Asian Voice

Look Back 2009

See Page 18-21

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 38. ISSUE 34

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We will not publish the 2nd January 2010 issue of Asian Voice as we are on a Christmas break.

The next issue will be on the 9th January 2010.

26th December to 1st January 2010

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Wishing all our readers A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Review of law after man jailed for beating burglar?

UK, US lodge protest

protest with India over the issue.

The British high commission in Delhi has urged the Indian government to rethink the policy, which is expected to hit tourists planning to use India as a base for touring the

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India has tightened the tourist visa rules for all foreign nationals, leading to protests from the UK and US. These two countries are likely to feel the severest of the pinch of the new rules. As per the amendment, no tourist is allowed to go back to India within two months of his or her last visit. The rule is also likely to have an adverse impact on Indian expatriates settled in many countries. The move is considered as an obvious fallout of the David Coleman Headley incident.

Britain and the US have lodged a diplomatic

region.

It will also be a blow to thousands of Britons living in India on long-term tourist visas.

Many foreigners living in India prefer to use tourist visas rather than go through the complicated process of trying to secure a visa that would grant them the right to residency.

Some apply for sixmonth tourist visas and then travel to nearby

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countries, such as Nepal, to renew them. Those on longer-term tourist visas for 5 or 10 years are also required to leave the country every 180 days and tend to fly out for a couple of days before returning.

Under the new rules, that would no longer be an option.

Posts on internet travel forums suggest that some British tourists have already fallen foul of the rules and have found themselves stranded and unable to return to India after visiting neighbouring countries.

Continued on page 24

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Munir Hussain (left) and his brother Tokeer Hussain, who were jailed for attacking their burglar

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, has said the government would reexamine the law after the jailing of Munir Hussain, the businessman convicted of beating a burglar who tied up his family at knifepoint after breaking into their home. A career criminal Walid Salem, 57, was set free by a judge while Munir Hussain, the householder, was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Mr Johnson said he was “uncomfortable” about the sentence and that he was sure Justice Secretary Jack Straw would look again at householders’ right to defend themselves against intruders.

Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary,

Alan Johnson, Home Secretary

has announced the Conservatives would review the law if they won the next election.

The 53-year-old businessman and his brother pursued three intruders who had tied up and threatened to kill his family in their Buckinghamshire home.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Faiza Ali to become Britain’s youngest Muslim magistrate Faiza Ali has become the youngest female Muslim magistrate in the country and was sworn in at a ceremony at a Magistrates’ Court. Faiza Ali, 23, was among three new magistrates and one transferee to take part in the ceremony.

Miss Ali – along with Helen Langley, 59, of Calderdale, Mohammed Amin Zaman, 36, of Bradford, and Katy Blake, who transferred from Bristol – has now joined the 265 magistrates in Bradford.

The new recruits were

due to help fill the gap left by the retirement of three magistrates with a combined service of more than 60 years.

Miss Ali, a former Laisterdyke High School and Yorkshire Martyrs pupil, told a local media: “It feels great, but I do feel that all the credit goes to my parents for supporting me, for trusting me to be out there in the real world and trust my decisions to allow everything I have wanted to do in my life. I have always wanted to do something for the community, it has been

my interest since childhood. The role itself is amazing – it’s tremendous and it’s good to know and be part of society, not just serving for the money, but serving to benefit other people voluntarily.”

Miss Ali is training to become a barrister at the City Law School in London and has given up her time for numerous causes in the past, including being a panel member for the Youth Offending Team.

She said she hoped her work as a magistrate and as a barrister would help

åbenefit Bradford.

She said: “I would hope to help create a safer environment in Bradford, so it’s easy for every girl to walk around in the streets and for parents to trust the girls to be out there and support them in their education.”

Royal Award for highest ranking Sikh policewoman in the West Midlands The highest ranking West Midlands Sikh policewoman, Shindo Kaur Barquer, has received a prestigious Royal Award.

She has been honoured with the ‘The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal’ which was instituted under the Royal Warrant by King George VI in 1951 and is awarded as a mark of the Sovereign’s appreciation of long and meritorious

service rendered by members of the Police Forces of the United Kingdom.

Chief Inspector Barquer has been Head of Resilience in the Operations Headquarters since April 2009; her responsibility includes ensuring West Midlands Police are able to respond effectively to the threats that face the organisation, along with those of the communities of West

Midlands.

Under her supervision as Chief Inspector her leadership has enabled her team to establish close engagement with partner agencies Joining the West Midlands Police Force at the age of 21, she progressively worked her way up the ranks, a journey that has been challenging but rewarding for this British Sikh born in West

Bromwich Chief Inspector Barquer and has remained in the West Midlands, settling with her husband, Vijith Randeniya Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service in Birmingham.

Indian national to head Amnesty International Salil Shetty will be the first Indian national to head Amnesty International in its 50-year history. He has been appointed as the next Secretary General of Amnesty International and will take charge in June.

Shetty, 48, originally from Bangalore, ran British development charity

Action Aid, an anti-poverty organisation, for five years until 2003, when he joined the UN Millennium Campaign tasked with realising the Millennium Development Goals.

The current secretary general, Irene Khan, will step down on December 31 after serving for eight

years, leaving senior director for research and regional programs Claudio Cordone to act as interim chief for six months.

“I feel privileged to be given this amazing opportunity at a time when the world needs human rights for all more than ever before,” Shetty said.

Teen stabbed in East London

A teenager has been found stabbed to death on an East London street.

The victim, 18, was discovered lying on the ground by a passer-by in Bow at 6.40pm on last Sunday.

Police said he suffered multiple stab wounds.

Paramedics and police attended but the black victim was pronounced dead at the scene in Devons Road, close to its junction with Purdy Street.

A spokesman said: “We know who is he is but await formal identification and for next of kin to be informed. A post mortem will be examination arranged in due course.”

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police homi-

cide and serious crime command have taken over the inquiry.

Officers from Tower Hamlets arrested a 16year-old boy at his home address in the borough in connection with the murder and he remains in custody at an East London police station.

The victim is the 13th teen to be murdered in London this year. Last year, 29 teenagers were killed in the capital. Two others died after falling from buildings while being chased or bullied.

Anyone who witnessed the attack is asked to call police on 0300 123 12 12 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Hundreds of lethal electrical appliances seized

Review of law after man jailed for beating burglar?

Continued from page 1 They caught one of the men and beat him with a cricket bat so hard that the bat broke and the intruder was left with brain damage.

Judge John Reddihough noted Hussain’s “courage” but said he carried out a “dreadful, violent attack” on the intruder as he lay defenceless.

Mr Johnson told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “It is impossible not to feel uncomfortable about that, instinctively.

When you look at that case, you have sympathy for the householder.

“Quite recently we have strengthened the law to protect the householder and there is an awful lot of discretion for the judge to look at the circumstances.

As in all these cases, it is a question of what is proportionate and only the judge listening to all sides of this can make the decision.

“There was nothing in this case that constricted or restricted the judge in making the decision he did. He did that on the basis of all the evidence.”

At present, the law allows householders to use “reasonable” force to defend themselves against

intruders in their homes.

Asked if the Government would think again in the light of public concern over the Hussain case, Mr Johnson said: “This is a Ministry of Justice matter, but I am sure that the Government, given the public concern about this, of course we would.

“It is natural to ensure that you are absolutely clear that you are defending the householder. That must be our predominant concern.”

He added: “This law is always kept under review, but the point the judge was making was that this was not proportionate ...

We can’t second guess his decision.

“What I am absolutely clear about is that he did have the discretion to come down in favour of the householder.“ However, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said Mr Straw would not be intervening in the case of Mr Hussain.

David Blunkett, who as Labour home secretary was sympathetic to attempts to give householders more legal protection, said he had “long been in favour of allowing self-defence as a legitimate protection against prose-

cution”.

There have been two unsuccessful attempts to change the law using Private Members’ Bills in the House of Commons in 2004 and 2005.

However, Mr Blunkett’s successor, Mr Straw, last year announced a “clarification” of legislation to indicate that householders would be protected legally if they defended themselves ‘instinctively’, they feared for their own safety or that of others, and the level of force used was not excessive or disproportionate.

Mr Grayling said: “Conservatives argue that the defence that the law offers a householder should be much clearer, and that prosecutions and convictions should only happen in cases where courts judge the actions involved to be ‘grossly disproportionate’.”

Charles Kennedy, the Former Liberal Democrat leader, said he did not believe the law needed to be changed. “My own personal feeling is that it is best left to the courts,” he said.

“I think there is sufficient discretion in the existing legislation for the courts to judge each case

Walid Salem

on its individual circumstances. But there is no doubt that there is a considerable public head of steam about this.”

Mr Hussain’s lawyer has already indicated that there will be an appeal against his sentence.

Mr Hussain’s son Awais, 23, who was among the family members attacked, said: “My father is the most lawabiding man in Britain. He loves this country and respects its rules, laws and justice system. But on that awful night we thought we were going to die.

“We were victims of a horrific crime – but it is the injustice that has destroyed us.”

Mr Johnson also insisted Labour had not changed its position on ID cards, despite reports the scheme would be expanded six months after he announced it would not be compulsory.

Hundreds of potentially lethal plugs, sockets and bulbs have been seized by trading standards officers in Newham.

The substandard appliances, which do not conform to basic CE safety requirements, have the potential to cause a fire or serious injury.

Officers have so far seized around 250 of the illegal items as part of a pre-Christmas crackdown on unsafe electrical equipment in the borough.

The plugs, sockets and energy-saving bulbs, which were on sale at a shop in East Ham, have now been sent off for laboratory tests to establish how they breach UK safety standards.

Trading standards officers in Newham believe the items are being imported from China and are circulating across the UK.

During the festive period, the officers will continue to check shops in the borough for the unsafe items. Each appliance typically sells for £1 while the legal versions sell for around three times that amount.

Councillor Ian Corbett, Executive Member for Public Realm said: “These are dangerous and illegal items which have the potential to severely injure someone or even start a fire.

“Safety remains our residents’ number one concern and we are working hard to make sure Newham is free of hazardous products like the ones seized.”

Residents who fear they may have bought unsafe plugs, bulbs or sockets should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

COMMENT

Science, technological innovation key to future The US BusinessWeek magazine has said that India's most significant exports in the coming years would be innovation. The Nano car is one example of this, another is the compact Tata water purifier, which will surely improve life in the country's rural heartland, where water-borne diseases take a heavy toll of lives. As this is largely true of Africa, the Tata contraption may well make a huge difference throughout that continent.

Now comes news that India has succeeded in mapping the human genome, the fifth nation after the US, the UK, South Korea and Japan to accomplish the feat.

Truth is that despite the major challenges to the progress of scientific research in India, there are several instances of world-class work being done there. For instance, in astrobiology, the upper atmosphere experiment carried out by biologists and space scientists from Indian institutions was an outstanding success, showcasing the scientific talent available in the country. The idea behind this experiment was to discover whether the Earth's atmosphere harboured living systems, especially extra-terrestrial micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses. This was the first serious attempt to analyze the microbial contents of the atmosphere under strict biological controls.

The expertise acquired by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in recent years justified the effort of sampling air from different heights using balloon technology. In this pioneering project, the payload consisted of a cryosampler containing 16 evacuated and sterilized stain-

less steel probes. This permitted the valves attached to the cylindrical probes to be opened by remote command from the ground station and the ambient air pumped in. The technology developed by the ISRO team was thus responsible for the complex payload.

This inter-institutional feat illustrates the rich seams of science talent in India. It augurs well for the country's future prospects in the inter-related fields of science, technology and industry. The three march in tandem in mutual support. Young people in these areas deserve every encouragement. Financiers, adept at juggling the books, are themselves no guarantee that the future will work.

It will work when nations and firms bridge distances and national barriers in a common endeavour to raise and sustain the best scientific and technological standards. When these are fed into industry, the product will be a certain winner. The Industrial Revolution in Britain and elsewhere came to pass when the critical mass arrived. It will be no different in India's case.

EADS, the French and Euro-based global leader in aerospace, defence and related services, is keen to forge a partnership with Bangalore-based ISRO. “We are very much looking into the future,” said Chief Technical Officer of EADS, Jean Botti, who is in Bangaore to discuss possible collaboration with ISRO. Mr Botti said EADS also saw opportunities in the biotech sector, adding that he would be looking at this sector very closely. Watch this space.

World Bank President taken by India “The outside world's image of India now is of cutting edge competitive companies that are going to take jobs from the developed world,” said World Bank President Robert Zoellick on a visit to the country. But such exaggerated fears ignored the distance India had still to travel before it attained the status of a fully industrialized power, he said.

Mr Zoellick brushed aside talk of this being the Asian century. China and India were the rising powers, “But I personally think that the US retains a huge amount of dynamism and it's not going away anywhere. When I visit India and China, I find a lot of people wanting to deepen their ties

with the US. There has been a greater distribution of growth and opportunity in recent times, which is great. But I don't see it as the Asian Century or the American Century or the European Century. I see it as the challenge of how to get the globalization process to work more effectively for everyone.” Mr Zoellick is a diplomat, the soul of tact. But he speaks much good sense. We need an inclusive world order, not one yoked to the chariots of one or the other dominant power. Such a system had little to show when it flourished. Let's try something different. Let's be more accommodating for a change. With luck it may work to the benefit of all humankind.

Ring out the old year, ring in the new Much of the world is reels from the global economic downturn. The US, France and Germany may be witnessng the first green shoots of economic recovery but for Britain no such relief is in sight. Indeed, if anything, say the pundits, the present recession is the worst to hit the UK since 1921. Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, unrolled his pre-budget report and its prescriptions. Only schools, hospitals and police will be spared the government's savage spending cuts. There is to be a 5 per cent increase in National Insurance contributions for those with yearly incomes of £20,000 and more. Spending on public services has been savagely cut, as has expenditure on higher education. Nothing is sacrosanct. With the public debt reaching astronomical levels no keeper of the public purse can afford to be generous. Professional economists and financial wizards with their differing solutions resemble headless chickens. Things will get worse before they get

better. When this will come to pass is anybody's guess.

Meanwhile, the crisis in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan grows ever deeper. The conflict is draining the scarce financial resources of a country already in serious trouble.

Britain needs a new economic policy, but this can only be predicated on a less accident-prone and wasteful foreign policy.

“Britain has lost an empire and not found a role,” said Dean Acheson, President Truman's Secretary of State in Washington in the early post-war years. Doing Uncle Sam's bidding as part of some “special relationship” makes little sense in a complex and changing world.

British statesmanship, as the Iraq inquiry reveals every hour and day, operates in a void. However, in the festive season we must hope rather than surrender to despair.

A happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all our readers and friends.

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Thought for the Week Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.

- Phillips Brooks

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

Fire Safety My portfolio of responsibilities in the London Assembly includes the work of London’s Fire Brigade. Recently there’s been mounting concerns at the trend of serious fire incidents involving a certain types of building structures. These include timber frame structures and tall / multi storey buildings.

There are welcome moves both from the London Assembly and London Fire Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) to address the issues to see how best the level of incidents could be reduced, if not eliminated altogether (which is probably unrealistic), to reduce massive damage, injuries and save lives of Londoners.

Historically, the techniques and skills for ‘Halftimbered construction’ for vernacular buildings date back to medieval times.

The techniques of timber framing construction therefore are far from new to England. However, the contemporary timber frame technology for large scale and multi storey buildings is relatively new to England but this is not so in case of Scandinavian Countries and North America.

England has seen a remarkable growth in timbrer frame buildings in that it is considered to be the fastest growing method of construction in the UK providing high environmental and sustainability qualities.

Timber frame buildings are also seen as a way of providing cost-effective solutions to escalating cost of escalating prices in the construction / housing industry.

The UK Timber Frame Association reckons that, as well as energy efficiency derived from Timber Construction, the technology saves CO2. It reckons in 2005 alone about 50,000 timber frame units were built in the UK saving approximately 200,000 tonnes of CO2, equal to the emissions from 70,000 small cars each driving 10,000 miles. But against the unquestionable sustainability qualities there are deep concerns about the fire safety issues of timber frame construction particularly during the course of construction as demon-

strated in case of fires in Colindale in 2006 and Peckham a few weeks ago.

Turning to the fire safety of tall / multi storey buildings, this is another area for urgent scrutiny. My concerns not only relate to the scale and size of these buildings but the large stock of blocks built with prefabricated and other fire prone cladding systems during the sixties and the buildings built during the recent boom period. Some of the issues creating fire risks involve suspect design and materials, poor means of escape in case of fire and poor regime of management and refurbishment works by public and private sector bodies.

I believe this is an opportune time for a comprehensive and urgent scrutiny as the Mayor of London is in the process of consulting on the London Plan which in my view must become a key strategic driver for strategic policies for fire safety and amendments and new policies that can be incorporated to LFEPA’s ‘London Safety Plan’ which too is currently out for consultation. Deadline for public consultation of the London Plan is 12th January 2010 and the ‘London Safety Plan’ is March 2010. For further information please email navin.shah@london.gov.uk Both, as the member of the Assembly’s Planning and Housing Committee and as the Vice Chair of LFEPA I am keen that a scrutiny of the forms of ‘suspect’ forms of building structures and systems is undertaken by the London Assembly and work carried

by LFEPA as this is a perfect opportunity to focus our attention to reduce the high fire risks involved in certain forms of building technology and materials to make buildings safe, avoid major damage/destruction and save lives. I’m pleased that there is a cross-party understanding to consider this issue with urgency.

And finally: Merry Xmas, Happy Chanuka and wishing the readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar very best wishes for a peaceful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

YOUR VOICE

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Well done Mr Modi

Travel free for citizens

Mr. Narendra Modi, the chief Minster of Gujarat has taken a very wise decision to introduce a bill in Gujarat assembly to make voting in local elections compulsory and he should be congratulated for his brave decision.

It is outrageous on the part of the senior congress leader Mr. Mani Shankara Iyer to call Mr. Modi as a fascist for introducing such a bill. At present Indian political system is taken over by caste and minority religious groups and the Indian middle classes have lost all interest in Indian politics. In big cities like Mumbai and Delhi not even 50 per cent of the voters bother to turn up to cast their votes.

There are 28 countries in the world including Australia where voting is compulsory and Mr. Iyer is ‘naive’ to suggest these countries are run by Fascists. The congress party is perhaps worried that they may not be able to manipulate voters for their own advantage.

Well done Mr. Modi.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Well I want to congratulate Indians today as India is the first country who has made travel free for its citizens. And that too legally from 2010. I wonder why haven’t the international media not reported this to the citizens around the world. My guess would be envy. Today in the Indian Parliament a bill has been approved in the upper house that air travel for all the relatives and family of a minister is going to be free from henceforth. Now personally, my travel to India and anywhere in the world has to be free but of course I would need to do some research and find out which minister am I related to given the magnitude of ministers in the Indian federal and state governments. I would advise all my fellow Indians to do the same, as we tax payers in India are going to pay for everyone’s travel hence we should receive some benefits out of it.

My grievance is not about paying for the immediate nuclear family but why do I need to pay for the relatives. India would be the only country to observe such shananigans. I’m sure like Britain, if Indian MP’s expenses are exposed, the amount in question would pay for possibly buying a couple of Air Force one.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Yes, Minarets

Minaret is fundamental religious symbolic built on a mosque, so is a dome built on a temple and a cross built on top of a church.

Therefore to oppose building of minarets contravenes religious freedom.

It is reported that the dispute took place between residents of Turkish origin and the owners of the houses next to a mosque, in one of the villages in Switzerland.

I would certainly support the ban if electric gadget is installed in a minaret to call Muslims for prayers by a Muazeen, as is the case in Muslim as well as in a few non-Muslim countries . Because this would disturb the neighbour-hood of the mosque which undoubtedly will not be tolerated. Obviously therefore Muslims have complained the ban infringes, Human Rights.

According to the media reports (5/12/09), wealth Muslims were called upon by Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Greens Group leader of the European Parliament to withdraw their money from Swiss banks in response to the ban.

Therefore Kapil Dudakia’s warning (AV 28 Nov 09) is a signal that must be looked up on critically. It is said “ if you don’t start nothing, there won’t be nothing”.

A.M.A. Pira Via Email

Correspondents wanted If you live in Leeds, Manchester, Bradford or Edinburgh and are interested to be the Asian Voice 'Community News Correspondent’, please send your CV to Rupanjana at rupanjana@abplgroup.com.

Jaimin Bhatt Via Email

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And the next chapter of the mockery of Indian Law and Constitution begins!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen I refer to the twist in Kasab’s case where this child is openly laughing at our justice system. Not only him but I’m sure the Pakistanis, Jehadis and possibly the entire world is having a good time reading the tabloids of India, atleast whomsoever is following the 26/11 trial being held in Mumbai. I’m not saying that India is the only country whose system is flawed but I don’t understand why is it taking so long to bring this boy to justice. He’s been captured from the scene, caught on camera and yet we are not able to pass a legal verdict. Law says “Justice delayed, Justice Denied” and I strongly feel that I’ve been denied justice as one of my dear childhood school friend was also a victim in the 26/11 attacks.

Sometimes, atleast in such cases, the Islamic sharia law should be adhered to where a life for a life is the law. We read about Pakistani courts passing judgements where nose for a nose punishment is imposed on the perpetrators then why cant we considering Kasab being a Pakistani levy such sentences on him.

Just hang him and get over with it, I say.

As we grow older, our stomach does not produce enough intrinsic factor which is necessary to absorb vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 contains cobalt which in turn is necessary to absorb iron. Most Hindus and Jains, being vegetarian, suffer from pernicious anaemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency) and or iron deficiency anaemia as these two important dietary ingredients are found in large quantities only in animals and non-vegetarian, foods like liver and kidneys.

So we need to supplement our diet by taking large quantities of vitamin B12 and iron tablets otherwise our haemoglobin levels will drop and as a consequence, we feel tired, lethargic and suffer from other associated ailments. I was prescribed ferrous sulphate tablets to boost my blood iron levels. These however, did not agree with me as they caused constipation, and I was therefore given ferrous fumarate capsules instead. These are fine and my blood iron levels have shot up considerably. However, now I am in a dilemma. I am told that the capsule which contains the iron substance is made from gelatine. The gelatine is derived from connective tissue known as collagen of animals and is made out of boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals.

Being a Jain and vegetarian, I have stopped taking these capsules and reverted back to taking the tablets. I wonder what other medicines we take contain animal parts in them. I am also glad that other readers of Asian Voice have jumped on my bandwagon and are becoming conscious of the fact that all foods or medicines purporting to be veggie are in fact not always so.

Vikram Sharma London

Indian cops in Delhi have come out with a new medical formula. Blood type A+Blood type B = Blood type AB. Such is the criminal minds of the security force in India.

Should we call it sheer stupidity or brilliance for the people to judge? For those of you who are not aware, the Delhi police framed an innocent person by mixing the the blood types of the victims. I’m not here to narrate the whole story but they nearly got away implicating an innocent man had it not been for the sharp eyes and medical acumen of the magistrates residing over the case in the Delhi High court.

The basic dictum of law states “Innocent unless proven guilty”, nevertheless how can anyone be innocent if the watchmen of law and order themselves are out to put an innocent man behind bars just because they want their statistical figure to reflect positive. Their pragmatic change required in the Indian legal system is educating the detectives and police personnel on aspects which may lead them to solve cases successfully.

I would recommend, please read the article and have a good laugh out of it.

Rohini Agarwal London

During his election campaign, Barack Obama took America by storm, forcing Hillary Clinton, a gifted and well experience politician to concede defeat to a novice who had no hope in hell when he first entered the race to become a first black politician to hold the highest office that was unthinkable only a couple of decades ago.

But since taking office, Obama has rarely sparkled, although his flagship bill to introduce British type NHS has been passed by the Senate behind closed doors. But it has failed to catch public attention who now has scant respect for our NHS, describing it as a death trap.

Who can blame them after such a negative publicity our NHS generates in our media, so often for all the right reasons as well. Our NHS is indeed a death-trap for the elderly who are unable to look after themselves while in hospitals.

Obama also promised to reduce the budget deficit and restrict import that is a headache for the administration, as it creates $40 to $60 billion balance of payment deficit every month, the money being borrowed mainly from China, who along with Germany is responsible for

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Is Obama a big letdown?

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Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford this huge trade imbalance.

But with US dollar sinking fast, losing its international stature, even China is hesitating to lend more, put her savings in a bottomless pit. Euro is fast gaining international reorganization as the number one currency, replacing dollar and our own sick pound that we are unwilling to give up.

Obama’s one success is improving relations with Russia, by scrapping the outdated, unwanted and uneconomic anti-missile defence system the buffoon Bush wanted to install in Eastern Europe to humiliate Russia, a proud nation whose friendship US badly needs in order to tame a rogue nation like Iran.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

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Justice delayed, justice denied

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'(#)*&"+,-. /##.012.%3$ ‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar

Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

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Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment.

British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier.

‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed

by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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5

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Leicester Voice Mice and filth cleaned up as takeaway opens again Filthy cooking equipment and an infestation of mice were found during a hygiene inspection at a fast-food takeaway.

Lahore Kebab in Melton Road, Leicester, was shut down on the spot by the city council's food safety team after they concluded that it posed an imminent risk to people's health. They found mouse droppings in every room and on equipment used to prepare food – and discovered two dead mice behind a cooker.

The order notice was imposed last Thursday, but after a dramatic improvement the council allowed the business to reopen yesterday.

At Leicester Magistrates' Court Monday afternoon, owner Mohammed Nabi was ordered to pay £800 costs.

He said cleanliness standards had deteriorated after staff had been left to run the business unsupervised. "For three to four

weeks, I did not come into the shop properly because I was not feeling very well. I feel ashamed because this has happened while I was not there."

Inspectors visited after a complaint about mice activity. They discovered dirt, grease and food debris on "filthy" cooking equipment and found staff were "inadequately trained" and did not have access to adequate hand washing facilities.

Droppings were found close to where food was being prepared and in the washing up area where pans were being stored.

Dead mice, soaked in grease, had been left in the kitchen for days, they believe.

In a report to magistrates, environmental health officer Alison Cadmore said: "We were appalled by the accumulations of grease, dirt and food debris on surfaces on equipment, plus the presence of the dead rodents

and rodent droppings. We concluded that (these factors) created an imminent risk of injury to health.

Therefore at 1.30pm, (last Thursday) I served a hygiene emergency prohibition notice on Mr Nabi prohibiting the use of the premises as a food business."

