Phillip Hughes funeral in his hometown of Macksville Wednesday Dec 03,2014

 

At his mother's request Phillip Hughes has been placed in a dark, wooden casket with a gold plaque.The car travelled through the streets of Hughes' hometown of Macksville before arriving at Macksville High School at 12.20pm

  

The casket of Phillip Hughes arrives at the centre for the service, topped with flowers in the cricketer's favourite colour - white

 The casket was carried by six pall bearers to be put in place in the recreation hall where the service will take place

Family members and Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke have delivered emotionally charged eulogies and tributes for Phillip Hughes during a touching funeral service at a packed hall in his hometown of Macksville.

Michael Clarke (third from left) was one of eight pallbearers including Hughes' father Gregory (centre) and brother Jason (second from left)

The casket was adorned with roses in white, which was Hughes' favourite colour, at the request of his mother Virginia (bottom right)

Phillip's mother Virginia (centre) wept as she was consoled by daughter Megan (second from left) following Hughes' funeral

Sean Abbott, who was bowling to Hughes at the time of his death, arrived with his girlfriend looking grief-stricken.Along with tributes to Hughes, support for Abbott has poured in from people throughout the cricketing community

 Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (right) arrived at 1.50pm, signed the condolences book and entered the service with the priest

Thousands lined the route as the funeral cortege drove through Macksville towards the RSL club where the official wake is taking place

The massive crowd of mourners walk behind the hearse as it departs the funeral service for Phillip Hughes

 

Australian cricket legends past and present, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Hughes' family were among those who gathered at the Macksville Recreation Centre, on the NSW mid-north coast, to attend the funeral for the fallen cricketer. 

 

Michael Clarke cried as he spoke about the moment he walked to the centre of the Sydney Cricket Ground just hours after learning of Phillip Hughes' death

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke fought back tears as he delivered an emotionally charged tribute to Phillip Hughes 

Cricket bats are seen on the front fence of Macksville Public School on Wednesday

The front page of the order of service for Hughes's funeral, where thousands are expected to pay their respects

Russian Currency Rouble suffers biggest one-day fall since 1998 Monday Dec 01,2014

 

The Russian Currency Rouble suffered its biggest one-day decline since 1998 as oil prices continued to fall on Monday Dec 01,2014, escalating fears about the Russian economy.

 

The currency slid almost 9% against the dollar before rallying after suspected central bank intervention.

Russia is heavily dependent on revenues from oil exports, making its currency vulnerable to falling prices.

Brent Crude hit $67.53 a barrel, the lowest it has been since October 2009, before regaining some ground.
It was just above $70 in late trading on Monday, while US crude was at $66.34 a barrel, having hit an intraday low of $63.72 - the lowest since July 2009.

Note
Russia is the world's second-largest oil exporter(after Saudi Arabia)with oil and gas accounting for 70% of its exports and half of government revenues.

Yacine Brahimi Wins BBC African Footballer of the Year Award 2014

 

Yacine Brahimi has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014. 

 
Yacine Brahimi,the 24-year-old midfielder becomes the first Algerian to win the award, which is decided by football fans.

Porto winger Yacine Brahimi told "It's a big honour for me to receive this wonderful trophy. I owe it to my country, Algeria, and to all the people who voted for me.
"It's also a trophy for the whole of Africa, because it rewards an African player. So I am really very happy."

Yacine Brahimi starred for Algeria at the World Cup in Brazil, helping them reach the last 16 for the first time and scoring his first international goal in the 4-2 won over South Korea in the Group Stage


BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 shortlist -

 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Enyeama, Gervinho and Yaya Toure



Previous winners of BBC African Footballer of the Year award:
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City & Ivory Coast)
2012: Chris Katongo (Henan Construction & Zambia)
2011: Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)
2010: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)
2008: Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2007: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)
2006: Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)
2005: Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)
2004: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2003: Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
2002: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)
2001: Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)
2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)

Non-subsidised Cooking Gas (LPG) Price Reduced by Rs113 Monday Dec 01,2014

 

The price of Non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) was on Monday Dec 01,2014 cut by a sharp Rs 113 per cylinder and that of jet fuel (ATF) by 4.1 per cent on the back of slump in international oil rates.

This is the fifth straight reduction in rates of non-subsidised LPG, which the customers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders at subsidised rates, since August 2014

A 14.2-kg cylinder of non-subsidised LPG will now cost Rs 752 in Delhi, Rs 791 in Kolkata, Rs 770.50 and Mumbai and Rs 749.50 in Chennai.

2014 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima,Peru,South America Dec 01-12,2014

 

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP20 or CMP10 will be held in Lima,Peru,South America from December 1-12, 2014.

This will be the 20th yearly session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) and the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties (CMP 10) to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol

Officials from over 190 nations, including India, on Monday Dec 01,2014 converged here at the UN climate summit to negotiate on a new ambitious and binding deal to cut global carbon emissions, in the last chance to reach on a historic deal to be signed next year in Paris. 

Negotiations have been ongoing for 20 years, as the UN continues to bring its member countries together to help curb the damaging effects of coal burning and petroleum use, among other sources of pollution. 

During the 12—day summit in the Peruvian capital, countries will put forward what they plan to contribute to the 2015 pact in the form of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) by the first quarter of 2015, well in advance of the Paris conference in December.

