FIJISUNUSA

USA

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Vol-22

Issue-3

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Bill Quirk at AIM forum

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April-2012

www.fijisun-usa.com

I can’t do Mindless films Vidya Balan 510-677-4488

Harjeet Mehdi with Fiji’s “little champs at annual awards night

South Asian Bar Association Gala dinner

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Dell Ilyas Show off new arrivals at Honda Hayward

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AOG, Palo Alto members like FIJI SUN

Kids at Seaside party

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Pakistan Republican Day at CHANDNI

Harjeet Mehdi Show

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Ravi's Newborn

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Fazi & Salma wed Mr. Shahzad Bashir, emcee, reciting Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s shayree to entertain a small crowd. The program opened with a power point presentation

FIJI SUN IS NOW ON FACEBOOK FOR ALL

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April 2012 H. Koya (PhD)

Editor-Publisher

Freelancing and blogging

N

ot too many people of Fiji origin are into freelance writing which is a great way to getting into the writing world. I started the same way writing for India West and eventually for others before I started my own publication. There's a great recognition and honor once you get published. Your readers and colleagues will compliment you and some will give helpful hints to write better. You will feel a great sense of pride when you see your bylines in other publications.

With the advent of internet, writing opportunities have become available for all. You could create you own blog, It is cheaper and easier than a website. Most blogs are free and they get on search engines right away. I started mine with Google blogger, fijisunblog where you will find the wide variety of topics I write on. The blogs allow you to upload your pictures and videos and the blog becomes much more effective.

If you become member of the Hilum, you can write and get paid where also get write reviews and critique others as well.

But if you want special community to read articles then best way is to write for a community newspaper. We at Fijisun.org welcome new writers and if you to get a feel of getting published feel free to email us at fijisun@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENT FIJI AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

This is to announce that there will be Fiji American Bar Association soon primarily for attornyes of Fiji origin as qualfied members of the Cal Bar Assocition practising in US.

There will be two categories of members: (A) Professional Members - qualified attorneys of Fiji origin qualified to practice law in US. (B) Associates: (i) college students with at least 40 college units in law or AJ (ii) qualified paralegals. (iii) associates engaged in legal profession in law office, court systems or investigative work with at least 4 years of work experience. (iv) any undergraduate studying a law degree in US.

For more info

email drhkoya@hotmail.com

or call 1-800-757-6619 FIJI AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Dr. H. Koya Founder/Chair

Sanjna Chand (MA) Associate Editor

PO BOX 54691, Hayward, CA 94544 PHONE : 1-800-757-6619

South Asian Bar Association Email: fijisun@gmail.com www.fijisun.org

19th Annual Gala

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 2, 2012): The South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC) hosted its 19th Annual Gala on Friday, March 30 at Regency Center in San Francisco.

The premier event for the legal professionals in the Bay Area attracted more than 250 attendees. Amongst the distinguished guests were United States Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Garrett Wong, India Consul for Community Affairs Anand Jha, City of San Jose Councilmember Ash Kalra and San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu.

The keynote for the evening was given by Dr. KamilHasan, an engineering professor turned venture capitalist who is serving his second term as a member-at-large for the Democratic National Committee. Dr. Hasan shared his thoughts on how the South Asian community can increase its influence and recognition in society, particularly through greater involvement in the political process.

The evening also honored several outstanding local attorneys: • KalpanaPeddibhotla received the Trailblazer Award. She practices immigration and nationality law exclusively through her own law practice.

She received the Trailblazer Award for her representation and advocacy of former students of Tri-Valley University (TVU).

TVU was a small private university that was shut down amid immigration fraud allegations. Its students, many of whom were from South Asia, faced deportation and the forfeiture of their opportunity to pursue higher education in America. Ms. Peddibhotla collaborated with the North American South Asian Bar Association and South Asian Americans Leading Together to raise the students' cause to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and worked with the Indian Government in their advocacy efforts. In a separate case, Ms. Peddibhotla gained a stay of removal for MandeepChahal, a star U.C. Davis

pre-med student. Ms. Chahal's case captured national attention, and her story was featured by Senator Durbin in his testimony on the DREAM Act. • NehaSampat received the Outstanding Mentorship Award.

Ms. Sampat is Associate Dean for Student Services at Golden Gate University School of Law. Ms. Sampat's research on bar exam accomodation denials for minorities and other diverse populations with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder will be published in the forthcoming edition of the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal.

Outside of work, Ms. Sampat has dedicated countless hours to counseling attorneys about career transitions.

• DaljitDhami received the Community Impact Award. Ms. Dhami is the Co-President of the SABA Foundation and works at Dhillon& Smith, LLP. She was previously a fellow at the Asian Law Caucus and a Migrant Staff Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance. In private practice, Ms. Dhami has represted individual and class clients with wage and hour, personal injury and civil rights claims, and currently represents several South Asian women and men with claims related to workplace discrimination. Ms. Dhami recently organized a seminar entitled "Staying True to Your Roots: Doing Justice for the 99%" which focused on the crossover issues between immigration law, criminal law, gender bias, and employment law.

• VineetaGajwani received the Corporate Counsel Award. Ms. Gajwani is IP Legal Counsel at Electronic Arts Inc., a leading developer interactive entertainment software. Vineeta manages the company's IP enforcement program and trademark portfolio in addition to providing general IP advice and counsel.

• Anoop Prasad received the Public Interest Award. Mr. Prasad is Staff Attorney with the Immigrant Rights Program at the Asian Law Caucus. His work consists of direct representation of clients in deportation proceedings and federal litigation. Mr. Prasad has particularly focused on representing South Asian clients in detention, long term permanent residents being deported for criminal convictions, detainees with mental health issues, and DREAM Act eligible youth.

SABA-NC thanks all those who helped make this year's Gala a

tremendous success.

We thank our sponsors for their generous support: Diamond: Farella Braun + Martel LLP Platinum: Morrison &Foerster LLP and Fenwick & West LLP Gold: Arnold & Porter LLP; Bingham McCutchen LLP; David Wright Tremaine LLP; Dhillon& Smith LLP; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Morgan, Lewis &Brokius LLP; Paul Hastings LLP; Perkins Coie LLP; Raj Abhyanker P.C.; Rosen, Bien & Galvan, LLP; The Chugh Firm; Trademarkia; White & Case LLP, Wilson ElserMoskowitz Edelman & Dicer LLP; and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &Rosati Foundation.

Silver: Hickman Palermo Truong & Becker LLP; LieffCabraserHeimann& Bernstein, LLP; and Ropes & Gray LLP. Friends of SABA-NC: NASABA; Saltzman & Johnson Law Corporation; and TheNarayen Law Firm.

Founded in 1993, SABA-NC provides a voice to Bay Area South Asian lawyers and seeks to ensure they are provided an avenue to develop professionally, network among peers, and volunteer within the South Asian community. SABANC also seeks to protect the rights of South Asians in the Bay Area and to educate the public on issues facing the South Asian community.

CONTACT: SABA-NC Co-Presidents ShaaminiBabu, 415-321-2406 and Nina Paul 510-397-8547 president@southasianbar.org.

Photos by Annie Koya

April 2012

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April 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

Welcome to AIM!

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April 2012

With the introduction of this AIM Newsletter, I wish to welcome you all to AIM – The American Institute of Management, the only professional membership-based association in USA that is dedicated to training and developing both the aspiring and already practicing supervisors, managers and executives. The AIM is committed to its mission: To admit and train and members as professional managers accredited as ASSOCIATES, MEMBERS AND FELLOWS of the institute as a mark of recognition and distinction in the practice of professional management.

(Vighyan (Vic) Pratap 4th from right in blue shirt and tie with AIM members and guests)

Vighyan (Vic) Pratap addresses AIM members on mortgage melt-down at Golden Peacock Restaurant

HAYWARD- Speaking to AIM members and guests Sunday March 26 dinner at Golden Peacock Banquet and Restaurant, Vic Pratap gave inside scoop on the recent mortgage melt and the after math that has threatened the lifestyle of millions of homeowners.

Vic told the group it was the greed to make quick money that prompted many lenders to violate several laws. He invited audience to watch a 60 Minute Talk Show on You Tube that gives in depth look into how the mortgage melt took place. He said not only the companies sold and resold the loan docs that passed hands from one lender to another overnight but in the pro-

the matters in court. Some decisions, including circuit court ruling, have already been made paving the way for a more successful litigation for others.

Foreclosures from 2000 to 2008

cess the committed several violations and failed to keep proper records. As 60 Minute and other leading American Channels showed, a document company was created just to sign and notarize the missing documents. Vic said he was working with a team of successful lawyers who are litigating

Those who lost their homes in foreclosures during this period are sitting “on gold mine” as there is a fair chance of getting the property back and not have even the mortgage. In order to process your case, you need email a few important documents to Vic directly. He can be reached at:

Newest AIM Fellow S. W. Lam is our new AIM VP

(Mrs. Steven Lam being congratulated by AIM director Dr. H. Koya)

SINGAPORE-Mr. Steven Lam contacted AIM from Singapore expressing his interest in joining AIM as a professional member.

Last week when Mr. Lam came to LA on a visit he flew in to SFO and met AIM director me for a day. During that one day tour of Bay Area, we shared a number of business ideas. Being a most successful business leader in Singapore where turned around business from a dwindling record to over $9 million in year, Mr. Lam

unfolded his plan to take AIM to a new level with all costs upfront by him. Mr. Lam gladly accepted to work as the South Pacific Regional/LA director to set up AIM in Singapore and other South Pacific locations with an LA-based office. Plan is underway to appoint Mr. Lam as a VP of AIM to enhance his position.

We extend our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Lam and hope to meet and hear him when he is here next in the Bay Area.

Bill Quirk speaks at AIM forum at Golden Peacock Restaurant Email:pratapvic@yahoo.com Cell: 510-861-2660

Hayward City Councilman Bill Quirk was among our guest speakers at this month’s dinner meeting. Fiji Sun and AIM are supporting Bill for Cal State Assemblyman. Real Estate Agent Ms. Christine Miller, fellow court attendant with the editor spoke on her career as a Real Estate agent andpromised to work closely with AIM team to help in the real estaterelated issues. Real Estate Investor Ken Lee gave a presentation on the Bidding Process on County auction properties.

Ken told the group that about this time every year the Alameda County holds its annual auction. The information is found on the Alameda County website. Mr. Lee plans to specialize in this field.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (PO BOX 56491)

1-800-757-6615

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April 2012

Fiji thanks foreign ministers

Visiting foreign ministers from the three Melanesian Spearhead Group member countries and the representative of Front De Libération Nationale Kanak Et Socialiste were last night hosted to a welcome reception by Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. With the end of the Special Leaders Summit this week, Ratu Inoke said the foreign ministers had challenging tasks before them. * “We are just a few days from the end of this Special Leaders Summit and I trust that the deliberations completed so far have stirred our intellect in finding innovative ways and creating solutions that will benefit our big Melanesian family,” Ratu Inoke said. Ratu Inoke told the delegates that despite the huge challenges, he believed that they were empowered by the potent spirit of Melanesia for they were bounded by a common sense of identity and purpose.

Pacific leaders question the media

The role of the media in the Pacific has come under scrutiny at a summit being held in Fiji.

The Pacific Media Summit is running in Pacific Harbour, outside Suva, and has been organised by the Pacific Island News Association.

Radio Australia' Bruce Hill is attending the summit.

He has interviewed PNG's deputy secretary of communications, Paulius Korini, who told him the media should not challenge governments. "He [Mr Korini] said the media being so powerful, needs to work in partnership with government and talk about things like non-communicable diseases, environment, education, all of that sort of stuff," Mr Hill told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat. "And there are a number of delegates here, more especially, I can't help but

noticing, from the Melanesian countries, who tend to take more of that approach, that journalists should be much more responsible and work more closely with goverments.

"Some of the opposition to that, more advocates of free speech, tend on the whole to come from the Polynesian countries."

On Tuesday Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, called on the media

in his country and the rest of the Pacific to exercise responsibility in their reporting. He said this in his keynote address to the summit, where he did not answer questions from the media, something he said was decided by the event's organisers. Many foreign journalists were expelled from Fiji during a crackdown about two years ago, and military censors were installed in some newsrooms. Commodore Bainimarama said that media independence is important, but it must be for the benefit of the region.

