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India: Prince William engaged, wedding next year Pg 11 His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it to hold the memory of a wrong.

— Emerson

IN BRIEF Doc faces six years in jail An Indian-origin doctor was today sentenced to six years in jail after being convicted of raping a woman seven times in one night and taking her photographs during the assault. A County Court jury found 37-year-old Arvind Sharma guilty last month of seven counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault over the incident which took place in December 2006, according to media reports here. -- (PTI)

Goa: Organisers rope in corporates to fund IFFI Pg 3

(air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+4

Sports: We will give all the answers: Kalmadi Pg 16

Constable suspended for gambling

Russian eve molested, her laptop stolen

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

A police constable attached to Panjim town police station was today placed under suspension pending departmental enquiry as he was noticed gambling in a casino while on duty, a senior police officer said.

Constable Vikram Naik was also placed under preventive arrest of misbehaving with the casino staff and hit a police-sub inspector whose fingers were fractured as a result of the assault.

North Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas confirmed the news and said that action was taken following a report by the Panjim police inspector Sandesh Chodankar on Tuesday.

The errant constable, on Sunday evening skipped his dutycall and instead went to a land-based casino where he allegedly created a ruckus. The casino authorities immediately contacted the Panjim police for assistance following which a team was sent.

“Naik attempted to assault the police when they reached to control the situation. He was somehow brought to the police station and later sent for medical examination that confirmed he was drunk at the time of assault,” Gawas said.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

Muslims perform congregational morning prayers at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of faithfuls across India flocked to mosques to offer prayers as mass animal sacrifices, traditional piety and the spirit of brotherhood marked Bakri-Id festival.

Rap on Bigg Boss, Rakhi shows I&B shifts telecast, cites vulgarity, abusive language PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

Cracking down on “vulgarity” on prime time television, the government today directed channels airing shows Bigg Boss and Rakhi ka Insaf to shift their telecast between 11 pm to 5 am citing “abusive” language, “objectionable” content and divulging of “intimate” details on the shows.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry also banned Telugu SS Music channel for a period of seven days for allegedly showing nudity.

Both the programmes are not for universal viewing and can be aired only in the scheduled time slot, the ministry told the channels in separate written orders, giving them a virtual Acertificate.

While Bigg Boss is being aired on Colours, Rakhi ka Insaaf is aired on NDTV Imagine.

The shows cannot also be repeated at any other time slot or shown on news programmes, they said.

On Bigg Boss, the directive issued to the channel said, “It

has been brought to the notice of this ministry that the content of the reality show Bigg Boss Season 4 being aired on Colors TV channel offends against good taste and decency.

“It was also brought to the notice of the ministry that the content of the show is objectionable and not suitable for children and unrestricted public (Continued on page 10)

Pamela arrives

The show goes on

Clad in a white sequined saree, Hollywood celebrity and former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson made her much-awaited entry into the house of Bigg Boss, a popular TV reality show.

But Salman Khan, the host for the fourth edition of the show, is in for a disappointment since the 43-year-old sex siren says she is not aware of the Bollywood star.

‘Bigg Boss’ was aired tonight at 9 pm on Colors, disregarding Government’s directive to shift the programme for screening after 11 pm, prompting a furious I and B ministry to summon the channel people for a meeting tomorrow.

A Colors spokesman claimed that the channel had not received the I and B order during the day, possibly because it was a holiday.

PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

Pamela Anderson at Bigg Boss

No one to collect this Nobel prize Agencies OSLO, NOV 17

No members of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo’s immediate family can come to Oslo to receive his Nobel Peace Prize, Nobel Institute director Geir Lundestad said Wednesday.

“It seems that Liu Xiaobo’s family has given up hope that someone in the laureate’s family will be able to travel from China and be present in Oslo on December 10,” Lundestad told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. No one from the family was on an updated guest list Wednesday, he said.

Lundestad added that the December 10 prize ceremony would go ahead, but said the Nobel Peace Prize medal, diploma, and award of 1.4 million dollars) would not be handed out.

It is expected to be the first time in the prize’s 109-year-history that neither the laureate nor a representative will show up to receive the prestigious award.

In a shocking incident, a 21year-old Russian woman was molested by an unknown accused in her residential flat at Colva in the wee hours of Wednesday. The miscreant also decamped with a laptop owned by the woman.

Colva police registered a case of molestation, theft and trespass against unknown persons after the husband of the victim lodged a complaint at the police station on Wednesday noon.

The police said the unknown person entered the flat via the gallery when the husband Mikhail Shamov (34) was out of the house.

The police said the miscreant laid his hand on the laptop and later molested the woman before making good his escape under the cover of darkness.

After receiving the complaint, the Colva police dispatched two jeeps to the area to nab the culprits, but in vain.

Replying to a question, the police said the Russian couple are not new to the place of residence after residing at the place for quite some time now.

Tito’s, Mambos face the music HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Stakeholders of two of the most popular clubs in North Goa — Mambos and Tito’s have been slapped with “stop work order” for carrying out illegal constructions in the no development zone (NDZ). Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mapusa D M Redkar issued the stop work order directing David D’Souza, Lucille D’Souza and Ricardo D’Souza to forthwith stop illegal construction carried out by them in survey number 243/15 which is within 200 to 500 meters from the high tide line (HTL) in Calangute village.

The deputy collector initiated the action after he received a complaint from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) . The survey number in question and illegal construction are presently the sub-

ject matter of two petitions pending before the High Court and the court had directed maintaining the status quo.

Michael D’Souza, member secretary GCZMA in his complaint to the deputy collector, Mapusa says that even otherwise the alleged on-going construction being in the NDZ, is violative of the provisions of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification.

One Ravindra Jana had made the complaint to GCZMA about illegal constructions in the NDZ. The deputy collector has directed the police inspector of Calangute to ensure that status quo is maintained and no further construction is carried out and fixed the hearing on January 7, 2011. However, it is learnt that illegal construction has not stopped despite the stop work order. Illegal construction is now carried out very discreetly, our sources said.

Grant of ATKT reviewed in terms of grading system HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

In view of its decision to adopt the grading system for SSC and HSSC examinations, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has reviewed grant of ATKT (allowed to keep terms) whereby students will be given the concession based on several parameters.

The board in a recent circular communicated the ATKT parameters to the institutions con-

cerned.

The board had earlier informed the schools on the grading system and it has accordingly set conditions by which the students will get the concession (ATKT) in terms of the grading system.

In the first case, students have to get a grade of ‘A’ to ‘G’ in five subjects and grade ‘I’ in one subject for ATKT in one subject provided they secure a grade value of 20 in the five

subjects in which they have qualified.

In the second case, students securing a grade of ‘A’ to ‘G’ in four subjects and grade of two ‘H’ will get ATKT in one subject.

In this case, the candidate may select the subject of his/her choice to answer ATKT provided he/she secures a grade value of 20 in the five subjects in which the he/she has qualified (including the subject in which the candidate has secured an ‘H’ grade).

Thirdly, students with grade of ‘A’ to ‘G’ in four subjects and grade of two ‘I’ will be granted ATKT in two subjects provided they secure grade value of 16 in the four subjects in which they have qualified.

Finally, those students with grade of ‘A’ to ‘G’ in four subjects, a grade of ‘H’ in one subject and grade of ‘I’ in the remaining subject will get ATKT in one subject where they have been awarded ‘I’ grade provided they secure a

grade value of 20 in the remaining five subjects (including the subject in which the candidate has secured a ‘H’ grade).

The board circular stated it is to be noted to qualify in the subject in the subsequent examination(s), candidates with ATKT will have to secure a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’ only. The internal assessment component(s) may be carried forward for subsequent examinations in case of candidates attempting to clear

ZP team eyes pleasure trip. Oops! study tour HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

If the Finance Department accords the final go ahead signal, South Goa Zilla Panchayat members could well be on a pleasure jaunt camouflaged as a study tour to the North Indian States of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, besides Delhi from the first week of December.

That past members of the Zilla Panchayat body had toured these States in the last five years – on the pretext of studying the Zilla Panchayat pattern of these States – has not stopped the incumbent members from planning the tour once again to

NOTHING TO DO WITH US...

ZP members from South had proceeded on a “study tour” just before the end of their term in February, after the government sanctioned the financial grant following hard lobbying by some members.

When the Chairperson’s attention was drawn to the fact that members had in the past toured the North Indian states during their term, she said that the previous tour has nothing to do with the present members. these States.

South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Maria Rebello was frank enough in admitting that the package tour is being worked out by her office to these States. And, she says that

if everything works out well, the Zilla members could well take off from Dabolim on December 5 for the tour of the northern States.

An estimated budget of Rs 10 lakh has been worked for the

proposed tour. While the tour has got approval from the government, only the final nod of the Finance Department is being eagerly awaited to book the air tickets to the national capital.

Right now, it is still not clear how many members will be part of the team to participate in the tour, though the chairperson says that most members have confirmed their participation.

Says Rebello: “Though the tour estimates works out Rs 10 lakhs, we may receive a grant less than the estimated amount.

The position would be clear within a day or two”.

Incidentally, ZP members (Continued on page 10)

ATKT. It is further informed that in subjects involving practicals, the Board has decided to grant exemption separately for practical and theory components so that the candidate will be required to appear only in the component in which he/she has not qualified and needs improvement.

This concession will be enforced from the SSC and HSSC examination of March/April 2011and onwards.

Look! they too are very busy with the rescue operations, rescuing their officials who are involved in the collapse.

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GOA, THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2010

Consumer activist fumes over cruise company’s ‘unprofessional conduct’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Consumer activist Jahangir Gai was all excited when he booked three tickets in October on M V Ocean Life for one way voyage from Goa to Mumbai.

He rushed to book tickets immediately after he saw hoardings put by the Cruise company in Mumbai offering Moon. He paid Rs 40000 on three tickets on “luxury cruise” which started its Goa Mumbai trips this month.

“I love sea travel and decided to at least, make it one-way sea voyage as two-way expense was too much for me,” he said reminiscing his Goa-Mumbai trips

through ship some years ago.

But all his hopes came crashing down on Tuesday afternoon when he called to the Cruise Liner office in Mumbai and was informed that there has been some problem in the engine of the ship.

“They (PR office) did not tell me that there was a crack in the vessel, but what was most appalling was that they did not bother to inform me that there was a problem and neither offered to make alternate arrangements,” pointed out irked Jahangir.

He had come down to Goa by air with his family for three days stay and was to board the

Cruise vessel today at 10 pm from Mormugao Port.

Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai Cruise developed a crack in the sea on its return from a maiden voyage on Tuesday morning. Thanks to the MPT, Navy and Coast Guard which rescued the Ship along with 401 passengers on board.

Jahangir is irked by the insensitivity of the Company for leaving passengers like him in lurch and had to make alternate arrangement for the return journey at the eleventh hour. “Imagine if I were not to call the office I would have left for Mormugao Port only to discover that there was no Cruise to take me to

‘Maintenance is important to keep vessels sea worthy’

Mumbai,” says Jahangir who believes the Cruise people should have handled the whole affair professionally in the event of crises.

“Emergencies do occur but what is important is how to deal with it,” he says. He left for Mumbai today with his family after he managed to get air tickets.

Well! Will he sue Cruise company? “It depends on whether they reimburse my ticket amount or not,” he said.

We tried to contact the Mumbai office of the Cruise Company but could not get through due to congestion in their network.

No damage to ship, says Blue Ocean Cruises HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, NOV 17

MV Ocean Life passenger cruise vessel at Berth No 4 at MPT. HERALD REPORTER VASCO, NOV 17

Commander Coast Guard (Goa) DIG N V Narasimha said regular maintenance of ships is an important aspect to ensure that vessels are sea worthy.

Speaking to media, Narasimha, while commenting on sea worthiness of vessels, said as far as age of the ship is concerned, it is immaterial that the ship is 29 years old, as most of the defense ships are quiet old, but the most important aspect is its regular maintenance.

“Regular maintenance of ships is an important aspect to ensure that vessels are sea worthy,” said Narasimha.

“Regular maintenance - underwater inspection, ultra-sonic and dry dock inspection of ships to assess the gauge of steel plates of the vessels and subsequently its repair are important aspects,” informed Narasimha.

Miscreants put fire to thermocol waste in market HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

Two days after residents of Madel protested against the unhygienic conditions in the wholesale fish market, unknown miscreants has set afire the thermocol waste in the market complex.

The incident occurred late Tuesday night when mounds of thermocol waste were reduced to ashes, causing air pollution in the locality.

This is not the first time that thermocol waste has been disposed off in the market by fire, with residents claiming that miscreants make bonfire of thermocol to rid the market of the waste.

Incidentally, the SGPDA had been found wanting on many occasions to dispose off the thermocol waste and its pleas to the fish merchants to restrict the use of thermocol while importing fish to Goa has apparently fallen to deaf ears.

“We have to check whether the ship has been under such regular repairs and maintenance,” added Narasimha.

He further said that Coast Guard ship on Wednesday carried out thorough inspection of area from where the ship has sailed and they could not trace any signs of oil spillage and hence oil spillage has been ruled out.

No authority disclosed how the vessel developed crack.

It is learnt that the crack developed at the bottom of hull tanks and water started gushing in through one of the isolated bottom tanks of the ship, while the staff were constantly pumping out the water from the tank.

Speaking to media, Deputy Chairman P C Parida said it’s not at all a panic situation, when the vessel developed the crack, as vessel managed to sail for nearly two hours after developing the crack.

Photo by M Prabhav

“It is the leakage that has been traced and the vessel is under repair at Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL),” said Parida.

He ruled out that there was a possibility of vessel getting sink, as it titled about 4 degrees after water gushed through the leakage in one of ship tanks, while all the passengers were comfortably off loaded at the port.

“After we received signal that the ship is sailing back, within half an hour, we alerted almost all authorities to handle the situation,” said Parida.

“After inspection of the ship, Director General of Shipping and Mercantile Marine Department will certify the ship to sail,” he said.

He appreciated the efforts of MPT staff, Navy and Coast Guard for their preparedness and for monitoring the situation regularly.

Insisting that its ship had not been damaged, Blue Ocean Cruises has also refuted claims by the MPT and the Navy that a rescue operation had taken place to attend the ship.

According to Raju Moza, Head of Business Development of Blue Ocean Cruises, “Around midnight, the Captain was informed from the engine room about a minor technical snag on board.

The Blue Ocean Observation team has just reached Goa and has found a minor technical snag which has already been fixed.

There is no damage to the ship.”

“The ship was in the sea and could easily have reached Mumbai within the stipulated time with no harm done. But the Captain decided in the interest of additional safety and precaution, that it would be best to return to Goa.” “The Mormugao Port Trust authorities, the coast guard and the Navy were on alert but there was hardly any ‘rescue operation’ as such. The passengers disembarked normally from Deck 5.”

“In those wee-hours of the morning, we made arrangements for hotel accommodation for all our passengers. We further booked air tickets for passengers from the Goa airport in the morning.”

