FIJISUN APRIL 2011

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USA

Bollywood

The uniqueness of being Vidya Balan Vol-20 Issue-03

Inside

www.fijisun-usa.com

April-2011

510-677-4488

Pakistan Day draws huge crowd at Chandni

A PAKISTAN ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO EVENT CONSULATE GEN. APPEALS FOR POSITIVE PICTURE OF PAKISTAN IN CRISIS TIME!

P-2 With Ms. Ramrati of Aus.

P- 02 Pakistan Friends

Paul launches Moon Indian Cuisine in Hayward

India wins the World Cup

P- 02 Birthday girl P2 years at MEHRAN, finally Paul H called it a quit to have his own Indian aving worked for more than 18

cuisine with his team of management staff. With a large number of his family

P- 9 Pak media praises Gilani...

and friends from Punjab, Fiji and Pakistan, Hayward is the very right choice for an affordable and friendly restaurant. And it was quiet evident from a large of friends from all commu-

Fiji Community needs hypnotism for jump start, editor

P- 31 Holi Canadian style...

See Page-2

nities who came to congratulate Paul and his partners at the opening ceremonies on Sunday March 20 at 600 Harder Rd, Hayward off of Jackson and Santa Clara Rd. (Cont. page )

Fiji faces sugar shortage for domestic consumption

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he Fiji Sugar Corporation failed to set aside 30,000 tonnes of sugar in 2010 for local consumption which led to the shortage being faced by consumers this year. Sugar permanent secretary ManisiVaniqi says this was always the practice in the past but last year all Fiji’s raw sugar was sold to the Tate and Lyle Refinery in London. “The unfortunate part that the whole raw sugar was sent last year, normally in previous year it must be 30,000 for local consumption.”

Vaniqi says this year the FSC chairman has confirmed that 30 000 will be set aside to avoid any more incidents where consumers are deprived of sugar.

Mumbai : A billion prayers were heard as India after 28 years lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in a fairy tale win crushing a fighting Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. A nation of 1.21 people erupted in joy and fireworks lit up the sky as India beat Sri Lanka with a huge Dhoni sixer. Dhoni and Gambhir played a memorable innings to ensure India bring back the World Cup after 1983. Gambhir scored a brilliant knock of 97 runs along with a crafty and dependable Dhoni (91*) to surpass the Sri Lankan target of 275 runs. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh (21*) remained not out till the end. Earlier, Sri Lanka had scored 274 for the loss of six wickets with Jayawardene scoring a brilliant knock of 103 runs.

FIJI SUN IS NOW ON FACEBOOK FOR ALL

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EDITORIAL

April, 2011 M H Koya (PhD)

Fiji Embassy Staff at Washington DC

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WINSTON THOMPSON AMBASSADOR

inston Thompson took up his appointment on April 2nd, 2009 and presented his credentials to President Barak Obama on May 20th, 2009. Mr. Thompson has previously served as Chief Executive, Telecom Fiji Limited (1995 – 2005), Secretary for the Public Service (1992-1994), Permanent Secretary for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Energy(1991-1992), Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations(1985-1991), Secretary for the Public Service Commission (19831985), Permanent Secretary for Finance(1978-1983), Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forests(1973-1978) and Director of Agriculture(19701973).

He joined the Department of Agriculture in 1962 as an Agricultural Officer. Other appointments held have included Chairman, Fiji Museum Board of Trustees, Chairman, Fiji Hardwood Corporation and a number of board directorships. He has been awarded the Order of Fiji, Fiji Civil Service Medal and Fiji Independence Medal(1970 and 1995). Mr. Thompson was educated in Fiji, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Australia. He is accompanied by his wife Queenie and they have four grown children.

DR. NARAYAN RAJU Honorary Consul of Fiji, San Francisco Consulate of Fiji San Francisco 521 Rocca Avenue South San Francisco, CA 94080

PO Box 265, Mt. Eden, CA 94557

Email: fijisun@gmail.com www.fijisun-usa.com

PHONE : 510-677-4488 FAX : 510-781-4884

AIM Fellowship honor at FIJI AWARDS NIGHT

Editor-Publisher

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t a monthly meeting of AIM (American Institute of Management), the academic committee reviewed credentials of nominees for AIM Fellowship to awarded at the FIJI AWARDS NIGHT slated for June 2011. Negotiations

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s. Rati who hails from BulilekaLeabasah as been singing for over twenty years with his brothers and only Narendra Prasad in the family musical club led by younger brother Raj. In mid 70s when the editor was posted as police prosecutor, the Raj group struck friendship with the editor when he hosted the first Jaycees Talent Show in Labasa.

When asked to compere the program, the editor renamed the club to Raj Melodies and its sored to popularity overnight.

Several songs recorded on Raj Melodies at a Radio Fiji public recording were played over

are underway to be hosted at the CHANDNI RESTAURANT. This will be first time when a large number of Fiji Americans will be recognized and awarded including FIJI SUN sponsors Fiji Business Community. In addition, select number dignitaries

from other communities will also be awarded this night. Entertainment, recognition and fun It will feature entertainment, recognition and fun with lots of impromptus. It will be an entirely different night. A night of professionals!

Vising Fiji Australian singer Ms. Ram Rati pays visit to Bay Area

( Above: NintyaNandMaiku, Din Mani, Ms. Rati, Mrs. Maiku, Ms. Maiku and Mrs. Dim Mani)

Radio Fiji for three decades. Ms. Rati was a key female singer. Her son Narendra is brilliant keyboardist and a great vocalist. Ms. Rati was Mr.NintyaMaiku’s guest on her to Canada last month. Sham Ka Safar host Din Mani and wife also joined to honor Ms. Rati at a hurriedly held breakfast meeting at NityaNandMaiku’s San Mateo home. FIJI SUN TV recorded a brief recording on the occasion to mark her visit to the Bay Area. Ms. Rati lives in Liverpool, Australia with her son Narendra Prasad who is said to be doing very well as a leading keyboardist in Sydney.

Party scenes at little “Princess Precious” 5th birthday at her Tracy home

Telephone Number

650.580.1951

E-mail: rajufiji@aol.com

EDUCATION Osmania University, Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Hypnotherapy necessary to awaken subconcience mind among Fiji Aericans

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robably Pandir Sharma was right when he lashed out at a gathering of faithfuls at a home prayer ceremony.

He is reported chided the gatherig,” What do you peole do? Bas murgi bota khao and darupio.”

Pandit Sharma may be right or may be wrong.

However, it is a common observation by cleris and seniors. We as professionals too have certain con-

cerns and one way to team is “ Hypnotic Therapy” sessions. We have struck an understanding to feature a leading Hypnotic Therapist Shrini He will be featured in the nexr AIM – Fiji Open Forum

ALl’ S HALAL MEAT MARKET We sell fresh hand slaughtered Lamb, Goat, Beef. Junglee Murghi and Junglee Murgha and Ducks CALL IN ADVANCE FOR BIG ORDERS

PH 510-538-1885 Ali (OWNER )

161 HARDAR RD, HAYWARD, CA 94544

April, 2011

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April, 2011

COMMUNIT/BUSINESS NEWS

Berkeley kids gather at Chart and Curry to celebrate Ms. Prakash’s birthday

Expired product sold by National Marketing

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Fiji client working as supervisor at a major chain store officially told FIJI SUN that he no longer wants to do business with National Marketing for selling expired product. The supervisor told FIJI SUN that he bought a Fiji brand biscuit and he reached home opened it he was surprised to find biscuits were affected by insects. FIJI SUN is aware of National Marketing previously selling expired Red Cow and Rewa Dairy Milk with new dates pasted on them. When confronted a worker cautioned not use it for the babies and suggested that it was safe adult consumption. We did not make a big deal. However, the practice seems to be continuing. The worker eventually left National Marketing for another job.

CID

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TAHAL reportedly lost more than 30K in bankruptcy

ormer SUADAR store owner Tahal is reported to have lost more than $30,000 in his deal as his debtors are said to have filed a bankruptcy under chapter 7. A course close to Tahal said that the unexpected loss is likely to affect Tahal and his family big time. There were rumors that actions were being contemplated against Tahal for having started a comparative business within 20 miles radius. However, it was discovered that Tahal’s relatives own the new store and is operated under different ownership and name.

Central Investigations Division Call CID for all your investigations need

1-888-854-3038

SanatanDharamMandir volunteer caught CEO red-handed

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brave Sam Bruno Mandir volunteer and City Council employee called and told FIJIISUN how he followed and confronted the CEO of the largest newspaper when he caught him red handed picking up lots of FIJI SUN copies and secreted ina large and suddenly disappeared from the Mandir foyer. The caller identified himself and said he knew the editor for over a decade as a friend since the days he was a drummer in a Fiji live band and explained how thankful he was to the editor for giving him and the band publicity in the early days. The caller said that for some time their Mandirhad been getting reports that the CEO was trashing papers of his competition. He said that San Bruno Mandir’s policy has been keep all papers in fairness to all and did not want any single paper to dominate. He said he was very disturbed to learn the CEO of the largest newspaper was on record for trashing other newspapers specially the FIJI SUN. On this occasion he happened to be at the Mandir when the CEO came under a guise carrying a bag with him. He hung around in the foyer and behaved in a suspicious manner. The reporter moved outsight for minutes to see what the CEO was planning to do. He said from right under the nose of the Vice President MotiLal( a great buddy of the suspect) the suspect grabbed all the FIJI SUN copies and ran to his car and took off. The reporter gave chase after the CEO him and caught up with the him at AMMA”s RESTAURANT where he publically confronted him and asked him to reveal all the FIJI SUN copies he had grabbed from the Mandir foyer.

April, 2011

CEO and Saudagar are back together!

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n a blocked call the CEO of the largest newspaper faking his voice like a guy left a message that FIJI SUN had been tossed out of Saudagar. We approached Saudagar to verify the fact and found the competition had its stand conspicuously displayed after months of absence and not a single of FIJI SUN was at the store. FIJI SUN is very extensively distributed newspaper and enjoys readership outside Fiji Community, found on Facebook and emailed internationally.

So if a few copies from Sudagaris tossed off because of the renewed friendship with the CEO, it will harm us one bit. But one think for sure, FIJI SUN fans will go to another store and pick it up one way or another. This renewed vigor in the resurrected friendship after a fiasco that led to public hearing on denigrating Hindu faith resulted from an article published as favor in the largest newspaper in the world.

American Pakistan Friendship Association around the corner

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or some time there have been talks in different quarters to form an association for sharing Pakistan Friendship across the board. An initiation started some years ago was put to demise soon afterwards. However, of late there has been a renewed interest and there are genuine reasons for such an organization in light of new developments and changes that

have been taking place within Pakistani boarders and across Pakistan on both all sides. The Fiji Sun editor leads an exploratory committee to decide on launching date in summer of this year.

MuhktarHai seen here with the editor FIJI SUN editor is also playing a key role as several others also hoping to join an interim committee to kick of the organization.

FIJI NEWS

Heartfelt ceremonies, coral reefs and soulful hymns 6

April, 2011

FAST FACTS

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teve Butcher is moved by heartfelt ceremonies, coral reefs and soulful hymns in Fiji. An English missionary, Thomas Baker, committed the unforgivable and, as it transpired, fatal sin in 1867 of touching a Fijian chief's head, then lost his own over it.

The cannibals who killed, cooked and ate him, with seven others, also consumed parts of his boiled boots and those uneaten remains rest in a museum in Nadi on VitiLevu, the archipelago's largest island. Acting with respect among people in far-off lands is clearly a wise course for travellers, lest they become the main one.

When invited to share company and generosity, one must embrace local customs as a common courtesy. Inappropriate behaviour can cause great offence and have drastic consequences on occasion, as Baker's extreme example proves.

Aware of such conventions, I reluctantly accept appointment, being the oldest, as representative "chief" of our tour party at an inland village on the Sigatoka River, which flows for 120 kilometres to VitiLevu's Coral Coast. It's a benign role during a worthy meet-the-locals tourist stop that involves sitting cross-legged before my local equivalent, his family, elders, friends, wives and children at a kava ceremony.

Made from the roots of the kava plant, this tooth-numbing muddy brew is central to many Fijian cultural and community rituals.

Sweating profusely under a tin roof in the merciless midday sun, I mumble my few lines nervously and rehearse my actions, trying hard to remember them, as a bilo (cup) is presented. All I have to do is clap my cupped hands once, say "bula" (life or joy), accept the offering, drink its contents and then clap three times and repeat "bula". But somehow between reciting, forgetting and reaching too soon for the bilo, it splashes to the grass floor. Aghast, I look with apologetic alarm at the assembled group across the room, some of whose faces register shock but not detectable anger.

There are some mutterings and I shudder. Instead of a war club, however, another bilo is presented and the process is repeated.

"Don't worry," whispers our tour guide, Pau, "we have another thousand litres where that came from." What Baker would have given for a seat in the 500-horsepower jet boat that transported us up the Sigatoka River on this safari, although, for him, the exhilarating high-speed turns on our return trip might have been superfluous to his needs. Descending to Nadi Airport the evening before, I spy the edge of a long reef jagging the surf and enclosing a jade lagoon smeared with crimson coral. Cultivated fields appear, then a church, a graveyard and a rugby field. Each reflects much of what I'll later realise Fiji is: beauty,

GETTING THERE

Air Pacific has a fare to Nadi for about $860 non-stop from Sydney (3hr 45min) and Melbourne (4hr 40min). Fare is low-season return from Melbourne and Sydney including tax. Jetstar and Pacific Blue also fly non-stop to Fiji. Australians obtain a visitor permit on arrival.

STAYING THERE

farming, religion, sport. An hour later, I'm easing into the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, swishing a Cointreau and ice and sampling canapes of duck-liver pate, peppered prawns with namjin sauce and kokodacevishe (marinated raw wahoo).

Such luxuries serve to secure tourism as the islands' lifeblood.

Attracting visitors has been crucial since the 2006 coup by the armed forces chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, triggered years of fluctuation in Fiji's political, economic and international status. Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in 2009, News Limited has sold its controlling stake in Fiji's daily newspaper and in November lucrative bottledwater company, Fiji Water, closed after the government announced a huge tax increase.

Despite these crises, Fiji remains a popular destination for tourists, with 288,884 Australians visiting in the 11 months to November and more than 23,000 visiting in that month alone. This is a 30 per cent increase on the same period in 2009; half of Fiji's total international arrivals are from Australia. Next morning I shadow the Sofitel resort's New Zealandborn executive chef, Brendon Coffey, at Nadi market. Cooking in the tropics, he says, requires more creativity and resourcefulness than might be imagined.

"Consistent product is difficult [to find]," he says, a little surprisingly, as we wade through a riot of scents, leaves, roots, stems, claws, fins and feathers, many moving. Coffey selects rosella leaves and taro (a tuberous root), three bags of mussels, a "string" of land crabs and sea grapes to soak and then fry with tomato, coconut, onion, chilli and tuna. "I'll go back and have a play," he says of a bag of tiny shrimps. Around us, stalls bearing cinnamon, mustard seeds, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, dhal, split peas and chickpeas reflect the rich Indian influence in Fiji. This stroll hardly earns a 50minute traditional "bobo" massage later that day, before pre-dinner drinks in the Breeze Bar. At the

resort's Mandara Spa, a peaceful, fragrant villa complex, I feel like old Sol, in the 1973 doomsday film Soylent Green, who volunteers for euthanasia and is granted screen glimpses - set to soaring symphonies - of how beautiful the now-poisoned Earth once was as his last wish before he dies.

My masseuse, Tumeri, once massaged a New Zealand All Black rugby player, whose body, she says, felt like stone. Tactfully, she resists making any comparisons with her task at hand.

Our transfer the next day to the MV Reef Endeavour, a 73-metre, 3000-tonne ship built by the Suva shipyards in 1996, begins a threenight voyage with Captain Cook Cruises. The vessel has 75 cabins, a pool, spa, sauna and gym, library, boutique and a bar serving cocktails as colourful as the tropical fish I long to see. Prone to seasickness, I nervously await "bilge belly" as we steam to the southern Yasawa Islands, 40 kilometres north-west of our launching point at Lautoka, but nothing disturbs my equilibrium.

The only detectable roll is a gentle pitch later at dinner, a convenient tilt that helps tip a glass of wine to my lips. With ample activities on offer to work up a hunger, the menu is varied and plentiful: coconut-crusted fish, marinated kabir chicken, peach rolls, fruit platters, fried breakfasts, curries and much more. What I hunger for is healthy coral reefs, vivid tropical fish and crystal waters; I find them all at Malolo Island and the next day at Sacred Island. As I snorkel, I will myself to dwell on these vast underwater spectaculars but they're dazzling, overwhelming.

I'm lured randomly from one technicoloured vision to the next, though it's an iridescent green fish with black and brilliant pink stripes that keeps appearing. I follow it through busy coral suburbs and before I know it the shallows end abruptly at a drop-off, beyond which is a darkening, disappearing blue wilderness.

