Tymoshenko walks free

Updated on : 23-02-2014 06:44 PM

Ukraine’s jailed pro-Western opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko on Saturday walked free moments after parliament voted to oust the country’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovych and set new elections for May.

The latest developments in the ex-Soviet nation’s three-month political crisis came after protesters took control of Kiev’s charred city centre and seized Yanukovych’s lavish residence and official offices, in a day of dramatic twists and turns.  Yanukovych denounced the “coup” and branded his political foes as “bandits”, comments that won firm support from his backers in Moscow.  But the balance of power swung firmly in the opposition’s favour a day after Yanukovych and the opposition signed a Western-brokered peace pact designed to resolve Ukraine’s bloodiest conflict since its independence in 1991.  Tymoshenko, the fiery 53-year-old co-leader of the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution, waved to hundreds of supporters chanting “free Yulia!”  One of her close allies said Tymoshenko was travelling directly to address the crowds on Kiev’s iconic Independence Square — occupied since Yanukovych’s decision in November to spurn an agreement with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia.  “The dictatorship has fallen,” Tymoshenko said in a statement released on her official website.  “It fell thanks to those people who came out to defend themselves, their families and their country.”  Ukraine’s pro-Russian regime appeared on the verge of collapse as lawmakers passed a resolution stating that Yanukovych was “removing himself (from power) because he is not fulfilling his obligations”. They set new presidential elections for 25th May.  But Yanukovych defiantly told a local television station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv — a pro-Russian bedrock of support — that he would fight tooth and nail against the “bandits” trying to oust him.  “I am not leaving the country for anywhere. I do not intend to resign. I am the legitimately elected president,” the 63-year-old leader said in a firm voice.  Yanukovych said with a hint of outrage that “everything happening today can primarily be described as vandalism, banditry and a coup d’etat.”

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Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2014

Smriti Mehra triumphant at the third leg of HWPGT 2014

Mumbai, February 21, 2014: Veteran golfer Smriti Mehra kept a resurgent Vani Kapoor at bay to win the third leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2014 which concluded today at the Willingdon Sports Club in the city. Vani Kapoor, who had slipped to fourth position after the second round, came back strongly today giving Smriti a run for her money. However, it was the veteran golfer who came out victorious as she edged past Vani by a single shot to win her first title this season.

Smriti played a steady round today and returned with a final round score of two over 67 and a total score of 195, edging past Vani who returned with a round three score of one under 64 and a total score of 196. Smriti carded four birdies on the fourth, fifth, seventh and 16^th holes against six bogeys on the sixth, eight, ninth, 11^th, 13^th and 18^th holes. Vani once again proved why she has been touted as one of Indian’s finest young talents. She came back superbly today to reach within striking distance of her third consecutive title in the HWPGT 2014, however a bad back nine didn’t help her cause. She carded five birdies on the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and 15^th holes and had bogeys on the first, 11^th, 13^th and 16^th holes.

Pallavi Jain retained her third position with a final round score of three over 68 and a total of 199. She carded three birdies as opposed to six bogeys. Sharmila Nicollet once again disappointed and returned with a final round score of five over 70 and a total score of 200. She managed to card just a single birdie and conceded four bogeys and a double bogey to finish fourth. Neha Tripahi finished fifth with a final round score of three over 68 and a total of 205, while Vaishavi Sinha with a round three score of five over 70 and total of 207 finished sixth.

Meghna Bal and Ankita Tiwana finished tied seventh with identical total scores of 208. Shweta Galande (211) finished ninth and Vandana Agarwal (212) finished tenth.

The Rs. 5,00,000 event is the third in the series of 14 this year.

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India is a shining example of progress in global effort to end polio worldwide

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International Members of Rotary International – a principal partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – led the polio eradication effort during another round of the National Immunization Day (NID) to be held on 23^rd February, 2014 across India. On the day, vaccines will be reached to nearly 170 million children at approx. 709,000 vaccination booths set up for the purpose across country. The members will be spread across Delhi NCR and volunteer help to vaccinators in reaching the vaccine. They have volunteered their time and paid for their travel to be part of this extraordinary campaign in India that has successfully eradicated Polio in the country.

Rotary members from different parts of the world are travelling to India, where they immunize children against polio – a crippling disease that still paralyzes children in parts of the world. These volunteers are members of Rotary, a worldwide humanitarian service organization that has polio eradication as its main philanthropic goal.  The Rotary members will join health workers and other volunteers to administer drops of oral polio vaccine during an immunization campaign that will target millions of children under age five.

The Rotary group will work with teams of volunteers to administer the drops of oral polio vaccine to every child under the age of five.

43 Rotarian from Japan and the team led by Mr. Yoshi Sekiba will visit Madipur, Punjabi Bagh for Polio booth and door-to-door activity.

11 Rotarian from UK and the team led by Mr. Mike Yates will visit Mukundpur area in North-East Delhi for booth and door-to-door activity. 