"Your job is to inform our citizenry, your job is to inspire constructive public debate, your job is to help fight corruption, but do some journalists know what corruption is?" he said. "Do they know how to identify corruption, or do they choose to report on it only if people they don't like are doing it?"

PM HANDS OVER LAND LEASE TO MSG Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has handed over land leases to leaders and representatives of the Melanesian countries to build chanceries to further enhance the relationships among Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries. The hand over today saw Fiji grant leases to the governments of Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Commodore Bainimarama said there was also land allocated to the Frontier de Liberation Nationale Kanaket Socialite (FLNKS) of New Caledonia. “In issuing the leases to you, I wish to re-affirm Fiji’s commitment towards strengthening the cooperation among the Melanesian Spearhead Group,” he said. “I also look forward to your

increased presence in Fiji as a means of progressing the various agreements and collaborations our countries have forged in the past 25 years since the establishment of the MSG, and will continue to forge as we march together in solidarity as a united front.

“The hand over signifies unity and solidarity among Melanesian countries.” Commodore Bainimarama also emphasised to his counterparts that Melanesia as a whole could make inroads in the international arena provided they remained firm and steadfast in their collective vision as per the MSG guiding statues. Prime Ministers of the Solomon Islands, PNG and Vanuatu thanked Fiji for taking the lead role in uniting the Melanesian countries.

FIJI NEWS PM OPENS PSC STAFF ROOM Ministry of Information

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened the Public Service Commission’s Sunset Staff Room this morning.

Commission permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand said the facility was aimed at improving the working conditions and welfare of PSC staff. Mr Chand added that the furniture, railings and kitchen were made from locally produced mahogany timber. “A number of items including the bar and decorations are here for display only but they are for the purpose of demonstrating the work which the Timber Utilisation Unit does with waste wood mahogany,” Mr Chand said. “We are supporting their work because they are helping to achieve the objectives of ‘Buy Fijian made’ campaign as well.” The permanent secretary said PSC was accruing savings to Government of around $0.5million annually and also set example to other government ministries, departments and agencies that you need not go into new buildings. “There are many existing government-owned premises which can be renovated, restored and occupied rather than paying expensive rental in somebody else’s building,” Mr Chand said. “We have already begun a program of work in this regards.” The new Sunset Staff Room was built by a construction team from the Fiji National University.

Father and son jailed FIJI NEWS

TevitaSeru, middle, was sentenced to three years and his son AnansaBaleinabadua, right, was handed a life sentence by the High Court in Suva yesterday. Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA THE High Court in Suva has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of a police officer almost two years ago.

AnasaBaleinabadua, 22, who has been an outpatient at St Giles Hospital, was also given a nonparole period of 10 years by judge Justice SalesiTemo yesterday.

Baleinabadua was charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of damaging property and a third count of drunk and disorderly.

His father, TevitaSeru, 52, who was charged with two counts of criminal intimidation, one count of escaping from lawful custody and a fourth count of drunk and disorderly, was sentenced to three years in prison with a non-parole period of two years. The court heard that following a drinking session at their residence on Auto City Road in Raiwaqa on the afternoon of July 22 in 2010, Baleinabadua and Seru proceeded to a bread shop, holding a bottle of beer each, and laughing and yelling loudly. Justice Temo said Constable Alvin Prakash came to check on the two and arrested Seru for drunk and disorderly. Baleinabadua fled from

the scene, went home and returned with a cane knife. He struck Constable Prakash on the front right side of the head then smashed the police post window breaking four louvre blades. Baleinabadua then went outside and challenged all police officers to a fight. Seru left the police post, stood with his son and did nothing to stop him. Justice Temo said Seru threatened Corporal DavendraLal while escaping from lawful custody.

On their way home, Seru and Baleinabadua met some men drinking yaqona and Seru told his son to strike PauliasiLutu with the knife.

Justice Temo told Baleinabadua that the community could not afford to have people who resolved their problems violently to be let loose in the community. "The nature of your attack was a direct affront to the rule of law," Justice Temo said.

Massive number stranded on rooftops : DISMAC

Flooding levels in many areas of Fiji's West are higher than in January, with a massive number of people stranded on rooftops, says DISMAC director Pajiliai Dobui. Dobui said how quickly water recedes over the next 24 hours will be critical. He said the flood levels caused by rain associated with a tropical depression were higher than those experienced during a six-day deluge in January which claimed 11 lives. Police said they were not aware of any deaths so far. Dobui said a "massive" number of people were stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue and appealed for anyone with a boat to help relief efforts. "We've got a lot of reports of people on rooftops, it's quite a massive number," he told reporters. "If people in these areas have boats, we're asking them to make them available, as the little we have is not enough." He said government teams had been activated this morning and they are assessing the weather sit-

uation to determine if further declarations need to be made. He said anyone in need of immediate evacuation should contact their nearest police or fire stations or district officer. “Requests for assistance came from some low lying villages around Lautoka, Nadi, Ba and Sigatoka early this morning, and they have been evacuated,” said Dobui. “While the tropical depression is very slow moving, DISMAC and Government officials have been quick to respond,” he said. All Western district administration offices have activated their emergency operations centres, and teams are standing by to help with evacuations.

Dobui reminded all Fijians to take precautions against the weather, to seek high ground immediately, find dry shelter and stay clear of flood waters. “Flood waters are incredibly dangerous and everyone should stay away,” he said. “If you see anyone - especially children - near flood waters, call authorities immediately.”

"When a police officer puts on his or her uniform, it represents that he or she is engaged in upholding the rule of law, which is designed to protect the community. "Every citizen is required to co-operate with the police for the purpose of their own protection. "Those who confront police officers unlawfully are simply asking for a custodial sentence." Justice Temo said in Seru's case, he continued to show defiance by not accepting the assessors' verdict saying he was not remorseful. "During the hearing and in your plea in mitigation, you continued to use the excuse that you were "merely trying to defend and protect your son in committing the offences," he said. "If you were true to your word, the proceeding today would not have happened. "For a start, knowing that he was an outpatient of St Giles Hospital, you would not have let him drink alcohol from 3pm to 6pm on 22nd July 2010. "In fact, Anasa's presence in court today was largely because of your inactions on 22nd July 2010. "Had you acted differently on that day, Anasa would not be in court today." Justice Temo handed Baleinabadua a total sentence of life imprisonment with a nonparole period of 10 years imprisonment. Seru was handed a total sentence of three years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years.

Hair loss probe

April 2012

Torika Tokalau THE Consumer Council of Fiji is coming down hard on hair salons for the alleged use of unregulated hair and beauty products. This follows a complaint from a 21-year old student who lost 80 per cent of her hair as a result of chemical treatment by a hair and beauty salon in Suva. The student paid $100 for a hair-straightening procedure at the salon on February 27.

She claims she was exposed to hair treatment chemicals, unknown to her, and put through a hair steamer for an hour which caused severe damage to her hair and scalp. Upon investigation, the council found the complainant's hair was severely damaged, and that she was suffering a condition called traumatic alopecia. Her hair had fallen out in clumps allegedly because of the chemicals used. It's understood the student will have to lose all her hair before it grows back again. There is a need to examine the hair and beauty industry which remains unregulated.

Even cosmetics and hair products entering Fiji are unregulated," council chief executive Premila Kumar said.

"There is a need to set a minimum standard to minimize such mishaps as faced by this complainant. She has not

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just lost her hair but has gone through a phase of emotional turmoil, waking up every morning, realizing she has lost more than half her hair."

The council has called on consumers to come forward and raise their concerns and complaints against hair and beauty salons for providing "damaging" service. "The council is extremely concerned with the standard of service delivery by some operators in the hair and beauty industry," Mrs. Kumar said. "We urge consumers to share similar incidents with the council.

We would also like to hear from other hair salons if they treated similar cases in the past or directly from consumers who suffered at the hands of incompetent employees of hair salons." Mrs. Kumar said the incident painted a bad picture on Fiji with the government trying to get the Bollywood movie industry thriving in Fiji. "Such shocking service from our local hair and beauty industry is certainly not enhancing this dream but pulling it backwards. "More importantly, consumers must get the value for their money." Mrs. Kumar advised consumers to question hair salon staff members on the type of chemicals they use and what effect it would have on their hair and body.

PM BAINIMARAMA COMMENDS LEADERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT

Leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group member countries were commended for their commitment to MSG despite their internal problems.Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama’s words of inspiration today followed the grand welcoming ceremony of the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Mr Gordon Darcy Lilo, who was the chief guest of the MSG Leaders Summit underway at the Vale Ni Bose in Nasese, Suva.

The summit is being attended by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as other top officials of MSG countries. Mr Lilo thanked the Fijian Government and people for their friendship and the elaborate welcoming ceremony, which was accorded to him.

“It is done in the true spirit of the Fijian culture and the Melanesian culture and for that, I thank you for

according us this ceremony,” Mr Lilo said.

Commodore Bainimarama was humbled by the fact that leaders attended the meeting despite pressing issues back home.

“It is a clear indication of their steadfast commitment to our organisation. It further demonstrates the solidarity of the Melanesians in the advancement of their collective interest as a group,” the Fijian Prime Minister said.

“It is this commitment that has seen the young organisation grow from strength to strength despite the attempts by some countries and organisations to discredit the MSG through misinformation and misrepresentation.” The MSG secretariat, which facilitates the activities of the MSG, is grateful to the funding provided by the People’s Republic of China, Luxembourg and Timor Leste. Work done during the past two week by foreign ministers and officials at their meetings has enabled leaders to make informed decisions on issues pertaining to MSG member countries. “For the whole of last week and this week, our officials and foreign ministers have met and worked tirelessly to ensure that we make informed decisions on 2012 and urgent issues that would provide impetus to the growth of our organisation,” Commodore Bainimarama said.

people and develop a consensus on the values of the constitution, representing a common vision of Fiji. “I believe that due to my comparative experience of constitution-

making and my knowledge of Fiji, I could play a constructive role in this process (as indeed I did in my own country and in Papua New Guinea’s relationship with Bougainville),” he told The Fiji Times. He added that a number of Fijians urged him to take up this assignment and “I responded to this even though it is at considerable personal inconvenience”.

In the past, Professor Ghai said in his own country and elsewhere, he had not hesitated to resign when he considered that the process was interfered with improperly. He said

the integrity of the process was critical to the success of the constitution. ”There are many good provisions in the 1997 constitution,” Professor Ghai said. However, he said there were also problems.

“In part because the joint parliamentary committee rejected some recommendations of the Reeves’ Commission, thus detracting from the coherence of the constitution,” Professor Ghai said. ”Partly for this reason, there has been considerable litigation on the formation and function of the Cabinet,” he added.

Fiji Appoints Indian Professor from Kenya to Chair Constitutional Commission

SUVA – Professor Yash Pal Ghai has cleared the air on his appointment to chair Fiji’s Constitutional Commission saying his acceptance has come at “considerable personal inconvenience”.

“I am not looking for any personal gain, but to assist reconciliation in a country which I know well and where I have many friends, from all communities,” the Kenyan scholar on constitutional law told this newspaper in an electronic mail interview from Nairobi, Kenya on Monday.

He was responding to New

Zealand media reports of critics questioning his link to his former student, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice AiyazSayedKhaiyum, and his appointment to spearhead Fiji’s constitutional consultations in the coming months.

Explaining his acceptance of the Fiji “assignment”, he said he thought Fiji “desperately” needed a new constitution to return to a stable, fair and democratic system. Professor Ghai said a constitution-making process, if transparent and participatory, could help to reconcile the

INDIA NEWS

Punjab minister sent to jail for daughter's abduction 8

April 2012

PATIALA: Punjab minister Bibi Jagir Kaur was sent to jail on Friday for forcible abortion, abduction and illegal confinement of her daughter, embarrassing the Parkash Singh Badal government, which has been riding high on the recent win in the Assembly polls. The special CBI court, which sentenced her to five years rigorous imprisonment, however, acquitted her of murdering her daughter in April 2000 for marrying outside the community.

Jagir Kaur (57), who is also the former president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), was facing charges of killing her daughter Harpreet Kaur after she secretly married Kamaljit Singh, a clean-shaven Sikh considered an unsuitable match for the woman from a religious family. The death was dubbed mysterious by cops and the body cremated a day later without postmortem or inquest.