Strolling later on a rib-shaped white beach, I count a mess of shore-line litter: plastic bottles, a

computer-chip board, takeaway coffee cups, a tub of shampoo. A pair of eastern reef egrets stand hunched in the rocky shallows, their backs turned to the shore, seeming as disappointed as me at the rubbish. For the most part, though, I ponder how little these passages have changed. We pass near Bligh Water, where the captain of the Bounty's mutinous crew evaded cannibals on his long voyage to Timor. On Sunday afternoon I attend a church service at Nalauwaki on Waya Island, where the tiles on the Methodist church's floor - financed by visiting tourists' donations - cool my feet beneath fans struggling in the heat. A choir of mostly women in white, holding frayed hymn books, sing with eyes closed. I shut mine and imagine such sweet voices a century ago trailing offshore to reach a passing vessel, songs of warriors' wives or religious conversion. Then the lay preacher fires up. Hands clasped on the lectern, face turned to the roof, he blasts the Lord's word in a rapid-fire sermon; I learn later that part of his message is that God brings tourists and our money.

After almost an hour, and not detecting the chief purser of the ship's pre-arranged signal to leave, I follow from the chapel a long electrical lead that powers an old amplifier plonked outside near a sleeping dog, where some parishioners recline on the grass.

Our final afternoon is spent at Namara village school on WayaSewa Island, another setpiece visit but one crucial to its four teachers and 82 children, many of whom perform songs and dances. Every cent donated by tourists goes directly to the school.\ The phrase "God Save the Queen" is pinned to a blackboard, along with classroom rules that forbid playing inside, fighting, stealing, singing in class time and touching the teacher's table.

"Hope is the last thing we lose," another message advises.

Children being the same the world over, Namara's students are scholastic replicas of those in any classroom. "Should play less and work harder," a teacher writes in a

Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa has 296 rooms and beach frontage among 10 hectares of lush gardens, with views across Nadi Bay. Resortview rooms cost from $F369 ($197) and studio suites from $F519; see sofitel.com/Fiji-Denarau.

TOURING THERE

Captain Cook Cruises has weekly three-, four- and seven-night Yasawa Island cruises. Early booking fares for a three-night southern Yasawa Island cruise cost from $959 a person, twin share, which includes accommodation, all meals and activities. Sigatoka River Safari has half-day morning tours from Monday to Saturday from $F225 for adults and $F110 for children (4-15 years), including transfers from the Coral Coast, Nadi and Denarau resorts; see sigatokariver.com. report. "She needs constant attention and support," another says, while another's parents will be told, "Has done exceptionally well for her age." The insignias on their bags reflect commercial realities: Spider-Man, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Cookie Monster.

A 22-year-old volunteer teacher from England, Emma Gibbons, cites resources as their biggest need - when the photocopier broke, it took three days for parts to arrive from another island. The students, she says, who arrive on foot or by boat, are keener on school than in her homeland.

"They're happy, they want to be at school and they are not naughty," she says. Gibbons loves the island lifestyle.

"There's no stress, it's friendly and the locals are welcoming."

Berthing back at Lautoka, we disembark after dawn. On the drive to the airport we pass Fijians on their way to their farms and children waiting for school buses. As we pass Sharma's Grog Shop, I'm reminded there's still much to investigate in Fiji.

Steve Butcher travelled courtesy of Tourism Fiji, Captain Cook Cruises, Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa and Sigatoka River Safari.

FIJI Brief News Clock was to have been gift says board member Former Post Fiji board member JosevaTubunaKamikamica has told the Suva High Court that board chairman Mahendra Patel told them during a board sitting that he was donating a clock to Post Fiji as a gift.

Patel, together with former managing director Peni Mau are being charged with one count each of abuse of office. Kamikamica told the court that he personally thanked Patel for the supposed gift. However he did not know that Post Fiji had to pay for the clock. He informed the court that lawyer Imrana Jalal, Lute Powell SatyaNand were also present during the meeting. Kamikamica was appointed to the board by former minister for Public Enterprise EramiMatairavula. Defence lawyers will cross examine Kamikamica this morning.

State witness did not read board papers

Former Post Fiji board member JosevaKamikamica has admitted in the Suva High court this morning that he did not read the board papers pertaining to the purchase of a $75,000 clock. Kamikamica is a state witness in the trial of former Post Fiji Managing Director Peni Mau and former board chairman Mahendra Patel who are both charged with one count each of abuse of office. When cross examined this morning, Kamikamica informed the court that he had forgotten most of the items written in the board papers. Mau’s lawyer Parvesh Sharma showed Kamikamica two sets of board papers and asked him if he understood the meaning of approved budget and accrual accounting. Kamikamica replied that he did not understand as it was a long time ago and he could not remember most of the things that were discussed during the meeting.

The case is adjourned and continues this afternoon.

Fiji to save millions in diesel costs

Fiji is expected to save $17 to $25 million in diesel costs a year when the country’s first waste to energy power plant comes into operation.

Owned by the i-VitiDisenergy Power Plant Company Limited – the plant will convert all forms of waste and rubbish to electricity and is expected to start operation within the next three years. Company President RatuEnesiYavala says they aim to reduce power shortage and shutdowns.

“This $17 to $25 million will be kept in Fiji and will virtually assist the government in development projects or otherwise it will be utilised - if it’s an offshore importation of fuel. So – therefore we have an extra $17 to $25 million in the country that will help in other infrastructure development in Fiji.” In August 2009 - the Company entered into a Power Purchase Agreement with the Fiji Electricity Authority for the supply of electricity for the next 25 years.

Off with her head! Fiji orders removal of Queen's profile from its currency after row with Britain

Queen’s head is to be removed from all coins and banknotes in Fiji.

She will be replaced by engravings of native trees and animals when a new batch of currency is issued in June. Fiji has been at loggerheads with Britain since the UK supported the Commonwealth in removing the group of islands from its 53-nation membership. The Queen's head will no longer appear on Fiji's banknotes and coins from next year.

New power plant to create more jobs

The new waste to energy power plant in Sigatoka is expected to create hundreds of employment opportunities for locals. The power plant – owned by iVitiDisenergy Renewable Power Plant Company Ltd - is currently under construction. Company president RatuEnesiYavala says the plant will bring economic, environmental and social benefits. “Employment opportunities in the construction phase will be about 600 and permanent employment opportunities will be 200 in the factory and about 4,000 indirectly. We are talking about rubbish pickers etc, all around Fiji – that is - the outer islands and resorts. The whole of Fiji will feel the impact as we try and rid Fiji of this problem – rubbish.” The construction of the plant is expected to be completed within the next three years.

Lautoka retailers satisfied with business

April, 2011

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Takiveikata will be sentenced at 9a

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in 1970, continued to feature the Queen on its currency, but several coups since then have left other Commonwealth nations questioning whether its instability qualified it to remain a member.

The final decision to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth came in 2009 after the government of military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama broke a promise to restore democracy following a bloodless coup in 2006.

wo people have been taken into police custody in relation to a ten thousand dollar robbery at the Vinod Patel Center Point last weekend.

Police Spokesperson, Inspector AtunaisaSokomuri confirmed that the two were arrested from Nasinu last night and are currently being interviewed by police. Vinod Patel Center Point was allegedly broken into on Saturday and five laptops valued at $10,000 were stolen. It is alleged that the robbers gained entry into the shop through the ventilation vent and roof.

holds the titles of Prime Minister and Finance Minister among a number of other portfolios. He gave no reason for the decision but observers said the rift with the British Government was believed to be behind the axing of the Queen. In what was seen as a flexing of muscles in September last year, Mr Bainimarama told the United Nations that he and his country demanded 'respect, dignity and equality'. Although he did not mention international sanctions that had been brought against Fiji since the 2006 coup, he told the UN General Assembly that foreign poli-

cy had been 'revamped' as part of his reforms. The shift in foreign policy, he said, 'heralds the globalisation and maturity of Fiji'.

Announcing the removal of the Queen's head from the currency today, Mr Bainimarama did not specify what plants and animals would replace her image, but tourism officials say the nation is rich in lush vegetation and birdlife.

Mammals, though, and land-based animals are more scarce but, says a tourism website, there are introduced rats, dogs, pigs, goats, mongooses, horses and sheep. 'It will be very interesting to see what they choose to replace the Queen,' said a local hotelier, who declined to be identified.

Bainimarama is angry

Instead, islanders will find engravings of native trees and animals on their currency Fiji, a former British colony which gained independence

F

iji Military commander Voreqe Bainimarama is angry following the UK's decision to support its removal from the Commonwealth In what is now seen as retaliation to Britain's support of the suspension, Mr Bainimarama said that the country's cabinet had accepted his recommendations for new designs on the nation's ten coin and note denominations - none of them featuring the Queen. 'Important and iconic flora and fauna of Fiji has been selected to replace her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait,' said Mr Bainimarama, who

Social networking grows in Fiji

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2 in custody over Vinod Patel robbery

The Lautoka Retailers Association is satisfied with business trends for the first three months of 2011 although it expects things to improve as we enter the second quarter. With the visit of two tourist vessels so far this year, the Association says Lautoka’s economy has improved. Association president Kishore Kapadia says local people are also buying although they remain careful with their spending. Kapadia says shops are now getting ready for this year’s Easter sale.

HERE are 110,000 Facebook accounts in Fiji with an annual growth in 2011 expected to exceed 75 per cent. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, You Tube and Skype have had a growing influence on Fiji. A study by the What's on Network, a survey company based in Nadi, shows how social networking is changing trends in Fiji.

Director Ian Collingwood said the use of social networking sites was growing at a significant level in Fiji and helping circulate information very quickly. "The social media is very powerful," he said. In Fiji, 49

per cent of Facebook users are male while 51 per cent are female.

"On average, people spend 56 minutes a day on their Facebook accounts and users who access their accounts through mobiles and hand held devices spend 84 minutes a day on Facebook and other social media platforms" Mr Collingwood said. He predicts that in the next 18-24 months the social media will be the most prominent and will displace other forms of media. The best part about becoming a member of a social network is that majority of these is free of charge.

Two people have been taken into police custody in relation to a ten thousand dollar robbery at the Vinod Patel Center Point last weekend.

Police Spokesperson, Inspector AtunaisaSokomuri confirmed that the two were arrested from Nasinu last night and are currently being interviewed by police. Vinod Patel Center Point was allegedly broken into on Saturday and five laptops valued at $10,000 were stolen. It is alleged that the robbers gained entry into the shop through the ventilation vent and roof.

High Court Judge, Justice Daniel Goundar is now considering whether to hand down the life sentence to Naitasiri High Chief, RatuInokeTakiveikata for inciting the November 2000 attempted mutiny at Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The offence of inciting mutiny carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment under the Sentencing Decree 2010 and while considering the submissions on sentencing and mitigation, Judge Goundar has questioned why he should not exercise his discretionary powers and impose a life sentence. Judge Goundar stressed that those Takiveikata incited to carry out mutiny are serving life sentences and it would be an injustice if Takiveikata would be handed a less-

er sentence as the instigator of the offence. In his submission, DPP Counsel Pita Bulamainaivalu highlighted that RatuInokeTakiveikata is currently serving a seven year term after being convicted on charges of plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister and others and was sentenced in March last year.

Bulamainaivalu asked the court to impose a life sentence given the fact that those he incited to carry out the act are serving life terms behind bars. He called on the Judge to also consider imposing a consecutive sentence to RatuInoke's current term stressing that the sentence must reflect the totality of the injus-

tice caused by his actions, the need for deterrence and the degree of the offending itself. In mitigation, Defence Counsel FilimoniVosarogo revealed that Takiveikata is now 63 years old and was 55 when he was initially convicted in November 2004.

Vosarogo stressed that the attempted mutiny took place on an improvised basis as there is no evidence that Takiveikata had special long ranging connections in the Military to take over QEB. He said Takiveikata played a significant role in reaching a peace deal between George Speight and the RFMF in 2000 and his wish was for no violence to take

place. Vosarogo said Takiveikata had served 2 years and 7 months behind bars before being released after he won his appeal and his initial conviction was quashed. He asked the Judge to consider a concurrent sentence to Takiveikata's current term in prison. Responding to questions from Judge Goundar on considering a life sentence, Vosarogo stressed that Captain Shane Stevens and ManoaBonafasio were soldiers and subject to Military disciplinary procedures and chain of command, which does not apply to his client who is a civilian. He also highlighted that there is now a shift in the legislation which does not state life imprisonment for the offence as it has been reduced to 15 years imprisonment.

High Court considers life sentence

India's population rises to 1.2 billion: Census of India 2011 8

INDIA NEWS

April, 2011

NEW DELHI: India's population rose to 1.21 billion people over the last 10 years — an increase by 181 million, according to the new census released today, but significantly the growth is slower for the first time in nine decades. The population, which accounts for world's 17.5 per cent population, comprises 623.7 million males and 586.5 million females, said a provisional 2011 Census report. China is the most populous nation acounting for 19.4 per cent of the global population.

The country's headcount is almost equal to the combined population of the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together, it said.

The population has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011, the report said.

The growth rate in 2011 is 17.64 per cent in comparison to 21.15 per cent in 2001. The 2001-2011 period is the first decade — with exception of 1911-1921 — which has actually added lesser population compared

The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under: The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 20012011.

Percentage growth in 20012011 is 17.64; males 17.19 and females 18.12.

2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 19111921) which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.

Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country followed by Maharashtra with 112 million.

The percentage decadal growth rates of the six most populous States have declined during 2001-2011 compared to 19912001: Uttar Pradesh (25.85% to 20.09%) Maharashtra (22.73% to 15.99%) Bihar (28.62% to 25.07%) West Bengal (17.77 % to 13.93%)

Census of India 2011: Literacy rises by 9.2%, now 74.04%

I

to the previous decade, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner of India C Chandramauli said in presence of Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai.

Among the states and Union territories, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state with 199 million people and Lakshadweep the least populated at 64,429. The combined population of UP and Maharashtra is bigger than that of the US. The highest population density is in Delhi's

rise of 6.9 percent, it increased by 11.8 percent for females to go from 53.67 to 65.46 percent. According to provisional totals of the latest census, literates constitute 74 percent of total population aged seven and above. Chandramauli said it was encouraging to note that out of total 217,700,941 literates added during the decade, females at 110,069.001 outnumbered males at 107,631,940. He said a significant milestone reached in 2011 census was the decline of illiterates by 31,196,847. Ten states and union territories, including Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Tripura, Goa, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Chandigarh, National Capital Territory of

north-east district (37,346 per sq km) while the lowest is in Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh (just one per sq km). The Census indicated a continuing preference for male children over female children. The

latest child sex ratio in is 914 female against 1,000 male—the lowest since Independence. "This is a matter of grave concern," Chandramauli said. According to the data, literates constitute 74 per cent of the total

Major highlights of the Census 2011

The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is 1210.19 million of which 623.7 million (51.54%) are males and 586.46 million (48.46%) are females. The provisional figures of Census 2011 were released in New Delhi on Thursday by Union home secretary Shri G.K.Pillai and RGI Shri C Chandramouli.

Andhra Pradesh (14.59% to 11.10%) Madhya Pradesh (24.26% to 20.30%) During 2001-2011, as many as 25 States/UTs with a share of about 85% of the country's population registered an annual growth rate of less than 2% as compared to, 15 States/UTs with a share of about 42% during the period 1991-2001.

15 States/UTs have grown by less than 1.5 per cent per annum during 2001-2011, while the number of such States/UTs was only 4 during the previous decade.

The total number of children in the age-group 0-6 is 158.8 million (-5 million since 2001) Twenty States and Union

Indian engineering degrees may be recognized in 13 countries soon

NEW DELHI: India is slowly but steadily gearing up for full membership of Washington Accord, the exclusive group of 13 countries that recognizes each other's engineering degrees. India has put the process on fast track after lying low for nearly two years. India became a provisional member of the accord in 2009. Early this week two mentors R Menon Unnikrishnan of California State University, Fullerton, and Lock Kai Sang of Institution of Engineers, Singapore - on behalf of Washington Accord visited RV Engineering College, Bangalore, to oversee the process of accreditation. The two would now give a report to India's

ndia's effective literacy rate has recorded a 9.2 percent rise to reach 74.04 percent, according to provisional data of the 2011 census released on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: India's effective literacy rate has recorded a 9.2 percent rise to reach 74.04 percent, according to provisional data of the 2011 census released on Thursday. Effective literacy rate in the 2001 census was 64.83, which improved to 74.04, said Registrar General of India and census commissioner C Chandramauli.

Interestingly, literacy rate improved sharply among females as compared to males.

While the effective literacy rate for males rose from 75.26 to 82.14 percent marking a

National Board of Accreditation (NBA). Based on their inputs, India would bring about necessary changes in the guidelines that have to be based on those of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), USA. "As mentors we are helping India. The process of accreditation to engineering colleges needs to change in the country. Mentoring would help when India makes a regular application," Unnikrishnan said. Stating that in India it takes time to bring about changes, Unnikrishanan said some parts of their earlier reports have been implemented but others are still to be put in place.

