Upgrade: NSW Premier Mike Baird and Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons standing in front of Harris Bridge in Holsworthy. Picture: Simon Bennett.
Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons has hit back against allegations which doubt her party’s commitment to the upgrading of Heathcote Road.
Last week Charishma Kaliyanda, a Labor candidate for the south ward of Liverpool Council, claimed that the Liberal Party’s promise to allocate $4 million to upgrade Harris Creek Bridge “had been found to be woefully inadequate”.
According to Ms Kaliyanda, information about the project accessed under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 showed that half of the allocated budget had already been spent.
“The Liberal Party should immediately account for the amount spent on the Harris Creek Upgrade Project so far, be honest with the people of our area about their woefully inadequate promise and give the project the importance it deserves by fully funding it,” Ms Kaliyanda said.
Charishma Kaliyanda, a Labor candidate for the south ward of Liverpool Council, at Harris Bridge.
Ms Gibbons said the project had always been much more than the upgrading of one bridge.
“Charishma should realise that the $4 million wasn’t to build one bridge, but to plan for a much larger project that will make a significant difference to the local community,” she said.
“Both Williams Creek and Harris Creek bridges flood during significant rainfall. There is no point upgrading one without the other – and that is what we are working to do.
“I have upheld my election promises and will continue to do so. The road work signs were removed with the official completion of Deadmans Creek bridge just this week, and Holsworthy train station car-park finished with 463 new spaces, 63 above what was promised.”
Ms Gibbons said at the State Election in 2014, she promised $4 million for the planning of a 2.2 kilometre upgrade of Heathcote Road – expanding it from two lanes to four between Infantry Parade and The Avenue, Voyager Point.
“By late this year, we expect to have the concept design progressed, as well as the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and an environmental impact assessment for the project,” she said.
source: http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au / Liverpool City Champion / by Ashley Milton / Thursday – August 01st, 2016
“I want Australia. I want them in the semi-finals and I want to beat them bad.”
It’s been 36 years since India won a medal in hockey at the Olympics. As the team heads to Rio, there is a realistic chance and great anticipation this time around that the team could once again stand on the podium, on the back of some impressive results in the last few years. And one man who could prove instrumental in India’s quest for Olympic glory is S V Sunil.
Somwarpet Vittalacharya Sunil was born on May 6, 1989 in Coorg district of Karnataka. In his growing up years, he used a bamboo stick to play the game as he came from a poor background.
He made his international debut at the Asia Cup in Chennai in 2007, a tournament which India won incidentally. He was then part of the silver-winning team at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup the following year. More recently, he was part of two historic triumphs – a bronze at the World Hockey League in 2015 and a silver at the Champions Trophy in 2016.
“Coming from a poor family in Coorg, hockey has given me everything I need to lead a comfortable life. And when I play, I remember what the game has given me for the sacrifices I have made and I will do everything to bring glory for the country,” Sunil said, while speaking to Followyoursport.com.
S V Sunil is regarded as one of the fastest players on the turf today and his blazing runs, mostly down the right flank, have caught the opposition unawares many a time. These incisive inroads have either resulted in direct goals or have created set-piece opportunities for others to score.
With the additional responsibility of vice-captaincy, Sunil is a vital cog in the Indian machine who could tilt fortunes in the team’s favour in crucial match situations.
“I don’t feel that the role of Vice-Captain brings any pressure to my game. Being part of the team for so long, I have learnt to handle pressure and that helps me stick to my natural game. Vice-Captaincy for me, is all about making the youngsters in the team understand their role and motivate them to play to their potential.” Sunil stated.
Sunil is quietly confident about the team doing well at the quadrennial event.
“The approach we have for the Olympics this time is far more systematic and I feel we are on the right track. Last time, we paid more attention to fitness. But this time, it is very different. We pay attention to overall development as a team and the training has a lot to do with discipline and team spirit which I think has helped us on the field and in understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Coach Roelant Oltmans is impressed with Sunil’s talent and ability.