Kamaljit Singh had moved Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that Harpreet was murdered following which the court ordered a CBI probe. "I am happy that she would go to the prison. But I am sad too that she was absolved of murder charges. Rosy (Harpreet) was killed and someone murdered her," he

2G scam: Esser's Ravi Ruia, three others appear before court

said. Jagir Kaur, who had won the Bholath seat as a SAD candidate, was inducted into the Badal Cabinet as rural water supply and sanitation minister. She resigned from the Cabinet soon after the verdict.

While Badal refused to speak to the media, his principal secretary Gagandeep Brar told TOI: "We respect the judgment.

We are yet to examine the copy of judgment and quantum of punishment and we will then explore all legal options." "The mere reason Jagir Kaur's mentor Parkash Singh Badal and SAD promoted her was to win the followers of Akal Takth during the elections," said leader of the

Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Sunil Jakhar. The atmosphere in Patiala - which has remained tense for the last week over the issue of clemency for Beant Singh's assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is also lodged in the Patiala Central Jail turned volatile on Friday as supporters of Jagir Kaur gathered near the CBI court to protest the sentence. A huge contingent of policemen tried to pacify the crowd throughout the day.

After the judgment came at 3.45pm, she was whisked away in an Innova to the Patiala Central Jail. DSP (jail) Rajan Kapoor told TOI that she was later shifted to Kapurthala Central Jail. Jagir Kaur was convicted under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 313 (causing miscarriage without a woman's consent) and 344 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. She was fined Rs 5,000 on her, while acquitting her from the charges under Section 302 (murder). Other accused in the case - Paramjit Singh, Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Nishan Singh -- were held guilty by the CBI court under Sections 365 and 344.

Dalwinder and Paramjit, were also convicted under Section 313.

Timeline: Jagir Kaur case : Harpreet Kaur found dead under mysterious circumstances : Family hurriedly cremates her body in Begowal village in Kapurthala at the ancestral house of Bibi Jagir Kaur April 27, 2000 : Kamaljit Singh, the main complainant, moves Punjab and Haryana HC seeking CBI inquiry into the death June 9, 2000 : HC directs CBI to conduct an inquiry into the matter October 3, 2000 : CBI registers FIR against Bibi Jagir Kaur and six others Oct 4, 5, 2000 : CBI arrests Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Paramjit Singh Raipur on charges of forcing Harpreet to have an abortion Jan 31, 2001 : CBI files chargesheet in the court Feb 25, 2010 : Kamaljit turns hostile March 21, 2011 : Kamaljit again backtracks from his early statement March 30, 2012 : Jagir Kaur sentenced five-year RI for criminal conspiracy, illegal confinement, forced abortion April 20, 2000

April 21, 2000

CBI won't probe charges against Lt Gen Suhag

NEW DELHI: Corporate honcho Ravi Ruia of the Essar group and three others on Saturday appeared before a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing of the 2G spectrum allocation case, after skipping court many times and moved their bail application. Special CBI Judge OP Saini put up the arguments on bail for April 21 after CBI told the court that it will file reply on their bail application. Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia, Anshuman Ruia, and Loop Telecom promoters IP Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan were earlier exempted from personal appearance before the court three times Jan 27, Feb 22 and March 17. The court on the last hearing while granting exemption to all four accused had directed them to appear in person on March 31 saying it would be in their interest to appear in the court. The third set of charges filed by the CBI in the 2G case alleged that the Essar Group used Loop as a front to acquire telecom licences in 2008.

Building BRICS : (From L-R) Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Hu Jintao and South African President Jacob Zuma hold copies of the BRICS report after its release during a plenary session of the summit in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday said that it would not investigate the complaint forwarded by Army chief General V K Singh against serving Lt Gen Dalbir Suhag, and the agency has returned this complaint. The agency officials said that a comprehensive probe into the matter had already been done by the Cabinet Secretariat last year, and it did not find anything against Suhag. On Tuesday, Gen Singh had forwarded to CBI a complaint letter from Trinamool MP Ambica Banerjee of May, 2011, that had alleged corruption in purchases for the Special Frontier Force during the tenure of Lt Gen Suhag as its then Inspector General. Now, Lt Gen Suhag commands Dimapur-based 3 Corps, and is in line to become the Army chief after Lt Gen Bikram Singh.

NEW DELHI: Is Mumbai to Mumbai round trip on a luxury liner complete with multi-star facility a mere transport facility availed by passengers? Or, is it akin to luxury hotel amenity?The income tax department raised these questions before the Supreme Court on Friday, while challenging a Bombay High Court decision that had rejected the authority's contention that Mumbaito-Mumbai round cruise should be classified as hotels on high seas for imposition of higher income tax on luxury liners. A bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Star Cruises (India) Private Limited after hearing brief arguments from additional solicitor general Vivek Tankha, who said that

the luxury cruises were being camouflaged as passenger transport by the respondent to pay tax on 7.5% of the income instead of 25% of the accruals. The I-T department said Superstar Libra Ltd, a non-resident company, was conducting cruises originating from Mumbai and terminating in Mumbai by way of single night cruises to the Mumbai high sea and back (two days one night), multiday cruises (Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai, three days and two nights) and Mumbai-Lakshadweep-Mumbai (five days and four nights).

The department in its appeal said business of Superstar Libra was not restricted to carriage of passengers but its main activity was to provide hospitality and entertainment during the cruise.

WASHINGTON: US under secretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman is travelling to India next week to hold discussions with her Indian counterparts on a wide range of issues including Iran and the up-coming US-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington.

During her four day India trip, Sherman besides her meetings in New Delhi would make a trip to Patna - the first by such a high-ranking US official to Bihar on April 3.

In New Delhi, Sherman will meet with the foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai and other senior Indian officials to discuss preparations for the US-India Strategic Dialogue, to be held in Washington DC in mid-June, the State Department said in a statement. Iran issue will also be discussed during the meetings. "She will also hold meetings with figures from Indian civil society, higher education, political opposition and youth organisations," the statement said.

years, and that there were "last minute fund releases and issuance of re-appropriation/surrender orders at the fag end, particularly on the last day of the year".

State-owned power distribution companies (DISCOMs) also bled the exchequer, according to the CAG reports. CAG also came down heavily on the government for its failure to keep its water bodies, rivers, lakes and ponds, free of pollution. Saying the Sabarmati Riverfront project's planning and scope was "inadequate", CAG underlined that the project "defeated" the objective of keeping the river clean. Central Effluent Treatment Plants were not complying with norms on quality of discharge either, it said.

Luxury sea liners mere transport ships or hotels on sea, I-T dept asks SC

US official to visit India to prepare for strategic dialogue

CAG raps Narendra Modi govt for Rs 17,000 cr losses

GANDHINAGAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General reports for 2009-10 and 2010-11, placed before the Gujarat assembly on the last day of the budget session on Friday, tore into the Narendra Modi government on the issue of corruption by pointing out irregularities causing a cumulative loss of nearly Rs 17,000 crore.

The villain of the piece turned out to be state-owned public sector undertaking (PSU), Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), which showed irregularities leading to losses of up to Rs 12,400 crore.

The reports slam the handling of finances by the Gujarat government, saying there were regular unspent "excesses" left in all departments over the last four

PAKISTAN NEWS

Details emerge about Osama's other residences

April 2012

On the run for 9 years, Osama sired 4 children

9 Pakistan foils plot to attack Parliament

HARIPUR: It's an ornate but not lavish two-story house tucked away at the end of a mud clogged street.

This is where Pakistan's intelligence agency believes Osama bin Laden lived for nearly a year until he moved into the villa in which he was eventually killed.

The residence in the frontier town of Haripur was one of five safe houses used by the slain al-Qaida leader while on the run in Pakistan according to information revealed by his youngest wife, who has been detained.

Retired Pakistani Brig Shaukat Qadir, who has spent the last eight months tracking bin Laden's movements, said that he was taken to the Haripur house last November by intelligence agents who located it from a description they got from Amal Ahmed Abdel-Fatah al-Sada.

Al-Sada, a 30-year-old Yemeni, has been in Pakistani custody since May 2 when US Navy Seals overran the Abbottabad compound, killing bin Laden and four other people inside. Since then, Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI has been trying to uncover the trail that brought him to Abbottabad villa in the summer of 2005.

The best information appears to have come from al-Sada, who was believed to be his favorite and who traveled with bin Laden since his escape from Afghanistan's eastern Tora Bora mountain range in 2001.

Qadir, a 35-year army veteran who is now a security consultant, was given rare access to transcripts of Pakistani intelligence's interrogation of al-Sada and access to other documents on bin-Laden's movements. The details of bin Laden's

life as a fugitive - which were first published by the Pakistani newspaper Dawn - raise fresh questions over how bin Laden was able to remain undetected for so long in Pakistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, despite being the subject of a massive international manhunt.

Yet a senior US official, who is familiar with the contents recovered

in bin Laden's Abbottabad house, said there was no evidence that Pakistani officials were aware of bin Laden's presence.

"There was no smoking gun. We didn't find anything," he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the contents of the Abbottabad house.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interior minister on Saturday revealed that police foiled a plot to attack Parliament during a presidential address and said a finance ministry official had been arrested. "I commend the Islamabad police, they have foiled a plot to attack the Parliament during president's address to the joint session," Rehman Malik told reporters. "Police has arrested a suspect and an official of the finance ministry involved in the plot." President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the joint sitting of the federal Parliament on March 17 amid tight security. Islamabad's government district is home to Western embassies, Parliament, the presidency and the ISI intelligence headquarters and has seen several bombings and suicide attacks. In October last year, police unearthed a major plot and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition in a raid on a house in a suburb of the capital. Islamist militants have killed more than 4,900 people across Pakistan since government troops raided an extremist mosque in Islamabad in July 2007.

ISLAMABAD: A Rs 7 billion" drug quota allotment" scam allegedly involving Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani' son has surfaced in Pakistan, Geo News reported. A three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry heard a case on Thursday against the health ministry illegally allotting a quota of a bronchodilator drug "ephedrine" worth Rs 7 billion to two Multan-based companies. The case was filed by Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to bring the culprits to the task but its lawyer, Abid Zulfiqar, pleaded before the court Thursday that his client wanted to withdraw the case. When the Chief Justice asked Zulfiqar what was stopping the ANF from pursuing the case, he revealed that ANF was under extreme pres-

sure regarding its probe into the health ministry's violations of rules, while awarding a quota of 9,000 kg ephedrine drastically exceeding the legal limit of 500 kg. The lawyer disclosed that one "Tauqeer Ali Shah", who claimed himself to be the secretary of PM Gilani's son Ali Musa Gilani, had been pressurising the ANF to sweep the case under the carpet. In the line of duty, the ANF also tried to summon Ali Musa Gilani March 12, but to no avail, the ANF counsellor told the court.

Besides, ANF chief Brig Fahim Chaudhry told the court that it was secretary Anti-Narcotics Department who put a full stop to the investigation by stating that an important political personality was not happy with the probe.

ISLAMABAD: At least 35 militants and a security personnel were killed in clashes with security forces in northwest Pakistan's restive Orakzai tribal region today, officials said. The clashes erupted while security forces were conducting a clearance operation in Balaras and Khadezai areas of Orakzai Agency, officials were quoted as saying

by TV news channels. A total of 35 militants were gunned down by the troops, officials said. One security personnel was killed and four more were injured during the operation. Troops had taken control of Balaras area, the officials said. Pakistani troops have conducted several operations against pro-Taliban militants in Orakzai Agency, one of seven semi-autonomous tribal districts in the country's northwest.

ISLAMABAD: The minority Hindu community in Pakistan has protested the occupation of a temple in Punjab province, prompting the authorities on Sunday to take steps to "resolve" the sensitive issue.

More than 30 members of the Hindu community from Zafarwal sub-district participated in the protest against the occupation of the temple. Paul Bhatti, minister-in-charge of national harmony, expressed concern at a protest by Hindus in front of the National Press Club for repossession of the temple at Zafarwal in Narowal district.

He directed concerned authori-

ties to take up the matter and "resolve it at the earliest". "The government is committed to safeguard places of worship of minorities in the country and all possible steps are being taken for care and maintenance of these places...No one would be allowed to occupy the worship places of the minorities," Bhatti said in a statement. Bhatti, who is a Christian, said, "We should learn to respect faiths and worship places of each other and demonstrate tolerance to bring peace in the country, aimed at promoting interfaith harmony as all the religions are an integral part of society."