Territories now have over one million children in the age group 0-6 years. On the other extreme, there are five States and Union Territories in the country that are yet to reach the one hundred thousand mark.

Uttar Pradesh (29.7 million), Bihar (18.6 million), Maharashtra (12.8 million), Madhya Pradesh (10.5 million) and Rajasthan (10.5 million) constitute 52% children in the age group of 0-6 years.

Population (0-6 years) 20012011 registered minus (-)3.08 percent growth with minus ()2.42 for males and -3.80 for females.

The proportion of Child Population in the age group of 0-6 years to total population is

Gandhi book ban shameful: Author

LONDON: Pulitzer prize-winning author Joseph Lelyveld has opposed a ban on his controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, describing the move as "shameful". "In a country (India) that calls itself a democracy, it is shameful to ban a book that no one has read, including the people who are doing the banning," Lelyveld said.

He was reacting to the ban imposed by Gujarat government on his book, which reportedly talks about the sexual preferences of Gandhi. Maharashtra government is also mulling a proposal to ban the book in the state. "They should at least make an effort to see the pages that they think offend them before they take such an extreme step.

13.1 percent while the corresponding figure in 2001 was 15.9 percent. The decline has been to the extent of 2.8 points.

Overall sex ratio at the national level has increased by 7 points to reach 940 at Census 2011 as against 933 in Census 2001.

This is the highest sex ratio recorded since Census 1971 and a shade lower than 1961.

Increase in sex ratio is observed in 29 States/UTs. Three major States (J&K, Bihar & Gujarat) have shown decline in sex ratio as compared to Census 2001.

Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038, Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618.

Delhi and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have attained literacy rate of above 85 percent, the target set by the Planning Commission to be achieved by 2011-12.

The gap of 21.59 percentage points recorded between male and female literacy rates in 2001 census reduced to 16.68 percentage points in 2011. The Planning Commission had set up a target of reducing this gap to 10 percentage points by 2011-12. Kerala has the highest literacy rate at 93.91 percent followed by Lakshadweep at 92.28 percent. Bihar is at the bottom of the ladder with literacy rate of 63.82 followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 66.95. population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent. The literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011 showing an increase of 9.21 per cent.

Child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 914. Increasing trend in the child sex ratio (0-6) seen in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and A&N Islands. In all remaining 27 States/UTs, the child sex ratio show decline over Census 2001.

Mizoram has the highest child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 971 followed by Meghalaya with 970.

Haryana is at the bottom with ratio of 830 followed by Punjab with 846.

Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011 showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points.

Percentage growth in literacy during 2001-2011 is 38.82; males : 31.98% & females : 49.10%.

Literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent. *******

Honing legislators’ English-speaking skills

CHANDIGARH: Famous for their rustic and at times rude behaviour, especially during the proceedings of the Haryana assembly, the state legislators will now have to undergo an orientation course to better command over their language and hone other behavioural skills. The newly-elected legislators will be taught 'how to improve their English-speaking skills' at a week-long orientation training programme to be held at Lok Sabha secretariat in New Delhi from April 4. According to Haryana assembly speaker Kuldeep Sharma, who probably is one of the first speakers ever in the state to

prefer English over Hindi or rather Haryanavi while conducting the proceedings of the House, the knowledge of English language is a must for the politicians. Sharma, who was addressing a press conference on Thursday, said Hindi should be used to the maximum, but since he generally spoke more English it led to raising this issue in the recently-concluded session.

"There are times when legislators have to visit other states where no one speaks Hindi or delegations from abroad come calling. English is the only global language which should be learnt by all legislators," Sharma said.

Pak media praises Gilani, Manmohan; says meeting an achievement

PAKISTAN NEWS

ISLAMABAD: A get together brought about by cricket should serve to revive Indo-Pak dialogue so rudely shattered by the Mumbai attacks, advocated the Pakistani media after the historic meeting of the two Prime Ministers at Mohali. It was a thrilling game that kept millions across the border glued to their television sets, the Pakistani media today said and counselled that the same spirit should be the resolve of Prime Ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh to settle all outstanding issues.

Noting that the carnival like environment prevailed at the World Cup semi final match at Mohali which itself was an achievement, the media said it was 'diplomacy through cricket'.

The match and the highest-level diplomacy dominated the front pages of the papers here which said that the Mohali meeting is a clear indication of Gilani and Manmohan's resolve to pursue the peace process despite hurdles in the way. Describing the meeting of the two premiers in a carnival-like environment at the World Cup semi-final venue of Mohali as "itself an achievement", the influential Dawn newspaper said in its editorial that "this get-together should serve to help revive the composite dialogue so rudely

shattered by the Mumbai episode". Noting that a breakthrough was never expected, the editorial contended that "the Mohali meeting is a clear indication of the two Prime Ministers' resolve to pursue the peace process despite the hurdles in the way, not the least of which is the opposition from the hawks in Prime Minister Manmohan

Muslim school girls of Mesco Grades High school hold special prayers to commemorate Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims in Hyderabad, on.

The official toll of the dead and missing following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan's northeast coast has topped 11,000, with 3,676 confirmed dead, police said.

Pakistan drops US, embraces China as new arms partner: Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is now "backing away" from the US, its long-time strategic arms partner, and has joined hands with China to "beef up" its arsenal of nuclearcapable missiles, experts have said. Pakistan recently test-fired a nuclear-capable missile from an undisclosed location, for its shortrange surface-to-surface Hatf-2 class rocket, which has been developed with help from China, Fox News reported. The US was the main supplier of weapons to Pakistan since the mid-1960s. But it began to back away from the deals after years of "difficult and sometimes unpredictable" relations following the 9/11 terror attack. "The US no longer fully supports the military ambitions of a Pakistan that is

being destabilised by an insurgency it cannot control, rising radicalism and anti-westernism, and a government considered by some too weak and corrupt," it said. "That led Pakistan to replace the US with China as a main source of defence material, at least in terms of arsenal, development and training."

Nate Hughes, director of military analysis at Stratfor, a think tank, said: "China is perceived as not coming with nearly as many strings attached as relations with the US." In November last year, when the US delivered a few of the F-16 fighter jets it had pledged to Pakistan, Islamabad said it has also ordered from China SD10 homing missiles and radar systems to equip its JF-17 jets.

Singh's cabinet to a soft line towards Pakistan, and his weakened position because of the corruption scandals". It also said there was "a modest diplomatic gain" in that Singh had accepted Gilani's invitation to visit Pakistan.

"This should be a matter of satisfaction seen against the background of the mistrust that has characterised India-Pakistan ties for six decades," it added. The News daily, in its editorial, called on politicians to take a cue from the way people united and rooted for the Pakistani team, which "fought like brave men and lost to a better side". It said: "The politicians should better get a cue and start working to rally the people around a cause which the people can support with similar enthusiasm and unity of purpose."

"The cricketers have proved that they are the best and now it is time for the politicians and the administrators to get their act together and provide a secure and conducive environment for world cricketers to come and play in Pakistan.

This may be more difficult in these trying times than winning a World Cup," it added. However, the headlines on the front pages of newspapers reflected the gloom of Pakistani cricket fans at their team's loss to India.

April, 2011

9

Pak comedian dies of heart attack during Pak-India match

ISLAMABAD: A popular Pakistani comedian died of heart attack while performing at a special TV programme organised for the electrifying Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final clash that India went on to win. 55-year-old Liaqat Ali, popularly known as 'Liaqat Soldier' was participating in a special transmission organised for the semi-final on a local channel when he suffered a severe heart attack and died on his way to the hospital, the Daily Times newspaper reported. Besides being an actor, Ali was an entrepreneur and owned a business dealing in generators. Several television celebrities and politicians expressed their grief and sorrow over his demise. Regretting his death, many termed him one of the greatest stage comedians of Pakistan and said his demise was an irreparable loss to Pakistan's comedy industry.

Suicide bomber kills 10 in NW Pakistan: Police

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up near a police checkpoint in Pakistan on Wednesday, killing ten people and wounding more than 20, police and hospital officials said.

Police chief Abdullah Jan said the checkpoint was close to a camp set up by a religious political party for a public meeting in the northwestern town of Swabi, about 10 kilometres (60 miles) east of Peshawar. "Seven people died on the spot and three more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital," he said.

"We have recovered the body parts of the suicide bomber." Nurul Wahid, the doctor in charge of the emergency ward at the state-run Swabi hospital, confirmed the toll.

"We have 10 bodies. The dead

included two policemen also," he said. A total of 21 people were receiving treatment, Wahid added.

The meeting was planned by the hardline Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) party led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The event was cancelled after the bombing. Rehman was on his way to the venue when the blast happened, party spokesman Jalil Jan said.

"He is safe and the meeting has been cancelled," Jan told AFP. "We can't immediately identify the attackers. We don't know who is involved. But we can say the target appears to be the JUI leadership.

"Six party supporters were martyred and seven wounded," he said.

Police official Hayatullah Khan told AFP Rehman's convoy was set to enter the town when the blast hit.

"We were lined up and party members came out from a nearby reception camp. Suddenly there was a huge blast amid welcome slogans by party workers. Shrapnel hit me and I received injuries to my head and leg," he said. The northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province bordering Afghanistan has frequently been the target of militant violence. More than 4,000 people have died in suicide and bomb attacks throughout Pakistan since government forces launched an offensive against militants in a mosque in Islamabad in 2007.

Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants launch almost daily attacks across northwest Pakistan and the tribal belt that Washington has branded the most dangerous place on Earth.

JAKARTA: An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people has been arrested in Pakistan, an Indonesian counter-terrorism official said on Wednesday.

The official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Umar Patek had been detained on Tuesday but declined to give details about where or how the arrest was made.

There has been no immediate confirmation from authorities in Pakistan. A team comprising police and counter-terrorism officials has been sent to Pakistan, Indonesian officials said. "Our intelligence team is verifying the information with the Pakistani authorities to confirm if the person arrested was really him," National Anti-Terror Agency chief Ansyaad Mbai told AFP. "If it's him, then that's really good news for us." "We're not surprised if he's in Pakistan as these terrorists move from country to country," he added.

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism judge rejected an application by prosecutors to declare Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker involved in the 2008 Mumbai incident, and terror suspect Fahim Ansari as fugitives, saying they were not deliberately avoiding court proceedings in Pakistan. Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed of the Rawalpindi-based court, who is conducting the trial of seven Pakistani suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks, gave his decision after hearing arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers on Saturday. The judge subsequently scheduled the next hearing of the case for April 9.

During the hearing conducted behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, the judge questioned the prosecution's plea to declare Kasab and Ansari as "proclaimed offenders" or fugitives and pointed

out that they were not deliberately avoiding the proceedings in Pakistan, the sources said. Lawyers defending the suspects also told the judge that Kasab and Ansari had been in the custody of Indian authorities even before a case was registered by Pakistani law enforcement agencies against the seven suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

The prosecution had wanted Kasab and Ansari to be declared fugitives as their presence in the Pakistani court is required to proceed with the trial of the seven suspects. A similar plea by the prosecution was earlier rejected by another anti-terrorism judge last year. The defence lawyers have argued that Kasab had already been convicted and sentenced to death by a court in India and he could not be tried again in Pakistan.

Bali bomb suspect arrested in Pakistan: Indonesia

Pak court rejects plea to declare Kasab, Ansari fugitives

10 Child Cancer Foundation receives TOP$25,000 from travelling customers

April, 2011

Nuku'alofa; The Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga received TOP$25,000 from airline company Pacific Blue, collected from donations made by the travelling public.

The Government of Tonga recommended the cancer organisation after it was approached by the airline for a suitable recipient for the donation. Pacific Blue Marketing and Communications Manager Andrea Heffernan presented the gift to the President of the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga, MoalaSisifa, on Thursday 3rd March, 2011.

According to Heffernan, who was in Tonga this week for the ‘Eva Mai tourism exchange organised by the

Ministry of Tourism, the money was collected on board Pacific Blue flights, from willing customers in recognition of the 2009 tsunami in Samoa and Tonga. “We’re all part

Samoan sway shows the way in Melton

CULTURES joined forces at Staughton College in Melton last week to celebrate Cultural Harmony Week.On March 25 a group of enthusiastic students donned traditional Samoan attire and performed songs and dances for the year 7 students, giving an insight into Polynesian culture.

School spokeswoman Virginia Bowden said the students put many hours into preparing for the performance. “We have several Samoans in our college community and they have been practising all term after school,” Ms Bowden said.

of the Pacific Islands and there’s a big Tongan community in New Zealand and Australia,” said New Zealand-based Heffernan.

Foundation President Sisifa said she was extremely grateful and humbled: “The funds will go towards building a resource centre for children with cancer and their families, because at the moment, many of them who need to be treated do not even have the proper facilities to stay.” The Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga is a charitable organization founded in late 2007 by a group of parents who have lost loved ones to cancer, or have children suffering from cancer.

'Eva Mai brings government, private sector together to boost Tourism

PACIFIC NEWS

The Prime Minister of Tonga Lord Tu’ivakano launched the second "Eva Mai Tourism Experience" on Wednesday 2nd March, commending the cooperation between government and the private sector in boosting the industry.

The ‘Eva Mai event brings agents from more than 20 tourism organisations in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Fiji to visit local attractions and join tourism activities in all the major island groups of Tonga.

The agents will also target local

operators in the private sector to work with as partners, on joint travel packages for overseas markets. At the ‘Eva Mai opening ceremony at Fa’onelua Convention Centre, Lord Tu’ivakano said he was “especially pleased” at the level of cooperation between government bodies and local tourism operators in promoting Tonga as a tourist destination to the world.“‘Eva Mai is about doing business in the overseas markets and in Tonga,” stated the Prime Minister.

from Haveluliku to Lavengatonga.

The overall framework of the National Road Improvement Project covers development to 64 roads totalling more than 130km, with some in Ha'apai, Vava'u and

'Eua. The project is financed through a soft loan from China s EXIM Bank. “In the past few years Government realised a significant amount of resources poured into the construction and maintenance of the national road network, and yet the road conditions continued to deteriorate faster than the rate our road maintenance team could keep up with,” said Deputy Prime Minister Vaipulu. The bilateral Agreement for Phase 1 of the National Road Improvement Project signed in June 2008.

Chinese Government hand over phase 3 of National Road Improvement Project Nuku'alofa; The third phase of the National Road Improvement Project was officially handed over to the Government of Tonga on Monday afternoon 7th March 2011.

Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. SamiuVaipulu and the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, His Excellency Wang Donghua signed the agreement at the International Dateline Hotel, for the upgrades on three major sites on Tongatapu, including „Alipate Road in Kolomotu a, the road from Kolonga to Talasiu, and the road

Vocational training urged for Tongan girls Anger over Quran burning at International Women’s Day celebrations spreads in Afghanistan

M

ost high school students in Tonga – including young women – will not have the opportunity to enter university, and will thus need to pursue non-academic career paths in order to make a living.

This was highlighted at the International Women s Day Centenary celebrations held on Tuesday 8th March at the Queen Salote College Hall on the global theme: “Access to Education, Training, Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women”.

The Guest of Honour at the event Hon. Fatafehi-„o-LapahaTuita delivered the keynote address, emphasising that cooperation between stakeholders was key in achieving pathways to decent work for women: “[In] reiterating the words of the Hon. Minister of Education, Women s Affairs and Culture, the Hon. Dr. Ana Maui Taufe ulungaki, to achieve Excellence, Equity, Access, Relevance and Sustainability, we need to work together.”

In the welcoming speech, Deputy Secretary (Women s Affairs) at MEWAC PolotuFakafanua-Paunga called for unconditional parental support and encouragement for high school leavers during this critical stage of development. She cited a recent study con-

ducted on education expenditure in Tonga, which showed that only 10 percent of primary school children will complete the secondary school level and continue towards a university degree. The remaining 90 percent of the approximately 1000 students enrolled each year, will end up without any advanced formal qualification. “This is crucial, and school leavers, especially girls and women, will need all the encouragement that can be mustered from parents, supporting whatever field they choose, whether it is technology, science, marine, engineering, agriculture, [or] economics,” she stated. Polotu noted that the Government of Tonga had taken steps to address this challenge, including the establishment of the Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports (MOTEYS) in 2006, and the implementation of a four-year national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme through MOTEYS, funded through aid from the governments of Australia and New Zealand.

Hundreds of guests attended the event, including students, women s group representatives, members of various community organisations, as well as members of the general public.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Anger over the burning of the Muslim holy book at a Florida church fueled a second day of deadly violence half a world away in Afghanistan, where demonstrators set cars and shops ablaze Saturday in a riot that killed nine protesters, officials said.

The church's desecration of the Quran nearly two weeks ago has outraged millions of Muslims and others worldwide, fueling anti-American sentiment that is further straining ties between the Afghan government and the West.

The uproar even brought violence to the normally peaceful northern city of Mazar-iSharif on Friday, when a crowd of protesters - apparently infiltrated by insurgents stormed a U.N. compound in an outpouring that left four Afghan protesters and seven foreign U.N. employees dead.