Mice can carry a range of contagious diseases, including salmonella and e.coli. A follow-up inspection was carried out yesterday which found the premises had improved and it was subsequently given permission to re-open.

District judge Liz Harte ordered Mr Nabi to pay £800 to cover the cost of the council's action against him.

She said: "Obviously, a lot of work has been done by yourself.I'm satisfied that the hourly rate the council is claiming is entirely reasonable and it is right and proper in a case like this that the council should be awarded costs."

Police name car driver killed in crash with van Police last week identified a man who died when his car was in a collision with a van.

Vauxhall Astra driver Bhavesh Vanja, 24, of Leicester, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The crash involved Mr Vanja's red Astra and a white Ford Transit.

The driver of the van was taken to Kettering General Hospital for treatment to his chest and shoulder.

The crash happened at about 8.20am on Monday on the B6047 Melton Road about 250 yards north of its junction with Stonton Road, at

Church Langton.

Detective Constable Darren Symes-Goodman, who is investigating the incident, said: "The Astra was travelling south towards Market Harborough and the van was travelling in the opposite direction."

Do you have any comments, news or photographs about Leicester? If you do, please send them to Leicester Voice at

leicester@abplgroup.com

Rescue bid for Peepul Centre ruled out by City Council Leicester City Council has rejected calls to bail-out a cash-strapped community centre. Council leader Councillor Ross Willmott said the city would not be giving any funding to the £19m Peepul Centre, in Belgrave, Leicester.

The Leicester Mercury revealed last week that its future was in doubt.

The centre opened, in 2005, having had millions of pounds of public money spent on it – including cash from the Arts Council England, East Midlands Development Agency and the council.

However, the multipurpose building has never made a profit and is expected to make a £350,000 loss this financial year. Two years ago, it was taken over by the citybased LHA-ASRA housing group, but even that failed to stem the losses.

Four options under consideration are closure, giving it back to the Belgrave Baheno Women's project, who founded it, keeping it as it is, or handing it back to the original funders.

Councillor Willmott said: "I would say given that LHA-ASRA has invested £5.1m and still it can't make any profit, it is worrying. It is a huge sum of money but they still can't make it work – there is no way the council could find that kind of

Grants for local SMEs on the installation of intelligent metering Reducing Carbon Emissions in Small-to-Medium Sized Enterprises The Leicester Energy Agency, part of Leicester City Council, has secured nearly £80,000 of European Regional Development Fund money to assist local small to medium sized businesses with intelligent metering.

Intelligent metering (half hourly consumption data which is gathered and analysed) can be used to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency, reduce costs on utilities and respond to the challenges of climate change.

The system works by the utility meter being fitted with an external device which measures consumption. The meter needs to have pulse output. If the meter does not have pulse output then extra work is required to allow for automatic intelligent metering.

The consumption data gathered is then sent to a central server either via the internet or low powered radio signal. The data is sent automatically. The information is then analysed and can show exactly when energy was

being used and in what quantity. Such technology is extremely useful in picking up leaks and other problems and identifying issues such equipment being left on out of hours, heating coming on when no-one is in the building etc.

The Reducing Carbon Emissions in SMEs project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is aimed at supporting economic development by addressing the issue of resource efficiency in businesses.

Businesses can receive FREE advice and information through the project on a number of energy-related issues including: • Analysis of fuel bills • Energy efficiency assessment of your business • Staff energy awareness training • Basic energy advice and signposting to grants for energy saving measures • Measuring your CO2 footprint • Renewable energy feasibility studies As well as this free sup-

port to help your business save energy and money, the project also offers a grant to help fund the installation of intelligent metering.

The project will run until April 2012 and aims to support 30 local SMEs to install intelligent metering and reap the benefits of savings and increased efficiency achieved as a result of knowing exact consumption, establishing consumption profiles and highlighting inefficient practices and waste.

“This is a great opportunity to support local businesses that often face the brunt of high utility charges yet lack the sufficient support and resources to address this.

Moreover by participating in the project the business has the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their green credibility, something which is regarded highly by many customers.” said Darsh Chauhan, Team Leader at Leicester Energy Agency.

The technology used is tried and tested and has

resulted in many businesses being able to make 50% savings in fuel bills and carbon reductions. The whole scheme is very focused on the needs of the individual business and therefore the Energy Agency can provide a list of approved contractors and can assist the business in obtaining quotes and financing measures up to a certain percent.

The on going bureau service is provided for the lifetime of the project with an option to have continuation for a small fee at from the end of the project. The bureau service is provided by the Council and can be in the form of reports, emails, telephone calls and visits, dependant on what the business feels is the best format for it.

For more information on the Reducing Carbon Emissions in SMEs project or to book an initial consultation with an advisor please contact the Leicester Energy Agency on 0116 262 4698 or email Darsh.Chauhan@leicester.gov.uk

money for the centre."

Cllr Willmott also responded to comments made by Richard Caborn MP – the former chairman of the defunct Millennium Commission, which gave the venue £7.3m.

The Sheffield Central MP said closing the Peepul centre would lead to a "breakdown in social cohesion".

On top of writing to the housing group warning against closure, Mr Caborn told the Mercury last week the city council should subsidise it. "The council should fund it. It can't just think in the short term. It has to think in the long term. Closing it could mean a breakdown in social cohesion, which becomes a riot, which becomes more expensive."

Cllr Willmott said: "I think Richard Caborn's comments were illadvised. I do not agree at all with what he has said, in that it could lead to a breakdown in community cohesion. It would be a sad loss, but it certainly wouldn't lead to riots or whatever he said could happen."

His thoughts were echoed by Canon Andrew Wingate, director of the St Philip's Centre for interfaith relations, in Evington Road, Leicester. "I think the Peepul Centre is a useful and important arts centre but it is not central to

community cohesion in the way that maybe its vision would have hoped.

In terms of the Hindu community, they are not the sort of people who riot. In terms of the Christian community, it's not a major part of our map. I think the MP is attaching more weight to it than it has been able to fulfil. I can see why Ross Willmott is reluctant to put money into it at a time of cuts."

There are 65 full-time employees at the venue.

The city's £61m Curve theatre, by comparison, has 41 staff.

A spokesman for the housing group said: "We knew the Mercury story would cause some anxiety among staff, so we gave them a chance to air any potential concerns."

The group says it was reviewing the centre "like any responsible business would" and had not made any final decisions.

A spokeswoman for the Arts Council – which gives £87,000 a year for events such as concerts – said it would not be appropriate for them to address any of the centre's "wider financial challenges".

Mum's joy at winning accolade A mother-of-seven who came to Leicester from Somalia has been given a best parent award.

Abyan Abdullahi, of Braunstone, won the prize given by Aqoon Community Education Services, a network of complementary schools which mainly support black and ethnic minority pupils.

Hundreds attended an event to celebrate the work of children who attend their extra lessons.

Abyan was nominated

by Kathryn Falconer, head of Sparkenhoe Primary School, in Highfields, Leicester, where two of her children go. She was described as "inspiration" who set a "wonderful example through hard work".

Despite not speaking English when she arrived in

the country, Abyan is now fluent, and pursuing childcare qualifications.

Abyan said: "I can't believe I won, I was asking everyone, 'Are you sure?' but I am so happy. I'm alone here, my husband is not with me, but people have been so nice to me.

Education and school is important for my children and I want to study, too."

The event, at Taylor Road, St Matthew's, Leicester, gave awards to pupils who achieved, who were nominated as good citizens and to supportive parents. Pupils attend Aqoon complementary schools, originally set up in the Highfields area of the city to help children of Somali descent learn English and get homework support.

Two accused of counterfeit credit card plot Two men have appeared at court accused of plotting to use 200 counterfeit credit card numbers to net £28,000 worth of online camera equipment and other high value goods.

Rayyaz Hassim, 31, and Zaheer Mahomed, 28, both of 15 Wilne Street, in Highfields, appeared at City of London Magistrates' Court for the first time Monday.

6

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Kapil’s

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Re-view?

It is customary for the majority in the media to conduct a review of the year, to highlight the highs and the lows, and to put in their two pennies worth of wisdom.

You can breathe a sigh of relief since I won’t be doing that this year!

Stealing is Godly?

Migrants use student loan scam to get visas Serious loopholes in immigration rules are potentially allowing thousands of young Indians to enter Britain on falsely obtained student visas, an investigation by The Sunday Times has found.

Undercover reporters found foreign agents offering would-be students £10,500 loans so they can allegedly convince the UK Border Agency in their visa applications that they have enough money in their bank account to pay fees and support themselves in Britain.

The money is handed back to the lender as soon as it has appeared on bank statements for a month.

The cost to the student is a 7% interest charge and £200 processing fee, which amounts to about £935.

In a covertly filmed investigation, The Sunday Times has established that the scam is operating widely in towns in Punjab, northwest India.

It threatens to undermine new Home Office

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

immigration rules which ministers insisted would reduce the number of new arrivals.

Instead, the number of visas granted to Indian students has nearly doubled in the past year, from 29,000 to 52,000. It is feared that many have no intention of studying and simply disappear after entering the UK. The new points-based entry system was created

by Liam Byrne, the former immigration minister and now chief secretary to the treasury.

Students need 40 points to come to Britain.

They receive 30 for holding a course offer from a college or university and 10 for proving that they can pay fees and support themselves.

When the system was

introduced in March, Jacqui Smith, then home secretary, said it would force immigrants to “play by the rules”.

It is not clear how many people using the scams uncovered by The Sunday Times have managed to enter Britain.

A Home Office spokesman said bank statements from India were not taken at face value and where applications were suspicious further checks and interviews were carried out.

In neighbouring Pakistan, however, checks appear to have been less than thorough.

In September, the Home Office reported that just 29 out of 66,000 visa applicants from Pakistan had been interviewed in the past year.

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In this season of goodwill to all men (I assume they also meant women as well) I was taken aback when I read that a parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda in York – a Father Tim Jones, said stealing was a "better moral thing to do." He went on to say, "I do not offer such advice because I think that stealing is a good thing, or because I think it is harmless, for it is neither. I would ask that they do not steal from small, family businesses, but from national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices."

The priest found himself in a predicament, do you steal a little bit to get by at a time in the year when others seem to have so much, or, do you turn to ‘worse’ crimes such as robbery and prostitution. No doubt the comments were meant to be well meaning, however, they have certainly caused serious difficulty within the Church which after all still holds to the ‘10 commandments’ of God. I am sure one of them had something to do with stealing.

What the priest has done is to highlight the nature of the society we have in the UK. With such massive debates about ‘British’ values – where does poverty fit into that debate? It has often been a favourite exploitative tool of the politicians, and many in the media, to showcase

developing countries and the problems they have in relation to poverty, child care, health and education.

However, walk down some of the major streets of London, Manchester, Glasgow and you will see cardboard cities not too dissimilar to those you find in the poorer countries.

There is no magic solution, and we are still relatively lucky in this country to have the welfare system – but to still see so many in such a difficult situation should raise concerns for the whole of society. Maybe the politicians might even give it some thought before they embark on a spending cut that would disproportionately affect the poor. What we stand for as a country might well now become the defining moment in time and history?

BJP – Belittled, Jaded and Past-it?

Millions will get angry with such headlines.

Millions others would agree with it in it totality, and millions more would say things that are far worse. The BJP has lost it position in Indian politics. Its sense of direction, of knowing right over wrong, of justice for the masses and of protecting the interest of the nation. They lost their bearings in their pursuit of personal goals, personal ambitions and of personalities too old to remember why they actually entered politics in the first place. Against this backdrop you have the lion of Gujarat, ‘Modi’ who despite having made some serious errors of judgement in the early years – has nevertheless transformed the state into a rich and vibrant canvas on which the public and entrepreneurs can pencil in their dreams.

In AV I have criticised the leadership of the BJP on several occa-

Sad Demise Mrs Satwant Kaur Baxi, 72, mother of Mr Ranjit Baxi, (winner of Asian Who’s Who Award, President of World Punjabi Organisation and Managing Director of J&H Sales) has passed away after a short illness on Sunday 20th December 2009. Her funeral took place on Wednesday 23rd December in Ilford, Essex.

Anybody wishing to pay condolence can contact Mr Ranjit Baxi at 07860 525 159.

May her soul rest in peace.

sions-finally it seems there might be light at the end of the tunnel. I say light, maybe a small luminescent dot which may have the potential to grow and enlighten the whole party to its role and responsibility to the nation. News coming through informs us that 57-year-old Smt Sushma Swaraj is to take over as parliamentary head of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Supporting her will be 52-year-old Nitin Gadkari who was named as the new party president. Interesting news since anyone who knows Indian politics will know that this represents a marked deviation from what has happened in the past. The job in hand for both Swaraj and Gadkari is seriously tough. They can either buckle under the pressure of the aging party and carry on as normal and end up destroying the party.

Alternatively they can consider this as the golden opportunity to rebadge the BJP into a national party that brings all the people of the nation together. In particular, their task will be to re-align the politics of the BJP such that it resonates with the voters, and specifically the new and very powerful youth of India.

Why is this important? In any democratic country you always want at least two strong parties who give options to the voting public and are sufficiently powerful enough to hold any government to account.

Failure in this most basic and important element of national governance normally means extreme policies and disaffection of the masses. India as the global emerging economic giant must avoid falling into this age old trap left behind by its imperial masters of divide and rule, of belittling values and of jaded politics. You cannot have a people’s party if the masses are not with you.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

7

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Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dee.katwa@abplgroup.com

Are you a driver without insurance?

One in five young motorists is breaking the law by driving without insurance - and many of them are on the roads of the West Midlands, according to new research.

An estimated 250,000 people aged between 17 and 20 continue to drive despite not having any insurance cover in place, according to the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).

The group, which pays compensation to people involved in accidents with uninsured drivers, said people in this age group were four times more likely to be involved in claims, highlighting the significant proportion of young people without insurance cover who were causing accidents.

Part of the problem was that one in ten young drivers claimed not to be aware that having motor insurance was a legal requirement. But the biggest issue is thought to be the high cost of insurance for young drivers, which puts off many people from taking

it out.

Accidents involving all uninsured drivers cost motorists with cover about £500 million a year, adding about £30 to every car insurance

policy taken out.

Uninsured drivers are five times more likely to be involved in a collision, fail to comply with other road traffic requirements or be involved in criminal activity than other motorists. The MIB said uninsured and hit-andrun drivers injure three people every hour and kill three people every week. The UK has one of the highest proportions

Indian art display Indian textile artist Ranbir Kaur has launched her own art gallery in Hockley, Birmingham, thanks to funding from the Arts Council.

Through her creative and innovative work Ranbir aims to develop a greater culture understanding between all people. To find out more visit www.rangoli-arts.com

Green greetings Ping! An email arrives. It's from Leicester couple Nisha and Rakesh: "This year we have chosen to make a donation to charity, Barnardos, in lieu of sending Xmas cards, thereby reducing paper waste and our carbon footprint. However, we have worked hard at perfecting our Xmas dance." Are you being friendly to our environment too?

Tracing our roots The Ethnic Minority Foundation, a charity, held its annual lecture in London last Tuesday. Keynote speaker Dr Spencer Wells delivered a thought-provoking and interesting presentation on a five-year project which aims to map the history of human migration via DNA across five continents. Full report in next column.

PR boost for Arti Former Central News presenter Arti Halai has teamed up with Steve Dann, one of Birmingham’s top PR specialists, to launch a new communications consultancy. Arti, pictured, has worked in both radio and television for some of the country’s largest media corporations including the BBC, ITN, Carlton, LWT, Mirror Group and Sunrise Radio.

of uninsured drivers in Europe, with about five per cent of motorists not having cover, compared with only 0.1 per cent in Sweden and 0.2 per cent in Germany. But the police are being more successful at tackling the problem, with about 230,000 people convicted for driving without insurance each year.

People caught driving without insurance could have their vehicle seized, be fined and receive a minimum of six penalty points. The highest concentrations of uninsured drivers are thought to be in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, London Metropolitan and Merseyside. A separate

study by Campaign for Better Transport a UK advocacy group that lobbies for better bus and rail services recently found how people in the West Midlands are the most dependent on the car in the country. Stephen Joseph, CfBT's executive director, said: "In each region, there are initiatives helping to reduce car dependency. But more needs to be done. We want local councils to take action in their upcoming local transport plans and spend on projects hat will make it easy for people to get out of their cars, and we want the Government to set policies and funding so that car dependency is reduced."

Petition to save car park Leaders from the Hindu, Sikh and Polish communities in the Hillfields area of Coventry have been united in their mission to stop a local car park being removed to make way for Salvation Army hostel for the homeless. A campaign was officially launched at a public meeting held at the city's Shri Krishna Temple, pictured, last Friday evening which was attended by around 100 people, including local residents and councillors. Temple president Kumudchandra Rav said removing the car park would have a devastating effect.

"Parking in this area is already a nightmare," said Mr Rav. He clarified that objections were not against having a hostel but the reduction of parking space. The car park is used not only by worshippers to the temple, but also by those visiting the nearby GNP Gurdwara and the St Stanislaus Kostras Polish Catholic Church. A decision on whether to grant permission for the 80-bed hostel is due to be made next month. Credit, in particular, to Babubhai Garala, a modest champion on equalities and former president of the temple, for his selfless and silent, yet influential, role in this campaign.

New chief at GDC Former Business Link West Midlands chief executive Alison White has been appointed interim chief executive of the General Dental Council.. Ms White, pictured, unexpectedly left her role as chief executive of Business Link West Midlands in September this year. It still remains unclear why Ms White stood down from her post and Business Link has never commented on the matter.

Bare feet walk on coal Intrepid volunteers from the Stroke Association will step on scorching coals to raise cash for stroke victims.

The Fire and Ice Walk will be held in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Jan 16. Volunteers will be given an hour-long training session from a team of experts followed by the event itself. Anyone wishing to take part or to find out more can ring 0121 444 1042.

News in Brief Drug user jailed A Birmingham man, Jaswinder Singh Johal, has been jailed for six years after police found £77,000 worth of cocaine stashed in a cereal box at his home.

Officers searched the Smethwick home of Johal, 36, after he called the police telling them he had been shot. A warrant was executed at his William Road home, where police also found £58,000 in cash. Johal pleaded guilty to part of the charge at Wolverhampton Crown Court last Friday.

Kerb crawling, medic nabbed Dr Sangar Ali, a chest doctor at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, has appeared in court, allegedly accused of trying to pick up a prostitute. He is also charged allegedly for driving without insurance. Dr Ali, 33, pictured, who came to the UK from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2003 as an asylum seeker, last week pleaded not guilty to soliciting and entered no plea on his insurance charge at West Bromwich Magistrates Court. He is due back before the court on Feb 3 for a trial. In the meantime he will continue to work at the hospital.

Dentist on sex charges A Birmingham dentist, Nischal Vaidya, alleged to have sexually assaulted four different women has appeared in court to deny the charges. Vaidya, 39, from Quinton, is accused of touching the women, all aged over 16, in an intimate way. Vaidya has been suspended from Bhandal Dental Practice in Dudley High Street, pending the outcome of the case. He was given conditional bail at Wolverhampton Court last Friday until June 28 when a trial is due to start.

Hospice worker shame A volunteer at Acorns Children’s Hospice has admitted downloading more than 40,000 indecent images of children. David Rollason, 52, from Erdington in Birmingham, pleaded guilty earlier this month at Birmingham Crown Court to three charges of making indecent images, three of possessing them, distributing indecent photos and possessing extreme pornographic images. The charity, which supports life-limited youngsters and their families, has defended its procedures for vetting volunteers.

Chip shop fined A Midland chip shop, Ocean Fish Bar, in Bromsgrove, has been fined more than £6,000 for selling catfish as cod. Owner Kamiljit Ohri admitted selling Vietnamese cobbler and passing it off as cod. The fraud was discovered after an investigation by Worcestershire Trading Standards officers.

Fraudsters charged Six people, including two Birmingham-based solicitors, have been charged over a £50 million commercial mortgage fraud. Four solicitors, a surveyor and a property developer were at the centre of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into claims that a building society was defrauded by a series of false mortgage applications. Fatema Patwa, 47, and Hardeep Sodhi, 33, were charged with the same all eged offence.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Successful Christmas party held at Harrow Leisure Centre

L to R: Ranjanben, Warshaben, Cllr Eric Silver and Ninaben at the Om Shakti Day Centre inaugeration

ERIEN DUBASH The second successful Christmas party was held

by Om Shakti Day Centre at Masefield Suite, Harrow Leisure Centre to cheer up the 300 elderly Hindu females.

The founders of the Centre, Ranjanben Maneck, Ninaben Keshani and Varshaben Dhalia organised the event on 9th

December. The guests included Councillor Anjana Patel and Ansuya Sodha along with other distinguished visitors.

The show contained of jokes, live band and raffle prizes. It was a fun event for all. A spokesperson for the Centre said that the feedback received from all the visitors was extremely positive and all had a fantastic time.

Longer school day trial to boost academic achievement in poor areas A state school with a tenhour working day is to be established to test how extended timetables can enhance the education of children from deprived homes.

The Sutton Trust, whose aim is to improve educational opportunity for pupils from deprived backgrounds, wants to establish such an academy, Britain’s first, modelled on a charter school programme in America.

Its trustees will track the effect on children of an early start and a later finish over a five-year period, from entry to secondary school, up to GCSE level.

The school day would run from 7.30am to 5pm or 5.30pm to maximise opportunities for learning.

New schools have more flexibility over timetables, as their staff do not have contracts with conventional hours. Longer school days are more common in the independent sector.

Research commissioned by the trust found that children with parents who were graduates spent on average twice as much time on their homework as pupils with parents who had O levels: 18 minutes per weekday and 21 minutes at weekends, compared with only 6 and 9 minutes. They were also less likely to read for pleasure.

A third of children (34 per cent) whose parents had little or no formal education claimed to have had no homework set dur-

ing the survey period, compared with 10 per cent of pupils with graduate parents.

This gap was so large that the research authors, from the universities of Oxford and Durham, concluded: “This suggests that the children of less educated parents are much more likely to be in classes or schools that do not in reality set much homework.”

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, told a national daily that the findings illustrated how a child’s background could entrench lower aspirations and underachievement, and longer school hours were a way of bridging this gap.

The model is based on the Knowledge is Power Program, a group of 82 charter schools in poor urban areas in the United States that use a longer school day to maximise learning.

The study also found that, among children from professional families, 82 per cent said they had access to a computer and 52 per cent said they had more than 200 books at home, compared with 53 per cent from poorer homes who said they had no computer and 12 per cent whose families had a similar number of books.

The research used data from 23,000 pupils aged 14-16 who sat GCSEs in 160 schools in 2007, and diaries kept by 1,000 children aged between 8 and 13 in 2000.

National Hindu Students Forum (UK)

By Kajal Valani, President

I am HINDU when it suits me; during election time - part two In my previous article, I promised the NHSF (UK) PR team that I would get some answers from politicians who made promises but failed to keep them. I kept my word and low and behold, upon reading my article, one such politician did send an apology and even made time to speak about how we can work together to further the young generation into becoming conscious British citizens using Dharmic principles.

I have spoken to these young minds on my committee and told them that these articles are not about exposing a politician or gaining some publicity as so many others try to do. It is about us collectively making a difference and making politicians answer to the people who have put them in their positions. I am not here to name and shame them without due course - Hindu Dharma does not teach me to do that...

So rather than moan-

ing or exposing, the NHSF committee are going to analyse the situation of why politicians are able to abuse their positions and not deliver.

Someone has to bring a change and NHSF are committed to looking for a way to do this.

Many politicians have gone into politics without taking into consideration Hindu values which are probably the only values that can rescue human society from current disaster. More often than not, the Hindu politicians tow their party agenda instead of adding value by bringing in lessons from our Dharma.

The Hindu politician has only become a tool in the hands of the system here and he expects the Hindu samaj (society) to do at his behest whenever, wherever he bids us to his call. These NHSF members are the future of British Hindus and ultimately of Britain. It is time such politicians take note of this and what they

10 year old boys charged with rape Two 10-year-old boys have been charged with raping an 8 year old schoolgirl. The schoolgirl was said to have been playing with the boys when the alleged attack happened during half-term school holidays. She went with the boys to Hayes to play on the climbing frame and swings close to the Hayes Community Campus.

The children were not being supervised by any adults, detectives said at the time. The young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was taken to bushes at the edge of the park where she was sexually assaulted in broad daylight. The two boys are

alleged to have taken turns raping her. Afterwards, the young girl ran home to tell her parents. Horrified, they alerted police and two boys were arrested hours later.

A Met police spokesman said the charges were made following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The alleged attack was investigated by officers from the Met’s specialist Sapphire Unit. The recently re-organised unit is part of the Specialist Crime Directorate. It is run by detectives specially trained in child sex offences who have recently interviewed the young girl.

do.

During our analysis, it became clear to us that what we needed were more conscious Hindus to get in the middle and make the change. We are all tooled and equipped with the raw ingredients; Hindu Dharma and its principles, so we need to take that with us, use it and make sure others use such principles. We need more young Hindus to be the guiding light where others have started to dim.

The national committee of NHSF (UK) have, therefore, decided to start a new team in our next academic year; a Politics Team. Taking inspiration from NHSF’s Hindu Times conference a month ago, this area of our work will be dedicated to ensuring that there are more opportunities for Hindu students to get involved in politics and for them to use their Hindu values to help and support the samaj to really be change they wish to

see in the world. There will be a Parliamentary Internship Programme which will allow students not just to shadow politicians, but to learn the system and work in order to change and better the system. Our message to Hindu students will be to join political parties, understand the workings of them and make that change. It doesn’t matter which one they join, just get in and make a positive difference.

Through our Dharmic mindset of Anekataa Mein Ekataa (Unity in Diversity) Britain will continue to be a beautiful mosaic of diverse cultures and a fertile breeding ground of achieving peace & harmony here and in the world. NHSF (UK) members are taking steps to achieve this using our Dharma. Are you?

750 homes freeze as gas supply fails due to burst water pipe Thousands of residents in north London were left without heating and cooking in the freezing conditions after their gas supply failed.

About 750 homes in East Barnet faced days without gas after water from a burst main got into the gas pipes, cutting off the flow in the early hours on last Sunday.

Hundreds of people queued outside a school where a team of volunteers handed out fan heaters. Supplier National Grid said engineers spent nights pumping water out of the system.

Amar Vaid, said his wife and children were all struggling with no hot water and there was no way to cook their meals.

He said: “Luckily we had a couple of fires in the house so at least we didn’t freeze.”