Pakistani prime minister's son in Rs 7 billion drug scam: Report

ISLAMABAD: Osama bin Laden spent nine years on the run in Pakistan after the September 11 attacks, during which time he moved among five houses and fathered four children, at least two of whom were born in a government hospital, his youngest wife has told Pakistani investigators . The testimony of Amal Ahmad Abdul Fateh, bin Laden's 30year-old wife, offers the most detailed account yet of life o n the run for the bin Laden family in the years preceding the US commando raid in May 2011 that killed the al-Qaida leader at the age of 54.

Her account is contained in a police report dated January 19 that, as an account of that frantic period, contains manifest flaws: Fateh's words are paraphrased by a police officer, and there is noticeably little detail about the Pakistanis who helped her husband evade his American pursuers. Nevertheless, it raises more questions about how the world's most wanted man managed to shunt his family between cities that span the breadth of Pakistan, undetected and unmolested by the otherwise formidable security services. Bin Laden's three widows are of great interest because they hold the answers to some of the questions that frustrated Western intelligence in the years after 2001. They are currently under house arrest in Islamabad, and their lawyer says he expects them and two adult children - bin Laden's daughters Maryam, 21, and Sumaya, 20 - to be charged on Monday with breaking Pakistani immigration laws.

35 militants killed in Pakistan clashes

Pak Hindus protest occupation of temple

Pakistani beauty queen flees US after duping dozens ISLAMABAD: A former Pakistani beauty queen has been accused of duping scores of Californians in an elaborate loan scam before fleeing the US. Saman Hasnain, who won the 2008 Mrs Pakistan World beauty pageant, and her husband Jawad, have been accused of duping South Bay, California, homeowners into giving them money for a loan-modification scam which they operated from 2008 until October 2010.

Saman is being described by the American media as a "scam artist" who cheated homeowners after impressing them with her physical appearance, including her "almond-shaped eyes, flawless skin and full beautiful lips".

The money ripped off from clients was used to buy plastic surgery for Saman, and pay for a Mercedes and the mortgage on their USD 2.2 million home. The couple

charged homeowners at least USD 4,500 and often more to renegotiate their mortgages with banks. Korina Diaz, a Gilroy waitress who lost her ranch after paying the couple USD 11,500 to lower her mortgage payments, told Mercury News: "She was really pretty. She wore a skirt suit, high heels, nylons - like a real good-looking professional lady."

Diaz and her husband were so impressed by what the Hasnains were promising them, they invited 30 friends over to the house to listen to the couple talk about their loan-modification scheme.

Many of them signed up and lost thousands of dollars as well as their homes.

Diaz, her husband and their three children now live in a tiny apartment after a Florida bank took their home due to missed mortgage payments. Prosecutor Victor Chen told the media that it was Saman's striking

appearance that led residents to trust her with their money.

After the scam came to light, the Santa Clara County deputy district attorney charged them with ripping off 17 people, a number which doesn't even come close to the real number of victims, Chen told the media.

"The biggest crooks in this county aren't holding people up with a gun...It's the ones ripping people off with a pen or a computer and stealing their life's savings. So many good people's lives were ruined by these defendants," Chen said.

He believes the couple defrauded around 80 to 100 families. But before they could be apprehended, the couple fled the US with their two young sons to Lahore.

American officials said there was little they could do now as Pakistan has no extradition arrangement with the US.

10

April 2012

Referendum 'a green light for radical devolution'

PACIFIC NEWS

James Cameron reaches the deepest point on Earth

After years of preparation culminating in a frenzy of test dives in the South Pacific, James Cameron has become the first solo explorer of the Challenger Deep, which is at the bottom of the Mariana Trench — the deepest point in the world’s oceans.

Previously measured at about 35,800 feet below sea level, we’ll know a great deal more about the Deep as the data from Cameron’s effort is analyzed. His submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, has already been to the bottom and back without him, helping give Cameron and his team confidence that it would safely survive his attempt.

One of the frustrating issues with deep sea exploration is the difficulty of spotting marine creatures. With almost no natural light and a very low density of life, its easy to come away empty-handed and not learn about life far below the ocean’s surface. As with so many aspects of the effort, Cameron and his team have an answer even for that challenge.

They sent down an unmanned “lander” to the bottom armed with chemical bait to begin to attract fish and other sea creatures that might be

around. Cameron’s plan has been to use sonar to rendezvous with it. His massive 8-foot panel of LED lights and high-tech 5K RED video camera gives him a good chance to capture — in image only — for posterity some previously un-recorded denizens of the Challenger Deep.

James Cameron with his Deepsea Challenger submersible The lander is just the icing on the cake of the technologies Cameron’s team has employed in his effort.

Multiple fail-safe systems to bring him back to the surface in case of emergency may be obvious life-protecting features, but he can even

collect and drink the perspiration that collects on the inner surface of his 4-foot spherical cockpit if he runs out of water. The sub’s robot arm is capable of collecting and storing up to 60 pounds of samples, so there should be plenty more interesting news as scientists are able to work through them, assuming Cameron has been able to successfully pilot the sub and run the robot arm in the very challenging environment.

Cameron did slow the final portion of his descent at least partially so the sub wouldn’t kick up so much sediment when it reached bottom that he couldn’t see — a mistake the Trieste

made when it made the same trip over 50 years ago. Not one to miss out on maximizing a historic moment, Cameron invited Lieutenant Don Walsh — the only living person who has been to the Deep — to join him on his surface ship, the Mermaid Sapphire, to celebrate. Paul Allen has also joined the fun, motoring his 414-foot super yacht, Octopus, to the area Friday.

For those without their own means of transport to the Ulithi atoll to see Cameron in person, National Geographic has helpfully provided a 2-minute video outlining the major milestones of the dive.

Thousands of Tongans gathered Sunday to pray at services which remembered their late King George Tupou V, a monarch seen as a reformer who brought democracy to the South Pacific nation.

Tongans, dressed in black for mourning and wearing the traditional ta'ovala waistmats, sing for Queen Halaevala Mata'aho, the mother of King George Tupou V, near the capital Nuku'alofa. Thousands of Tongans gathered Sunday to pray at services which remembered their late King George Tupou V, a monarch seen as a reformer who brought democracy to the South Pacific nation. The king died in Hong Kong on March 18 and his body will return to Tonga on Monday ahead of an elaborate funeral ceremony in which some 150 pallbearers will carry his casket to the royal tomb. As church bells and the singing of choirs rang out across the capital Nuku'alofa on Sunday, families dressed almost entirely in black and most wearing traditional woven mats attended Christian services across the island. Tongans traditionally

attend church on Sunday, but this was the first since the king's death and the nation entered a three-month mourning period. "They feel sad, they feel sorry," said churchgoer Talavao Pepa of the nation's loss of its king. "That's why they are wearing black, to pay respect." The streets of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu are swathed in black and purple cloth which hangs not only on government buildings, but major businesses, the airport terminal, homes and even palm trees. The death at age 63 of the king, who took over after his father passed away in 2006, did not come as a complete shock to Tongans after his treatment for cancer last year.

But many have remembered the Oxford-educated monarch, who saw the need for reform, for his moves to decisively end 165 years of feudal rule. "People, they are very sad because this king leaves power for the people," said Sione Kolo, ahead of a reception at the home of the late king's mother, Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho who was Sunday receiving groups of mourners.

Glen Robert Gottfredson, age 85, died on March 21, 2012. He was born on April 15, 1926 in Springville, Utah to Wilford J. and Melva Gottfredson. Glen graduated from Springville High School.

Many years later, he pursued further education and graduated with an Associate Degree in electronic technology from Brigham Young University. In 1943, he joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Glen married his sweetheart Beverly Beck on August 29, 1947, and their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS temple on August 28, 1964.

Glen worked as an electrician at Geneva Steel, retiring after 32 years. He was a faithful member of the LDS Church, serving as Scoutmaster, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, and high councilor. He loved to spend time with his family, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, breakfast in the canyon, golfing, and going south for the winter. Glen was preceded in death by his parents, Wilford J. and Melva Gottfredson, and his sister, Evelyn (Cowan). He will be missed by his wife Beverly, daughter Kathy (Terry) Dahlin, son Randy (Deborah) Gottfredson, foster-son Ernest (Connie) Burgess, 8 grandchildren, 9 foster grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The Australian dollar advanced against its U.S. counterpart after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said accommodative monetary policy is still needed, sending investors searching for higher yields. The Australian and New Zealand currencies have climbed this quarter against the greenback as shares and commodity prices advanced on signs of improvement in the U.S. economy and as concern eased that Europe’s debt crisis would damp growth. New Zealand’s dollar advanced as the nation recorded a trade surplus last month. “U.S. economic indicators are good,” said Toshiya Yamauchi, a senior analyst in Tokyo at Ueda Harlow Ltd., which provides currency margin-trading services. “What’s supporting the Australian and New Zealand dollars are commodity prices that remain elevated.”

Australia’s dollar, known as the Aussie, climbed 0.4 percent to $1.0508 at 1:22 p.m. in New York. It rallied 1 percent to 87 yen. New Zealand’s currency, or kiwi,

advanced 0.3 percent to 82.07 U.S. cents and gained 0.9 percent to 67.96 yen. The decline in U.S. unemployment may reflect “a reversal of the unusually large layoffs that occurred during late 2008 and over 2009,” Bernanke said in a speech today in Arlington, Virginia. “To the extent that this reversal has been completed, further significant improvements in the unemployment rate will likely require a more-rapid expansion of production and demand from consumers and businesses, a process that can be supported by continued accommodative policies.” The Fed has said it will probably hold interest rates steady through 2014. Australia’s benchmark 4.25 percent interest rate and New Zealand’s 2.5 percent compare to Japan’s near-zero percent. New Zealand’s exports exceeded imports in February by NZ$161 million ($131 million), compared with a revised NZ$159 million deficit in January, the statistics bureau said today.

Economists had estimated a NZ$153 million surplus.

PS Classics, the record label devoted to the American Songbook and the heritage of musical theatre, announced performers and a release date of May 22 for its previously announced studio cast album of George Gershwin and B.G. DeSylva's Sweet Little Devil. The cast will include Bethe Austin (Goodspeed Musicals' The Boy Friend), Tony Award nominee Danny Burstein (South Pacific, Follies, The Drowsy Chaperone), Philip Chaffin (PS Classics' "When the Wind Blows South," "Warm Spring Night," "Where Do I Go From You?"), Sara Jean Ford (The Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music), Jason Graae (Falsettos, A Grand Night for Singing), Tony nominee Rebecca Luker (The Music Man, The Sound of Music, PS Classics' Death Takes a Holiday) and Sally Wilfert (Make Me a Song). The album team includes conductor Sam Davis and vocal arranger David Loud. Robert Russell

Bennett's original orchestrations will be heard. The Sweet Little Devil recording, offering Gershwin's earliest surviving score, will be released on the same day (May 22) as PS Classics' two-disc new Broadway cast album of Porgy and Bess — Gershwin's final Broadway score. Sweet Little Devil and The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess are now available for pre-order at the label's website at www.psclassics.com.

Pre-orders ship two weeks prior to street date. PS Classics characterizes the 1924 Sweet Little Devil score as being "the moment when Gershwin was finding the musical voice that would come to define him." The disc is part of the label's Forgotten Musicals series. The score features lyrics by George's then-regular collaborator, B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva, with whom he had written "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" and "Somebody Loves Me." Sweet Little Devil ran 120 performances,

playing Broadway's Astor Theatre JanuaryMay 1924. Gershwin would soon pair with his lyricist brother, Ira. DeSylva would later collaborate with Lew Brown and Ray Henderson on Good News and other

shows. "Back when I was working as an archivist for Mrs. Ira Gershwin, back in the mid-1980s, one of my first jobs was to go through existing materials, and write a few pages about each show: what survived, and what the potential was for restoration or recording or performance," PS Classics co-founder Yommy Krasker previously told Playbill.com. "I took to Sweet Little Devil right way. It's early Gershwin, so he hasn't yet fully mastered the style that would come to define him, but hey, a good song is a good song, and Sweet Little Devil is full of them. And the lyrics by Buddy DeSylva are top-notch; to my mind, he's one of the most underrated lyricists from that period. In fact, in the years before Larry Hart and Ira Gershwin got going, I might go so far as to call him the best lyricist in town." The book was by Frank Mandel and Laurence Schwab. It starred Constance Binney, "a film and stage actress so popular at the

time that she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Krasker said.