The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said the organization had no plans to evacuate. It would, however, temporarily redeploy 11 staff members from Maraz-i-Sharif to Kabul "This is not an evacuation, it is a temporary redeployment because the office is not functioning. We will be ready to go back as soon as we can establish an office that is secure enough," he told reporters. In an unrelated attack that nonetheless demonstrated the kind of violence plaguing Afghanistan nearly a decade after the U.S. invaded to oust the Taliban and hunt al-Qaida, two suicide attackers disguised as women in blue burqas blew themselves up and a third was gunned down at a NATO base on the outskirts of Kabul, police said. The Quran was burned March 20, but many Afghans only found out about it when Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the desecration four days later. The burning took place at the Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, the same church where

the Rev. Terry Jones had threatened to destroy a copy of the holy book last year but initially backed down.

On Saturday, thousands of Afghans carrying long sticks and holding copies of the Quran over their heads marched through Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan and the cradle of the insurgency.

The crackle of gunfire could be heard throughout the city, which was blanketed by thick black smoke. Security forces shot in the air to disperse the crowd, said ZalmaiAyubi, a spokesman for the provincial governor. It's unclear how the protesters were slain, he said. The governor's office in Kandahar province issued a statement saying that nine protesters were killed and 81 others were injured in the demonstration that turned into a riot. Seventeen people, including seven armed men, have been arrested, the statement said. The governor's office claims demonstrators were incited by extremists who joined the group and set property ablaze. "The enemies of the people and country also burned down the furniture and a bus at a ladies' high school in Kandahar and destroyed some other properties," the governor's office said.

Shops and restaurants throughout the city were shuttered and routes leading into the city were blocked by security forces.

HEALTH/FITNESS

WHY YOU SHOULD DO

BREATHING EXERCISES

reathing exercises are B among the most popular stress relievers. Not only do

they work swiftly, they require very little practise and you can do them anywhere. Here's why you should opt for them...

Stress is known to wreak havoc on you both physically and mentally.

Breathing exercises are a great way to relieve stress as well as give you relief from hyperventillation, bad headaches, burnout, fatigue, help you sleep better, reduce anxiety and depression.

You can go in for breathing exercises when you're overcome by stress and want to feel better, when you feel overwhelmed in a situation and don't know what to do, you want to clear your thoughts, your body wants a release, you feel irritated when things don't go your way or when you're in the middle of an argument and want to calm down.

When practiced regularly, you will notice that you're able to handle stressful situations way better than what you used to.

CORN

HEALTH BENEFITS OF

W

ith bhuttawalas putting up makeshift stalls at almost every corner in the neighbourhood during the rains, most people love to have this healthy snack. Corn is high in nutrients, which are extremely beneficial for you. Rich in Vitamin B1, which is used in the metabolism of carbohydrates, Vitamin B5, which helps with physiological functions, folate, that helps generating new cells and Vitamin C, which helps fight diseases, corn should be a must in your diet.

Corn is also high in fibre, which helps you fight digestive problems like constipation. Fibre also helps lower cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of colon cancer and is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Folic acid present in corn is known to prevent neural-tube birth defects. Experts also recommend corn for people who suffer from Anaemia. Make a delicious and easy side dish — corn sauteed with green chillies and onions not only tastes good but is healthy, too!

T

wo glasses of milk a day after weight-lifting routine helps tone muscles and keep the fat off in women, claims a new study. "Resistance training is not a typical choice of exercise for women," says Stu Phillips, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. "But the health benefits of resistance training are enormous: It boosts strength, bone, muscular and metabolic health in a way that other types of exercise cannot."

A previous study conducted by Phillips' lab showed that milk increased muscle mass and fat loss in men. This new study, says Phillips was more challenging because women not only steer clear of resistance training they also tend to steer away from dairy products based on the incorrect belief that dairy foods are fattening. "We expected the gains in muscle mass to be greater, but the size of the fat loss surprised us," says Phillips. "We're still not sure what causes this but we're investigating that now. It could be the combination of calcium, highquality protein, and vitamin D may be the key, and. conveniently, all of these nutrients are in milk.

A

Two glasses of milk

TONES MUSCLES

Over a 12-week period, the study monitored young women who did not use resistance-training exer-

new study has shown that exposure to noise from road traffic can increase the risk of stroke, particularly in those aged 65 years and over. The study, which is the first to investigate the links between road traffic noise and the risk of stroke, found that for every 10 decibels more noise the risk of having a stroke increased by 14 pc among the 51,485 study participants.

When the Danish researchers looked at the data more closely, they found that for people aged less than 65 years there was no statistically significant increased risk of stroke; however, the risk increased by 27 pc for every 10dB of higher road traffic noise in

cise. Every day, two hours before exercising, the women were required not to eat or drink any-

TRAFFIC NOISE INCREASES

STROKE RISK

those aged 65 years and over. Furthermore, in the older people they found indications of a threshold limit at approximately 60 dB, above which the risk for stroke seemed to increase even more. Dr Mette Sorensen, senior researcher at the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society in Copenhagen, Denmark, who led the

April, 2011

thing except water. Immediately after their exercise routine, one group consumed 500ml of fat free white milk; the other group consumed a similar-looking but sugar-based energy drink. The same drinks were consumed by each group one hour after exercising. The training consisted of three types of exercise: pushing (e.g. bench press, chest fly), pulling (e.g. seated lateral pull down, abdominal exercises without weights), and leg exercises (e.g. leg press, seated two-leg hamstring curl). Training was monitored daily one on one by personal trainers to ensure proper technique.

"The women who drank milk gained barely any weight because what they gained in lean muscle they balanced out with a loss in fat" said Phillips. "Our data show that simple things like regular weightlifting exercise and milk consumption work to substantially improve women's body composition and health." Phillips'' lab is now following this study up with a large clinical weight loss trial in women. The McMaster study appears in the June issue of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise.

research, said: "Our study shows that exposure to road traffic noise seems to increase the risk of stroke. Previous studies have linked traffic noise with raised blood pressure and heart attacks, and our study adds to the accumulating evidence that traffic noise may cause a range of cardiovascular diseases.

These studies highlight the need for action to reduce people's exposure to noise. This is the first study ever to investigate the association between exposure to road traffic noise and risk of stroke, and, therefore, more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be made." The study has been published in the European Heart Journal.

EXERCISE LOWERS MUSCULAR A PAIN

new study has found that acute exercise can worsen muscular pain but long-term exercise reduces it. Researchers from Middleton Memorial Hospital in Madison, Wis. and the University of Wisconsin tested levels of experimental pain sensitivity in Gulf War veterans following acute exercise sessions. As many as 100,000 veterans from the first Gulf War have reported chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) since returning home.

Vets with CMP were predicted to rate naturally occurring pain from exercise as more intense. Thirty-two vet-

erans (15 with CMP and 17 healthy) were studied, and the study protocols were reviewed and approved by the VA. The researchers reported that, consistent with their hypothesis, vets with CMP claimed that heat induced pain stimuli was more intense and unpleasant than evidenced in healthy subjects. They also had greater leg pain intensity during exercise and were more sensitive to the pain stimuli following acute

exercise compared to pre-exercise ratings.

Pain thresholds, however, did not show significant differences between healthy subjects and those with CMP, contrary to what the researchers hypothesized. The authors noted that exercise research in chronic muscle pain patients shows a paradox in that acute exercise appears to exacerbate pain while chronic exercise can reduce pain.

The authors concluded that their results show acute exercise influences the

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suffering components of pain and can be helpful to clinicians in prescribing appropriate physical activity for patients with CMP. American Pain Society published the findings in the Journal of Pain.

A new take on life 12

I

INTERFAITH

April, 2011

stumbled upon Scientology quite by accident some five years ago, when I drove a relative across to their centre in the capital. While there, I took a personality test and was gently persuaded by their German mission holder, Horst Tubbesing, to enroll for a 20-hour self-study lifeimprovement course on 'How to Improve Relationships'. It was reasonably priced and I thought, why not.

That chance trip changed my life; it taught me to deal positively with some unflattering truths about myself! Since then, I have walked in and out of their New Delhi Hauz Khas Enclave centre many a time — for lectures and courses and for sessions of Intro Auditing. An eternal favourite are their books on marriage, children, illnesses, conflicts, study, happiness — subjects that sway your life. Scientology's founder, L Ron Hubbard (19111986) was once a prolific American sci-fi writer, and his talent for writing shines through in his books. You can scan his life works at the centre (some 5,000 writings and lectures besides) and pick up whatever you think is useful or adds to your own set of beliefs, while you keep the faith you were born in.

Up your emotional tonescale

It's easy to see why Scientology appeals to the younger generation — and why a host of international celebrities endorse it — seeking as it does to blend eastern and western thought in the 21st century. A key

Due to the high volume of incoming applications, ISF is extending the deadline to April 15th. Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization that provides academic scholarships to Muslim students in the United States who pursue college and post graduate degrees in humanities, social sciences, liberal arts and law. Mission: ISF’s mission is to address the insufficient Muslim representation in occupations and fields of study that shape public policy and influence public opinion in the United States. We aim to bring about long term change by providing academic scholarships for students in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, liberal arts and law in order to encourage and support future Muslim-American lawyers, politicians, writers, journalists, film makers and academic scholars who will go on to become articulate and effective Muslim-American leaders, and help redefine the narrative of Islam and America. Please contact us to learn more about ISF, sponsor a scholarship or to make a monthly/onetime donation. contact @islamicscholarshipfund.org 0r www.islamicscholarshipfund.org.

concept in Scientology is the emotional and chronic tonescale of a person, and it is this that Scientology seeks to 'up' in you — from 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 (in grief, fear, and anger) to 3.5 and 4.0 (cheerfulness and enthusiasm), and finally on to serenity of being-ness at 40.

You can take that as the equivalent of nirvana and samadhi.

Scientology is a culmination of the searches Hubbard began as a young man with a study of the Vedas, the Tao, Buddhism, and Christianity and derives its literal meaning from the Latin scio, which means knowing and the Greek logos or 'study of'.

son free of the shadows which darken his day'.

Celebrity Scientologists

So what is Scientology?

What is Scientology about? Is it a way of life; is it a religion? Or a study of wisdom? Its official website, scientology.org says: "Scientology is a religion in its highest meaning, as it helps bring man to total freedom and truth. The essential tenets of Scientology are: You are an immortal spiritual being. Your experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. And your capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realised. Furthermore, man is basically good. He is seeking to survive.

And his survival depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe."

The first two principles bring alive the concept of atman and karma.

Scientologists are all thetans — from the Greek theta, Hubbard's

term for the spiritual being that is our basic self, and what we know as the soul or atman. Another key belief is that life is a harmonious blend of the eight dynamics in your life — the self, family unit, group, species, environment, physical universe, spirituality and infinity. Even if one is out of sync, your life can go for a toss, it believes. Experiences such as this can finally lead to a reactive mind.

The reactive mind

In 1950, Hubbard wrote Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, his landmark book presenting his discovery of the reactive mind that underlies and enslaves man. The work presented the source of nightmares, unreason-

The Islamic Scholarship Fund Is Proud to Announce

ISF-ZAYTUNA Arabic and Islamic Studies Scholarships

Amount: $9,000 (3 Awards $3,000 Each)

he Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) and Zaytuna College are proud to announce the joint ISF-Zaytuna Arabic and Islamic Studies Scholarship for Tstudents enrolled in Zaytuna College. ISF accepts online applications annual-

ly for three months beginning in January. Scholarships are awarded to Muslim students who have been accepted into Zaytuna College’s four-year degree program. As part of this award, recipients will be required to perform a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

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Applicants must major in Islamic Law and Theology or Arabic Language.

Applicants must possess a minimum 3.4 grade point average.

Applicants must be active members of their communities.

Applicants must be full-time students Applicants must be Muslim.

Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of U.S.Application.

DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2011. APPLY ONLINE AT THE ISF WEBSITE. SELECTION PROCESS: The ISF and Zaytuna College Selection Committee is comprised of university professors, nonprofit organization leaders, and community members. This joint selection committee will review and score applications from April to June. Applicants receiving the highest scores will be scheduled for web-based video interviews in July. All applicants will be notified about the committee’s final selections during the first week of August.

AWARD DISTRIBUTION : ISF-Zaytuna Scholarships will be awarded during the second week of August. With certain exceptions, ISF’s policy is to send checks directly to the Zaytuna College. Exceptions can be made if the awards affect the applicant’s financial status.

able fears, upsets and insecurity, and outlined ways to pursue the long-sought goal of 'Clear' — the term by Hubbard for an individual who is rid of his reactive mind.

Hubbard here pooh-poohed psychiatrists and their methods of treating people with antidepressants.

Hubbard labels sufferings and painful experiences as 'engrams' in the reactive mind which command one to act irrationally against one's wishes and goals. These can cloud the workings of our analytical mind, which is what ensures that we behave rationally. In a typical Hubbard-world, people have social and antisocial tendencies, but man is inherently good and can be helped by spiritual means as precise as mathematics, 'to see a per-

Tom Cruise is a serious follower, the most visible Scientology face across the globe. He turned to it after its Study Technology helped him overcome dyslexia. He also endorses it for anyone who wants to get off drugs and to curb his antisocial tendencies. "Those are the things that I care about. I don't care what someone believes. But if someone wants to get off drugs, I can help them. If someone wants to learn how to read, I can help them.

If someone doesn't want to be a criminal anymore, I can give them tools that can better their life," he has told interviewers in the past.

Wife Katie Holmes is a Scientologist too, as is Grease and Saturday Night Fever heart-throb, John Travolta and wife, Kelly Preston. To lend credence to Cruise's testimony, I have talked to people who have taken Scientology's powerful Purification Rundown programme at their Delhi centre.

They have got off —and stayed away — from antidepressants, drugs and alcohol. Auditing sessions are the next step, Scientology's version of spiritual counselling. Auditing deletes those things that were added to the 'reactive' mind through painful experiences and improves one's ability to confront them in life. They give you no medication, except a prescription for vitamins and minerals.

ISF-MPAC : Media/Communications Scholarship Amount:$3,000 The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) are pleased to announce an exciting scholarship program for college students who are seeking a career in communications, media and journalism. As part of this fellowship program, recipients will be required to perform a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work with MPAC which will be focused on: Research addressing perceptions, portrayals and understanding of the Muslim American community; Engaging media officials, researchers and civic society groups; Networking with a variety of highcaliber professionals from a multitude of backgrounds. SEE: MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati Discusses the Importance of ISF ISF-CAIR : Public Policy Scholarship. Amount: $4,000.

The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) award a joined scholarship to students who are seeking a career in Public Policy or Law. ISF accepts online applications once a year starting in January for a period of three months. Scholarships are awarded to Muslim students who have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities in the US. The scholarship recipient will be required to intern 40 hours with a CAIR Chapter. SEE: CAIR SF Director, Zahra Billoo, Discusses the Role of ISF. To apply for any of these scholarships and more please visi t:http://click.icptrack.com ISF-ILLUME : Media Scholarship Amount:$3,000.

The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) and ILLUME are pleased to announce the ISF-ILLUME Media Scholarship for MuslimAmerican University students studying the fields of Media (Journalism, Radio/TV Broadcasting, Film, Public Relations, etc.) Selection Process: ISF's Selection Committee which is composed of university professors, non-profit organization leaders and community members with years of experience in the academic and non-profit world review and score applications from April to June.

Interfaith America, URI East Bay Circle to host Interfaith Festival Day in Hayward INTERFAITH IN GALLERY

April, 2011

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HAYWARD – At the first quarterly Board meeting of newly reorganized URI (United Religious Imitative) chapter, interfaith members too decisions to host at two major public events this year.

The event is an inter-religious conference to be host on last Sunday of July. The theme chosen is “Spiritual Leaders of latter Days.” In September the Board plans to hold the first interfaith festival in Hayward instead of a previous plan to hold the event in downtown San Francisco because does not have enough money to pay for multiple fees and charges. The URI EAST BAY CIRCLE will continue to hold its monthly interfaith forums as usual embracing from all major faith traditions.

Interfaith Photo Gallery

Iva pictures.

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he took people back to the black and white era with her role in the period film "Parineeta". Then came her fashion faux pas and a dip in the career graph. But a careful and confident Vidya Balan is on the rise again in Bollywood. Though at 33 she is just six years old in the Hindi movie industry, her oeuvre is so impressive that there was a Vidya Balan retrospective at the Indian film fest in two Australian cities. From playing a foul mouthed, manipulative vengeful woman in " Ishqiya" to the mother of a progeria patient to a grieving sister in " No One Killed Jessica", Vidya has been proving her versatility with her nuanced handling of different characters. Her muchtalked-about forthcoming releases - director Milan Luthria's "The Dirty Picture", based on the life of Silk Smitha, south Indian cinema's sex symbol, and Sujoy Ghosh's thriller "Kahani" in which she plays a six-month pregnant woman are expected to take her creativity to another level. Applauding her work and choice of roles, director Sudhir Mishra said: "She is very brave and very gutsy. Hats off to Vidya. She will last longer. It will pay her off very well. She will be remembered as another kind of actress and remembered more than a lot of people. She should continue doing this kind of roles.