Arpan Patel, a city worker, said “ It was a nightmare. We could not take bath, it’s freezing inside the houses, with no way to cook. I was worried about my Ba (grandmother) who is 89 years old, who has a special dietary need and could not sustain the cold and chaos.”

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Spriha’s

Corner

By Spriha Srivastava

Three Idiots bring a smile It is that time of the year when we sit and remember the events that took place as the year 2009 flew by. It is now time to get ready to step into the last year that will mark the end of this decade. But before we step out of 2009, there is something that all Bollywood lovers are waiting for. Alright let me give you a hint, it is a movie about three friends, shot at IIM Bangalore – one of the most prestigious colleges in India and has strong resemblances with Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Five Point Someone’. It is “Three Idiots” that I am referring to here and I am sure you must have guessed it too.

Starring Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor and Boman Irani, Three Idiots is one of the most anticipated films of 2009.

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film takes you on a very entertaining journey of three friends during their engineering days at one of the top colleges of the country. The film shows the amount of pressure some parents put on their children to become doctors or engineers and the frustration that it brings to them when the child does not succeed.

But it also shows how students mingle with each other and make some true friends during these days. It talks about three friends – Rancho (Aamir), Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman) and their four amazing years in college. But one day Rancho disappears. And that’s the suspense. Wait till it unfolds.

For me, three hours were almost like living my student life again. Of course, things are much different in a non-engineering college but the essence remains the same. When I spoke to R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, the two stars from Three Idiots, they sounded absolutely delighted to have spent their time at IIM Bangalore.

“It was a complete privilege to be in such a prestigious campus. We were absolutely delighted. I felt like I was reliving my college life. We spent a lot of time with

the students, took long walks in the quiet campus and when it was time to go back, it felt sad,” said Madhavan.

The fact that IIM Bangalore was chosen as the campus for shooting has created a lot of excitement among the IIMB alumni. The institute’s alumni spanned all across the globe are eagerly waiting for the film to hit the theatres.

Baishakhi Chowdhury, an IIMB alumna, who is presently in Melbourne said, “When I first heard about the film shooting at IIMB, I felt a mixture of pride and jealousy.

Proud that the institution I chose over 5 other IIMs in India was the one the respected film crew chose as the backdrop for their big budget movie, yet slightly jealous that it was a year too late for me to interact with these famous actors first hand.”

Sharman said for him it was a completely new experience as he had never been to a hostel.

“For me it was a great experience. I haven’t been to a hostel so it was great. We played squash with the students, partied with them, danced with them, had food with them. Almost felt like I was part of them.

And the campus is beautiful,” said Sharman.

Shruti George, another IIMB alumna, now in Brussels, kept up with the latest gossip on the sets ever since the first piece of news about the movie being shot at the campus came out.

“One of my favourite snippets of the movie was from the song Aal izz Well, where the stars were dancing on the L^2. I was exclaiming excitedly to my family, “there! that’s where 200 of us used to dance every

second Saturday.” It didn’t matter then that the dance floor could only accommodate 50 people in a non-IIMB world. It doesn’t matter that they made us an engineering college! It doesn’t even matter that they seemed to quadruple the size of our standard hostel room in the movie.

Those granite walls have the same magnetic pull in celluloid as they did in real life,” said Shruti.

And then there is a cute love story that drives the movie to the cupid world. The character of Pia enacted by Kareena Kapoor is a happy-go-lucky doctor and is also the daughter of the Director of the engineering college. And this is where we come to Boman Irani’s role. He plays the character of Viru Sahastrabudhhe, the Director of Imperial College of Engineering who believes in strict ideals of discipline and sincerity. Boman Irani’s fine acting skills have added a lot of strength to the character of Virus, as he is known in the movie.

After a really long time I came across a movie where I felt like I could leave my worries back home and take part in this laugh riot. Overall the movie is a complete package of fun, romance and emotions balanced by the star cast. You will find yourself sometimes rolling on the floor with laughter and at other times wiping away those tears that might roll down your cheeks. The film is definitely one of the most awaited films of 2009. It is sure to bring a smile on our faces and how wonderful it is to end the year with that smile!

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Christmas - the Message of Peace and Love

By Christopher Benjamin, The Presbyterian Church Christmas is the anniversary of the birth of Christ, and its observance; celebrated by most Protestants and by Roman Catholics on December 25; by Eastern O r t h o d o x Churches on January 6; and by the Armenian Churches on January 19.

The first mention of its observance on December 25 is in the time of Constantine, about AD 325.

The date of the birth of Christ is not known. The word Christmas is formed of Christ plus Mass, meaning a mass of religious service in commemoration of the birth of Christ. A commemoration of the birth of Christ in harmonious keeping with the events surrounding that birth (Gospel of St. Luke 2: 120) is a natural and normal expression of love and reverence for Jesus Christ.

Jesus was the Son of the Virgin Mary, born at Bethlehem shortly before the death of Herod the great (4BC) He spent his early life in Nazareth where he worked as the village carpenter. Soon after his baptism, he commenced a ministry of preaching and healing, mainly in Galilee.

Jesus’ message was concerned with the good news of the rule (or kingdom) of God. In the Old Testament the prophets looked forward to a future era when God would act in power and set up his rule over Israel. This hope was associated with the coming of a king (or Messiah; Greek, ‘Christ) who would belong to the kingly line of David. In the time of Jesus, the people had come to expect a warrior-king to deliver them from their Roman overlords.

He taught that this hoped-for era was already dawning. He looked forward to the future consummation of God’s rule, with himself as King. But the coming of God’s rule was to be seen not in military victories but in Jesus’ mighty works of healing and his preaching of salvation. God was already acting in the ministry of Jesus.

Jesus taught his disci-

ples a new way of life. It is summed up in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus took over the Old Testament commandments to love God and one’s neighbour and filled them with new life and vigour.

Jesus taught with such self-confident authority that men asked who he thought he was.

Some took him as healer, some as teacher, and some as king and some as Messiah.

Mahatma Gandhi, the Great soul said of Jesus : 'What, then, does Jesus mean to me?' To me, He was one of the greatest teachers humanity has ever had. To His believers, He was God's only begotten son. Could the fact that I do or do not accept this belief make Jesus have any more or less influence in my life? Is all the grandeur of His teaching and of His doctrine to be forbidden to me? I cannot believe so. To me it implies a spiritual birth.

My interpretation, in other words, is that in Jesus' own life is the key of His will of God. It is in this sense that I see Him and recognise Him as the exemplified in the highest measure, in its most profound human sense, does exist. I must believe this; if I did not believe it I should be a sceptic; and to be sceptic is to live a life that is empty and lacks moral content. Or, what is the same thing, to condemn the entire human race to a negative end.

To describe Jesus in all the perfection of His character would be impossible. He had

integrity. He was truth incarnate.

He had courageboth physical courage and the courage of conviction. He had compassion as He dealt with people.

He clothed Himself with humility.

His character was crowned with sinlessness – not simple the absence of sin, but a positive holiness in all that He said and did.

The influence of Jesus, in spite of the brevity of His life, is seen in New the Testament, where every book centres in Him. When He comes into a human life, He brings to it a new point of reference and a new set of values. Sinners are transformed by Him. He is the conscience of the world. He has mightily effected society in its organised state. He has taught the world the dignity of human life, improved the status of women, brought about the abolition of slavery, stimulated interest in social work. The arts owe their sublimes achievements to the desire to honour Him. Even moralists and philosophers who do not acknowledge His deity nevertheless acknowledge the excellence of His moral teaching.

Jesus was born allpowerful.

He was brought to save man. He was God made flesh, God walking the earth.

Mahatma Gandhi found Lord Jesus gloriously commendable because he lived out his teachings among his neighbours and enemies.

Once there was an advertisement with a picture of Abraham Lincoln in the centre. These words were at the top of the ad: 'He was everybody, only a little taller.'

Lincoln was a great person, but no one meets that description like Jesus. Jesus was everybody, only much taller.

Twenty centuries after His sojourn on earth, His shadow is larger and growing larger than ever before. No one can measure His height or His influence.

I wish all the readers of Asian Voice a Happy Christmas and a very Prosperous New Year.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Chef who turned ‘curry’ into a style icon In the world of Indian cuisine Vineet Bhatia is a popular name.

The London-based chef owns nine restaurants — three in the UK and are not just curry house for drunken revellers.

He has a flurry of openings in the Middle East planned for next year and, in March, returns to his home city of Mumbai to open a restaurant at a Moberoi hotel. Mr Bhatia trained in the hotel group’s highly regarded catering school, then graduated to running its Indian restaurant, before emigrating to the UK. It was a move that paid off. In 2001 Zaika, the restaurant he co-owned on High Street Kensington, in West London, won a Michelin star — the first awarded to an Indian restaurateur. Mr Bhatia repeated the success five years later at Rasoi in Chelsea, and, last month, completed the hat-trick with a Michelin star awarded to Rasoi at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Geneva.

It is the first Indian restaurant in mainland Europe to receive the accolade, and Mr Bhatia is only the second British chef, after Gordon Ramsay, to hold Michelin stars in more than one country.

Mr Bhatia grew up dreaming of becoming a pilot, but he was turned down for military service

because he was too small.

He ended up on a hotel management course almost by accident, going against the family tradition of becoming a doctor or lawyer.

From the moment he stepped into a kitchen, he fell in love with it, eventually gaining a place at the Oberoi School, where trainees are expected to learn French and Indian cuisine. But Mr Bhatia stubbornly insisted that Indian cuisine was all that he wanted to learn, and consequently climbed through the ranks at a quicker pace.

He was appointed to the Indian kitchen at the Oberoi Mumbai, where he stayed until he moved to London, in 1990.

Mr Bhatia arrived in London with £7 and took a job at a restaurant in Chelsea. Horrified by the “aggressively macho, illogically hot and spicy” Indian food served in Britain, he set about changing things in the kitchen. The critics took notice.

In her Evening Standard column in 1993, Fay Maschler wrote: “Bhatia has lifted the cooking into a new league, providing convincing proof that Indian food is capable of evolving.”

But it has not been easy for Mr Bhatia, and Rashima, his wife and business partner, who is a

trained pharmacist. Even after winning the first Michelin star, things were tight financially.

He told ‘The Times’ that he was not making as much money as he hoped, “so Rashima and I decided to go it alone”. In 2004 he took out a large bank loan, with his house as collateral, and opened Rasoi Vineet Bhatia, his flagship restaurant in Chelsea.

There are only 13 tables spread over two small reception rooms on the ground floor and two private dining rooms at the top of the creaky stairs in the Chelsea townhouse.

Mrs Bhatia designed the interiors — lush embossed wallpapers and rich fabrics, the smell of incense mingling with aromatic spices drifting in from the kitchen.

Eventually, Mr Bhatia wants a second Michelin star for the restaurant.

“When I can spend more time in London,” he explains, revealing that he is on the road for up to five months a year. “But I don’t get jet lag — I never tire of being on a plane.”

He is reportedly negotiating consultancy projects with hotels in Abu Dhabi and is looking at deals in Bahrain, Morocco and Europe. “It’s the safest way to operate at the moment but, yes, I do want to open more of my own places in the future,” he says.

Mr Bhatia has recently published Rasoi: New Indian Kitchen (Absolute Press, £30), his first cookery book, of which he is immensely proud.

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Police expect Mumbai-style terror attack on City of London

Scotland Yard has warned businesses in London to expect a Mumbai-style attack on the capital. In a briefing in the City of London 12 days ago, a senior detective from SO15, the Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command, said: “Mumbai is coming to London.”

The detective said companies should anticipate a shooting and hostage-taking raid “involving a small number of gunmen with handguns and improvised explosive devices”.

The warning has underlined an assessment that a terrorist cell may be preparing an attack on London early next year. It was issued by the Met through its network of “security forums”, which provide business leaders, local government and the emergency services with counter-terrorism advice.

During a “commando-style” raid by 10 gunmen on hotels and cafes in Mumbai in November 2008, 174 people were killed and more than 300 injured over three days.

Officials now report an increase in “intelligence chatter” — communications captured by electronic eavesdropping agencies. One senior security adviser said the police warnings had intensified and become much more specific in the past fortnight.

The Met is understood to be struggling to draw up effective plans to deal with the challenge of mass shootings followed by a prolonged siege with terrorists prepared to kill their hostages and themselves.

In Mumbai, many victims were killed in the first half hour of the attack. The Met is concerned that it will be much longer before the SAS, which has traditionally dealt with terrorist sieges in London, would arrive from its base at Regent’s Park barracks. Patrick Mercer, chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee, said the threat was “very real”.

The absolutely essential health and safety toolkit

Rhaynukaa Soni Outreach Executive

The following summaries provide you with an essential checklist of some of the hazards most commonly found on construction sites. The questions will help you decide whether your site is a safe and healthy.

This is not a full list.

Ladders ‘...are ladders secured at the top and bottom to prevent them slipping sideways and outwards?’ ! Ladders and steplad-

ders are the last resort.

Can you buy or hire some alternative equipment that would provide a safer means of access? ! Is the work of short duration and low risk?

Are they in good condition? ! Do ladders rest against a solid surface and not on fragile or insecure materials? ! Are ladders secured at the top and bottom to prevent them slipping sideways and outwards?

Ladders ‘...are the ladders positioned so that users don’t have to overstretch?’ ! Do ladders rise at least a metre above their landing place?

If not, are there other

handholds available? ! Are the ladders positioned so that users don’t have to overstretch? ! Do you have to use the top three rungs of a stepladder? If so your stepladder is too short. ! Is the user competent?

Those using ladders should be trained to use the equipment safely. ! Over a four-year period, 36 people died falling from ladders. ! That is 24% of falls in construction. A third of those who died were painters and decorators. ! A construction worker was killed when he fell from an unsecured ladder while trying to climb onto a flat garage roof.

Roofwork ‘...is there edge protection to stop people or materials falling?’ ! Is there edge protection to stop people or materials falling?

During industrial roofing, have nets been provided to stop people falling from the leading edge of the roof and from partially fixed sheets? ! Where nets are used, have they been hung safely? ! Have you identified fragile materials such as cement sheets and roof lights which could be fragile? ! Have you taken precautions to stop people falling through fragile materials when working on the roof, eg by providing barriers, covers or working platforms? ! Are people kept away from the area below the roof work? ! Are roofworkers trained and experienced to recog-

nise the risks and are they competent to do the work? ! Over 50% of fatal injuries to roofers are falls through fragile materials and over 30% are falls from edges and openings. ! A roofer was killed when he fell through an unprotected fragile roof light while stripping and resheeting an industrial pitched roof.

Excavations ‘...is the excavation regularly inspected by a competent person?’ ! Is there enough support for the excavation, or has

it been sloped or battered back to a safe angle? ! Is a safe method used for putting in the support, without people working

Helpline: 0207 556 2181 e-mail: desi@hse.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/gujarati

in an unsupported trench? ! Is there safe access into the excavation, eg a sufficiently long, secured ladder? ! Are there barriers or other protection to stop people and vehicles falling in? ! Are properly secured stop blocks provided to prevent tipping vehicles falling in? ! Could the excavation affect the stability of neighbouring structures or services? ! Are materials, spoil and plant stored away from the edge of the excavation to reduce the chance of a collapse? ! Is the excavation regularly inspected by a competent person? ! A labourer was crushed and killed by a fall of earth while he was pipelaying in a 4 m deep trench. A trench box was provided, but he was working 3 m beyond the box.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Scrutator’s BBC News spotted an interesting report in the Indian media. It concerned President Pratibha Patil's flight in a supersonic warplane, the formidable Russian-built Sukhoi-30MKI, thus becoming the country's first woman to fly in a combat aircraft.

BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, while the upgrades of the country's entire MiG 29 fleet would be completed by 2013, said Mr Isaalkin. Referring to the upcoming cooperation on a fifth generation fighter aircraft, he said: “Joint work on a fifth generation warplane is an important area of militarytechnological cooperation between Russia and India, evidence of the qualitatively new stage of mutually beneficial relationship in this sphere,” he said.

Railways resurgent

Pratibha Patil's

Mrs Patil 74, described her 30-minute flight in the two-seater Sukhoi jet as “a wonderful and unique experience”. The president was a co-passenger in the jet that flew above an air force base near Pune in western India. She also set a record by becoming the oldest woman to be airborne on a combat jet.

“I was familiar with the manoeuvring of the aircraft which has a very sophisticated control system. I had the opportunity to fly in the [IAF's] most technically advanced aircraft,” she told a press conference in Pune after the flight.

“I am reassured that our pilots and the defence forces have the required skills and expertise. I am reassured that we have the expertise and strength to protect our borders,” she said.

Mrs Patil, who normally wears traditional Indian saris, wore a special khaki green 'G-suit' used by fighter pilots to counter gravitational effect due to any high speed manoeuvres. She was the second Indian president after APJ Abul Kalam to fly in a Sukhoi.

Russian delight Pratibha Patil's flight attracted watchers from afar. The Itar-Tass agency report from Moscow was a paean of praise (November 25).

It described the president's flight on board a SU30MKI jet of Russian manufacture as “ a worthy ending of the India Year in the Russian Federation and evidence of the Indian side's great confidence in Russian military hardware,” quoting the words of Anatoly Isaalkin, the general director of Rosoboronexport, Russia's arms exporting company.

“Our planes of the SU and MiG families are well known to the military pilots of that country [India]. This event is further evidence of the steady

onward progress in mutually beneficial military and technological cooperation between such strategic partners as India and Russia. India has invariably been our strategic partner. I am certain that in the near future, the cooperation will grow stronger and gain greater momentum.”

That President Patil, the commander-in-chief of India's armed forces, flew in a Russian aircraft was seen in “Russia....as a token of the highest degree of trust in the country and its military hardware and fresh proof of their high quality.”

Upgrades India's Sukhoi squadrons were being equipped with

Esther Bintliff's article on the Indian Railways in the Financial Times (November 30) was a fascinating read. Indian railways have played a seminal role in the life of the country. Established in the mid-19th century during the high noon of the British Raj, it stitched together a vast landmass of diverse languages, cultures, ethnicities and much else into an emergent nation state one hundred years later. It gave the people of India a sense of their country and an awareness of their civilisational roots.

But time moves on and the Indian Railways had fallen behind the times at the turn of the 21st century. The economist Rakesh Mohan and his team issued a report in 2001 highlighting the parlous state of the system. It was in dire financial straits and was heading for “a permanent debt trap,” he opined.

In May 2004, Laloo Prasad Yadav, among the worst chief ministers in the history of blighted Bihar, took over as railways minister in the first Manmohan Singh government. His principal aide Sudhir Kumar and his minister of state initiated a truly dramatic recovery and the Indian Railways today are financially healthy and facing the future with confidence.

Senior staff are sent on management courses in Paris, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.

They return buzzing with ideas on improved customer service and the like.

Indian railways aim to be a global player. It isn't there yet, but it could become one in the not too distant future.

Tata housing takes off According to a Times of India report (November 21), Tata Housing, having received a phenomenal response for its low-cost housing project at Boisar, some 120 km from

MiG 29 Mumbai, plans to launch similar schemes in tier 1 and tier 2 cities across the country.

“We will set up a pan India presence. We are expanding into new geographies and markets like Lonavala, Pune, Chennai and other markets,” said Brotin Banerjee, CEO & MD, Tata Housing Development Company.

“We received 7,000 applications for 1,000 flats and as a gesture of goodwill offered another 300 flats in the first phase. All the 1,300 flats will be delivered as per schedule in March 2011,” Mr Banerjee concluded.

The Tatas are clearly up and running. World Bank President Robert Zoellick, on his recent visit to India, tried out the Nano and was amazed by its performance and high quality engineering and, not least, by its cheap price.

it is a homecoming to my karma bhoomi. Never have I concealed that I consider India as my second home, with the greater part of my life and professional activity associated with her,” he said after presenting his credentials to President Pratibha Patil.

He described IndiaRussia ties as a “unique phenomenon” in the history of international diplomacy. So say all of us.

Welcome to India, Ambassador.

Green technology

A Hindustan Times report (December 5) tells of ingenious ways Indian entrepreneurs are developing a range of products, from coconut shells and cashew kernels to ice creams, ketchups, tea and soaps: from municipal solid waste to alternate Karma bhoomi energy. Clean development mechanism (CDM) Russia's new ambassador has spawned the developto India, Alexander ment of the Indian carbon Kadakin, is on his second market with a robust and tour of duty as his coundiverse portfolio of projtry's envoy in Delhi. He is ects. an old India hand, and is a Consider this: As fluent Hindi speaker. He many as 746 Indian companies, representing over 40 sectors, account for 1,056 projects that have applied for the U n i t e d Nations-mandated CDM accreditation.

The power sector leads the table with 68 projects followed by wind energy (54), sugar (30) and cement (26).

“We are working on a plant based on underground coal gasificaAlexander Kadakin tion technology,” said described his second D.K.Jain, executive direcappointment in the Hindu tor (engineering) NTPC. newspaper as a kind of This would allow the prohomecoming. duction of gas from under“For me personally, my ground coal seams which second appointment as would emit negligible CO2 Ambassador here has a for producing power. profound inner meaning – Bharat Heavy Electricals

Limited is commissioning a 120MW power plant based on underground coal gasification technology. “Indian industry is well positioned to turn the challenge into an opportunity,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CIL.

Solar power According to BBC News, “India has approved plans for a huge increase in the amount of electricity it generates from solar power. It aims to boost solar output 1,000-fold over 12 years from its current negligible level. Its 20 gigawatt target would power several big cities.

“The cabinet gave its approval for launching of the Jawaharlal Nehru national solar mission, Solar India,” Information Minister Ambika Soni said in Delhi.

The $19 billion threephased plan aims to boost solar power output across the country from close to zero to 20 gigawatts by 2022. India hopes to build a solar power industry that matches early leaders in the sector such as Germany and Japan.

Gift to Nigeria An Indian non-government organisation has conducted free eye surgeries in Nigeria on more than 9,000 Nigerians suffering from eye ailments.

Over a million Nigerians are blind.

India Eye Care Foundation (IECF) in cooperation with Rotary Eye Institute, Navsari (Gujarat) and the Rotary Club of Lagos led the initiative in three Nigerian states. Following the success of the venture, the Nigerian government has donated land for permanent eye care facility.

“This permanent eyecare hospital will cost over $1.3 million, which will be donated by the Indian community in Nigeria and many other corporate organisations,” said Viral K. Purohit, an eye specialist from Navsari.

Long may the project endure and prosper.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

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Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, I write to you from Mumbai on my way to Dubai. And two more different economies there could not be. However do not be mistaken. Outside property there remains extensive wealth in the UAE looking for a home – whether it is trading in global stocks, like owning chunks of Barclays, or buying food for their population.

Here in Mumbai I am seeing a number of Indian technology companies to see which ones we can assist to set up a regional HQ in the UK. You may find the following question and answers into how investors decide to invest in Indian companies useful from my trip here: Could you elaborate on various Investment Models preferred by Angel Investors? What are core investment attributes? How do you evaluate the proposals? What are the steps involved in the process of investment?

We are looking for Indian companies which have already got some seed funding from friends, family or fools (the 3 ‘f’s), who have a protected intellectual property based product, with sales, the ability to scale and looking to raise realistic amounts of money which is not simply for marketing but which would really catalyse the company forward – accelerate it.

At UKIBAN (UK India Business Angel Network) we have a simple 1 page form which we invite companies to fill in which is a standardized form all our angels wish to see and that allows us to do the initial screening. The step beyond that is then to move things forward with filling in any gaps of information and undertaking more due diligence to ensure the company is telling the truth about its product, the customers it has and so on.

Entrepreneurs, with untested business models or innovative ideas, seek financial back up in the form of capital or the early stage finance from Angel investors. What is the most preferred investment structure by the Angel investor and the investee?

For those companies from India, looking to go global via the UK, but still having an India operation as their competitive edge, we look to establish a separate UK company with the relevant UK tax breaks for the UK angels.

What is the investment horizon for Angel investor after the second round of funding when companies mostly expand their equity base? What exit options would be available for an Angel investor? What are the exit strategies that are generally preferred?

The usual exits – IPOs tend to bring the highest multiples, but that market is dead at the moment. An exit in five years – but usually ends up being seven. Trade sales too are common of course but the key is to ensure the company behaves in terms of its documentation as if one day someone is going to do detailed due diligence on the company.

Does any Angel Investor participate actively in the management of investee/portfolio company? Are they offered any seat on the board? What equity stake is generally offered to the investor?

Most angels do not want to be passive. If they put $500,000 into a company, they want to do it knowing that with one phone call they can get a big order for the company and so recoup their investment. Given the angel is looking for an IRR of 30% minimum pa, then the stake they take is such that they estimate the value of the company at exit based on earnings at that point and a market cap based on a multiple of those earnings would mean their stake at that point would leave them with such a return – after all dilution.

So for example, if I am investing $1m, and in 5 years expect with the company earning $10m at that point and a valuation on a multiple at that time of 3, so a valuation of $30m, and I want my $1m to have become $3m, then I would need to ensure in 5 years I owned 10% of the company. Which would also be 10% of the company today if no other investors came in, but since they will, I would need to calculate that today I may need 30% of the company or more because it will be diluted to a mere 10% in five years.

13

Public sector borrowing in UK at a record high Net borrowing by UK’s public sector hit a record high, official figures say. In November 2009, it reached £20.3 billion.

This is the highest figure since 1993, as records are available from than onwards. Yet, economists say the borrowings are lower than what they had expected.

The net debt for the public sector was at £844.5 billlion, which is 60.2% of UK’s overall economic output, as per the details provided by the Office for National Statistics.

Government debt as a percentage of GDP has gone up considerably since the start of the financial crisis.

In November 2008,

public borrowing was £15.5bn, while net debt stood at £706.2bn, or 49.6% of GDP. The Conservatives said the government had let spending get out of control. The Treasury chose to look at the bright side by pointing out that tax receipts were actually higher than in the same month last year and that there were possible signs of a revival in revenues.

The latest figures don't make the chancellor's fullyear forecast for £178bn look less realistic. That may be a relief to the markets.

Shadow chancellor George Osbourne said: "In the run up to Christmas, Gordon Brown is maxing out on the nation's credit

card - and doesn't care how we are going to repay these debts in the future.

"The record public borrowing figures equate to almost £1,000 for every family this month alone.

Now we're all paying for Labour's failure to fix the roof when the sun was shining."

"Certainly the better labour market data is helping government finances and a return to growth will further help moderate the rate of deterioration."