Sweet Little Devil was her last stage show.

Krasker added, "Part of what makes doing Sweet Little Devil irresistible is that we have a set of orchestra parts from 1924.

And for a change, it's not from the Warner Music Warehouse in Secaucus. I can't remember the exact turn of events, but it was music historian Ron Spivak, who was serving as musicals editor and archivist for the rental library Samuel French back in the 1980s, who discovered boxes and boxes of old musicals in their archives: musicals that had been licensed for performance following their Broadway runs in the '20s and '30s. They included an original ten-piece orchestration for Sweet Little Devil. Those materials were then donated to the Ira and Gershwin Trusts, and Michael Owen, the archivist there, made the materials available to us last year."

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, will be spelling out his vision for Wales' status within the UK today. He is expected to back limited tax raising powers for the Welsh Assembly, along with borrowing powers. He will be addressing the ‘Wales and the changing Union' event organised by the Institute of Welsh Affairs and will argue the UK needs a written constitution that reflects the 21st century, as he claims the current regime is a throwback to the 19th century.

Carwyn Jones is also expected to argue Wales must consider the prospect of a written constitution as he feels the UK has changed beyond recognition over the past 15 years. This follows the Welsh Government's launch of a consultation asking if Welsh legislation should feed into an England and Wales legal system, or should Wales have a seperate juristicition.

Some feel the First Minister is looking for additional powers since last year's referendum. In last year's referendum it was denied that tax raising powers would follow a "yes" vote and here we are facing them....We've got the prospect of a cut to the block grant if there are tax powers and Wales will end up worse off.

Tongans mourn king's death at Sunday services

Glen Robert Gottfredson

Australian Dollar Rises Against U.S. Peer on Yield Hunt

Danny Burstein, Rebecca Luker, Philip Chaffin Will Sing Forgotten Gershwin Score of Sweet Little Devil on CD

HEALTH

I

t's in our basic nature to reach for a large portion when hungry.

Therefore, workouts apart, it's a must to keep high-satiety food options available at hand, simply for the times when you feel those hunger pangs.

With all the energy you devote to shedding kilos, you might actually know very little about the why most diets fail - hunger pangs. It's never easy to resist that third serving of pizza even if you are bursting out of your seams. The guilt always strikes after the damage is done. Know the signs of hunger, the cues for stress eating, and what triggers your cravings to tame yourself when hunger strikes.

THE CULPRIT You've been working since 10 in the morning and consistently thinking about the deadline. Too busy to eat, there is a chance you would suffer from starvation.

"Hunger is your body's cue to eat.

Due to habits such as erratic timings and long gaps between meals, hunger cues get out of sync, leading to severe hunger pangs," says clinical wellness expert Namita Jain.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION Firstly, understand your body clock. Know the difference between actual hunger and stomach contractions. Also, at times you may be misguided by people around you. "You may feel that

April 2012

wheat bread sandwich, idlis (four to five), unpolished rice ( a bowl) and curd, a roti roll filled with vegetables or two to three fruits are apt options for the day. For midnight hunger pangs, foods like salad sandwich are a big nono. You would certainly not wish to sleep with a heavy stomach that leaves you restless all night. Instead, eat a fruit and drink a glass full of water over it.

THE BOTTOMLINE

Don't eat anything

when really hungry

eating less is better but it isn't true," says John Gloster, fitness expert. "Starvation is never a great survival strategy. Eat less but eat more often," he adds.

IS IT HUNGER OR THIRST? Figure out whether you are hungry or thirsty? Sometimes your body can send off signals to the brain that you are hungry.

This is because food has lots of

fluid contained within it. However, you don't want to be confused with taking on-board unwanted calories when you simply haven't had enough to drink. The key is to ensure you keep your fluid intake up over the course of a day.

WHAT TO EAT AND WHEN If you're following a particular diet, you will always prefer to carry a lunch box to work. A

To make sure you don't experience hunger pangs when on a diet, use top quality meal replacement drinks like coconut water, green tea and butter milk and get your hands on whatever snacks are allowed in the diet programme like soy nuts or energy bars. Eat a healthy balanced meal that doesn't leave you feeling hungry, and this way you'll get to snack on some treats when you want to!

TO AVOID SEVERE HUNGER PANGS

Skipping breakfast is a sin.

Don't skip breakfast, or you'll be starving and cranky by mid-morning. A breakfast with complex carbs and low fat protein will help stave off snack attacks.

Plan ahead. Make sure that you have low calorie snacks and drinks with you. Take note of what times of day you

11 become hungry and plan your meals and snacks accordingly. If you always cave in around 4 pm, schedule a snack for 3.30 and drink a big glass of water, too.

Your body requires a certain amount of fat. Choose healthy fats, like olive oil.

Mediterranean people include a lot of olive oil in their cooking and they have famously low rates of obesity and heart disease.

Do not take drastic steps.

Cutting your calories too drastically will make your metabolism slow down and cause you to be plagued with hunger all of the time.

Eat volumes of low-cal food.

Broccoli, cauliflower and veggie salads will fill you up and help stave off hunger.

Stay away from sugary snacks and simple carbohydrates like sticky buns, cake and donuts. If you eat them your blood sugar will soar, and then crash and you'll find yourself irritable, jittery and famished.

Eat sufficient protein.

Scientific studies show that protein leaves people feeling full longer than carbohydrates.

To keep those hunger pangs at bay, distract yourself and divert your mind from food by getting involved in a task or a hobby you enjoy doing the most.

12

INTERFAITH

April 2012

God’s love S

By Pastor Henry Latchman of Rhema Bible Church, Hayward, CA

ome years back I had an encounter with a person who said that if anyone can solve the world’s problem that person will be regarded as the greatest person on this earth. I thought about the question and started to think in my mind if any such person ever existed. Other questions such as, where does all the wars and fights come from? Why do people become sick and die? To have peace in my heart I would say to myself that eventually everybody will have to die one day. But the questions of life still bothered my mind. Is there a way out?

Who can bring world peace? People have tried and are still doing their best to solve mankind’s problems. Unfortunately no solid and lasting peace has s ever been created yet. I started to search for answers to some of the questions of life I had asked myself.

After reading and studying books and other

articles on the subject I found out that I was exhausted and I couldn’t find any person ever who offered any lasting solution to our problems. Sometime later, I met a person who was very humble and a Godly person. He excited me with his answers to my questions.

Before he left he handed me a bible and said that all of answers to life’s questions are in that book. I spent a lot of time studying the book and finding all the answers I had in my mind.

The book ofGenesis 1:1says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”.

Colossians 1:6says “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.”

Psalm 115:15, 16 “May you be blessed by the lord who made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord’s:

but the earth He has given to the children of men” The earth was perfect when God gave it to man. Disobedience led man to flee from the presence of God. Sin entered the human race when the first man Adam sinned and as a result sin spread to the entire world. With it came spiritual death, disease, sickness poverty and physical death. All of the world’s problem s started with sin. That’s why there is no lasting peace in the world and in the hearts of man. Everyone wants to have his/her own way. But there is good news for mankind. Someone can solve our problems and at the same time give us peace in our lives. In fact He is able to do more than what we ask Him. Jesus Christ the last Adam

came to give life to all people on this earth. He was sinless and a perfect person. Look at His promise.

Matthew 11:28 “come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”.

Jesus wants to give us peace and solve our problems. He will help us if we give him a chance. How do we do that? Answer – by believing in Him. Believe that he has died for your sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Repent of your sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as your savior. Than invite Him in your heart and follow his words.

May God bless you as you start year 2012 with Jesus as the captain of your life?

Easter celebration in Hayward

shiv pooja at fremont temple

Happy Ram Navami

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t that time Ravan, king of Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and all were longing for liberation from his menace. Ravan had acquired great power because he had obtained from god Brahma the boon that he would never die at the hands of gods, or gandharvas, or yakshas (demigods) or demons. As he was not afraid of men he did not care to include men in the list of his potential slayers. So Brahmadev declared that Ravan would die at the hands of a man. Then the gods went to Vishnu with the request, “Dasarath is a glorious king. Please, take birth in the wombs of his three queens in four different degrees of your divinity.”

When Dasarath’s sacrifice came to an end a shining figure appeared over the sacrificial kund, and offered the king a divine beverage called “payasam” to be given to his queens Kausalya, Kaikayi, and Sumitra.In due time Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikayi to Bharat and Sumitra to Laxman and Shatrugna. Rama was born at noon of the bright ninth day of Chaitra. He was believed to be the embodiment of half degree of Vishnu’s divinity, (ardha ounsh).

Legend: Four storeys - even the original Ravana may not have been so tall. But this is the Kali Yuga, when evil is supposed to assume an even more terrifying form. Ravana has his moments of glory, and that too, on Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama. The effigy of the ten-headed Ravana swaggers through the town, wearing a gaudy crown and exaggerated moustache, with shouting hordes following. But once Ravana reaches the open ground that is his final destination, he is suddenly deserted by most of his "followers" - because the noble Rama has made his appearance. In the end, righteousness does triumph, even in Kali Yuga. Rama engages him in battle, and finally pierces him with a potent arrow. And the huge effigy of Ravana, filled to bursting with firecrackers, is set alight, and explodes into a thousand bits amid loud cheers from the crowd and shouts of Jai Shri Ram. This ritual is an important part of the Rama Navami celebrations in most parts of North India. Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of the shuklapaksha, or bright phase of the moon, in the lunar month of Chaitra (April-May). The first day of Chaitra , or Ugadi, also marks the beginning of the Indian year.

Rama is one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, and one of the two most popular, along with Krishna.

Consequently, Rama Navami is widely celebrated, though not on the scale of festivals like Diwali or Dussehra. According to legend, Rama was born at noon. Rama is the epitome of perfection, the uttamapurusha, fulfilling all his duties towards both family and subjects. Rama was the first of the four sons of King

Dasharatha of Ayodhya. When it was time for Rama to be made crown-prince, his stepmother, Kaikeyi, got Dasharatha to send him to the forest for 14 years. His wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana also accompanied him. In the forest, Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, together with Hanuman and the monkey army, built a bridge to Lanka, killed Ravana, and brought Sita back. It is believed that listening to the story of Rama cleanses the soul. Meditating on the noble Rama and chanting his name is believed to ease the pains of life and lead one to moksha, or liberation. It is also common practice to chant the name of Rama while rocking babies to sleep.

Significance: Though Rama Navami is a major festival for Vaishnavites, it is widely celebrated by worshippers of Shiva, too. It is considered auspicious to undertake a fast on the day in the name of Rama. The more devout ones fast for nine days, from Ugadi to Rama Navami. The objective of the fast is not to ask for special favors of the deity but to seek perfection as a human being. Devotees perform elaborate pujas and chant the name of Rama. Temples of Rama have special services and bhajan sessions through the day. One significant and popular element of the celebration is the Ramayana parayana, a discourse on the Ramayana, by a pundit or a professional story-teller. It usually lasts nine days, beginning on Ugadi and ending on Rama Navami. A skilled story-teller who can liven up the event by weaving in contemporary events attracts massive crowds. Since Rama is also one of the most sungabout deities in Indian classical music and literature, week-long (and sometimes, month-long) musical programs are organized. Sacred places associated with Rama, like Ayodhya, Ujjain and Rameshwaram, draw tens of thousands of devotees. In Rameshwaram, thousands take a ritual bath in the sea before worshipping at the Ramanathaswamy temple. Many places in North India host fairs in connection with the festival, culminating in spectacular fireworks on Rama Navami.

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Please Let me know about this page. Which matter gose on this page. thanx.

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BOLLYWOOD

Sonam most influential on

Twitter

Sonam Kapoor might have less followers than Amitabh Bachchan, SRK and Priyanka Chopra, but the fashion icon is still most influential on Twitter, if an online poll conducted by Pinstorm India is to be believed. The actor has bagged the top slot in the list of most influential Indians on Twitter beating Shashi Tharoor, Ram Gopal Varma and Hrithik Roshan among others. Sonam Kapoor has 1 million followers and over five thousand tweets. The rankings of the poll keep changing on daily basis. Many congratulations to Sonam!