BOLLYWOOD NOT ONLY THAT, VIDYA'S SARTORIAL ELEGANCE HAS BEEN AT ITS PEAK EVER SINCE SHE APPEARED IN "PAA". BE IT FLAUNTING ETHNIC SARIS BY HER FAVOURITE DESIGNER SABYASACHI MUKHERJEE OR HER PLAIN JANE LOOK AT PUBLIC EVENTS TO PROMOTE "NO ONE KILLED JESSICA", THE TALENTED ACTRESS FLOORED EVERYONE.

THE UNIQUENESS

VIDYA BALAN OF BEING

She should do what she can do well. She should retain that uniqueness." Director Anurag Kashyap feels what Vidya is doing is pathbreaking. "I think she is showing the way for everyone else. Vidya's fan following has increased 50-fold after the kind of work she started doing. We need her," he added. This Iyer girl from Palakkad in Kerala grew up in Mumbai. She did her graduation in sociology from St. Xavier's College. After award-winning debut with the period drama "Parineeta" (2005), she charmed her fans in a

modern avatar in "Lage Raho Munna Bhai". Her small but impressive role in " Guru" too earned her accolades. But after a meteoric rise to fame, her career took a dip post "Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love" and it seemed as if lady luck had deserted her completely. She was in the news for all the wrong reasons -- from her choice of roles to co-stars to her looks in movies like "Heyy Babyy" and "Kismet Konnection" -- she was criticised for everything. But the rough patch ended and wagging tongues came to a halt when Vidya returned as Amitabh Bachchan's mother in critically acclaimed "Paa" (2009) after staying

away for a year. Undoubtedly it was one of her best performances and Vidya walked away with the Filmfare Best Actress Award for portraying the dilemma of a woman living with her child's illness. There are reports that Vidya may work with southern superstar Rajnikanth as well. "She should start a legacy of such kind of acting. She is one of the top actresses in the industry because she does such kind of unique roles," said director Vikramaditya Motwane whose "Udaan" amassed trophies at every award function this year. Not only that, Vidya's sartorial elegance has been at its peak ever since she appeared in "Paa". Be it flaunting ethnic saris by her favourite designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee or her plain Jane look at public events to promote "No One Killed Jessica", the talented actress floored everyone.

Mumbai-based designer Anand Bhushan, a regular face at Lakme Fashion Week, said: "Yes it's true that designer Sabyasachhi Mukherjee did an awesome job with her Indian image, giving her all sorts of dresses which not only reflected her Indian face but also made her look glamorous."

SHAHRUKH

TO ROMANCE

KATRINA F

NOW

ollowing our story on September

I AM SCARED OF

VIJENDER

It's time to play, says Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor who has joined a campaign to urge school authorities to make sports a part of the curriculum as he feels this will help in producing good sportsmen. "There's a need to maintain a balance between education and sports.

Sports is something that instills passion, discipline and motivation. Making it a part of the school curriculum would certainly help make people fit and make good sportspersons," Ranbir, 28, said Tuesday. The actor was in the capital to participate in a sports event along with ace shooter Gagan Narang, billards champion Pankaj Advani, Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, boxing champion Vijender Singh and former cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

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Anushka's Portrait

28, 2010, about SRK in Yash Chopra's next directorial venture, the industry was abuzz with speculations over the actress that would make the cut. All rumours can be put to rest now. For the first time in her eight-year acting career, Katrina Kaif, will star opposite SRK in the YRF project. A source close to YRF says, "Katrina was the first choice for the heroine's role in Yashji's film. She immediately said 'yes' to the film.

She has loved the script and is looking forward to working with Yashji. She will play Shah Rukh's romantic interest."

Talking about the film's storyline, the source reveals, "Obviously, the film will be a love story.

Yashji is a master of romance.

There is no reason why he will not generate and extract great chemistry between Shah Rukh and Katrina."

Since the production house has witnessed some turmoil in the recent past, YRF is depending on the success of this project.

When asked if SRK and Katrina feel secure about this endeavour, the source says, "Shah Rukh and Katrina have very good relations with Yashji and Aditya. They have equal faith in both of them.

They are like family to them."

BOLLYWOOD

SOMY ALI RETURNS TO

SALMAN KHAN

S

alman Khan and the entire unit of his forthcoming film Ready returned home on Tuesday morning after a 40-day schedule in Bangkok. And with them came the big news: There's a new woman in the star's life. Or rather, she has made a comeback in the star's life. Fed up going back and forth with Katrina, it seems Sallu is giving his old love a second chance. Somy Ali with whom he shares old passions and an abiding friendship joined the star during the last leg of the shoot, much to the unitwallahs bemusement.

Salman at the airport on Tuesday morning returning from Bangkok. While the rest of the crew stayed at Hotel Sukumvit, Sallu and Somy stayed at the luxurious Hotel Landmark. Ali, who is based in the United States, arrived in Bangkok end of February and stayed on till the star's return to Mumbai. "She and Salman spent a lot of time together after the day's shoot would get over. They were seen shopping in various places in Bangkok and looked happy and comfortable like two people who have been with each other for many years," a source from Bangkok confirmed. "All through her stay Salman was very protective of Somy. She did not come on the sets but he was with her all the time after the shoot. They were quiet discreet, he didn't want to be in the public

eye," he added.

The thirty-something Somy Ali shares a unique relationship with the tempestuous star.

Though they split up after a couple of years back in the Nineties, and Salman once famously poured cola over her head, the two have remained firm friends. Whenever Salman goes to US, he meets Somy. He spent some time with her during his world tour in 2008 as well.

With Somy when he was seeing her in the '90sSomy is probably

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Kangna Ranaut, Sarah Jane Dias, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani Direction: Abhinay Deo Genre: Thriller Duration: 2 hours

Story: Anupam Kher may be the owner of an entire island in Greece, but the billionaire isn't exactly a happy man. Why? Because despite his billions, he hasn't been able to save one of his daughters (Sarah Jane Dias) from the usual fate that befalls hapless young girls, nor is he able to buy the affections of his second daughter (Shahana Goswami) who hates him for abandoning them.

But before he can avenge his misfortune and punish the people responsible for it, he is done away with. Who did it?

Will chief investigating officer, Kangna Ranaut be able to find out?

Movie Review: It's hard to believe Farhan Akhtar is behind this film, Javed Akhtar has scripted the lyrics and Shankar Ehsaan Loy have given the music. So many stalwarts and so little to savour. Can't remember a single song that was incidentally shot in a slipshod manner, including the item number by Sarah Jane Dias. And can't help wonder how Farhan could sign off a film which lacks both soul and

KACARNE'T EBENA

FEW YEARS LATER WHEN SALLU LAUNCHED HIS OWN NGO, HE DECIDED TO TAKE A CUE FROM HER AND CALLED IT BEING HUMAN. SOMY ALSO RUNS A CLOTHING LINE SO-ME DESIGNS THAT FUNDS HER NON-PROFIT-ORGANISATION NO MORE TEARS INC. WITH SO MUCH IN COMMON BETWEEN THEM AND OLD EMBERS STIRRING TO LIFE AGAIN, COULD IT BE THAT INDIA'S BEST-KNOWN BACHELOR BOY IS THINKING OF SETTLING DOWN?

the only woman in his life who has managed to remain friends and someone Salman looks up to. She is Salman's friend and confidante. He would never hear anything against her," revealed the same source who refused to go on-record. Ali, after her brief and unremarkable film career returned to the US where she got involved in charity endeavours and launched a campaign called Human Being in 2007.

Few years later when Sallu launched his own NGO, he decided to take a cue from her and called it Being Human.

Somy also runs a clothing line So-Me Designs that funds her non-profit-organisation No More Tears Inc. With so much in common between them and old embers stirring to life again, could it be that India's bestknown bachelor boy is thinking of settling down?

substance. Okay, Game has the looks of a stylish film and is peppered with all the prettiness that goes with big bottom lined bonanzas. The frames look glossy, the locales are exotic and the characters are well coiffured. But they all come across as a bunch of confused souls, caught in a crosscountry race, minus conviction.

Abhishek's good-bad trapeze act is a jumble; Kangna's cop act is by and large clueless; Boman Irani's corrupt Thai politician act is empty bluster; Anupam Kher's master of the game montage is peripheral; Sarah Jane Dias makes an inconsequential debut as the girl who dies, Godonly-knows-why; and otherwise competent actors, Jimmy Shergill and Shahana Goswami are left high and dry in a script that offers them nothing.

The film predominantly suffers from a lack-lustre script (Althea Delmas Kaushal) which often borders on the corny. Case in point: Even while Jimmy Shergill confesses his crimes, magazine covers on traffic lights are already brandishing the expose. Jet age print journalism, this! Too many loose ends and unanswered questions coupled with characters that completely lack a growth chart reduces Game to a mediocre watch, with predictable twists and turns.

WHY

April, 2011

19

MADHUR'S HEROINE

M

adhur's long wait has finally ended. For Kareena that is. After waiting for over a year to sign her for his ambitious project, Heroine, Madhur has given up and moved on. At one point, he was adamant that only Kareena could essay the central character, and after months of conversation and convincing, the project is heroine-less. While most of us thought it was the usual date problems (considering the Khans have taken up most of her year), Kareena reveals exclusively to zoOm, the real reason for this. "I'd love to work with Madhur, he's an amazing director, but the script that he's doing is not something I'm looking at doing right now". There you go, this sums up one part of the story.

Nevertheless, she adds, "I loved Page 3 and Fashion and I'd love to work with a director of his repute". Rumour has it that Aishwarya and Katrina are now in the running for the same role, and when Bebo was quizzed about who she thought best fits Heroine, she said, "It's Madhur's decision in the end, but I think both Katrina and Aishwarya will suit the role."

Cast: Divya Dutta, Ashutosh Rana, Rajit Kapoor, Yashpal Sharma, Kitu Gidwani, Sandeep Misra Direction: Sushen Bhatnagar Genre: Drama Duration: 2 hours

Story: Monica Jaitley (Divya Dutta) is an ambitious woman who wants to become a byline of import. But journalism, like most other fields, is a battleground meant for balsy women. She may have transcended her small town bearings and outgrown her laidback husband (Rajit Kapoor), but it doesn't take long for the careerist to realise that breaking news can often end up breaking hearts too. More importantly, it can be injurious to life, specially if it entails hobnobbing with sinister politicians (Ashutosh Rana), cold-blooded power brokers (Sandeep Misra) and hard-boiled industrialists (Kitu Gidwani).

Movie Review: Two things about this film make it immensely watchable. First is the striking topicality of the film. Like No One Killed Jessica, Monica too draws its flesh and blood from real life drama and is ostensibly inspired by the Shivani Bhatnagar case. Atleast the dramatis personae are the same and include a journalist who becomes a pawn in a political game and ends up losing her life for it. The film unfolds as a thrilling courtroom drama where lawyer Yashpal Sharma tries to nail the politician-industrialist nexus that plotted and perpetrated the murder of the gutsy journalist,

Monica Jaitley. The courtroom proceedings are punctuated with flashbacks showcasing Monica's stormy rise from small town scribe to high-stakes investigative journalist who hobnobbed with high-profile powerbrokers like the telecom minister, Chandrakant Pandit and the wheeling-dealing industrialist Pamela Grewal.

Of course, somewhere along this meteoric ascent, she leaves behind simpleton husband Rajit Kapoor and all the idyll that is associated with sweet domesticity.

The second thing that stands out in this lowon-hype film are the performances. Almost everyone pitches in a stellar act and creates characters that are credible and intensely human. Monica may be a crime drama, but director Sushen Bhatnagar ensures that nobody is a cold-blooded criminal. If Monica, the protagonist who thinks everything's fair for success and survival, never ends up as the bad girl despite her ambiguous morals, then Chandrakant Pandit is a colossus, even though he kills in cold blood. The film boasts of landmark performances by Divya Dutta and Ashutosh Rana as the movers and the shakers in this murky passion play. Rajit Kapoor's anguish as the cuckolded husband who holds on to his dignity is majestic too. Smaller players like Yashpal Sharma, Kitu Gidwani and Sandeep Misra also manage to grab eyeballs.

Don't be mislead by the title (no, it isn't a morning show film) and don't be foxed by the low key publicity. This one's truly a surprise.

Check it out.

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April, 2011

Signs of strain as Taliban brace for renewed fighting

WORLD NEWS

New Delhi: Warren Buffett (R), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Microsoft founder Bill Gates (L), his wife Melinda Gates and Wipro Chairman Azim Premji during a press conference about philanthropy in India, in New Delhi

Talks on for 'honourable solution' over Muhammad Yunus row: FM minister

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KABUL: The Afghan Taliban are showing signs of increasing strain after a number of killings, arrests and internal disputes that have affected them even in their Pakistan haven, Afghan security officials and Afghans with contacts in the Taliban say. The killings, coming just as the insurgents are mobilizing for new fighting season in Afghanistan, have unnerved many in the Taliban and have spread paranoia and distrust within the insurgent movement, the Afghans said. There have also been several arrests in Pakistan of senior Taliban commanders, Afghan officials said. While

the arrests have been conducted by Pakistan security forces, no one seems to know for sure who is behind the killings. Members of the Taliban attribute them to US spies.

Others, including Pakistani and Afghan Parliament members from the region, say that the Pakistani intelligence agencies have long used threats, arrests and killings to control the Taliban and that they could be doing so again to maintain their influence over the insurgents.

Whatever the case, Taliban commanders and fighters, a common sight in parts of Quetta, have now gone underground.

ple thousand that have literally gone to their homes and laid down their weapons," he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday seven areas would be included in the first phase of a gradual transition of security from NATO troops to Afghan forces in July, the first step in a process intended to end with the withdrawal of all foreign combat troops from Afghanistan by 2014. Petraeus said Karzai clearly wanted to reach out to reach out to Taliban leaders.

"There have been various efforts to do that, various strands," he said.

He said there had been contacts with high-ranking Taliban members, "but I don't want to overstate them and I obviously couldn't say with whom they've been, in recent months." Karzai has held sporadic talks with current and former Taliban members, but with little

apparent result. Taliban leaders have said no peace talks can happen while foreign troops are in Afghanistan. Petraeus said he supported Afghan efforts to seek political reconciliation and he said the Northern Ireland peace process was a useful model for addressing grievances. "But this has to be Afghan-led, this cannot be ISAF (the NATO-led force in Afghanistan), it cannot be individual countries leading this," he said. He said the High Peace Council, set up

by Afghanistan to seek a negotiated end to the violence, had been "quite active" in its travels. "They have met with various individuals in various locations outside Afghanistan," he said. Petraeus said the United States would go ahead with plans to start bringing home US troops in Afghanistan, who now number nearly 100,000, in July.

KHOST: Three suicide bombers killed 24 people and wounded dozens more in an attack on a construction firm in Afghanistan's restive southeast, government officials said on Monday, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for the assault.

Violence in Afghanistan has spiralled in the past year, with Taliban-led militants stepping up their fight against the Afghan government and its Western backers as Kabul prepares to take over responsibility for security gradually from foreign forces. The attackers forced their way into the company's compound in the Bermel district of volatile Paktika province on Sunday night after killing a security guard and then detonated a truck laden with explosives, the interior ministry said. A statement from the office of the Paktika governor said 24 people were killed and another 53 wounded. Earlier estimates said between 13 and 20 had been killed. President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, describing it as "brutal" in a statement released by his office.

Paktika governor Mohebullah Sameeem said the dead and wounded included employees of the firm and other civilians.

Construction crews and others working on infrastructure projects are frequently targeted by insurgents. Windows, doors blown out Mukhlis Afghan, governor Sameem's spokesman, said the firm was one of the

largest construction companies in the province funded by the US government. He said the blasts were so powerful that doors and windows were blown out of nearby houses, but he did not know if there were casualties outside the firm's compound.

Bermel shares a long border with lawless areas of neighbouring Pakistan, where insurgents are said to have safe havens from which they launch attacks inside Afghanistan. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it had killed more than 10 insurgents in an air strike in the same district. In an emailed statement to media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the Islamist group had carried out the attack but said it had been on a military base and that 49 foreign and Afghan troops had been killed and wounded. Taliban insurgents often inflate casualties inflicted on Afghan government forces and foreign troops. Violence across Afghanistan last year reached its worst levels since the Taliban were ousted by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001, with civilian and military casualties hitting record levels. The violence underscores the challenges ahead as US and NATO forces begin to hand over security responsibility to Afghan troops, allowing foreign troops to withdraw gradually from an increasingly unpopular war.

Thousands of Afghan Taliban laying down arms: US

DHAKA: The government in Bangladesh is seeking to reach an "honourable solution" to the unceremonious dismissal of Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, amid stepped up pressure to end the row with the Nobel Laureate.