“He is an attacker and brings something exceptional to the team. He understands our demands and he keeps questioning what we are doing in a positive way so that he can understand it and translate to the younger players,” Oltmans said.
“I want Australia. I want them in the semi-finals and I want to beat them bad,” said SV Sunil in a recent interview to Sportskeeda, reflecting the team’s eagerness to beat them after they have emerged as the last stumbling block in a series of tournaments lately.
(India’s Olympic Hope is a series of profiles of south India’s Olympic participants of Rio 2016)
source: http://www.thenewsminute.com / The NEWS Minute / Home> Olympics / TNM Staff / Monday – August 01st, 2016
Americans who thrive on Starbucks will get a taste of single-origin coffee from Coorg for the first time
FULL OF FLAVOURCoffee beans at a Starbucks store / PHOTO: PTI
A small lot of speciality coffee from Karnataka’s famed Coorg region is getting ready to make its “limited edition” and exclusive debut later this year at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle, America. It is almost considered a shrine in the world of high-end coffee.
While the formal deal has been inked between Starbucks and Tata Coffee recently, here’s looking deeper into what that cuppa might hold. For starters, it’s said to be intensely aromatic, “with notes of caramel, citrus, toasted nuts and milk chocolate”.
The coffee comes, not surprisingly, from the largest Arabica plantation (394 hectares) in Coorg district, from the Nullore estate owned by Tata Coffee Limited, close to Madikeri. “When we cupped the Tata Nullore Estates coffee, we noticed it was different from other Indian coffees. The flavour of this rare coffee exemplified the types of unusual coffees we want to deliver under our Starbucks Reserve programme,” says Andrew Linnemann, vice president, global coffee quality and engagement at Starbucks Coffee Company. The Starbucks Reserve programme features the rarest and most exotic coffees — unique, small-lot coffees that the company roasts in Seattle. “Each coffee is one-of-a-kind — sourced from small coffee-growing regions in Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific. All the coffees are roasted with care to bring out their peak flavour expression,” adds Linnemann.
“Nullore Estate coffee was a microlot,” points out Sanjiv Sarin, managing director and CEO, Tata Coffee Ltd. Microlots are generally considered the “cream of the crop” from an estate, and come with a unique taste and story; they are usually sold in small quantities, mostly only a few kilos! Therefore, they are pricier.
“We have been working on premium differentiated coffees for some months now and set up a process to identify potential blocks in our estates whose coffees will qualify. Nullore passed our assessment. A small batch of carefully cultivated coffee was isolated from the regular farm produce and was handpicked and sun-dried. Producing quality microlots is a meticulous and tedious process,” reiterates Sarin. The Nullore Estate coffee will be available at the Seattle tasting room later this year, and only for a limited period. The pricing has not yet been decided.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> MetroPlus / by Bhumika K / July 26th, 2016
Single-origin Indian coffee will be available for the first time in Starbucks, Seattle, as a limited edition Photo: PTI
Americans, who thrive on Starbucks, will get a taste of a single-origin coffee from India’s Coorg region for the first time. BHUMIKA K. gives you a peek into what the cup holds
A small lot of speciality coffee from Karnataka’s famed Coorg region is getting ready to make its limited edition and exclusive debut later this year at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, America, considered a shrine almost in the world of high-end coffee.
It is for the first time that the leading American coffee company will offer a single-origin coffee from India in the U.S.
While the formal deal has been inked between Starbucks and Tata Coffee Ltd recently, here is looking deeper into what that cuppa might hold, right from where it was grown. For starters, it is said to be intensely fragrant and aromatic, “with notes of caramel, citrus, toasted nuts, and milk chocolate”.
