From nowhere to almost there for Karlsson

Wentworth (Britain), May 23 (IANS) Robert Karlsson signed his second round card of one-under 70 and then figured that at three-over 145, he was going to miss the cut. The Swede based in Nice, Monaco, disappointed at finishing with a double bogey seven on the 18th that messed his round, took an afternoon flight from London to Nice.

He was almost home in front of his door, when he got a call that he was likely to make the cut right on the line at three-over. Realising that he was in with a chance to play the weekend, without even as much as saying ‘Hi’ to his wife in the house, he asked the same taxi driver to take him back to the airport.

With no direct flight to London, he took a flight to Paris and then after two hours of sleep, he hired a private jet to leave at 6 a.m. He reached just in time for the 8.55 a.m. tee off.

The 2008 European Number One birdied five of the first seven holes to turn in 30 and then picked further shots at the 12th, 14th and 16th for a stunning 62 at the tough West Course. That took him to tied second and just two strokes behind the leader Chris Wood.

From being nowhere, Karlsson now has the chance to pick up the winner’s cheque of 750,000 euros that could make him the first player to win a European Tour event after coming from the cut line.

Asked where he ranked the round, Karlsson just smiled and replied: ‘Probably the most unexpected.’

Rory McIlroy did just that in US recently while winning the Quail Hollow Open on the PGA Tour.

Man down to his last $30 wins $258.5m on US lottery!

London, April 24 (ANI): An American shop assistant, who was left with just about 30dollars in his bank account, has bagged a 258.5million-dollar prize on the US lottery.

Chris Shaw, 29, now plans to use the Powerball jackpot to pay off the 1,000dollars he owes a pal for a truck he recently bought, and visit a dentist to get his two missing front teeth replaced.

He also wants to go to Disney World, Florida, with his three kids and his girlfriend”s two children.

“We didn”t come from money. For us it”s just going to be a huge relief to know I”m going to be able to pay my electric bill, my gas bill,” Sky News quoted Shaw, as saying.

He added: “It”s like a weight lifted. I had bills at home – I didn”t know how they were going to be paid.”

Shaw, who earns just 7.25dollars an hour, purchased the 5dollar ticket at the Break Time convenience store where he works in Marshall, nearly 80 miles east of Kansas City.

He was handed the cheque at the Missouri Lottery headquarters in Jefferson City.

He said: “That amount of money to me is like a fairy tale.

“I”m just a regular guy working pay cheque to pay cheque. Well not any more.”

Shaw had been employed at the store for just three weeks when he decided to purchase the Powerball ticket, cigarettes and a soft drink at the end of his shift earlier this week.

He said: “We had been kidding each other all day about winning it, but no one actually thinks they will win.”

His 258.5million dollar prize is the 10th biggest Powerball jackpot ever. (ANI)

Asif-Veena reach out of court settlement over all issues

Lahore, Apr.17 (ANI): The conflict between Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Asif and his estranged girlfriend Veena Malik seems to be over with both of them reaching an out of court settlement over all issues between them.

Malik, a famous television actress, told Geo News that matters between her and Asif have been resolved as both have decided to end the muddle amicably.

“Matters between Mohammed Asif and me have been decided and we have reached an agreement. We had two-day long talks to reach a deal,” Malik said.

She, however, refused to divulge details about the ‘agreement’ between the two.

Malik said a mutual friend, Zahid Yusuf, mediated between them following which they decided to call-off the tussle.

However, there has been no confirmation of a settlement from Asif’s side.

Earlier, Malik had asked the concerned authorities to register a case against Asif for giving her ‘fake’ cheques.

In her plea, Malik claimed that she had given 10 million rupees to Asif, and the cheque that the fast bowler had given her to return the money had bounced.

Malik claimed that she had supported Asif both ”emotionally” and ”financially” during his bad days, and now she ‘at least’ wants her money back.

Asif was romantically linked to Malik, and there were rumours last year that both got secretly married in London, which has been denied by both of them.

However, Asif got married to a girl from Lahore, Hina, recently. (ANI)

Adelaide Oval work will happen: Foley

Deputy Premier Kevin Foley has dismissed suggestions that a planned upgrade of Adelaide Oval will not be delivered.

Mr Foley says the South Australian Government is committed to providing no more than $450 million for the upgrade which would allow AFL games to be played in the city rather than at Football Park at West Lakes.

The Treasurer says the Commonwealth is considering chipping in some money.

“We’re nowhere near at the stage in my view of bolting down who pays what,” he said.