"Various proposals have to be considered to reach an honourable solution to the issue," said finance minister AMA Muhith. The 70-year old Nobel Laureate was removed from the post of managing director of the bank he founded three decades ago. Muhith said talks were on to reach a compromise on the issue. "Don't ruin our effort by digging too much into it," he was quoted as saying by Daily Star online today. The US has pressed the government to soften its stand against micro-finance pioneer, linking a "compromise" on his dis-

missal to bilateral relations with the country. Indicating a toughening of attitude against the Sheikh Hasina government, US assistant secretary of state Robert Blake earlier this week said a compromise would be better for US-Bangla ties.

26 US Congressmen on March 15 urged Hasina to amicably settle the issue, saying "we are troubled by the removal of Dr Muhammad Yunus from his position at Grameen Bank". Yunus was fired last month from his Grameen Bank on grounds that his appointment as managing director of the institution in 2000 was faulty. He lost his appeal before the high court.

Yunus filed an appeal before the Appellate division of the Supreme Court against the high court order and the apex court is set to hear the prayer later this month.

LONDON: Nearly 5,000 Taliban insurgents have either laid down their weapons or are moving towards doing so, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, said on Wednesday. The Afghan government has launched a "reintegration" process aimed at encouraging insurgents to abandon their weapons and return to their villages. Under the programme, fighters who wish to abandon the fight are vetted, disarmed and given jobs. "There are some 70 0 or so individuals, former Taliban, who have officially gone through all the steps of the process of reintegration into society," Petraeus told the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based defence thinktank.

"There's another 2,000 or so that are in various stages of the process and we think there's another ... cou-

COLOMBO: Remnants of Sri Lanka's defeated Tamil rebels are undergoing military training in India in a bid to revive their separatist campaign at home, the island's prime minister said Thursday. D.M. Jayaratne said an unknown number of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters were based at secret camps in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. "We have intelligence reports of three clandestine training centres operated by the LTTE in Tamil Nadu," the prime min-

ister said in a statement on Thursday. He said the rebels, who were defeated by Sri Lankan government troops in May 2009, were hoping to relaunch their decadeslong fight for an independent homeland in the island. "Their next target is to create small-scale attacks," Jayaratne said. "The entire nation must be ready to face this threat."

No rebel attacks have been launched since the Tigers were wiped out, but the premier told parliament on Wednesday that the

country needed to maintain tough emergency laws to deal with their possible resurgence. Sri Lanka has resisted international calls to end emergency laws, which are routinely approved by parliament.

The United Nations estimates that up to 100,000 people died in the ethnic conflict which lasted from 1972 until 2009. The opposition accuses the government of using emergency laws to stifle political dissent and the media, charges denied by the authorities.

SYDNEY: The Australian military was hit by another scandal on Wednesday after a young army recruit allegedly filmed himself having sex with a female cadet and broadcast it via Skype to his friends. Defence minister Stephen Smith said, if proven, he could not imagine a greater "betrayal of trust", after the 18-year-old woman at the elite Australian Defence Force Academy went public with her claims. She told the Ten Network she only became aware of the incident when she was contacted by defence investigators who were alerted by another cadet. The woman, known only as 'Kate', alleges she had consensual sex but, unknown to her, her partner had set up webcams in the room with six of his friends watching the feed nearby. Still photos were also taken and had circulated at

the academy, Australia's premier college for military recruits. "It was like my whole world came crashing down around me," she said. "They had to read the statements that the boys had to make and I actually threw up. I had to be asked to be excused from the interview because it made me physically ill." The same network late Wednesday reported that the woman was offered no counselling and instead told by defence officials she must give a speech to her colleagues, apologising for humiliating them by going to the media. The speech was cancelled at the last minute. The case is being examined by police and defence officials have warned that anyone found to have committed a crime faces termination of their military career.

KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his security forces will soon take charge of security in seven areas around the nation - the first step toward his goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014. In a speech Tuesda y in Kabul, Karzai said the provincial capitals of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, Herat in the west, Mazer-e-Sharif in the north and Mehterlam in the east are slated for transition from NATO-led forces to Afghan soldiers and police in July.

Tamil Tiger rebels training in India: Sri Lanka PM

Sex scandal rocks Australian military

April, 2011

Afghan forces to take control from NATO in 7 areas: Hamid Karzai

Suicide bombers kill 24 in Afghanistan, Taliban claim responsibility

NATO takes sole control of Libya air operations 22

WORLD NEWS

April, 2011

BRUSSELS: NATO's chief said on Thursday the alliance doesn't support US and British suggestions that the UN mandate for the international military operation in Libya would allow arming rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi's troops. NATO assumed command of all air operations over Libya early Thursday, taking over from the US, which had been eager to be rid of that responsibility. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Stockholm that NATO's position is that "we are there to protect the Libyan people, not to arm the people." Britain and the US believe that existing UN Security Council resolutions on Libya could allow for foreign governments to arm the rebels, despite an arms embargo being in place.

The NATO secretary-general said he has "taken note of the ongo-

ing discussions in a number of countries but as far as NATO is concerned ... we will focus on the enforcement of the arms embargo."

Fogh Rasmussen said the transition to its command was completed at 0600 GMT (2am EDT) Thursday, giving NATO sole responsibility for all aerial and naval operations in the region.

A rebellion against Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule erupted last month, and international forces including the US, France and Britain stepped in March 19, just as it appeared Gaddafi was on the verge of crushing the revolt.

Gaddafi's forces were heavily bombarded, effectively turning the US-led air assaults into an unacknowledged aerial arm of the ragtag rebel force fighting the government's army. The NATO operation code named Unified Protector -

Kuwait cabinet quits to avoid grilling in parliament

KUWAIT: Kuwait's cabinet resigned as expected on Thursday to avoid a grilling by parliament of three ministers, all members of the ruling al-Sabah family, amid calls for political and economic reform. Lawmakers had asked to question the ministers in the latest of a series of challenges by an unusually assertive Arab parliament that have delayed important economic reforms. "The ministers submitted the resignation to the prime minister, who will refer it to the emir," a parliamentary source said. Kuwait's parliament, the most outspoken in a region mostly dominated by autocratic rulers, has triggered numerous cabinet reshuffles through questionings. The resignation could be linked to sectarian tension in the Gulf region, where Gulf Cooperation Council countries have backed Bahrain's Sunni monarchy in a crackdown on democracy protesters who are mainly Shias.

We will never bully our neighbours: China

BEIJING: China has assured its neighbours it will never play the bully. The government released a key defense policy document on Thursday promising to build trust with neighbouring countries in the military sphere.

China is pursuing "an effective way to maintain national security and development, and safeguard regional peace and stability," the document said. "At present and in future, no matter how developed China is, China will never seek hegemony or pursue expansionist policies," Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

"China's armed forces adopt a peaceful, cooperative and constructive approach in participating in international military affairs," he said. The document comes within days of the People's Liberation Army testing its integrated air defence capability under the scenario of a massive air strike. The tests that included surface-to-air missiles aimed at bringing compatibility among various kinds of missile systems, official reports said. Beijing also voiced concern over attempts by other countries to contain its growing power in the Asian region. Beijing is particularly peeved at what it regards as growing influence of the United States in Asia resulting in higher levels of friction in the region.

"Suspicion about China, interference and countering moves against China from the outside are on the increase," the Chinese government said in a key military policy document released on Thursday. It expressed worries about the United States trying to enhance its influence in Asia resulting in growing friction in the region.

German defence minister quits after plagiarism row

BERLIN: Germany's popular defence minister KarlTheodor zu Guttenberg, stripped last month of his doctoral title after accusations of plagiarism, said Tuesday he was resigning. "I thank the chancellor for her support," the conservative zu Guttenberg, 39, told reporters in Berlin. "But I have reached the limits of my strength."

includes enforcement the UN Security Council resolution mandating an arms embargo on Libya, enforcement of a no-fly zone and the protection of civilians from Gaddafi's troops.

The takeover comes at a sensitive moment in the war between the rebels and loyalist forces.

On Wednesday, Gaddafi's ground troops recaptured a strategic oil town and moved within striking distance of another major eastern city, nearly reversing the gains rebels made since the international airstrikes began.

The battlefield setbacks will likely increase calls for the international community to supply weapons to the lightly armed rebels.

The operation will be commanded by Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard from NATO's operational center in Naples, Italy.

A Libyan rebel waves the rebellion flag on a loyalist army tank at a site bombed by coalition air force in the town of Ajdabiya as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi were retreating after rebels recaptured the key eastern town in their first significant victory since the launch of the Western-led air strikes a week ago.

George Clooney called as witness in Berlusconi sex trial

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has called Hollywood star George Clooney among his defense witnesses when he goes on trial next month accused of sleeping with an under-aged prostitute, court documents said.

Berlusconi is accused of having sex with Moroccan night-club dancer Karima el Mahroug, known by her stage name Ruby, when she was 17, below the legal age for prostitution in Italy. In the trial, which begins on April 6, prosecutors accuse Berlusconi of having had sex with a "significant number" of prostitutes during parties held at his private villa near Milan. He is also accused of abusing his office to have Ruby released from police custody where she was accused of theft, as part of a cover-up. Ruby told prosecutors during questioning that

Individuals don’t matter: Libya

Clooney and his partner, Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis, were among the guests at one of Berlusconi's parties, a claim denied by Canalis. Clooney, a US actor and activist, said he could recall meeting the Italian leader only on one occasion, about aid to Africa. "It seems odd since I've only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur," Clooney said in a statement from his Los Angeles-based spokesman.

Clooney and Canalis are among an illustrious list of trial witnesses made public Tuesday, featuring well-known Italian television presenters, actors, journalists and politicians.Four government ministers, including foreign minister Franco Frattini and equal opportunities minister Mara Carfagna, a former topless model, have been called to testify.

TRIPOLI: Libya's government shrugged off the departure of Moussa Koussa, saying Muammar Gaddafi's regime "does not depend on individuals," in its first admission of the defection.

"This is a struggle for the whole nation. It's not dependant on individuals or officials " regardless of their ranking, government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said.

Earlier he had dismissed suggestions that Koussa had defected, saying he had been given permission to travel to neighbouring Tunisia to undergo urgent medical treatment.

"As far as we know Mr Moussa Koussa asked the government for permission to rest because he is a very, very ill person," Mussa Ibrahim had said.

DUBAI: Alain Robert, who is popularly known as the 'French Spiderman', scaled the 2,716 feettall Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower here in a record-clinching feat.

The climb was held yesterday as part of the 'Education Without Borders 2011' international student conference organised by the UAE's Higher Colleges of Technology.

Unlike on many previous climbs, the 48-year-old daredevil is using a rope and harness to comply with organisers' requirements.

"All safety precautions were taken with the cooperation of various governmental authorities," a state-

ment from the developer said.

Thousands of spectators watched him in action from Burj Park and Downtown Dubai.

"Alain Robert's scaling of Burj Khalifa is indeed momentous, and we are honoured to host the climb as part of the prestigious 'Education Without Borders' conference that brought the world's leading educationalists and thought-leaders to witness the unprecedented feat," Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, Emaar Properties, the developer of Burj Khalifa, said: Robert saw the attempt to climb Burj Khalifa as a true challenge.

French 'Spiderman' scales world's tallest tower

Security lapse: Fake bomb in cake box travels on jet

Myanmar buddhist novices queue to receive alms at a market in Tachileik near the Thai-Myanmar border.

Rescuers struggled to reach remote Myanmar towns hit by a powerful earthquake which killed 75 as rare images from the area showed roads torn apart and wooden homes reduced to piles of timber.

LONDON: Britain is investigating the security lapses that lead to a fake bomb concealed in a wedding cake box travelling to Istanbul undetected in a cargo flight, police said on Wednesday. The device travelled undetected to Istanbul on a flight operated by UPS two weeks ago, the same airline that carried a bomb disguised as a printer ink cartridge to East Midlands airport in October. It had been delivered to a UPS office in north London by a Turkish man two weeks ago, according to ITV News. It had a timer, wires and detonator and was placed inside a wedding cake box. A spokesman at the UK's department for transport was quoted by The Telegraph as saying, "We have already begun an investigation which will look at all aspects of this incident, including UPS's procedures ."

TOO MANY ASIANS FAIL TO APPLY FOR CITZENSHIP

ANALYSIS & OPINION LOS ANGELES -- After 14 years in the United States, Jenny Yang, who came from Korea, finally got her citizenship. Soon after her citizenship ceremony in January, Yang registered to vote.

“After I got my citizenship, I can vote. That is the best thing of my life,” said Yang, adding that she’s now paying more attention to current events and politics to keep herself informed as a new voter.

The 49-year-old woman came to the United States in 1997 as a foreign student studying English. After two years in a community college in Los Angeles, Yang realized there are more opportunities for her in this country than in Korea, and she decided to stay. She started working for a clothing company that sponsored her work permit, and eventually she got green card in 2003.

In the years after, Yang worked towards her dream to become a small business owner. She started

a coffee shop, operated under the franchise Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge Factory. Today, Yang owns two coffee shops in the Los Angeles area.

However, despite her rapid success in building her career, Yang waited three years on her naturalization. Just like many other first generation immigrants, Yang did not know where to start. “Nobody told me [anything],” said Yang, noting that her attempts to get help from Korean American community organizations proved frustrating after she got “different answers” to her questions. Yang finally sought help from the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California. An attorney there guided her through the naturalization process, and Yang said it was actually simpler than she thought. Yang was not the only one who delayed the application for U.S. citizenship.

More than 800,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in California are eligible for

First Fiji Legal Forum

MsShaminiBabu, Esq. On March 12, 2011, American Institute of Management and Humanity International hosted a legal forum at the Weekes Library in Hayward, CA. The purpose of the forum was to provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the scope of legal education and the legal profession.

The featured speaker was ShaaminiBabu, an attorney at Saltzman & Johnson Law Corporation in San Francisco, who represents employee benefit plans. Ms. Babu covered topics ranging from the test (i.e.

LSAT) required to be admitted into law school to careers in the legal field and the necessary steps in between. Ms. Babu discussed the benefits of obtaining a law degree such as gaining an in depth knowledge of the law, utilizing legal skills in numerous ways, increasing earning potential, and advocating for individuals who otherwise lack a voice in the justice system. To avoid presenting a one-sided viewpoint, Ms. Babu also addressed the challenges of the legal world such as law school loans, the bar exam, competition for jobs, varying

citizenship but not yet naturalized, according to a 2008 report by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees.

“If we even got half of [them naturalized], we could change the whole electorate landscape of California,” said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC), a long time legal services provider and a civil rights organization for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

Citing 2010 Census data, Kwoh said, AAPIs are the fastest growing group in California, making up 15.5 percent of state’s population, but the presidential election in 2008 indicated that only 10 percent of the electorate was AAPI. In other words, Kwoh said, there is a huge civic engagement gap between the actual AAPI representation in the state and its electorate. To close the gap, the Asian American & Pacific

Islander Naturalization Network (AAPINN) has launched a statewide campaign to encourage Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants in California to become citizens, as a first step to becoming registered voters. The network consists of Kwoh’s group APALC and other statewide AAPI community-based organizations.

A key part of the campaign, Kwoh said, is to organize six citizenship workshops between now and November in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Orange County, San Jose, Fresno, and San Francisco.

At the all-day sessions, immigration attorneys, legal experts and language support personnel will be present to provide counseling and help immigrants fill out their paperwork. APALC staff attorney Connie Choi said workshops would be very helpful in addressing the three main obstacles for AAPI to gain citizenship--language barriers, limited access to affordable legal services,

April, 2011

23

and the high fees - because legal services would be provided in multiple Asian languages and free of charge. Individuals would also be screened to see if they qualify for any fee waivers and exemptions.

Choi said immigrants who receive federal benefits, or live below federal poverty guidelines, or who could prove financial hardship, could apply for a fee waiver.

Choi reminded green card holders that under the current anti-immigrant climate, there are some benefits to citizenship, including access to public services that are being scaled back for green card holders, and avoiding deportation. “But I think the main reason is people want to become fully integrated into the American society,” she said.

“They want to give back to their community.” The first citizenship workshop will be held on March 26 at Rosemead Community Center in San Gabriel Valley, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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She reviewed legal jobs in the private and public sector as well as alternative uses of a law degree, resources for financial aid and job listings, significance of networking, importance of mentoring youth, and the impact pro bono and volunteer services has on our community. Ms. Babu is available to provide guidance to any students interested in pursuing a law degree; any interested students should email her atshaaminibabu@gmail.com.

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24

US Updates

To arm Libya rebels or not? US debates

April, 2011

A Belgian firefighter hands out apples to police after they were sprayed with a foam water hose during a firefighters demonstration in Brussels on Friday, March 25, 2011. Firemen demonstrated on Friday to protest against what they believe is bad management by their superiors.