Data released earlier this week showed the increase in the UK unemployment rate continuing to slow between August and October.

Securing growth is seen as key to paying

down some of the burgeoning government debt.

The UK is still mired in recession at a time when every other major global economy is growing again.

Government spending Analysts said the overall level of public borrowing for this financial year was on track to hit the £178bn forecast by the government.

Not only has the government received less money, it has also spent a lot more, largely on bailing out the banks and trying to stimulate the economy.

But despite the sharp increase in public borrowing, overall debt levels as a percentage of GDP are similar to those of other major, developed economies.

UK govt. pension body has only TCS in fray for IT services One local and two other European entities were in the fray, but they all left mid-way, leaving TCS, one of the Indian software and IT biggies the lone bidder for UK government’s pension body.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is also India’s largest IT services exporter.

A TCS spokesperson, when contacted said, “We are keen to continue working with the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (PADA) to develop the proposed solution for personal accounts scheme.

Logica UK, Great-Western Retirement Services Europe and ATP Group of Denmark were the other three bidders who later withdrew from the race.

The actual value of the contract is not known.

The TCS spokesperson added, “This project will help millions of people save for their retirement and we are fully committed to it”.

PADA chief executive Tim Jones said: “We will continue our detailed discussions with TCS. They are an exceptionally strong bidder and we are making

excellent progress but we need to conclude the procurement process appropriately and evaluate their proposals”.

PADA is a non-departmental public body established by UK legislation to introduce personal accounts scheme. The scheme will be a trustbased occupation pension scheme, run by a trustee corporation.

For the Indian IT services industry, the UK represents the second largest market after the USA. According to industry observers, UK is seeking

to bring down operational costs of its public sector systems by outsourcing non-core IT and back office projects.

It is estimated that the country has identified a potential savings of around $10.6 billion with spending on IT by the UK government is estimated to be around $36 billion annually.

The Indian IT companies are also upping their presence in the UK with having development centres in regions such as Scotland, Northern Ireland among others.

New Year bonanza for Indian expats from RBI Now they can retain 100 pc of their salary outside India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), continuing its dynamic streak of balanced liberalisation, recently announced some more good news for expatriates who are on deputation to India and/or employed with Indian companies and are regarded as resident as per the Indian exchange control laws.

The RBI has issued a notification with the intention of allowing expatriates on deputation to receive and retain 100 per cent of their salary outside India and foreign

citizens employed by Indian companies to remit 100 per cent of their salary outside India.

This has given some cheer in these times to my friends, Nick Duxbury, a UK citizen and an investment banker said. Nick is on deputation to an Indian subsidiary of his foreign employer, while his wife who is employed by an Indian consulting company.

The new RBI Notification allows individuals who are employed by a foreign company and are on deputation to an

Indian branch, office, subsidiary or joint venture of such employer, to receive 100 per cent of his post-tax salary directly in a bank account outside India in foreign currency and to retain such salary outside India. Prior to this change, they could only receive and retain 75 percent of their salary outside India.

This notification also allows Nick's colleague Vaidyanathan, an Indian citizen employed abroad and on a similar deputation to receive and retain 100 percent of his post tax

salary outside India.

Earlier, only the foreign company could pay such salary outside India and the new Notification does not impose any such restriction which implies that the Indian entity also could remit the salary to the deputationist outside India.

It also allows nonIndian citizens like Nick's wife who is on employment with an Indian company to remit 100 per cent of her post-tax salary income from her Indian rupee bank account to her overseas bank account.

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14

FINANCIAL VOICE

Vodafone to launch iPhones in UK Sale in India also to start soon Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile phone services provider is scheduled to launch sales of iPhones in UK from 14th January, 2010. Vodafone will also distribute in India and nine other countries soon.

Guy Laurence, chief executive of Vodafone UK said the company had been preparing its network for more than one year to handle the introduction of iPhone. The announcement for sale in India and other countries, made on Tuesday by the two companies, will mean customers will be legally able to buy the phone in India bundled with the Vodafone service, unlike now when they buy smuggled phones or those that are locked on overseas networks. The other coun-

tries where the phone will be available on Vodafone networks are Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.

The iPhone was launched in the US in late June last year, is today officially available in the US, the UK, France and Germany. In each of these countries, it has exclusive tie-ups with network providers. The phone has sold 6.5 million pieces since launch. A Vodafone executive said “We have not yet decided on the date, price or the model of the iPhone to be made available in India.

Discussions are on,” said Harit Nagpal, marketing and new business director, Vodafone Essar.

Reliance biggest wealth creator in India Unitech is the fastest; HDFC is most consistent

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has emerged as the biggest wealth creator in FY 09, generating Rs 1514 billion, which accounted for over 15% of the total wealth created last year, a study said.

An Indian brokerage firm, Motilal Oswal in a study released last week said oil and gas continues to be the biggest wealth creator during the last sixyears. It was state run ONGC for the first three years, while for the next three years, it is RIL. “Reliance Industries has emerged as the biggest wealth creator for the third time in a row. It has created Rs 1,514- billion worth of wealth contributing 15.6% of total wealth created in FY 09," the

study titled '14th Motilal Oswal Wealth Creation Study' said. Real estate firm Unitech was the fastest wealth creater since 2004, the study said.

Motilal said that Unitech's five-year stock price recorded a staggering compound growth of 122%.

Apart from RIL, homeloan lender HDFC, pharma company Sun Pharma, auto major Hero Honda and software exporter Infosys Technologies have emerged among the top 100 wealth creators in the past 10-years. "HDFC is ranked as the most consistent wealth creator by virtue of its 10-year price CAGR (compound annual growth rate) being the highest," the study said.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

India’s exports up 18%, biz wants stimulus to stay Reversing the downtrend that had set in for past 13 months after the global slowdown, India’s exports registered a growth of over 18% in November, 2009.

India’s commerce secretary, Rahul Khullar though cautioned that it is still too early to rejoice because the growth is attributed to base effect.

There is no great shift in demand.

Experts stated that the time was not ripe for rolling back stimulus measures announced for

exporters.

"The government should not withdraw the stimulus packages as we need to see that whether the growth is sustained in the coming months or not...the market is very dicey we should not have complacent views...we should not be self-confident that exports have started growing," said RM Joshi of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.

Expressing happiness that exports have turned around, the Federation of

Indian Export Organisations (FIE) said the turnaround is an "indication of exporters' resilience and the positive impact of the stimulus extended by the government," FIEO president A Shakthivel said.

He hoped that the government would continue with the "interest subvention (subsidy) for exports as interest rates are set to move northward".

Gems and jewellery grew over 40 per cent to $2.15 billion in the month

under study. Readymade garment shipments grew to $727 million from $686 million in the same month a year ago. Man-made fibre and petroleum products also contributed to the turnaround story.

However, for AprilNovember period of the fiscal, exports dropped to $104.25 billion from $134.2 billion in the same period a year ago. India's exports of petroleum products increased to $2.4 billion from $1.3 billion in the same period last year.

Gujarat tops in single window clearance KPMG, Tie study system in six states Gujarat tops the list in providing single window clearance to entrepreneurs, a report released by KPMG and Tie, said. The report evaluated the system in Gujarat and five other industrialized states, viz. Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"Gujarat tops the list in providing single window clearance to

promote entrepreneurship, easy land transfer and land bank for small players.

There is also increased focus on vocational training and skill-based education in the state," according to the report.

However, entrepreneurs feel that to a large extent the single window mechanism is only for select marquee projects.

Not all projects receive the same treatment and still face delays, the report said.

The report said that while entrepreneurs in Gujarat recognise the state's efforts and willingness to promote entrepreneurial development, they also stressed on the need to create modern social infrastructure in terms of education, healthcare and

tourism. "The entrepreneurs in Gujarat are satisfied with their government's quick policy decisions. They, however, are hopeful of quicker implementation," it said. The KPMG and Tie report said that Gujarat and the five other states are moving in the right direction to encourage entrepreneurship.

Remit2India is World’s No. 1 Independent Online Money Transfer Portal for NRIs TimesofMoney is India’s leading digital payment service provider, and serves a varied client base, spanning Indian and international clients. Their offerings include specialized NRI services, India Money Transfers, Global Money Transfers, ePayments and Co-branded cards. Conceptualised and built to serve diverse c o m m u n i t i e s , TimesofMoney’s services offer convenience, connectivity and flexibility across a global platform.

Remit2India, a flagship brand of TimesofMoney,

facilitates money transfers to India for Non-Resident Indians from around the world. It was adjudged the “World’s Number One Independent Online Money Transfer Portal for NRIs” by ACNielsen ORG Marg. Remit2India helps secure, flexible webbased money transfers to India.

Additionally, Remit2India is the recipient of the Brand Leadership Award 2008.

Created to benefit a burgeoning global expatriate community, Remit2India offers expert Remittance services to a community of

over 7 million individuals.

It has fast achieved the distinction of being India’s largest Remittance service provider with the widest delivery network.

Consistently ranked as the world’s number one India Remittance receipt, Remit2India does away with the disadvantages of traditional money transfers including inordinate delays and exorbitant fees.

Window2India is the TimesofMoney’s exclusive service for Non-Resident Indians. An amalgamation of products, services and i n f o r m a t i o n ,

Window2India is a comprehensive destination for NRIs to shop, gift and stay up-to-date. Value-added services on the website include gifting opportunities for families back in India, a showcase of exclusive properties from leading builders and offering of customized healthcare packages. Aimed to serve the expansive NRI community, Window2India symbolises a window to India, forging bonds between Indians around the world and seeks to establish stronger emotional and social bonds.

India Inc beats US hands down in women CEO count Spain and Norway have a quota system to address gender imbalance Gender imbalance is not just a population issue, it affects the corporate world too. But atleast in this field, India is way ahead of even the USA. If the number of women CEOs is any indication, India has nearly four times more than that of the US--a survey says.

To address gender

imbalance, some countries insist on minimum levels of female members on boards. Norway, in 2004, launched a quota system wherein 40% of board members should be females otherwise the firm could be de-listed. In 2007, Spain too decided to go the same way.

According to a survey

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by international executive research firm, EMA Partners International, around 11% of Indian companies have women CEOs, while in the case of Fortune 500 list from the US, the women CEOs just account for three per cent of the total consideration set.

"In the backdrop of the Fortune 500 numbers, the Indian results certainly look a lot better, though on a standalone basis, it is clear that barring financial services, other industries have a log way to catch up," EMA Partners chairman James Douglas said in the survey.

In India, the survey was carried out among 240 mid and large domestic as well as MNCs. The companies were selected on the basis of revenues

Chanda Kochhar, ICICI CEO

and market capitalisation among others. The survey was conducted in November.

Globally, on an average, about three per cent of top CEOs are women.

This is quite unrepresentative, given the fact that

roughly half the population are females and around 50% of the staff are also females in most markets.

According to the EMA Partners estimates, over 25% of the executives are women in Germany, more than 30% in Britain, while this is 35% in France.

"There is no doubt that there are many hurdles for a female to tackle on the way to the top position.

However, there are as many talented females as there are males and we all need to encourage greater access to the top positions for female executives," Douglas said.

A sector-wise analysis shows that in India, over half the women CEOs (54%) hail from the banking and financial services

sector, followed by media and life sciences (11%) each. FMCG and consulting have about eight per cent each, and four per cent each in the manufacturing and IT/ITES areas.

In contrast, in the Fortune 500 list, FMCG or consumer durables account for 48% share of women CEOs, while financial services accounts for just seven per cent, and for technology and manufacturing the share is 13%.

Banking and financial services sector has seen the presence of more women on top than any other industry. In fact, women CEOs in this space amongst private and foreign banks would almost outnumber men in this sector, it added.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

M&M to venture into aircraft manufacturing Indian auto major buys 75% stake in two Aussie firms Making a strategic entry into the aerospace business, Indian auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is planning a strategic entry into aerospace business and said to have picked up 75.1% stake each in two Australian aerospace firms for £ 23.25 million and plans to make aircraft and allied components to service the global market. In a joint acquisition with Kotak Private Equity, Mahindra Aerospace Pvt Ltd bought majority stakes in component-maker Aerostaff Australia and general aircraft manufacturer Gippsland Aeronautics.

“Over the next five years, we believe that we could build as many as 475 aircraft in the 2-20seater range and expect a peak revenue of about pound 86.32 million,” Mahindra Systech Sector

president and M&M group management board member Hemant Luthra, told reporters in Mumbai last week.

The company is setting up a plant in Bangalore to complement these acquisitions and provide dual shoring and benefits to customers, he added. “We now have an opportunity to play in the defence offsets space. We can provide off-set components in the commercial aircraft business and we can also provide components for the general aviation business,” Luthra said.

The 2-20-seater market (turbo prop market), is amongst the fastest growing segments in general aviation. Turbo props provide operational adaptability in environments with relatively poor infrastruc-

ture and can serve the market at the lowest cost per passenger seat kilometre.

Mahindra will retain the existing managements of Gippsland and Aerostaff, securing the services of the founders who developed this technology.

These two Victoria-based companies, on the other hand, will hold a 20-25% equity in Mahindra Aerospace.

“The deal has been structured in a very sensible manner. There is not a large amount of payout upfront. These companies who are selling a majority of their stakes to us will have stock options in Mahindra Aerospace,” Luthra said. Aerostaff Australia and Gippsland Aeronautics are relatively smaller companies with a

total turnover of about pound 10.63-13.28 million with orders to deliver 18 aircraft by June.

Luthra said the company would initially manufacture sheet metal aero-structures and over a period of time invest more to make components, subassemblies and eventually aircraft in the country and Australia. “Research indicates that the global aerospace industry is a market for 4,000 planes. The reason Australia (operation) is being kept alive is because of certification,” he added.

Gippsland has four planes with certifications operating in 32 countries, Luthra said. Mahindra intends to plug a gap in the domestic market, which is fraught with poor infrastructure and will also export aircraft and components across the world.

India-origin Ayer among top 12 CEO exits in 2009 Troubled financial services major AIG's chief Edward Liddy, Indian-origin chief of debt-ridden Hartford Financial Services Ramani Ayer and bailed out GM's head Rick Wagoner are among the Forbes' list of 12 high profile CEOs who left their companies in 2009.

According to the US magazine's list of the top 12 CEO Departures of 2009, many of the American entities, whose chiefs' left their companies this year, had received federal bailout funds at the peak of financial crisis.

"Many of them ran companies that took federal aid. Others made a fortune when they sold their companies. One may have mishandled data that was

Edward Liddy

tied to his company's most promising product," Forbes said about the chief executives in the list.

Edward Liddy came out of retirement to lead troubled insurance giant AIG in September 2008, then faced hostile questioning from Congress over bonuses and had to step down.

Robert Benmosche, a former chief executive at MetLife Inc, replaced

Liddy in August.

Besides, Indian-origin Ayer left Hartford Financial Services in June after serving for 12 years.

The company had received USD 3.4 billion in government aid.

"Ayer was responsible for the company's push into riskier versions of variable annuities -life insurance contracts whose value fluctuates with that of underlying securities."

Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis would be retiring at the end of this year. "The chief executive of Merrill Lynch guided the bank through its acquisition by Bank of America, then ran combined company's banking and wealth management

Egypt eyes Nano, invites Tata Motors to set up a plant Egypt is positively interested in Nano, the world’s cheapest car, built in India

by Tata Motors.

The African nation wants the Indian car major to put up a factory for manufacturing Nano there. Egypt wants the Nano for local market and elsewhere too.

“Egypt is seeking consent of Tata for left-hand drive Nano to be produced in Egypt, where a huge

market is expected not only internally, but in the left-hand drive market in the Middle East and in Europe,” Egypt's ambassador to India, Mohamed Higazy, was quoted by a newspaper in a report last week.

Higazy told the “Mint” that the company would consider the proposal after the initial phase of the Nano launch.

Tata launched the

Nano in March this year and is expected to take it to Europe by 2011 and to the United States later.

"While Tata Motors has said that the Nano and its variants will also be introduced in other countries, the company has not decided on its manufacturing strategy in other countries, let alone Egypt," the paper quoted a Tata Motors spokesman as saying in an email.

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He was pushed out after he became a lightning rod for public outrage over Wall Street greed and clashed with Lewis," Forbes said.

Some of the CEO had to walk away from their position due to merger and acquistion, while many CEOs left the firm over bonuses and perks given to top executives, Forbes said.

15

Italy invites Tata Motors, M&M to buy Fiat's ailing unit Italy has sought investments from Indian car makers and said it would encourage Tata Motors as well as Mahindra & Mahindra to take over Fiat's unprofitable car unit in Sicily that is teetering towards shutdown.

Italy’s Minister for economic development Claudio Scajola invited Indian firms to invest in Italy's automotive and auto components sector. Scajola was in India to boost trade ties between the two countries, which currently stands at USD 8 billion.

Sources in the

Minister's delegation said Tata Motors and M&M are in talks with Fiat and the Government of Italy to acquire the company's automobile unit in Termini Imerese at the Sicilian island. A Tata Motors spokesperson declined comment, while an M&M spokesperson said the company does not comment on speculation.

"We are absolutely happy and open to any Indian investment in the automotive industry as well as in any other industry," Scajola told reporters in Mumbai.

Shell to shift thousands of jobs from US to India With a view to reduce costs, global oil major Shell plans to shift additional office jobs from Houston in the USA and elsewhere to India and the Philippines.

Royal Dutch Shell has also announced that it would slash 5,000 jobs by year end including "hundreds" in Houston as part of a sweeping reorganization. New CEO Peter Voser said this is needed to make the company more competitive.

The “migration” programs affect employees in finance and other support functions, which are being consolidated in "shared

service centers" in lowcost countries to fit the new company structure.

It's unclear how many of Shell's 13,000 employees in the Houston area will be affected by the migration plans.

Partly, that's because company officials are still deciding which jobs will stay or go abroad, and are rolling out the plans in phases that run into next year. The company recently told employees within its finance division that some of their jobs are being relocated from Houston and Calgary, Alberta, to “finance operations center” in Manila and Chennai.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Mukesh Ambani gets into the best CEO list too RIL boss ranks 5th in the global list of Harvard Business Review The man at the helm of India’s Oil giant Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani has earned another distinction apart from the rich list. He is ranked 5th in a global list of top 50 CEOs, prepared by the prestigious Harvard Business Review.

It is further interesting fact that Mukesh is the only Indian to figure in the list.

In the same league as Steve Jobs of Apple, Yun Jong-Yong of Samsung Electronics, Russian energy firm Gazprom's Alexey Miller and John Chambers of Cisco Systems, Mukesh is also ranked as no. 2 among the top 10 emerging market CEOs with Miller at the top.

K V Kamath of ICICI Bank is the other Indian in the list of Top 10 Emerging

Mukesh Ambani

Market CEOs, at number 9.

The Harvard Business Review said it ranked CEOs of large public traded companies in a study conducted over 2000 CEOs worldwide. The entire group represented 48 nationalities and companies based in 33 countries.

“Among the upthrough-the-ranks leaders on our list are Yun JongYong, who joined Samsung straight out of college and worked there

30 years before becoming CEO, and Mukesh Ambani, who joined RIL in 1981, when it was still a textile company run by his father. These CEOs may not all be household names, but here's an objective look at who delivered the top results over the long term," HBR said, ranking Steve Jobs as the top CEO in the world.

Jobs, it said, delivered a whopping 3,188 per cent industry-adjusted return (34 per cent compounded annually) after he rejoined Apple as CEO in 1997, when the company was in dire straits.

"CEOs who were promoted from inside the company tended to have stronger performance than those brought in from the outside," said HBR.

BoB to sell $500 million bonds Bank of Baroda is likely to open a $500 million offshore bond issue in January, two sources with direct knowledge of the transaction said last week.

"It's more likely in January. They are waiting for bankers to return from holidays and markets to re-open," said one source, who did not wish to be identified, adding the five-

year senior unsecured debt would be dollardenominated.

The bank is yet to decide on pricing for the planned bond issue, sources said.

A Bank of Baroda official said the bank had looked at raising funds through an offshore bond sale last month, but postponed the plan as it want-

ed market conditions to improve. "We had planned in November, which we have deferred. We have not firmed up anything... it will all depend on the market," said Rajiv Bakshi, executive director, Bank of Baroda. Barclays, HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank will manage the bond issue for the state-run bank, the sources added.

Eredene Capital, a UK firm exploring avenues in Gujarat The company to raise US$ 400 mn funds for infrastructure investments Eredene Capital, an infrastructure investment company based in UK is looking for new business opportunities in India and particularly in Gujarat.

The firm has already supported two projects in the state, both being container freight stations.

Eredene is looking at ports, logistics, airports, railways, power and other infrastructure projects in the country with a special focus on Gujarat.

According to Nikhil Naik, chairman, Eredene Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, the firm is raising a $400 million fund for the purpose.

“We are scouting for

investment options across India. The way things are shaping up in Gujarat, we see quite a few good options,” he explained.

The fund would have been raised by the end of current financial year, he added.

For the new investments, the company would be looking at opportunities in Mundra and Dahej, both of which has port and special economic zones coming up fast, according to Naik.

This is the second fund with focus on infrastructure in India and the amount being raised is four time the previous

fund of $100 million. The entire amount from the first fund raised in 2006 has already been invested, with Gujarat getting its due share.

“We have supported two projects in Gujarat.

First one is a container freight station (CFS) at Pipavav port by Contrans Logistics Pvt Ltd. The facility was the first CFS at Pipavav and is spread over 79 acres. Second is inland container depot at Vadodara spread over 136 acres, again by Contrans,” Naik said.

The firm has invested in nine projects from the first fund.

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: From Founding Fathers Patel to Gandhi Over this past week I have been fortunate enough to visit the home in Delhi where Gandhiji spent his final day, the home in Gujarat where Sardar Patel was born, and thanks to flights delays rewatch Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi on my iPod at the airport.

There is a spirit of the founding fathers (and mothers) of a nation which should be more invoked in a country’s politics.

Consider President Obama’s inaugural speech when he did exactly that; “In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river.

The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.

At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."

As you visit the homes of Sardar Patel and Gandhiji and witness their words passing through the ages at the birth of their nation, you wonder if ever the politicians in India ever bother to read them. Trite Gandhian phrases roll off easily on airport billboards ‘be the change you want to see in the world’ – but so many of the politicians don’t want to see the change for good in the world.

They are the elite in receipt of their brown envelopes – what does it

matter to them that their country may be sold down the river for a few rupees more?

No, what Gandhiji should have said is not ‘be the change you want to see in the world’ but ‘see the change we sacrificed for and show some decency and respect for us the founding fathers’.

Gandhiji and Patel were barristers – they had no need to spend years in cockroach infested prisons. Or consider the patriots described in the book ‘Remember Us Sometimes Once in A While’ who wrote to their wives and children why they were willing to be hanged for their sedition against the British Crown during the Independence movement. And hanged they were.

Yet what iota of respect do their political descendants show? This is not a criticism of Indian politicians alone. Obama invokes the founding fathers of his nation because the task facing his country requires political courage.

And if Cromwell could be considered the founding father of the modern British Parliament then his speech to Parliament could aptly be invoked today targeted at British Parliamentarians where he said, “...It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

“Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst

you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

“Ye sordid prostitutes, have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd; your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse the Augean Stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings, and which

by God's help and the strength He has given me, I now come to do.

“I command ye, therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

You have sat here too long for the good you do.

In the name of God, go!”

Founding fathers were able to found nations precisely because of their foresight and wisdom and their wisdom should be more often invoked – especially if a mighty America does it to this day 200 years later, India certainly should merely 60 years later.

The columnist hails from Karamsad and is a former Visiting Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

He read Philosophy, Politics, Economics at St Anne’s College, Oxford when he also interned in the US Congress and read Law at King’s College, London, qualifying as a barrister.

A dozen small cars to be unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen & GM to showcase their new entrants for Indian markets

Though the hoopla around the Nano, the world’s cheapest car, may be missing this time round but next month’s Delhi Auto Expo will put a fleet of keenly-awaited roadsters on show, including half-a-dozen small cars.

The new compact cars will come from Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen and General Motors stables, among others, with some available to buy right

away.

The expo starts in the first week of January.

Compact cars worth a look include the Chevrolet Beat from General Motors with its 1.2-litre petrol engine.

The Beat, which could emerge as a compelling choice in the compact segment, will compete with those in great demand such as Maruti Suzuki’s Ritz and Swift and Hyundai’s i10. GM is

not letting on about the price but the market insists it’s likely to cost roughly pound 4,633.

Volkswagen Polo, the first small car for the Indian market from the European numero uno, will also debut at the expo. Available with petrol and diesel engines, Polo is VW’s most ambitious attempt to make inroads into the Indian market, which is why the company will probably

price it aggressively. With a likely price upwards of £5,295 when it’s launched in March, Polo will compete with Hyundai’s i20, Maruti Swift and Honda Jazz.

The Expo will also see Toyota debut in the smallcar segment with a concept model meant for the market a year later.

Toyota says the final car will be pretty identical to the one on show and the petrol version will be

launched before diesel.

Maruti, which dominates small car segment with its half-a-dozen models, will also unveil its concept for a compact multi-utility vehicle, something that is not in its stable so far.

The company displayed a concept model of the AStar at the last expo but there is no word about when it will start production.

The company will also launch a new van, Eeco,

at the Expo.

Honda will show its new low-cost car, a vehicle the company has been developing with India in mind as the lead market.

The actual car is still two years away but the display model will underline Hondas commitment to cracking the mass market as it will be the company’s first to be priced around pound 5,295-6,619, significantly less than the Jazz’s pound 9,267 tag.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

FINANCIAL VOICE

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alleged to have swindled Rs. 18 billion.

• Sons of police personnel gang rape a teenage student in Surat. City police commissioner transferred.

January

• State assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir held. No party gets clear majority. National Conference (NC) and Congress join hands to form a Government. Omar Abdullah becomes the youngest Chief Minister of the state.

• National Broadcasting Association (NBA) bans live TV coverage by news channels of incidents like the 26/11 terrorists’ attack on Mumbai.

• India unveils documentary evidence of Pakistan hand in the Mumbai attack.

• ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ celebrated in Chennai.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announces provisions for professionals like Engineers, Chartered Accountants, Doctors etc. of Indian origin to be allowed practice in India.

• Govt. of India decides to set up a fund to help Indian migrant workers facing problems in foreign countries.

• Shibu Soren forced to resign as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Presidential rule proclaimed in the state.

• ‘JITO’ (Jain International Trade Organisation) conference held in Ahmedabad.