Mindless films VIDYA BALAN

Vidya Balan on her choice of movies and how action is not her cup of tea, in a chat with Madhureeta Mukherjee

H

Kangana Ranaut takes tips from

Rekha

Kangana Ranaut, who has already established herself as a youth style icon, will now take fashion cues from Rekha.

For her role as slain gangster Manya Surve’s girlfriend in Shootout At Wadala, the young star has been asked to draw sartorial inspiration from yesteryear Bollywood divas, including the late Smita Patil. “I play a Maharashtrian girl in the film, and since it’s set in the ’70s and early ’80s, I wanted to keep my style as authentic as possible,” says Kangana, who plays Vidya Joshi in the gangster film. “When I think of fashion, Rekha is one person who clearly appears in my mind. She was so outrageous for that time,” adds Kangana, who has been cast opposite John Abraham for the first time. The Force actor will play Surve in the film, which tells the story of the first registered encounter by the Mumbai police in 1982. Although the makers remain tight-lipped about the details, Kangana’s looks in the film will mirror her journey from being a regular college girl to becoming Surve’s moll.

“Since my character in the latter half is that of a 30-year-old woman, I need to be very sexy. So Sanjay (director Sanjay Gupta) gave me references of these actors because they were considered to be the hottest,” she says.

er 'dirty' days are behind her, it seems.

And she's embarked on a new mission - to find her missing husband.

Basking in the glory of her success (or let's just call it the 'pregnancy glow'), the actress spoke about the changing face of Hindi film heroines and emerging as the new 'hero' in a man's world! Read on...

You started the 'dirty' revolution in Bollywood...

Wow, I like the sound of that! Well, it was a big gamble. A lot of people appreciated it and I got more than I expected. But there were a few people that told me it was overthe-top and it wasn't my thing."

Sex symbol, pregnant wife and disgruntled sibling... don't you miss the glamorous roles? I've never evaluated a role on the terms of glam quotient the presence or lack of it.

Women have an innate strength and I've been lucky to play such powerful roles.

Some actresses would prefer simpler roles opposite Khans, with chiffon sarees, dancing in the rain...

Ha, ha, I've never missed that. Those films have nothing for me to do. As an actress, I need some meat to chew on. I can't do mindless films.

You're revolutionising the way people look at leading ladies of Bollywood...

Well, as women, we all work really hard to overcome beliefs. I hope I'm not jumping the gun, but this is a golden time for Hindi film heroines. We're being seen as human beings with strengths, weaknesses, failures and

successes. We're experimenting and enjoying the acceptance.

Another problem is, your roles are so strong, there's no space for a hero...

Yeah, I've been 'charged' with that, haven't I? Ha, ha... I think there's a lack of good scripts that have properly etched roles for two people.

One often ends up overpowering the other.

Rani was apparently upset for being nominated as the Supporting Actress...

No One Killed Jessica was offered to us as a two-heroine script.

That's how we worked, that's how it was written and perceived. So that answers your question.

How about trying an out-and-out action film?

Nah, it's not my thing.

I'm not an action girl. I love my drama, I need emotions. And as far as experimenting is concerned, I'll be doing my first comedy this year Ghanchakkar with Emraan Hashmi."

You're glowing... is it because of the 'pregnant' state of mind?

I decided I wanted to promote the movie with a baby bump, make the hunt for Arnab Bagchi more authentic!

So, have you decided on a name for the baby yet?

Well, it'll be something Bong. Hmm... a Bong surname perhaps. Roy? Ha, ha! Vidya recites Bong poetry, talks about Kolkata and naming her baby in this exclusive chat, only on B Tonite tonight at 10 pm only on zoOm - India's No 1 Bollywood channel.

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Dell Ilyas shows off new arrivals the Honda Fit at Mission Blvd., Hayward

April 2012

Swing by Honda Hayward meet Dell Ilyas or his buddy Roger

• Engine liters - 1.5 • Cylinder configuration - I-4 • Horsepower - 117hp @ 6,600RPM • Torque - 106 lb.-ft. @ 4,800RPM • Number of valves - 16 • Variable valve control • Variable intake manifold • Sequential multi-point fuel injection • Engine location - front • Recommended fuel - regular unleaded • Transmission - 5 speed manual • Drive type - front-wheel • Fuel economy city - 27mpg • Fuel economy highway - 33mpg • Fuel tank capacity - 10.6gal

Industry in India Helps Open a Door to the World “Fit is convenient and affordable both for metro and long runs,” explained the leading sale person Dell Ilyas confidently showed us Honda’s newest arrivals.

LAHORE, Pakistan — On the day the Indian trade delegation came across the border, Pakistan was having another political crisis. The prime minister was embroiled in a showdown with the country’s Supreme Court. Early elections were rumored. And Islamists had just staged a rally in Karachi to protest “foreign intervention” on Pakistani soil. India held its first trade show in Pakistan in Lahore. Not, perhaps, the perfect moment to hammer out closer trade ties.Yet Rajiv Kumar, a leader of the Indian delegation, was pleased. It was midFebruary, and his business group was staging the first Indian trade show ever held in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of visitors would attend during three days. And Indian and Pakistani business leaders, as well as both countries’ commerce ministers, swapped cards, sipped tea and feasted at lavish banquets. “Look at this!” Mr. Kumar exclaimed as his car rolled up to the convention center here in Lahore, where crowds were thronging for the trade show.

A booth for Motherson International, an Indian company that produces clothes and costume jewelry, at the Indian trade show in Lahore, Pakistan, in February.

“My God! Quite good, I’d say.”

One truism about the tortured relationship between India and Pakistan is that there is never a perfect moment. For six

decades, through three wars and one nuclear standoff, diplomats have tried, and failed, to improve relations. Now, the private sector is giving it a shot. Trade has become

Imtiaz Ahmad, a case had been registered against the two police sub inspectors, Sujhat Ali and Manazar Ali under sections 302, 148, 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

He, however, maintains that the accused was picked up on March 24 and was released two days later as the police was convinced of his innocence. Hussain says a fatal disease could be the possible cause of death. Hussain said the dead body was sent for postmortem examination, adding that if the autopsy proved the cause of death to be torture, action against the accused will be

taken accordingly.The spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, Saleemud Din condemned the incident, terming it ‘callous and inhuman’. “The way Master Abdul Qudoos was tortured and brutalised is the lowest form of humanity. Police should investigate the murder case and whoever is involved should be brought to justice. The police have no right to pick up any person and subject them to extra-judicial torture,” Din said. Saleemud Din alleged that the real reason for the teacher’s arrest was to taint the reputation of the local Ahmadiyya administration of Rabwah. “Master Abdul Qudoos was the President of Jamaat-eAhmediyya’s local chapter and he was arrested to defame the administration.”

Saleemud Din demanded the constitution of a high-powered commission to investigate the case. He also urged the government, as well as human rights organisations to take notice of the incident.

“The culprits behind the murder should be brought to justice so people can have faith in the police department.

In police custody: Ahmadi school teacher allegedly tortured to death

By Shamsul Islam / Abdul Manan

FAISALABAD / LAHORE: Master Abdul Qudoos, a well known Ahmadi school teacher was allegedly tortured to death while in police custody in the Rabwah city of Punjab on Friday. The Chenab Nagar Police has registered a case against two accused police officials. Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad, 43, was taken into custody by the police in the first week of February for questioning in the murder case of Muhammad Yousuf, a stamp-paper seller from Nusrat Abad. He was allegedly tortured ruthlessly during the interrogation, causing severe internal injuries. “When his body could not take further torture, his relatives were blackmailed and he was released. He was admitted to a local hospital where doctors tried to save his life, but Qudoos died due to several injuries and excessive loss of blood,” Abdul Qudoos’s brother-in-law Imtiaz Ahmed said. SHO Khadim Hussain of the Chenab Nagar Police Station told The Express Tribune that on the complaint of

the most promising opening in the latest round of diplomacy, as progress remains largely stalled on tough issues like terrorism, water rights and the status of Kashmir.

The foray into Pakistan is further proof of the increasingly important role of India’s private sector in foreign policy. India’s leaders, eager for a bigger footprint in global affairs, now aspire to a permanent seat on an expanded United Nations Security Council. But the Indian Foreign Service, though consisting of top-notch officers, is too understaffed to provide a comprehensive global presence.

To compensate, the government often relies on the private sector to serve as an intermediary abroad. India’s two leading business groups — C.I.I. (the Confederation of Indian Industry) and Ficci (the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) — now have offices around the world and sponsor informal diplomatic dialogues between India and countries like Japan, China, Singapore and

the United States. As India’s growing economy demands more natural resources, its business leaders have led the country on an aggressive push into Africa and South America. Last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toured Africa, pledging aid and good will in a high-level trip encouraged by an Indian private sector competing with China for resources on the African continent. “These are places that are incredibly important to India, but the Indian state doesn’t have the resources to maintain a major presence,” said Ashley J. Tellis, a former American diplomat who served in India.

“Business has really become the de facto substitute for Indian diplomatic engagement. And that works out nicely for India.”

India, a nation of 1.2 billion people, has about 800 diplomats serving in 162 missions and posts around the world. The United States, by comparison, has a diplomatic corps of more than 11,000. Even tiny Singapore surpasses India, with 847 foreign service officers.

ISLAND DETAILING

For all your detailing needs Call us first!

Phone 650-458-1389

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PO Box 56491, Hayward, CA 94544

WORLD SPORTS

Dramatic highs, crippling lows after World Cup win 22

April 2012

April 2, 2011. The day of India's second cricketing tryst with destiny. It was a day that offered a salve for a troubled nation and was a night when we were all equally proud to be Indian.

Just as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's shot sailed over the Wankhede boundary, an entire nation erupted in unbridled celebration that has few parallels in India's 65-year-old history.

Sachin Tendulkar summed up the significance of the achievement best, saying, "It marked the climax of my cricket career.

Whatever I achieve now can only come second to this triumph." Having waited for 22 long years, Tendulkar, justifiably, felt fulfilled.

So did Yuvraj Singh. 362 runs and 15 wickets in the tournament and he was the unanimous choice for the best player in the world. Having played a leading hand in India's T20 triumph in 2007, Yuvraj had yet again played a stellar role in the 2011 World Cup triumph.

Finally, under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Team India could scale heights it never had in its 80-year-old cricket history. India were the No. 1 Test team in the world and had won the World Cup in the one-day limited-overs format. Indian cricket could do no wrong and was the envy of the world.

The fans, Indian cricket's biggest strength and most important constituent, supported their team with full vigour. A 35.2 television rating for the semifinal against Pakistan and a 23.2 rating against Sri Lanka was unprecedented in India's television history, proof of the pan-Indian support for the competition.

Just when it seemed that nothing could go wrong for Indian cricket, everything started to go haywire. A 4-0 drubbing in England and a 4-0 drubbing in Australia and Indian Test cricket was suddenly at its lowest in years.

From the high of the Wankhede to the low of Adelaide, what do they know of cricket who only cricket know?

Failure to qualify for the final of the triseries in Australia and subsequently the Asia Cup in Dhaka meant the correction was complete. The tumultuous year was proof that nothing was permanent. The same could be said about Tendulkar. Two fantastic hundreds against England and South Africa

in the World Cup, followed by more than 30 innings without a ton, the quest for the 100th hundred was the toughest phase in his twodecade long career.

From being the best in the world to not playing the game, Yuvraj too was suddenly faced with life's most difficult challenge yet.

Not without reason is it said that cricket is a true metap hor for life.

As we mark the first anniversary of the World Cup triumph at home, it must be acknowledged that just as the highs weren't permanent, so also will be the case with the lows.

In Virat Kohli, India seem to have found

Sachin Tendulkar behind my success in World Cup: Yuvraj

NEW DELHI: "You will matter when it matters the most" are the words that Sachin Tendulkar told Yuvraj Singh, which served as an inspiration for the dashing allrounder during India's World Cup triumph last year.

On the eve of India's first anniversary of the World Cup triumph, Yuvraj, who is recovering from a rare germ cell cancer, has revealed that Tendulkar had a crucial role to play in his man-of-theseries winning performance during last year's mega-event.

