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How Putin became victim of Yulia Tymoshenko's political schemes
Below I've loosely translates more portions from the most interesting 'Russian Newsweek' article I mentioned in my previous blog.
In October 2008 Putin accommodated Tymoshenko's demands when they both signed a joint gas memorandum in Moscow. She returned to Kyiv full of success.
A source in the [Russian] Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained to 'Russian Newsweek' that by the end of December last year gas contracts for delivery of Russian gas to Ukraine were all drawn up and ready to go. These were practically the same contracts that were signed on January 19th 2009 to end this winter's gas crisis...
But at the end of December Tymoshenko told Putin during telephone conversation that Yushchenko should have the last word on the new gas deal. Putin had called her on December 30th proposing the same terms agreed in October, i.e. transition to a formula for calculating the price of gas, the mean annual price for 2009 to be $250 per tcm ($235 if gas were to be taken away gas from"Rosukrenergo"), and a preferential transit rate for Russian gas over Ukrainian territory.
Both Tymoshenko and Gazprom now declare that the negotiations were disrupted by RosUkrEnergo, who offered Gazprom a higher price of $285 per tcm, but Gazprom apparently turned this down. This prompted Yushchenko to recall the 'Naftohaz Ukrainy' delegation from Moscow, and Putin, without naming Yushchenko by name, accused the Ukrainian authorities of corruption.
But some 'Russian Newsweek' sources do not support this version of events. They claim that on December 31st it was Tymoshenko herself who broken off the negotiations.
According to their source in the Kremlin, she called Putin and told him that she could not come to Moscow because "Yushchenko would not let her return home, or would arrest her".
Other source familiar with events adds that an infuriated Putin began to break off the negotiations himself. He called head of Gazprom Alexey Miller to tell him that the head 'Naftohaz', Oleh Dubyna, was not mandated by Yushchenko, and until Yushchenko confirmed his mandate no negotiations could take place. On 31st December at 9.30 p.m. Dubyna flew back to Kyiv. "They launched a war against Yushchenko", concluded the Kremlin official.
Ukrainian political adviser Dmytro Vydrin indirectly confirms this. Yushchenko, he says, could not prevent Tymoshenko's visit to Moscow.
Gazprom stopped delivery of gas for Ukraine. Ukraine, in order to provide transit of gas to Europe, began siphoning off 'technical gas' and European consumers immediately started to experience shortages. The Europeans understood that they had to get involved.
At this moment, but before a full termination of gas shipments, Putin ostensibly let prime minister of the Czech Republic, Mirek Topolanek, who is currently president of the European Union, know that he would be able to achieve agreement with Tymoshenko if the European Union applied sufficient pressure on Yushchenko.
Topolanek refused, and the situation became deadlocked. Gas transit was stopped completely, and the chairman of European Commission, Manuel Barroso, started to put the squeeze on Yushchenko. According to some sources, on January 16th, Putin secretly met with Tymoshenko in Dresden, and there they came to an agreement. Within three days all the official contracts had been signed. Tymoshenko again returned to Kyiv a winner, and Yushchenko's political prospects became even dimmer.
Obama's watch
Most Ukrainian politicians never miss an opportunity to flaunt ultra-expensive, glittering 'pimp watches' on their wrists.
Several years ago, during a parliamentary debate on the financial deficit in the country's education budget, one deputy suggested that everyone present should merely drop their watch into a waste-paper bin by the door when they leave the parliamentary chamber. The money collected from their sale should easily plug the budgetary hole..
They should take a lead from US President Obama, who wears a $300 watch. More here. Looks smart...The guy has class..
p.s. Russian 'Newsweek' have an interesting article entitled: "The queen of the gas pipeline", in their current edition.
They claim that that "the trigger in the gas war at the end of December was pulled by Yulia Tymoshenko", when she failed to fly to Moscow on the 31st of that month to sign fresh contracts. 'Newsweek' claim she 'phoned Putin to tell him, "Yushchenko will not let her return home, or will arrest her." As result it has practically guaranteed her victory in the next presidential election.
Details of gas contracts with Gazprom's European clients, of which there are several tens, are always keep secret. The contracts are all different: some have a discount according to volume, some have other terms, depending on individual agreements. Therefore nobody understood what Putin meant in his speech on January 19th when he said Ukraine would pay a Central European price in 2009, but with a 20% discount.
In Russia and Ukraine observers speculated for a week about what Putin and Tymoshenko agreed, but political pressure in Ukraine is such that contracts, both on delivery and on transit, could not be kept in the dark for long - they were published by many Ukrainian websites [within days]. In these contracts only the dates were written by hand. They were very detailed documents... It is impossible to write such documents even in five hours - the duration of the 19th January Putin-Tymoshenko negotiations...
Putin will be 'leading' Tymoshenko into the Ukrainian presidential chair, "Newsweek" claims. Amongst Yushchenko, Yanukovych and Tymoshenko, Moscow considers her the lesser evil in the trio.
The article provides a 'behind-the-scenes' account of how the gas crisis developed, and claims that on January 16th, Putin secretly met Tymoshenko in Dresden to fix the final deal.
Shape of things to come
These are the first four items on the "Gazeta.ua" website in its news roundup for today:
"Tymoshenko will set up impeachment [proceedings] against Yushchenko"
"Security Services of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine will go after Tymoshenko. Four questions have been put to the premier."
"Do not to believe the sweet promises of those who betrayed Ukraine, Yushchenko appeals"
"Boyko: Tymoshenko will be held responsible for betrayal" [Yuriy Boyko probably knows more about the darker corners of the Ukraine-Russia-central Asia gas business than any other man because he was closely involved with the creation of the opaque intermediary company RosUkrEnergo]
These four items provide an outline for the nasty political battle to be fought in the months ahead.
You can see PM Tymoshenko's confident defence on Channel 5 TV against some powder-puff questioning, of her gas settlement with Russia, and other matters, here.
The Germans are pressing for a quick go-ahead to the Nord Stream gas pipeline project. "The most reliable transit country is the Baltic Sea," said a Wintershall spokesman.
But with both Russia and Ukraine in deep financial doo-doo, European companies may be looking into buying up bits of Ukraine's gas transit system.
Posted by LEvko at 12:52 AM No comments:
Murky deal
At first sight it looks as if the Russian/Ukrainian gas dispute has been resolved. Ukraine will get a 20% discount on the market price for gas in 2009 [whatever that means ], and transit fees paid to Ukraine for transporting gas westward will remain unchanged. Final signing of documents is to take place on Monday, possibly by Putin and Tymoshenko in person, in Moscow.
Smells 'fishy' to me.
When negotiating with an untrustworthy party every tiny detail has to be settled and agreed before any declarations are made - no "wriggle-room" left. It is not credible such a complex deal could be made in just a few hours, adding to suspicion that the broad outline revealed at the press conference could well differ from the closed deal actually struck.
Have any of the principles of negotiations declared by Yulia Tymoshenko in her Friday statement:
"no middlemen;
direct relations between Naftogaz and Gazprom;
mutually beneficial prices for gas and transit;
no talks about possible privatization or any other forms of transfer of the Ukrainian gas transportation system",
been conceded?
If, as it appears, Ukraine 'lost out' on the deal, Yulia Tymoshenko will blame president Yushchenko for 'poking his nose in' during the last days of last year. The ground for this was prepared in Friday's statement by the PM.
But at least Tymoshenko has gone for a floating price - better when prices are falling, rather that a fixed price deal - better when prices look like going up.
And what's to be done about Gazprom's claim that the Ukrainian side still owes $614 million dollars in late payment charges? Hardly worth mentioning, is it?
Posted by LEvko at 8:18 PM 1 comment:
Gas crisis resolution in sight?
By my calculation European customers have been denied Russian gas for almost 10 days. It was on 7th January that Gazprom shut off the gas valves on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
President Yushchenko's official website states [in English] that today: "President Victor Yushchenko had a phone conversation with European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs.
Victor Yushchenko informed Andris Piebalgs about the situation with Russian gas transit to Europe.
He stressed that issues of supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine and transit of gas to European customers are connected with each other and should be considered simultaneously.
Andris Piebalgs from his part suggested a temporary mechanism of pumping technological gas into gas transit system of Ukraine by European gas companies." [The last sentence sounds a bit "cockeyed" to me - presidential secretariat's translators - you are rubbish.]
The Ukrainian version of the same posting reads rather differently, and includes the following:
"EU Commissioner Andris Piebalgs proposed a temporary mechanism for providing supplies of gas with the inclusion of European gas companies, who would in their turn, settle the question of supply of technological gas.
The Ukrainian head of state confirmed his readiness to consider in detail the proposals being prepared by European gas companies."
So it looks as if big European utility companies will pay for the transit of their Russian gas over Ukrainian territory - which, by eliminating the 'technological gas' question, weakens Naftohaz Ukrainy's chokehold on the transit system ...
PM Yulia Tymoshenko is off to see Vladimir Putin tomorrow. Her statement, posted on the Ukrainian government portal, in good English, is here. It is worth reading carefully..
Posted by LEvko at 1:54 AM No comments:
War of attrition continues
PM Yulia Tymoshenko's explanation why the sample quantity of gas supposedly dispatched into the Ukrainian gas transit system for shipment to Western European customers yesterday was not transferred is posted [in English] by the Z.I.K. newsagency site here
But why couldn't an equivalent amount of gas have been exported from Ukraine's huge storage facilities in the western part of the country as a goodwill gesture?
And by pumping only insignificant test quantities of gas today, Gazprom has showed a callous disregard to the plight of millions of Eastern Europeans who are suffering gas shortages in the middle of winter.