Grown in two-tier shade, the Nullore Estate coffee is a microlot / Photo: Special arrangement
The coffee comes, not surprisingly, from the largest Arabica plantation (394 hectares) in Coorg district, from the Nullore estate owned by Tata Coffee Limited, close to Madikeri. These Arabicas are grown under a two-tier shade system (under local and fruit bearing trees). The shade is carefully managed, which helps the coffee bean mature slowly, absorbing the natural “organoleptic” characteristics within – which gives it the final smell and taste. Coorg is considered to have the perfect agro-climate and soil suitable for coffee cultivation.
Coorg is known for its coffee and Nullore Estate, that belongs to Tata Coffee, is one of the largest Arabica plantations in the district Photo: AFP
“When we cupped the Tata Nullore Estates coffee we noticed this coffee was different from other Indian coffees. The flavour of this rare coffee exemplified the types of unusual coffees we want to deliver under our Starbucks Reserve Programme,” says Andrew Linnemann, Vice President, global coffee quality and engagement at Starbucks Coffee Company. The Starbucks Reserve Programme is an ongoing series of the rarest and most exotic coffees — unique, small-lot coffees that the company creates, roasting them in Seattle. “Each coffee is one-of-a-kind — sourced from small coffee-growing regions in Latin America, Africa and Asia, Pacific Islands. All Starbucks Reserve coffees are roasted with care, at our Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, to bring out their peak flavour expression,” adds Linnemann.
“Nullore Estate coffee was a microlot,” points out Sanjiv Sarin, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Coffee Ltd. Microlots are generally considered the “cream of the crop” from an estate, and of course come with a unique taste and a story behind it; they are usually sold in small quantities, mostly only a few kilos. Therefore, they are pricier. “We have been working on premium differentiated coffees for some months now and set up a process to identify potential blocks in our estates whose coffees will qualify. Nullore passed our assessment. A small batch of carefully-cultivated coffee was isolated from the regular farm produce, handpicked and sun dried. Producing quality microlots is a meticulous and tedious process,” reiterates Sarin.
It is technology driven too, including using light-sensitive spectrometers to ensure that the coffee beans mature slowly but uniformly. The shade also means that there is natural mulching from the leaves that fall onto the ground, which in turn helps avoid the use of strong fertilizers and pesticides. Sustainable cultivation practices and an endeavour to maintain the ecological balance were also the focus. The Nullore Estate coffee will be available at the Seattle tasting room later this year, and only for a limited period. The pricing has not yet been decided.
The first Indian coffee to be available through Starbucks was introduced in 2013, to celebrate the Tata-Starbucks first anniversary in the India market. Starbucks created a special India-sourced coffee, called ‘India Estates Blend’, as a tribute to its customers, partners, coffee producers, and roasters. But it was sourced, roasted, packaged, and sold in India. Explaining the difference between a blend and single-origin coffee, Sarin describes how a coffee blend is a combination of coffees from different origins that, when put together, create an experience or flavour profile that does not exist by itself.
“A single-origin coffee comes from one, geographic place (country, region, town, community, estate, mill or farm). This gets to a coffee’s very specific provenance. They represent a ‘taste of place’.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / Bhumika K / Bengaluru – July 25th, 2016
The Leading Physicians of the World (LPW) has recognised Dr. Dechu Ponnappa Puliyanda, MD, an alumnus of Mysore Medical College (MMC), as a top Paediatric Nephrologist in California by including her name in its 2016 edition.
LPW, which began as a yearly publication, selecting and documenting the biographies of medicines brightest minds, has over time evolved into the largest international exclusive medical organisation, representing first rate doctors in over 100 different medical specialties in all major markets across the globe.
Profile: Dechu Puliyanda is an astute clinician with a special interest in Pediatric Nephrology and kidney transplantation. After finishing her Fellowship in Nephrology and Transplantation from Harvard, she joined the prestigious Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Beverly Hills California, where she currently serves as the Director of the Pediatric Nephrology programme. She is a professor of Pediatrics at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre as well as Professor of Pediatrics at the UCLA-David Geffen School of Medicine at Los Angeles, California.
