Govt cuts subsidy on most fertilizers for 2012/13

 India will cut by a fifth the subsidy it gives to phosphate and potash-based fertilisers in 2012/13, the government said in a statement on Thursday, its latest step aimed at patching up its widening fiscal deficit.

Subsides to diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MoP) fertilisers will be slashed by 27.4 percent and 10 percent respectively. But it left out urea, the most used crop nutrient that accounts for the bulk of the government's spending on fertilisers.
The subsidy for DAP will stand at 14,350 rupees per tonne in next financial year beginning from April compared to 19,763 rupees for the current year. For MoP, the same has been fixed at 14,440 rupees per tonne against 16,054 this year.
Subsidy rates for nitrogen, phosphate and potash nutrients are also being cut by 11.6 percent, 32.6 percent, and 10.3 percent respectively. It kept the sulphur subsidy steady at 1.677 rupees per kg.
Indian farmers have complained over a sharp rise in retail prices of fertilisers, especially of DAP and MoP in the past year. Analysts said with the subsidy cut, retail prices of fertilisers were unlikely to go down.
"This is negative for complex fertilisers as reduction in subsidy will limited industry's ability to reduce maximum retail price for farmers," Tarun Surana, analyst at Sunidhi Securities & Finance in Mumbai, said in a research note.
"Reduction in maximum retail price would have been helpful to avoid strong resistance in accepting higher prices among farming community."
India imports all its potash and also buys about 90 percent of its phosphate from abroad. Potash Corp , Mosaic Co , Agrium Inc , Uralkali , Arab Potash Co , ICL Israel Chemicals and K+S are among the major potash suppliers to India.
Moroccan phosphate producer Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP), PhosChem and Russian fertiliser group Phosagro are key DAP supplier to India.
The country's biggest importer, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO), said it was not planning to raise prices despite the proposed subsidy cuts.
"We will not raise retail prices of DAP and MoP due to lower subsidy," U.S. Awasthi, IFFCO managing director, told Reuters.
"Instead we will try to secure imported raw material supplies at lower price."
New Delhi is widely expected to miss by a long chalk its deficit target of 4.6 percent of GDP for 2011/12. It approved this week a plan to sell some of the government's shareholdings in state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp through a share auction.
The fertiliser subsidy bill for 2011/12 is likely to hit 900 billion rupees, more than double the budget estimate, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said last year.
The government began providing fertiliser companies subsidy for potash, phosphate and complex fertilisers based on content of the nutrient in the fertilisers in 2010.

Mumbai Indians beat RCB, win Champions League T20 2011 Cup

Lasith Malinga was the Man of the Series. Most wickets in the tournament and won games with the bat as well.
Malinga: "I am very happy. I am playing with MI as a bowler but a few times I had to get some runs, I am happy with the batting but I want to concentrate on bowling. Good feeling [to get Dilshan]. Have always enjoyed playing with MI."
Harbhajan Singh was declared as the man of the match. which obviously called for a big celebration.
Mumbai Indians. Perennial underperformers in the IPL became the Champions League winners. Couldn't have been more improbable. New captain, half-fit side, part-time misfiring keeper, strike bowler lead with the bat.

US citizen arrested for planning to blow up Capitol building, Pentagon

A 26-year-old US citizen has been arrested for plotting to attack thePentagon and the Capitol building with a large remote-controlled aircraft filled with explosives.

Rezwan Ferdaus, the Northeastern University physics graduate, has also been charged with attempting to supply materials to Al-Qaeda and aid attacks on US soldiers.

Ferdaus was arrested in Boston following an undercover investigation by the FBI, the BBC reports.

Authorities said he designed and supplied undercover operatives with a total of eight mobile phone detonators intended to be used by Al-Qaeda operatives to set off bombs in the Middle East.

During a June 2011 meeting, Ferdaus was told that his first phone detonation device had killed three US soldiers and injured four or five others in Iraq.

According to the report, Ferdaus then began speaking to the agents about his desire to organise anattack on the Pentagon, home of the US military, and the Capitol building in Washington DC.

Posing as accomplices, they then supplied him with C-4 explosives, a remote-controlled plane and arms.

The FBI said Ferdaus was arrested on Wednesday immediately after putting the newly delivered weapons in a storage container.

If convicted, Ferdaus could face up to 15 years in jail for providing support and resources to a foreign terrorist organisation and up to 20 years in prison for attempting to destroy national defence premises, the report said. 

Al-Qaeda blasts Ahmadinejad's 9/11 conspiracy theories

 Al-Qaeda has issued a stern message for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asking him to stop 'spreading 9/11 conspiracy theories,' and claiming that the September 11 terror attacks were actually carried out by the US government.the threat was taken quite seriously

In the latest issue of the Al-Qaeda English-language magazine "Inspire", an author has slammed the "ridiculous" theory spread by Ahmadinejad that the US government carried out the 9/11 terror attacks in order to provide a pretext to invade the Middle East.