SAARC emerged as a united force at the ongoing climate conference and put across their stand

Nepal made a statement onbehalf of the SAARC Bloc bringing out its common position which strictly adheres to the basic tenets of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol

The SAARC member countries - India,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka,Bhutan,Nepal,Maldives and Afghanistan jointly asked 'Rich Nations'to fulfill their promises of emission cuts during the pre-zero phase as this action alone would convince the rest of the world

Global climate talks involving 192 nations saved from collapse

Global climate talks have been rescued from the brink of collapse – but leave a gaping loophole which could allow countries to continue polluting the atmosphere.

Negotiations overran by 31 hours as politicians from 192 countries struggled to reach agreement on the ground rules for a new climate treaty.

A fortnight-long United Nations summit in Peru had aimed to lay the framework for new international laws to slow the pace of global warming.

But the discussions became bad tempered as countries bickered over who should bear responsibility for reducing carbon emissions, whether richer nations should reduce pollution more quickly and how much aid they should pay to help poor countries adapt to global warming.

Eventually, they agreed to a watered-down deal which postpones the most difficult decisions for 12 months.

The final treaty, which is due to be signed in Paris in 12 months, will be the first international climate agreement since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

K. Gnanadesikan appointed as the new Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Tuesday Dec 02,2014

 

K. Gnanadesikan ,Chairman and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) was on Tuesday Dec 02,2014  appointed Chief Secretary replacing Mohan Verghese Chunkath who held the post since April 2014

K. Gnanadesikan has five more years to go for retirement. 

K. Gnanadesikan,an officer of the 1982 batch of the IAS, Mr. Gnanadesikan held various positions in the State government including Finance Secretary (2005-2010) and Home Secretary (2010-2011).

K. Gnanadesikan is the 4th Chief Secretary since May 2011. Debendranath Sarangi and Sheela Balakrishnan were the other two persons who held the post.
Mohan Verghese Chunkath has been sent to the Anna Institute of Management as the Additional Chief Secretary/Director.

M. Saikumar, who is the Public Works Secretary since May 2011, has been made the new Chairman and Managing Director of the TANGEDCO

Bangladesh Spinner Taijul Islam became the first bowler in history to claim a hat-trick on his debut in ODI Monday Dec 01,2014

 

Young Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam on Monday Dec 01,2014 became the first bowler in history to claim a hat-trick on his debut in ODI achieving the feat against Zimbabwe in Dhaka.

Taijul Islam,the 22-year-old left-armer bowled Tinashe Panyangara off the last ball of the 27th over and then trapped John Nyumbu leg-before and bowled Tendai Chatara off successive deliveries at the start of his next over to take a split hat-trick.

Islam finished with 4/11(7 Overs) as Zimbabwe, trailing 4-0 in the series, were shot out for 128 after choosing to bat in the fifth and final game at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Scorecard
Zimbabwe 128/10 in  30 Overs
Bangladesh 130/5 in 24.3 Overs
Mastch Result -Bangladesh won by 5 wickets
Series Result - Bangladesh won the 5-match series 5-0

2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Earls Court,London Dec 02-09,2014

                                                                                     

The world's most enviable bodies arrived in London on Sunday Nov 30,2014 and are set to dazzle spectators at the Victoria's Secret fashion show.

Pictured wearing low-sling skinny jeans and T-shirts advertising the London event, the women aren't just a collection of pretty faces (and perfect figures).

Amongst the 40 Angels are some of the world's richest models too.Twenty-nine-year-old mother-of-two, Doutzen Kroes from Holland is the top-earning Angel (together with Adriana Lima)

                                                                                       

Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima lead the way at the Victoria's Secret Show as they dazzle in $2m Dream Angels Fantasy Bras

 

 

 

What your face can reveal about your health

2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or Shorlist Unveiled

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are again the leading contenders for the FIFA Ballon d'Or as the world's best player.

The pair, stars of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, have both been named on the three-man shortlist for the 2015 edition of the prestigious award along with Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Current holder Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have already won the award six times between them.

Manuel Neuer(28)was one of the stars of Germany's 2014 World Cup success, winning the Golden Glove as the tournament's best keeper. 

He is long established as number one for club and country and added two further medals to his collection as Bayern won a domestic double last season.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 

2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2012 - Lionel Messi

2011 - Lionel Messi

2010 - Lionel Messi

2009 - Lionel Messi

2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2007 - Kaka

2006 - Fabio Cannavaro

2005 - Ronaldinho

Haryana Brave Sisters standing up to sexual-harassers on bus Friday Nov 28,2014

 

The two sisters Pooja (left) and Aarti (right) were showered with praise for their courage in standing up to the harassment. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said the women will be given a cash award on Republic Day Jan 26,2015

Haryana Police have arrested three men after a video of them harassing two sisters on a Haryana Roadways bus went viral on social media.

The two college girls can be seen fighting back to repel their attackers, while their fellow passengers turn a blind eye to the violence.  

The three men have been remanded in judicial custody till December 06,2014

The two sisters, BSc final year students of Rohtak Government College, had confronted the men after being harassed, with one even hitting the youths with her belt.

The victims, in their complaint, alleged that they were teased by some youths in a Haryana Roadways bus when they were going to their college on Friday Nov 28,2014

When the victims objected, one of the accused started beating them up. 

The incident, recorded by a pregnant woman passenger on her mobile, went viral on social media and television.

Sisters Pooja, 19, left, and Aarti, 22, right, were filmed beating up a group of men who were verbally and physically abusing them on a bus in Rohtak, a district in the northern state of Haryana

Amid public outrage over the incident, the Director General of Haryana Transport department has ordered the suspension of bus driver Balwan Singh and conductor Labh Singh with immediate effect.

Taking serious note of the incident, the Haryana government asked the state Director General of Police (DGP) and the transport department to ensure the security of passengers, especially women