Her research has focused on viral infections in the post transplant period, and surrogate markers for renal transplant rejection. She is a world-renowned speaker and has presented at a number of national and international conferences. She is an author of many peer-reviewed publications in prestigious medical journals. In addition, she has a very strong commitment to providing comprehensive care to children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Dechu Puliyanda is is a member of the American Society of Transplantation, International Pediatric Transplantation Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, International Pediatric Nephrology Association to name a few.
A gold medallist from Mysore Medical College (MMC), Dr. Dechu Puliyanda completed her internship and residency at the Rush Presbyterian St.Luke’s Medical Centre in Chicago. She then completed her Fellowship in Nephrology and Transplantation at the Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
She is the daughter of late Dr. Kokkalera Ponnappa and Machie Ponnappa (nee Pandanda), who is a resident of Mittal Panorama on Lalitha Mahal Road in Mysuru. She is married to Subbaiah Puliyanda and the couple have two children, Siddarth and Sitara.
Dechu’s brother Uthaiah Kokkalera is a Robotic Laparascopic Surgeon in Los Angeles, California.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 18th, 2016
Not used to playing singles anymore, India’s Rohan Bopanna found rhythm in nick of time to edge past Hong Chung before Yong-Kyu Lim prevented a Korean whitewash with a gritty win over Ramkumar Ramanathan in the Davis Cup Asia\Oceania Group I tie on Sunday.
Asked to take court in place of Saketh Myneni, who is still recovering from his gruelling match on Friday, Bopanna laboured to a 3-6 6-4 6-4 win
source: http://www.youtube.com / Indian Express Online / published July 17th, 2016
Kokkalera Uthaiah Ponnappa, who hails from Kodagu and is now settled in the U.S., has bagged the Resident Achievement Award for 2005, a national award given to a resident surgeon in that country by the Society of Laparo-endoscopic Surgeons (SLS), according to family sources here.
An SLS communication to Dr. Uthaiah Ponnappa said that in recognition of his being an outstanding laparo-endoscopic resident, his name has been listed in the SLS News and World Report section of the Journal of the Society of Laparo-endoscopic Surgeons.
Dr. Uthaiah Ponnappa did his MBBS at Bangalore Medical College and went to Manchester in the U.K. for his FRCS. — Staff Correspondent
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka> Briefly / Saturday – July 16th, 2005
If there is one place in Karnataka that has produced top quality hockey players on a consistent basis, it has to be Kodagu. And when it comes to producing Olympians, few regions can match this picturesque district.
Joining the stalwarts likes MP Ganesh, BP Govinda (both 1972 Olympics), AB Subbaiah (1992, 96) and CS Poonacha (1992), Arjun Halappa (2004) who all donned the Indian colours at the quadrennial extravaganza, is the quartet of SV Sunil, Nikkin Thimmaiah, SK Uthappa and VR Raghunath who will form part of India’s charge in Rio.
“I am lucky to have been born in a region that has such rich tradition of hockey,” gushed India’s ace dragflicker Raghunath.
“The tradition dates long back. We have that in our blood. Promoting hockey and joining the Indian Army are the two things that people in Kodagu look up to as they grow up,” he remarked.
While Raghunath believes that it’s the love for the game that has resulted in such a surge of players, the vice-captain of the Rio-bound side, Sunil, credited the way in which Kodagu nurtures the upcoming talent. “I think it has got more to do with the way we nurture talent. We have clubs and loads of teams that play hockey,” said the forward.
“I remember my days. The seniors at the club would come home and drag me to the ground if I didn’t turn up for a practice session.”
Uthappa explains the keen interest that the people back in his hometown take in the game: “Recently when I was back home for two days, the way people spoke — not only the ones I knew, but also strangers — about the Champions Trophy was really touching.
“It not just a compliment, but people would dissect and analyse every move of yours. Things like you should have done this and not that and so on. That shows the interest people have,” he said.
Joining the illustrious list of hockey Olympians from Kodagu for the first time is Thimmaiah. And the 25-year-old is eagerly looking forward to it. “I grew up reading and hearing about Olympics. And here I am preparing for what will be my first Olympics. I want to ensure that I do well and give the best for my team,” stressed the 25-year-old.
