RSVP to president.cpr@cprindia.org. The venue can seat up to 50 people on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Czech presidential elections

Milos Zeman, the incumbent Czech president known for his anti-immigration stance, has won the first round of the Czech presidential election, which finished on Saturday. He defeated eight other candidates, winning 38.56 percent of the vote. The first runner-up was pro-EU candidate Jiri Drahos, a 68-year-old chemistry professor and former chief of the academy of science, with 26.6 percent of ballots cast. Since no candidate gained 50 percent or more of the vote in this first round, the two leading candidates will face each other in a runoff on January 26-27.

Protests in Tunisia

Persisting poverty, Corruption, surge in vale added tax, rising prices, unabated unemployment, Tunisians marked on Sunday seven years since the uprising that launched the Arab Spring, with fresh protests after days of unrest over economy languishing low ebb and no sight of recovery of unemployment.
Tunisia  had a relatively smooth democratic transition since the January 14, 2011 toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power, an African the nation with rich history of prosperity.
After the Arab springs of  seven years , public anger has risen over new austerity measures after a year of rising prices, with protesters again chanting the 2011 slogans of “Work, Freedom, Dignity”.
Ks of  people took part in the protest outside the UGTT offices. “The people want the fall of the 2018 budget,” some chanted, echoing 2011 calls for the fall of the regime.
Hundreds more gathered after Ennahdha, an Islamist party that is part of the ruling coalition, and Prime Minister Youssef Chahed’s Popular Front party also called for demonstrations.
President Beji Caid Essebsi marked the anniversary by attending the opening of a youth centre in the working-class Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen, which saw night-time clashes between young protesters and police this week.“This year we will start to take care of the young,”
On Sunday, hundreds gathered in the capital, Tunis, responding to calls to protest from a powerful labour union and several political parties.
Security was tight as protesters poured through checkpoints into the capital’s Habib Bourguiba Avenue, which was the epicentre of the 2011 protests.
Demonstrators chanted against “poverty and hunger” as they marched up the avenue, accusing “thieves” of having stolen the country.
Outside the offices of the powerful UGTT trade union, demonstrator Foued el-Arbi waved an empty basket marked 2018. “This empty basket sums up our situation seven years after the revolution,” said the philosophy professor.
A wave of peaceful protests and night-time unrest hit cities and towns across the country this past week, after hikes in value-added tax and social security contributions introduced in early January.
The interior ministry says it has arrested more than 800 people suspected of taking part in violence, theft and looting since the start of the unrest.
Protester demands have included a review of the 2018 austerity budget and more efficient measures to fight enduring corruption.

SSP Narmada Canal 75% Supply Cut, Wasn’t Election Issue

January14, 2018 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com
I had reported poor storage situation in Narmada Basin end of monsoon. Disaster Management action was to be in place but on Poll Eve Releases from Dam were many times needs at Kharif Harvest season.
Gujarat is entitled to just 2.4 BCM of Water in present situation for June end season [Jan11, 2018] and even this is subjected Highest Distribution Losses – Gujarat is entirely depend on MP releases – reduced to 2540 Cusec already. Ecological releases are 621 cusecs for 180 down stream of SSP for Industries Agriculture & Domestic supplies all together. Less than2000 Cusec water shall be available for rest of season against 40,000 Cusec Mainline Capacity. MOST OF IT SHALL BE LOST TO LEAKAGES, FARMER PUNCTURES etc. On my advice in 1999 – Bypass Tunnel was made to divert water from Dead Storage but shall be of little help. [Supplies to Rajasthan are Cut for Long time – Maharashtra getting nothing]
Narmada Water Allocation, Monsoon & Latest Storage in BCM
States
Allotted
S. Capacity
Sep28, 2017
Jan11, 2018
MP
22.5
15.8
8.5
6.6
Gujarat
11.1
1.6
1.6
0.6
Total
34.5
17.4/21.6
10.1
7.2
Presently 203 Dams Live Storage Capacity in Gujarat = 7.751 BCM [Jan12] but of this South Gujarat including SSP has 4.1 BCM – adding Live Capacity of Gujarat Mahi River
Its over 5 BCM for 7.7 BCM of Live Gujarat. Surplus Storages are not linked to Narmada mainline. GUJARAT FACE CRITICAL DAYS AHEAD TILL 15th DAYS OF MONSOON SEASON.
Water will be diverted to industry: Farmers
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Khedut Samaj general secretary, Sagar Rabari, has threatened to launch an agitation to get Narmada water for farmers’ summer crop. The state government has asked farmers to be cautious in sowing for the summer crop and be prepared for paucity of water.
“The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) has stated that given the low level of water in the dam, SSNNL will not be able to provide irrigation water for the summer crop in the Narmada command area after March 15,” Rabari said. He alleged that most of the water meant for farmers was given to industry.
Farmers’ association wanted to know where the water meant for irrigation had been diverted because the irrigation canal had not been completed in the entire command area. He alleged that the government had diverted the water meant for irrigation to industries.
Narmada canal breached, wheat crop damaged
Ahmedabad: A major breach in the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam canal was reported in Kokata village of Viramgam taluka. The breach has damaged standing crops in around 200 bighas land in the village and the adjacent village of Jaksi.
Sarojba Jhala, sarpanch of Kokata village, said this is the third breach reported in the area after October. “This had happened because the canal was not made of cement-concrete,” she said.
“On Saturday morning, the canal bank suddenly broke and water rushed into the fields. The standing crop of wheat in these fields was damaged,” Sarojba said.
She said that the banks were made of only bricks and this is why there were frequent breaches.
Former sarpanch of the village, Mahendrasinh Jhala said that there was corruption in high places when the canal was built.
“We will urge the government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the frequent breaches,” he said. “There is wheat crop is in the fields. The excess water which has rushed into the fields has damaged the crop. We will asks the government to conduct a detailed survey of the damage and compensate the farmers adequately,” Mahendrasinh said.
A senior official blamed the farmers for the breaches. He said the farmers in the area had installed motors nears the bank and draw water from the canal using the pumps.
Vibration of the motor pumps, damaged the banks. Several times leakage from pipes had caused soil erosion, the official said.
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770, 9871056471, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects

Dear Naresh, Come, Enrich Yourself by Speaking,

Dear Naresh,
Come, Enrich Yourself by Speaking, Attending and Networking at 
The First Global Conference on Creating Value, May 23-24, 2018
As co-Chair, I am honoured to ask you to submit papers and attend theFirst Global Conference on Creating Valuehttps://goo.gl/4f56PXon May 23-24 at Leicester, UK. Creating Value is getting greater attention by business, society and academics as it impacts our endeavours, ourselves, our customers, employees, partners, our profits and our stakeholders, our Governments , society and sustainability.
Steve Vargo, Ann Francke, Stuart Hart, Chris Baker, Irene Ng, Peter Shaw, Michael Shafer, Christian Gronroos and companies such as Fujitsu Japan, Sanofi, Teletech, Hughes, ParijatAgro India and other companies from Japan, USA, Europe, Australia and India will be speaking or attending. This is a great platform to exchange ideas between business and academics for Value Co-Creation.
The last date to submit papers is January 31, 2018.
The Journal of Creating Value jcv.sagepub.com that I edit is being accepted as a leader in its field.
Articles for the conference will be considered for the Journal.https://goo.gl/4f56PX
I ask you to not only associate with the conference by submitting papers and/or attending, but also join the global Value Creation movement.
I look forward to seeing you at the conference soon,  and to write for the Journal and also joining the Value Creation movement.

Twenty-year-old Viraj Madappa earns

Twenty-year-old Viraj Madappa earns full playing rights on the Asian Tour, Himmat Rai too secures his tour card

Rayong, Thailand, January 14, 2018:Twenty-year-old Viraj Madappa, one of India’s most promising talents, finished tied 29th at the 2018 Asian Tour Qualifying School’s Final Stage to earn his maiden Asian Tour card in only his second season as a professional.

Madappa (73-67-69-72-71), who became the 2017 PGTI Emerging Player of the Year after amassing the highest earnings among the rookies in the season, posted an even-par-71 in the fifth and final round of the Final Stage at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club in Thailand on Sunday to total three-under-352 for the week. He thus finished inside the top-35 and ties for the week to claim his Asian Tour card.

Viraj, who as a rookie had six top-10s on the PGTI last year including a runner-up finish, made three birdies and three bogeys in the last round that saw him slip five spots from his overnight tied 24th. Nonetheless, Madappa’s final round performance was good enough for him to not only secure his card but also end up as the highest-placed Indian at the event.
The Kolkata-based Viraj had been one of India’s leading amateurs prior to turning professional in 2017.