The BBC, in an article entitled "Strategy behind Europe's gas game" describes the gas stand-off between Russia and Ukraine as "a poker game, where the two players bluff and bet against each other," with Europe caught in the middle.
The stakes for Ukraine's politicians could not be higher. If Ukrainian consumers, particularly domestic consumers in the Eastern part of the country, begin to experience the serious gas shortages that will inevitably occur after a period of time, these will seriously affect Yulia Tymoshenko's popularity and her chance of becoming president later this year. She and her eponymous party also need financial support from her industrialist backers, which could be lost in a protracted stand-off with Russia.
For president Yushchenko a tough stance in this gas crisis is a desperate [and hopeless] last chance to gain respect amongst some of the electorate.
But Russia has much to lose too if it drags on much longer. Its credibility as a reliable supplier of gas is being eroded day by day to a position from which it may never recover - arguments for diversification of energy supplies are growing ever stronger in the EU.
President Putin has already complained of significant loss of revenue caused by the crisis, and of difficulties caused by reduced output. [See his interview with the German ARD TV, dubbed into English, here]
So, who will be last man standing?
As matter stand now, it is European customers who are suffering the most hardship. It is up to EU leaders to suggest proposals to minimize their plight e.g. by paying Ukraine's transit fees themselves until agreement is met on what Ukraine is to pay Russia for gas. Naftohaz Ukrainy has just proposed that Gazprom provides all the 'technological' gas that is required. A portion of west-bound Russian gas could be retained by Ukraine to cover these fees, removing the 'technological' gas problem.
However the crisis pans out, the gas business will emerge much changed.
Update: Details, on the official Ukrainian government website, of Tymoshenko's latest "constructive" late-night chat with Putin, [in English] here
p.s. It seems that it was head of presidential secretariat Viktor Baloha was staying at the burned out Swiss chalet I mentioned in my previous blog. Hope it didn't spoil his holiday break.. or singe his beard..
Another attempt to bump off Yush?
This story from the British 'Independent' - on strange events in Switzerland..
Your blogger suspects leaky gas pipes may have been the cause.
p.s. No gas yet transitting to Europe. Ukrainian side says [technological] gas required to drive compressor stations would have to be taken from domestic Ukrainian consumers, causing hardship - so no deal..
'Naftohaz Ukrainy's explanation in English [?] here
An alternative explanation here
Der Spiegel on gas
'Der Spiegel' today provides an European perspective, with good analysis, on the Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis in an [English language] article: "Europe Fails to Wean Itself off Russian Gas"
They claim a new Russia-Ukraine gas deal fell through over a measly $350 million, but it looks as if gas will start crossing the Russian Ukrainian border again tomorrow morning.
PM Tymoshenko is adamant 'Naftohaz Ukrainy' will not use its own scarce reserves for 'technological' gas required to pump gas westward to gas-starved Europe, particularly as no price has yet been determined for any future deliveries of gas to Ukraine from Russia.
Your blogger considers that as a result, Ukraine will use Europe-bound gas to power the gas transit turbines along its pipelines. Within a few days, shortfalls in deliveries will be experienced in European countries and the entire problem will flare up again.
Ukraine needs about 6.5 Bcu.m. annually of this 'technological gas' to deliver Russian gas to European customers. In previous years this has been paid for on a "pay-as-you-go" basis.
I guess if the Europeans really want their gas then they will have to pay for its transportation through Ukraine while the dispute continues.
More Air Miles for the folks at Gazprom and Naftohaz in the weeks to come then..
p.s EDM has some analysis on Putin's handling of the crisis too.
No gas yet
Putin in TV interview, just posted on 'Russia Today' [in English] says that he did what he did [i.e. stopped all gas deliveries - both to Ukraine and via Ukraine] for the benefit of European consumers. Very reassuring I'm sure, for the poor folks sitting in unheated apartments, hospitals and schools in Eastern Europe.
The RT clip describes some goalpost-moving [see previous blogs] taking place already - President Medvedev has called recently-signed agreements invalid because bits have been added by the Ukrainian side.
When will this childish silliness end?
Putin says that Gazprom has lost $800 million so far because of the dispute.
'Sam ne ham, i tobi ne dam', as my granny used to say.
Gas prob resolved?
It would appear the the Ukrainian-Russian gas spat is edging towards resolution.
It seems to be a "score-draw" result.
Your blogger is not quite so optimistic just yet - Ukrainians have a habit of 'moving the goalposts' at the last minute. There are two distinct matters here - a Russsian/Ukrainian agreement, and supply of gas to other European countries. While the first matter is not resolved the second will be uncertain, monitors or no monitors, meters or no meters.
Several years ago an elderly lady from Lviv told me this story:
She was fed up with high gas bills and went to the gas utility company to complain. They asked her whether she had a gas meter. When she said she hadn't, the man told her, "Get yourself a meter, and the bills should fall dramatically."
She took his advice and had a good meter installed. But the next bill came - and to her horror it was even higher than before. She stormed down to see the man at the gas utility company again.
"You told me to get a meter to reduce my bills. I did exactly as you suggested, but the gas bill is even higher. What's going on here?" she railed.
The man calmed her down, and asked her, "Yes, but what kind of meter did you have fitted?"
"Why, a good one, the best - a German one," she replied."
"Ah, this is no go good," the man said, and paused, adding, "You should have got a Ukrainian meter." [Sounds better in Ukrainian]
p.s. If independent monitors are placed at all the inbound pipes into Ukraine, and also at all the outbound pipes from Ukraine, why have monitors inside Ukraine? Just a thought.
Fuming Putin puts the boot in*
Watch a mightily pissed, snorting and sneering Putin on 'Vesti' TV tonight, commenting on the Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis before the western media. Even the TV presenter looks a bit scared.
Some loosely translated bits:
"I want to emphasize, no matter how drastic this sounds, today's political authority in Ukraine is demonstrating it is incapable of solving economic problems - and today's situation provides evidence of the high degree of criminalization of its structures of authority," fumed Putin.
"Today the situation is such, that the current government of Ukraine is not capable of organizing normal transparent functioning of the economy of Ukraine on market principles, and moreover, by their actions, they are causing great harm to the Ukrainian people and to the prestige of the Ukrainian state".
"This again emphasizes that political collapse inside Ukraine itself is being observed, and speaks of the high degree of corruption in the structures of authority."
"Today in these conditions they are fighting not only about the price of gas, but for the possibility of preserving various intermediaries in order to use the dividends received for personal purposes, personal enrichment and for obtaining the necessary financial resources for future political campaigns."
He also said Ukraine should pay market rates [whatever that means], for gas , and Russia would pay European rates for transit as soon as possible ...
But the kind of language he used 'is not helpful' during conflict resolution - it's all getting rather nasty, and could cause a 'blow-back' in the Ukrainian gas pipe.
Putin also forgot to mention the the monopolistic intermediary which supplies gas to Ukraine, RosUkrEnergo, is 50 per cent owned by Gazprom, through its daughter Swiss-registered Rosgas Holding A.G. and 50 per cent by Swiss-registered Centragas Holding A.G., acting on behalf of the Ukrainians Firtash & Fursin.
This article explains why the stakes are so high both for Ukrainian and Russian politicians. [Putin mentions this year's Ukrainian presidential elections in his interview too.]
Jerome a Paris argues that Putin's closing off of all gas deliveries via Ukraine to Europe was incomprehensible and counterproductive, and may indicate he is losing control over the management of events. Check out the interesting comments to his posting too.
Or maybe his game is "first artificially raising gas prices and then attempting to raise prices even higher by cutting off most gas deliveries in the middle of a freezing winter...to create a panic-driven market in which spot prices for Russian gas would go through the roof."
*to attack someone by kicking them again and again, usually when they are lying on the ground. (British, informal)
Posted by LEvko at 11:37 PM 1 comment:
Russia-Ukraine gas deal collapsed over RUE?
Authorative blogger Steve LeVine claims that Russia and Ukraine may have been close to clinching a deal over gas, but it all fell through over RUE.
President Yushchenko's official website has revealed that today he spoke over the telephone to his Russian counterpart, Dmitriy Medvedyev. He appealed to the Russian side to renew deliveries of gas for European consumers immediately, and assured Medvedyev that Ukraine would do everything necessary to ensure the gas is delivered in full.
He underlined Ukraine is only consuming its own gas, either domestically extracted, or stored in its own reservoirs, and called upon the Russians to return to constructive dialogue for open and transparent negotiations in the presence of EU representatives.
A Ukrainian delegation headed by state company 'NaftoHaz Ukrainy' chief Oleh Dubyna has departed for Moscow and Brussels for talks. But will they cut out the RUE "shakher-makher"?
Who needs the middlemen?
Just three months ago PM Tymoshenko met her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at his Novo-Ogaryovo dacha. The leaders agreed an inter-governmental memorandum on gas deliveries. "After a very substantial talk, we managed to co-ordinate an inter-governmental memorandum on co-operation in gas issues, which could later serve as a basis for a future gas treaty between Gazprom and Naftohaz Ukrainy," said Putin.
By all accounts their meeting was cordial. It looked as if just a few details needed to be ironed out, and as long as accounts were paid on time, Ukrainian and European consumers would not have to worry yet again about the reliability of their gas supplies. Significantly, they also agreed on the removal of intermediaries in the Russia-Ukraine gas trade.
Today, even though there is still a dispute over late-payment penalties, it seems that Ukraine has paid its gas bills for 2008. But terms for 2009 are a long way from being agreed.
Under normal circumstances, if such disputes occur between utility suppliers and consumers, status-quo-ante terms could be briefly maintained until such time that fresh agreements were achieved. Then any balance, one way or another, could be repaid. Any inconvenience to suppliers, consumers, and other third parties would be minimised.
So why do Russia and Ukraine find themselves yet again, in a dispute over gas?
