The Rudd Government's Green Paper on carbon trading uses adjectives like "smoother", "gradual", and "measured" to describe the scheme's implementation because cutting Australia's emissions by 60 per cent in four decades is going to produce profound structural change, and, inevitably, political repercussions. Like a dentist poised above you, drill in hand, the Government wants to warn us that the process will be difficult, and reassure us that it will no more painful than absolutely necessary.

Pune, July 10 Petrol supplies already down 25%, diesel 50% as oil firms have cut purchases in response to rising global crude prices

Lorry owners staged a protest against the short supply of diesel in Kadiri town of Anantapur district on Monday. They were facing a shortage of diesel for the last few weeks due to short supply to the town. Earlier, nearly one lakh litres of diesel used to be supplied to the town everyday, but this has come down to 50,000 to 60,000 litres, with no supply for one or two days. This resulted in a high demand for diesel.

- Consumers were hit by another fuel shortage since Sunday after as petroleum dealers halted distribution because of a dispute with the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). NOC officials said that an agreement had been reached Monday evening, and the dealers would resume distribution Tuesday. The dealers said they stopped selling fuel as NOC had forced upon them a new set of directives related to retail prices of fuel, extent of technical leakage, and transportation cost. The petrol scarcity, which had been running for months, had faded away after a price revision last week.

India is in danger of losing yet another opportunity to reduce its dependence on petroleum. (Editorial)

Steady rise in fuel prices seems here to stay and each price rise is bound to have an impact on monthly budgets. With petrol becoming dearer by a steep Rs 5 and diesel by Rs 3, auto experts say that simple changes in driving habits and minor alterations in lifestyle can ensure the hike does not hit as bad.

The government has increased petroleum products' prices for next 15 days by Rs 3 per litre except kerosene oil to pass on the impact of surge in international market rates to the consumers. The new prices will be effective from May 1 (today).

THE United Nations was to halt food hand-outs for up to 800,000 Palestinians yesterday because of a severe fuel shortage in Gaza brought on by an Israeli economic blockade. John Ging, the director of operations in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which supports Palestinian refugees, said there had been an inadequate supply of fuel from Israel to Gaza for 10 months until it was finally halted two weeks ago. "The devastating humanitarian impact is entirely predictable," Mr Ging said.

The government on Thursday has increased the prices of all oil products by Rs 3 per litre except kerosene oil. Kerosene oil price has been kept at the previous level to basically protect the poor from additional financial burden, who use it as fuel. Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, excluded the kerosene oil from increase in price on the personal request of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has issued a notification of the new prices of petroleum products, to be effective from April 16.

State-run firms together lost Rs 440 cr per day in the fortnight ended March 31.

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