According to ABC News, the author further claimed that Iran sees itself as a rival to al Qaeda when it comes to anti-Americanism and was jealous of the 9/11 attacks.but still no confirmation is there about this topic.

"For them, Al-Qaeda was a competitor for the hearts and minds of the disenfranchised Muslims around the world," the article said.

"Al-Qaeda... succeeded in what Iran couldn't. Therefore it was necessary for the Iranians to discredit 9/11 and what better way to do so? Conspiracy theories," it said.

Michelle Obama's 'just relax' tips for to-be diners with hubby Barack

 Michelle Obama has tipped to-be diners with husband Barack 'to relax' and enjoy the occasion.

The US President is holding fundraisers besides mailing his supporters to contribute at least three dollars each in a bid to reach a financial goal for the third quarter.

"Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this. As someone who's eaten countless meals with my husband, I want to tell you the one thing to do if you're selected to join him..." Politico quoted her as saying.

"Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you.

"I hope you'll take him up on it before Friday's (Sept 30) deadline.

"Will you donate 3 dollars or more today and be entered to have dinner with Barack?" she said.

She also admitted that the dinner would be special to the President too, as he'll get to interact with the people who are helping the campaign turn successful.

"These dinners mean a lot to Barack. They're a chance for him to talk with a few of the people who are driving the campaign - and a chance for him to say thank you," she added.

World War II shipwreck full of silver discovered

When the SS Gairsoppa was torpedoed by a German U-boat, it took its huge silver cargo to a watery grave. Seventy years later, US divers said they are working to recover what may well be the biggest shipwreck haul ever.

• The SS Gairsoppa had emergency stern steering which included a stern compass on the top of the poop deck. The binnacle housing the stern compass of the SS Gairsoppa shines in the lights of Odyssey’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) during a visual inspection of the site approximately 4,700 meters deep.
• The SS Gairsoppa was sunk by torpedo from a German U-boat U-101 in 1941 during World War II. Odyssey’s ROV inspection of the wreck site revealed the torpedo hole in the area in which the U-boat Captain’s log reported the ship was struck.

10 Ways to Find New Blog Topics

1.  Check your comment section.

Some of the best ideas come from readers. Read through your comments and check for interesting questions, provoking thoughts, or anything that could become a good post topic. Focus particularly on any comment threads that contain a spirited discussion among readers. If it's hot, run with it.

2.  Create a list.

Whatever you blog about, there is likely an exciting list that you can uncover. Write the “5 Secrets to...” or the “Top 10 Ways...” or “8 Reasons Why...” or “3 Ways to Find Out...” They're quick and painless, and even better: they're fun to read.

3.  Review your greatest hits.

Read back through your old posts, particularly the ones that generated a good amount of feedback, and consider writing a fresh angle on the topic. If a subject was compelling once, it might be worthwhile to explore another variation on it.

4.  Spend some time on social networking sites like Digg and StumbleUpon to find out what other people are blogging about.

Sometimes just browsing through headlines of buzz-worthy blog topics will be enough to jumpstart your creativity. Good ideas are contagious, so take time to read popular blogs and blogs that are generating lots of conversations, and you'll soon have a bunch of new ideas.

5.  Explore blogs in an entirely different category than yours.

Stepping outside your own content area is a wonderful way to be inspired. Have a marketing blog? Read a few food blogs. Have a craft blog? Check out a few political blogs. Inspiration is just a few clicks away.

6.  Do something different.

Create a post using only pictures. Hold a contest. Give something away to the “nth” person who comments. Invite your readers to ask you a question. Participate in a blog meme. Write a pros and cons list on a topic that is relevant for your audience. Write a post in your “alter ego” voice, contradicting a stance you would usually take. Create a poll. Write about a blog post that you had a strong reaction to.

7.  Invite a guest author to write a blog post.

If you need a break on the writing front, why not ask another blogger to write a guest post? Another up-and-coming blogger will likely seize the chance to write for a new audience, and your regular readers will get a fresh perspective.

8.  Step away from the computer.

Some of the best ideas come when you stop trying so hard. Spend an hour or two at the museum; catch the afternoon matinee; browse the magazine rack; or crack open a novel. Chances are good that you'll find yourself inspired when you do return to your desk.

9.  Turn on the news.

We know: since you started blogging, you don't watch nearly as much television, but local and national news are a goldmine of topic ideas. Tune in and be inspired.

10.  Keep an idea log.

Buy a cheap notebook and jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Carry it with you when you're riding the bus or sitting at the airport. Next time you can't think of anything to post about, all you'll have to do is turn to your own treasure trove of brilliance.