February

• Lord Khalid Hameed (UK), Technocrat Sam Pitroda among eminent Indian expatriates honoured with various ‘Padma’ awards. Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also received the honours.

• Former President of India, R. Venkatraman passes away.

• Rajkot born, prominent IndianAmerican Dinesh Keskar appointed as Boeing India head.

• Tabla maestro Zakir Hussein’s album “Global Drum Project” wins Grammy award.

• Lord Bhikhu Parekh of UK appointed as a member of advisory committee for Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

• Srinagar International Airport dedicated to the public.

• Gujarat Govt. announces of setting up an “NRG hub” at a conference in Patan

March

• Former Telecom minister Sukh Ram held guilty in disproportionate assets case.

• Forbes names Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as India’s most popular actress.

• The documentary film “Yes Madam, Sir” based on the life of India’s first lady IPS officer Kiran Bedi bags two awards at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

July

• Delhi High Court gives a historic verdict; decriminalising gay sex.

• Well known Gujarati painter, artist Taiyab Mehta breathes his last in Mumbai.

• New Delhi records first Swine Flu death in India.

• US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on a visit to India. US companies given green signal to set up an atomic power station in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.

• 150 killed in Ahmedabad after consuming illicit liquor.

August

Ratan Naval Tata Chairman of Tata Group (C) at the launch of the Tata Nano in Mumbai

• Bollywood babes Amrita Arora and Ayesha Takia get married.

• RSS chief S Sudarshan announces retirement, Mohan Bhagwat succeeds him.

• Martin Luther King III visits Gujarat.

April

• Sanjay Dutt denied permission by the Supreme Court to fight Loksabha elections.

• A Sikh journalist hurls a shoe at Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi during a press conference.

The Indian ‘shoegate’ was in reaction to CBI cleanchit for Jagdish Tytler and other congress leaders in the 1984 anti Sikh riots cases.

• Manoj Kumar, the veteran Bollywood, better known as “Bharat Kumar” for his patriotic roles in films honoured with Dadasaheb Falke award.

• India’s first spy satellite ‘Risat 2’ launched successfully from Sriharikota.

• Gujarat minister Dr. Mrs. Maya Kodnani arrested for her alleged role in post Godhra riots in her constituency of Naroda area of Ahmedabad. She resigns as minister.

• Supreme Court says no to moving 10 highly sensitive post Godhra riot cases to courts outside Gujarat.

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Managing Director and CEO S. Ramadorai honoured by the British Queen with CBE. • Congress makes a better show in the Loksabha elections. BJP led opposition alliance of NDA and the Left parties trounced. Dr. Manmohan Singh

• India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine “INS Arihant” inducted into the navy. India becomes the sixth country to build nuclear submarine.

• Maharani Gayatri devi, former queen of Jaipur dies at the age of 90.

• First swine flu death reported in Pune.

This city of Maharashtra had maximum cases of the epidemic, and maximum deaths in the early days.

• Former Miss World and actress Leela Naidu dies at the age of 69.

• Actress Nandita Das appointed the

May

• Shoes hurled at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and BJP leader L K Advani during election campaigning in Ahmedabad.

• Well known Bollywood actor-producerdirector Feroz Khan died at Bangalore at the age of 70.

• CBI removes the name of Octavio Quattrochi from the list of prime accused in the Bofors Gun deal.

• Former minister and party leader Buta Singh dismissed from the Congress party.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) stands after placing a wreath on the body of Y.S.R. Reddy, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad

continues as the Prime Minister.

• Well known Bollywood producerdirector Prakash Mehra dead.

• A popular Indian Yoga gura, Pattabhi Joyce passes away in Mysore at the age of 93. He played a key role in the popularity of Yoga in the Western World.

• Cyclone ‘Aila’ strikes West Bengal, Bangladesh; causes large scale damage to life and property.

• Gujarat tops among the Indian states with a growth rate of 9.6 in agriculture.

• •

•

June

Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi (R) speaks during the closing ceremony of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2009 in Ahmedabad on January 13, 2009.

• Dr. Manmohan Singh forms cabinet.

Ms. Meira Kumar becomes India’s first woman speaker.

• BJP in turmoil over poor show in Loksabhai elections. Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha resign from all the party posts.

• Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja arrested on charges of rapping his maid.

• Govt. of India bans the CPI (Maoists), declares it a terrorist organisation.

• A so called religious preacher, Dr. Ashok Jadeja arrested for duping people with lure of multiplying their money 300% times in quick time. He is

• • • •

•

President of The Children’s Film Society of India.

India facing the worst draught of the century, says Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

A huge furore in India as Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan detained at a US airport and interrogated for long hours.

BJP leader Jashwant Singh in his book “Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence” holds Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel responsible for India’s partition.

Jashwant Singh is thrown out of the party.

Gujarat bans Jashwant’s book; Gujarat High Court declares the ban null and void.

Gujarat’s governor designate D N Dwivedi passes away in New Delhi.

Kshemu Divetia; a leading Gujarati classical musician passes away.

Indian American lady, native of Kutch in Gujarat – Ms. Lataben Champsi elected president of “Jaina”, a Jain body in the USA. Swine flu claims first life in Gujarat; an NRI from Atlanta on a visit to the native and a 7 year old girl die.

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September

• YSR Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister dies in a helicopter crash. K. Rosaiah is the new Chief Minister.

• Marriages with Indians settled abroad should be registered compulsorily; Government of India directs all the states. NRG Foundation of Gujarat also issues specific guidelines for marriages with NRIs. • Gujarat government decides to have Lord Ram and Mahatma Gandhi as tourism brand ambassadors to attract tourists.

• Tanzania Prime Minister visits Gujarat

October

• Enforcement Directorate of India exposes the world’s biggest ‘Hawala’ racquet.

• Air India Executive pilots resort to strike in protest of a cut in their allowances.

• Heavy rains and flood fury takes a toll of almost 300 people in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Parts of Gujarat also affected by very heavy rains.

• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announces his tour programme for Arunachal Pradesh; China lodges protest against the proposed visit.

• Illegal foreign investments of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and other ministers unearthed.

• Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor honoured with Film Academy awards; Singer Manna Dey gets Dadasaheb Falke Award.

• Elections held; Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh get Congress governments again.

• Bollywood actress and a popular face in UK, Shilpa Shetty formally engaged to British businessman Raj Kundra.

• President Mrs. Pratibha Patil on a 5 day visit to Gujarat; also visits the famous Gir sanctuary, sees the Asian Lions in the wild.

• Lord Bhikhu Parekh felicitated in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Look Back 2009

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Khandala in Maharashtra.

• Gujarat Chief Minister afflicted with Swine flu after his return from the tour of Russia. He remained in isolation for a week.

December

• President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil flies in a Sukhoi fighter aircraft.

• Madhu Koda, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand arrested for his alleged involvement in a number of scandals.

• Lata Mangeshkar, the Indian melody queen receives the highest civilian honour of France.

• RSS says no remorse over Babri demolition.

• Govt. of India gives in principal nod for the formation of a separate state of Telangana, to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh. The decision evokes allround opposition from the other regions of Andhra.

• Five British witnesses summoned by the Himatnagar court in 2002 post Godhra riots case.

World January

• Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Awami League score a landslide victory in Bangladesh elections. Her party alone won 229 of the 300 seats.

• Cinema Halls reopen in Saudi Arabia after almost 30 years.

• Tatum Keshwar, a super model of Indian origin won the Miss South Africa contest.

• Shivani Gandhi, an American-Gujarati

Former President George W. Bush, second from right, waves as he and his wife Laura, right, stand with President Barack Obama, second from left and first lady Michelle Obama as Bush departs from the Capitol after Obama's swearing in as the 44th President of the United States during the 56th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

• Indian priests driven out forcibly from the famous Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal capital of Kathmandu.

• Taliban controls the Swat valley in Pakistan • Well known Indian industrialist Kabir Mulchandani arrested in Dubai with allegations of a 100 million dollar fraud.

• Zimbabwe issues a 100 trillion currency note.

May

November

• Darool-Uloom asks Muslims not to participate in Yoga camps of Baba Ramdev.

• Dalai Lama on a visit to Arunachal Pradesh; China objects to Dalai Lama’s presence in Tawang.

• In a shameful first incident of its kind, SP leader Abu Azmi attacked in Maharashtra assembly for taking oath in Hindi and not Marathi.

• Case against film producer Madhur Bhandarkar reopened in actress Preeti Jain rape incident.

• The Liberhan Commission report on Babri demolition tabled in the Parliament. 68 people of the BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena, including Vajpayee, Advani held responsible. Shankersinh Vaghela, now a Congress leader who was the Gujarat BJP chief during the Rath Yatra and Babri demolition also indicted.

• Shilpa Shetty weds Raj Kundra at

killed.

• Fiji in political turmoil. The Supreme Court declares army Chief Frank Bainimarama’s rule illegal.

• Indian-American medico, Dr. Jayant Patel charged with homicide in Australia.

• Indian corporate biggies – Reliance, Tata group and Infosys figure among Business Week’s list of 50 most innovative companies globally.

• Zimbabwe government cancels local currency, adopts foreign currency owing to high inflation rate, going into million per cent.

Thousands of protesting Indian students and supporters hold placards at a rally in Melbourne, Australia on May 31, 2009.

girl from Atlanta won the ‘Miss Beautiful Smile’ crown at the ‘Miss India-USA’ contest in New Jersey.

• Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress party in India and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan among the world’s most powerful 50 people.

February

• The end of LTTE begins; Sri Lankan army enters Mullaitivu.

• 144 people lost their lives in a fire in Kenya, as they had gathered to collect petrol leaking from an overturned tanker.

• A woman is appointed as a minister for the first time ever in Saudi Arabian cabinet.

• USA curtails the no. of H1B visas for foreign professionals following the severe recession.

• 39,897 couples created a ‘Kissing’ world record in Mexico on the Valentine’s Day. • Pakistan admits involvement of locals in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai.

• Thailand lifts emergency in capital Bangkok and nearby province.

• Nepal plunges in a political crisis.

President Ram Baran Yadav rejects the govt. order of dismissing the army chief.

Prime Minister Kamal Prachanda resigns.

• 17 countries, including Spain, Italy and Germany from Europe declared “Swine Flu affected”.

• Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, a South African businessman of Indian-Gujarati origin appointed as Finance Minister by the SA President.

• LTTE alleges 2000 civilians killed in the Lankan army offensive.

• A Sikh priest murdered in Gurdwara, violent group clashes between Sikh groups in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

• North Korea ignores global opposition, carries out a nuclear experiment; 2nd in three years.

• Madhav Kumar Nepal takes oath as Nepal Prime Minister.

June

• A daring 14.1 million dollar heist in just 2 minutes in Paris.

• General Motors, the biggest US car maker files bankruptcy plea.

• Kenyan oil tycoon of Indian – Gujarati

March

• Six Indian Americans of Gujarat origin admit guilty in a US Visa fraud.

• 4 Indians among the Forbes list of world’s top philanthropists.

• Pakistan’s dismissed Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court reappointed; a political crisis averted.

• Dubai bans kissing in public.

Danny Boyle (3rd R), director of "Slumdog Millionaire," poses with (L-R) cast members Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, and Madhur Mittal during the arrivals at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2009.

April

• Police training academy, Lahore in Pakistan attacked by terrorists, 35

A journalist looks at footage on a computer screen in Colombo on May 19, 2009 from Sri Lankan internet television they say shows the body of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

Look Back 2009

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

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origin, Yagnesh Devani charged with theft, fraud of 1.6 billion shillings worth of goods.

the Lord’s against arch rivals Australia after 75 years.

• India beat West Indies 2 – 1 in the ODI series.

• Andrew Flintoff, England all rounder announces retirement from test cricket.

• Former India captain Sourav Ganguly honoured with an honorary fellowship

by Lancashire University.

July

• Michael Jackson dies in mysterious circumstances in LA, USA. • Race riots in China claim more than 150 lives.

• North Korea conducts a missile test, violating a UN resolution.

August

• Gaganjit Bhullar of India wins Asian Golf Tour title in Jakarta.

• Michael Phelps of the USA swims his way to gold in world championships in 100 metres.

• England win the Ashes, beating the Australians by 2 – 1.

August

• An Indian American, Aniruddh L Sukhu convicted in US$2.3 mn bank heist.

• A clash between the Nigerian security forces and Muslim fundamentalists claim 600 lives.

• Muslims and Christians clash in Pakistan after an alleged incident of the “Quran” desecration.

• 10,000 Africans adopt Hindu religion in Ghana.

• Congress President Sonia Gandhi and ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochar included in the list of world’s most powerful women.

September

• Indian American fashion designer Anand John sentenced to 59 years prison for rape.

• The famous Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal opens after a brief closure when Indian priests were attacked.

October

• US President Barack Obama get the Nobel Peace Prize, India born scientist Venkataraman jointly bags the Nobel for Chemistry.

• A French tourism company buys the South African home where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed 100 years ago.

• A wave of terrorist attacks in Pakistan kills more than 100 in just one week.

November

• An Indian banker, Rakesh Saxena to be deported from Canada to Thailand, where he faces charges of committing a fraud worth 88 mn dollars.

• Deep Shah among four Indian Americans involved in the biggest of the Hedge fund scams in the USA. • 12 accused in the killing of first Bangladesh president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sentenced to death.

December

• Dubai government owned Dubai World in a financial crisis.

• Nobel Foundation announces reduction in the prize money following recession.

• 112 killed in a night club fire in Russia.

• 4 Indians held guilty in a case of bank robbery, fraud and threat.

Sports January

• India announces curbs on NRI participation. Only Indian citizens can

India's captain M S Dhoni poses with the trophy after his team won the three test series 1-0 against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand in April, 2009.

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India's Saina Nehwal holds her country's flag after beating China Wang Lin during their women's single final match at Indonesia Open badminton championship at Istora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, June 21, 2009.

represent India in international competitions.

• India beat England 1 – 0 in the two test match cricket series.

• Jeev Milkha Singh of India gets top ranking in Asian golf.

• Australian batsman Mathew Hayden announces retirement from international cricket.

February

• South Africa beat Australia 3 – 1 in ODI series.

• India beat Sri Lanka 3 – 0 in ODI series.

• Mahesh Bhupathi – Sania Mirza of India claim mixed doubles title at the Australian Open tennis.

Yuki Bhambhri, a Delhi lad took the boys singles crown.

• Rafeal Nadal won the men’s singles, while Serene Williams took the women’s singles titles at the first grand slam of the year – the Australian Open.

• Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and fiancé Raj Kundra buy a stake in Rajasthan Royals team of the IPL. • Ace US swimmer Michael Phelps gets a three month suspension for drug abuse.

• England cricketers command highest prices at the IPL season II auction.

• Australia end up their ODI series with New Zealand draw with a 2 – 2 scoreline.

May

• Sachin Tendulkar’s wax statue unveiled at Madam Tussaud’s museum in London.

• England win the test series against West Indies 2 – 0.

• The T20 gala, IPL season II was a huge success in Sough Africa; Deccan Chargers emerged the new champions, beating Bangalore Royal Challengers.

June

• Indian Tennis sensation Sania Mirza enters wedlock with Hyderabad businessman Mohammed Sohrab Mirza.

September

• India beat Syria to take the Nehru Cup Football title.

• Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi elected President of Gujarat Cricket Association.

• England bag the Natwest Trophy, beating Australia.

• Former Indian cricketer and BCCI President Raj Singh of Dungarpur’s innings of life ends at Mumbai.

• Leander Paes of India and Lucas of Czech Republic win the US Open men’s doubles title, beating Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas.

October

• India win the first medal in Wrestling after 32 years. At the World

March

• Sri Lankan cricket team attacked by terrorists in Lahore. 7 policemen killed.

• India beat New Zealand 3 – 0 in the ODI series in New Zealand. India also won a test match in New Zealand for the first time in 30 years.

• In a hockey series too, New Zealand beaten at home by India, 2 – 0.

• Govt. of India says no for security to IPL matches, the T20 event shifted out to South Africa.

April

Sachin Tendulkar receives an award for completing 20 years in international cricket as a player in Indian Cricket Team, during the annual Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) award function in Mumbai December 6, 2009.

• India’s poor show at the T20 World Cup after defeat against the West Indies and the England.

• Pakistan is the new T20 World Champion. Sri Lanka end as runners up after being defeated by 8 wickets.

• England’s women cricket team win the T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand at the Lord’s.

• India born Vikram Solanki elected the chairman of Professional Cricketers’ Association in England.

• England triumph over West Indies 3 – 2 in the ODI series.

July • India regain the Azlan Shah hockey • England register a test match victory at title after 13 years, beating host Malaysia 3 – 1 in the finals at Ipoh.

• Virender Sehwag ranked no. 1 cricketer of 2008 by Wisden.

Indian skipper M S Dhoni named the captain of the dream Test Eleven.

• South Africa won the home ODI series against OZ 3 – 1.

• Gagan Narang of India shoots gold in the men’s 50 metre rifle three position event at the ISSF World Cup Shooting Ajantha Mendis, a member of the Sri Lankan cricket team, who was in Korea. injured during the attack on his team in Pakistan

Championships held in Denmark, Rameshkumar of UP wins bronze.

• Australia retain the ICC Champions Trophy, beating NZ in the finals.

• Indian cricketers dominate ICC awards.

Gautam Gambhir bags the best player award, Dhoni named captain of the best ICC test match and ODI teams.

• Olympic medal winner, Indian boxer Vijender Singh gets the top ranking for the World boxing in 75 kg category.

November

• Australia beat India 4 – 2 in the ODI series.

• Ahmedabad test match against the Sri Lanka turns out to be a milestone for Sachin Tendulkar (he completed 20 years in international cricket) and Rahul Dravid (he completed 11,000 test runs).

December

• India registers 100th test victory, beating the touring Sri Lankan team at the Kanpur. India also get the no. 1 in ICC world rankings.

• Brazilian football star Ronaldinho gets the ‘Player of the decade’ award.

• Ace golfer Tiger Woods decides to take rest, to save his marriage after the exposure of his multiple sexcapades.

21

Look Back 2009

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

UK

July

• Lord Swaraj Paul appointed as a member of the “Privy Council”.

• Bedfordshire University announces awarding honorary doctorate to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

• The family of a Hindu priest attacked in Belfast.

• A Sikh gurdwara attacked in Coventry.

• A Gujarati youth, Anjum Malde commits suicide.

• Sir Ghulam Noon and Nat Puri buy Mahatma Gandhi letters at Sotheby’s auction.

• Swami Purushottampriyadasji of Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Maninagar in Ahmedabad honored at the House of Commons.

January

• A UK citizen of Indian origin, Asif Patel fined for human trafficking. He was asked to pay up £ 0.30 mn.

• A UK citizen of Indian origin, 61-yearold temple priest Shashikant Vyas sentenced to 54 months in prison in a rape case.

• Dr. Jagdish Dave and Mr. Uday Dholakia honored with OBE for their contribution in the field of education and community services respectively.

• UK government announces second bailout package for the banking sector to fight recession.

• Dev Patel, an actor of Indian origin awarded with young actor award by the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

• British Foreign Minister David Miliband stays for a night at a village hut in India.

• British Government announced a Citizenship Test Plan to stop the flow of immigrants in the country and to regulate citizenship to those already here.

February

• Keith Vaz, MP honored with Diabetic UK Parliamentary Champion Award.

• Ashok Kalyanji, a UK resident of Indian origin sentenced to 21 years in prison for killing his two sons.

• UK experiences heavy snow after 18 years: Life came to a standstill; economy suffers a loss of £1.2 bn.

• British Tamils stage demonstrations to protest atrocities on their brethrens in Sri Lanka.

• Ealing – Southhall MP Virendra Sharma resigns as private parliamentary secretary to Minister of Home Office Phil Woollas on the Heathrow expansion issue.

• Two Gujarati women – Shilpa Patel and Trisha Patel alongwith five others get prison sentence in East London cases of bank loots.

• “Slumdog Millionaire” bags 7 ‘Bafta’ awards.

• 15 year old girl gives birth to a son; says 13 year old friend is the kid’s father.

The boy denies, asks for DNA test of the infant.

• The first Scottish MP of Indian origin, Bashir Ahmed dies in Glasgow.

• British and French nuclear submarines collide at high seas.

• Asmita Patel of Swadhyay Parivar held guilty of stealing Pensioners’ money from Post Office.

March

• A 23 day old girl undergoes Heart transplant in Hertfordshire

August

The HSMP Forum holding a demonstration in London.

• Spiritualist Minister David ChanneryVickens gets 18 year imprisonment for being responsible in his wife’s murder • MP Lord Ahmed gets 12 week imprisonment for driving dangerously.

• RBS incurs losses worth £24 billion.

• UK Government gives aid worth £260 billion to Llyods Bank.

• 150 Indian restaurants closed in UK due to recession.

• Author, comedian Sanjeev Bhasker appointed chancellor of Sussex University.

• Lord Ms. Manjula Sood, Mayor of Leicester accords grand welcome to British soldiers who returned from Iraq; Moulavi Anjam Chaudhary calls British Soldiers ‘Basra Butchers’ and ‘Cowards’ • Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, an important place of worship for Sikhs in East London torched by an unknown miscreant.

• A doctor of Indian origin, Rajinder Agarwal charged of molestation by a woman patient.

• British actress Jade Goody dies of cervical cancer.

•

• • •

April

• Gurkha soldiers win the legal battle to settle in Britain; High court gives a landmark judgement.

• MPs expenses scandal expose: Home secretary in trouble as husband misuses govt. money to watch porn movie.

• A part of the historic Tipu Sultan’s throne sold for a record £389,600. Only 2 persons participated in the auction.

• High Courts verdict holds applying new rules to Indians and others migrants who came to UK under the HSMP scheme under old rules as illegal. The court also orders paying them compensation.

• Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair becomes the highest paid public speaker. He is paid £400,000 for a two and a half hour speech in the Philippines.

• About 100,000 people hold demonstrations in Central London demanding ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

• An unknown miscreant damages the statue of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru outside India House in London.

• Former governor of Bank of England governor Eddie George passes away.

• Samson Obama, half brother of US President Barack Obama denied entry into UK as he had previously been involved in a molestation case.

• Wembley councilor Vijay Shah pleads guilty in a case of £60,000 misappropriation.

• Nat Puri appointed President of Nottingham County Cricket club.

May

Ms. Rina Patel crowned Miss Bollywood UK at Birmingham

•

a school for asking a sikh student not to wear a metal wristlet (ring).

Known as steel king, a British businessman of Indian origin, Lakshmi Mittal finds his name for the 5th time in a row in Sunday Times rich list of Britain.

British Tamils stage a huge demonstration before the Indian High Commission in London, demanding Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan offensive against the LTTE. Some damage also caused to the office.

NCGO celebrates 49th foundation day of Gujarat. Manubhai Madhvani honored on the occasion.

A British court rejects the demand of Hindus of allowing the last rites in open space, as per Hindu religious practices.

MPs expenses scandal: House of Commons speaker Michael Martin announces his decision to resign.

• Chancellor Alistair Darling presents budget; proposal to charge higher tax from people having high income.

• High Court orders a fine of £200,000 to

• Lord Swaraj Paul honored with “Pride of India” award.

• Jayesh Bhanji of Leicester held guilty of smuggling cigarettes; ordered to pay a fine of £1.3 mn or face imprisonment.

• UK government announces proposals for drastic amendments to the immigration policy. Keith Vaz, MP opposes the proposed new rules.

• The Supreme Court becomes independent after 600 years.

• Home office cancels recognitions to nine colleges; those affected include 3000 students from Gujarat.

• A £40 mn jewelry heist from a bond street jewelry shop.

• The migration panel of the home office recommends making the point based immigration system more stringent.

September

• Ms. Rina Patel crowned Miss Bollywood UK. She is the first UK girl of Gujarati origin to win this title.

• A clash between English Defence League and Muslims in Birmingham: more than 90 arrested.

• Indian Yoga guru Baba Ramdev buys a Scottish island.

• Three British Muslim youth held guilty of a criminal plot to blow up passenger planes in the air in Trans-atlantic region with liquid bombs. All awarded life imprisonment.

• Bharat Joshi appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Cameroon.

• The Royal family destroys personal letters of Princess Diana to avoid embarassment.

October

• Shriti Vadera resigns as business minister from the Cabinet. A close confident of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Ms. Vadera moves to the G20 as British representative.

• A strike at the Royal Mail causes problems for people.

• British author Hillary Mantel wins 2009 Booker prize.

• Lord Swaraj Paul, who created history as the first deputy speaker of the House of Lords of Asian origin, also caught in the controversy of MPs expenses scandal.

November

The President of India Pratibha Patil (R) is greeted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor, England.

June

• Ms. Ranjula Takodara appointed the new Mayor of Elsberry.

• UK govt. bows to the HSMP forum.

Announcement of permanent residency to all migrants who came to Britain before April 2006 under the old rules made.

• Labour party suffers a major set back; in the elections to the European Parliament and council elections, the ruling party is relegated at no. 3.

• A statue of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled in Leicester.

• Ms. Sapna Patel appointed as detective constable at Brighton Central.

• New immigration bill announced.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says immigration has affected some areas.

• Geeta Aulakh, receptionist of Sunrise Radio murdered; a teenage Indian student Sher Singh arrested.

December

• Baroness Warsi attacked with eggs at Luton.

• Hundreds of Indian students forced to have free meals at Gurdwara ‘Langers’ as they don’t find part time jobs to support themselves.

• Two brothers of Indian origin from Leicester get imprisonment for drug smuggling.

• Millionaire businessman Munir Hussein sent to prison for fighting an armed thief; while the thief goes scotfree.

22

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Modi makes voting compulsory in Gujarat Amended law applies to local bodies polls Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is understood the architect behind the move to make voting compulsory in local bodies polls in the state. The assembly last week passed Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009, making voting to municipal corporations, municipalities, and district, taluka and village panchayats compulsory.

The Bill also ratifies the

Centre’s suggestion to reserve 50 per cent seats in all local bodies for women.

Opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, “The CM is one of the voters in the state Assembly, yet he is unfortunately often absent in the House during voting. This is of true of majority of MLAs too. How can we mandate others?”

In a statement, Modi said that the bill will help

decrease poll expenditure.

“We are the first state to have given the option of negative voting in the Bill,” Modi said, underlining, “This will help encourage good and able candidates to participate in the voting process.”

The CM added, “I think that it will make people less indifferent towards the democratic process.

This will infuse faith in democracy.”