“Contrary to the report that the ship has been moved to Western India Shipyard for repairs, our ship is still at Goa Port. Our observation team has completely scanned the vessel and the problem has been rectified. Currently, the ship is docked at Goa waiting for the necessary clearances to return to Mumbai.”

Huge piles of sugarcane stashed at the Panjim promenade for sale. Sugarcane along with other materials are used for the ‘Tulsi Vivah’, which will be celebrated today.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

Issuance of smart card licences put ‘on hold’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Issuing of Smart Card for the new licence holders and renewals have come to standstill since last month with Transport Department shifting the job to National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Tr a n s p o r t D e p a r t m e n t sources stated that the backlog of people waiting to get the licence in smart card form is bloating every passing day and since October 22, not a single card is issued.

“Since the implementation of Sarathi Software last month, 200-odd cases are pending with the department. We have failed to issue even a single licence since then,” sources said.

Regular chaos is witnessed at counter at Transport Department’s office in Panjim bus stand.

NIC officials are not able to give satisfactory replies, which has worsened the situation.

“I had come here on October 29 for renewal of my licence.

Since then, I have been visiting the office on every alternate day as per their directions. Both RTO and NIC officials have failed to give a satisfactory reply,” 42-year old from Margao told Herald.

NIC officials conceded that these are teething problems, which will be stabilized after

few months. But they refused that there is huge backlog.

NIC’s State Informatics Officer J J R Anand told Herald that the transport department has failed to feed the data beyond the year 2006 which is causing problems.

“Usually people who come for renewal have their licences approved much before 2006. In

such circumstances, the staff has to depend on their licence card, which is at times in mutilated situation,” Anand explained.

He said that the delay is for few minutes and not for the days.

NIC said that initially when Vahan software was launched, which used to cover registration of vehicles, similar hiccups occurred. “It took time for vahan software to stabilize and now it’s implemented in all the seven RTO offices,” he said.

Sarathi, software streamlining the registration of licences, was

Lucky escape for tourists as bus falls in field

Bus involved in road accident at Anjuna. Photo by Thomas Fernandes HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

Six tourists escaped with minor injuries, after the tourist bus in which they were traveling fell in the field at Chivar-Anjuna on Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred when

Antonio Rodrigues, driver of the tourist bus (GA-01-Z-5349), was negotiating another oncoming vehicle.

The bus tilted in the paddy field, injuring six tourists, who were rushed to Asilo Hospital in Mapusa for medical attention.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Our Lady of Rosary feast celebrated

The feast procession of Our Lady of Rosary church, Navelim.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

The feast of Our Lady of Rosary, Navelim was celebrated with

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

great pomp and religious fervour on Wednesday.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will soon take up for discussion the matter pertaining to the demand of students to pre-pone Std XII exams so as to allow them more time to prepare for all-India entrance exams.

Secretary Goa Board D R Bhagat said they were seized of the issue and the same would be taken up for discussion by the executive committee of the Board headed by the chairman at the earliest. However, he could not commit on the date when the matter will be discussed.

Parents of the students have approached the Chief Minister with a representation and the latter has replied to them positively. They contend that Goa was the only state where students answering Std XII exams hardly get on an average 10 days time to prepare for national entrance exams like IIT-JEE, AIEEE, BITSET, etc.

They said CBSE students and others from most parts of India have an edge over Goan candidates as they get nearly onemonth time to prepare for these exams which open the gates for admissions to the best engineering colleges across the country.

The parents observed Goan students are denied this opportunity to compete with the best on account of the late examination schedule of the Board.

‘CAG assesses organisational performance too’

Other passengers escaped unhurt.

The six injured have been identified as Naresh Shetty (39), Lalithan Dhawan (48) and Abhijit Dhawan (15), all native of Delhi, Laxmi Unni (47) and Vidhya Rajan (45) of Mumbai and Kajibhai Limbhat (38) of Gujarat.

According to Anjuna Police, the tourist bus was carrying 25 persons, all employees of Nagpur Productivity Council Ministry of Commerce and Trade, who were returning to their hotel in Panjim after their visit to the Anjuna beach.

Anjuna Police team headed

by PI Manjunath Dessai and PSI Chandrakant Gawas took stock of the accident, while AnjunaCaisua Sarpanch Lavino Rebello rushed to the site of the accident. The Mapusa fire tender removed the other passengers from the bus.

Thousands of people from far and wide thronged the Navelim Church since morning to participate in the Eucharistic celebrations.

The village wore a festive look with the brass band in attendance throughout the morning, while the traditional fair attracted thousands of visitors in the evening. As is the tradition, the festivities will continue for the next three days and will culminate on Sunday.

The Goa police made elaborate traffic arrangement for smooth flow of traffic on the national highway 17 by diverting heavy traffic.

launched in the last week of October on pilot basis in Panjim office. The software has been implemented for the issuance of computerized driving license to the citizens. It will also include fresh learner’s license, renewal of license, duplicate license, etc.

“We are in the process to fine tune the software. Once its done then we will be able to deliver speedy,” the NIC officer said adding that the software is already commissioned at 840 locations and its working successfully.

NIC said that the feeding data in the software is not a casual task as there are several checks and balances put in to ensure that there is no duplication or mistakes.

“It’s a full proof system,” Anand added.

But the experience at the transport department counter speaks otherwise. The transport department sources stated that there are several complaints of faulty smart cards after NIC took over the job.

“NIC officials here are not cooperating. They are casual in their behaviour and point fingers to the department,” one of the person at the counter told this reporter during the visit.

Board to meet on preponing Std XII exams

Australian fast bowler Bret Lee performs live at Colva. Lee is currently on a musical tour to India with his band ‘White Shoe Theory’.

Comptroller and Auditor General is metamorphosing itself from merely an auditor to indicator of organizational performance, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Goa’s Auditor General Devika said that while, the working system is developing, the role of CAG, is also expanding from being merely an auditor of financial transactions of the Government to that of a promoter of an organisations performance.

“In the recent decades there have been increasing demands from the stakeholders to know more about performance and results than merely accounting for legality and propriety in public spending,” she said during a function held to mark 150 years of the organization.

Goa legislative assembly speaker Pratapsingh Rane was the chief guest for the function held at Porvorim.

She said the Auditing in Goa covers the new public delivery system like the Public Private Partnership’s and so also, local bodies in governance.

Commenting on complaints of backlog, the officer stated that the department in the past one year has been making attempts to clear the backlog.

“In Goa, our relationships with the legislative committees have been collaborative and cordial. The CAG has also been organizing seminars for improving audit-legislature interface,” she added.

Devika said that the aim of the CAG is to report almost on concurrent basis, on what governments have actually produced in terms of outcomes after investing substantial amount of public monies in such programs.

“Emergence of new audits in the social, environment sector and development of information technology related audits have redefined the whole audit process and system,” she added.

Bihar native held for raping woman HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

A young native of Bihar allegedly raped his maid servant hailing from Quepem.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the 52-year old victim woman, the Maina Curtorim police swung into action and arrested the 32 year old accused, Dilip Goswami. He is presently cooling his heels in the lock up.

Maina Curtorim Police station incharge, PI Sidhant Shirodkar informed that the woman was employed by the accused in his house near MES, Dicarpale-Davorlim for the last three days.

PI Shirodkar said the women was confined in the house and allegedly raped by the accused, who was running an electrical business in the city.

The police are conducting further investigations into the case.

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Cops keep vigil to stop illegal cattle slaughter HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

Police in Margao police subdivision were literally kept on their toes since last night as Hindu organisations maintained a vigil on illegal slaughter of cattle on the eve of Id. The police also maintained a close eye on any illegal slaughter in the city and its outskirts after the Superintendent of Police, South issued a note last night to check illegal transportation and slaughter of the animals.

If the Maina Curtorim police acted swiftly by rescuing 60 bulls and arresting three persons late last night, the Margao police drafted police personnel to sensitive localities such as Khareband to crack a whip against any illegal slaughter and avert any communal flare up on the festival day.

In Colva, the police arrested Riyaz under section 34 of the Indian Police Act after residents complained of an imminent slaughter of bull at Seraulim village.

The Margao police also detained a pick-up van transporting seven bulls at Gogol this morning upon a complaint received from members of a Hindu organization. The tyres of the vehicles were deflated as the driver’s silence raised suspicions on the motive behind the transportation of the cattle. But, police inquiries later revealed that the bulls were being transported outside Davorlim village following an order from the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao while deciding on the bail application of the trio

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

The pick-up van with cattle attached by the Margao police on Wednesday morning for verification.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

arrested by the Maina Curtorim police late last night.

At Khareband, rumours were agog that a bull was slaughtered illegally in the area, but Margao Police station incharge, PI Santosh Desai rubbished the claim as a mere allegation.

Incidentally, the police action is believed to have upset a prominent Minister in the Digmabar Kamat Cabinet, besides the members of the Muslim community.

Sources informed that the Minister called up the police and demanded to know the basis for attaching the cattle and arresting the three persons. Muslim community members said the police also acted tough on the owners of cattle at Seraulim on Wednesday morning though there was no slaughter.

Herald understands that the

police action comes against the backdrop of a complaint lodged by one Vishwas Raikar with the Animal Husbandry department with copies dispatched to the South Goa district Magistrate on the illegal slaughter of cattle near the Davorlim railway gate on the eve of Id. Sources in the know said the Animal Husbandry department forwarded the complaint to the district Magistrate, South, prompting G P Naik to issue a memo to the concerned authorities to initiate action as per law.

Meanwhile, the JMFC, Margao ordered the release of the 60 bulls rescued from Davorlim railway gate on grounds the owners submits an indemnity bond of Rs 4.5 lakh, with further conditions not to slaughter the cattle and transport them away from Davorlim village.

Organisers rope in corporates to fund IFFI

A worker gives final touches to a hoarding of IFFI. HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Big corporates like United Breweries, Qatar Airways, Lalit Suri group of hotels and HDFC Bank have joined hands with International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2010.

Entertainment Society of India (ESG), in a press conference today announced the name of its 16 sponsor partners for the festival, which also includes Kingfisher Airlines, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Corporation bank and Bright advertising.

ESG is expecting the sponsorship at the tune of Rs 1.5 crores to 2 crores.

“Last year we managed to get the sponsorship of Rs 1.25

crores but this year we aim little higher. It might vary between Rs 1.5-2 crores,” ESG, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manoj Srivastava told reporters.

Srivastava said that the festival for the year is budgeted at Rs 7.35 crores as against last year’s Rs 6.39 crores. “The attempts are on to run the festival on its own without government funding. Since last year we have managed to reduce our expenditure,” he said replying to a question.

The CEO said that ESG is not looking at these big companies as sponsors but as partners. “We would like to call it as partnership rather than the sponsorship, which will help us to expand our business with dif-

SFC to screen films of three Goan filmmakers HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

The third edition of Short Film Centre (SFC) will screen films by three Goan filmmakers in the International Festival of India (IFFI) 2010.

Of the 30 entries, two films

by Goan lady filmmakers will be competing in the environment section while a film on psychic behaviour of man will compete in the international section.

SFC, initiative to bring together short film makers, buyers, festival organizers and funding agencies, will screen 10 films exclusively from India in the environmental section while 20 films from across the world in the International section, which also includes ten Indian films.

‘Visit to Bondla Zoo’ a nineminute- long short film by professor-cum-filmmaker Rajashree Bandodkar Karapurkar’s is produced in association with the state forest department. The second film in the environment section by Nalini Elvino De Souza is based on concept of water harvesting. The 23-minute long documentary aims as a solution for those living life without water.

In the international section, Ramprasad Adpaikar has come

Anti-smoking drive: 10 hawkers, 25 offenders arrested

up with a film titled ‘Sin’ that takes the audience through the mind and madness of a man, haunted by his past.

Apart from these, films like My Friend Heera, Tiger Queen, Kaippad, Water and many others would be screened in the environmental section. While, Incurable India, Kusum, Still Voices, Happy Birthday, Dancing in Fumes, Fresh Suicide and others would be played in the international section of SFC. The eminent international jury comprises of acclaimed Indian film director Goutam Ghose (Chairman), French producer Patrick Jorge, actress Helene Cardona and founder of the London Film Academy Daisy Gili.

The jury for the Vasudha Award, the highest national award for environmental films, includes environmental documentary film maker Naresh Bedi, UN wildlife conservation consultant Romulus Whitaker and Helmut Groschup, founder and director of the International Film Festival Innsbruck.

The awards like golden lamp tree award, silver lamp three award will be given in the international section apart from Vasudha Award for best environmental film.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

ferent resources in hands,” he stated.

The ten day festival, beginning from November 22, this time won’t be having any hospitality partner for the festival; however it has tied up with Taj group and Cidade Goa, where the delegates will be housed.

United Breweries Group Vice President Govind Tiwari said that the group’s airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, will flow domestic delegates for the festival, while the international delegates will be taken care by the Qatar Airways.

“We are involved with the festival since the day one. At the initial stage there were several hiccups but now everything is going smoothly,” Tiwari said adding that the festival has helped them in branding their airlines.

“Also, we are the market leaders in Goa for breweries so this comes as a part of our social commitment,” he added.

Kingfisher Airlines will also cover IFFI in their in-flight magazines and also advertise the festival in their in-flight Televisions. The Airlines will be also setting lounges at the festival venue, which will be named as Actors lounge, media lounge, Inox lounge and Raj Kapoor lounge.

Calangute Police on Wednesday rounded up 10 hawkers and 25 offenders on charges of smoking and spitting in public places at Calangute.

Continuing its drive against illegal hawkers and offenders of smoking and spitting, Calangute Police rounded up 10 hawkers for the illegal trade, while 25 people were fined for smoking and spitting in public places at Calangute.

Speaking to Herald, DySP P L Mapari said the offenders have been punished to bring in some sort of discipline in the society.

“We will continue the drive to enforce the law, while the hawkers will be arrested for their illegal act along the coast,” said DySP Mapari.

It may be recalled that since the drive against illegal hawkers and offenders of smoking and spitting commenced last week, Calangute Police till date have registered 100 cases for smoking and spitting, while 40 hawkers have been rounded up along the Calangute coast.

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S H O RT TA K E S Child development programme COLLEM (HC): The Integrated Child Development Services, Sanguem, recently conducted a four-day workshop for girls from Mollem Panchayat areas under the scheme ‘Kishori Shakti Yojana’ in Mollem Panchayat premises. Child Development Project Officer Mala Gadkar inaugurated the workshop in the presence of Programme Committee Chief Vishranti Naik and panchayat members. Speaking on the occasion, Gadkar explained the importance of conducting workshop for girls, who are between 11 and 18 years. Gajanan Tari spoke on ‘Food and Nutrition’, Dr Anjali Dessai an Aurvedic and Adv Anjali Dessai from Curchorem spoke on Humans Rights. Vishranti Naik demonstrated preparation of nutrious food by using less food items and at low cost. She also demonstrated stitching by simple way. Organiser gave away the certificates and gifts to the participants. As many as 25 girls from Mollem, Zariwada Dhat, Sangod, Jambavalim and Kajumal attended the workshop.