Yuvraj recalled that he was not in the best of form and fitness coming into the World Cup, but Tendulkar and speedster Zaheer Khan's pep talks motivated him to do something special in the quadrennial event. "Couldn't have asked for anything better. I didn't expect myself to play as well as I did in the World Cup. I was coming with not great form and I wasn't timing the ball how I wanted to," he said in an interview posted on his twitter account about his thoughts on the World Cup anniversary.

"In my tough times, I just spoke to Sachin about my issues with batting and form and fitness and he told me that you will matter when it matters the most. That is a very special thought, it remains with me.

"I remember I have a picture of me and Tendulkar together which I have put in my locker. I used to have a look at that picture and go

into bat. He is my inspiration," Yuvraj said.

"Zaheer Khan also told me in Bangladesh before the World Cup about me doing something special in the World Cup. That time I was going through a bad wrist injury," he added. As India complete the first anniversary of the World Cup triumph, Yuvraj described the feat as a "cherished and special moment".

"All you can remember is flying colours of the flag, Wankhede stadium (the host of the World Cup final) in joy and an Indian dream coming to reality. It was a great moment in history because winning the World Cup was everything to us and especially to do it for Sachin Tendulkar," he recollects in the video. "It (World Cup triumph) will always be a very special memory for me and all the Indians. It is a cherished memory which we will

always keep in our hearts."

Post World Cup, Yuvraj went through the toughest phase of his life after he was diagnosed with cancer. But he is now recovering from fatal disease after having discharged from the hospital in Indianapolis in the US on March 18 following the completion of the third and final cycle of chemotherapy.

"It (World Cup) did change everybody's life. I didn't expect that I would land up here after the World Cup but that's life," he said.

"I was at the peak of my career when I was diagnosed with cancer, but now I am treated and absolutely fine. I am thankful to my guruji, my mother. It has been a tough journey but I am lucky that the cancer was detected at an early stage and I got cured. Now I just want to live my life like a normal person, just want to celebrate life," he said.

Yuvraj also thanked his fans for standing behind him in such a difficult phase of his life and said he is now raring to return to the ground.

"I can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers and wishes. I have been watching everyone praying across the cities back home for me. The support has been amazing, I couldn't have asked for more.

I actually realised how loved I am," he said.

"I just want to tell all that I am good and will be back to normal health soon. I am looking forward to playing for India again."

the game's next big superstar, capable of demolishing Pakistan with an innings unrivalled in the annals of the one-day game.

Post the 100th 100, Sachin too is a liberated man. His innings against Pakistan is indication of a good season ahead. Yuvraj too, we hope, will be back soon to wearing India colours.

The clock has turned a full cycle in the year gone by. While we reminisce the joys of the Wankhede night and ponder over the lows of the last few months, it is time to come to terms with cricket's biggest reality, something the now-retired Rahul Dravid has taught us over and over again.

You need to be prepared to struggle when the chips are down. 2 April 2011 to 2 April 2012, these 365 days had it all. From the ecstasy of the Wankhede to the shame at Perth, Indian cricket has gone through a true emotional roller coaster in the past 12 months. There has, however, been one constant.

Despite the disenchantments, and there have been many, fans have not deserted the country's biggest sport.

The euphoria surrounding the 100th century is proof that the game still has its dedicated le ion of followers who have stood by it through the months of adversity.

As we celebrate and look ahead at the same time, we crave for one simple thing the same intensity that was seen in our skipper's eyes as he hit the final six at the Wankhede.

That's all we yearn for as a new season unfolds. Winning and losing can then take care of themselves.

Radwanska beats Sharapova to win Miami title

KEY BISCAYNE: Maria Sharapova lost her serve in the last game of each set and again fell short in a bid for her first Sony Ericsson Open title, losing the final to Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, fell to 0-4 in Key Biscayne finals. She was also the runner-up in 2005, 2006 and last year.

Radwanska, ranked a careerbest No. 4, earned her ninth career title and fourth since last summer.

She's 0-4 in 2012 against topranked Victoria Azarenka and 26-0 against everyone else.

The match was 72 minutes old before Radwanska hit her first baseline winner. She was content to play steadily and extend rallies until the more aggressive Sharapova would make a mistake.

Sharapova finished with 45 unforced errors, many from the backhand side. Radwanska committed only 10 unforced errors and erased all three break points she faced. On a sunny, 85-degree (30 C) afternoon, the South Florida crowd was divided in its support.

"Vamos Maria!" one spectator hollered for the Russian.

"Vamos Agnes!" another shouted for the Pole.

Sharapova draped a rolled-up cold towel around her neck during changeovers, but the heat didn't seem to faze either player. But the pressure to hold serve made Sharapova wobble twice. Serving

at 5-6 in the first set, she committed four unforced errors - including a blown overhead - to lose the set.

The pattern was similar in the second set, when Radwanska had only one break point - the last point of the match. Sharapova sailed a forehand long, and Radwanska lifted her arms in triumph.

Radwanska beat Venus Williams en route to the final and won every set she played. She improved to 2-7 against Sharapova, with her other victory at the 2007 U.S. Open.

PEOPLE PROFILE

Harjeet Mehndi

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n an industry increasingly dominated by many talented artists, HarjeetMehndi continues to thrive his professional boundaries to create his own identity.

HarjeetMehndi is a very well established versatile artist who is currently based in United States. In spite, of being younger brother of world famous bhangra pop star DalerMehndiji, this artist has created his fans in various communities throughout Canada and USA. The journey of HarjeetMehndi's life began on October 11th,1969 in West Andheri, Mumbai, India. Harjeet initiated in the world of music by his parents Ajmer Singh Chandanji and Late.BalbirKuar and began to learn tabla at the age of 8. Later, he took advance training from his uncle Late professor Ranjit Singh. By the time he was 12, he started performing with his father and brothers at TakatshriHamandar Patna Sahib Gurudawara in Patna. In 1986 he migrated to USA and started his career as a professional tabla and keyboard player. Inspired by his elder brother's style of singing, he developed primary passion to become a singer. His let his instincts lead the ways and with dedication, hard work and firm determination headed successful ways in future.

The turning point of his career began during one of his perfor-

mance in 1989 when Mr. SayadSarwat, a well known businessman of Fremont, California, spotted him.

Mr.Sarwat had seen potential talent and motivated Harjeet to take a new step in his career . In fact, SarwatBhai and his family supported his music and introduced him as a singer. Also his brothers UstadShamsher Singh Mehndi, Amarjit Singh, Joginder Singh,

Royal Fiji Police Awards Night

SACRAMENTO –First Royal Fiji Poluce Wards Night is slated for March this year tentavely to be held in Sacramento. We are open to suggestions and all former police officers are welcome to call in with their ideas:

1800-757-6619

Awards Many police officers will qualify for certifcates and Diplomas based on their past performances and Civil Services Exams that equates with American college education. These awards are aimed at further enhancing their present career and desire to seek further education.

April 2012

Recognition beyond belief

The recognitin of the Royal Fiji Police Awards will be backed with 100% professional evaluation and credential exceeding beyond what was limited to departmental suittability only. It will be a definate mark of honor.

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Mikaji and DalerMehndiji played a very important role in his life to build his career.

Harjeet has worked very hard to mold and train his voice , music and performance and build a strong image over the past 10 years. His biggest influence and inspiration came from his elder brother DalerMehndiji and younger brother Mikaji, which turned him into an energetic and dynamic performer today.

He has worked with manyrespected artist from the music industry such as AnupJalota, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Mikaji and has given multiple concerts with DalerMehndiji throughout India, Canada and USA. During Harjeet's last tour with his brothers in 2002 , he at last found time to assess the past and plan for the future.

Out of this reflection came the decision of introducing Harjeet's first solo album "NachPunjabanNach" which he dedicated to his Parents- Shri.

Ajmer Singh Chandan and in loving memory of his mother Late BalbirKaur.

The album was launched by DM Music on September 24th, 2003.

The company aims to promote upcoming talent and revive the forgotten and to cater to all audiences.

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Leagal page

Highlights of South Asian Bar Association 19 Gala Annual Event San Francisco. Co-president Shaamini Babu, Esq.

April 2012

The co-presidents welcome the SABA guests Pictures by Fiji Sun staff Annie A. Koya

Dr. Koya, Superior Court Attendant and Fiji Sun editor congratulates attorneys who won awards at the event.

(Ms. Shaamini Babu co-president listening to presentation at 19the Annual Gala event.)

(Please see press release and more event pictures in The Fiji Legal Forum News) Plus view FIJISUN TV on You Tube for our video shoot.

Criminal conduct after getting citizenship!

Some people specially involved in criminal activities - think that after becoming US citizen they are firmly protected and get away with any crime.

Wrong idea guys, don’t even try it. One thing for sure sooner or later you will get caught. The smarty pants – the street smart, half school, drop outs and the ones involved in goat stealing from Gaji Get etc., will have you believe during the grog gossip that how they beat the law and how they can fool the police and fix anyone. But they don’t know they are under the FBI radar all the time. Now with cameras everywhere chances their butt could be caught in action.

Once upon time fake money guys!

According to an alleged accomplice in an FBI investigated case in which a bunch of Fiji smarties were caught printing fake money, a key player who escaped with a bag full money and is now very senior executive officer. Remember it was a felony so it is never a closed matter. It can reopen with new evidence. One dissident in the alleged gang claims that one of the gang members grabbed a nag full of money in the middle of the counting and went straight to Las Vegas and then escaped to Fiji for vacation. For several years the suspect remained low key and did not work a regular job. He is also suspected to have made false tax returns. Lucky those guys, I was not in the Bay Area then. Guess what there is no case that FBI investigates, I cannot investigate. My approach is very different. I depend on the conventional evidence not exclusively the high tech, foot print and “poonch” print. And once I get the smell of it, I do not care their admissions or confessions.

As a matter of fact, I would prefer they deny everything so that while the evidence will be pointing to them, they will be pointing their tails between their legs.

Concoctions! Hotchpotch and cut and paste writings are in themselves laughable but concoctions-making up things to discredit someone is libelous and criminal. And to discredit someone with a professional standing is shameful especially if you are not a match in any way, shape or form.

Email: masterpiecewindows@gmail.com

STAR AGE ARIES

March-21 to April-20

CANCER

June-22 to July-23

LIBRA

September-24 to October-22

CAPRICON

December-23 to Januar-20

This is a mixed month with period of joy and celebrations, misunderstanding between friends. Some of you may be busy in competitions, with some millenniums agffairs. Sign lord Mars and the Sun are rising exalted during this month. The first half of the month is moderate and slow, the other half is dynamic and optimistic.

This is mixed month for you. Divine Jupiter’s 10th exclusive transit will increase your wisdom during this month. The first week of the month is upright. You will certainly feel encouraging any creative or artistic side to your character. If you work within the arts you will be putting in a good time’s toll and impressing superiors.

This is a creative and beneficial month all in all. Planet Saturn has retro motion throughout the month and Sign Lord Venus is exalted during this 1st half of this month. During the first half of the month some initial changes at your work place are seen. But you will be able to adapt to it very well.

This is almost a fair and productive month. Mars and Neptune are sharing the burden of your sign during this month. The first week of the month is invigorating. The atmosphere at home as well as at your place of employment is congenial and helpful. The second week is a bit tricky for some of you.

TAURUS

April-21 to May-20

LEO

July-24 to August-23

SCORPIO

October-23 to November-22

AQUARIES

January-21 to February-19

This is an unsteady month . The vertical node or Ketu is transiting through your sign. The first week is challenging at your place of employment. You have to be alert in the company of strangers. You could be in a very expansive mood in the first half of the month, given to talk too much about affairs that should be kept private.

This is a submissive yet delightful month. Sign Lord Sun is having a 7th /8th house transit during this month. The first week of the month is favorable, as you will be mixing your business with pleasure. Forget about your usual haunts and go out and explore new terrain.

This is a moving and significant month. Vertical and horizontal Node (Rahu and Ketu) are disturbing your progress during this month. You can afford to be a little bit outrageous in the first week and also to be ambitious. Maintain a positive attitude in all areas and do not allow anybody to put you down or influence you by negative thinking.

This is a mixed month for you. Uranus and Saturn are watching the Super influence of Sun and Moon during this month. The first week of the month is fine as you may be getting some very good offers regarding supplementing your income. The second week is variable. Handle associates very carefully at your place of work during mid month.