“But our contribution of $450 million is a sizeable contribution. We don’t want that to be any more than that and we’re certainly not going to go into a situation where we give an open cheque to anyone who would be wanting to redevelop Adelaide Oval.”

Opposition treasury spokesman Iain Evans thinks the project will cost $540 million and has questioned the Government’s motives.

“Is this Government trying to design a project that can’t be delivered so that the sporting codes have to walk away from it and then the Rann Government can blame the sporting codes?” he asked.

Mr Foley says the Stadium Management Authority (SMA) has not finalised the project costing.

“There are a number of concepts that are coming out of the planning process that may cost more than what the original SMA have assumed, that is if of course those additional aspects are included in the project,” Mr Foley said.

‘Father of global warming’ to speak in Adelaide

The so-called “father of global warming”, James Hansen, is using his Australian visit to push for a global carbon payment system.

Dr Hansen, the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City, will speak at an Adelaide University event tonight.

The climate scientist is in Adelaide to outline what he thinks countries should do after last year’s Copenhagen climate talks.

He says the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is too heavily favoured towards polluters, and he is pushing for a user-pays system.

“You collect a fee at the mine or the wellhead or the port of entry, and then you distribute that money to the public as a green cheque or an income tax reduction,” he said.

“All you really need is for the United States and China to agree that they’re going to do that and then it becomes relatively easy. Europe would go along with the United States.”

Dr Hansen says any countries that do not agree would have a border tax imposed on their products.

He says no agreement came from Copenhagen because no solution arose that favoured both the environment and the economies of the countries which took part.

Malaysia gives RM1 million grant for Malay Indian tuition centre

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 18 (ANI): The Malaysian Government has allocated RM1 million to the Sri Murugan Centre to help poor and deserving Indian students excel in their education.

The centre’s director and founder, M. Thambirajah, informed about the grant after receiving the cheque from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

The centre was established in 1982 to focus on education. It provides tuition for UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM students. It has 103 branches throughout the country, The Star reports.

Thambirajah said that over the years the centre had produced 16,000 graduates, and added that the funds would be used to open new centres with better facilities.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the National Youth Skill Training Institute’s courses would be revised to be more relevant to the job market.

He said his ministry was seeking the assistance of the private sector to identify the areas of demand so that courses could be tailored accordingly. (ANI)

Britons keep 90m unused phone handsets at home!

London, Sep 14 (ANI): Britons keep almost 90 million unused phone handsets at home after they upgrade to new models, according to a countrywide survey.

The research revealed that 52 per cent keep unused phones at home in case a current handset is stolen, lost or broken.

In fact, more than two third Britons (68 per cent) have admitted to having more than one mobile phone hoarded at home.

Only 22 per cent of respondents actively recycle their phones, with 21 per cent opting instead to hand down old mobiles to friends and family.

Astonishingly, about four per cent people in the survey declared that they actually throw their mobile phones in the bin.

While the average lifespan of a mobile phone is around seven years, 87 per cent of respondents claimed to have had their current handset for less than two years.

Eighty one per cent Britons confessed that they upgrade their phones every one to two years.

“This survey shows that over the years we have become increasingly opportunistic and capricious when it comes to mobile phones,” the Telegraph quoted Tammy Arya, general manager at The Recycling Factory based in Boston, Lincolnshire, as saying.

“We generally change our handsets whenever a new, improved model is available or when we are offered an upgrade. This means that within the seven year average lifespan of a mobile phone most of us will go through around three or four handsets.

“As a result, there are now well over 90 million unused mobile phones lying around in drawers throughout the UK, or even worse, being binned.

“It is vital to encourage the public to start recycling their mobile phones to do their bit for the environment and help to keep unnecessary landfill waste to a minimum. It won’t cost anything,” she added.

She urged people to log on to The Recycling Factory website to send their old phone in free of charge and receive a cheque for the value of the phone. (ANI)

George Clooney gives $19,000 charity cheque to ex-girlfriend

Washington, Sep 9 (ANI): George Clooney may have split from ex-girlfriend Lisa Snowdon long ago, but still seems to shower expensive gifts on her, for he has recently handed her a 19,000 dollars cheque for her charity initiative.

The Hollywood hottie and the British radio presenter ended their relationship in 2006, and the ‘Ocean’s 11′ star is now dating Italian Elisabetta Canalis.

However, they have remained friends even after the split.

And when Snowdon announced that she would be jumping out of a plane to raise money for good causes, Clooney was only too happy to help.

The star has donated 19,000 dollars for her parachute jump, which benefits the ‘Help A London Child’ scheme and the ‘Shooting Star Hospice’.