Cycling expedition PANJIM (HND): The Instituto Camões in association with CPLC of Chowgule College, Margão and Goa Cycle Club recently organised cycle expedition ‘Bridge of Friendship to Sagres’ from Cortalim to Mormugao Harbour and back. 25 cyclists from Mapusa, Panjim, Ponda, Old Goa and Margao took part in the ride. While at the Harbour, the riders and the support group of photographers and took the opportunity to visit the Portuguese Naval Training Ship NRP Sagres after which they cycled back to Cortalim.

Ore exporters’ panel elected

PANJIM (HND): At the 47th annual general meeting of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association, Panjim, held on Tuesday; the office-bearers unanimously elected for the year 2010-11 are Shivanand V Salgaocar (President), Narayan R Bandekar (Vice-President), Madhukar R Mallya (Hon Secretary), Sameer A Salgaocar (Hon Treasurer) and P K Mukherjee, Nathan R Chowgule and Pramod Unde as members.

MINING ASSOCIATION: At the annual general meeting of the Goa Mining Association held on Monday; the office bearers unanimously elected for the year 2010-2011 are Narayan R Bandekar (President), Sameer A Salgaocar (Vice-President), Harish D Rajani (Hon Secretary), Sunil Gharse (Hon Treasurer), Haresh L Melwani, M P Dessai, S N Naik, Dattaraj R Velingkar, Pravin Kumar Gosalia, RP Alvenkar (members), Madhukar R Mallya, Manuel da Costa, Ashok P Kudchadkar, Devidas P Kudchadkar and Dinesh N Velingkar (permanent invitees).

PWS committee elected

PANJIM (HND): Adriano Conceicao Godinho was elected unopposed as the General Secretary in the seventh general body meeting held to nominate new committee for the years 20102012 of Panjimites Welfare Society, Alto Guimaraes, Panjim. Following committee was elected unopposed: President – Bartholomeo Adriano Godinho D’Silva, Vice President – Rafael Pereira, General Secretary – Adriano Conceicao Godinho, Joint Secretary – Reeves Maia, Treasurer – Thomas Fernandes, Section Secretaries – Nacimento D’Silva for Alto de Guimaraes and Andrew Rodrigues for Fontainhas and Portais. Members elected are Joao Paixao Braganza, Oscar Miranda, John Batista Costa and Joaquim Cardozo.

Braganza elected MMCFC chief MAPUSA (HC): Agnelo Braganza was unanimously elected as president of Mapusa Merchant Christmas Festival Committee (MMCFC). The Mapusa Merchant Christmas Festival Committee recently convened its first meeting to form a new committee to celebrate Christmas festival in Mapusa. The meeting was chaired by the outgoing president Michael Carrasco. Assis Cardozo was elected secretary, while Robin D’Souza was elected as treasurer. The new committee has decided to have mechanized crib with lights and sound effects. Besides, there will be cultural programmes, various competitions like Carol singing, fancy dress and other cultural activities. “The committee wants to revive the Christmas celebration with more participation of the people of Mapusa,” said newly elected President Agnelo Braganza.

Stapled piles surgery now at RG Stone HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

The renowned chain of Urology and Laparoscopy Hospitals of the country, RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital successfully operated a 70-year-old woman suffering from piles with Stapler Haemorrhoidectomy or Stapled Piles Surgery, at its Goa centre. It is a new method based on minimally invasive procedure for removing large haemorrhoids (piles), a press communiqué issued here states.

A c c o rd i n g t o D r A b h a y Khadke (Laparoscopic Surgeon at RG Stone Hospital), “A 70year-old woman Maria (name changed) came to us with bleeding from anus after motion. She also had a complaint of protrusion of the mass of piles after passing motion, which she had to reposition manually. She was suffering from this problem for a couple of years, for which she had taken treatment, but with temporary relief. After examination, we found that she was suffering from 3rd grade piles.

We decided to operate Maria with the new minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of piles called ‘’Stapled Piles Surgery’’. She was discharged on the next day after surgery and is completely asymptomatic now. She did not have much pain and discomfort post surgery, which is generally anticipated after an open technique.”

Dr Khadke further explained, “The Stapler technique uses a stapling device and takes advantage of the fact that pain sensitive nerve fibres are absent high up in the anal canal. In this procedure, the mucosa above

the dentate line, which contains part of the pile mass, is excised and stapled with the stapler gun, thus taking care of bleeding and prolapse – the two major components of piles. The pile mass is then compressed into a cup like cavity inside the stapler.

When fired, the titanium staples cut and seal simultaneously, thereby causing minimal bleeding. As the cut line is above the nerves, there is reduction in post operative pain. Additionally, there is no incision on the perianal skin or lower part of the anal canal. The wound in the anal mucosa is also primarily closed with the stapler, thus, there is no need to do any postoperative dressing.”

Piles are normal vascular structures in the anal canal, which act as cushions during the passage of stool. They become diseased when swollen and inflamed. The ailment may affect both men and women.

The causes of piles include constipation, excessive straining during bowel movements, persistent diarrhoea and loose stool movements. Some people have a family tendency to develop piles. Women are more susceptible to develop them during pregnancy, as pressure from the growing uterus restricts the blood flow in the pelvic area.

Lifestyle factors can also contribute to the development of piles.

Haemorrhoids (piles) can be internal or external; both types can be present at the same time.

Internal haemorrhoids are classified further in grades based upon the degree to which they protrude from the anal canal.

Authorities take preventive steps on malaria rise in Bicholim

UPCOMING EVENTS Navdurga Sabhagruha inaugural PANJIM (HND): The managing committee of Shri Navdurga Saunsthan, Madkai, will hold the inaugural function of the renovated Shri Navdurga Sabhagruha and New Kichen and Residence Block at the hands of H H Sri Vidhyaraj Tirth Shripad Vader Swamiji on November 19 at 5.50 pm, in presence of Chief Minister Digambar V Kamat, and Minister of Transport Ramakrishna (Sudin) M Dhavlikar. Swamiji will arrive at 4.30 pm.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, NOV 17

With the detection of 18 malaria cases in Bicholim, the authorities have issued instructions to all, including Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC), regarding its prevention.

It may be recalled that recent survey of Malaria detected 18 cases in Bicholim, which raised an alarm among the health officials of Primary Health Centre.

Of the 18 cases, two cases were detected next to the PHC, where labourers were working on the construction of the new building of the health centre.

Acting swiftly, the health centre issued a notice to the concerned contractor and also sprayed medicines in the entire area.

The health centre also issued notice to some other construction works in the taluka and has asked the builders to provide proper sanitation to the labourers working at the site.

Deputy Collector Narayan Gad also called a meeting and instructed all, including the BMC, to take appropriate measures in this regard.

Gad asked the BMC to form

Aldona institute anniversary PANJIM (HNB): The Aldona Institute will celebrate its 43rd Anniversary with a Dine and Dance event on November 20 at 7 pm. Members will enjoy DJ music, a sumptuous buffet and a complimentary drink. Member and guest coupons are available at the Institute with Lawrence Baptista and also with Sylvester (9822169045), Julius (2293327), Gregory (9822177567) and Mervin (9822481705).

Feast of Christ the King

Construction work of the PHC Bicholim, which was instrumental in spreading Malaria.

Photo by Samir Umarye

committees in every ward consisting of five members and to take stock of the cleanliness in the area.

He also urged the sanitary inspectors to check all the hotels for proper dumping of waste water. The deputy collector also

Goa Pavilion attracts crowds at ITF in Delhi HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

The Goa Pavilion at India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, Delhi, has been drawing large number of people, including foreign delegates, even though entry to the pavilion is restricted only to business visitors.

The Goa Pavilion, which virtually looks like a tourist place, is highlighting the State as a tourist destination with attraction such as water sports, national games, amusement park, golf course, marina, health tourism, convention centre, oceanarium and others.

The tourism sector is represented by a beach; any person visiting the pavilion will feel as if he or she was on Calangute beach.

The perspective of agriculture and horticulture has been showcased with several Goan agricultural produces on display. The GIDC has showcased the state as an investor friendly destination. Projects already completed and those in the pipeline have also been highlighted.

Information on financial packages, suitable land and other facilities for the entire state have been marketed as a smart location for investor.

Handicrafts of wood, lacquer, fabric, stone, jute, shells work, etc are also displayed.

The industry has been displayed highlighting manufacture of variety of items like pesticides, fertilizers, tyres and tubes, iron ore pellets etc. Industrial units in Verna, Sanguem, Colvale, Bicholim, Canacona have been represented.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will visit the pavilion on November 18, when Goa Day will be celebrated at the Pavilion. A cultural programme ‘Goenchi Sasai’ by ‘Kanta Gaude’ will be staged at the Lal Chowk Theatre. Thereafter a reception will be hosted by the CM at Goa Niwas, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The invitees include Chief Ministers, Secretaries, IAS Officers who served in Goa and also prominent citizens of New Delhi.

informed that there are several places where construction work is going on and suggested to keep the areas clean.

‘Grading will minimise unhealthy competition’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, NOV 17

Anjuman Nurul Islam High School, Panjim, Headmaster Abdul Azil Mulla said the grading system introduced by the Goa Board for SSCE students will minimize unhealthy competition of students.

Mulla was recently speaking as the chief guest on grading system for SSC examination with effect from current academic year at the workshop organized under Super School Complex of Dnynaprakash Mandal Higher Secondary School, Mulgao, at Kholpewadi-Sal, Bicholim.

“The grading system will eliminate unhealthy competition among the higher achievers,” said Mulla.

Scaramanga river and sea cruises HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Scaramanga Boats is a luxury charter company offering fullycrewed charters with first class service and safety in North Goa. The company offers a wide range of crafts from motorised to sailing crafts for any occasion.

One can charter from a range vessels to sail into the ocean or meandering in rivers Mandovi, Nerul and Zuari.

Scaramanga Boats also offers drops and pick ups to the beaches of north Goa. One may choose to follow the old spice route and Goa’s famous churches or party on catamaran which accommodates 26 people. Itineraries include dolphin viewing on the high seas, fishing along the inland waterways, and cruises in the hinterland on the river Mandovi.

Private party celebrations on the catamaran accommodating for upto 25 people, sunset cruises, Grand Island cruises and champagne breakfast and

Co-op Week celebration HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

As a part of celebration of 57th Cooperative Week from November 14 to 20, Goa State Cooperative Ltd has organised various programmes.

On November 19, Goa State Urban Credit Coop Societies Federation Ltd, Panjim and Marcel Urban Coop Credit Society Ltd and Janavikas Urban Coop Credit Society Ltd, Amona, will organise celebration a theme ‘Introspection and Envisioning by Sectoral Cooperatives’ at Marcel at 4.30 pm.

Co-operation Minister Ravi Naik will be the chief guest for this function too.

On November 20, concluding function of the Cooperation Week will be organised by The Goa State Cooperative Union Ltd, Panjim, at the premises of the Goa State Coop Bank Ltd, Sahakar Sankul, Patto, Panjim, at 4 pm. The theme of the celebration will be ‘Cooperative’s Contribution towards Food Security’.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will inaugurate the function.

MARGAO (HR): The Feast of Christ the King, the Patron of the Clergy Home, (Hospicio de Clero) Margao, will be celebrated on November 21. The main Celebrant for the lone Feast Mass at 7.15 am will be Fr Richard Pinheiro, Chaplain of St Joaquim Chapel, Borda. Hospicio de Clero now Clergy Home was started in the year 1929. In the old building there was a majestic statue of Christ the King, sitting on a chair as if sitting at the Universal Judgement, and venerated by the Priests of the House as well as by the people around. Hence the Home came to known as Christ the King Clergy Home, sources informed. The present two storey building was inaugurated by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in October, 1999. Fr Caetano da Costa, the Director of the Clergy Home said that everyone working in the House has an aim to keep the priests comfortable in their old age.

Panjim VLCC anniversary PANJIM (HND): VLCC, Panjim, will celebrate its second anniversary on November 21, at The Crown, Panjim at 6 pm. VLCC boasts of regular beauty services and advanced skin and hair treatments by trained beauty therapists under the guidance of an in-house dermatologist.

RTI workshop PANJIM (HND): Asha Human Rights Association (AFRRA) will conduct a ‘Right to Information – RTI workshop’ on November 27, from 10 am to 12 noon at Asha Centre, Sweet Home Building, 1st Floor, Near Majorie Pharmacy, Opp Kenkre Hardware, Mapusa.

The workshop is open to public and registration is free. For details call 2256445/9822166876.

Pranic healing workshop PANJIM (HND): A two-day intensive Pranic healing workshop will be organised on November 27 and 28, at Jay Gurudev Hall, Opp Sai Service, Curti, Ponda, by the ‘All India Pranic Healing Foundation’. Proceeds from the class will support charitable causes. For course details contact Dr SB Prabhudessai on 9545527609/Philomina R on 9325503194 /Vijay Khairnar on 9860897345. Email: phgoa@rediffmail.com

Chinchinim gram sabha PANJIM (HND): The Village Panchayat of Chinchinim-Deussua has called for a gram sabha meeting on November 28, at 10 am in the Chinchinim Community Centre, Chinchinim Bazaar, to discuss on developmental works and other proposals received from the public.

DKA’s novel writing contest in Romi Konkani

PANJIM (HND): To encourage writers in Konknni in Roman Script, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) has organised Novel Writing Competition. Compulsorily written in Konknni Romi Script, the novel manuscript should be typed on A4 size paper (single side) and it should be of minimum 50 pages. The best three novels will be awarded Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively.

The last date of submitting the script is January 31, 2011.

The manuscripts in triplicate may be sent to The Secretary, Dalgado Konknni Akademi, AF-6, First Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Panjim. For details call DKA’s office on 2221688 or 9881810832.

brunches can also be arranged.

The fleet comprises of three speedboats, one sailboat and one luxury catamaran. One was imported from the US; two others were custom-designed in New Zealand for the particular

climatic conditions of Goa. The sailboat was crafted in Maharashtra.

Charters are available on request from October to April.

Scaramanga Boats operates from Coco Beach in North Goa

off Nerul and Candolim. For details, contact Tanya Seth Soota, Head Marketing and Sales, Scaramanga Boats Pvt Ltd, Maimen Vaddo, Coco Beach, Nerul, Bardez, Goa-403114. Cell no 9560740404.

HCG performs first bloodless bone marrow transplant in Asia HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG), South Asia’s largest cancer care network pioneering treatment of highly complicated and recurrent cases of cancer among patients from across the globe, on Tuesday announced the successful performance of first bloodless bone marrow transplant in Asia, a press communiqué issued here states.

Curtis Carpenter, a 60-yearold patient from the US, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma of mantle cell type in the bone marrow. The patient, who initially underwent chemotherapy in New York, decided to come down to HCG as he could not find appropriate solution to his problem anywhere else. Also, since he is a follower of Jehovah’s Witness, he refused blood transfusion.