After the resolution of the 2006 dispute many experts tried to pick apart and explain the details of the hastily-made agreement which included 'cocktails' of Russian and Turkmen gas, make-weight deliveries and so on. None of their explantions were convincing. Today, in one sentence, the FT, in their write-up on the current dispute, let the cat out of the bag: "Legal experts could not verify the rival claims because Russian-Ukrainian gas contracts are secret." In other words, officially publicised contracts are merely 'ochkovtiratyelstvo'.
It is this opaqueness that provides cover for continuing wide-scale fraud benefiting the two country's elites. These disputes have never been about gas prices and storage and transit rates, but about 'whose hands are in the middle-man's trouser pockets'. [See link to Jerome de Paris article my previous blog.]
Almost exactly a year ago I posted a blog on how the Tymoshenko government had put the squeeze on one intermediary, 'UkrGazEnerho', to the benefit of consumers, but also to the benefit of other independent traders, and some of her sponsors.
Tymoshenko's mid-90's involvement in the huge gas importer and distributor United Energy Systems of Ukraine is well known. UESU's dominance at that time forced major 'businessmen' in Donbas to stop blowing one another up and shooting one another, and to work together and form powerful alliances to counter the UESU threat in this field.
Just a few months after the 2004 Orange Revolution president Yushchenko sacked the-then PM Tymoshenko because her boys at the security service had spectacularly accused the president of hindering their attempts to tackle corruption in the Russia-Ukraine gas business, to the incredulity and dismay of millions of OR supporters.
In January 2006, Yuriy Yekhanurov, who had replaced Tymoshenko as PM, received a vote of no-confidence in the Ukrainian parliament after the secret details of a fresh deal he'd clinched with Russia to solve that winter's gas crisis in which new intermediaries entered the frame, had been exposed.
And in recent months parliamentary speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk was dismissed from his post, according to some, for his staunch opposition to the existence of energy intermediaries. Also, a major group inside PoR led by RosUkrEnergo head Dmytro Firtash, former 'NaftoHaz Ukrainy' CEO Yuriy Boyko, and head of former PM Yanukovych's office and RUE lobbyist, Serhiy Lyovochkin, worked hard to prevent the formation of a PoR-BYuT coalition. Such a parliamentary coalition, at one time unthinkable, could, in principle, have provided the stability the country desperately needs.
So the Russian-Ukrainian gas business, and in particular its intermediaries, certainly are a continuous major bone of contention between Ukraine's rival politicians.
Your blogger would suggest that it is not unreasonable to consider the current dispute is about elites both in Ukraine and Russia, fighting amongst themselves to maintain their piece of the action via these intermediaries, rather than the price of gas for Ukrainian consumers and its westward transit through the country which, as the Putin-Tymoshenko meeting illustrated, perhaps could be resolved without too many problems.
"All the rich people in Ukraine made their money on Russian Gas" - Ihor Bakai, 1998
p.s. There is detailed analysis of these matters in this 16-page paper from the latest 'The Washington Quarterly' entitled "Where East meets West: European Gas and Ukrainian Reality"
p.p.s. There are reports that Russia could face problems of storage of surplus gas if a contract with 'NaftoHaz Ukrainy' is not signed, something I hinted at in a previous blog.
Posted by LEvko at 1:35 AM 1 comment:
The truth behind Ukraine's and Russia's gas charade
If you really want to know about the annual Russia-Ukraine 'gas conflict' read this brilliant blog by Jerome a Paris.
Gazprom's side of the story
Gazprom's official side of the story:
"Gazprom Confirms No New Contract with Ukraine After Talks Fail
After weeks of negotiations OAO Gazprom and NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy have reached a critical impasse in efforts to finalize a new contract for gas deliveries to Ukraine in 2009.
Gazprom has been doing everything in its power to make a success of the negotiations, but as there is no contractual basis for further gas supplies to Ukraine, Gazprom has no option but to reduce supplies to Ukraine by the amount committed to Naftogaz Ukrainy – without in any way reducing the quantities contractually committed to our onward customers in Europe – from 10:00 am Moscow time on Thursday, 1 January 2009.
The previous contract expired on Wednesday, 31 December 2008.
At issue are the following: the status of the repayment of $2 billion in debt owed to Gazprom for gas deliveries to Ukraine in November and December 2008, as well as fines and penalties; attempts by Naftogaz Ukrainy to amend a separate and pre-existing gas transit contract that is valid through 2010; and Ukraine's apparent unwillingness to move towards fair market prices for gas supplies, despite signed agreements to do so.
On the issue of debt repayment, RosUkrEnergo has received a payment from Naftogaz Ukrainy in the amount of $1.5billion out of a total due of $2 billion. Naftogaz Ukrainy has recognized the $2 billion debt it owes Gazprom and had the money to pay that debt.
Naftogaz Ukrainy has also taken the radical step of tying the fate of the new gas delivery contract to changes to a pre-existing and wholly separate gas transit contract. The existing transit contract, valid through 2010, obliges Ukraine to transit at least 110 bcm of gas per year to Europe. Gazprom currently pays Ukraine a fee of $1.60 per 100 km, which is comparable to transit fees paid to other European countries.
Naftogaz Ukrainy is currently attempting to nullify this contract and double the agreed-upon transit fee. This desperate act puts at risk the stability of Gazprom's natural gas supplies to Europe, something which Gazprom deeply deplores and for which it cannot be held in any way responsible.
On the issue of gas prices, the prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine, on 2 October, 2008, signed a memorandum of understanding on direct, long-term contracts and gradual price increases. The agreement set up a step-by-step, three-year period for Ukraine's transition to purchases of Russian natural gas to market prices. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said at the time, "The parties confirmed their willingness to establish a gradual transition to market prices within three years." Despite these assurances, Ukraine refused Gazprom's offer of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, nearly half of what Gazprom charges its western European customers.
Gazprom has taken every possible step to find a mutually acceptable solution, and to bring and keep both sides at the negotiating table. This is in spite of threats by Ukrainian government officials to call off talks in the final hours and reversals by Naftogaz Ukrainy on steps to transitioning Ukraine to market prices for gas.
Gazprom will continue to work hard with Naftogaz Ukrainy and our European partners to find a resolution that is both fair and commercially viable. Gazprom will also do everything it can to ensure that all volumes destined to our European customers are delivered in full."
And a Happy New Year to everybody..
Update: President Yushchenko's official website carries a statement signed by him and, significantly, by PM Tymoshenko [only recently called 'vorovka Yulyechka', or little thief Julie, by Yushchenko] declaring Ukraine has paid for all gas delivered up to 30th December 2008, and claiming the country has no debts before the Russian Federation. It claims Ukraine has sufficient gas in its vast underground storage facilities to last the country for a protracted period.
[No English version posted on the pres's site yet - the 1000+ presidential secretariat employees should get their fingers out of their *****
I seem to recall from three years ago, diverting the huges quantities of gas intended for delivery to Ukraine elsewhere, or reducing output from gas fields at source is technologically quite problematic for Gazprom, so the dispute may be resolved after a few days or weeks.]
Labels: Ukraine Gazprom gas crisis
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The Parc at Broadwell Predicted to Sell Out Quick
Home » The Parc at Broadwell Predicted to Sell Out Quick
Leave a Comment	/ Luxurious homes, News / By Carol Morgan
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


1. A cutting is a small piece of fabric – a sample really, but usually just a sliver, usually smaller than we'd expect a sample to be- just enough to see the texture and colour – but always taken from the intended purchase piece, or the piece available.
2. A cutting can also be the stock cutting that we ask for when we reserve an order, just enough to check that the actual roll or piece in stock is as close to the sample piece as we are expecting.
3. Cutting the fabric is the most nerve wracking part of the making process, or at least it's the first one. If you get it wrong, the thing won't fit and the potential for waste and huge unwarranted cost is enormous. Not to mention the stress.
Measure twice and cut once: This means planning out and marking all pieces with pins or tacks onto your fabric before you even think about cutting. And then checking it.
Cut with confidence: Think what the worst could be – firstly, you're highly unlikely to ruin the whole thing, even if you do get something wrong, secondly, encourage yourself with the fact that there isn't much that can't be rectified with some ingenuity and it's often from error that something special comes.
1. The fabric should always be flat onto the worktable, with the creases brushed by a sweep of the metre rule across it, and any big ones pressed out.
2. At least one long side should line up along one side of the table- with the bottom end of the roll or piece aligned with, or if it's a bit uneven just over, the adjacent end.
3. Trim the end to the table, so that you start off which two straight sides.
5. Place the pattern or mark the cuts onto the fabric and then cut, keeping one hand firmly on the fabric just in front of, and to one side of, the direction of the scissors.
6. Always keep the lower blade on the table. Never try to cut out in mid air – or with the fabric scrunched up.
7. For a complex pattern keep cutting away the excess, the spare piece if they get in the way- when you change direction do so without polling on the roll or the rest of the piece, and without tails and bits.


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text:
CHANDIGARH INDEX
C H A N D I G A R H S T O R I E S
Congress sway over mining operations in Ghaggar
Ruchika M. Khanna
Panchkula, March 21
The change in government has affected on the mining operations in the Ghaggar river bed and other rivulets in Panchkula district. The mining contractors, who were affiliated with the previous Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government, have now lost control on mining of river bed material (RBM) to supporters of the newly elected Congress government.
The mining contractors say that the clubbing of all quarries as a unit has brought monopolisation in the trade and thus led to hike in prices of river-bed material like stone and stand. Since all quarries were grouped together and auctioned off to a single firm, any price quoted by the contractors was fixed for the consumers. As a result, price of construction material had increased by five times during the past three years. They say that the quarries should be divided into separate zones so that small contractors can bid for these zones and for allowing competitive prices to consumers. The auction of all 55 quarries is due after the contract expires on March 31, 2005.