While the Kodagu quartet is sure to play a key role in the Indian set up for sometime now, there are worrying signs. The junior national side, that is busy preparing for the Junior World Cup later this year, has no player from Karnataka. Raghunath, though, believes that it’s just a phase.
“Yes, we did have a small break in between, where you had no one coming up in the age-group category. But I see it as a part of a cycle,” he said.
“We have been identifying good players in the U-16 and U-18 level. And I am sure by next year we will have guys in these age-group teams too. But insofar as the Junior World Cup is concerned, the core group looks set and it’s difficult for anyone to break in now,” he reasoned.
DH News Service
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / by Naveen Peter / DHNS – Bengaluru, July 16th, 2016
Karnataka has added another feather to its glorious hockey history with four players having secured berths in the 16-member Indian squad for the Olympics. The quartet of SV Sunil, VR Raghunath, SK Uthappa and Nikkin Thimmaiah – all from Kodagu district – will have a key role to play when India launch their campaign in Rio de Janeiro against Ireland on August 6.
Star striker Sunil, who was handed the role of vice-captain, said he enjoyed taking up responsibilities. “Vice-captaincy came as a surprise. I was not expecting it,” said an elated Sunil, who essayed a similar role at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (April) and Champions Trophy (June).
“I feel that I play better when I am asked to shoulder a big responsibility. I enjoy doing that. My job is to share the decision-making duties with my skipper and motivate our players,” added Sunil, 26, who made his Olympic debut at London 2012.
The striker, a veteran of 190 international matches, felt the team is headed in the right direction. “We have prepared well for Rio. We have identified small mistakes and worked on them. The players are high on confidence,” he added.
With 214 international caps, Raghunath is second in the list of senior members in the side after former skipper Sardar Singh (247). Being part of a team that finished a disappointing 12th at the London Games, Raghunath realises the challenges of playing at the highest level.
The drag-flick exponent, making his second Olympic appearance, felt the team has improved in all departments. “London Olympics was very disappointing. But this time we improved in all aspects of the game,” he said. “In the tournaments leading up to Olympics, we have played all big teams and proved that we are a force to reckon with. We have prepared strategies after analysing other teams’ strengths and weaknesses. What is more important for us is to start on a winning note in Rio.”
Midfielder Uthappa, 24, who was part of the Indian team in London, said. “It is great that we have four players from Kodagu in the Olympic team. Making my second appearance in the Olympics gives me a high but I am looking to contribute to the team’s success,” he said.
“Our performance at the London Olympics was very unsatisfactory and we want to put up a better show this time,” Uthappa, who has played 94 matches for India, added.
It’s dream come true for forward Thimmaiah, who will be making his debut. “It’s an honour to represent India at the Olympics. The positive thing is that in the lead-up to the Olympics, we have produced good results in all tournaments. We will look to maintain the same form at Rio,” said 26-year-old, who has 71 international caps.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home / Sunil Subbaiah / TNN / July 13th, 2016
Top squash player Joshna Chinappa on Friday rose to a career high 10th position in the latest PSA world rankings, becoming the second Indian to break the top-10 barrier after longtime India teammate Dipika Pallikal.
Chinappa, who has been in fine form in the last six months, moved a place to be 10th in the standings. Pallikal, who broke the top-10 barrier in December 2012, is ranked 19th in the latest rankings.
Chinappa had reached her biggest ever final at the HKFC International in Hong Kong in May.
She is now getting ready to defend her title in the National Championship, to be held in Mumbai from July 12.
Pallikal, who was 18th last month, dropped a place in the rankings. She was a quarterfinalist at the HKFC International.
The only other Indian in the top 20, Saurav Ghosal, remained on 17. Ghosal had been off action for a while nursing an ankle injury and is due to return to active squash at the Nationals in Mumbai.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / July 04th, 2016
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