Commenting on the Carpenter case, Dr Ajaikumar, Chair-

man, HCG states, “Autologus Bone Marrow Transplant has been around for long. With reference to Carpenter’s case of lymphoma, the uniqueness of it is that we managed to do a BMT without blood transfusion. Since the patient refused the same, we have provided a highly personalised care and this was possible by a team of experts headed by Dr Radheshyam.”

Presenting the case, Dr Radheshyam Nayak, Head – Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, HCG, states, “BMT is a an intensive medical procedure where the patient is given high dose chemotherapy and is supported by either his own preserved bone marrow stem cells or histo-compatible allogenic bone marrow stem cell. We have achieved what was perceived to be impossible because the patient refused to take any allogenic blood or blood product transfusion. The challenge here was to maintain levels of Hb,

WBC count and platelets by using a cocktail of growth factors and also manage bleeding episodes by using recombinant factor VII.” Dr Radheshyam, a pioneer in carrying out BMT, has successfully done more than 25 BMT till today and is credited with carrying out the first BMT in Karnataka.

Thanking HCG’s doctors for providing a revolutionary treatment, Carpenter said the autologous transplantation without blood transfusion addressed his sentiments. Impressed with the treatment modalities pursued

by HCG and the professional commitment exhibited by the doctors here, he said, many patients from West look towards India as a preferred destination for complicated and serious disorders.

The only other centre in the world which does BMT – Bloodless, is the Centre for Bloodless Medicine at Pennsylvania.

GU recognises CIE university students HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Goa University has announced its recognition for students holding qualifications from University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). The decision opens the way for Cambridge students to progress to degree courses at the university.

The regulation states that five passes at Cambridge IGCSE with grade C or higher, and two or three passes at Cambridge ‘A’ Level are recognised as equivalent to 12th class of Indian education boards, for the purpose of admission to undergraduate courses.

Ian Chambers, CIE Regional Manager, South Asia welcomed the decision. He said: “This is excellent news for Cambridge students who want to study at the University of Goa. Four local schools in Goa, and over 230 schools in India are registered

to offer Cambridge qualifications. The number of students holding Cambridge ‘A’ Level qualifications in India is rising each year. Cambridge qualifications develop application, analysis and evaluation skills which are highly sought after

by Indian and international universities.”

Cambridge ‘A’/‘AS’ Level is a passport to progression to top universities around the world.

In the US and Canada, academic credit is awarded by many universities for Cambridge ‘A’ Levels which can mean up to one year less study for undergraduates.

In addition, Cambridge ‘A’ Level students have access to top UK universities, including Cambridge, Oxford and the London School of Economics, without having to complete a foundation year – unlike students from some Indian boards who may be required to do so.

POWER SHUTDOWN NOVEMBER 18 NEURA: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Neura Church and surrounding areas.

NOVEMBER 19 GUIRIM: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Sai Baba temple, Sai Baba colony, Sateri Nagar, Verla Canca and surrounding areas.

NEURA: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Neura-OPequeno, Deubhat and surrounding areas.

NOVEMBER 20 NEURA: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Neura Panchayat, Dayanand Arya HS, Alvares Saw Mill, Gudiwada and surrounding areas.

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CPI demands white paper on highway expansion HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

The Goa State Council of Communist Party of India (CPI) has expressed its serious concerns over the manner the on-going peoples’ struggle on the issue of National Highway is being handled by the Congressled governments at the Centre and in the State.

In a press release issued here, CPI has stated that peoples’ democratic struggles cannot be allowed to be brushed aside without exploring viable alternatives and has demanded that Government should come out with a ‘White Paper’ on the proposed National Highway 17 and National Highway 4-A to bring about complete transparency

in the matter.

The Governments at the Centre and State should not invoke Section 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956 in the interest of the people of the State until a white paper is published and the people are given ample opportunity to respond. The Government should not dither on this simple demand of the people.

For every acquisition as per the National Highway Act, 1956, certain procedures need to be followed. In the present case, all the procedural aspects have been side-lined.

CPI has also expressed concern that local people will have to pay exorbitant toll-tax besides losing land in a State with small land mass area.

CPI has also alluded to the shifting stance of the government officials and politicians in the media and in their public postures. Re-survey of the proposed National Highway is a proof that the State Government is in a confused state of mind. The Government now wants to modify the width of the National Highway from its proposed width of 60 mtrs to a lesser width. No scientific reasons are given for the proposed re-survey and modifications.

The Governments at the Centre and the State have to act in a more sensitive and transparent manner. Every echo of the people is to be heard and an amicable solution has to come from the Government.

Commuters decry over dilapidated condition of Sanquelim bus stand

Lucas is Saligao sarpanch HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

Dilapidated condition of the Sanquelim bus stand.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, NOV 17

People from Sanquelim and Bicholim have expressed great concern over dilapidated condition of the Sanquelim bus stand.

The Sanquelim bus stand caters to the passengers plying to some of major cities including Panjim, Ponda, while there are many local buses plying from this bus stand.

Cops arrest 8 hawkers with hookahs

According to the citizens, the sharp turn at the entrance of the bus stand has led to accidents on many occasions, besides the road is narrow causing hindrance, especially during market day on Mondays.

“The Sanquelim bus stand proves dangerous during night, as most of the lights are damaged. To add to this, even the pole that supplied current has fallen down,” complained the

Photo by Samir Umarye

people.

“Almost, all the sign boards erected on the stand are broken,” informed the people.

“As roof of the entire stand is made up of cement tiles, it was difficult for the passengers to stand at the bus stand during monsoon, as water gushed in from all the sides,” added the citizens from Sanquelim demanding immediate repairs of the bus stand.

Lucas Remedious was on Tuesday elected unopposed as sarpanch of Saligao panchayat.

As no other nomination was received for the post of sarpanch, Election Observer S V Naik declared Remedious elected unopposed. All nine panchas were present for the elections.

Speaking to media, Sarpanch Remedious said: “I have been the member of the village panchayat for 20-odd years and the senior most member of the panchayat. All the other members felt that I should take over as the sarpanch, so I accepted their offer.”

When asked which political party affiliation they belong, he said it is the combination of all parties.

“We are all one now and together, we can bring in lot more development for the village,” he added.

Later, Sarpanch Remedious and other members on called on former Saligao MLA Dr Wilfred D’Souza in accompany of Tulio D’Souza and others.

Remedious listed his priorities, which included market complex, football ground, besides other developmental works for Saligao.

Co-operative societies play key role in development: Ravi

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

Calangute and Anjuna Police arrested eight hawkers and also registering 29 cases for smoking and spitting on Monday.

The Anjuna Police also arrested two persons Mo hammed Alam and Mohammed Maqsood for possessing hookah pipes and related material.

The Calangute and Anjuna Police teams led by PI Manjunath Dessai have been carrying out such drives during last few days.

Lucky escape for driver as tipper falls on its side at Zuarinagar

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, NOV 17

Vasco Police on Wednesday arrested a 43-year-old man from Mangor Hill, Vasco, on charges of assaulting a man at Mangor Hill on Tuesday night.

According to Vasco Po l i c e , J o s e p h Pe re i r a a l legedly assaulted one Sudip Gusain over some argument on Tuesday at about 11.15 pm.

Speaking to media at Chicalim Hospital on Tuesday evening, Gusain said that he along with his wife and son were proceeding in their car towards Vasco.

Gusain further stated that the accused, who was riding a scooter, suddenly took a turn towards Prime Royal Building, over which the argument broke out between the two.

After the argument and minor scuffle, the accused allegedly took out a knife and assaulted Gusain on his abdomen, said Vasco Police.

Police arrested the accused under Section 324 of IPC and is investigating the case.

The ill-fated tipper alongside the NH-17B near Zuarinagar-Sancoale.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, NOV 17

A 30-year-old tipper driver had a lucky escape, after his speeding tipper overturned along NH17B near Zuarinagar-Vasco on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Verna Police, the accident occurred when driver Mohan Ronk, who was proceeding

Illegal parking by heavy vehicles obstruct traffic at Calangute

Home Minister Ravi Naik addresses the gathering at Porvorim.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, NOV 17

Minister for Home and Co-operation Ravi Naik has stated that co-operative societies play an important role in the development of the State.

He was speaking at the function organized by VPK Urban Cooperative Credit Society Ltd during the shifting of their Porvorim Branch to new premises at Chogam Road, Porvorim.

“These societies not only generate employment for the locals, but also the money deposited with these societies is being utilized for the progress of the State. Hence, it is necessary that Goans should encourage these societies by transacting with them,” said Naik.

He further said societies should increase its proficiency level to create confidence in the minds of general public to do business with them.

“The cooperative societies should find out business opportunities available for the unemployed youth in Goa and guide them to enter into business ventures,” said Naik.

“Scope for business in Goa is immense if done with sincerity, zeal and determination. The unemployed youth of Goa should stop running after government jobs and avail of the loan facilities being offered by cooperative society for business purposes and stand own their own feet,” stated Naik.

Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar complimented the cooperative society for the tremendous progress made in a short span and expressed hope that their excellent performance will set up an example for other societies to follow their footsteps.

VPK Urban Cooperative Society Ltd Chairman Surya Gawde said their cooperative society was started in 1993 and during the course of 17 years, they have opened 18 branches and two more branches, one each at Vasco and Khandepar, will be opened soon.

“The Society has got 39,672 shareholders and deposits of the society have gone up to Rs 138 crore. About 200 employees are working in the cooperative society and we have employed 180

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

pigmy agents,” informed Gaude.

Earlier, Home Minister Ravi Naik and Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar lighted the traditional lamp. VPK Urban Cooperative Society General Manager Ashok Gawde compered the function, while Pandurang Gaude proposed the vote of thanks.

Heavy vehicles obstruct smooth flow of traffic at Calangute.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

Pedestrians and motorists traveling along the Calangute-Mapusa road are inconvenienced due to illegal parking of heavy vehicles alongside the main road leading to Arpora-Mapusa.

According to sources, the buses parked along the road are blocking the view of the pedestrians, especially the motorists,

About 40 betel nut plantation farmers in Bicholim taluka, who are also involved in coconut and banana plantations, are likely to face heavy losses due to untimely rains, which destroyed their plantation to the extent of 75 per cent.

Speaking to Herald, Damodar Gosavi, a farmer, said the rainwater directly hit the root cavity of betel nut trees, leading to rot the plantation.

“Every year, ripened betel nuts are plucked in November and December. However, due to heavy downpour in October, our production was destroyed to the extent of 75 per cent. The decayed betel

Eknath is sarpanch of Penha-de-Franca HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, NOV 17

Eknath Narvekar was on Monday elected as sarpanch of the 11member Penha-de-Franca Panchayat.

Narvekar, who defeated Rajesh Volvoikar by a margin of one vote, polled six votes, while Volvoikar secured five votes.

It may be recalled that the post of sarpanch had fallen vacant as former sarpanch Gopal Sawant was voted out of office on November 2 after a vote of no -confidence was passed against him by 6-0 votes.

Block Development Officer, Mapusa, had therefore convened

Cops arrest youth in IT case HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 17

The Colva police has claimed to have finally cracked the 2009 case registered under the Information Technology Act. The police said that they have arrested a youth from Benaulim for changing the profile of a youth by calling him a gay.

PSI Gawde, attached with the Colva police station, informed that the youth from Benaulim was arrested today under the IT Act and later released on bail.

He said that the accused had alleged changed the profile of the victim calling him a gay and inviting friends by changing his profile. The youth from Benaulim was arrested after receiving details for the service provider, he added.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, NOV 17

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, NOV 17

Photo by M Prabhav

towards Vasco, met with self accident when the rear tyre of tipper (GA-06-P- 8712) burst due to loaded concrete stones.

The tipper driver had a lucky escape despite the tipper overturning in full speed, said Verna Police.

Verna Police has registered a case of accident and is investigating the case.

thus putting their lives to risks.

Recently, a resident of Dongorpur-Naikka Va d d o , Calangute, was seriously injured in the accident due to the illegal parking of the buses. There are a number of buses parked all along the road from Calangute Church end upto the Dongorpur road junction at Calangute.

Sources further informed that the parked buses also affect the

Photos by Thomas Fernandes

smooth flow of traffic on the busy road, which has increased considerably due to the Diwali vacations.

Parking of buses at night especially poses a serious threat to life and property of the motorists.

“The concerned authorities should immediately look into the matter to avoid further accidents on the busy road,” voiced the residents.

Rain hits betel nut plantation in Bicholim

Bakr-Id celebrated in Bicholim The Muslim community from Bicholim celebrated Bakr-Id with religious fervour at Namazga Mosque in Bicholim on Wednesday.

Hundreds of Muslims from Bicholim went to Namazga and offered Namaz.

It may be stated that Namazga is considered holy as it was build by Prince Akbar to commemorate a battle which he and the Marathas, led by Sambhaji, fought against the Portuguese in 1683.

It was an unlikely alliance which came about after Prince Akbar had rebelled against his father the Emperor.

High above Bicholim on this bare hillside with extensive views to the east, the mosque is of most unusual design and interesting layout. It is symbolic as it is also a symbol of communion between Hindus and Muslims.

Every year, Muslims from Bicholim go to this place to offer Namaz, which is also marked as place of historical importance.

Man held for assault at Vasco

a special meeting on Monday in the panchayat office to elect the new sarpanch.

Two nominations each from Narvekar and Volvoikar were received for the post of sarpanch.

Narvekar’s candidature was proposed by Reshma Amonkar and seconded by Manisha Naik, while Volvoikar’s name was proposed by Subhash Kalangutkar and seconded by Gopal Sawant.

The voting was done by a secret ballot. Extension Officer of Block Development Office, Mapusa, S V Naik conducted the election proceedings and he was assisted by Panchayat Secretary Mahesh Mardolkar.

nuts have fallen down,” he informed.

“Farmers altogether have about 60,000 trees and each farmer has to spend heavily in June, July and August for the maintenance of trees, but this year, all the money has been washed away in rain water,” he lamented.

Coconut and banana plantations too were affected due to rains. Coconut trees also suffered a unique disease called ‘Bhovar’.

Farmers have requested Agriculture Minister Vishwajeet Rane to compensate them and

they have also requested the zonal agriculture office to look into the matter.

House partly gutted in Quepem HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, NOV 17

Property worth Rs 10,000 was damaged, after a house was partly gutted in a fire near Quepem Post Office on Monday.

According to sources, the cause of the fire was short circuit due to lighting of the candle on the altar.

Curchorem Fire Ser vices rushed to the site and extinguished the fire. The fire Service estimated the loss at about Rs 10,000.

In another incident at Chamundeshwar-Avedem, Quepem, a huge mango tree came crashing down on the road, damaging electricity pole.

No damage to life and property was reported.

OHERALDO

OPINION

Pg6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

A Tale of Two Conquests

Vol No CX No: 288 Goa, Thursday 18 November, 2010

I

Life and death on the Ocean

n the good old days, the cheapest and best way to travel between Mumbai and Goa was by the steamer. There were many of these, but the last two, which operated for the longest time, were the MV Konkan Shakti and the MV Konkan Sevak. At different times, they were owned by different companies, including Chowgule Steamships and the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).