Well-placed sources say that contractors owing allegiance to Congress leaders have taken over the firm — Maa Shakti Royalty Company — which had been awarded the contract in 2002. One of the previous contractors was close to a former minister in the INLD government and another partner was close to the top brass in the then INLD government. A senior INLD leader was also a minor partner in this firm.
In fact, there were 34 partners in Maa Shakti Royalty Company. But after the contract was awarded to the firm, the partners owing allegiance to the INLD top bosses refused to share the profits with some partners who collectively had a 40 per cent share in the firm. These partners, who were chucked out after a few months of the contract being awarded in 2002, had started warming up to the Congress leaders after the parliamentary elections last year. Immediately after the Assembly election results were announced on February 27, the push and pulls for gaining control of the mining operations started and after a few minor clashes, the control of all mining in river beds now rests with contractors enjoying the support of Congress leaders.
There are 55 stone quarries in the district and mining contract is given for a period of three years. For the first time in 2002, the Department of Mines and Geology had clubbed 44 quarries as a single unit, saying that this was economically viable. The remaining 11 quarries falling in the Barwala and Raipur Rani area were auctioned in 2001 and this contract expired on March 31, 2004.
It is alleged that after the contract expired in March 2004, mining in these 11 quarries was done illegally for three months till a new contract was awarded for Rs 1.70 crore annually (or a total of Rs 5.10 crore in three years) in June 2004. However, the contractors failed to make monthly payment of contract money to the Department of Mines and this contract was cancelled on October 25, 2004. Since then, the department made at least three bids to auction these quarries, but to no avail. The mining in these quarries is now being done on permits, which are issued for a maximum of 30 days. The mining permits for these were also being awarded to contractors owing allegiance to the INLD. But the latest permit to have been issued on March 11 has now been awarded to the contractors enjoying the support of the present Congress regime. They have formed a separate company by the name of Ramgarh Royalty Company, which has now been issued the permit.
Though officials reason that the auction of these 11 quarries has been unsuccessful as contract money was raised from Rs 1. 20 crore in the last auction (in 2001) to Rs 1.70 crore now. But it is alleged that the contractors, who were close to the political powers in the state, were unwilling to invest the money for the fear that with the change in political leadership, they would lose the contract and their earnest money. Thus, they were pushing for a change in policy, whereby they wanted that the royalty should be reduced and that contract period should be increased from three years to five years. However, before a decision in this regard could be taken by the government, the elections for the Vidhan Sabha were announced and the proposal was stalled.
Heavy showers lash city, suburbs
Chandigarh, March 21
Chandigarh and its adjoining towns of Mohali and Panchkula received heavy showers this afternoon with the city recording 15 mm of rainfall by 5:30 pm.
The maximum temperature recorded was 24.6° Celsius and the minimum temperature was at 19° Celsius. Less than a 100 km away, Ludhiana recorded 27 mm of rain.
A western disturbance over Jammu & Kashmir and adjoining Himachal Pradesh and an induced upper air cyclonic circle over central Rajasthan extending up to 2.1 km at sea level drove the rains.
The heavy rains clogged drains with leaves that shed naturally at this time of the year. Pools of water formed all over the city with people having to wade through ankle-deep water in some areas. Some die-hard walkers at the lake had to abandon their quest for physical activity when the rain poured down.
The forecast for the region spells light to moderate rainfall or snow for Himachal Pradesh. Rain or thundershowers are anticipated in Haryana and Punjab and hailstorms or thunder squalls with wind speeds exceeding 35 km per hour are likely in isolated places in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
The rains may cause some worry to agriculturalists if the downpours continue in the region. The Indo-Gangetic plains form the most important wheat area. "Too much rain at this time of the year may cause fungus to the crop and may delay harvesting," says a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture for Punjab.
The wheat crop is harvested when the grains harden and the straw becomes dry and brittle. "Rains affect the grain formations and due to retention of water the crop gets heavy. Rains like these are accompanied sometimes by high velocity winds which flatten the crop", believes Dr. R S Mehla, Additional Director, Department of Agriculture, Haryana.
The Met Department in Chandigarh says heavy showers at this time of the year are not unexpected.
The Indian mango flower is intolerant to humidity. Therefore, the flowering groves of mango running through the length of Purva Marg right up to Transport Chowk are bound to have got affected by the rain. According to horticulture experts, unexpected downpours like this during the flowering season could result in large-scale dropping of flowers. The winds accompanying downpours like this weakens the stem and too much moisture in the air causes diseases to set in. The mango flower is particularly sensitive to climactic changes at this time of the year.
Father alleges foul play in daughter's death
Our Correspondent
Zirakpur, March 21
A former sarpanch of Naraingarh Jhungian village has complained to the Inspector General (Patiala Zone) of Punjab Police against his daughter's in-laws.
In his complaint to the IG, Mr Surjit Singh has alleged that his daughter, Manmohan Kaur was forced to commit suicide by her in-laws for bringing inadequate dowry.
He also alleged that his son-in-law Gurpal Singh, and his father Baldev Singh had been harassing his daughter for dowry even after five years of her marriage.
He said his daughter was married to Gurpal Singh, a resident of Ramgarh Sainia village in Fatehgarh Sahib district in March 2000. After her marriage Manmohan Kaur had complained about harassment by her husband Gurpal Singh and father-in-law Baldev Singh.
He also alleged that her daughter's in-laws admitted her to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh, on March 5 in a critical condition without informing him.
The father have also sent the copies of his complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala, and the SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib.
Parents allege favouritism in admissions to MBA course
The final merit list of the students aspiring to get admission in the MBA course under the NRI sponsored category at the University Business School (UBS) has surprised parents who resented that in many cases the students who had a lower marks in the Common Admission Test (CAT) have managed to score a much higher rank in the final list after the interview and the group discussion.
The complaining parents while talking to The Tribune today alleged that while there is substantial difference in the ranks of the candidates, the final list prepared after adding just 15 marks of the GD and Interview have "marred the chances of their wards getting admission as the ranks are very low."
"My daughter had a score of around 67 in CAT but her final rank is beyond 300. In the same list there are some candidates who got less score in the CAT but got a final rank within the first 100 in the list. The difference in the ranks is glaring as just 15 marks are for interview and GD and 85 per cent marks are for the written test," said parents of an aspirant, who requested anonymity and added that they will move the court against the admissions.
Chairman of UBS, Prof Satish Kapoor, while talking to The Tribune, however said due to the very low scores in the CAT written test this year, the difference of the absolute marks is negligible among the candidates, though their scores after interview and GD, differ substantially. This is creating confusion among the parents.
"When the interview panel sits to select the students, they are not provided the lists of their scores in the written test. This is done to avoid any bias. However, this year the actual scores in CAT were very low. That is why, though the percentiles have differed but the difference on the actual scores is not much and the absolute scores of the interview and GDs have made a difference." He also ruled out any "favouritism'" behind the ranks awarded.
India worried over Pak cricket fans' disappearance
Sanjay Sharma
India is worried over disappearance of between six and 14 Pakistani nationals who had come to Mohali to watch the first India Pakistan Test.
The Union Ministry of Home has taken the disappearance seriously and issued look-out notices to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to find out if those reported missing were in their states.
The police has also gone knocking at the doors of those with whom the Pakistani nationals had put up during their stay in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. Interestingly, the Chandigarh Police during its investigation over disappearance has found out that it had got C forms (with particulars of foreigners and their local address) about only 1000 Pakistani. This form is required to be supplied to the police within 24 hours by the person with whom a Pakistani or Bangladeshi national stays.
The police does not have any clue with it as the Pakistani visitors were this time exempt from the police reporting in which they used to be under surveillance at the places they were putting up.
Sources in the Chandigarh Police say there are only six persons who have not yet been found.
While not ruling out suspicion on those Pakistani nationals left behind, the government agencies draw solace in the fact that inquiries from around 20 Pakistani citizens who crossed the border after their scheduled departure from Wagah, revealed most of them could not leave for Pakistan on the scheduled day as they took a chance of visiting Delhi, Agra and Ajmer Sharief, which their visas did not permit. Couple of them fell ill and lost their passports.
The sources said 34 Pakistanis were reported missing on March 14 when most of them were scheduled to leave India.
However, 20 of them later surfaced and were sent back to Pakistan through the border post.
None of the states has yet reported registration of any case of overstay as intention of those sent back were found friendly but "adventurist."
The sources in the police and intelligence agencies said they were impressed with Pakistani citizens' general reciprocation of Indian friendship.
Quark to hold public hearing on environment impact issue
Mohali, March 21
Quark would soon be holding a public hearing in Mohali as part of the environment impact assessment study. The study has been undertaken by the company in compliance with the Government of India notification on the issue.
Stating this, executive director of the company P. S. Sehgal today stressed that Quark would abide by all laws set by the government for ventures like theirs. "We have started the process of getting the requisite approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forests from the Government of India. There was initially some confusion if Quark came within the purview of the notification but it seems the Government of India clarified the matter only by October," he said.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had refused to give Quark an NOC on the grounds that the company did not have the requisite environment impact assessment (EIA) clearance in compliance with a July 2004 notification of the Government of India. Stating that Quark City would have to get the clearance from the Centre for the project, the Chairman of the PPCB, Mr Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, today reiterated that Quark's venture did come under the purview of the notification.
The said notification issued on July 7, 2004, has to be complied with by all construction projects in the country with an investment of Rs 50 crore and above or which would employ over a 1000 persons or which would discharge 50000 litres of sewage every day.