EC not impressed by Modi move Such a law in India is ‘impracticable’, says S Y Quraishi The law bill to make voting compulsory in local body polls in Gujarat, passed by the BJP government of the state led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi has failed to impress the Election Commission of India. One of the Commissioners of the body, S Y Quraishi feels

the idea of enlarging the scope of the law nationwide is ‘impracticable’.

He added, “On quite a few occasions in the past, such proposals did come up before the Election Commission too. But the EC thinks that democracy and compulsion do not match. In India, bringing

about such a law and implement if effective is very difficult.”

A former senior official of the commission, K J Rao also echoed the feeling, as he said, “It is a good idea, a noble idea.

But whether this is implementable in India is a big question mark.”

32 countries have laws that make voting compulsory In the USA, State of Georgia had in 1777 made it mandatory to vote. The law was however, abolished step by step from 1982 to 2004. Netherlands introduced a similar law in 1917 but that was abolished 1970. In the erstwhile Soviet Union, compulsory voting was defacto enforced. Spain and Venezuela also have a history of laws for compulsory voting, though the provisions were later delated.

Contemporary At present, there are 32 countries that have legal provisions for compulsory voting. Of these, 19 enforce it. Of the 30 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 10 have forms of compulsory voting.

Enforced Countries that enforce compulsory voting: Argentina (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old, noncompulsory for those older than 70); Australia (compulsory enrollment and voting for local, state and national (federal) elections, for all adults over 18); Brazil (non-compulsory for citizens between 16 and 18 years old and those older than 70); Chile (enrollment voluntary); Ecuador (compulsory for all literate citizens between 18 and 65 years old); Peru (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old); Paraguay (compulsory for citizens between 18 and 75 years old) and Switzerland (compulsory in the Canton of

Schaffhausen only).

Congo; Fiji; Liechtenstein; Nauru; Singapore; Turkey and Uruguay also have laws that make voting mandatory.

There are a few countries also that have a legal provision virtually making voting compulsory, yet they do not enforce the provisions. These include Belgium; Bolivia (compulsory for citizens over 21; also compulsory for married citizens between 18 and 21 years old); Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Egypt; El Salvador, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras; Italy; Luxembourg, Mexico; Panama; Phillipines; Thailand and Venezuela. In France, the compulsion is for senate elections only.

Demand for Bengali getting official UN language status West Bengal assembly passes a resolution; more than 250m people globally speak Bengali Even as Hindi, the national language of India has not achieved the status, there is a demand that Bengali language should be given the status of an official language at the UN. West Bengal state assembly passed a unanimous resolution on Monday to this effect. The state government now wants the government of India to forward the appeal to the United Nations.

Bengali is also the language of Bangladesh. A motion was moved at the UN General Assembly in September, when Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed had argued in support of Bengali language getting the UN’s official language status.

Bangladesh parliament had in April asked for it. Prime Minister has said Bengali is the language spoken by more than 250 million people all over the world.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, speaking after resolution was passed, said thousands have died for the cause of Bengali.

The martyrs for Bengali language include people in the ershwhile East Pakistan

(now Bangladesh) and Assam. People from Assam and Tripura also have pledged their support to the move seeking official status at the UN. English and French are the daily working languages of the organisation, although English is more frequently used.

Bangladesh observes a language martyrs day on 21 February to remember those who fell to Pakistani bullets on that day in 1952 as they pushed for recognition of Bengali as an official language of Pakistan.

In divine light

BY RAJEN VAKIL

Unmanifest forms the manifest The author can be reached on 3srb@live.com The river of life has two streams. The visible, apparent to the five senses, constituting causes understandable by our normal thinking, and the invisible, having causes that are hidden to our senses and thinking.

Thus, every event occurring in our lives has visible as well as hidden causes.

Hidden laws work behind the apparent surface of the seen world.

These laws can only be studied by observing our thoughts, not by dissecting or analysing events. If we study the powers behind our thoughts, we learn of the laws that govern the chain of events in our lives. The apparent cause of every thought is our ego, but behind the ego are seven hidden causes. These are known as the seven rays of creation.

Sage Vasishta lived in a hermitage on Mount Meru. Vasishta means one who has every desirable object. Nandini, the cow of plenty that roamed the forest nearby, granted all his desires.

One day, the eight Vasus or demigods came to the forest accompanied by their wives. The wife of Dyu, one of the Vasus, saw Nandini and wanted to possess her.

Dyu knew the cow belonged to the sage but his wife persuaded him to steal it with the help of his seven brothers.

The sage divined what had happened and cursed the eight Vasus to be born on earth and suffer as mortals. The Vasus begged Vasishta to take back his curse.

The sage explained that he could not do so but pardoned the seven brothers, who had only obeyed Dyu’s wishes, saying that they would not have to suffer as mortals for long. Dyu, who was responsible for stealing the cow, would have to suffer in the mortal world for long but he would be a great warrior and will have no children.

When it was known that Goddess Ganga would be the wife of King Shantanu, the Vasus asked her to help fulfil the sage’s curse by giving birth to them and drowning them immediately after being born.

Effectively, they would not have to suffer long in the mortal world. The eighth, Dyu, was born as Devavrata, meaning divine will. He took an oath, not one of divine will but of per-

sonal will, and was called Bhishma thereafter. Bhishma is the first manifestation of ego.

Let us unlock this fascinating symbology.

The Sanskrit word for cow is ‘gau’ meaning the five senses. Mount Meru signifies the top of the back bone called ‘taluka’, where Yoga says thoughts are formed. The eight Vasus are different powers within us. These powers can do many things but cannot control the five senses. Once an impulse comes in through the senses, these powers take over the thought formation process. Our culture gives great importance to thoughts; the resultant effect being the explosion of information. The sages did not give importance to thoughts like we do, but tried to develop the powers working behind thought formation.

We will take the Sanskrit name of each Vasu and see what power it indicates. By unravelling this, we can try to develop latent powers within us and by doing so can enter into territory much beyond the understanding of modern psychology.

1. DHARA meaning EARTH: That which holds and supports. The power of holding a thought or a problem.

This power can be increased by practising

visualisation.

2. ANALA or AGNI: The power that gives thought a form, making it recognisable. The disciple develops this power so that one day he can recognise that he already had that for which he had been searching.

3. ANILA or WIND: The wind comes and goes. If it blows when the clothes are wet, they dry easily. This is the power of recalling at the right time. In the midst of battle, Karna could not recall the mantras his guru had taught him.

Similarly, when we are hypnotised by anger we cannot recall what to do.

4. AHA or A T M O S PHERE: Each thought and every word we utter or hear comes with its own mood or atmosphere. One filled with hate will have a negative and heavy mood and one filled with love will have the opposite mood. The disciple develops this force by separating from and observing his moods.

5. PRATYUSHA or PRE-DAWN LIGHT: This is the gap between the end of night and the beginning of day. It is the power of holding attention in different gaps, such as between inhalation and exhalation, between two thoughts and as this develops further, finally, between death and birth.

6. DYU or SEEN TWILIGHT Bhishma, or the apparent cause behind every manifestation.

7. SOMA or MOON: The moon reflects the light of the sun and so the mind reflects the light of the soul. Many scientific theories have been proved using this power of reflection or mentation.

8. DHRUVA or THE POLE STAR: In every thought there is one centre around which the different energies move. It is a psychological counterpart to the nucleus of a cell.

These are the eight Vasus or powers or energies behind every manifestation, whether as a thought within us or as an event outside of us.

A disciple learns to control these mighty forces by observing his thinking instrument.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

KCR warns govt against backtracking on Telangana With the focus shifting to those opposing statehood for Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao is back in action. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief has now warned that 100 MLAs cutting across party lines would quit if the Central government goes back on the move to create a separate Telangana state.

"If anything goes wrong on formation of Telangana, it will lead to a constitutional crisis. All MLAs are in touch with me. More than 100 MLAs

and more than 12 MPs will resign from Telangana," Rao said on Tuesday.

The TRS has 10 MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

Rao's move is widely seen as posturing in a crisis that has virtually divided the state. The ruling Congress' own leaders from Telangana have also warned of a people's struggle. "We are ready to give in not just our resignations but our lives as well.

Not just elected representatives of all parties, but the four crore people of

Telangana will join this struggle," said Congress MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi.

The pro-Telangana warning comes even the 'United Andhra' lobby has been hinting at a compromise formula. On Tuesday, Vijayawada's Congress MP L Rajagopal formally gave up his fast but not before declaring that KCR's fast-unto-death had been a fraud and that the Centre had succumbed to blackmail. "There are two types of fasts, Mahatma Gandhi's and the modernday fast. In the second

type, you can survive for 30 years on Intra Venous (IV) fluids and Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) and still claim to be on fast.

This is what KCR did. If we succumb to this, everyone will start blackmailing the Central and state governments. There is no end to it," said Rajagopal.

Meanwhile in Hyderabad, pro-Telangana activists disrupted the shooting of a film that stars actor Mohan Babu's son. The actor has been vocal about his support for a united Andhra Pradesh.

Dinakaran desists from taking up judicial work The controversial Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court P D Dinakaran has decided not to sit on the Bench to take up judicial matters until further orders. He has been facing charges of irregularities, including encroachment on government land at Kaverirajapuram in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district.

He has been on leave for a week, and advocates and litigants have been waiting for him to take up cases. The last time the Chief Justice sat on the

P D Dinakaran

Bench was with Justice Anand Byarreddy. That was almost a week ago and since then he has not been presiding over court proceedings.

A notification saying

the Chief Justice will not sit on the Bench to take up judicial matters was issued by RegistrarGeneral R.B. Budhihal.

CJI denies dropping his name Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) K.G. Balakrishnan on Friday denied media reports that the Supreme Court collegium had dropped Dinakaran's name for elevation. "We have kept Justice Dinakaran's name in abeyance in view of impeachment proceeding

White Paper shows railways below par during Lalu era A status paper on the functioning of railways, presented in Lok Sabha o punctured former railway minister Lalu Prasad's tall claims of record profit and held that its performance was below par during his tenure.

The performance of railways was below par during 2004-05 to 200809 when the RJD chief was at the helm of affairs, the White Paper laid by railway minister Mamata Banerjee claimed.

"Analysis of the overall growth of railways during the period shows that the performance was below par if the normally accept-

ed growth elasticity of 1.25 is reckoned," the report, tabled amid din, said.

Prasad was present in the House when the report was laid. Noting that losses from passenger operation was almost Rs 14,000 crore in 2008-09, the document said a new form of presentation of accounts was started during the Lalu regime which projected a concept of cash surplus before dividend which made the Railway finances "look good".

If these presentation changes had not been done, the accumulated

surplus of Rs 89,000 crores during the five-year period would come down to Rs 39,500 crore.

This reduction also includes the impact of Pay Commission arrear payments which have been taken to the years in which it actually accrued, the 70-page document said.

Seeking to give a lie to Prasad's claims about his period being the golden era of the Railways, the White Paper said the best period financially in the last 20 years was 1991-96 (when CK Jaffer Sharief was Railway Minister) and "not the last five years."

initiated against him in the Rajya Sabha," the CJI told reporters. The collegium led by CJI met on Thursday evening and decided to put its recommendation on hold. When the CJI was asked whether Justice Dinakaran will be kept out of work, he said: "I have no disciplinary power over the judges and CJ's of HC." He was noncommittal over transferring him out of Karnataka.

But, the CJI said: "I have power to transfer Chief Justices of HC."

Separate poll ID for transgenders Transgenders will be allowed to have a separate third identity on electoral rolls, Chief Election Commissioner of India Navin B Chawla said. “We examined the request and permitted transgenders to register as ‘Other’ or ‘O’,” Chawla said while delivering the second annual Mother Teresa Memorial lecture on “Electoral Democracy in India”. He said the Election Commission had also revised the format of the electoral rolls accordingly.

“Besides relevant forms used by the commission wherein there is a provision of indication of sex of the elector have been suitably amended,” Chawla added.

Patola from Patan vies for Unesco’s heritage list The famous Patola from Patan has found its way into the list of 20 Indian traditions submitted to Unesco seeking their nomination for Intangible Cultural Heritage. The others include the Buddhist chanting of Ladakh and the folk theatre of Chhattisgarh.

Patola is a double ‘ikat’ weave special from Patan district of north Gujarat.

The unique feature about this weave is that it has no reverse side, both sides have equal intensity of colour and design.

Bharat Salvi, 55, one of the few surviving

Patola weavers, said, “At least 700 families, who mastered this weave, were brought by the then king of Patan, Kumarpal of Solanki dynasty, in the 11th century from Jalna in Maharashtra”. Only four of these families are now surviving in Gujarat and they plan to set up a personal museum tracking the Patola abroad and

in India.

The peculiar quality of weave has its origins in a very intricate and difficult technique of tie dyeing or knot dyeing, known as “bandhani process”, on the wrap and weft separately before weaving.

Kanubhai Salvi, who moved to Vadodara 30 years ago, is now planning a geographical index patenting for the patola.

India submitted in August, 20 nomination dossiers for the second cycle of inscriptions on Unesco’s intangible heritage list, minister of state for planning and parlia-

mentary affairs V Narayansamy, who also holds the ad hoc charge of the culture ministry, told Lok Sabha. “In response, Unesco has recently intimated that they will be in a position to examine only three nomination dossiers in its current cycle of inscriptions,” he said.

The nomination dossiers also include details of Bihar’s festival of Salhesh, Sankirtan art of Manipur and Dashavatar, the traditional folk theatre form of Maharashtra and Goa, among others.

23

Pak govt denies visa to Mehbooba Mufti The Pakistan government has denied visa to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to attend a two-day conference in Islamabad from December 21.

Mehbooba was to leave on December 19 or 20, but denial of visa has come as a shock to her and many others. She said that organisers of the event had given assurance that they would take care of everything, including visa, “but its denial has been a surprise”. “I do not know the exact reason behind the decision as I was not in the picture. It was between the organisers and the Pakistan High Commission,” she said. She, however, added that internal situation in Pakistan could be the reason.

She said she had been to Pakistan twice, first in 2007 and then in 2008, to

attend the Pugwash Conference.

“If the Pakistan government had no problem with me then, why will they have now,” she said, when asked if there could be more to it.

The Pugwash Conference, which has seen participation of state leaders of all hues in the past, was not held this year due to worsening law and order situation in the country. The PDP’s political stand on the Kashmir issue is considered most sympathetic to Pakistani concerns among all mainstream parties and has been a major vote-catcher for the party.

However, government sources said denial of visa to Mehbooba reflected the Pakistan government’s stand that they would not give Kashmiri leaders a chance to raise the issue on its soil.

Adoption norms may become easier for women The government of India is planning amendments to the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (GAWA) and Hindu Adoption Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA), which will empower women to take guardianship and adopt irrespective of their marital status.

At present, if a couple adopts a child, it is the man who is the guardian.

The proposed amendments will make the status of the guardian genderneutral. They will also make it easier for men or women living separately from their spouse, though not formally divorced, to adopt. However, consent of the spouse will be mandatory to adopt.

According to the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), officially, 6,000 children are up for adop-

tion at present but activists say the numbers are much higher. Added to that are the unaccounted number of children living on the streets, abandoned or deserted children and children of migrant workers and commercial sex workers. While the government recognizes these children to be in need of care, little is done in that direction.

Law Commission member Kirti Singh said both proposed amendments were welcome but expressed concern that these legislations required an overhaul.

NGOs have welcomed the government's move to amend adoption laws but advised caution. Pratidhi's Raj Mangal Prasad said, “It is a positive step. Laws must be made flexible for children in need of care and protection.”

I didn't kill Karkare and Kamte, claims Kasab Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab denied in the special court that he shot police officers Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salasakar on the night of 26/11, claiming he was not present at the site.

"There is no question of me shooting at them as I was not present on the site," he told the special court. Kasab said that he was not present at CST, Cama Hospital or Girgaum Chowpati (where he was nabbed by police) during Mumbai attack, because he was already in police custody when the terror attack took place.

After the attack, he was taken out by Crime Branch officers in a police

vehicle, and was shown the sites, he said. "They are police, they need an accused. So they framed me up," he alleged.

When the court asked him how he received a bullet injury on his hand, Kasab alleged that when he was in custody, police gave him local anaesthesia in his hands, and shot him.

Earlier, when proceedings began in the court, he told Judge M L Tahaliyani that he was not feeling well, and requested that recording of his statement be adjourned. But the judge said that there would be no adjournment, though if Kasab did not want to say anything, he was free to do so. Proceedings would continue after the lunch break.

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

From Key Hole to Pin Hole: Cataract surgery witnesses a revolution Cataract surgery has witnessed a revolution that is perhaps as rapid as any other advancement in the field of medical treatment.

Constant use of latest technology has made this surgery more comfortable and giving continuously improved results.

The cataract surgery evolved from a 12 mm ICCE to 8 mm ECCE to 3.0 mm Phaco emulsion Surgery. Today, it has moved further. At Diva Eye Institute in Ahmedabad, a new Stellaris V i s i o n Enhancement System has ensured that the size of incision has been even fur-

ther reduced; from the Key hole (3 mm) to Pin hole (1.6 mm). Then, Akreos AO Micro Incision Lens (MIL) is inserted through a 1.8mm incision. These lenses are Zero aberration, Aspheric lenses which produce enhanced contrast sensitivity and visual acuity.

All this is possible with the help of Stellaris Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (SMICS).

The advantages of this latest technology are: (1) Reduction of the incision size by almost 50%. (2) It is a great benefit for Diabetic patients, as the trauma is minimised. (3) It helps removal of

Jaswant resigns, Munde to be new PAC chairman

Expelled BJP leader and Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh finally succumbed to pressure and stepped down from the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). He’ll be replaced by former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

Mr Singh handed over his resignation letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday. It has been accepted, even though it’ll come into effect only from December 31.

The chairmanship of the powerful parliamentary panel has conventionally gone to the largest opposition party. Mr Singh had acquired the “unattached” tag since his expulsion from the BJP earlier this year.

Even though Mr Singh’s resignation set tongues wagging about his possible return to his former party, senior BJP leaders ruled out any such eventuality, asserting that, as far as they were concerned, “the chapter is closed”.

Even though the Darjeeling MP and former union minister, who had been expelled from BJP on August 19 for his remarks on Jinnah and Sardar Patel, had made a determined bid to resist the pressure from his erstwhile party to resign from the PAC chairmanship, his continuation on the post was becoming increasingly untenable in the face of the principal Opposition party’s decision to stay away from its meetings as a mark of protest.

Mystic powers thrust on Sambhavi, says mother Controversy over successor of Dalai Lama The mystery surrounding a seven-year-old girl Acharya Sambhavi, projected as successor of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, has been unravelled after it emerged that she is just a normal child with a halo of mystic powers thrust on her. The startling disclosure was made by none other than her mother Usha Rani in an affidavit to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The latter are contending that Sambhavi was being exploited by vested interests and that her child rights needed to be protected.

Sambhavi shot into limelight about five months ago when she claimed that she was a close associate of the Dalai Lama in her previous birth. Usha Rani, who had all along claimed to be

Sambhavi’s caretaker, admitted in the affidavit she was her mother.

During several public appearances in the last few months under the watchful eyes of her mother, Sambhavi spoke about “imminent Tibet freedom” and made predictions about future. Her mother gathered a small band of followers and spread the word about Sambhavi’s spiritual powers.

The girl lives at an ashram at Suryanandi, about 250 km from Hyderabad. Usha Rani had earlier claimed that the girl was born to Telugu-speaking parents settled in Varanasi and that she adopted her and brought here. However, in her affidavit before the Court, she informed that she had given birth to Sambhavi in 2002.

Cataract in any season. (4) It offers excellent quality, clarity of vision and early rehabilitation.

Further, better lens offer better intermediate vision and the patients can even read newspapers.

Normally, Multifocal lens are used. They correct Distance and Near Vision but intermediate vision and contrast sensitivity is compromised. To overcome this, Diva Eye Institute now offers CRYSTALENS, an accommodation IOL. These lens correct distance, intermediate and near vision too without any light loss or compromising contrast sensitivity and give much improved quality of vision.

This US FDA approved lens mimics the natural lens in the eye, helping patients have a better

Dr. Dipan Desai

vision of intermediate objects like computers, dashboards, work-table like objects. They can even watch a cricket match on TV or field without using glasses.

Dr. Dipan Desai, Director Diva Eye Institute More details can be had at info@divaeyeinstitute.com, www.divaeyeinstitute.com

Antony says 30,000 troops withdrawn from Kashmir Defence minister A K Antony announced that the Centre has withdrawn around 30,000 troops from Jammu and Kashmir. This has been done in the wake of improvement in the security situation there.

"Whenever we feel the situation has improved or is improving we will further reduce the visibility and presence of the Army in the state... it is because of the presence of the army that we have been able to counter terrorism in the state," Antony added.

The Army has begun withdrawing troops from the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir in a move seen as a confidence building measure to get Kashmiri separatists, especially the hardliners, on board for talks. The twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch were

brought under the Disturbed Area Act along with the Kashmir Valley in July 1990 and the security forces were given special powers under Armed Forces Special Powers Act around the same time.

Antony made the announcement just days after home minister P Chidambaram informed the Parliament, that troop reduction in Jammu and Kashmir was on the cards considering improvement in the overall security situation in the northern state.

Reacting to the Chidambaram's statement, former state chief minister and union minister for new and renewable sources of energy Farooq Abdullah had said that the home minister had finally given good news to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

GenNext takes centre stage in BJP Sushma replaces Advani, Nitin Gadkari appointed new party chief GenNext leaders have taken centre stage in BJP with the appointment of Nitin Gadkari as the new party chief and Sushma Swaraj taking over as leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha. Arun Jaitley will continue as the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

Gadkari was made the party chief at a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the party, marking a generational change in its hierarchy. The 52-year-old leader succeeds Rajnath Singh to become the youngest president of the party and the first one from Maharashtra.

Gadkari was elected the party chief at the meeting attended by senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and others.

Earlier in the day,

Sushma Swaraj

Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari said he did not view politics as a career but as an instrument of socio-economic reforms to bring about a change in the lives of the poor and the downtrodden.

"I don't work as if I am making a political career. I work for the poor and downtrodden sections of society who don't have food to eat, house to live in or clothes to wear. I strive to bring about a transformation in their lives," he said.

Advani steps down Earlier senior BJP leader L K Advani relinquished his post as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and handed over the reign to Sushma Swaraj. But Advani asserted that it was not the end of his active political career.

"If they think that I will quit activeness and politics, then it is all wrong. I think that I became a rath yatri at 14 when I was just out of

high school and became a Swayam Sewak - this rath yatra would go on for life," said Advani at a meeting of the parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi.

Advani will become chairman of the BJP parliamentary party - a post which was created after amending the party’s constitution. The post gives him the power to choose the BJP’s leaders in both Houses of Parliament.

Another generationnext party leader Arun Jaitely is already the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. The process of top-level changes in the party, decided in consultation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the party's ideological torchbearer, was completed with appointment of Nitin Gadkari as the new president.

India tightens tourist visa rules Continued from page 1 A spokesman for the British high commission said the high commissioner had lodged a protest.

"We have discussed this matter with the government of India. As yet there is no real clarity over the details of the proposals or of how they might be implemented. We understand that the Indian government is reconsidering its plans. We shall keep a close eye on this as it develops because it has the potential to impact on a large number of British nationals."

Details of the plans are yet to be published but reports in India suggested that people of Indian origin living in the UK will also be caught up in the rule change.

Many British passport

holders with Indian origins use tourist visas to visit relatives in India rather than tackling the bureaucratic minefield involved in applying for a Person of Indian Origin card, which would allow them entry into the country. They will also be subject to the no return for two months rule.

The Indian government has apparently sought to defuse the row by giving consular officials the power to grant exemptions in exceptional cases, although there is as yet no clarity on how that might be applied.

The decision, by India's home ministry, comes after officials reviewed the case of Headley, who is under arrest in the US accused of scouting targets for terrorist attacks, including the

Mumbai attacks last year which left 166 people dead.

He was found to have used a multiple entry business visa to make nine trips to India, during which time he is alleged to have visited a number of potential targets.

India has already cracked down on business visas this year, informing thousands of holders that they must return to their home countries and prove that they meet much stricter criteria before new visas will be issued.

Ironically, the clampdown comes as the country attempts to boost its tourism industry. Last week the home minister, P Chidambaram, announced the trial introduction of a visa on arrival scheme for citizens of Singapore, Japan, New Zealand,

Luxembourg and Finland.

About five million tourists visit India every year, including an estimated three quarters of a million Britons.

A final draft of the visa regulations is expected to be issued next month but in the meantime a number of embassies in India have notified their citizens of the changes.

The Indian embassy in Berlin has also posted the rule on its website, noting that "a minimum gap of two months is mandatory between visits as tourists to India".

The introduction of the new system coincides with a visit to India by the business secretary, Lord Mandelson, who has been trying to calm Indian concerns over changes to Britain's immigration rules.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

www.abplgroup.com

25

BollyKats

Aamir gifts £ 330 saree to Kareena

3 Idiots

Aamir Khan recently gifted a pound 330 handloom saree to Kareena Kapoor made by handloom workers of Chanderi village in Madhya Pradesh. Kareena was overwhelmed by the present.

Kareena was asked to fly down to Madhya Pradesh for two days. She had to travel for 14 hours to reach Chanderi. All this while, she didn’t know where they were going and

A Vidhu Vinod Chopra film, 3 Idiots is a comedy and drama flick, directed by Raj Kumar Hirani.

Two friends embark on a quest for a lost buddy.

On this journey, they encounter a long forgotten bet, a wedding they must crash, and a funeral that goes impossibly out of control.

As they make their way through the perilous landscape, another journey begins: their inner journey through memory lane and the story of their friend--the irrepressible free-thinker Rancho, who in his unique way, touched and changed their lives.

It’s a story of their hostel days that swings between Rancho’s romance with the spirited Pia, and his clash with an oppressive mentor, Viru Sahastrabudhhe.

And then one day, suddenly, Rancho vanished… Who was he? Where did he come from?

Why did he leave?

The friend who influenced and inspired them to think creatively and independently, even as the conformist world called them three idiots. Where is the original idiot now?

Finally, in misty mountains of unparalleled beauty, the friends find the key to the secret. Three Idiots is a comedy of ideas that is as provocative as it is funny, as wildly entertaining as it is insightful.

A laugh-riot that talks about the most important of human pursuits: self-actualization.

I don’t want to die a virgin, says Neetu Chandra Neetu Chandra's attempt to garner some spotlight with her steamy photo shoot hasn't helped her much. Now the ‘TrafficSignal’ babe is once again in news for her fear regarding virginity.