These slow but graceful ships took the better part of 24 hours to cruise between the Panjim ‘Bombay Jetty’ with a gigantic ‘Welcome to Goa’ painted on its river-facing side, and Mumbai’s Ferry Wharf, better known as ‘Bhau-cha Dhakka’.

One sailed from each side at 10 am each morning in the fair weather season – October to May – except from Mumbai on Tuesdays and Goa on Wednesdays.

Each would carry nearly 1,000 people, divided into ‘lower deck’ and ‘upper deck’ for the ‘aam admi’ and cabins for the well-heeled. People would rush armed with sheets to ‘reserve’ place to squat on the deck. Most families would carry tiffins, and the singles would look on enviously at the sight and smell of good, home-cooked food.

Once all the waving of goodbyes was done, as the ship pulled away from the jetty, people would settle down, take naps, or watch the exquisite Konkan coast slowly slip by. An all-time favourite occupation was playing cards; little informal ‘gaming’ sessions like in today’s ‘casinos’. Backpacker tourists, too, liked the steamer, and the sickly-sweet smell of hashish was not uncommon. On the Goa-Mumbai run, of course, one could always smell ‘feni’ or ‘urrack’.

Nights out at sea tend to be magical. It is never completely dark. Apart from the lights on the coast, one can see quite clearly for a huge distance to seaward. There are more stars than one can ever imagine. On nights when the moon sets early, a bright rising Venus can cast a reflection on the water before dawn. Ironically, those that paid the most – for the tiny, cramped cabins – missed out on all the deckside wonders.

The canteen served meals and snacks, but of suspect quality and not very appetising. But apart from tea, soft drinks and soda (for those feeling seasick), the ‘Housie’ games were very popular. Young boys and girls took the opportunity of freedom from their parents to wander around and strike up conversations.

As in any Goan festivity, amateur singers would belt out Konkani, Portuguese, English and even Hindi songs, backed by equally amateur but amazingly competent guitarists. It was more like a picnic than a commute…

But, shortly after Goa gained an official language and became a state, in 1987, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to send the Indian Army into Sri Lanka to end the civil war there. Both ships were withdrawn to ferry personnel and provisions between Chennai and Batticaloa in Sri Lanka.

In 1990, after a change of government at the centre, the Sri Lanka operation was called off. Goa, too, saw political upheaval and the new Goa government spent a huge sum to refurbish the ships and re-start the steamer service. But, after just six weeks, one ship ran aground on the Aguada sandbar and sprang a leak. That was the end. The catamaran that replaced it was nothing like the steamer. It was closed, air-conditioned and soulless.

News that a new cruise company was to operate to Goa aroused hopes, but only briefly. The MV Ocean Life was a luxury cruise liner, and a passage to Goa cost thousands of rupees. And when the ship sprang a leak on its maiden voyage from Mumbai to Goa and back, the 401 people on board, including 134 crew, had a very lucky escape indeed. It is distressing that a ship refurbished at a cost of Rs100 crore should suffer such a disaster. Maybe the authorities need to review their procedures.

Would there have been anything called ‘Goa’ if it was not for the portuguese, asks dr edUardo BraGanZa

P

rompted by the oppressed Hindus under Adil Shah’s rule and with the help of Timoja Naik of Honawar, a feudatory of the Vijaynagar Empire, Portuguese Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque first conquered Old Goa in March 1510. The people did not offer any resistance, and handed over the keys of the city. But two months later, Albuquerque was defeated on 23 May 1510 by Adil Shah’s army, forcing him to flee with a few damaged ships.

He was stranded in the Mandovi estuary on account of the coming monsoons, and faced with starvation. But the Hindu gaunkars of Taleigao came to his rescue with provisions. This humanitarian act was honoured by the Portuguese, and the gaunkars have the privilege of presenting the first paddy sheaves to the Viceroy and the Bishop.

They celebrated 500 years of this event in August 2010.

After the monsoon, an angry Albuquerque went to Anjediv Island and was fortunate to get reinforcements; a fleet of ships from Portugal. He rec o n q u e re d G o a o n 2 5 N o v e m b e r 1 5 1 0 .

Albuquerque abolished ‘sati’ in Goa, liberated Hindus from Mohammedan domination and made Timoja administrator. Much later, on his way back to Goa after reconquering Ormuz in 1515, he died on board his ship in the Mandovi estuary, and was buried in the Church of Our Lady of Serra at Old Goa. His remains were later taken to Portugal.

In 1510, Goa comprised only the islands of Tiswadi. It was expanded by annexing Bardez and Salcete (including present Mormugao) in 1543, to form the ‘Old Conquests’. Most of the population was converted to Christianity as per the ‘Westphalia’ accord that the King’s religion would be that of his subjects, enforced by the Inquisition (1560 to 1775).

In1780, the New Conquests were added. The Bhosala of Sawantwadi, who held sway over Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari, and the Soundekar over Ponda, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona, handed over four-fifth of present Goa to the Portuguese almost on a platter. This gave Goa its present geography.

Religious zeal was receding. The Inquisition was abolished. There were no conversions in the New Conquests. But the year 2010 marks 500 years of Latin or Catholic Christianity in India, even though Apostolic Christianity is said to have been brought by St Thomas and Bartholomew in

History and GeoGrapHy 50 AD. The Dominicans, who came with Albuquerque, converted the widows of the 6,000 Mohammedans he slaughtered after capturing Goa. In1287, coming via Ormuz, Archbishop Joao de Monte Curvino, with the title ‘Primate of East’ and seven Bishops had preached Christianity without any major impact. Again, in1321, Franciscans missionaries were martyred in Thana. The Franciscans, who came in 1517, and the Jesuits with St Francis Xavier in 1542, spread Christianity in India and all over the East.

Indian missionaries followed suit. Some even became saints, like the first Indian St Gonsalo Garcia (1557-1597), born in Vasai and crucified in Nagasaki (Japan) together with 25 other missionaries, and St Alphonsa (1910-46) from Kerala.

The state of Goa was under Portuguese rule for 451 years. No other state in India is as old.

Goa needs special status, if not autonomy, as it was acquired by military conquest. But no Members of Parliament have ever raised this issue, because of their own selfish interests.

The second conquest of Goa was by Independent India through Operation Vijay, on 18 December 1961. Gen K P Candeth led the Indian army assault with over 40,000 heavily armed troops, nine warships including aircraft carrier ‘Vikrant’ and several squadrons of the Indian Air Force, to defeat just 4,000 regular Portuguese soldiers with no Air Force, and a Navy comprising just one old destroyer, ironically named Afonso de Albuquerque.

The last Portuguese Governor, Gen Vassalo e Silva, surrendered on 19 December 1961.

Gen Candeth was the military Governor till 1963. The first elections were held in 1963, and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader Dayanand Bandodkar became the first Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu, then a Union Territor y. Dr Jack Sequeira was Leader of the Opposition.

The Congress and Goan freedom fighters were routed in the poll. A shell-shocked Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called Goans ‘ajeeb’ (strange) and since then ignored all those who had influenced him to invade Goa in haste; one of the major international armed aggressions after World War II that invited condemnation from the whole western world. The immediate provocation was firing on the coastal liner ‘Sabarmati’ by a Portuguese sentry at Anjediv Island, and another accidental bullet that killed a fisherman.

Since Goa’s second conquest, India is permanently in a state of war. In 1962, there was the Chinese invasion in which we lost over 3 lakh sq km of territory (75 times the area of Goa). Next was the Indo-Pak war of 1965, followed by a UNsponsored ceasefire and talks in January 1966 at Tashkent, where Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shatri died of a heart attack after being forced to agree to terms imposed by the USSR. Indira Gandhi took over as Prime Minister and, in 1971, there was a war for Bangladesh. In 1974, the kingdom of Sikkim was annexed. In 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed the infamous ‘Emergency’.

In the elections that followed 18 months of dictatorship, Mrs Gandhi was routed in 1977. But

two unstable non-Congress governments ended in the dissolution of Parliament, and Mrs Gandhi bounced back to power in the 1980 elections.

After ‘Operation Blue Star’ to tackle insurgency in Punjab, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984. Her son Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister and, in a sympathy wave, got a two-thirds majority in the elections that year. He was forced to grant statehood to Goa on 30 May 1987, after a massive agitation in Goa. He also sent Indian armed forces to Sri Lanka to put down the Tamil Tigers. The army was withdrawn after heavy losses. He lost the next general elections in 1989, but managed to topple the unstable non-Congress governments that followed. While campaigning for the election, on 21 May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Tamil Nadu by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber.

India is now in an ongoing war in the North East and in Kashmir (7 lakh troops), there is tension on the Pakistan and China borders, and there are the Maoists or Naxalites (guerilla armies of the poorest of the poor), creating havoc for the armed forces.

While this year is the 500th anniversary of Albuquerque’s conquest of Goa and the coming of Latin or Catholic Christianity to India, next year is the 50th anniversary of India’s conquest of Goa, in 1961. There are no official celebrations of the former, but there will be many celebrations of the golden jubilee of ‘Operation Vijay’ in 2011.

We tend to forget one important thing. The modern state of Goa exists because it was founded

by Afonso de Albuquerque on 25 November 1510, then expanded and maintained for 451 years by the Portuguese. Otherwise, Goa would have been annexed village-wise by Karnataka and Maharashtra. Now, nobody can wipe out Goa and Goans from mainland India.

Goans taught a lesson to all fanatics, mergerists, communalists and pseudo-nationalists in the 1967 ‘Opinion Poll’, and again in the 1986 agitation for Konkani and statehood. In 2008, a unanimous resolution in the Legislative Assembly demanded ‘special status’ for Goa. But this has not yet been implemented, because of corruption at the state and central level.

Whatever may happen next year, in 2010, the modern state of Goa and Latin or Catholic Christianity complete 500 years. It is a landmark that all should be aware of.

to love is to listen

Facts of Life

Y

ou know how it is in the village, when one who works overseas comes down on vacation, people come and go freely saying “Hi” and “Bi” and there is hardly a quiet moment, you think. It happened to me when I was down with my two little children, hardly getting time to catch up on work. They were, of course, in a whirlwind of intense excitement, this being their first holiday in Goa. I paused to wipe perspiration from my face. The fag-end of the month of May was proving unbearably hot, and the accompanying soggy humidity had everyone worried. The sky was overcast, the day temperature outside was like the inside of a furnace. The heat had settled in for six continuous days. The maid had sunstroke and had deserted us. The work load was staggering with the home demanding its full pound of flesh, so to speak!

I was ironing the kids Sunday clothes, when my son came running in shouting “Dad, Come quick!”

Now what? I thought wearily. The urgency of his voice made me hasten. I unplugged the iron and quickly ran outside.

He stood on the front step, his hand on his kid sister’s shoulder.

“Why did you call me?” I asked, “You know I am busy”. “Dad, listen!” He just about whispered. “What’s it?” I was amazed and horrified. Something in me went still.

After a moment, I heard the murmur getting louder, the rushing sound moving towards our house from the woods across the laterite stone quarry, I listened perplexed. It was unlike any sound I had ever heard. A quiet calm seemed to descend over all of us.

Then clearly in the stillness, I knew. “It’s rain”, I said softly. “Oh, children!” I shouted, “Rain’s coming!” Impulsively, I threw my hands around them, elated with joy. They jumped with joy feeling that lift of lightness. My aged mother too came out.

The first big drops of rain are an answer to ritual and prayer.

How glorious to hear the pelting drops. How wonderful to watch the puddles in the road fill up with water?

When the rain reached our yard, raising puffs of dust, we kicked off our slippers and ran barefoot to meet it. Holding our hands and going in a circle, faces lifted up, we were drenched. The feeling was so soothing and comforting, wonderful, so cool and refreshing.

I could hear my son chuckling as I said over and over “Oh, it’s

By Marc de souza wonderful, wonderful!” Children kept yelling and laughing in their first rain in the red soil of Goa. Their sound sparked something inside of me and sang like an angelus of hope in my soul.

Incredibly as if a sorcerer had waved a wand, suddenly the place would be green with little flowers, fresh leaves and blossoming shrubs. Such joy is ours when the rains come and all earth is new.

The cool invigorating air is a blessing. In no time, grass will show up, the urge to grow will make them push and push and find its way to the warmth of the sun.

Did the ironing get finished? I can’t remember. But I do remember the enchanting feeling of my children which I experienced.

Now, many years later, that evening’s loveliness, so nearly missed, is one of my cherished memories. I sure learned something that evening, to go with children where they find something exciting, that has to be shared. Children are close to nature, closer to God and more aware of his small miracles. It is the discovery of the bird feeding its babies on the lawn, or birds calling out to one another, announcing a new day, or an approaching sunset painting an artist’s sky.

Letters to the Editor Oppose highway alignment Ashok Dias, Porvorim I hope my view on highway development will drive all Goans to a revolution of sorts.

The government has wrecked the state by bringing the ambitious project of NH17 and NH4-A alignment.

False promises are in store on the passes to be issued. How could a private enterprise be so generous? Build Own Operate and Transfer is meant to collect toll for the infrastructure project. They never incur losses.

Usage of the lifeline road (major district road) is a fundamental right which is available to allow free movement to all citizens.

The threat of additional burden of the toll fee road looms large.

100 Years Ago

That such a decision is forthcoming defies belief. It is ridiculous that the state cannot afford additional major bridges as we have the highest per capita income in India. Rich industries like mining have done Goa’s development no good.

Lastly, as an affected resident on NH-17, no amount of compensation will replace roots developed in a location after decades of stay. Menial jobs will take considerable fuel and time due to the distance involved.

Right thinking Goans should come out on to the streets and vehemently oppose the present alignment. Instead, the highway should run through the hinterland. The current alignment will destroy family fabric by making us recluses in our own Sobit Goem.

Answer the call Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

18 November 1910

Newspaper shut down

The Postal Bag which arrived from Lisbon came with very few Newspapers which should not be taken in awe as it was mentioned earlier that seven news papers have stopped its publications.

New regime adherence

After some lesser known party winding up, its leader decided to adhere to the new regime as done by all others who have participated, although less intensely, in the revolutionary movement of 28 January.

Reasons for imprisonment

It is reported that the imprisonment of Ayres de Ornellas was because the exMinister of Navy was seeking the intervention of foreign powers.

Patriarchate Decree

A Decree from Patriarchate states over the proviso related to the exposition of St. Francis Xavier which underlines that whoever visits the Basilica de Bom Jesus, is entitled to full remission from sins committed.

With reference to the editorial ‘Resignation of a Raja’ (Herald, 16 Nov), while Raja has denied any wrong doing in the 2G spectrum allocation controversy, there are many questions that remains unanswered. He may be true in his own sense, but serious questions relating to the procedural irregularities and revenue losses cannot be ignored. Besides JPC, other government agencies like CBI, CVC and the Registrar of Companies must be allowed to probe the matter fairly. As Communications and IT are vital tools of empowerment and growth. The PM needs to ensure that such an important ministry is not handed back to the DMK. Let us hope the DMK does not use indirect influence over the Congress to manipulate investigation.