Once nod from the public is given to Quark, the pollution board would be granting the company an NOC and forwarding Quark's case to a special committee that has been constituted to consider project that are covered under the GOI notification.
Passing Thru
What genre of writing interests you?
So far, eight of my books have been published. Out of these, three are travelogues, three are short story books and two books are on Punjabi poetry and I also work for the 'Daily Khabren', one of the most reputed newspapers of Lahore. I comment on editorial columns.
This being your fourth visit to Chandigarh, is there something special that brings you back here?
There is something very reassuring about this city. On every visit, I take back a lot of love and affection from Chandigarhians. They are adorable and well-mannered. Moreover, there is no hassle in coming here again and again as we the people of Pakistan's Punjab share the same language and the same features with the people here. We also have similar eating and dressing habits.
What are the major differences between Lahore and Chandigarh?
This place is culturally more vibrant than Lahore. Back home, the so called western influences can only be seen among the upper class Pakistanis, but here it seems all pervading.
— Akash Ghai
Chandigarh Calling
JUST as the sun was showing its heat in the merry month of March and people had taken out their summer wear, the weather gods turned benevolent. First came the cool breeze, then the clouds and finally the rain. So light shawls and silks are being pulled out of the trunks again. Spring rain has the power to instil romance even in the most prosaic hearts. The cool climate is welcome and city folks are now saying that the sun will turn its heat again only after the festival of Holi. However, the rain this month saddens the tillers of the land as the wheat crop now needs the sunshine to ripen to gold.
Brave hearts
Mention the word snake and children are bound to get afraid but not two little boys of a jhuggi colony in Ram Darbar. Rakesh and Vijay had to face an unwelcome guest in their abode while their parents were away to work. Seeing the four-feet-long snake they did not scream, shout or run out. Instead they took sticks and dealt with it. The brave hearts happily pose before the Tribune photographer Karam Singh with the trophy in their hands on Thursday afternoon. Circumstances often instil courage in young hearts and so it is with the twain.
Sense and sensitivity
Barely out of her teens, a GCG-11 student volunteered at the Olympic for Special children held some time back. She wants to share how this simple act changed her perception about life: "More youngsters should volunteer to help with special children. It is a realisation to see how little things like watching balloons fly can bring a smile to their faces. One also learns to count one's blessings and value whatever we have." A young city needs to sensitise its youngsters. Before you know Bashir Badr's 'Koi haath bhi na milaega miloge gale jo tapaak se, Yeh naye mizaj ka shehar hai, yahan faasle se mila karo', might become a city with a heart. How about taking time off to take your kid to an outing with a difference?
Tricky terrain
What happens when a monk meets men in khaki? Sparks fly, of course. The occasion was a panel discussion in the Government College, Sector 46, on a provocative topic, "Monk, media and the men in khaki, the problem of guardianship." An interesting debate focused on the responsibility of the media and the role the police. The atmosphere became charged when the swamiji from the Ramakrishna mission in his lecture mentioned how Vivekananda had sublimated his sexual energy. Another panelist was quick to retort that this was 'abnormal.' The swamiji was equally emphatic that if he had been invited, he had every right to express himself and a right to be heard. "When you call a monk, you should be prepared to listen to him." Valid point. So the monk made it and departed even before the discussion had ended. Defining morality is indeed entering a tricky terrain.
Man with polish
He does not sing the song from the famous Raj Kapoor film of yesteryear 'Boot Polish'_ Ham matwale polish wale. But meet Rangi, a cobbler working from the market corridor of Sector 17, and one is pleased by the joy this 46-year man takes in his work. In fact people come seeking him out for he has earned a reputation for excellent workmanship. He came to the city some four decades ago with his father from Rajasthan. Hardship made him take to this trade when still a boy. However, he always did a sincere job of it. In fact he is thrilled when some well-known Punjabi singer comes to him for a shoeshine. "Maine Pakistani mehmanon ke joote bhi khoob lishkaye," he says. The reward for the hard work is that his children are going to school.
A road that needs urgent attention is the one leading from the Sector 31 and Sector 32 crossing to the Sector 48 and 49 chowk. This is also the road that is used by the residents of Phase 9 and 10 of Mohali. Popularly known as the truckers' road, as trucks on the Punjab-Himachal route use it, it is in bad shape with potholes, cracks and scattered gravel. Driving down this road is risking an accident. Will some VIP if not VVIP plan to pass this way so that the Chandigarh Administration may take the trouble of repairing it?
Write people
Writers are the right kind of people to educate the neo-literates about words. It was with this purpose that the Regional Resource Centre for Adult Continuing Education in Panjab University, Chandigarh, organised a five-day workshop last week of Punjabi writers. The aim of the workshop was to generate literature for the neo-literates. The writers well realised that while writing for the literates came naturally to them, a greater effort was required in writing for the neo-literates. Among those who participated in the workshop were some well-known writers like Santokh Singh Dhir, Mohan Bhandari, Rama Rattan and Pal Kaur.
Return of Karmawali
Many years ago a Tribune story of a mother and son, separated at the time of the Partition, meeting again had inspired city-based Urdu writer Kashmiri Lal Zakir to write a novel called Karmawali. This novel caught the attention of famous theatre director M.K. Raina and he turned it into a play with artistes of the repertory of the National School of Drama. The play had in the lead well-known actress Seema Biswas of Bandit Queen and Kamal Tewari had made the music. Now a city director is taking a fresh look at it. Zulfikar Khan has scripted it afresh and he calls it Safar Ik Dard Ka.
A wayward bull set about trying to break the gate of the Sector 45 gaushala last week. Vijay Kumar, chowkidar, tried to capture it. But the bull got furious at this interruption of his choice of freedom at midnight. Finally he was captured with the help of the staff of the Municipal Corporation. But all this was accomplished after a keen bullfight. The chowkidar reveals that he has often had to battle with bulls that turn rebellious at night.
Teyyam from Kerala
Folks will get a chance to watch the traditional ritual dance form of Kerala called Teyyam for the first time in the city. The occasion for this rare fare from God's own country is the anniversary of the Ayyapa Temple in Sector 31. Artistes are coming all the way from Kerala to perform it. A procession with Teyyam artistes performing will pass through Sectors 31 and Sectors 47 and then culminate at the Ayyapa Temple. Teyyam is an art form of north Kerala that combines dance, music and martial arts. It is a centuries old tradition that has been kept alive till date. While the Malayalis are thrilled at the chance of witnessing the ritual, others too are curious. The daylong celebrations will end with a community meal in the evening followed by fireworks.
Costly call
Mobile addicts better be warned that they should not use the mobile while driving for the call may prove too costly. For one it is a driving hazard and for the other it could mean a heavy fine. Recently, a friend was fined a rather auspicious amount of Rs 1100 by the city cops for 'mobiling' while driving.
— Sentinel
Ranbaxy told to improve fire-fighting capability
Kulwinder Sangha
The Director, Local Government, Punjab, has asked the Municipal Council here to get the recommendations of an eight-member sub-committee in connection with fire fighting arrangements at Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd implemented at the earliest.
It is learnt that the Director, Mr G. Vajralingum, directed the Executive Officer (EO) of the civic body, Mr H.B. Garg, today to get a compliance report from Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd asking them for an early implementation of the recommendations made by a Fire Station Officer, the EO and six municipal councillors in August, 2003. In case the industrial unit failed to implement the recommendations, it should be brought to the notice of the Directorate.
After visiting the factory on August 19, 2003, the sub-committee had pointed out that though the fire fighting arrangements at Ranbaxy were good, they were not adequate enough to fight a major fire. A sense of insecurity prevailed in the minds of people living close to the factory. As such Ranbaxy should equip itself with modern techniques to fight a major fire.
A major fire had taken place in Ranbaxy on June 11, 2003 which took the lives of a few persons, apart from creating panic among people living in the surrounding areas. After the fire incident, the civic body had constituted an eight-member team to inspect the fire fighting arrangements at the factory. Apart from the EO and the fire station officer, the other members of the team were Mr Rajinder Prasad, vice-president of the council, Mrs Daljit Kaur, Mr Ghanshyam Bansal, Mrs Indu Sehgal, Mr Bharat Bhushan Maini and Mrs Manmohan Kaur, all councillors.
The members of the committee had pointed out that the unit should be shifted from the residential area in public interest. Till the shifting of the unit was not done, some improvements should be brought about in the fire fighting arrangements.
The committee suggested that the pump house at Plot No A-8 should be shifted to a more safe place, exposed chemical units be covered with a water sprinkler system, separate censor systems for chemicals, solvents and gases be provided, independent remote control foam monitor for all the three units, a deduction system for all the units according to the National Building Code, installation of public address systems, provision for adequate number of foam monitors and yard hydrants, training to use fire fighting equipment to the staff and holdings of a mock drill once a month.
Mr Kulwant Singh, president of the council, told Chandigarh Tribune that the recommendations of the sub-committee, as desired by the Director, would be got implemented as they were in the interest of the public.
Old-age home residents entertained
The staff and students of SAS Institute of Information and Technology here extended a unique gesture towards senior citizens by presenting an entertainment programme for the inmates of the old age home Sector 15, Chandigarh.
Col Karamjeet Singh, Director of the Institute mentioned that it was going to be a regular feature and students will avail every opportunity to interact with other old age homes, paraplegic homes and other such sections of society in the area.
98 file nomination for ZP poll
As many as 98 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the Zila Parishad (ZP) elections to be held here on April 9. Three forms were rejected during the scrutiny of forms carried out today, while the decision on the nomination forms of a woman candidate from Ward No 2 has been kept pending.
Deputy Commissioner, Brijendra Singh informed that the maximum number of forms (17) were filed from Ward No 9, while the minimum number of nominations were for Ward No 6.