“George was so impressed with Lisa’s guts and determination that he wanted to help. Lisa had no idea how generous he would be until she logged on to her website and saw how much he had put down,” Contactmusic quoted a source as having told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper. (ANI)

Pakistanis outraged over Minority Affairs Ministry’s failed promises

Karachi, Aug. 30 (ANI): Pakistan’s Minority Affairs ministry has left many people outraged after they found out that cheques distributed to them by the ministry were not worth 5,000 rupees as claimed, but just 1,000 rupees.

On Saturday, 200 people from different communities had gathered at Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs Dr Mohan Lal’s office to receive the cheques while chanting slogans in his favour, the Daily Times reports.

Addressing the distribution ceremony, Lal had said that his ministry is trying to help the religious minorities and these cheques were a part of the first phase of offering relief while similar projects are in the pipeline.owever, one such claimant Kaishi complained that she was told by the bank authorities that the cheque was not for 5,000-rupees.

“He (Lal) clearly told us that the cheques are worth Rs 5,000 each but we were actually given cheques worth Rs 1,000 only and those can also just be cashed at the bank in Hyderabad,” said Kaishi.

An outraged Kaisi soon found out that the ministry had fooled all the other cheque receivers as well, most of whom were widows.

“We need almost Rs 1,000 just to get to Hyderabad to cash the cheque besides we were told that these cheques were worth Rs 5,000,” said Gomi, another widow from Jogi Moar Colony.

These women had walked to the minister of minority affairs’ office almost every day for a year so that they may get some sort of financial assistance from the ministry and every time they were sent home empty handed with a lot of promises.

On being contacted, Lal’s casually said that these women would be compensated during the next phase.

“Actually we had already distributed a huge amount and there were not enough funds to issue cheques worth 5,000 rupees to these women,” he added. (ANI)

Andy Murray has a long way to go to reach Brit legend Fred Perry’s iconic status, says daughter

London, July 1 (ANI): Penny Perry, the daughter of Fred Perry, the last Briton to win the Wimbledon men’s championship title (in 1936), believes that there are many dissimilarities between her father and current Wimbledon hope Andy Murray.

For instance, she said her father was from a working class background and always made an effort to keep up appearances in society.

Murray, on the other hand, comes from a middle-class background and was brought up in Scotland.

Perry was married four times and his last marriage lasted 40 years and he was also romantically involved with Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich. Murray has a long-term girlfriend, Kim Sears, daughter of his coach Nigel Sears.

Perry used a Slazenger wooden racket that weighed 14 ounces and cost around 3.50 pounds. Murray’s high-tech Head equipment is made of carbon and costs around 175 pounds.

Perry liked to smoke a pipe and his fitness regime included training at Arsenal and playing the occasional friendly. Murray is also a fitness freak and heads to Florida in close season for gruelling workouts in the heat.

Penny Perry is beginning to believe her father’s achievement 73 years ago is seriously under threat.

The Sun quoted her as saying: “It is different this year. There is the kind of feeling that takes me back to Virginia Wade, 1977, Silver Jubilee and so on. “All of a sudden, it’s Fred’s 100th, Andy is wearing the gear and it would be 75 years since my father first won it. People tend to forget that because they are so busy thinking about the last win.”

The legendary Fred pocketed 10 pounds and a gold medal for winning Wimbledon in 1934. When he turned professional after winning for the third successive time in 1936, the snooty All-England Club were delighted to have an excuse to withdraw his membership.

If he wins, Murray would pick up a cheque for 850,000 pounds and the pin number to a spin-off fortune.

Penny, who lives in the US, has been a keen spectator from the Members’ Enclosure since the tournament began and sees a connection between her father and Murray – especially since he smartened up.

Penny candidly admits she is in two minds about the thought of Murray lifting the trophy on Sunday – but believes her father would ultimately be pleased. (ANI)

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) – MCD Property Tax – MCD Delhi – Mcdpropertytax – MCD Delhi Property Tax Guide

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) – MCD Property Tax – MCD Delhi – Mcdpropertytax – mcdpropertytax.in – mcdonline.gov.in – MCD Delhi Property Tax Guide

Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Property Tax Assessment & Collection Department

Payment of Property tax under Municipal Corporation of Delhi, can be made through the website www.mcdpropertytax.in, through Itz cash cards or through cheque or bank draft at branches of Axis Bank and MCD Property Tax Offices.

To download MCD Property Tax Form, property tax guide and file your returns online, visit MCD Delhi website www.mcdonline.gov.in.

Mariah Carey showered with diamonds in Turkey

London, May 27 (IANS) Singer-actress Mariah Carey landed more than just a big pay cheque for a private gig in Turkey when she was showered with diamond gifts.