Orthodox thoughts Sidonio Mendes, Chandor Two letters (Herald, 11 Nov) from Dr Francisco Colaco on the intended Devnagari signage in Goa and the other by Joanita Almeida, telling facts of fake freedom fighters caught my attention. My belief stemmed from the fact that prominent proponents of the Konkani movement was not for its development, but to kill the Roman script.

These were used in publications like Vavraddeancho Ixtt, Novem Goem, etc. I wonder how Chandor will now sound in Devnagiri.

Letter of the Day

PM’s credibility gets eroded V R Vasudevan, by email

Anthony Simoes deserves to be congratulated for “That’s Manmohanomics” (Herald, 9 Nov). The super clean politician image of Dr Manmohan Singh appears to be tearing apart. The author has nicely brought out the huge damage caused by Enron and the key players and as to how Dr Singh “placed the foxes in charge of the chicken soup”.

The CWG scams and spectrum Raja’s scam have tarnished the image of our Prime Minister. Small mistakes are not small if committed by people at the echelons of power. For mistakes committed by leaders, the punishments receivable are in four fold. That is why pronouncements by the SC (as in Raja’s case) on Dr Singh’s stoic silence, needs to be treated as a stricture.

Dr Singh should act according to his conscience and not by compulsion of its coalition politics to hang on to power. The way he took help of Messrs Mulayam and Amar Singh does not bode well for Dr Singh.

Now that the corruption scam involving Raja has been exposed, the jitters of coalition politics will be conspicuously felt.

Maybe this sinister design is to wipe out names like Margao, Mormugao etc.

Our centuries old attachment to the Roman alphabet had Goans in sync to the modern world much earlier. It is surprising then that it itches some Goans to play dirty tricks on us with their orthodox thoughts.

Could it be that their blood is saffron coloured?

Exploiting the underbelly Nazar da Silva, Moira Two lessons may be learnt from the ‘village by village’ Regional Plan (RP) awareness programme conducted by Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) in Moira last Saturday. First is the importance of collaboration with local bodies and neighbours. The meeting had the support of the Moira Club and its Communidade, the civic and consumer forum and participants from Nachinola and Aldona. Local panchayat was conspicuously absent.

Secondly, panchayats collude with the MLAs and bureaucracy. Their combined vested interests are against devolvement of power to the people. This is crucial. Panchayats have a soft underbelly that we need to exploit.

There are just 24 fortnightly meetings each year. Gram Sabha members must keep in mind ecological aspects such as water

bodies, hill-cutting, forest cover and access roads at meetings. RTI has to be made use of. Volunteers attending meetings can obtain vital data relevant to the RP. Share your findings with all concerned, including the GBA. May people’s power prevail.

Sagres saga Rogerio Fernandes, by email I am totally shocked as to why some political parties and freedom fighters were making a big fuss about the docking of the Portuguese ship NRP Sagres 3. If these concerned people are so patriotic, and care about a change in society and the system, then why do they not protest against the caste system, ‘sati’, and the various ills plaguing the country.

Voicing protest for a just cause would be very welcome instead of a cheap publicity stunt.

Improve airport conditions Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco Of late, there have been several occasions when flights from the Dabolim airport have been delayed because of avoidable conditions on the ground. Recently, there was an accident wherein a vehicle carrying cargo collided with the wing of a stationary airplane. A tanker carrying aviation fuel re-

cently overturned leading to highly combustible fuel being spilt on the runway. It was several hours before the runway was cleaned and made operational. International flights had to be cancelled, as a result.

All these avoidable incidents do not augur well for the state when the tourist season has just commenced with chartered flights carrying tourists descending into Goa. It seems necessary for the authorities to improve the operational aspect at the airport to avoid such man-made accidents.

Commend and condemn Mike Carvalho, Canada Congratulations to the people of Khariwaddo, Vasco and Vascoites for arranging a warm send off to the visiting Portuguese ship NRP Sagres. If India truly believes in its progress, the action of insulting Portuguese who were on a goodwill visit, by the Goa Government/political parties/freedom fighters must be questioned by the authorities in Delhi. In a democracy there are also limits.

The boycott by elected representatives and serving government officials were uncivil and must be condemned. The gesture of the people of Khariwaddo Vasco and the Vascoites is commendable.

Be fair to civilians Stephen Dias, Dona Paula The article ‘Getting what we rightly deserve’

by Dr Joe D’Souza (Herald, 16 Nov) is clear and self explanatory. It explains the cancer of corruption and exploitation which eats into the fabric of Indian society.

The defence forces have an organisational support to help them extract and acquire maximal benefits for those in service and retired personnel. Army men get a lot of financiall benefits be it through “Flag day” and other contributions in the name of service and sacrifice.

Laymen also sacrifice and work hard towards the development of our country. The Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom

A Simple Truth

By Osho

A great master was sitting on the seashore, on the beach, and a man who was seeking truth came to him, touched his feet and asked, “If I am not disturbing you, I would like to do anything you suggest which can help me find the truth.”

The master simply closed his eyes and remained silent. The man shook his head. He said in his own mind, “This man seems to be crazy. I am asking him a question and he is closing his eyes.” He shook the man and said, “What about my question?”

The master said, “I answered it.

Just sit silently... don’t do anything, and the grass grows by itself. You need not bother about it everything will happen. You just sit silently, enjoy silence.”

The man said, “Can you give it a name because people will be asking me, “What are you doing?”

So he wrote on the sand with his finger: meditation.

The man said, “This is too short an answer. Be a little more elaborate.”

The master wrote in big letters: meditation.

The man said, “But these are simply big letters. You are writing the same thing.”

The old master said, “If I say more than that, then it will be wrong. If you can understand, then just do what I have told you and you will know.”

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Pg7

OHERALDO

INDIA

GOA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010

OPiniOnatED

Why this visa problem?

M

By svaTanTra sarjano

any thanks to the Herald for having highlighting the visa issue that is keeping away thousands of tourists from our beaches, and directing simultaneously all these people towards easier destinations like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore etc…(‘Stringent visa norms hit Goa tourist inflow’, Herald, 8 Nov) This “Visa Imbroglio” is one of the most mysterious things happening in this country, and I still haven’t met anyone capable of explaining this absurdity.

Perhaps this obnoxious attitude doesn’t damage Maharastra or Kerala, but it is certainly damaging Goa’s economy very badly, and it is time to do something about it!

Yes, I’m one of the people who have suffer this anachronism the most, because I’ve spent the last 33 years of my life in India, and do you know how much money I have spent on visas so far? I feel almost embarrassed to tell you, but the simple truth is that I have spend more than Rupees 30 lakh on this incomprehensible game!

I could purchased a small house for myself with this money, or spend it in Goa anyway, but no, every year I have to go for a trip somewhere in order to get a new visa and throw away a little fortune in such a stupid way.

If this is not enough, there is also the top of absurdity rule, which states that a tourist cannot come back before two months have passed, my God, is there anyone who can give me a rational and intelligent explanation for this sadistic attitude?

Why in hell does one have to wait for two months before applying again for a visa?

Okay, stop complaining now and let’s go to some practical solution: First of all, if our Central Government wants to keep these absurd rules, can Goa, in response, ask for a “Special Status” and be exempted by the same rules?

What I mean is: can we grant a “Resident Visa” for people that have been in India more that thirty years? You can call it the way you like it, even “Honorary Citizenship” if you wish, but let’s give this reward to the people who love this country at the point to have renounce completely to their originally citizenship, like me, for instance!

Hey, I have been cooking in your most famous ashram for over 25 years, I have published a couple of books, I have been contributing for more than a decade to some of the best newspapers in India, viz., The Times of India and the Herald itself.

I watch cricket every time India plays a game, and all in all, I’m more “Indian” than many people born here, believe me!

And there are plenty of people like me, thousands of it, artists that have chosen India as their adoptive country, but what a cruel mother they have chosen to be adopted from!

There is really nothing we can do to make their life simpler?

Can we truly adopt them like our favorite children?

Listen, you live in India because you are born here, so we can say that you have not chosen it, but all these people that I am talking about they have chosen to be here, and against all odds, and in spite of all the difficulties your Government is creating to them!

Second of all: will it be possible to grant a special visa to seniors citizens that would like to spend the rest of their life in Goa, but they have to go out every six months for a new visa, and are made incapable of coming back before two months have expired?

I mean, there are tens of thousands of retired persons which would like to move to Goa permanently, with their pension and everything, which means that they will bring an enormous influx of money and they will create a trend for all the retiring people, because I can see this very well happening: “I have retired in Goa because it is beautiful, hospitable and cheap, as compared to other countries.cok if compared to our countries!”

Ultimately, what I want to say is this: Besides doing pressure on our Central Government, so that it can relax on visas rules, can’t we really ask for a “special status” for Goa, which depends on foreigners more than any other State?

It will be a revolution that will make pale the Russian revolution, and it will certainly make the state proud, besides that it will make it famous all over the world for welcoming tourists, even if the rest of India doesn’t.

I have asked in my latest article ‘Foreigners feel like pariahs’ (Herald, 26 Oct) to meet our new Tourism Minister, and I’m still waiting for his call…I hope that this time he will invite me to an open conversation, because there is so much that I can tell him in order to transform Goa into a paradise, so don’t be shy and meet me one of these days. It is high time you listen to a foreigner for once.

PM should respond to SC remarks on Raja: Advani PTI PATNA, NOV 17

Senior BJP leader L K Advani today demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should immediately respond to Supreme Court's observation on delay in taking a decision on the plea for sanction for prosecution of former Telecom Minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum allocation issue.

"The PM should immediately respond to what the Supreme Court has said on Raja issue," Advani told reporters here before leaving for campaigning for last phase of Bihar assembly elections.

He said, "We are demanding a JPC probe into the issue in Parliament and the government should think on it.

"Corruption should be eliminated from the country," Advani said.

Adarsh: CBI may question Chavan PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

The CBI is likely to question former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in connection with his alleged role in the housing society scam here.

The CBI, which had on November 15 registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in the scam, is likely to question Chavan, other state government officials and the 103 members of the Adarsh Housing Society "in due course of time", a senior CBI official told PTI. The official said Chavan may be quizzed "in connection with a letter he had cleared and signed recommending the inclusion of civilians in the society" which was originally meant for widows of Kargil war heroes and war veterans.

"I don't remember the SC raising a question like this in 60 years of my parliamentary career," Advani said.

The Supreme Court had yesterday asked some embarrassing questions about the lengthy delay on the part of the Prime Minister in taking a decision on a plea for sanction of prosecution of the former Telecom Minister in the controversial 2G spectrum allocation issue.

"Can the sanctioning authority

(Prime Minister in this case) sit on the complaint," a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly had asked during a hearing on a petition filed by Janata Party President and former Law Minister Subramaniam Swamy, who had sought sanction for prosecution of Raja.

Advani said during the last two sessions of Parliament, "price rise and inflation were one of the main issues...and the way the opposition raised it, the government was forced to debate on it".

He said corruption has now now become an important issue as three major scams had surfaced.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) asked prime minister to explain why a probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam was delayed despite repeated demands by it since 2008.

Protests were held at several places today soon after the Eidul-Azha prayers as authorities made tight security arrangements across Kashmir valley fearing a repeat of violence that marred Eid-ul-Fitr in September.

As soon as the Eid prayers finished at Eidgah in old city, hundreds of youth started raising slogans while marching towards Nallah Mar Road, official

sources said here.

Police and CRPF personnel, deployed in large numbers at many places in the city, used batons to disperse the protestors.

However, the protestors started pelting stone at the security forces, triggering off clashes at Safakadal and Nawakadal areas, the sources said. They said police fired tear smoke shells to successfully disperse the crowd at Nawakadal but clashes continued in

PTI CHANDIGARH, NOV 17

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today pulled up the Haryana government asking how SPS Rathore was promoted to the top rank of DGP despite a criminal complaint of molestation pending against him in connection with the Ruchika case.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Rajan Gogoi while seeking details from the CBI in this regard also directed the investigating agency to place on record its final report on its probe in the FIRs in the three fresh cases filed against the disgraced former top cop.

The court direction came while hearing a PIL filed by a local advocate seeking a fresh case against Rathore for abet-

ment to suicide of teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

After spending close to six months behind bars, Rathore serving an 18-month sentence in the Ruchika molestation case walked free on Friday last, a day after the Supreme Court granted him bail.

Ruchika (14), a budding tennis player, committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on August 12,1990.

On the promotion issue, the

A new research study conducted in Karnataka has found the current eligibility criterion of taking household income for sanctioning of social security pensions to be inappropriate and recommended the South African model which takes into account only the earnings of the beneficiary and spouse.

The research found that a considerable number of pensioners – whether it’s destitute widow or physically handicapped or old age – may not have access to or any say over the household income as a whole, as they live in a different family – such as that of a father or brother or sister or in-laws – for security and moral support.

In addition, the indebtedness of the household, the source and purpose of debt would have a bearing on household income, which cannot be viewed in isolation, the study noted.

Safakadal area. So far, there were no reports of anyone getting injured in the clashes.

Protests were held at Hazratbal Shrine soon after the prayers but the protestors dispersed peacefully, the sources said.

A mob set ablaze a police vehicle in Anantnag district town headquarters, 55 kms from here, this morning after a protest turned violent and started pelting stones at security forces, they said.

In Ganderbal district town,

The current eligibility criterion based on annual income of the household cannot be considered as appropriate for deciding the eligibility of beneficiaries for sanctioning social security pensions. The researchers recommended the model followed in South Africa, where the income of the beneficiary and his/her spouse alone are taken into account for determining the eligibility for sanction of social pension benefit The study suggested that one alternative in mobilizing resources for extending social security to all the unorganized workers is to impose social security cess of five per cent on income tax, just like education cess.

The research was carried by D Rajasekhar, G Sreedhar, N L Narasimha Reddy, R R Biradar and R Manjula of the Centre for Decentralisation and Development, Institute for Social and Economic Change, a Bangalore-

Opposition JDS today said it would raise in Parliament the alleged land scams during the B S Yeddyurappa regime, as it charged the Chief Minister with favouring his family in the allotment.

Janata Dasl (S) state unit p re s i d e n t a n d L o k S a b h a member H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the scams are estimated to be between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore during the tennure of Yeddyurappa.

JDS would seek time in Parliament to raise the issue of scams, he said, adding he will stage a dharna if the demand was not granted.

"I don't mind being evicted (from Lok Sabha) also. There is no question of going back.

We will take it to its logical end," the former Chief Minister said.

bench directed CBI to provide notings on the service file relating to the elevation of Rathore as DGP. The file is currently with CBI. The court also issued notice to Sacred Heart school and directed the authorities to produce the inquiry report on Ruchika's expulsion from the institute allegedly at the behest of Rathore. The case will now come up for a hearing on December 24.

CBI had recently filed two closure reports in the Special CBI court in Ambala in two of the three fresh cases registered against Rathore.