The Deputy Commissioner also informed that after the scrutiny of nominations for the Panchayat Samiti, Sarpanch and Panches, five forms for Panchayat Samiti members, 11 of sarpanches and 31 of panches were rejected.
BJYM protests denial of visa to Modi
The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) today organised a demonstration against the denial of US visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, at Sector 17 Plaza here.
In a statement issued here today, the state BJYM president, Mr Davesh Moudgil, while criticising the US action, said it was not proper on the part of the USA to level "baseless and unfounded allegations" against a person holding a constitutional post in India.
The USA had no right to interfere in the internal affairs of India on the pretext of protecting human rights. The statement termed the decision as an "attack" on democratic institutions.
Urging the USA to reconsider the decision, Mr Moudgil said it should respect India's sovereignty.
An effigy of the US Government was burnt on the occasion.
Fauji Beat
Why this callousness towards the Army?
Since the government has not issued any orders to exempt CSD canteen stores from the value added tax (VAT), the ex-servicemen are perturbed over it. No doubt, in the Budget speech it was said that the CSD canteen stores would be exempted from VAT, but nothing has emerged from it so far. VAT will come into effect on April 1. Therefore, the price of liquor and grocery stores in the CSD canteens will be the same as in the open market.
In India, defence personnel get a step-motherly treatment in all spheres of life. The height of the government's callousness is that unlike all other government employees, a majority of the defence personnel are not paid 50 per cent of their last drawn pay as pension because they are forced to retire at young age.
What the Army can promise to its young aspirants is unsettled and risk-packed life and early retirement. What the government promises to you after retirement is total neglect and unemployment, gradual withdrawal of all concessions and loss of prestige. If this was not so, then your pension would not have been dropped from over 85 per cent of your pay from 1947 to around 40 per cent now. Nor would have the order of precedence of the Army ranks been brought down so low.
Man behind best hospital
Having been declared as the best Command Hospital in 2003, the Command Hospital (Western Command), Chandimandir, was presented the rolling trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh by the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on March 16. Never has any Commandant of this hospital earned so much praise from his clientele as Major-Gen B.Sadananda (now Lieut-Gen).
Soon after taking over the Command Hospital on May 1, 2002, he introduced a new work culture in it. For him nothing was more important than the patient satisfaction.
So impressed was the Headquarters Western Command by this hospital's new culture that the Commandants of all the military hospitals in the Western Command, including the Army Hospital Delhi Cantonment were called here on August 12, 2002. They were shown the working of this hospital and were told to adopt the same culture in their hospitals.
Chandigarh polyclinic needs upgradation
The Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinic at Chandigarh is Class 'C'. It is meant to cater to 5,000 to 10,000 officers, JCOs, other ranks, their dependents and defence widows who are ECHS members. The strength of ex-servicemen in and around Chandigarh and Mohali is more than one lakh. Add to this, their dependants and widows and the number goes to over 1.50 lakh.
Most of the members from Himachal Pradesh, Patiala and some other areas in Punjab needing treatment at Fortis Hospital, Mohali and the PGI, Chandigarh, are also referred to this polyclinic, which involves complete paper work and accounting for them. More hospitals such as Silver Oaks Hospital, Mohali and Mukat Hospital, Chandigarh, have been recently empanelled. The ECHS members strength is also increasing with every passing day. The workload of this polyclinic has increased so much that extra staff had to be provided to it from the Ropar polyclinic, which is Class 'B'. And where the strength of ECHS members is much less.
To enable this polyclinic to cope with the increased workload, it must be upgraded to Class 'B'. The up-gradation of this polyclinic will result in substantial saving to the government. For, many members who are now referred to diagnostic centres for investigation and treatment will be treated here.
— Pritam Bhullar
Special prayers mark Palm Sunday
Gayatri Rajwade
The most solemn week of Christianity begins with Palm Sunday or the Sunday of Passion, commemorating Christ's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.
Special prayers were held in all churches. In the Orthodox Syrian Church, the priest led the faithful as they took a round of the church holding aloft palm leaves.This is the week leading to Easter Sunday during which Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's suffering, death on the cross and resurrection. "Easter Sunday is more holy, more important than Christmas. Christianity begins with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ," says Father Thomas of the Catholic Church in Sector 19.
The hallowed period begins with Lent, a 40-day liturgical season that initiates a sacred part of the Christian year. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday — a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast — and ends on Easter.
It was customary for many ancient communities to require a 40-day period of fasting, discipline and study for candidates who were to be baptized on the evening before Easter. It is probably meant to recall Christ's 40-day ordeal in the wilderness after his baptism.
Many Christians today do not observe the 40-day fast but abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the norms. Ms Divine Costa is an 82-year-old devout Catholic. She fasts for the whole period, abstaining from meat, fish and milk and eats only frugal food. She says, she is very particular and eats, "what I believe the Lord could eat during His 40 days of prayer." Her grandchildren are not so particular but "go to mass on the Saturday before Easter."
The three days before Easter Sunday are traditionally considered to be parts of an unbroken liturgical event called the Triduum (Latin for Three Days).
The first part begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday remembered as the day of the Last Supper during which Jesus was betrayed. The word 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin phrase mandatum novum meaning "new commandment." It refers to the Lord's words to His apostles as recorded in the Bible of Saint John: A new command I give you; love one another."
Good Friday, the second day of the Triduum, marks the crucifixion of Christ and "is a time of serious contemplation and prayer for the sacrifice that the Lord made for us," says Ms Veena Pinto, a housewife. Holy Saturday is marked by "a special midnight mass" says Father Thomas. "The congregation holds candles blessed by the bishop. This is the Light of Christ, a new light coming into the world on Sunday."
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the day is marked with joyous celebrations amongst the Christians in the city. It has been suggested that many of the modern Easter's symbols such as coloured eggs and Easter Bunny are cultural remnants of spring festivals that could be found among the Germans, Persians, Romans and Jews in ancient times.
Eight bomb-like objects found
Panic gripped Firojahri village after the villagers found eight explosives in the nearby forest area, last evening. The villagers found eight bomb-like things in the forest area and the news spread in the village.
According to Dr R.C. Mishra, Superintendent of Police (SP), Panchkula, Mr Bhag Singh, a resident of Mattanwala village, informed the police about six bomb-like items resemble pichkaris.
Following the information, the police contacted the Defence authorities at Chandimandir and a team of Haryana police personnel and bomb disposal squad was sent to the site.
The bomb disposal squad found that out of the eight explosive substances, six were live bomb-shells while the rest were defused. The police has taken the bombs into possession.
Flats for common man, a distant dream now
I wish to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned the difficulties being faced by the middle class people desiring to own flats set up by the cooperative housing societies.
Since the time of enormous increase in the prices of real estate, the common man with meagre means is on the look out for owning flats being developed by various group housing societies. But even in such cases one has to face many hardships. Some of the major problems related to this segment, which require immediate solution are:
1. For acquiring even a small flat in a group housing societies; a salaried persons, who is always short of funds, has to raise loan from banks or financial institutions. Banks demand a valid title in his name for entertaining his request for the loan. The Chandigarh Administration had banned the sale/purchase under group housing schemes till the announcement of policy guidelines in this regard. However, it has not so far come out with any policy for the transfer (substitution) of title from one person to another even on the payment of full value of the share.
2.The proposal of the authorities to fix a transfer fee at the rate of Rs 4 lakh for Category A and Rs 2 lakh for category B flats is also unjustified since the transfer of other properties attract stamp duty at the rate of 6.5 per cent of the value of the property. And in case of flats it should not be in any case more than the rates applicable in the case of flats constructed by the Chandigarh Housing Board.
I request the authorities to issue guidelines in this regard as per expectation of the common man.
Sanjeev Jain, Chandigarh
Toilets in the park
A set of toilets formed a part of the premises leased to the Hot Millions eating joint by HUDA in the Nirjhar Vatika Park, Sector 5, Panchkula. With the closure of the eating joint, set of toilets too has been closed down. The visitors to the park face a great inconvenience in the absence of toilets there. Women are the worst sufferers. Attention of the HUDA officials has been drawn many times to this problem, but to no avail. HUDA is requested to construct at least two sets of toilets in the park.
D. R. Tayal, Panchkula
Temple sans facilities
The condition of the road in front of the Mata Kali temple at Kalka is deplorable. I appeal to the authorities concerned to improve it. The hillock overlooking the temple should also be beautified. The residents are presently using it as a garbage dump.
Proper parking facilities need to be provided for the vehicles. This will ease congestion and ensure smooth traffic flow on the national highway. Roadside vending should be curbed. The animal menace should also be checked.
Dr Pawan Dwivedi, Panchkula
Youth clubs involved to check drug abuse
With drug and human-trafficking cases surfacing in the region, the Chandigarh Administration has roped in around 928 members of 27 rural youth clubs to keep an eye on these unlawful activities.
A direction in this regard has been given to the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Block Development and Panchayat Officers by Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar, an offcial press release said here today.
Vet pharmacists to hold rally
Members of the Veterinary Pharmacists Union, Punjab, on Monday decided to organise a rally outside the Office of the Director, Animal Husbandry, on March 28 in support of their demands.
Mr Gurcharan Singh, general secretary, said the rally will be organised after the failure of talks with the government functionaries in Chandigarh.
Four vehicles stolen in city
Two Scorpio SUVs and two scooters were stolen today in the city, according to the police.
Mr Nairinder Pal Singh of Phase VII, Mohali, reported to the police that his Scorpio SUV (PB-44-A-9044) was stolen from outside House Number 459, Sector 20-A, during the night of March 19. In a similar incident, Mr Dilpreet Singh of Sector 21filed a complaint that his Scorpio SUV (PB-12-G-9500) was stolen from outside his residence during night of March 19. Two separate cases of thefts were registered in the Sector 19 police station.