The “Hero” hitmaker was paid a staggering $1.5 million for a one-off performance at the launch of the Mardan Palace in Antalya, Europe’s most expensive luxury resort Saturday, but she walked away with much more than expected, reports contactmusic.com.

Carey was gifted millions more in sparkling jewels, including a huge five-carat diamond ring in the shape of her signature butterfly.

Susan Boyle advances to Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals

London, May 24 (ANI): Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle has advanced into the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, putting her one step closer to the title.

Boyle, who rose to fame after belting out ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from Les Miserables on the programme, was one of 40 acts selected by judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden to continue in the competition.

Boyle will kick off the first of five semi-finals on Sunday, going up against seven other acts, reports the Telegraph.

Two acts from the five semi-finals will then be voted by the judges and viewers through to the finale, scheduled to air next Saturday on Britain’s ITV network.

They are all competing for the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show and a 100,000 pounds cheque. (ANI)

Manmohan Singh pays rent till 2011

Guwahati, May 21 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has paid advance rent till the year 2011 for his house in Guwahati at Sarumotoria.

Singh, who is also an MP from Assam, owns a rented house of former Assam Chief Minister Late Hiteshwar Saikia.

Hemo Prava Saikia, who is living in the house now, said she was proud that she has a tenant who is now the Prime Minister of the country for the second term.

“Manmohan Singh never forgets to pay his due, and this time he has sent a cheque paying the rent till the year 2011,” she added. (ANI)

Mel Gibson settles lawsuit with Passion of the Christ screenwriter

London, May 20 (ANI): Mel Gibson has packed a lawsuit filed against him by the screenwriter of his movie the Passion Of The Christ.

The Aussie actor was said to have reached a settlement with Benedict Fitzgerald, who claimed he was underpaid for his work on the 2004 blockbuster.

According to TMZ.com, Fitzgerald had alleged he was cheated out of millions of dollars in potential earnings after being paid just 50,000 pounds for co-writing the controversial film, reports the Daily Express.

The writer claimed he should have been given a heavier cheque keeping in mind the true cost of the film that went on to bag an estimated 400 million pounds worldwide.

He had asked a judge to force 52-year-old Gibson to unwrap the accounts in front of the court.he suit has now been settled though no details on the matter were revealed. (ANI)

Clinton’s friends find new way to help her pay left over campaign debt

Washington, Apr 24 (ANI): Us Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s friends have found a new way to help her pay most of the bills left over from her presidential campaign.

US election laws barred President Barack Obama from writing a big cheque to help settle Clinton’s gaping campaign debt, but he and other Clinton allies found another way to help the Secretary of State pay presidential campaign debt, Politico reports.

Obama’s inaugural committee and a slew of other groups ranging from Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation to Media Matters to the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns of Gavin Newsom in California and Terry McAuliffe in Virginia combined to pay nearly 2.1 million dollars.

Clinton’s presidential campaign received an additional 2.6 million dollars from her still-functioning Senate campaign, which a source close to the campaigns said was to buy the presidential email list outright.

The more than 3.6 million dollars she received for the list, revealed in Federal Election Commission filings, is about four times the 938,000 dollars donors gave.

To be sure, email lists are valuable fundraising tools, and it’s become standard practice for campaigns to rent or buy them from one another.

But the money came at an especially opportune time for Clinton, whose ability to raise money to repay her debts is limited by ethics rules and traditions that effectively bar diplomats from partisan political activity, including raising cash.

The income from the list’s rental and sale – the latter cryptically listed in her FEC filings as “sale of assets” – allowed Clinton’s presidential campaign in the first three months f the year to pay 3.7 million dollars in leftover bills. (ANI)

Rajasthan HC issues notice to Lalit Modi in cheating case

Jaipur, Apr 24 (ANI): The Rajasthan High Court on Friday issued a notice to IPL Chairman Lalit Modi in connection with alleged forgery in issuing a cheque of Rs six crore to the Chief Minister Relief Fund for disbursement among victims of May 13 Jaipur serial blasts.

A single bench comprising Justice S P Pathak on issued notice to Modi to explain why his bail should not be cancelled for leaving the country without its permission.

On February 27, the court had granted anticipatory bail to Modi, against whom a complaint was registered by an NGO Nagrik Morcha for allegedly not giving money to victims of last year’s Jaipur blasts as promised.

The court had granted bail on the specific condition that he shall not leave India without prior permission.

Currently, Modi is in South Africa, where the second edition of IPL is undergoing.