The two cases related to the accusation against Rathore that he had doctored Ruchika's postmortem report and was behind the custodial torture of her brother Ashu.

Muslim devotees offering prayer at Hafta Masjid on the occasion of Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) in Imphal on Wednesday.

police fired tear smoke shells to chase away a group of protestors at Fatehpora chowk, the sources said.

Protests were also reported from Hajin and Sumbal areas of the Bandipora district in north Kashmir.

Authorities had made strict security arrangements across the city and other major towns of the valley apprehending that unscrupulous elements might try to instigate violence as happened

on Eid-ul-Fitr on September 11.

Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in strength to thwart any moves of holding protests in the city while Lal Chowk area, which witnessed a huge separatist rally on last Eid, was sealed off, the sources said.

Several separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat -- Mirwaiz Farooq and Syed Geelani -- Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan were placed under house arrest.

Household income no criterion for pension: research PTI BANGALORE, NOV 17

PTI BANGALORE, NOV 17

Court raps Haryana, seeks Rathore promotion details

Valley witnesses protests on Eid; security tightened PTI SRINAGAR, NOV 17

JD(S) to raise K’taka scams in Parliament

based think-tank.

Titled “Delivery of Social Security and Pension Benefits in Karnataka”, the study was commissioned by Karnataka Government’s Directorate of Social Security and Pensions, under the Department of Revenue.

They said: “It appears that the current eligibility criterion based on annual income of the household cannot be considered as appropriate for deciding the eligibility of beneficiaries for

sanctioning social security pensions”.

The researchers recommended the model followed in South Africa, where the income of the beneficiary and his/her spouse alone are taken into account for determining the eligibility for sanction of social pension benefit.

The study conducted in the districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Gulbarga recently with the s a m p l e d r a w n f ro m t w o towns/cities and 12 villages from two taluks of each sample district, supported the desirability of extending social security pensions to all unorganised workers.

The research focused on current mechanisms on delivery of social security and pension benefits, identifying delivery failures in their implementation and impact of such schemes on the beneficiaries in Karnataka, where lakhs of elderly, widows and disabled receive such pensions.

The study found that the time

taken for the release of pension from the treasury to the beneficiary ranges between 30 days to two months. This was due to a variety of reasons and procedural problems such as the postman being allowed to carry only Rs 20,000 a day due to security reasons and contributed to the delay which should be avoided.

The researchers said the targeting of the social security and pension benefits appears to be in the right direction, as indicated by the large-scale coverage of weaker sections including women. But there were areas of concern too.

About 80 per cent of the pensioners make unauthorized payments to the postman, ranging from two per cent to six per cent of the pension amount.

While about half of them pay to the postman voluntarily, the postman demands the money in the sense that he deducts the amount before paying the pension in the case of the rest.

38 Delhi buildings get notices PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 16

Waking up to the threat posed by unauthorised constructions after the tragedy in Laxmi Nagar, the MCD has asked the occupants of as many as 38 "dangerous" buildings in the East Delhi area to evacuate immediately.

"During a survey, basements of at least 38 buildings were found to be water-filled. We have issued them notice to vacate their houses immediately for their safety," Municipal Corporation of Delhi spokesperson Deep Mathur told PTI. The preventive action has come in the wake of Monday night building collapse.

APPOINTMENTS

India may turn down Pak plea for quizzing Fahim PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

India is likely to reject the demand of Pakistan to allow questioning of alleged LeT terrorist Fahim Ansari and also convey to that country to show some seriousness in getting the main accused in Mumbai terror attack arrested.

The response by India in this manner is likely after the Union Home Home Ministry examined the list of demands made by Pakistan which included questioning of Ansari, who was acquitted by a Special court along with another Indian accused Sabauddin Ahmed.

The duo was named by the elite crime branch of Mumbai police as the people responsible for carrying out reconnaissance

o f t a rg e t s f o r L a s h ke r - e Taiba(LeT) in Mumbai ahead of the attacks.

As the country was a few days away from commemorating the second anniversary of 26/11, sources in the Home Ministry said today Islamabad was only delaying the process of law and not actually punishing the guilty which included founder chief of Lashker Hafeez Saeed and his close aides Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Muzzamil.

India may also raise with Pakistan the very slow pace of the trial ofseven 26/11 accused in that country due to "unreasonable" demands made to India which included post-mortem report of 166 dead victims and nine terrorists.

appointments

OHERALDO

NEWS

Pg10

GOA, THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2010

FROM PAGE 1 Rap on Bigg Boss...

exhibition. The participants are often shown quarrelling in the programme and using abusive language.”

While on Rakhi ka Insaf it said that the anchor/host of the programme uses vulgar and abusive language in the programme.

“Preview of the content telecast in this reality show has revealed that the anchor/host poses certain questions to participants relating to their personal lives which are not found suitable for unrestricted public exhibition.”

“It has also been noted that participants often reveal intimate details of their relationships, resulting in great embarrassment to the viewers watching the programme along with their families and also to the participants in the show,” the directive said.

I and B officials claimed this is the first time that the ministry has compulsorily changed time slots of popular TV shows.

SS music channel, which had been issued a notice earlier had submitted that there was nothing in these visuals that can be described as obscene and vulgar and also that these programmes did not denigrate women. However, during a hearing, the representative of the SS Music channel was shown the clippings of the above programmes. He admitted that the content was obscene and vulgar but denied that the channel had telecast those songs, I and B Ministry sources said. .

The decisions were taken at an inter-ministerial meeting attended by additional secretaries from the Ministries of home, women and child development, external affairs and information and broadcasting on Monday.

Numerous complaints have been made by viewers as well as the National Commission for Women and social activists who accused the channels of showing explicit content.

The decision would be effective from today, the officials said.

The meeting had been called after round-the-clock monitoring of the channels.

Rakhi ka Insaaf, compered by actor-dancer Rakhi Sawant, hit the spotlight after Laksham Prasad, a resident of Jhansi, committed suicide which his family alleged was following the humiliation meted out to him on the show.

His family said the youth was upset after Rakhi called him “impotent” and that he had gone into depression and refused to eat anything for several days.

Meanwhile, shortly after being issued the notice, Biggg Boss evicted two participants, actors Dolly Bindra and Sameer Soni, for violent behaviour.

The two ‘inmates’ were evicted after they got into a fist fight, breaking the show’s rules which prohibit physical violence, said sources in the channel Colors.

Bindra, who had earned the ire of all her fellow participants with her abusive behaviour was having an argument with actress Shweta Tiwari, when Soni stepped in as peacemaker.

But the argument soon turned ugly and Soni and Bindra ended up exchanging blows, said the source.

The eviction comes the same day as Bay Watch bombshell Pamela Anderson entered the Biggg Boss house as a special guest.

Last year, contestant Kamal R Khan became the first contestant in the show’s history to be expelled for violent behaviour after attacking designer Rohit Verma with a bottle.

The show, which is in its fourth season, sees celebrities locked up inside a mansion with cameras following their every move.

The show has been mired in controversy from the very beginning.

The Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had demanded a ban on the reality show because of the participation of two Pakistani artistes, actress Veena Malik and TV host Begum Nawazish Ali. Actor Ashmit Patel’s display of affection towards Malik and TV actress Sara Khan had raised eyebrows and the inmates were often shown using abusive language.

Khan had married boyfriend Ali Merchant on the show recently and the two were shown kissing and cuddling up together on their wedding night.

Asked for their reaction, a Colors spokesperson said “We still haven’t received the order, so it is not possible for us to comment.”

NDTV Imagine CEO Sameer Nair said, “We are awaiting details on this. We have only just heard of this. Once we get more details, we will be in a position to comment.”

“Actually, I guess we will work with the concerned authorities on this. If it is a question of creating a band or operating in that manner, it will have to be examined what is being proposed and being suggested.”

The industry is divided over the ministry’s decision to give an ‘A’ certificate to the two reality shows. While some support it, others think that the concerns are baseless.

Theatre personality and ad guru Alyque Padamsee slammed the decision, saying “Its a typical reaction. Next they will say we cannot have Kaun Banega Crorepati as it teaches kids to run after money.”

Aspiring actor Rahul Bhatt, who got evicted from Bigg Boss two weeks ago, said, “It is great, I am in full support of this decision. A lot of vulgar things happen on the show and it is certainly not for the Beloved wife of Simon, sister / sister-in-law of Sr. Mercy (Nirmalas), general public to view.” late Basil / Evans, Melchior / Aura, sister-in-law of Jose / Nelsa, His words were echoed by lawyer Abbas Kazmi, another Eulampia / late Jose, Flavia / Norberto, Ivette / Samiro & Bosco / Liboia. former contestant of Biggg Boss.

Expired on 17-11-2010.

“It is a proper decision. If the Funeral leaves residence at 9:30 am from Kundaikar Nagar, Panjim content is not according to our on 18-11-2010 for eucharistic celebration at at 10:00 am culture, it should be aired only for an adult audience.” at St Inez Church followed by burial.

DEATH

JOYCE FERNANDES

No flowers please, instead donate to charity. No condolence visits please.

Relatives & friends kindly accept this as the only intimation.

GOANRITES 9822122003/9822136397

ZP team eyes pleasure trip. Oops! study tour from South had proceeded on a “study tour” just before the end of their term in February, after the government sanctioned the financial grant following hard lobbying by some members.

When Maria’s attention was drawn to the fact that ZP members had in the past toured the North Indian states during their term, she said that the previous tour has nothing to do with the present members.

Sadly, while ZP members from the South have been on study tours to the other States at the cost of the public exchequer, no one knows for sure the number of reports compiled after the tour and whether the studies have helped the district panchayat body to get additional powers and functions from the government under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

OHERALDO

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WORLD GOA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010

Musharraf got security during exile in London AGENCIES ISLAMABAD, NOV 17

In a move described as unprecedented by experts, President Asif Ali Zardari ordered a senior army officer to provide security to former military dictator Pervez Musharraf during his stay outside the country.

Pakistani Army officer Col Ilyas, who was directed to protect Musharraf, told the News International that he was on attachment to Aiwan-e-Sadar.

Zardari, as a courtesy to General Musharraf, ordered Ilyas to serve as his chief security officer.

Musharraf ruled the country for nine year after taking power in a coup in 1999. He stepped down in 2008 and left Pakistan.

He now lives in London.

Ilyas said Zardari also appointed four to five other people to serve Musharraf in London.

"This is besides the four people given by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who allowed this facility to Musharraf as an ex-army chief," Ilyas was quoted as saying.

Four commandos, who have taken retirement, are also serving as Musharraf's bodyguards.

Ilyas said that besides this security cover to the former president in London, no other regular army officer or of any intelligence outfit has been assigned for this task.

"I am with Musharraf not because of Pakistan Army but because of President Zardari," Ilyas said, adding, "Ex-president is allowed some staff. No regular

I am with Musharraf not because of Pakistan Army but because of President Zardari.

-- Army officer Col Ilyas army official is allowed and my duty with President Musharraf is simply a courtesy to the expresident."

"I am a regular army officer and taking my salary from Pakistan army. If the army will call me back either I will take retirement or will go back to my job."

Experts said the appointment of so many government employees and army officials including a colonel with Musharraf was unprecedented.

Former president Rafiq Tarar said no army official has been assigned to him as per his protocol as ex-president.

Relatives of ex-president Farooq Leghari, who died recently, also gave the same information.

The Pakistan Army spokesperson didn't respond despite repeated to contact him.

Former army chief Mirza Aslam Beg said that according to present rules and regulations of Pakistan Army no such protocol is permissible for an exarmy chief whether he is in the country or outside.

Beg disclosed that some years back there was a rule to provide a batman, a personal staff, a driver and an army telephone to an army chief on his retirement.

"However, Benazir Bhutto during her second tenure as the prime minister ordered then army chief Jahangir Karamat to withdraw these facilities from me.

"This rule of providing no facility to an ex-army chief made under the orders of Bhutto is still in force," said Beg. Beg said no soldiers or officers of the Pakistan Army could be deputed with an army chief after his retirement even for security purposes and it was completely out of question for such an assignment out of the country according to the existing rules.

Former army chief General Abdul Waheed Kakar too didn't have any such facility.

His granddaughter said that not a single person has been given to General Kakar as an exarmy chief and all the people working at their home are hired privately.

"There is no driver, no cook or no guard whatsoever given to my grandfather by Pakistan Army," she said.

PRINCE WILLIAM ENGAGED Royal wedding set for next year AGENCIES LONDON, NOV 17

Thirty years after the fairy-tale nuptials with the unhappy ending, Britain will finally have another big royal wedding: its dashing helicopter-pilot prince — second in line to the throne — will marry the lovely commoner who may someday become queen.

Prince William and Kate Middleton bubbled with joy Tuesday evening in their first public appearance since the palace announced their engagement after more than eight years of dating. Their wedding will be next spring or summer.

In a poignant symbol for William, his betrothed wore the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to his late mother, Diana.

"I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all. This was my way of keeping her close to it all," William said.

While the romance of the two 28-year-olds is the stuff that dreams are made of, it is no exaggeration to say that the future of the Windsor dynasty depends to no small degree on the success of their union.

"We're massively excited," William said in the televised interview that marked the first time they have spoken publicly about the trials and tribulations of their love affair, which dates back to their days as university freshmen. "We're hugely excited.

We're looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together."

The interview reminded many of a similar TV appearance by William's parents, Prince Charles and Diana, shortly after they became engaged.

At that time, Diana seemed

Suu Kyi's party seeks legal status AGENCIES YANGON, NOV 17

A solider stands guard as members of the military hold a dress rehearsal for President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term swearing in ceremony at the presidential secretariat building in Colombo on Wednesday.

NRI to be UK's first Sikh High Sheriff PTI LONDON, NOV 17

Resham Singh Sandhu, a prominent Indian-origin multicultural leader selected as the new High Sheriff of Leicestershire, says he is honoured and a matter of privilege to serve the office.

Sandhu, who was awarded the MBE in 2002, migrated to Leicestershire from Punjab 38 years ago.

He will be the first turbanwearing Sikh in the UK to hold the office of High Sheriff.

"It's a great honour and priv-

Afghanistan transition to begin in 2011: US PTI WASHINGTON, NOV 17

Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton react as they pose for photographers during a photocall to mark their engagement, in London on Wednesday.

frightened of the limelight and withdrawn; by contrast, Middleton seemed at ease in front of the cameras. She said she wished she had met Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997. "I would love to have met her. She's an inspirational woman," Middleton said as William looked on.

The royal wedding represents a chance for the Windsors to start anew. Middleton brings youth and glamour to a monar-

chy tarnished by divorce and scandal. There is already warm public support for William.

A strong, stable marriage — one that lasts decades and produces heirs — could go a long way toward undoing the damage from the ugly squabbling and televised confessions of adultery that marred the final years of Charles and Diana's tortured marriage, which began on such a high note with their spectacular wedding in 1981.

Ahead of the crucial NATO Summit in Lisbon, the US today said the "responsible transition" to Afghan security forces for taking the lead in securing the country will begin by the middle of next year and is expected to end in 2014.