According to a leading daily, the sexy actress is often heard moaning, "I wish, I don't die a virgin."

Chandra is out of work at present and often seen frequenting clinics for her skin treatment, which turned blue because of excess weight shedding

Sushmita adopts another girl

The film is produced under the banner of Vidhu Vinod Chopra Productions.

The lead cast consists of Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Mona Singh, Parikshit Sahni and Javed Jaffrey.

Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijit Joshi have written the story of the film.

Swanand Kirkire has penned the lyrics, while Music is scored by Shantanu Moitra.

Sonu Nigam, Swanand Kirkire, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, Shantanu Moitra, Suraj Jagan and Sharman Joshi have given the plyback.

New Hindi movie releasing this week 1. 3 Idiots

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film 1 2 3 4 5

No. Last Week

The Twilight Saga: New Moon New Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year New Paa 1 De Dana Dan 3 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani 3

Total weeks 1 1 2 3 7

all she knew was that they had to meet Aamir. So when she received the black and gold traditional

saree, like the ones the weavers used to make for the nawabs, she was overjoyed.

According to Kareena, Aamir Khan wanted her to have the saree because she is a style icon and she should promote the work of these hand-

Sushmita Sen has become mother again! The actress has adopted a threemonth-old girl child and has named her Alisah.

Sushmita said: "I am feeling on top of the world.

I have named her Alisah, which in Greek means joyful. She is a very happy child. She will win you over in one minute."

Sushmita is quite excited about the new arrival and has been shopping for clothes and toys since long.

Sush maintains that Alisah is quite a peaceful baby and doesn't trouble her at all.

The actress had previously adopted Renee and is happy to give her another sibling. She tells a daily, "I wanted to be a mother all over again. Motherhood is very special."

problem.

Neetu who grabbed eyeballs after her photo session with model Krishika Gupta for a men's magazine also rubbishes protests against her for allegedly promoting lesbianism.

Talking to the journalists she asks, "Do you see any lip locks here?

Anybody rubbing? This is just a contemporary adaptation of Ajanta and Ellora. It’s only about my expressions. Instead of those provocative expres-

sions, if I’d just laughed or smiled, it may have well been a volleyball or basketball lying next to me."

She adds, "I very much knew what I was doing and never got carried away. But if there’s even an iota of doubt in anyone’s mind, let me make it clear once and for all that I’m not a lesbo.”

loom weavers.

The ancestors of the workers used to work for royal families. Kareena and Aamir went to the workers’ homes, interacted with them and saw that they live in miserable conditions and make only about Rs 50 while the designers borrow their work and sell it for pound 395-527. Aamir later invited some of the workers to the premiere of “3 Idiots.”

26

WORLD

Africa Focus SA Indian becomes first to get double medical degrees Johanesberg: South African Indian medical student has scored an academic first by graduating at the top of his class with two simultaneous degrees at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. Hailing from a family of doctors and scientists, 22-year-old Vivek Naranbhai decided that a plain doctor's degree was just not stimulating enough. So he signed up for a simultaneous honours degree in medical microbiology, something that is very rarely permitted.

Now Naranbhai wishes to complete his master's degree in immunology next year.

Naranbhai's achievements have been lauded as setting an example for future students by a senior researcher and lecturer at the university, Dr William Carr, who said, "Vivek has shown that it is possible for a student to combine studies of clinical medicine and research. This is critical for developing a new generation of medical scientists."

40 killed in Nigeria clashes Abuja: At least 40 people have been killed when Fulani, who are famous for herding cattle, and Hausa ethnic group, who are farmers, clashed over grazing fields in central Nigeria on Friday last. Sources said the violence erupted on Friday when nomads attacked a village called Ubeni Gida in Nasarawa state, leading to the loss of lives and burning of houses. The fighting follows weeks of tensions between the two groups.

The crises first occurred on December 6, Nasarawa state police commissioner Shehu Babalola said. “It was calmed down by the intervention of men of my command but it recurred on Friday resulting in the death of over 40 people” Mr. Babalola said.

Following the Clash about 2,000 villagers have fled their homes and are now seeking refuge in neighbouring villages. Mr. Babalola said anti-riot policemen and army personnel were brought in to quell the crisis and the situation has been brought under control while police has made several arrest.

Roundup Sikh youth brutally attacked in Texas Washington: A Sikh graduate student, working as a part-time pizza delivery person, was thrown into a swimming pool and brutally assaulted in West Texas, according to the Sikh Coalition, a community advocacy group. When the young man, whose identity has been withheld, brought pizzas for delivery into a home, four men took the pizzas and started eating without paying, while hurling racial epithets and threatening him.

"I'm going to **** you up in Iraq, I'm going to **** you up in Afghanistan, I'm going to **** you up over here," they were quoted as saying by the Coalition in a media release. But it did not say when the incident took place. The four men then grabbed the Sikh student and threw him into a swimming pool. The four attackers surrounded the pool, kicking him in the head and body. Every time he tried to escape, they would stomp or hit at him.

Suu Kyi allowed to meet party elders Yangoon: Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was briefly allowed out of her home last week by the military government to meet senior members of her party and one said they had agreed to changes in the party leadership.

Suu Kyi had asked the junta in a letter dated Nov. 11 to be allowed to see the three elderly party leaders and also requested a meeting with junta supremo General Than Shwe. She also said she wanted to hold a plenary meeting of leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD). Rights groups have expressed doubts over whether political prisoners including Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate detained for 14 of the last 20 years, will be released in time for elections next year even under pressure from Washington.

The military government has promised US President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders the vote will be free, fair and inclusive, and in recent months allowed Suu Kyi to meet the junta's liaison officer and foreign diplomats.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Tamils call Sri Lanka president ‘war criminal’, demand trial

Tamil refugees may be deprived of voting in prez poll Toronto: Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada have called for an international trial of the Sri Lankan president for allegedly ordering the killing of surrendering LTTE leaders during the ethnic war that ended in May. Former Sri Lankan army chief and opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has alleged that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered troops to kill three top LTTE leaders when they raised white flags to surrender.

The defence secretary is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The killed Tamil leaders included LTTE Peace Secretariat head Seevaratnam Puleedevan, political wing head

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Balasingham Nandesan, and top military commander Ramesh and their families.

"From day one we knew that war crimes were being committed by the Sri Lankan army, but the international community asked us: where is the proof? Now the proof has

come from the top army guy,'' Canadian Tamil Congress spokesman David Poopalapillai said.

"What more proof do world leaders and the international community now need to try the Sri Lankan president and his men for crimes against humanity?'' he asked.

"Rajapaksa is a war criminal. He should be taken to The Hague to face trial for war crimes.

No nation has violated the Geneva Convention as flagrantly as Sri Lanka. No nation ever killed the surrendering enemy.''

Canada has the largest concentration of Sri Lankan Tamils outside Sri Lanka, with most of the 300,000-strong community concentrated in the Toronto area.

Tamil Refugees Many of Sri Lanka's war refugees may be unable to vote in January polls, the first national election after the government's crushing defeat of separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in May, election monitors said. That could provide a fresh grievance for the mostly Hindu ethnic Tamil minority, many of whom believe the Buddhist Sinhalese majority discriminates against them.

Administrative obstacles and lack of proper procedures for those in camps to register could mean nearly all of the more than 300,000 war refugees, mostly Tamil, will be unable to vote in the January 26 presidential poll, independent election monitors said.

Indians seek apology from US TV show host Washington: IndianAmericans sought an immediate apology from popular US television personality Glenn Beck for his derogatory remarks about India, its doctors and river Ganges.

The powerful American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) said it was "disappointed"

by Fox News personality Beck's comment during one of his recent television shows and is "offended" by his "stereotypical" refer-

ences to India, diseases and Ganges.

Talking about India in his opinion show 'The One Thing' on Fox News channel on December 9, Beck said: "One big river they have there, that sounds like a disease. Come on it does. I mean if somebody said, I am sorry, you have a really bad case of Ganges."

Beck also allegedly made several disparaging remarks about India's medical education and its physicians while inter-

Glenn Beck

viewing Karlyn Zimbelman, an American who underwent a success-

ful hip replacement surgery in India recently.

"Having carefully read the transcript of Mr Beck's comments, we are disappointed by his careless reference to the quality of medical schools in India," AAPI President Vinod K Shah said in a statement last week.

The US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) also condemned the remarks by Beck about India, its religious heritage and Indian physicians.

Nepal crippled in Maoist general strike Kathmandu: Thousands of supporters of Nepal's Maoist former rebels demonstrated across the nascent republic on Monday, the second day of a strike that has highlighted the fragility of a threeyear peace process.

Maoist activists shouted anti-government slogans and waved flags with the hammer and sickle as they gathered in empty streets, demanding the resignation of the government seven months after the former rebels walked

out in a row with the president.

The Maoists, who headed a coalition after emerging as the largest political group in last year's election, resigned in May following a failed attempt to sack the country's army chief, a move that prompted the president to intervene.

They say the president undermined the supremacy of the civilian government by overruling the cabinet and have been protesting since then.

On Monday, activists shouting "restore civilian supremacy" demanded the formation of a national unity government headed by the Maoists, who ended a decade-long civil war under a 2006 peace deal.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who replaced Maoist chief Prachanda as prime minister, rules out a new government, but says he is ready to appoint Maoists to his cabinet.

Dozens were injured on Sunday when protest-

ers burned tyres, vandalised cars and clashed with police. The UN human rights office in Nepal said the violence was "some of the worst on the streets of Kathmandu for several years".

The political stalemate has threatened the peace process and could delay the drafting of a new constitution, slow the rehabilitation of thousands of former fighters and hit one of the world's poorest economies dependent on aid and tourism.

New Zealand club courts problems over ‘no turban’ rule Auckland: A Sikh MP of Indian origin in New Zealand, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has said that he would lodge a complaint against the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club in the Human Rights Commission if it does not change its entry rules with regards to turbans.

Bakshi's comments came after a local Sikh community leader, Karnail Singh, was refused entry into the club to attend a function because of his turban.

According to reports, the club staff had told Singh that the turban was considered headwear, and wearing it in the club was against its rules.

"So ridiculous that this is happening in this day and age in New Zealand, when the Sikhs have been part of our society for 120 years and even the police recognize the turban as part of their official uniform," The New Zealand Herald quoted Bakshi, as saying.

"The turban is no ordi-

nary headwear, it is one of the very foundations and principal articles of our Sikh religion. I am allowed to wear the turban in Parliament. Why should a club ban it from its premises?" he asked.

Meanwhile, the commission said that they have received complaints against the club in the past as well for banning guests due to their religious headwear.

Earlier this year, the club had refused to let a Muslim international stu-

dent enter its dining area, as she was wearing a religious headscarf.

"An outcome from that mediation was the club's agreement to review its rule on headwear and dress code," a commission spokesman said.

The commission also said that it would welcome Bakshi lodging a further complaint against the club over the latest incident, although it had already set a mediation date next month between the parties involved.

PAKISTAN

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

27

Court strikes down Zardari’s amnesty Hardline schools lure Tension mounts as Pakistan president under pressure to quit

Islamabad: Pakistan supreme court’s decision to strike down an amnesty, that protected the increasingly unpopular president, Asif Ali Zardari, from graft charges has further weakened his shaky hold and sharpened political tensions.

The court ruling last week would allow his opponents to challenge his eligibility to hold office, despite the immunity he enjoys from prosecution.

Graft cases were pending against him when the amnesty was adopted and the court ruled that it was unconstitutional, paving the way for the criminal cases to be revived.

Zardari benefited from the amnesty along with several of his aides, including interior minister Rehman Malik. Experts say Malik’s arrest is imminent.

The court singled out an investigation in a Swiss court into allegations of money laundering against Zardari in 2006 and ordered the government to

NRO was a mistake, says Musharraf

Islamabad: Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has described as a "mistake" his decision to promulgate the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that was recently struck down by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

The apex court last week declared the NRO void, sparking the worst political crisis since the Pakistan People's Party came to power in last year's general election.

President Asif Ali Zardari and several close aides are among the over 8,000 people who benefited from the graft amnesty.

Asif Ali Zardari

ask authorities there to reopen the case. The Swiss authorities had unblocked $60 million that were frozen after Pakistani authorities said they weren’t pursuing the

case. The upheaval comes as Pakistan is embroiled in a surge in retaliatory attacks in the aftermath of an offensive against the Taliban in their stronghold of South Waziristan.

In a sign of what was in store, Pakistan’s antigraft agency issued arrest warrants against some of the amnesty beneficiaries and also got their assets frozen. “About 248 people had also been barred from leaving the country,” said agency spokesman Ghazni Khan. Former president Pervez Musharraf introduced the amnesty as part of a power-sharing deal with Benazir Bhutto.

Zardari vows to fight back Zardari, meanwhile, vowed to fight back the court verdict. While chairing a meeting of the PPP’s central executive committee to review the fallout of the apex court’s verdict, Zardari said, “They would only lift my dead body from the presidency.” The PPP “reposed full confidence” in Zardari’s leadership and “vowed to rally around him”, a presidential spokesman said. The party also decided that federal ministers facing graft charges following the scrapping of the NRO by the apex court would defend themselves in court instead of resigning.

Zardari’s spokesperson rejected calls for his ouster and maintained that charges against him were motivated. “He was never convicted and there’s no reason for him to step down,” the spokesperson said. PM Yousaf Raza Gilani said the government was awaiting a detailed judgment, but would respect the order.

“The government has started consulting the legal experts for its implementation,” he said.

Zardari’s archrival Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League was quick to call for his resignation, saying that he was morally obligated to do so, at least while the court heard any challenges to his rule.

Experts say Zardari may be able to take some sting out of the attack and survive if he gives up his powers. Amid mounting pressure, Zardari had relinquished Pakistan’s nuclear command and said he would soon give up more powers.

Court orders arrest of Rehman Malik Islamabad: A Pakistani court has issued an arrest warrant against Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

The "accountability court" issued arrest warrants for Malik on Friday last, Geo TV reported.

Judge Mir Muhammad Shaikh issued the warrants in a reference by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The NAB is Pakistan's apex anti-corruption organisation. It is tasked with the responsibility of elimination of corruption.

It takes cognizance of all offences falling within the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).

Rehman Malik

NAB blocks Defence minister’s China visit Earlier, NAB has barred Pakistan defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar from leaving to China and has also banned 250 other officials from going abroad. Mukhtar, who was leaving for China on

an official visit, said the immigration officers barred him from boarding a PIA flight late on Thursday night along with the Navy Chief. He said he planned to take delivery of a new warship.

The Minister said his name was on an "exit list" restricting travel and that federal investigation authorities said he cannot leave.

NAB said that scores of officials were now under investigation following the Supreme Court verdict, which means that up to 8,000 graft and other cases dating back to the early 90s have or will soon be reopened.

Five Americans booked under Anti-Terrorism Act Islamabad: Pakistani authorities have registered a case under the tough Anti-Terrorism Act against five American Muslim youths recently arrested in Sargodha in Punjab province on suspicion of links with terrorist groups.

"We will try them under the Anti-Terrorism Act and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. We will soon reach the local people related to this net-

work," said Usman Anwar, the police chief of Sargodha, where the US nationals were arrested on December 9.

Authorities also obtained physical remand of the suspects Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, Ahmed Abdullah Minni, 20, Ramy Zamzam, 22, Iman Hassan Yemer, 17, Omar Farooq, 24 and his father Khalid Farooq for 10 days from a magistrate in

Army grabs Gurudwara land in Lahore Islamabad: In a case of concern, the Pakistan Army has reportedly grabbed the land in Lahore meant for the construction of Sikh Gurudwaras.

The minority community here is distraught as the Army sold off 150 acres of land that belongs to the Sikhs of Lahore, as per a latest media report.

Reports also state that the land, which was allegedly sold cheaply to Pak defence authorities, is actually worth millions of rupees. The Sikh community is planning to retaliate by appealing in a court of law to step in and prevent the ‘illegal’ land grab.

Meanwhile, SGPC in India seeks Zardari’s intervention in the issue.

Sargodha.

The suspects were taken from Lahore to Sargodha under tight security. Soon after their remand was obtained, they were escorted back to Chuhng Police Training Centre in Lahore.

Earlier, the Lahore High Court had ruled that the US nationals cannot be deported.

It also issued notices to the federal and provin-

cial governments asking them to provide details of the investigation against the suspects.

Tariq Asad, a lawyer who filed a petition on behalf of the NGO Defence of Human Rights asking the court to prevent the deportation of the Americans, said that Omar Farooq's mother Sabira was missing from her home in Sargodha for the past few days.

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foreigners

Karachi: Anas bin Saleem, a 12-year-old American, spends seven hours a day sitting cross-legged on the floor memorizing the Koran. He is one of thousands of foreigners who have flocked to conservative Islamic schools in Pakistan, despite a government ban. Pakistan and foreign governments consider the international students a potential security threat. The students could export extremism back to their own countries, or stay and fight in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan stopped granting student visas in 2005, but many students still arrive on travel visas and never leave when they expire. "We are concerned, but what can we do?" said an official from one Southeast Asian embassy.

Officials are concerned in general about foreigners coming to Pakistan for

training in militancy. Most recently, five young American Muslims were arrested after meeting with representatives of an al-Qaida linked group and asking for training.

In Anas’ school, Jamia Binoria, several hundred students from 29 countries live alongside 5,000 Pakistani pupils. Anas says he’s not taught militant Islam at Binoria. But clerics firmly endorse suicide bombings and jihad against western troops in Afghanistan on the school website, and Anas admits he is fed up with anti-US barbs from teachers and pupils. “I get it like every second,” says Anas, who left Louisiana last year with his Pakistani-born mother, barely spoke the national language when he arrived here and misses Hannah Montana. “I’m like ‘shut up’ and don’t talk like that.”

22 killed in terrorist attack Islamabad: At least 22 people, including five women and two children, were killed and over 60 others injured last week when a powerful car bomb went off outside the home of a senior PML-N leader in Punjab province, the latest in a wave of terror attacks in Pakistan that have claimed more than 500 lives since October.

The attack targeted the residence of veteran PMLN leader Zulfiqar Khosa, who was not at home at the time of the blast, and a nearby market in Dera Ghazi Khan town, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mubarak Ali Athar said.

Officials in the local hospital put the death toll at 22, including five

women and two children.

Over 60 people, including two relatives of Khosa, were also injured in the blast, which flattened part of the politician's home and eight to 10 shops.

Suicide bomber kills 10 In yet another attack, a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives near a mosque inside a police compound in northwestern Pakistan on Friday last, killing 10 people.

Most of the people killed in the attack were policemen leaving the mosque after Friday prayers.

Meanwhile, a suspected US drone fired three missiles at a house in North Waziristan on Friday, killing three militants and injuring two others, said intelligence officials.

US demand rebuffed

Islamabad: Demands by the US for Pakistan to crack down on the strongest Taliban warrior in Afghanistan, Siraj Haqqani, whose fighters pose the biggest threat to US forces, have been rebuffed by the Pakistani military, according to Pakistani military officials and diplomats. The Obama administration wants Pakistan to turn on Haqqani, a longtime asset of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI who uses the tribal area of North Waziristan as his

sanctuary. But, the officials said, Pakistan views the entreaties as contrary to its interests in Afghanistan beyond the timetable of President Barack Obama’s surge, which envisions reducing US forces from mid-2011. The demands, first made by senior US officials before Obama’s Afghanistan were renewed in a written message delivered recently by the US Embassy to Pakistani military chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, according to American officials.

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28

WORLD

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

This week meet Capt Sandip Patel, who was deployed in Afghanistan and will be going to Germany as second in command of the squadron.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

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Try to take things in your stride rather than anticipating what might happen. Keep calm as conflict and disagreement could be sparked off by your short-sightedness. Think carefully about the implications of your actions. Intense focus is what is needed now so do not let yourself be distracted by non-essentials.

At home, be diplomatic and try not to tread on anyone's toes. Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer. Even the most strong-willed Taureans will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Karzai names 23 nominees in his new cabinet Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai unveiled his choice of cabinet on Saturday, reflecting a need to please all his backers from warlords to Washington and commit to clean government.

The names of 23 Karzai nominees for ministerial posts were presented to parliament for approval and will be debated in the coming days in a bid to end months of political paralysis following a controver-

Hamid Karzai

sial August election.

As the minister of parliamentary affairs, Anwar Khan Jigdalik, read out the list, each nominee strode

to the front of the chamber to present himself, some waving and bowing.

Karzai's choices are seen as the first test of his commitment to building a clean and accountable government, and eradicating the corruption infesting every level of life in Afghanistan and helping to fuel a Taliban insurgency.

Political analyst Waheed Mujda said the list appeared to represent a desire for continuity, as

well as an effort to ensure he has delivered on demands from the Western countries that help keep him in power.

"Karzai has been under two sorts of pressure forming this cabinet, in fact two sorts of opposition domestic and foreign," he said.

But, he added: "We do not see new figures or faces in this cabinet to give us any expectation for a major change for the country's future."

Iran test-fires missile amid nuclear tension Tehran: Iran successfully test-fired a long-range, improved Sejil 2 missile last week, state television reported, in an announcement that added to tension with the West.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the launch underlined the case for tougher sanctions against Tehran.

Al Alam, Iran's Arabiclanguage satellite television, said the two-stage, solid fuel Sejil missile had a longer range than the

Islamic Republic's Shahab model.

Iranian officials have in the past said the Shahab 3 missile can reach targets up to 2,000 km. Such a range would put Israel and US bases in the Gulf within reach.

The missile test coincides with increased tension over Iran's nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at making bombs. Iran denies the charge.

Neither Israel nor the

Amazing predictions Sneh Joshi, the UK’s leading Vedic astrologer, writer and TV personality can answer questions on: ! Health Problems ! Investments ! Married Life ! Children’s matters ! Marriage Compatibility ! Love Affairs ! Court Cases ! Any other problems

Call 020 8518 5500 and face your future with confidence!

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United States have ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the dispute. Iran has vowed to retaliate for any attack. State television showed a missile launched from desert-like terrain soaring into the sky with a long vapor trail.

The test came a day after the US House of Representatives approved legislation to impose sanctions on foreign companies that help supply gasoline to Iran, a measure

lawmakers hope would deter Tehran from pursuing its nuclear work.

Iran has repeatedly shrugged off the impact of such punitive measures, that include three rounds of limited U.N. sanctions since 2006.

In Copenhagen, Britain's Brown said after meeting U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon: "I have expressed to him and he has also expressed concern about the test of a long-range missile by Iran.

Developing nations reject climate deal Copenhagen: Several developing nations rejected on Saturday a climate deal worked out by US President Barack Obama and four major emerging economies, saying it could not become a UN blueprint for fighting global warming.

Earlier, European Union nations reluctantly agreed to sign

up for the accord worked out at a summit of 120 leaders by the United States, China, India, South Africa and Brazil meant as the first UN climate pact since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Delegates of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua also angrily denounced the "Copenhagen Accord".

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At the moment, relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you. This is a good time to put lucrative plans into action. However, be prudent and do not fritter away your good fortune.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Guard against being too impatient and restless.

You will need to exercise care in the use of credit. Avoid getrich-quick schemes and be cautious about other people's enthusiasm which is likely to be misplaced. Make a very conscious attempt to stick to main priorities - organise your time.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Your social life will gather a pleasant momentum throughout this week, this is bound to present a better prospect, not only for striking up new friendships but also romantic encounters. This is going to be one of those times when insignificant events give rise to unexpected developments especially regarding work and health.

Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways.

You will be more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Taking a broad perspective on the prevailing cosmic pattern, far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 You should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves. Your communications are extremely high making it easy to close those lucrative deals.

There are subtle transformations taking shape in you life and some helpful influences in the background.

There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life. Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, it is about finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Your sign is allabuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. The Sun in your sign will make you feel like you can finally settle into a more grounded and steady routine.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 The work that you are involved with at this time is likely to demand a great deal of energy and initiative from you. Either you or your partner have been going through a phase of inner doubts and uncertainties, and perhaps the main source of tension has simply been the need for breathing space in your relationship.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Co-operative ventures are likely to generate financial success. So, if hoping to drum up support or backing, it would certainly do no harm to adopt a more pushy and outgoing approach to life. An exchange of opinions ought to prove very enlivening at this time. The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme.

TIME

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009 champion 3 “Behind Closed Doors” Singer 4 Antenna 5 Sleeper rousers 6 Taxing grp.

7 Nordic rug 8 Julia of “One from the Heart” 9 Sustains 10 Bathroom fixture 11 Ring-shaped 12 Busy insect 13 Head for Vegas?

14 Emie of golf 20 Composer Erik 23 Po-land?

24 Like a family of girls 26 Not vital 27 Easily attached accessory 28 Bringer of news 29 Serengeti trek 30 Hot-platter platform 34 Entice 38 Fill a flat 39 Whined 42 Cul-de-sac 46 Few and far between 47 Asiatic deer 49 Faculty status 53 Wooden fasteners 55 Exxon, formerly 56 Jed of “The Chris Isaak Show” 57 College cheer 58 Clinch 59 Wernher___Braun 60 Couple 61 ___Jose, CA

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Across 1Raucous parrot 6 Essily annoyed 15 Milo of “The Verdict” 16 “Love Story” star 17 Norman’s nickname 18 Amusing disrespect 19 Episodic TV show 21 Pip 22 Tropical porches 25 Hearty enjoyment 29 Short dagger 31 July 25th honoree

32 Metric measure 33 Laughing 35 Backside 36 Cone-bearing evergreen 37 Peter of “Being There” 40 Public hot spring 41 Keen 43 Country on the Gulf of Aden 44 Fa-la link 45 Playground time 48 Separated lineman 50 Cornell’s location

51 Bochoco Brill 52 Moist 54 Cloth stretcher 57 Where brook trout sleep?

62 Actress Rainer 63 Highest peak in the Western 64 Expunge 65 Skitch or Florence 66 Apollo’s birthplace Down 1 Supermodel Kate 2 ‘75 Wimbledon

SPELLATHON - 68 Today’s Ratings: 01-average |02-good | 03-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each letter may be used once only.

Each word must contain the central letter. There D should be at least one N U seven-letter word. Plurals, P foreign words and proper G names are not allowed.

D British English Dictionary I is used as reference.