Mr Mahesh Kumar of Maloya Colony reported to the police that his scooter (CH-03-D-8651) was stolen from Sector 24 during the night of March 17. In another incident, Mr Kamal Prakash of Sector 40-A filed a complaint that his Kinetic Honda scooter (CH-01-(T)-6764) was stolen from a temple in Sector 35-C, yesterday. Two separate cases of thefts were registered at the Sector 36 police station.
Medicines stolen: Mr Surinder pal Singh of Dhariwal village in Gurdaspur district complained to the police that 29 boxes of medicines were stolen from his truck. The police said the truck was coming from Mumbai. The driver, while unloading the truck in the transport area, noticed that the tarpaulin covering the truck was torn and the boxes of medicines were missing. A case of theft was registered at the Sector 26 police station.
Hit and run: Kiran (6), a resident of Colony Number 4, suffered injuries when a Trax (HR-37(T)-0744) hit him in Phase I, Industrial Area, on March 19. Parmila, the mother of the victim, told the police that the driver of the vehicle sped away from the hospital after admitting her son there. Karan reportedly suffered a fracture in his leg. A case of negligent driving was registered against the driver at the Industrial Area police station.
Four held for stealing
Four persons were arrested by the police on the charge of theft here last night.
According to the police, two persons, Chotte and Anil, residents of Amb Sahib Colony, Phase X, were arrested on the dividing road of Phase X and XI.
They had stolen an electric motor of 3 hp from a workshop of GREF in Phase XI on the intervening night of March 6 and March 7. Two persons had been arrested earlier in connection with the same theft and were in judicial custody.
The other arrested persons were Sandip Singh of Mohali village and Kulwinder Singh of Shahimajra village. The police recovered a stolen scooter and mobile phones from them.
Travel agent arrested
The police has arrested a travel agent from Delhi who had duped residents of lakhs of rupees.
It is alleged that Manmohan had collected lakhs of rupees from people on the pretext of sending them abroad. Complaints in this regard had been made to the police. No arrest has been made so far.
Two drug peddlers arrested
The local police today arrested two alleged drug peddlers, including a woman, who were found possessing 100 gm of smack in a bag.
A man who had given the police a slip on March 13, leaving behind 3.4 kg of ganja in his vehicle, was also arrested today.
Sukhpreet Kaur (37), a resident of Sultanwind in Amritsar district, was arrested on a tip-off by the police at a picket near Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, here.
The police recovered 100 gm of smack from her. It said the suspect was the mother of four children.
A case was registered against her in the Sector 19 police station.
She would be produced in a local court tomorrow.
According to the police, she was to deliver the contraband to an unknown person in Sector 41.
The woman was drawn to the trade because of easy money involved in it.
The woman informed the police that her husband was a drug addict and that is how she knew where the drug could be procured from.
When she went to buy drugs, she realised that if she could pass it on to somebody, she could make money killing to sustain her children.
The police is trying to confirm if the woman had earlier also made contraband deliveries in the city.
According to the police, this trade is going on at a large scale in the border area to which the woman belonged.
Mohali dream destination for IT companies
Poonam Batth
Quark, Infosys and Dell are already here and Convergys Corp is all set in to come in by the year end. "We have done a good job in marketing Mohali as an IT destination and have brought in a lot of investment in Punjab, said the Quark head Mr Fred Ebrahimi, during an informal chat at the inauguration of Dell's third customer contact centre here today".
Since the market is opening, Mohali by virtue of its strategic location provides a good market for software business and information technology service provider. Talking about his dream project, Quark City, Mr Fred said, "The notion of integrated environment is very appealing as everything from work to shopping and entertainment would be available on the same premises."
Unlike big cities like Bangalore, an executive would not have to waste three hours going for a hair cut and cheating his spouse or employer for here he will be able to take a cut in the shopping centre and be back to work in a few minutes or do any other job, he explained. This also enhances the productivity of the workers.
The integrated township to be completed in three-four years time will boast of the most modern concept in planning, design and structures, he said while claiming that the buildings here would be better than anywhere else in the world. Besides, the IT companies the Quark City will have a wide range of buildings for its residential areas, shopping-cum entertainment plaza, multiplex, a five-star hotel, finishing college, a cultural centre etc. The township will confirm to the standards of the United States Green Building Council in an attempt to attain the platinum level LEED certification for the entire township.
Commenting on the infrastructure, he said infrastructure in Chandigarh and the satellite township of Mohali was better than that in Bangalore. In fact, big companies are making a beeline for Mohali as it offers talented work force and high quality of life. "We too are setting up another state-of-the-art building, next to Dell by the yearend in the township,'' said Mr Fred.
Dell team raring to go
A call centre is as good as the voices behind the phones. And the 300 young girls and boys who have been employed by Dell to man its International Call Centre from Mohali a raring to go. The centre goes live on March 28, and these youngsters are all trained and ready.
Thrilled that Dell had opened its own call centre in North India, majority of the youngsters are from the region. "We had been working for Dell through its outsource call centres in Gurgaon but now we would work here. It's a home coming for me," said Gurjit.
For those who are from Chandigarh IT colleges, it is like a dream come true. "I could never have imagined that I would be working for a company like Dell so close home, said Bhupinder Singh.
For many others it really does not matter where you work as long as you get to work with a big name like Dell. "We are on a project here from Bangalore Dell and it is fun working with the company," said another employee.
Rajiv Kaushik who has been with Dell for four years said, "I am the oldest Dell employee".
Dressed in white uniforms during the much-awaited opening, the youngsters cheered through the entire inaugural ceremony today putting life and verve to an otherwise quite occasion. Even the Chief Minister, Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, asked them to cheer for him once again after ending his speech.
'City better suited as IT destination'
Naveen S Garewal
When Mr Michael S. Dell, Chairman, Board of Directors of DELL, America's Information Technology (IT) giant, greets an audience with folded hands saying, 'Sat Sri Akal', it means that the world has started taking the potential of Punjabis in the area of IT seriously. And this is exactly what Mr Dell told mediapersons from across the country. "We came here to look at the available talent" and Mr Dell has not been disappointed.
"Chandigarh is certainly better than Bangalore", Mr Fred Ebrahimi, owner of Quark, told reporters. "It takes one and a half hours to get a hair cut in Bangalore and that time has to come out of either the employer's time or the family time, in both cases someone is being cheated. So, Chandigarh is certainly a better choice as compared to other IT destinations in India".
It was Mr Ebrahimi's advice that brought Mr Dell and his company to set up base here. Mr Dell made no bones about how excited he was to be present personally when the Mohali Customer Contact Centre was inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today.
Clubbed with a select few "richest Americans under 40', Mr Dell flew in straight from California to Delhi by his private jet this morning and following quick immigration clearances, he arrived at the Chandigarh Airport and from there, he drove straight to the Quark City that has the latest DELL address. This is the third customer care centre in India, the other two being in Bangalore and Hyderabad. The security arrangements were handled by DELL, barring the handling of traffic by the Mohali police. "In fact, the Punjab police restricted itself to the security of the Punjab Chief Minister, while that of Mr Dell was handled by his own staff", a security official said.
During his brief stay at DELL here, he addressed the employees and besides presiding over the inaugural function and sharing the dais with the Punjab CM, he held a meeting with top functionaries of the state and his company with whom he also spent some moments during lunch. Later he flew back to California. But not without taking with him a replica of the Golden Temple that was presented to him.
For once, Capt Amarinder Singh, too, was seen doing Chandra Babu Naidu's things. "We will make Punjab besides an agriculture state, an IT destination", he announced. Bio-technology and other new fields are being explored by Punjab, he said. He received a thunderous applause from the 300-odd DELL employees forcing him to comment "this shows you are all Punjabis here". The CM received applause because most people thought that it was Capt Amarinder Singh who had opened the gates of Punjab to IT. "We are late entrants in the IT field, but we have made enough headway and will soon catch up with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka", Capt Amarinder Singh said.
Despite all the euphoria, Mr Dell was quite secretive about the operational matter. He did not disclose the quantum of investments the company would make in the region, terming it as the "company's internal matter". Answers to his company's expansion plans and other related issues did not give any substantial information.
The entire inauguration ceremony was shown through video-conferencing to employees of DELL offices in Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Private sector's role in healthcare stressed
"The State Government is keen on partnership between public and private sectors for providing quality, easily accessible and affordable health services to people of Punjab."
This was stated by Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, R.C. Dogra, addressing participants at a conference on "Healthcare Industry: Status and Emerging Opportunities in Punjab" organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Punjab State Council, here today.
Mr Dogra stated that in the private sector, resources were aplenty and the skill to manage disease well, especially in emergency situations it is more efficient. "Latest medical equipment is available with the private sector, which supplements and supports the Government Sector. This public private partnership can help us achieve better health status for people of our State", he added.
Urging the private sector to keep the cost of medical treatment within the reach of common people Mr Dogra emphasized the need of quality assurance particularly quality of care being provided by unqualified personnel. Private sector, in spite of all issues, can make enormous contribution by way of helping the Government address priority health goals by disseminating information on preventive and promotive health care, he mentioned.
"Punjab Government is working out modalities for a health insurance scheme to meet rising health costs and to reduce out of pocket expenditure on health by the poor," he informed.
Chief Secretary, Punjab, Jai Singh Gill, said that the enhanced network of healthcare in Punjab was better and more effective than in most of other states. He accentuated the concern of "value for money" in the sector.
Mr Gill, expressed the Government's desire to outsource the non-clinical activities. He also assured the industry that if more and more public-private partnership proposals are received by the Government, an autonomous regulatory body for healthcare can be thought of.