New York boy, 12, charged with hate crime on Muslim

NEW YORK: A 12-year-old boy accused of trying to rip the head scarf off a Muslim classmate during recess has been charged in New York City with a hate crime. The boy appeared Thursday in family court with his father and his lawyer. He's a 6th-grader at a Staten Island middle school and is being charged as a juvenile. A call to his lawyer wasn't immediately returned. The boy's father says his son is also a Muslim.

Police and school officials say the boy has a history of harassing the 13-year-old girl, taunting her and threatening her on at least four separate occasions. The police report says he asked, "Are you Muslim?" while trying to remove her scarf.

I

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is engaged in a fierce debate over whether to supply weapons to the rebels in Libya, senior officials said on Tuesday, with some fearful that providing arms would deepen US involvement in a civil war and that some fighters may have links to al-Qaida . The debate has drawn in the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon, these officials said, and has prompted an urgent call for intelligence about a ragtag band of rebels who are waging a town-bytown battle against colonel Muammar Gaddafi, from a base in eastern Libya long suspected of supplying terrorist recruits. "AlQaida in that part of the country is

Libya on Tuesday in London. In a reflection of the seriousness of the administration's debate, Obama said that he was keeping his options open on arming the rebels. "I'm not ruling it out, but I'm also not ruling it in," Obama told NBC News. "We're still making an assessment partly about what Gaddafi's forces are going to be doing. Keep in mind, we've been at this now for nine days." But some administration officials argue that supplying arms would further entangle the United States in a drawnout civil war because the rebels would need to be trained to use any weapons, even relatively simple rifles and shoulder-fired anti-armor weapons.

This could mean sending trainers.

Elizabeth Taylor leaves NASA releases picture of Mercury's surface rumoured $1 billion fortune LOS ANGELES: Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor has left behind a fortune worthy of a legend, a whopping USD 1 billion. The Oscar-winning star's fortune makes her one of just 14 women in the world to have become self-made billionaires, reported The Independent online. Taylor became famous for the massive jewels she wore, valued at worth USD 270 million as far back as 2002 and was the first actress to ever get a 1 million pay cheque in Hollywood. Her famed jewel collection includes a ruby and diamond Cartier necklace from husband Mike Todd and the 33.19-carat Krupp diamond from her fifth husband, Richard Burton,

as well as the famous 69.42-carat pear-shaped Burton-Taylor diamond which cost over USD 1 million in 1969. She was paid USD 4 million, the equivalent of USD 47 million today, to star with her fifth husband Richard Burton in 'Cleopatra' and has the best-selling celebrity perfume to her credit. Her joint fragrance venture with cosmetics firm Elizabeth Arden launched in 1991, including the famous scent 'White Diamonds', has since amassed USD 1 billion.

The violet-eyed beauty had a portfolio of real estate valued in excess of USD 150 million, including her ranch-style home in Los Angeles.

For $1,000, celebs can tell their side of story online

magine you are a well-known person aggrieved by how you are portrayed on the internet: the slapdash Wikipedia entry; the unflattering gossip item; the endlessly repeated story about how you cheated on your spouse when in point of fact you were blamelessly resuscitating a platonic friend who was choking on an olive. Suing is too stressful and quixotic. Besides, it's the internet: how can anyone erase the inerasable? But courtesy of a new web site called ICorrect, people who feel unhappy about "obvious misinterpretations, misinformation and what some might call total lies", in the words of the site's founder, Sir David Tang, can now attempt to set the record straight.

"The superhighway is jampacked with stops where at every place you'll have mud thrown at you," said Sir David, 56, a businessman, socialite and celebrity friend extraordinaire who is best known for founding the department store chain Shanghai Tang. "Can you afford to have it all stick and not try to clean it up?" People concerned about their reputations can use the site to post

obviously an issue ," a senior official said. Fears about the rebels surfaced publicly on Capitol Hill when the military commander of Nato admiral James Stavridis, told a senate hearing that there were "flickers" in intelligence reports about the presence of Qaida and Hezbollah members among the anti-Gaddafi forces. While eastern Libya was the center of Islamist protests in 1990s, it is unclear how many groups retain ties to al-Qaida . The French government, which has led the international charge against Gaddafi, has placed mounting pressure on the US to provide greater assistance to the rebels. The question of how best to support the opposition dominated an international conference about

as many corrections as they want, for $1,000 a year. Luckily, browsing through the posts is free. Here is the actor Stephen Fry, rebutting a report that he dislikes Catholics. Here is the businessman Richard Caring, noting that he did not rudely fail to turn up at an important luncheon (it was a misunderstanding).

Meanwhile, Cherie Blair, wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, did not appear at a party wearing the same dress as the actress Hayden Panettiere; did not go shooting with Muammar Gaddafi's son; and never declared that a burqa "is no more a threat than a nun's habit". Sienna Miller would like to make it clear that she is not on Twitter. And Tommy Hilfiger never said that he did not want black people to wear his clothes.

ICorrect went live this month and has about 35 founding members, or correctors, as they are called, plucked mostly from the pages of Sir David's very thick book of contacts.

Anyone can join, with payment and proof that he is who he claims to be.

Sir David said that the site, apparently helped by a positive Twitter

message from Fry, had 225,000 hits its first weekend. Although Sir David admits that it has been "quite a path to persuade people to join", he has high hopes that someday ICorrect will be the world clearinghouse for corrections. The new venture has been greeted with some skepticism in the UK media world, in part because some people thought at first that it was a joke, and in part because many journalistic commentators are not naturally sympathetic to offended celebrities.

Stephen Pritchard, the ombudsman at The Observer of London, said that people who joined ICorrect risked drawing unnecessary attention to the very items they wished would go away. Also, he added, who is to say whether their corrections are themselves correct? That is not the point. "We're not here to police it or prove the veracity of what you post," Sir David explained. The beauty of the website, he said, is that it allows the offending items to be viewed next to the offended person's response, so that even lazy internet users will be exposed to both sides of any given story.

WASHINGTON: NASA on Tuesday released the first picture taken of Mercury's surface by the US space agency's orbiting Messenger craft. "Early this morning, at 5:20 am EDT (0920 GMT), Messenger captured this historic image of Mercury," NASA said. "This image is the first ever obtained from a spacecraft in orbit about the solar system's innermost planet." The spacecraft snapped 363 images over the next six hours, and more were expected to be released Wednesday in conjunction with an expert press conference to discuss the findings. The upper part of the image shows an unusual, dark-rayed crater called Debussy, while the lower part

reveals a portion of Mercury near its south pole that has never before been witnessed by spacecraft, NASA said. NASA's Messenger craft -- which stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging -- became the first vehicle to orbit Mercury on March 17. Messenger was launched more than six years ago, traveling through the inner solar system and embarking on flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury. The first NASA craft to study Mercury since the Mariner mission more than three decades ago, Messenger has already been able to return a partial map of the planet's crater-filled surface after just a handful of flybys.

WASHINGTON: Avoiding using the word war, US president Barack Obama, under the gun for dragging Washington into another conflict, made the case for US intervention in Libya to prevent possible atrocities. He maintained the US was forced to step in due to the immediate danger of mass slaughter by Gaddafi, but cautioned such interventions did not offer a template to address the world's ills.

"To brush aside America's responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different," Obama said during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, as he sought to roll back criticism about US involvement. "And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.''

He indicated there were limits to US intervention in view of questions as to what Washington will do in case of similar flare-ups in countries such as Yemen, Bahrain and Syria.

The United States would go in only when it was in its strategic interests, typically in partnership with other countries, he suggested.

But on the crucial question of whether US would seek to forcibly remove Gaddafi from power, Obama drew a line in the sand, recalling that "we went down that road in Iraq'' at great cost.

The US president's speech failed to quell the sense of confusion in Washington, with critics continuing to question what precisely Obama saw as the end-game in Libya if he did not seek Gaddafi's ouster. "The doctrine is clear, but the mission isn't'' Time magazine analyst Michael Crowley wrote.

US move stopped killings, but it's not a template for future: Obama

STAR AGE ARIES

March-21 to April-20

CANCER

June-22 to July-23

you will notice that you are increasingly sensitive to the subtle undercurrents around you. This makes you helpful to those in need, but you will have to protect yourself to ensure you don’t become overloaded with their problems. Later in the day, you will feel more self absorbed. At work, you will want to be at the centre of attention.

You may become jealous if you think a friend is off talking to someone else when you want their attention. Don't overreact since within two minutes the situation will have changed. You are not taking your feelings at all lightly at the moment. You are on people or off them, either adoring or loathing.

There's no middle way.

This isn't the day to fly solo. You've really got to make new agreements with close partners where money or emotional matters are concerned. It may take a compromise all round, but it will be worth it. So give a little bit, September-24 take a little bit, shift ground and meet in the middle. You are in one of your to periodic upheavals at home.

TAURUS

April-21 to May-20

LEO

July-24 to August-23

LIBRA

SCORPIO

October-22

October-23 to November-22

CAPRICON

December-23 to Januar-20

With the Moon in the dramatic area of your chart today you will be much more emotional in the way you connect to people. Just don't get too wrapped up in your own feelings and forget to ask what others are wanting. You are coming across as a strong personality, but secretive as well. Don't make close companions feel excluded or shut out.

AQUARIES

January-21 to February-19

The Moon in your own sign today has an ebbing and flowing quality one moment you will be outgoing and charming, the next rather withdrawn. You know you need to rethink some of your personal beliefs, and find a different perspective on your life. At work you may find yourself involved in rather heated discussions at the moment.

Today you're likely to find your feelings more on public display than usual. Just don't over-react and hear slights where none actually exist.

You've got to stand steady for other people at work - be an anchor for them. Looking after your body is a priority since you do feel pressured by demands on your time and energy.

There could be some confrontations today because you are feeling a little over-emotional. If you do stir up a problem just don't go too far since you won't really want to see it through. You may start something and then wish you hadn't bothered.

You can be too forceful in expressing yourself so you may get into arguments.

You don't want any aggravation today.

You really yearn for a pleasant, relaxing time. When you are on your own take the chance to mull things over from the recent past and get your head together about things. You are having quite a profound influence on the people around you because of the strength of your personality.

GEMINI

May-21 to June-21

VIRGO

August-24 to September-23

SAGITTARIUS

November-23 to December-22

PISCES

February-20 to March-20

April, 2011

25

Don't feel martyred today if your efforts are being taken for granted.

Look after yourself well in the absence of anyone else doing it.

Pluto is now in your chart and makes you fascinated by what runs below the surface in situations in life around money and love. But it can make you repress your feelings because you are wary of opening up.

You want to see things in a broader way, rather than being sunk in minutiae and detail. It's a rather prophetic kind of Moon. If you can look into the future and see where life is taking you, then you can put your energy more constructively. You have ambitions to be someone rather grand, so use your artistic talents to gain the status you seek.

Looking after yourself physically is important today. Don't do anything that is going to put more strain on your stamina. Just think positively, eat healthily, and try to relax. You do want to earn more at the moment.

You have been developing a real capacity for managing your money, though you have to watch a compulsive streak.

Today you will thrive on interesting, varied conversations though you won't concentrate on anything for too long. You have really got to be clear in your own mind about the message you want to get across, since you may get scattered in this busy time.

You have too many loose ends flying around your head, too many people to chat to or visit.

IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

The Supreme Being is Karta Purakh, the Creator, transcendent and All-pervasive. Creation is His manifestation.

"True is He and true is His Creation, All has emanated from God Himself", says fifth Sikh Guru Arjan. Nature has all attributes of its Creator. Vaheguru, the wondrous Master, is the data or giver as well as karta or doer. Nature is but His creation and cosmic play. Nature teaches us humility. You are humble when you are satisfied with yourself, your life and the world around. In all religions, humility is regarded as the first step towards Self-realisation. Lack of humility leads to 'haumai' the feeling 'i am', that is, ahankar, egoism or selfcentredness which is considered not only as an inner disease but as root cause of all evil impulses. A man full of haumai or ego, manmukh, is oblivious of the interests of others.

26

SPORTS

April, 2011

$16m short in the Housing loan portfolio

FRU does not deserve the $3m says PM, TOO MUCH POLITICS IN THE RUGBY HOUSE

T

he current board and management of the Fiji Rugby Union do not deserve to be given $3 million at this stage as they have not taken responsibility or have the will to fight for our best players to represent the country says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Bainimarama says the FRU should push the International Rugby Board to pressure Australia and New Zealand to give visas to soldiers who represent the country and are participating in IRB sanctioned tournaments. He says the FRU should be doing all they can to ensure the best players represent the country – but there is too much politics at Rugby House, allowing the FRU to lie down and not fight for the interest of the players and the country. He says the people at Rugby House had no spirit – and the $3m promised by the government for the 2011 Rugby World Cup will not materialise if the current discouraging behave our continues within the Fiji Rugby Union.

Lions beat Tavua to extend lead

Labasa continues with its outstanding performance in the Fiji Sun/Weet-Bix national football league following a hard fought 1-0 victory over minnows Tavua today.

The team from the friendly north is now on 21 points after seven matches - eight points clear of second placed Lautoka. The only goal for the Lions came into the second spell through striker MaciuDunadamu. In other matches Nadroga and Nadi played to a nil-all draw at Lawaqa Park. Nadroga now has a point after playing six matches while Nadi is on six points.

At RatuCakabau Park in Nausori, Navua and Rewa played to a one all draw while Suva and Savusavu also settled for the same scoreline at the TFL National Stadium.

Suva held as feature match ends in stalemate S

uva looked the amateur side as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Savusavu in a close Fiji Sun/Weet-Bix national football league encounter at the TFL Stadium today. The capital city side gave away quality possession to the Super newcomers who continued to attack from all angles. In fact their goal came after an own goal via Savusavu'sJonasaBulinayau in the 63rd minute. The visitors came back to level the scores in the 75th minute by striker MoseseGadai.

The two teams are now tied in seventh spot with seven points apiece. And in the feature match of the day at RatuCakobau Park, Rewa and Navua played to a 1-all draw. Joseph Mishra struck first for Navua in the 58th minute before JoeliRanitu equalized for Rewa ten minutes later. Meanwhile KelepiQaqa was red carded with Navua’sSailosiLivatalo after a fight broke out between them just minutes before full-time. In other matches, Nadroga and Nadi were locked in a nil-all draw while Labasa beat Tavua 1-0.

MORE than 10 per cent of the Housing Authority's $136million loan portfolio are either non-performing or in arrears, totaling some $16million.

This was confirmed by HA chief executive AlipateNaiorosui. The $16m is, however, a massive reduction from the $40m the authority had recorded last year for non-performing accounts and accounts in arrears. On Friday, the authority announced it was turning to mobile phones hoping it would better their payment collections. Of the $16m, $13m are non-performing mortgage accounts while the remaining amount is for ground rent arrears.

MrNaiorosui said ground rent was one of the biggest revenue earners for the authority. But, he added, the review of the Fiji National Provident Fund policy on partial withdrawals for housing had greatly helped the authority recover its debts. He said most customers had used their FNPF to reduce their debts.

In June last year, the authority had $40m in arrears and was ordered by its board to recover at least 10 per cent by the end of the year. The authority is, however, going ahead with its developments in Tacirua and is also awaiting approval to start its ambitious $1billion Waila City project.

MrNaiorosui revealed that work has begun in Tacirua which should see 1050 new lots.

Nadroga drops senior three for Nadi match

The Nadroga soccer team has dropped three of its most senior players for their home match against Nadi today. Association boss DrDhirendraLal says the three are Jonas Nacewa, Sitiveni Watkins and SanailaDakaica. The three failed to attend training with the rest of the squad. Nadroga will also miss the services of its star striker SamuelaDrudru who sustained injuries during the local league competition. Drudru has been ruled out from all levels of soccer for two months. The winless Stallions need to win against Nadi and Lal is confident his young brigade will do just this. “I know Nadi is a good side, they played well against Lautoka and Ba and it’s not easy to win over them, but I have full faith in our boys and they will give their best shot”, said Lal. The Nadroga versus Nadi match will kickoff at 3pm at Lawaqa P

Rooney treble as United down West Ham W

ayne Rooney struck a secondhalf hat-trick as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat West Ham 4-2 and strengthen their position at the top of the English Premier League. Mark Noble had struck two penalties for the hosts at Upton Park but also felt NemanjaVidic should have been dismissed by referee Lee Mason for denying Demba Ba a goalscoring opportunity. United took full advantage in the second half, with Rooney pulling a goal back before levelling with his 100th league goal for his club. The England striker then established a lead with a penalty after Matthew Upson’s handball, before Javier Hernandez grabbed another. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watched the match unfold from the stands as he is serving a touchline ban for criticising referee Martin Atkinson. After 10 minutes another decision went against his team when the hosts

took the lead through Noble’s first penalty, after a move that started on the edge of West Ham’s penalty area. Thomas Hitzlsperger’s long pass out of defence released Carlton Cole, whose attempt to lob the ball over Patrice Evra resulted in the France international handling.