8 Rotarian from Belgium and the team led by Ms. Emma Gronen will visit Shadipur, West Delhi for booth and door-to-door activity.

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Ikumi Yoshimatsu

To Nksagar_1@yahoo.com

 

Feb 21 at 8:34 AM

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe can help end stalking and violence against women in Japan. Ask him to set up a taskforce to investigate. Sign My Petition Dear Naresh - I won the Miss International beauty pageant in December 2012. Ever since then, I have been stalked, intimidated, and blackmailed.  My stalker even tried to abduct me from a TV studio, made threatening calls to my family and told my parents that I could wind-up dead.  He even hired private investigators to stalk me. I fear for my life and now have 24-hour security.  I went to the Japanese police with 30 pieces of evidence. They did nothing.  I went to the Japanese courts to ask for a restraining order. They, too, did nothing.  What’s worse is that I’m not alone. Many women suffer because for centuries Japan has been plagued by a “culture of silence” toward crimes against women.  However, there is hope. The current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a strong and vocal supporter of women’s rights.  Mr. Abe’s leadership on this issue would be a game-changer — and that’s why I’m asking him to establish a taskforce to investigate stalking and violence against women in Japan.  My petition already has more than 1 lakh signatures and the endorsement of Mr. Abe’s wife, Akie. Sign my petition. Japan is very sensitive to its reputation overseas — if we raise our voices together in a global outcry, I know Mr. Abe won’t be able to ignore it.  Please help me change my country so that women can start enjoying the economic and moral benefits of a truly equal society.  Sign my petition and forward my mail to your friends.  Thank you for taking action, Ikumi Yoshimatsu via Change.org Sign My Petition This email was sent by Change.org to Nksagar_1@yahoo.com. You can edit your email preferences orunsubscribe from Change.org emails.

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FIREFOX hosted its 3rd Edition of Mountain Biking Race, FIRESTORM

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FIREFOX hosted its 3^rd Edition of Mountain Biking Race, FIRESTORM

Gurgaon, 23 February 2014: In a bid to promote adventure biking in India, Firefox Bikes, leading leisure biking company organized a mountain biking event, Firestorm in the outskirts of Delhi on Sunday. In, extravaganza event more than 150 biking passionate, both experts and enthusiasts participated to claim the ultimate biker tag. Bikers had ultimate adventure by biking in the trails of uneven off road elevations and narrow dirt paths. The race was flagged off from the trail near Golf Course Road, Gurgaon.

Firestorm is an initiative by Firefox to test the biking skills, endurance and Physical strength of the bikers in India. Biking in the trails of uneven off road elevations and narrow dirt paths was ultimate adventure for the bikers. The mountain biking race was set in the broken and craggy terrain of Gurgaon Sector-60 and around 150-200 bikers went head to head to claim gift and cash prizes of over 3 Lacs.

Mr. Shiv Inder Singh, Managing Director Firefox Bikes said, “Mountain biking is quite young adventure sport in India.FIRESTORM is a golden opportunity for the adventure passionate to enjoy the thrills. This is our third edition and we are proud to hold events like these to encourage biking in India. We want to promote cycling as an adventure sport in India. We have always succeeded in providing world class biking experience here in India to valuable customers. It’s our constant endeavor to further enhance the biking experience of our customers. We are associating and bringing the best to India in each category.”

The event had two categories: the first one was for the experts (35.5 k.m. for men and 29 km for women) and another one was for the enthusiasts (29 k.m.) for both men and women. In the expert’s category, Mr. Barrett Paul Matt was the first to finish the race, followed by Mr. K.Kiran Kumar Raju from Bangalore and Mr. Douglas Smith and they were awarded with the cash prizes of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively while in the women category Ms. Monika was the first women to cross the finishing line followed by Ms. Anita Groser. They were awarded with Rs.30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively.

While in the enthusiasts category, Mr. Jitender Kumar was first to finish the race followed by Mr Yameen Mir and Mr. Sushil Huda were awarded with gift vouchers of Oakley, Woodland and Dabur. Ms. Reena Katyal was given a gift vouchers of Oakley, Woodland and Dabur as the first prize in women category followed by Ms. Becky.

Emphasizing on the significance of bike racing in India, Mr. Shiv Inder Singh further said, “These biking competitions will change the overall scenario for cycling in India. Such, competitive sports and adventure gaming will make people more passionate towards cycling. We are aimed to organize such competitions every year in different parts of the country and create awareness for cycling, an eco-friendly and health friendly habits among the masses”.

For the safety purpose, the Firefox Bikes made it compulsory for riders to wear cycling helmets and closed sports shoes. The company also asked all the participants to be in right clothing (cycling gloves and shorts) to experience biking in a better way. Trauma kits and a fleet of ambulances were also present at the event to handle the emergency situations.