Himmat Rai (71-71-71-66-74) was the other Indian to earn full playing rights on the Asian Tour as he closed the week in tied 34th place at two-under-353. Himmat, a former winner on the Asian Tour, dropped 16 places from his overnight tied 18th as a result of his final round of three-over-74 but still managed to make the grade by one shot. Rai now returns to the Asian Tour after a one year gap.

The event was won by Korea’s Seungtaek Lee who totaled 14-under-341.

The 2018 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final stage saw 243 hopefuls from over 30 countries vying for their playing rights at the start of the week. The first cut was made after 36 holes and a total of 153 players made it into the third and fourth round.


A further cut was made after 72 holes and 78 players progressed into the fifth and final round where a total of 44 players from 12 countries securing their Tour cards for the 2018 season after making the cut-off mark set at two-under-353.

The Indians who did not finish among the top-35 players and ties and thus missed their card, were Angad Cheema (tied 51stat even-par-355), Veer Ahlawat and Deepinder Singh Kullar (both tied 69th at four-over-359) and M Dharma (tied 73rdat five-over-360).

Yashas Chandra M S struck a brilliant

Yashas Chandra’s brilliant 64 gives him commanding lead in Pre Qualifying III 
Kensville Golf & Country Club, Ahmedabad, January 14, 2018: Mysuru-based amateur Yashas Chandra M S struck a brilliant eight-under-64 to take a commanding four-shot lead in round one of the PGTI’s Pre Qualifying III for the 2018 season being held at the Kensville Golf & Country Club near Ahmedabad.

Chandra sank nine birdies and dropped a lone bogey in the opening round on Sunday.

The two golfers in tied second at four-under-68 were amateurs Dhruv Sheoran of Pune and Stephan Erasmus of South Africa. Interestingly, Sheoran had won the 2017 PGTI Qualifying School held in January last year.

The top 24 players (+ ties) will qualify from Pre Qualifying III, a 36-hole event, for the Final Qualifying Stage.

Dear Sagar Media Inc, According to Abhishek

Dear Sagar Media Inc,
According to Abhishek his father passed away because he did not receive timely medical attention or an ambulance after suffering a medical emergency at an airport.
He writes, “Each week millions fly through our airports including senior citizens, yet there is no guaranteed provision of basic medical support in the event of an emergency.”
Sign his petition asking the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure that emergency medical services are available at all airports.
Petitioning Minister of Civil aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Chairman Airports Authority of India, Shri Guruprasad Mohapatra
Minister of Civil Aviation : Mandate that Doctor, Ambulance & wheelchair be made available across all airports in India
Petition by Abhishek Singh
Hyderabad, India
 11,129 
Supporters
Sign Abhishek’s petition
My father the late Padmashree Dr Lalji Singh died due to a heart attack on 10th December 2017 at Varanasi. He was travelling from Varanasi airport to Hyderabad. Had he received the wheelchair assistance that he had pre-booked, timely medical intervention by a medical doctor, oxygen support or an ambulance to rush him to hospital his life could have been saved. It was a full 2 hours since when basic medical intervention was asked for at the airport to when it was provided at the distant hospital at Banaras Hindu University. An ambulance was not even made available and he was transported in a private vehicle as he struggled to breathe during those critical hours. Doctors at the hospital say that had primary care been provided within the first hour at the airport Dr Singh could have survived.
If this can happen to a world renowned eminent scientist, a former Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, a Padma Shri recipient and that too in the nation’s Prime Minister’s constituency then what chance does the common man have under such circumstances?
Each week millions fly through our airports including senior citizens, yet there is no guaranteed provision of basic medical support in the event of an emergency. Airports are geared towards caring for emergencies arising from inbound traffic (aircrafts flying into the airport) but what about passengers flying out. Once  we enter the airport our movement is restricted including exit. It should be the responsibility of the Airport Authorities and Airlines to look after the well being of passengers once they arrive at the airport.
Over the years there have been numerous instances of failures to provide timely medical intervention at airports resulting in deaths which could have been avoided and this number is rising.
The Solution
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India need to mandate and make available across ALL civilian airports in India –
1. Medical Doctor – available at all hours the airport is operational
2. Ambulance
3. Minimum medical support (such as oxygen cylinders, and defibrillators)
4. Trained medical personnel
5. Standard Operating Procedures to care for medical emergencies not only for inbound but outbound passengers as well.
I appeal to everyone to sign this petition to impress upon the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India to mandate these facilities and standard operating procedures across ALL civilian airports in India. No one should have to lose a loved one under these circumstances.
Sign the petition

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