Mr Harpal Singh, Convener, Infrastructure Development Panel, CII Punjab State Council urged the state government to create more funds for the development of the healthcare sector in the state. He also called upon the need of focusing on good health in the school systems.
Mr Rakesh B Mittal, Chairman, CII Northern Region, said, "CII strongly feels that for the healthcare sector to augment its deliverables, the need is to reorient India's healthcare strategy and strengthen linkages between the Government and the private sector participants".
With most of the state governments including Punjab, facing problem of budgetary support, private sources will continue to be the largest component of healthcare spending, he further mentioned.
New bank chairman
Dera Bassi, March 21
Mr Prem Chand Bijanpur, director of Land Mortgage Bank, Dera Bassi, was elected Chairman of the bank, here today. Mr Prem Chand, replaced Mr Sukhbir Singh Saini, another director of the bank. The directors of the bank today hold a meeting and elected replaced Mr Saini. Out of eight directors, six directors attended the meeting and took the decision.
Mr Chetan Singh Fatehpur was also elected as vice-chairman of the bank.
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Another run of the Reading Tree (Copacul cu Carti) event will take place this summer in the Cismigiu Park in Bucharest. Until August 31st, over 150 novels and publications are provided for free to the Bucharest public in the space set up in Cismigiu.
Workshops for children and adults, on themes as varied as orgami-making or fashion, are also included in the program. Evenings are dedicated to live music sessions, improvisation and piano concerts.
More details on the upcoming program are available on the event's Facebook page.


Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) has been in the country for over 100 years. CTC has continuously supported agricultural communities and is one of the largest contributors of revenue to the Government of Sri Lanka. Michael Koest, Managing Director and CEO, speaks about CTC's performance as it moves forward while overcoming challenges thrown in its path.
Available only in printed version.
Anselm Perera, Founder Chairman, Mlesna and the present Chairman of the Ceylon Tea Traders Association is one of the pioneers in the industry. Amidst skepticism and despite challenges, he has forged ahead with new thinking and innovative concepts that have elevated the image of Ceylon Tea. Anselm Perera is adamant that the industry must work hard to reach its full potential.
Chandra Wickramasinghe, Founder, Chairman/MD, Connaissance de Ceylan and Theme Resorts & Spas is a pioneer in the hospitality sector. He introduced an eco-cultural tourism concept that embraces the Sri Lankan identity. Identifying that travellers prefer to experience the country in every aspect of their stay, he focused on providing a Sri Lankanised service and environment.
Sampath Mayakaduwe is an inspirational entrepreneur. Idea Group is an innovative company with diverse interests, significantly in software development and manufacturing. He has established a company that is constantly at the cutting-edge of innovation to enhance operational and manufacturing efficiency.
Arosha Perera is the new face of Leo Burnett Sri Lanka. He brings with him a vision to lead the industry's evolution and changing mindset.
Going to universities in the UK is a great way to expand your knowledge, meet new people and enjoy new experiences. It's a chance to experience a great student lifestyle.


So the dating site is a safe and secure environment to contact your perfect match.
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35plusdate is a dating site for men and women over 35, because we know how tough it can be to find someone who fits into your age category.
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DEdication & ribbon cutting
Astronaut José M. Hernández Academy
703 E Swain Road in Stockton, CA
More info below
El Concilio California Academies
STOCKTON, CA – El Concilio California Academies (ECCA), a Stockton-based nonprofit public charter school management company, invite all to join them and gather with community leaders, parents, students, and staff to celebrate the opening of the Astronaut José M. Hernández Academy, located at 703 E Swain Road in Stockton, with a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting event on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.
Named in honor of former NASA Astronaut José M. Hernández, the new school for grades K-8 will provide students with a dual-language immersion STEM-focused curriculum. "I'm honored," said Astronaut José M. Hernández, "I hope that the school's name inspires the students to dream big and realize that it doesn't matter where you start but where you end up." He also hopes that the school is a conduit to turn the students' dreams into a reality. "José Hernández personifies what the school represents," ECCA Board Chair, José Rodriguez, impressed, "that through tenacity everyone can achieve their dreams."
Students at both the Elementary, and Middle School can expect to be challenged and stretched by all their teachers in the myriad art, science, math, and humanities courses that they offer. With invested faculty advisors, the Academy's classrooms will be collaborative spaces, guided by teachers who care deeply for their students. For the new school's principal, Donita Drulias-Daumer, "it's about embracing and supporting everyone who is a part of the ECCA Family both in the classroom and in the community."
ECC Academies' mission is to inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good, guided by the principles of Respect, Integrity, and Success through Education. "Our goal is to establish Hernández Academy as a school known for academic excellence, where student learning is paramount, a school where every child is challenged to achieve, a safe, vibrant, and welcoming learning environment, a school that the community can be proud to have here," said Drulias-Daumer.
"I am excited to see our scholars and teachers bond and our school become a community," said Drulias-Daumer. "The dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting are a way to celebrate giving parents a choice for a high-quality education where students can reach their full potential."
About El Concilio California Academies:
El Concilio California Academies (ECCA) partners with community groups to build and operate free K-12 public charter schools serving students in California. ECCA's system of schools is designed to eliminate the achievement gap and provide school choice to families so their children are prepared for success in high school, college, and beyond. For more information or to enroll your student in the new Academy, visit ECCAcademies.org.


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Live Classes Temporarily Moving to Virtual Format
Working in conjunction with the Canadian County Health Department, the Redlands Community College administration has decided to transition live classes to a virtual format for the next two weeks beginning Monday, Sept. 14. Campus offices, including student services and the testing center, will be open, and tutoring services will be available virtually.
"It was our hope to avoid this step, but unfortunately, more than 10% of the students in 26 classes have tested positive for COVID-19, so health officials believe this precautionary measure will help contain the number of cases," said Redlands President Jack Bryant.
Administration is evaluating the numbers daily and will be working with the health department to determine if students can return to classrooms on campus Monday, Sept. 28.
"We are ensuring that our residential students, who have been quarantined, have access to food and other necessities," Bryant said. "We are also reinforcing the importance of maintaining physical distancing so we can return to providing on-campus classes."
Students will log into Blackboard to participate in their classes at the scheduled times. Instructors will maintain regular office hours and be available by phone or virtually.


Searching for a good hair transplant doctor can be a meticulous job. In large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, for cosmetic and hair transplant surgeons come far and wide. Compared to other cosmetic surgical procedures, hair transplant surgery and in particular follicular unit transplantation is one of the newer branches. Across Southern California you can find a variety of hair transplant surgeons with different levels of experience. Some of the updated surgeons practice in Los Angeles have plenty of work to show for it. Overall, hair restoration and other cosmetic procedures should not be taken lightly. Just because you see a billboard stating "the best Los Angeles Hair Transplant Surgeon" or "the most experienced Hair Transplant surgeon in Southern California" does not make it a true statement.
Now in days, most hair transplant surgeons offer a free initial hair transplant consultation. You need to remember that the end result is permanent and it should be to your liking. Take advantage of the situation and shop around. It isn't enough to just visit several hair transplant doctors; you also need to educate yourself on the hair transplant process, the surgical techniques and the hair transplant surgeon's background before visiting the doctor. By doing so, you can appreciate a good technique and a knowledgeable doctor when you see one. Parsa Mohebi Hair Restoration offers a free physician consultation for everyone and we specialize in state-of-the-art exclusive follicular unit transplants (FUT), mega sessions for people with extensive hair loss and follicular unit extraction (FUE), or minimally invasive hair transplant that does not leave a scar in the donor area.
In today's world it is important to look and feel your best. Modern hair transplant surgery with undetectable results has become a demanding field in Southern California within the last few years. Southern California is the Mecca of hair transplant surgery and one of the best places to go when you want to get the best.


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The lottery has a long history. The first state to use this method of funding public projects was New York in 1967, when it grossed $53.6 million. As word spread about the success of the lottery, other states quickly followed, and by the end of the decade, twelve more had their own lotteries. As a result, the lottery had a firm foothold in the Northeast. It was a popular means for public and private organizations to raise money for public works, towns, and wars.
In China, the game of chance dates back to the Han Dynasty, when government officials began to record slips for lottery draws. They were believed to have been used to finance major projects. In the sixteenth century, lotteries were often a means of government funding, and were even used to fund wars. In the United States, lotteries have been around for centuries. The first official records of lotteries date back to biblical times.
The lottery has a rich history. The first recorded lottery slips were made during the Han Dynasty, when the Chinese were building roads. The game was later used for funding government projects, including canals and courthouses. In the fifteenth century, lotteries helped finance wars and large-scale government projects. As a result, the game continues to be popular. The origin of the lottery can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who used it to build temples and roads, and even financed wars.
The lottery has a long history in the United States. In the 1760s, George Washington conducted a lottery to pay for construction of Mountain Road. In the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington endorsed lotteries to pay for cannons. John Hancock, an Irish-American from Boston, used a lottery to raise money to rebuild Faneuil Hall. The lottery fell out of favor in the 1820s and was considered to be harmful to the public. In New York, the first state to ban lotteries in the state was New York.
The lottery has a long history in China. In the 16th century, the Chinese Han Dynasty's lotteries were a popular alternative to illegal games. They were used to finance government projects and paved the way for modern transportation. The Chinese Book of Songs, which first described the game of chance as "drawing of lots and wood" (and referred to it as a "lottery") was a huge success.
Nowadays, lotteries have become an important source of revenue for governments. Most lotteries operate a toll-free number or website where players can find out if they have won a prize. In addition to winning money, lottery participants can also play scratch games for a variety of prizes. In the 16th century, lottery winnings were used to build canals, roads, and courthouses. By the nineteenth century, lotteries became popular tax revenues for the government.
The Best Time to Visit a Casino