Noble kept his nerve and sent

Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way to establish a lead, then doubled the advantage in the 25th minute with another spot-kick. Mason's decision for the second penalty may have angered Ferguson, as Vidic was certain his challenge on Cole came outside the area. The Serbia international even pointed to the precise

area he had made the tackle as Cole danced in from the left, but Mason had already made his decision. Noble went for power with his second penalty, and in the opposite corner, with his finish angling into the roof of the net. United were inevitably going to see more of the ball as they chased the game, but their first sight of goal led to an athletic save from Robert Green. West Ham manager Avram Grant could not understand why Green did not play for England against Ghana in Tuesday’s friendly at Wembley following his recent good form. He produced a fine stop to deny Park Ji-Sung when the midfielder was left unmarked and unleashed a powerful volley. United also felt they should have had a penalty when Rooney’s poor control saw the ball flick up and strike Upson on the arm. Vidic, though, was thankful for Mason's leniency when he was only given a yellow card when he pre-

vented Ba from racing through on goal. Hitzlsperger flashed the resulting free-kick just wide.

Hernandez was brought on at the half-time interval, with Ryan Giggs moved to left-back as United looked to get back into the game. Rooney pulled a goal back with a spectacular curling free-kick 25 yards from goal after Noble had fouled Michael Carrick in the 65th minute, giving United momentum heading into the final phase of the game. Rooney then levelled the match when he collected Antonio Valencia’s pass, raced past Manuel Da Costa and fired his finish beyond Green.

DimitarBerbatov, on as a substitute, forced two saves from Green but it was Rooney who grabbed the lead for them, tucking away his penalty after Upson handled Fabio da Silva‘s cross. Giggs crossed for Hernandez to tap in with six minutes remaining to add gloss to the scoreline.

FOOD

INGREDIENTS

Lamb shanks: 3; Red wine: 200 ml; Tomato puree: 50 gm; Mire poix(celery): 100 gm; Rosemary: a sprig; Flour: 15 gm; Oil/butter: 20 ml; Veal stock: 500 ml; Salt to taste; Pepper to taste.

FOR RISOTTO

STUFFED JACKET

POTATOES INGREDIENTS

Oval potatoes: 6 (medium), Spring onion: 1 (chopped), Capsicum: 1 (chopped), Red bell pepper: 1/2 (chopped), Yellow bell pepper: 1/2 (chopped), Chilli: 1 (chopped), Garlic flake: 1 (chopped), Mint leaves (whole): 10-12, Beaten cream: 1/4 cup, Butter: 2 tbsp, Mustard: 2 tbsp, Grated cheese: 1/2 cup, Oil: 1 tbsp, Salt to taste, Pepper to taste.

METHOD

Scrub unpeeled potatoes. I Boil but they should be still firm.

Refrigerate, use next day.

Make crisscross slits 2/3 way down the elongated part of potato. Make sure it stands firmly.

Apply slight pressure at the lower part to open the slits a bit.

Brush inside with butter, sprinkle a bit of salt.

Heat oil in a pan, add chilli, garlic, capsicum, and stir. Add all other chopped veggies except mint leaves, stir-fry. Take off fire, allow cooling.

Add salt, pepper, cream, cheese, mustard and mix well.

Meanwhile, bake potatoes in preheated oven at 200°C for 3-4 minutes. Remove, gently open out slits slightly, spoon in veggie mixture into slits. I Brush potato jackets with butter.

Return to oven and bake again at 200°C for 3-4 minutes.

Remove, garnish with mint leaves on top.

Chocolate Pudding

INGREDIENTS

10 gm corn flour, salt to taste, 100 ml milk, 50 gm chocolate chips, 15 gm whipped cream, 2 gm cocoa powder.

METHOD

Mix corn flour, salt and milk together until smooth. Add chocolate chips and microwave on high for one minute until hot. Cook further for 30-45 seconds. Stir and cool. Top it with whipped cream and cocoa powder.

Carnaroli rice: 60 gm; Butter: 20 gm; Chopped onions: 15 gm; White wine: 8 ml; Saffron: 0.2 gm; Vegetable stock: 200 ml; Salt to taste; Parmesan: 15 gm.

OSSO BUCCO

METHOD

sear it. In a stock pot, sweat the mire poix and add the seared lamb shanks. After a couple of minutes, deglaze with red

INGREDIENTS

you wish 1tsp powdered garam masala.

Marinate the lamb with salt, pepper, rosemary with oil, dust in season flour and Enough dahi (curd) to coat the chicken you are using A pinch of turmeric, 1 stick of ginger, roughly chopped Few cloves of garlic as per your taste, roughly chopped 2-3 onions, roughly chopped 2-3 tomatoes, roughly chopped 2-3 green chillies, Salt as per taste, Some whole spices cloves, bay leaf, aniseed you can even use kesar if

wine and add tomato puree. Cook further, add veal stock, salt, pepper and cover it with tight-fitting lid and simmer it for 35-40 minutes. Once the meat is tender, arrange it in the plate and reduce the remaining liquid and mount it with butter. Pour the sauce as required on top of the meat and serve hot, accompanied with saffron risotto.

FOR RISOTTO

In a stock pot, add butter and saute the chopped onions, add rice and white wine. Further, add saffron, salt and stock water, cook till rice is done. Finish it with butter and parmesan.

Coat the chicken with the dahi , and spice powders.

Marinate for about 1 hour.

Put in everything akha (whole) into a handi . (This dish uses absolutely no oil and water). Seal the handi with atta and let it cook in its own juices for about 45 mins to an hour. At the end you should have a soupy consistency dum chicken.

DUMCHICKEN

GRAPE CHUTNEY

Grapes — green, black, red: 200 gm each; Ghee: ½ tbsp; Onion seeds: ¼ tsp; Lemon juice: 10 ml; Chat masala: to taste.

INGREDIENTS

Cottage cheese: 300 gm; Green grapes: 100 gm; Black grapes: 100 gm; Red grapes: 100 gm; Hung curd: 50 gm; Ginger paste: ½ tsp; Garlic paste: ½ tsp; Gram flour: 30 gm; Butter: 2 tbsp; Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp; Yellow chilly powder: ¼ tsp; Dhaniya powder: ¼ tsp; Cream: 2 tbsp; Salt: to taste.

METHOD

Grape chutney : Heat oil in a pan and add onion seeds and sauté. Add diced grapes and cook till consistency is thick. Remove from flame and add lemon juice and chat masala.

Angoori paneer tikka: Heat butter in a pan and roast gram flour in it till light brown. Add roasted gram flour in hung curd and add all the remaining spices and cream together making a smooth mixture.

Cut the cottage cheese in cylindrical shape and put slits in it. Fill the slits with prepared grape chutney and marinate in the prepared marinade. Place the paneer tikka on a skewer and roast in tandoor till light brown from outside. Serve with grape chutney and crunchy salad on the side.

Peach Cobbler

INGREDIENTS:

2 cream crackers (coarsely crumbled), 10 gm butter, 1 ripe peach sliced, 15 gm sugar, cinnamon powder to taste, 15 gm whipped cream for topping.

METHOD:

Feng Shui

27

Diet Tips

Feng Shui has a powerful impact on the subconscious. That is why it is such a good way to promote weight loss. Instead of counting calories and fighting cravings, you can promote wellness through a careful selection of shapes, colours and materials. Sceptical? Try a few of these suggestions

EAT A SQUARE MEAL

METHOD

ANGOORI PANEER TIKKA

April, 2011

Place the cracker crumble in a microwave glass. Top it with butter, slice of peach, sugar and cinnamon. Microwave on high for two minutes and serve with whipped cream.

Square dishes are better than round dishes when you’re trying to lose weight. That’s because squares radiate contentment, while circles invite curiosity.

MELLOW OUT

Mellow, earthy tones promote fulfillment, whereas bright colours stimulate the appetite. If you’re serious about sticking to your diet, paint your kitchen or dining room an earthy colour like brown or beige. You won’t be tempted to overeat.

The more tranquil your eating environment, the easier it will be to stick to your diet. An even number of table settings will make you feel relaxed, whereas an odd number will heighten your awareness.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

Mirrors aid focus. To stay committed to your fitness goals, hang a mirror in your eating area, with a clear vision of your seat. This will make you mindful of what and how much you’re eating.

EXPLORE HEALTHY LIVING

Take a realistic approach to thirty days of fitness based on the movements of the Moon. Get your mind, body and spirit in sync with a personalised diet and fitness forecast.

CLEAR THE CLUTTER

Clutter represents excess baggage, including unwanted kilos. If you need to cut calories, get rid of the junk in your house. Start with the kitchen, which represents your physical well-being.

EAT TO THE BEAT

Put a ticking clock in your eating area.

This will remind you to slow down and enjoy your meal.

TURN IN YOUR TROUGH

To reduce the size of your meals without feeling deprived, invest in smaller dishes.

GET COOKING

When you fix your own meals, you have a greater measure of control over ingredients, portions and food presentation.

Feng Shui practitioners believe that cooking promotes financial prosperity.

HAVE A BALANCED MEAL

The more colourful the food on your plate, the more nutritious it probably is.

CLEAN YOUR CAR

If you’ve got a big posterior, clear out the back of your car. Excess weight often manifests itself in your automobile.

Violence in Fiji May Offer Chance for U.S. Asylum By TIM HULL 28

April, 2011

(CN) - The 9th Circuit ordered a review of an Indo-Fijian Muslim's request for asylum, finding that the most recent takeover of the island nation by its military may put members of the ethnic and religious minority at risk for discrimination, rape and torture.

Indo-Fijians, whom the British brought to the South Pacific islands in the 19th century as contract laborers from India, make up about 38 percent of Fiji's population. They have suffered abuse, curtailed rights, harassment and in some cases torture at the hands of native Fijians since political unrest gripped the country in the late 1980s, according to a ruling published Friday.

The federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that an immigration judge and the Bureau of Immigration Affairs (BIA) had failed to consider the fallout from a 2006 coup - the fourth military takeover of the country since 1987 - when it denied Jannif Ali's petition for review of his applications for asylum and withholding of removal.

The 9th Circuit has ruled on least 14 related Indo-Fijian asylum requests since 1995.

One such case from 2000, Gafoor v.

INS, provides a chilling synopsis of some of the worst crimes committed against the Indo-Fijians, most of whom are Hindus and Muslims in a largely Christian nation.

"The Department of State received numerous reports of physical abuse of detainees by the military, some of whom were forced to run barefoot on blacktop roads in the hot sun for several kilome-

ters or were dumped in pit latrines or in the sewage treatment holding plants," according to the case, quoted in Friday's ruling. "The most horrible reported attacks on Indo-Fijians include women raped in front of their children, political opponents brutally beaten, detainees forced to walk naked in the streets while holding human excrement, people forced to swim in sewage ponds, and children stripped and beaten for Sunday curfew violations and forced to rub their noses against a concrete floor until their noses bled. Ethnic Fijian youth gangs raided, stoned, and fire bombed IndoFijian homes. In 1989, five Hindu temples were burned. In October 1990, an Indian school was burned. Freedom of speech was severely constrained, and political meetings and demonstrations banned." Fleeing such treatment, Ali and his family came to the United States in 1989 on visitors' visas. Ali applied for asylum in that year, but the government didn't interview him until 14 years later, when it began removal proceedings against him for overstaying his visa.

Ali claims that after the 1987 coups, he was harassed by native Fijian soldiers while praying at a mosque, and that soldiers beat him, vandalized his house and threatened to rape his wife, among other things.

In 2004, an immigration judge found that Ali had provided proof to establish past persecution, but concluded that he was not eligible for asylum. Citing the U.S. State Department's 1996 and 2004 country reports for Fiji, the judge ruled that the federal government had refuted

Ali's claims with evidence that Fiji's political conditions had improved.

The BIA agreed with the immigration judge, and Ali appealed. While the appeal was pending, Ali moved to reopen his case, claiming that a 2006 coup in Fiji had renewed the dangerous conditions for Indo-Fijians. The BIA denied his petition in 2007, finding that that most recent coup had no bearing on the issue. The three-judge appeals panel reversed that decision on Friday, saying that the immigration judge and the BIA had failed to give Ali an "individualized" determination as to whether Indo-Fijians still face discrimination and possible violence in Fiji.

"The BIA and IJ correctly afforded Ali the presumption of a well-founded fear of persecution," Judge Sidney Thomas wrote for the panel. "But their finding that the government had rebutted that presumption is not supported by substantial evidence because they failed to make an individualized determination of how the changed country conditions in Fiji impacted Ali's specific harms and circumstances. In addition, the BIA abused its discretion when it denied Ali's motion to reopen because it failed to analyze the effect of the 2006 coup on Ali's presumption of a well-founded fear of persecution." Thomas added that "the new material, detailing the 2006 coup, could have made it more difficult for the government to rebut Ali's presumption of a well-founded fear of future persecution."

The panel granted Ali's petition for review and remanded the case back to the BIA for another look

LEGAL AFFAIRS C I D – C E N T RA L I N V ES T I G A T I O N S D I VI S I ON A NE W VE NT U RE

CID

CENTRAL INVESTIGTIONS DIVISON

Let’s face it: Many times you are not sure of powers so you cannot touch anything.

You do not have time.

You do not have skills and license.

You need independent party to verify.

The job is half done.

Police did not do a complete investigation. They have don’t time.

You are not sure what to do and how to it. What’s where we come in the experts-CID.

You have a dispute: Someone owes you person loan and the party is not paying.

Repair work on your car, home and any property has been screwed up.

Unknown/blocked callers are harassing you.

You suspect someone has damaged your car/property etc.

You think someone has committed an offense against you.

Or anything else you feel needs to be investigated. Check us out first.

CID Here’s what you get!

Full report!

Where necessary pictures and documents!

Video footage where necessary!

Audio recording where necessary!

Fiji Police legal education one of the best in the world

In the Colonial era, a career in the Fiji Police Department was left mainly to those who did not make it through the 8th grade elementary school. The low pay, black uniform, rough working conditions coupled with unprofessional attitude gave police a bad reputation.

Even a cursory glance at the police training notes written in the Colonial days gave sufficient information that the syllabus were taken from Scotland Yard Police and other British sources.

The accompanying lecture notes used by training staff were very well documented with appropriate case laws that forever became the basis of legal education for professional police work. As class room and field training were rigorous and subject to discipline the aptitude to pass with high grades was very common.

Despite a below average English, most police recruits memorized dozens of definitions including the two most commonly used “cautionary words” of Judges Rules adopted in London. For a suspect held in custody, it was important to use Judges Rule II. The Judges Rule III was used in arrest-similar to the recital ofwhat is Mirandizing in the US law enforcement.

It is from this basic police training, police recruits considered as class eight dropouts and Fiji Junior failed, scores of them made a very successful career acquiring new sets of knowledge and skills. A career very distinct from clerical in civil service and teaching professions most high graduates were usually headed.

POLICE TRAINING AT PDTS

PDTS stood for Police Depot And Training School situated at the Nasese Police Complex. The word for depot for many sounded archaic and implied confinement or a place of detention but the Colonialists loved the term. The layout of police barracks with two long rows ofwooden beds, at least 20 on each side, a tall wooden locker and a large black kit box characterize a six months on campus life style here. A typical day began at 5 in the morning to shower,

Self-Help for Legal Action !

RIGHT FROM DAY ONE ALL RECRUITS WOULD SPEND SEVERAL HOURS JUST SPIT SHINE THE BOOTS AND BRASS POLISH OTHER ACCESSORIES IN AN EFFORT TO BE READY FOR THE MORNING INSPECTION AT THE POLICE GROUNDS IN FRONT OF THE NASOVA GUARD ROOM. HERE THE RECRUITS WOULD OBTAIN OLD .303 RIFLES USED IN THE WW II FOR BE TRAINED IN MARCHING DRILLS BY THE DRILL MAJOR AND HIS SHREWD INSTRUCTORS.

shave and get ready in full training gear in grey shirt and khaki shorts, heavy duty police boots that many were not used to for daily wear. Right from day one all recruits would spend several hours just spit shine the boots and brass polish other accessories in an effort to be ready for the morning inspection at the Police Grounds in front of the Nasova Guard Room. Here the recruits would obtain old .303 rifles used in the WW II for be trained in marching drills by the drill major and his shrewd instructors. In a more than an hour daily training recruits would be trained from basic steps in marching to carrying the guns and adapting to combat situations in what called a riot drill to face and contain a riotous situations.

In the course of the police career, all police officers return to the Fiji Police Training center for ongoing classroom and field training several times to keep abreast with continuing education and physical fitness. In addition to weekly tests, it is mandatory to pass final written examination with fifty percent score or better. Many police officers obtain over 70-90 percent passing scores that are published in the official police gazette and recorded in their personal files. These exams are similar to the Fiji Civil Service exams that carry the same weight for promotions and external references.

April, 2011

29

30

April, 2011

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October, 2010

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19

Holi Canadian style as observed by Fiji family

PHOTO GALLERY

April, 2011

31

Holi at Fremont Hindu Temple – said to be temple of “peace and unity for all”

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April, 2011