A case was registered against Modi under Section 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery) of IPC.

According to the FIR, after a match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians on May 17 last year at SMS stadium here, Modi had presented a cheque of Rs six crore to then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, but the entire amount was never deposited. (ANI)

C.Suisse starts shutting US offshore accounts-report

C.Suisse closing down some U.S. offshore accounts

* Move comes after rival UBS came under probe

ZURICH, April 12 (Reuters) – Swiss bank Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX) has started closing down the offshore accounts of U.S. clients who have not declared the money to the U.S. authorities, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Sonntagszeitung newspaper said the bank had about 2,500-5,000 U.S. clients with undeclared offshore accounts worth about 3 billion francs, without citing its sources.

The paper said Credit Suisse had started parting company with its U.S. offshore clients, giving them the option of moving their accounts to its CS Private Advisors subsidiary, which would report the accounts to the U.S. tax authorities, or writing them a cheque.

It quoted an unnamed Credit Suisse manager as saying the bank was only applying the new “zero tolerance” policy in individual cases for now but was considering a more general withdrawal from the U.S. offshore business.

Credit Suisse was not immediately available for comment on the article. Sonntagszeitung quoted a spokesman as declining to confirm the report, but noting the tougher approach of foreign authorities on offshore wealth management in recent times.

“CS sticks to all valid rules and regulations in various countries,” a spokesman told the newspaper.

The move comes after rival UBS (UBSN.VX)(UBS.N) said last year it would stop offering offshore services to U.S. citizens after U.S. authorities alleged that the Swiss bank has helped rich Americans hide money away from the taxman in Swiss accounts.

A newspaper reported earlier this year that Credit Suisse was writing to its U.S. clients holding Swiss accounts asking them to sign a form that would reveal them to U.S. tax authorities. (Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Mike Nesbit)

Bollywood actor Imran Khan visits slum children in Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 14 (ANI): Bollywood actor Imran Khan on Tuesday visited Akansha, a voluntary forum engaged in welfare of slum children.

Imran Khan spent his time interacting with the kids. He also presented a cheque to the NGO as his personal donation.

Khan said he liked to be associated with issues concerning betterment of women and children.

“Last month, I had joined the Vagina Monologues to do a special show to end violence against women. I felt very strongly for children also. I have a lot of cousins who are younger than me. So I have a very good relation with kids. I love kids a lot. I like to associate my self with such causes,” Khan added.

The actor obliged the children by posing for photographs and also signing autographs for them. The expression on the faces of children clearly showed that they were elated.

When the excited children quizzed the actor about his favourite actors in Bollywood, Imran revealed that Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan were his favourite actors, while Kareena topped the list among the heroines.

A good number of Bollywood celebrities are actively associated with social causes. Salman Khan, the ‘bad boy of Bollywood’, donates for the cause of aged while some other leading actors have contributed for the upliftment of the weaker section of society. (ANI)

No cash for fuel, BPCL dealers mayshut

MUMBAI: Brace yourself for an artificial shortage of fuel. Several Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) dealers have threatened to down
shutters from next week as they claim they do not have money to buy fuel from the company. BPCL has the largest number of outlets in the city.

BPCL introduced a new system for payment of fuel two months ago; dealers would have to deposit the money directly into the BPCL account a day in advance. The company informed dealers that it would not supply any fuel unless the advance payment was made.

The new system (called real-time gross settlement) allows money to be transferred from the dealer’s account to BPCL account in real time. A BPCL spokesperson said the system was introduced because the company was facing a liquidity crunch. “The dealers have enjoyed the credit facility for a long time but, since June last year, they have been making advance payments through demand drafts. We are simply replacing the drafts with the new system which will allow a seamless transfer; 89% of our dealers across the country are following it,” he said.

But dealers say the system has adversely hit them and many of them are finding it difficult to purchase fuel. “Earlier we used to pay on site; the tanker would arrive with the fuel, decant the material and we would give the cheque. It would be realised in two to three days and we got some credit,” a dealer explained.

But last year, when crude prices started spiralling, the company announced it was losing money and dealers were told they would have to give their cheques a day in advance. “This, too, was acceptable as it still gave us a day’s credit,” a dealer said.

But, two months ago, dealers were informed that the actual payment must happen a day in advance. “We had a meeting with BPCL officials on Friday. It will be difficult for most dealers to raise funds in such a short time. A small dealer will have to generate an additional Rs 15 lakh while a big dealer will need at least Rs 50 lakh,” Petrol Dealers’ Association vice-president Amarjeet Singh said. The only way out, he added, was to order in small quantities or shut pumps on weekends.