Solution of Spellathon - 67 ANSWER : eater, rate, ratter, RETREAT, tart, tear, treat, tree

Solution of Crossword-67 L I V A R A P A C S Q U A U R O H M E H O P A V A S R E C T E L K E P A D J O M A I N O L L I K I L T

A D O R N

F O R E S A S W T S C R I I N S Q E S

I R E A R A G L A N G E C S L O C A S A R O M A I P E S S O B P Q A A F F U T E R E S E T V E H U E E Z E M A T E S S T O R E

T H R A S H E R

B A U D

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T R A F O F U I I C J A M

M T W T F

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E X I T

Sudoku-68

WHATZIT? - 68

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Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

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9 7 8

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9

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Solution of - 67 : He who laughs last, laughs longest

20 12

Example

Solution of sudoku-67 14

8 9

6

5 7 3

1 4 2 15

HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a sub-grid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each subgrid contains the digits 1 to 9. Every puzzle has one solution.

4 3

5

2 6 1

7 9 8

7 2

1

8 9 4

6 5 3

1 7

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9 3 5

4 8 6

3 5

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Te m p e s t , Henry VIII and so on) were performed here and people flocked here to see them.

The Globe (1599) stood on the south ‘All the world’s a stage’ : Inside bank of the view of the Globe Thames and tened with wooden pegs took the form of an open rather than metal screws. courtyard like Roman The sumptuous rectanguamphitheatre surrounded lar stage is projected by galleries. It was rebuilt halfway into the central after a fire in 1614 and courtyard with wooden ran until the English Civil pillars painted to create War in 1642 when all thean illusion of marble, and atres were closed. It was the ceiling (called the rebuilt once again as Heavens) painted with Shakespeare’s Globe and sun, moon, mars and signs of the zodiac.

Although the building is the replica of the old it is not possible to turn back the clock fully. For example, a fireproof sheet is sealed between the coats of plaster to pass modern safety regulations.

Beneath the theatre is the world’s largest exhibition devoted to Shakespeare including how the new Globe was opened in 1997. It is built built. The theatre and near the site of the origiexhibition (entrance by nal and is a replica of its ticket) are worth a visit predecessor. It is fully and a must-see for reconstructed using the Shakespeare fans even if original method of reconyou are not seeing a play. struction such as Guide tours are available thatched roof, hand-made every half hour. In sumbricks, and timber. It’s a mer (May – Oct) they circular (polygonal) take place only in the structure, the centre part morning as the plays by of which is open to the Shakespeare and other elements, and surroundauthors are staged in the ed by wooden galleries 3afternoon. storey high.

In the neighbourhood The theatre can of the Globe is another accommodate 1500 peosmall Shakespeare ple, 600 standing in the memorial in the shape of middle (at the a Shakespeare’s memorimercy of al window in the nearby great British Southwark Cathedral weather!) where Shakespeare was a and the rest parishioner for several seated in the years. A stained-glass galleries on window depicts characsimple woodters from his plays, and en benches. below it a sculpture The benches shows him relaxing in the and the pilsouth bank meadow. lars are fasShakespeare’s Globe

Solution of 67 : A Tea Bag

3

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In the 16th century London’s Bankside district – south side or south bank of the River Thames between Blackfriers and London Bridge including suburb of Southwark – was a collection of medieval lanes and houses mixed with open spaces (meadows).

Bankside is full of history and heritage. Chaucer’s (Tales of Canterbury fame) pilgrims set off from here, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare spent their boyhood here and it’s also the birthplace of modern drama.

At that time London Bridge was the only bridge across the river.

As well as gambling and the Elizabethan ‘red light’ district, Bankside was London’s first theatre district (drama was still regarded as a disreputable profession). Some of England’s great writers and players including William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) lived and worked here, and some of the greatest works of British theatre were created here during the great age of drama.

Many playhouses flourished here including The Theatre, The Rose, and The Globe.

When Shakespeare came to London from Stratford upon Avon in the 1580s, he learned his craft by joining The Theatre and The Rose, however, The Globe was special to him because he was a resident playwright, part owner, and an actor. Many of his plays (Much Ado, Hamlet, Macbeth, The

Use 4 4’s and only 4 4’s along with any mathematical operators to make a total of 571

7

2

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London

MINDBENDER - 68

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KAKURO - 68

The numbers in the pink squares refer to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, Solution of KAKURO - 67 the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits 16 6 13 11 that add upto 12, 12 whereas for 20, the 3 9 5 3 9 3 20 15 13 boxes places horizon23 7 1 2 5 4 9 4 2 8 tally next to it must add upto 20. No zeroes are 10 8 1 2 3 4 11 1 7 used here, only the digits one through 7 14 nine.

6 1 29 9 5 12 Note: 10 11 3 7 8 9 2 A digit cannot 10 appear more than 13 6 4 9 1 5 once in any particular 4 13 14 digit combination. For 25 9 3 15 1 7 8 9 5 instance in the exam15 ple, we cannot have 17 5 1 6 3 7 4 1 5 the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

14 11

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By Dr Anil Mehta

8

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PASS

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www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

BY

Treating open wound with Epsom salt Open wounds can be vulnerable to infections, which can quickly spread and lead to serious illness if left untreated. There are a number of ways to care for your open wound, including epsom salt soaks, which are an all natural alternative to antibiotic ointments.

Soaking in epsom salt promotes healing, loosens dead skin and reduces scarring as your wound heals. Epsom salt soaks are also a safe method for healing pet injuries.

Fill a portable basin with 1 1/2 gallons of hot water. Do not boil the water, as this could cause severe burns and further damage. Test the temperature of the

water to get it as hot as you can stand.

Add 10 teaspoons of epsom salt to the hot water and stir it until the salt dissolves into the water.

Immerse the wound into the hot saltwater and allow it to soak for 20 minutes.

Remove the wound from the saltwater and pat it dry with a piece of gauze. Use the gauze to remove loose pieces of skin, that if allowed to remain could result in infection. To remove loose skin, draw the gauze across the surface of the wound, applying light pressure.

Allow the wound to air dry between soak-

ings.

Repeat the soakings three times daily until all signs of infection dis-

appear from the wound.

How to soak in Epsom salt Hydrotherapy--also known as water therapy-is a type of alternative medicine that has been used for hundreds of years. Many people believe soaking in certain minerals helps sooth and and relax the body and can prevent diseases and illnesses.

A popular form of hydrotherapy is the practice of soaking in epsom salt, which is

Life style

SWATI BHAN

believed to regulate the digestive system, detoxify the body and relieve muscle pain.

Epsom salt is cheap and readily available at most drug stores and you can soak in epsom salt in the comfort of your own home any time you please.

Fill your tub with enough hot water so that you can sit or lay in the tub and be almost completely immersed in water. Use the hottest water that you can comfortably stand for the best results. Add about three to four handfuls of epsom salt to the bath water. If you would like, you can also add a few drops of lavender oil or another essential oil of your choosing. Many people find that combining aromatherapy with hydrotherapy greatly increases their relaxation. Stir the bath water to help distribute the epsom salt until it dissolves completely.

Get into the tub and submerse as much of your body as you can.

Find a comfortable posi-

tion and continue to soak in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes. Special bath-friendly inflatable pillows are available in most drug stores that can help support your head and neck while soaking.

Take a warm shower to rinse any remaining salt residue from your skin and then use a clean towel to dry off.

You will most likely feel very relaxed after soaking in epsom salt, so it is best to soak at night, just before going to bed, if possible.

By Mamta Bhatia, Psychologist

How to respect yourself This week’s article focuses on how you respect yourself, ensuring you are not taken advantage of and feeling respected and positive about yourself after every interaction.

Think spa London believes this is an essential part of self confidence.

The first thing you need to feel is complete in yourself. Know your strengths and weakness and be sure about who you are. Be mindful that everyone has faults; no one is prefect that is a fact. No one should ever make you feel as though you are not enough.

Remember if they do, it is them that is incomplete not you. Regardless of who is in your life you need to feel independent, hold your own and be your best friend. This attitude will ensure you are detached and objective. It doesn’t mean you are cold. It just means you are able to take care of number one so you can be strong in life and face all people and situations with confidence.

Never volunteer negative information about yourself. When you feel close to people it is easy to open up and start sharing your insecurities and faults. Do not do this. What this magnifies is your vulnerability, once this is discovered it doesn’t take long to disrespect.

Repeat this mantra when feelings of self doubt enter your mind: I am relaxed, secure and happy regardless of who is around.

The more you repeat this the more you will feel it.

If you choose to reveal all faults be prepared to have them potentially misunderstood, questioned and talked about.

If you are being ignored or taken advantage of do not continue trying hard to impress.

Simply stop giving your good energy. If you carry on trying you show that you accept being treated badly and that other people can get away with stinky behaviour, this is not okay. If you get too emotional and start sharing your feelings this may not be appreciated

and again highlights your weakness. Save yourself the headache.

Hit fifth gear and find the nearest exit. When interacting with others the ideal is feeling energised not deflated. If you are not given the respect you deserve to continue trying is wasting your energy and eroding your self worth.

Ultimately you become responsible for disrespecting yourself and deteriorate any chance respect in the relationship.

Never be around individuals that have shown you they can be hurtful. If you see this streak, remain detached and do not get too close.

This individual is clearly insecure and malicious.

If they are proud enough to share this trait openly they will have no hesitation in turning against you. Live by your values and stay away from these sorts of people for they cannot be trusted. If you see politics at hand remind yourself that power is the control you have over yourself.

If you have any questions write to mamta@abplgroup.com

kitchen

Treats

Mushroom Biriyani Ingredients • Basmati Rice-4 cups • Mushroom- 1 to 2 lbs • Oil & ghee -3/4 cup • Lemon-1 • Chopped Ginger -3 tsp • Garlic - 7 cloves • Green chillies -4 • Onion -2 • Soya sauce -2 tsp • Tomatoes -3 • Chilly powder- 1 &1/2 tsp • Coriander powder-3 tsp • Cinnamon-3 • Cardamom-3 • Cloves-3 • Salt to taste • Cilantro • Mint leaves

Method • Soak rice for 1 hour.

• Wash and cut Mushrooms into big pieces.

• Cut onions, chillies, tomatoes.

• Grind cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, garlic into a paste.

• In a pressure Cooker, heat the oil and ghee, fry ground masala and the onion till golden brown.

• To this add all other ingredients, mushrooms and stir for 10 minutes.

• Add 7 cups water and allow it to boil, add the soaked rice and stir when rice level and water level are the same, pressure cook in low flame for 15 minutes.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

Sport in Action Federer, Serena named ITF World Champs Roger Federer and Serena Williams have been named ITF champions for the year 2009. For Fedex, it is his fifth award, while it is just second for Serena. In the doubles section, it was an all America show, with Serena and Venus Williams taking the women’s doubles award, while in the men’s doubles, twins Bob and Mike Brian bagged the title for the sixth time in seven

years.

For Roger Federer, it was a very rewarding year as he regained his top world ranking, beating Rafael Nadal, as he completed a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros this year. Robin Soderling lost the final to Fedex at the French Open. At Wimbledon, Federer won his 15th Grand Slam title and surpassed Pete Sampras. It was a memorable clash with Andy

Roddick in the finals in London. They will receive their awards at the annual ITF World Champions Dinner on June 1 in Paris, during the French Open.

“It is an honour for me to be named ITF World Champion for a fifth time. It was an incredible year for me both on and off the court,” the 28-year-old Swiss star said.

Serena Williams becomes the women's

World Champion for the first time since 2002 after producing her best performances at the biggest events.

Serena also took the doubles year award with sister Venus after taking their career total to ten Grand Slam titles. In so doing she joins Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis as the only players to become singles and doubles world champions in the same year.

Australia take Frank Worrell trophy West Indies lose the series 0 – 2 at Perth At the WACA grounds in Perth on Sunday, Australia did not have to toil hard. It took less than 4 overs for the hosts to claim the last wicket and take home the series 2 – 0 after they were forced to play for a draw in the second test match. West Indies had also pushed the home team to the wall, as they bundled them out for just 150 runs in the second innings at Perth, though West Indies didn’t look like posing a threat, having a target of 350 plus in the last innings.

West Indies have lost the series, but the team and their captain Chris Gayle have earned some respect back after a real dismal show, having lost the first test match in less

Australia pick up the Frank Worrell Trophy at Perth

than 3 days. In the last test, Chris Gayle struck a whirlwind century in just 70 balls, making it his second ton in the series.

Australia needed 21 balls on the last day to win the final Test. The result was virtually assured as soon as the day broke sunny, with the hosts wanting one wicket and it came when Kemar

Roach was ruled caught behind via an umpiring review.

Roach (17) and Tonge (23 not out) started the last day chasing 51 to reach the victory target of 359 after putting on 29 from 30 balls on the fourth evening. Roach played and missed a couple of times in Shane Watson's first over before

Bollinger was taken for five runs by the aggressive Tonge. Tonge then inside-edged Watson for four and drove over midoff for two before the fielding mood changed when Roach sliced a four over gully. They were soon celebrating again in a mixture of relief and satisfaction.

The game will be remembered mostly for the Man of the Match Chris Gayle's 70-ball century on the second day, his second hundred of a series. Australia's next engagement is the first game of the three-Test series against Pakistan starting on Boxing Day. {Brief scores: OZ - 7 for 520 dec & 150 beat WI - 312 and 323 (Deonarine 82, Nash 65) by 35 runs}

Akki’s Olympic torch relay run cut short with protests Canadian groups oppose games as unnecessary extravaganza Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s run as torchbearer was cut short as the Olympic torch relay in Toronto was marred by protests from Canadian groups that oppose the Olympics.

Akshay is one of the 14 torchbearers for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver.

Dozens of officers with batons, along with

officers on horseback, blocked the street behind the demonstration.

Delayed by nearly an hour, the Olympic flame was eventually diverted as it continued toward its final destination, City Hall.

Last month Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had announced Akshay’s participation during his two-day India visit. The 2010 Winter

Games shall be held at Vancouver Feb 12-28.

Thursday’s demonstration consisted of a collection of smaller activist groups that opposed the Games, including No Games Toronto, No 2010 and Ontario's Coalition Against Poverty. They are protesting the economic costs of the Olympics and the effect it is having on

displaced people, especially Vancouver's aboriginal population.

"Our point was to put a message out there and I think we did it," said Syed Hassan, organizer of the Extinguish the Torch Committee.

"We aren't against sports. We're against the attacks on our indigenous people, migrants and the environment.”

3 OZ men fined, Benn gets a two match ban In Australia, the onfield antics of the home team are always hot. Players of the visiting teams often get trapped in the sledging game and court controversies. In the third and final test match against the West Indies, first it was Brad Haddin – Mitchell Johnson who provoked Suleiman Benn into an ugly brawl, than it was Shane Watson.

While Benn got the strongest of the match referees stick, the 3 local

guys got away with lesser punishment.

Shane Watson was fined 15% of his match fee by the match referee Chris Broad after his over-the-top celebration on dismissing Chris Gayle.

When Watson's caught-behind appeal was granted, he ran close to Gayle and while facing the batsman celebrated with excessive cheering and roaring. The umpires had a chat to Watson

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straight afterwards and he was also spoken to by his captain Ricky Ponting, who was keen to avoid any further incidents after the Sulieman Benn-Brad HaddinMitchell Johnson fracas.

"Shane is a very energetic and enthusiastic bowler but on this occasion he has gone too far by running down the wicket screaming, thereby not showing due respect for the opponent," Broad said. "While

handing down the punishment, I took into account that Shane admitted his mistake by pleading guilty."

Benn was suspended for two ODIs for his part in the verbal and physical clash earlier in the match, while Johnson and Haddin were both fined.

Australia's coach Tim Nielsen said he had warned Watson after the Gayle dismissal that he should tone down his behaviour.

Dhoni banned; team fined for slow over rate in Nagpur India had to name Virender Sehwag as a stand in captain after M S Dhoni was slapped with a 2 ODI ban for slow over rate during the second match at Nagpur. BCCI decided not to contest the match refree’s decision. Other team members were also fined 40 per cent of their match fees, as India completed the match 45 minutes behind the scheduled close of play. Jeff Crowe, the ICC match referee decided for the immediate two match suspension on Friday. Sehwag was asked to lead the team in Dhoni’s absence. Dinesh Karthik was named as the wicket keeper to play in place of Dhoni. Frequent discussions between the Indian players led to the slow over rate, as the game had turned into a thriller.

Mortaza to lead B’desh in home tri-series Hosts Bangladesh have named Mashrafe Mortaza as their captain for the ODI tri-series to be played at home. He will also lead the team in the series against India that follows after the Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka tri-series.

The Bangladesh pacer had picked up an injury in the West Indies soon after taking over as cap- Mashrafe Mortaza tain from Mohammad Ashraful, missed the home ODIs against Zimbabwe in October-November, as he failed to recover in time from a knee surgery. Shakib Al Hasan, who led the team in his absence, has been named as vicecaptain. The tri-series begins in Dhaka on January 4 and will be followed by two Tests against India at Chittagong (January 17-21) and Dhaka (January 24-28).

Yuvi injured, not to play the last 2 ODIs India’s dashing middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh is injured and ruled out from playing the last two ODIs against the visiting Sri Lankan team. The two games are to be played in Kolkata and Delhi.

With a hairline fracture in the fingure, Yuvraj is also doubtful for the next series in Bangladesh. Yuvi missed the first and second One-dayers too due to injury and flu, played in the third ODI at Cuttack on Monday.

Sangakkara replaces Yuvraj Singh as Kings XI Punjab captain in IPL Earlier last week, the dashing left handed batsman had another bad news, as he was eased out of the captaincy job by his IPL team management of Kings XI Punjab and replaced with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka. Speculations were already rife for a couple of days and fingers are now pointed at Coach Tom Moody's hand in this decision. Moody reportedly wasn’t very happy with Yuvi’s 'attitude'. Kings XI Punjab hasn't done exceptionally well in the past 2 editions of the IPL. They've managed to reach the semi finals in season 1, while season 2 saw them at number 5.

English Premier League Matches Saturday, 26 December Birmingham v/s Chelsea St. Andrews Ground Burnley v/s Bolton Turf Moor Fulham v/s Tottenham Craven Cottage Liverpool v/s Wolverhampton Anfield Man City v/s Stoke City of Mcr Stadium Sunderland v/s Everton Stadium of Light West Ham v/s Portsmouth Boleyn Ground Wigan v/s Blackburn DW Stadium Sunday, 27 December Arsenal v/s Aston Villa Emirates Stadium Hull v/s Man Utd Kingston Comm Stadium Monday, 28 December Blackburn v/s Sunderland Ewood Park Chelsea v/s Fulham Stamford Bridge Everton v/s Burnley Goodison Park Stoke v/s Birmingham Britannia Stadium Tottenham v/s West Ham White Hart Lane Wolverhampton v/s Man City Molineux Tuesday, 29 December Aston Villa v/s Liverpool Villa Park Bolton v/s Hull Reebok Stadium Wednesday, 30 December Man Utd v/s Wigan Old Trafford Portsmouth v/s Arsenal Fratton Park Tuesday, 5 January Stoke v/s Fulham Britannia Stadium Wednesday, 6 January Arsenal v/s Bolton Emirates Stadium

12:45 14:00 13:00 17:30 15:00 15:00 13:00 15:00 13:30 16:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 12:45 19:45 19:45 20:00 20:00 19:45 19:45 19:45

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009

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India beat Lanka with ease

England salvage a draw against SA

Sachin misses ton; Jadeja spins web

While Rajkot and Nagpur were pretty close contests, India beat the visitors at Cuttack in the 3rd ODI on Monday with ease, as first the Indian bowlers restricted the Lankans to 239 runs, even not allowing them to play the full 50 overs, and later the formidable battling line up proved their worth even in absence of skipper M S Dhoni. India now lead the 5 match ODI series 2 – 1, with two games to go.

Having skittled out Sri Lanka for just 239 runs, the stand in captain Virender Sehwag attacked the Lankan bowlers in his usual brutal style, while veteran Sachin Tendulkar played the anchoring role, as he remained unbeaten with 96 runs, ensuring that India achieve the target with ease. Sehwag had bludgeoned 44 from just 28 balls. Sri Lanka dominated the early stages of the match, galloping to 165 for 1 from 22.2 overs, before Ravindra Jadeja began his kill.

The Lankans than subsided in bizarre fashion, undone by a combination of Ravindra Jadeja's spin, poor shot selection and two wickets in two balls from Ishant Sharma.

Incidentally, Ishant was belted 46 in his first three overs. They lost the remaining nine wickets for 74 runs and slumped to 239 all out, which India eased past with 44 balls to spare.

The game changed once Sehwag, captaining in placed of the banned MS Dhoni, brought the slow bowlers on, and it was he himself who dealt the vital blow, having Kumar Sangakkara stumped for 46 despite Dinesh Karthik initially fumbling the take.

India built on that success soon after, with Upul Tharanga losing his off bail in Jadeja's opening over after an attractive 73. Sri Lanka never recovered from those twin strikes.

Mahela Jayawardene's poor series continued.

First, Kapugedera played on off Jadeja, and then Kandamby too found the inner edge off Ishant.

When Suraj Randiv got a thin edge to one that moved away, it was 210

Stuart Broad fell caught behind to Paul Harris for a duck to leave England is deep trouble at Centurion on December 20

Sachin Tendulkar makes a point to Dinesh Karthik after wrapping up the match at Cuttack, on Monday

for 7. Jadeja then trapped Nuwan Kulasekara plumb in front as Sri Lanka unravelled completely.

When Jadeja slid one through the defence of Ajantha Mendis, he had 4 for 32 from his 10 overs.

Sangakkara drove Ishant straight down the ground to bring up the hundred, and when Tharanga edged Harbhajan down to third man, he had his half-century from 51 balls.

Sangakkara then lofted Sehwag for a straight six, and things were looking exceedingly grim for India until the spinners and Ishant had their say.

Chanaka Welegedara started the Indian innings

with a maiden, and Sehwag then watched Tendulkar clip and coverdrive Kulasekara for fours.

When his turn came, he took Kulasekara for three fours in an over, a feat he repeated when Lasith Malinga came on without his radar in place.

Welegadara was also then smashed for three fours before Dilshan held, at the third time of asking, an attempt to belt the ball over point. After Sehwag's exit, the run-flow eased temporarily.

Tendulkar was fortunate when an inside edge off Kulasekara missed leg stump on its way for four, but with some lovely strokes being played through the covers

and midwicket, the innings was soon back on track. It took Tendulkar 57 balls to reach half-century, and when he then dabbed Mendis through vacant slip, the target was well below 100.

Tendulkar carried on in unhurried fashion, with deft dabs and clips off the pads, and glances so fine they just evaded the keeper. {Brief scores: 3rd ODI - India 243 for 3 (Tendulkar 96*) beat SL 239 (Tharanga 73, Jadeja 4-32) by 7 wickets. 2nd ODI - SL 302 for 7 (Dilshan 123, Mathews 37*, Zaheer 3-63) beat India 301 for 7 (Dhoni 107, Raina 68, Kohli 54) by 3 wickets}

At the Centurion on Sunday, England salvaged the first test match against the hosts South Africa after a sensational collapse, thanks to Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions as they held on the fort. Earlier, Jonathan Troot and Kevin Pietersen steadied the boat after England were rocked at 27 for 3 in the morning session. For the hosts, it was debutant pacer Friedel de Wet, who bowled a fiery spell of seven overs, claiming 3 wickets in just 11 runs. England had lost 5 valuable wickets in 13 runs, with defeat staring in the face.

England, coasting to the draw at 172 for 3 after tea, saw the fall of both Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen soon.

It was only Collingwood's determination and Onions' unexpectedly watchful technique stood between England and the abyss.

While Trott and Pietersen were at the crease in a docile afternoon, such a sensational

FIFA World Player of the Year award for Lionel Messi For Lionel Messi, it’s a double toast just before

the Christmas. Having won the European Footballer of the Year prize earlier this month, He capped it with FIFA World Player of the year award. He is the first player from Argentina to have won this award. The 22year-old forward, it was a year of sweet success, as

he collected four major titles with Barcelona -the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King''s Cup. Messi seems to have won entirely on his performance with his club; as otherwise, his show with national team Argentina was very much disap-

pointing. After receiving the trophy, he said, “This finishes a magnificent year for Barcelona, my team mates and for me.”

A leading scorer in the 2008-09 Champions League, Messi scored nine goals including one in the 2-0 final win over Manchester United.

FIFA World Player of the Year award winners Argentina's Lionel Messi receives the 2009 FIFA World Player Trophy from UEFA President Michel Platini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter during the FIFA World Player Gala 2009 at the Kongresshaus on December 21, 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland.

FIFA World Player of the Year award winners since it was introduced in the year 1991 are: 2000 - Zidane 1991 - Lothar Matthaeus (Germany) 2001 - Luis Figo (Portugal) 1992 - Marco van Basten (Netherlands) 2002 - Ronaldo 1993 - Roberto Baggio (Italy) 2003 - Zidane 1994 - Romario (Brazil) 2004 - Ronaldinho (Brazil) 1995 - George Weah (Liberia) 2005 - Ronaldinho 1996 - Ronaldo (Brazil) 2006 - Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) 1997 - Ronaldo 2007 - Kaka (Brazil) 1998 - Zinedine Zidane (France) 2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 1999 - Rivaldo (Brazil)

chance for the hosts was seemingly out of the question. South Africa's captain, Graeme Smith, was so bereft of ideas that even the injured Jacques Kallis was brought out of mothballs for an exploratory spell.

But, as Smith called for the new ball with 16 overs of the match remaining, de Wet and his fielders responded with pure inspiration.

Ntini was given first use, and he served notice of the jitters to follow when he called for a thirdball review as Collingwood padded up to a ball that was just skimming past off stump. It was de Wet's skiddy bounce, however, that opened the floodgates, as he speared a vicious lifter into Trott's right thumb, for AB de Villiers at third slip to pull off an outrageous onehanded take as he dived full-length to his left.

At 218 for 9, the runs on the board were utterly irrelevant - all that mattered were the 19 deliveries that remained to be played.

Onions did what he had to do - he got determinedly behind the line of the ball after Collingwood flicked a four through midwicket when all he'd been seeking was a single to keep the strike, and he even jammed his bat down on another grubber from Ntini this time, who was handed the final over of the match on a whim from his captain, Graeme Smith, but could not produce the killer delivery to wrap up his 100th Test in style. {Brief scores: England 356 (Swann 81, Harris 5123) and 228 for 9 (Pietersen 81, Trott 69) drew with South Africa 418 (Kallis 120, Swann 5110) and 301 for 6 dec (Amla 100)}.