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April 2012

This is a just and active month. Planet Saturn is having a retro route in your intelligence house during this month. The first half of the month is satisfying in love matters. Concepts for making money will flow thick and fast. You will not be able to wait to connect with colleagues. Mix business with pleasure in the mid-month.

GEMINI

May-21 to June-21

VIRGO

August-24 to September-23

SAGITTARIUS

November-23 to December-22

PISCES

February-20 to March-20

This is a changeful and precarious month. Sign Lord Mercury is sharing the strength of the Sun during this month. You can gain quite considerably from mental application and from research dome into the background of situations and relationships.

This is cool month for you. Sign lord Jupiter’s is having fifth house route during this month. The first week of the month is a bit gradual. You will not find that extra pace at your place of work. During the second week of the month you will be able to instilling confidence in you. This will be a good time for dealing with the problems of the associates or juniors at your place of work and mate at home.

This is a pleasant month for you.

Exalted Venus is going to save your dreams during this month. The first half of the month is optimistic and brilliant. Work will be of interest to you at your place of employment. Apply yourself to the job. Superiors who are enthusiastic about new projects may aid research.

The Planets

A Brief Introduction to Astrology

Mercury

Mercury represents reason, reasonableness (common sense), that which is rational. It stands for the spoken and written word, putting in order, weighing and evaluating, the process of learning and skills.

Sign equivalents: Gemini and Virgo Orbit from Sun: 57'910'000 km Period: 88 Days

WANTED ???

I wish to meet Mani my Rifle Range neighbor. Last I met him when he was a truck operator in the Bay Area 15 years ago Son of late uncle Pitambi - the cleanest Taxi driver in Fiji. His younger brother Anil Mani was a police officer who last work with me as detective in Labasa. I am told Anil is also here in USA somewhere. Please call me ASAP. Very important.

H.KOYA (Editor/Publisher)

FIJISUN.ORG 510-677-488

26

FIJI SPORTS

Fiji beat New Zealand 35-28 to win Hong Kong Sevens Three ethnic tourna

April 2012

The glory belonged to England’s semifinal conquerors, Fiji, and how they deserved it after a pulsating 35-28 victory over New Zealand in the final of the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

The action was fast, tough and relentless, rounded off with a critical second-half yellow card against New Zealand’s double try-scorer, Mark Jackman, and a last-ditch punch-up. Hong Kong is known as a vibrant city and the 37th staging of its annual Sevens lived up to billing. Fiji were worthy winners; fierce, stylish and turbocharged.

This was their 13th title and will resonate back in the islands, all the more so now that the sport is on the Olympic agenda. The circus now moves on to Japan for the seventh leg of the nine-event tour with England pledging to improve on their slipshod final-day performance, although viewed retrospectively their 14-7 defeat to Fiji looked a decent showing given how the islanders performed in the final.

England, by comparison, do not have enough raw power through the middle or ferocity at the breakdown. They are a developing side but could not match the sheer footballing brilliance that Fiji displayed against New Zealand. They remain fourth in the series rankings after a limp sign-off in the bronze medal match against South Africa, England losing 28-0.

“We’ve got a lot of learning still to do,” England head coach Ben Ryan admitted.

“We want to be the best and we need to make that next step up. We’re at the top table and are regularly the only northern hemisphere side to make the semi-finals.

We were very disappointed with the South Africa performance and made mistakes that

ments cancelled

cost us dear against Fiji.”

England challenged Fiji but were slipshod at crucial times, shipping two tries to errors and then lacked nerve as well as nous. They let Fiji get a crucial try just before half-time through a missed tackle, Jimilai Naikadawa taking advantage. If it had not been for the energy and courage of Mat Turner, England might not have been in with a shout at all. The playmaker kept prodding and rallying those around him. It was a solo effort from Turner that got England back on track after they had conceded an early second-half try to Metuisela Talebula. Turner cut a swathe through the Fijians for a touchdown from 50 metres. It was a classy score. England, though, could not get their finisher, Dan Norton, clear, and nor could the former Gloucester and Bristol player work himself into the action, turning infield right on the stroke of full-time rather than having a blast on the outside arc.

England had promised much after their lung-stopping 19-14 quarter-final victory over Australia. Speedster Norton was the hero of the hour, his blasting 90-metre run at the death getting England home. Turner was the linchpin of the side; a clever, gritty influence, always alert and always ready to have a go. He opened the scoring for England with a penetrative run. England, though, conceded a try just before the interval to Jordan Tuapou.

After the interval, Norton scored his first by outflanking the defence to regather John Brake’s cross-kick. Allan Fa’alava’au got one back for Australia and they were 14-12 up with England pinned on their own line inside the last minute. England, however, created enough room for Norton to get outside the defence and go the length of the field. His two tries took him to the top of the HSBC Sevens World Series score charts this season with 29.

Navua, Nadroga vie for final Fiji FACT spot

By Sunil Sharma Fiji Football Association (FFA) will decide today who the eighth team will be into the Vodafone Fiji FACT in view of inclement weather prevailing around the country.

The Fiji FACT starts with first round of games to be held on May 6 at Nausori’s Ratu Cakobau Park with the tournament to start proper on May 10-13 at Lautoka's Churchill Park. FFA chief executive, Bob Kumar said they will decide on possible steps to take if the weather does not allow them to hold matches to determine the eighth team into the FACT. “We will release something on the issue later today, but at the moment we are monitoring the weather situation,” Kumar said. “We will try to reach a solution at the earliest to avoid any disruptions with

the pools draws scheduled to take place this Thursday.” As it stands, at least a draw by Nadroga over Navua will see them qualify while the latter will need to win outright. National league board secretary, JainendraSukhu told FijiLive that qualification into the FACT is based on a team’s performance in their four games.

Navua have played five games and hold two points, but with the qualification system taking into account only four games, they in fact only have a point to their name. “That is how we are working. In that situation Nadroga only needs a draw to qualify whereas Navua will have to beat Nadroga.” Meanwhile it is likely the mid-week game between Ba and Tavua scheduled for Wednesday evening will be called-off as Govind Park remains unplayable.

By Sunil Sharma Three ethnic tournaments scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled because of bad weather.

TISI Sangam president SadasiwanNaicker, Sanatan Sports president Yogeshwar Singh and Sikh president Balvindar Singh today confirmed with FijiLive their various Inter District tournaments have all been called off because of inclement weather while the Fiji Muslim Sports Association will decide tomorrow morning at the latest whether to go ahead with their games or cancel it as well.

The 87th TISI Sangam Inter District Championship (IDC) was scheduled to start this Friday at Lautoka’s Churchill Park with Naicker confirming they have also put off their convention.

“Safety is our first priority and we do not want to risk people at any cost, so after meeting with my executives and other members of the Sangam organizers, we decide not to hold this year’s competition.”

He also acknowledged Air Pacific’s support and understanding for their willingness to refund the fares of 20 overseas teams who were to take part in the tournament.

“Good has prevailed and I’m very delighted with the way Air Pacific has agreed to fully refund the fare paid by the overseas travelling

teams.” The Sanatan tournament was to be hosted at Tuva Primary and Cuvu College grounds in Sigatoka and overseas teams, Manukau and Waitakere, both from New Zealand, have been notified about the cancellation. The Sikh IDC was to be held at RishikulSanatan College grounds in Nasinu.

“Executives will meet this afternoon as plans are to hold a southern zone play-off instead,” Singh said. “That is our next option to have a competition only for southern division teams however, all will be finalised in the meeting today at 5.30pm.” Fiji Muslim Sports Association secretary Mohammed Khateeb said they are awaiting the return of their president, Mohammed Rafiq who is away overseas. “Well at the moment there is a high possibility that the tournament will be cancelled, based on the current weather situation. We will call a meeting as soon as our president arrives either today or tomorrow to decide.”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CROSSWORD

Catch-Words -04

27

JOKES Feeling bad..

Bad Man: I really feel bad for the people who do not drink or booze.

Good Man: Why so?

Bad Man: Because some day they will go to hospital and die without knowing the reason. ______

PUZZLE

DO THE COLORING

Coloring pages are fun, but they also help children develop many important skills.

These skills, eye-hand coordination, color con cepts, picture comprehension, form

April 2012

ACROSS 9 Relationship between lovers (7) 10 Move in a sinuous manner (7) 11 Goof (7) 12 Ones who direct or guide (7) 13 Players who line up behind the line of scrimmage (9) 15 Detected (5)

DOWN

1 Pre-built (6) 2 Induces vomiting (6) 3 Leg joint (4) 4 Interfere (6) 5 Opposite of explodes (8) 6 Torment (10) 7 Glue or paste (8) 8 Holy wars (8) 14 Congratulate (10) 16 Apprehensiveness (8) 17 Not usual (8) 18 Planning (8) 22 Surprise attack (6) 23 Mean (6) 24 Flora and fauna (6) 27 Metrical unit of syllables (4)

16 Paper fasteners (7) 19 Searchers (7) 20 Pertaining to sound (5) 21 Indigestion (9) 25 Correction to a printed mistake (7) 26 A cut of meat (7) 28 "_______ up!" = Stop being foolish (7) 29 Class (7)

Answer of Crossword-03

http://www.crosswordpalace.com/

Living with same wife..

Ricky: What is the part of life?

Jazz: Living with 'WIFE' is "part of living" Ricky: And what about art of life?

Jazz: Living with 'same wife' for 'years and years' and still try to be happy is 'art of life' _____ Understanding a woman..

Experience says: There are two times when a man doesn't understand a woman: Before marriage and after marriage !! ______ Qualities make me die on you...

Boy: I want to tell you about the thing which makes me to die on you..

Girl: Pl tell.

Boy: Oh no, I was thinking about your friend.. _______ Never hold yours..

Boss: You know you should never hold your farts in..

Officer: Why? Boss: Because then they travel up to your spine and goes into the brain, and that is where bad ideas origin from...

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Jacket (Ronald Sen in black d sister above wife on right an and his tech on left)

N TV Teams up with FIJISUraphy for video and photog

LOCAL NEWS

Bay Area Pakistanis celebrate republican day at Chandni Restaurant 28

April 2012

NEWARK– More than 100 members of the Bay Area Pakistani community met Friday March 23rd here at CHANDNI RESTAURANT for a dinner-time entertainment in celebration of the Republic Day of Pakistan.

The program began with a presentation on the evolution of music in Pakistan. The presentation was con-

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ducted by Mr. Riaz Haq with clippings of singers of different era and the role of Pakitani TV Shows. This was followed by Shahzad Basir's recitation of poems written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz and musical performances by Amber Haq, Ranjeet Singh, Jalil Shaikh and Dr. Yasmeen Haq which was thoroughly enjoyed by the

KOYA MEMORIAL NIGHT

This night dedicated to the memory of the late Hon. S M KOYA is slated for early next year.

Everyone is welcome share their thoughts, comments and memories. If you stories and pictures etc., you want to share you are most wel come do so. The man who fulfilled the journey crafted by one of the most learned and seasoned politicians of Fiji the late Hon. Mr. A D Patel. THE KOYA MEMORIAL NIGHT will be dedicated to celebrate the memories of tails of former leader of opposition the Late Hon. S M KOYA

audience. Later on, the stage was opened up for performances by people in the audience. Several people from the audience performed songs, comedy skits and entertained the audience. The organizer of the event, Dr. Yasmeen Haq said that they plan to organize such gatherings in the future also.

FIJI AMERICAN IDOL SHOW A unique, exciting and professional FIJI AMERICAN IDOL SHOW is in the planning process and due to be launched early next year.

MISSION AUDITION JUDGING

TO LOCATE AND PROMOTE NEW AND BUDDING TALENTS FROM THE FIJI AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

THERE WILL BE AN EARLY AUDITION WITH $10 DINNER CHARGES. WILL BY A PANEL OF SUPERSTARS !

NO PUBLIC JUDGING AT ALL.

Call: 1-800-757-6619

FIJI AMERICAN IDOL SHOW

April 2012

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April 2012

Baby Shower

KIDS PAGE

Easter Celebration

(Fiji Sun pictures by Ms. Prasad)

Send in pictures of your kids for our Kid’s Page at: EMAILfijisun@gmail.com: Call toll free 1-800-757-6619

PHOTO GALLERY

HARJEET SHOW

April 2012

FAZI & SALMA WED

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April 2012