"We are viewing this Lisbon summit as a strategic milestone for the ongoing mission in Afghanistan, during which we expect to highlight two mutually supporting themes," said Doug Lute, Special Assistant to the President for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Lisbon Summit, he said, is expected to announce the "beginning of a responsible transition to Afghan leadership."

"That is, putting Afghans in the lead across Afghanistan for their own security," he told reporters in a tele-conference.

With regard to transitioning to Afghan leadership, Lute said, the process actually began in last year and was then highlighted again in the conference hosted by the Afghans in Kabul in July this year.

"The idea is that based on conditions on the ground and as a result of the surge in international resources over the last year, it is possible now to begin a responsible transition to Afghan security lead across the 34 provinces in Afghanistan," Lute said.

Acknowledging that this won't happen overnight or in a single event, he said it will be a steady, progressive process that will be carefully monitored by conditions on the ground.

ilege. This is going to set a good image of Great Britain.

People can see that if you really work hard and deserve it, you can become a civic dignitary.

It promotes multi-culturalism," he told the media in Leicester.

He added: "My family in Punjab always worked with communities and to help other people. When I came over here I wanted to do the same. I didn't do it because I wanted to be recognised for it – I never expected that".

Young girls in jeans and Tshirts roam freely in the upmarket Zamzama road of Pakistan's largest city that houses many fashion boutiques and cafes. So do many women clad in the traditional salwaar-kameez, though they cover their head with a hijab.

Women in burqas, however, are not a regular sight in this cosmopolitan port city.

"Wearing a hijab or a burqa or not covering your head at all is just a matter of choice. If a woman wants to wear the hijab - and not the burqa - it's because she has been brought up by a steady dose of modernity," Aamna Haider Isani, a senior fashion journalist said.

"You will see a lot of single women, single mothers, all types of working women here.

Many corporates are giving Pakistani women an opportunity to change the perceptions

of people around the globe who think Pakistan is a conservative country," she added.

A lot of women from various walks of life are choosing to just cover their head.

"You will be surprised to know that it was only the Prophet's wife who was supposed to wear a burqa so that she could be identified, but then some fanatics forced it on women to protect them from the glare of the public eye," Huma Adnan, a fashion designer, explained.

"Islam preaches that a woman should be well covered so that she doesn't attract unnecessary male attention, and the reason why she has to cover her head is because hair is considered to be an attraction for men," she added.

During private parties, a lot of women don elegant dresses, evening wear and offshoulder gowns, but skin-

show is limited. The majority of women here shy away from showing their legs, arms or back - the idea is elegant dressing.

An average woman in Karachi covers her head and dresses in a salwar-kameez and heads off to work.

Usma Khan, who works as a helper in a wealthy household

of Karachi, doesn't believe in wearing a burqa though she does cover her head.

"With inflation on, one can't think of running a household only on the husband's income.

So I started working and I do follow Islam religiously, but I only believe in covering my head because you can't work in a 'burqa'. This is a more practical way of living," said Khan.

According to designer Sahar Atif, Pakistan is a multi-cultural society, particularly Karachi, and Lahore is more conservative when it comes to women's dressing sensibilities.

"You see, considering an Islamic country, there is a lot of difference in a way women dress in Karachi and Lahore Karachi women are more liberal, but there are some parts which are very conservative.

Karachi people are loaded with money; so are Lahore people, but Karachi is more

one year, and is the Queen's representative for law and order in the county, reports from Leicester said.

The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the UK after the Crown. Leicestershire has had High Sheriffs since 1172.

Historically, responsibilities included tax collection, conscription and maintaining law and order, but today the role is chiefly attending royal visits and acting as returning officer in parliamentary elections.

Iraq president not to sign Aziz execution order AFP PARIS, NOV 17

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani today said he would never sign former deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz's execution order, saying it was time to turn the page on the country's history of capital punishment.

"No, I will not sign this kind of order because I am a socialist," Talabani told France 24 television during an interview.

"I feel for Tareq Aziz, because he's an Iraqi Christian, and he's also an elderly person over 70 years old. That's why I will never sign this execution order."

Aziz was given the death penalty on October 26 for a crackdown on Shiite religious parties in the 1980s, and is also on trial for a crackdown on Iraqi Kurds, of which Talabani is one.

Iraq's supreme criminal court found the long-time international face of the Saddam Hussein regime guilty of "deliberate

murder and crimes against humanity," sentencing him to death.

The verdict provoked a wave of appeals for clemency from around the world, including from rights groups, the European Union, Russia and the Vatican.

Aged 74, in poor health and among Saddam's few surviving top cohorts, Aziz has been in prison since surrendering in April 2003, a month after the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The court also sentenced Aziz to 15 years imprisonment for "committing torture" and 10 years for "participating in torture," and ordered that all of his known wealth be confiscated.

Two other men received the death sentence at the same time as Aziz -- former interior minister Saadoun Shaker and Abid Hmoud, an aide to Saddam.

All three were sentenced for their role in the crackdown on Shiites, but the urbane Aziz was by far the most prominent figure.

Named foreign minister in 1983 and then deputy prime minister in 1991, Aziz exploited his mastery of English to put a gloss on Saddam's murderous regime for two decades.

Talabani has previously said that he is generally against capital punishment, and declined to confirm some court execution orders but without preventing the hangings going ahead.

Foreign planes violated airspace: Iran AP TEHRAN, NOV 17

Iran says that unidentified foreign planes violated its air space six times as the country kicked off an air defence drill, but that they were intercepted and forced back by Iranian jets.

The remarks by Gen Hamid Arjangi, a spokesman for the exercise, are the first Iranian claim of an intrusion. His comments were carried today by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Initially, he had only said that foreign planes had approached Iran's air space.

Arjangi says Iran's radar stations and observation posts reported six cases of foreign planes entering the air space during the exercise.

The five-day drill, which started yesterday, is meant to showcase Iranian capabilities in defending its nuclear facilities from possible attack.

Indian-origin doc gets 6 yrs for rape PTI MELBOURNE, NOV 17

An Indian-origin doctor was today sentenced to six years in jail after being convicted of raping a woman seven times in one night and taking her photographs during the assault.

A County Court jury found 37-year-old Arvind Sharma guilty last month of seven counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault over the incident which took place in December 2006, according to media reports here.

In Karachi women prefer the hijab to burqa AGENCIES KARACHI, NOV 17

Sandhu, a former chairman of Leicester's council of faiths, was commissioned in 2006 as the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Leicestershire. He will wear the same ceremonial uniform for the role of High Sheriff.

Sandhu will succeed Colonel Robert Martin in either March or April next year and will be expected to attend royal visits and be entitled to act as a returning officer in parliamentary elections.

The High Sheriff is a volunteer, unpaid and in office for

Myanmar democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) are seeking a judicial order to reinstate it as a legal political party, officials said on Wednesday.

The NLD lost its status in May after refusing to register for the November 7 general election, the first in more than 20 years.

The party boycotted the election to protest a law that would have required it to drop Suu Kyi as a member if the NLD were to be put on the ballot.

NLD lawyer Nyan Win said he would argue at the Supreme Court in Naypyitaw, the military government's capital, to restore the party's legal status. He said arguments in the case would take about 10 days.

The NLD had won the previous national election, in 1990, by a landslide but was blocked from assuming power by the military.

New registration rules for this month's elections barred parties with members who were serving sentences from court convictions. Suu Kyi was under house detention until Nov 13.

cosmopolitan than Lahore," said Atif, who is a Lahorebased designer.

Adnan agrees with her. She said: "In Karachi, I can roam around in track-pants and no one will give me that stupid look, while in Lahore I can't do the same. There people are more conservative. Though I don't care, sometimes you have to dress according to the sentiments of that region to avoid unwanted attention."

Atif herself covers her head with a hijab while her clothes relfect Western sensibilities; so sometimes she is accused of being a hypocrite.

"I started covering my head for religious reasons. Covering your head might be considered backwards, but the richest people in Karachi and Lahore are very conservative and you will find them in the most stylish and branded clothes, but underneath a burqa," she said.

Sharma and his victim, who was 24-year-old then, were known to each other and previously had consensual sex.

The convictions do not relate to his work as a general physician (GP) in Bendigo.

The two were night-clubbing in Bendigo before returning to Sharma's house where the assault took place, the court heard.

Sharma took photographs of the victim during the rape.

While jailing him for six years with minimum time to

serve in prison being four years, judge Frank Shelton said the woman refused the doctor's advances while she was lying on his bed. But when he persisted 10 minutes later, she did not resist.

Sharma believed the woman to be drunk but she was only pretending in order for him to stop, the judge said.

During cross-examination, the woman said she was scared of Sharma but Shelton said that evidence was not particularly strong.

Judge Shelton said Sharma was of good character previously

and had high standing in the Bendigo community.

He said Sharma's jail term would have an effect on Bendigo, given the documented difficulties in attracting GPs to country areas.

The judge said there were several character references including from patients of Sharma who said they were happy to continue being treated by him even after the charges were laid.

Several women cried, including Sharma's fiancee who is a pharmacist, as judge Shelton sentenced him.

Despite attacks, NATO hails Kandahar progress AGENCIES KANDAHAR, NOV 17

Kandahar is rocked by explosions and gunfire most nights but military commanders say that NATO leaders meeting this weekend can be told that the tactics in southern Afghanistan are working.

The bustling city that is the spiritual home of the Taliban has been flooded with troops.

Combat outposts and heavilyfortified police stations have been built and there is a constant stream of convoys and patrols on the streets.

US commanders talk of a more co-ordinated approach to security with their Afghan counterparts while hundreds of millions of dollars are being poured in to the city to shore up its dilapidated infrastructure and improve daily life.

In rural areas around Kandahar, too, village elders who just

a few months ago were afraid to be even seen working with the government are now participating in "shuras" or local council meetings to make their voices heard.

"Cash for work" schemes are also operating to steer away what one US commander in Kandahar called "accidental insurgents" from militancy.

But although many Kandaharis say security has improved, some caution that the jury is still out on the attempt to install effective local authorities and police as a crucial follow-up to the huge military surge earlier this year.

Insurgents still launch attacks and plant roadside bombs that kill or maim foreign troops, despite the capture of Taliban strongholds in districts like Arghandab, Zhari, Panjwayi and Mahalajat outside Kandahar city.

Many Taliban fighters melted into the crowds of refugees fleeing fighting in rural areas after the US-led invasion in late 2001, Kandaharis say, and use the city to launch rocket, grenade and gun attacks on security forces.

Afghan police, who are seen as central to the aim of getting the local authorities to take the lead in the fight against the militants, are also a concern.

"We feel we could take over security right now," said Faz Mohammed, a former mujahideen fighter who now heads a police station in a semi-derelict building in Kandahar city.

US commanders hold men like Faz Mohammed in high regard but they remain worried about the overall standards of professionalism of the Afghan police and military and their ability to work unsupervised.

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Goa gets higher FDI than Gujarat HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Goa attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of USD 291 million ahead of Gujarat which received USD 230 million during April-August this fiscal, according to industry ministry's latest data.

Maharashtra and the National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for over half the FDI inflows into the country with Maharashtra attracting the highest FDI at $2.43 billion (Rs 11,154 crore), accounting for 35 per cent of the inflow in the country, during the first 5 months of the current fiscal.

NCR, including parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, received $1.85 billion (Rs 8,476 crore) in FDI during the period. The region accounted for 20 per cent of the total FDI. During April-August 201011, India received $8.88 billion

in FDI, the data said.

According to an expert, the main reasons for the maximum inflows in Maharashtra and NCR are substantial improvements in infrastructure and pro-active approach of the governments.

"Infrastructure in these areas has improved considerably and that is making them attractive destination for FDI in India," said Rakesh Joshi, an international trade expert at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.

Karnataka attracted the third highest FDI inflows worth $936 million during the period, followed by Andhra Pradesh ($451 million) and Tamil Nadu ($316 million).

Sectors that attracted high levels of FDI include services, telecom, metallurgical industries, power, computer hardware and software, and construction activities.

The highest FDI of $2.92 came from Mauritius, followed

by Singapore ($1.08 billion), USA ($636 million), Japan ($515 million) and the Netherlands ($481 million) in April-August 2010-11. FDI inflow during 2009-10 was $25.88 billion, 5 per cent lower than $27.33 billion in the previous fiscal.

Kissan Call Centres gain popularity PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

With over 55 lakh calls received till October this year since its launch, Kissan Call Centres (KCC), established to provide instant farm solutions, are increasingly gaining popularity among Indian farmers.

Launched in 2004, at present 25 KCC (Kissan Call Centres) are functioning at different locations across the country.

According to official data, these centres received 55.75 lakh calls till October 2010. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) under the Agriculture Ministry, had launched KCC service in January 2004 to deliver extension services to the farming community.

The purpose of these call centres is to instantly respond to the issues raised by farmers and provide them solution in their local language. An evaluation study of KCC conducted

by Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College, which submitted its report in July 2007, had pointed that the current level of participation of women farmers was negligible.

The study attributed it to the lack of awareness among beneficiaries.

Govt cancelled 1.78 cr bogus ration cards PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

As many as 1.78 crore bogus ration cards were cancelled in last four years across the country to ensure supply of subsidised foodgrains to the genuine beneficiaries, a government official has said.

"Twenty five states and union territories have reported deletion of 1.78 crore bogus or ineligible ration cards by Sep-

Asian equity markets are likely to scale astounding heights and will represent almost half of the world market capitalisation within 20 years, driven by significant growth in the financial markets of India and China, a study says. "By 2030, we expect Asian equity markets to represent almost 50 per cent of world market capitalisation and Asian domestic bond markets to be bigger than the US bond markets," according to the ''Super-Cycle Report'' by British banking major Standard Chartered.

The equity-market capitalisation for Asia, ex-Japan, is expected to rise from USD 7.4 trillion currently to around USD 151 trillion by 2030, half of which could be attributable

to China, expected to have a market capitalisation of around USD 79 trillion. Equity markets of India, South Africa, Indonesia, China and Brazil are projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 15 per cent over the next two decades.

With the Asian financial markets in particular those of China and India growing substantially, centres such as Hong Kong and Singapore to emerge as even bigger hubs for regional and global products.

"Other locations, such as Shanghai, Mumbai and Dubai, to become bigger financial centres for regional products," the report added.

With Asian financial centres becoming more important, Asian debt and foreign exchange markets are also set to

ister Sharad Pawar had recently said in Parliament that his ministry is aware of the problem of bogus ration cards.

The Centre allocates foodgrains to the state governments for supply through ration shops.

The responsibility to identify the beneficiary and supervise the functioning of ration shops is fixed with the state governments.

European aviation firm Air France-KLM has agreed to pick up a 26 percent stake in privately-held Indian firm Max Aerospace and Aviation Ltd and will set up an aircraft component repair facility in India, the French firm said in a statement on Wednesday.

The French firm did not provide any details on the location or investment.

Max Aerospace is a Mumbaibased firm providing maintenance, repair and overhaul.

grow strongly. In the next two decades, China, Brazil and India are all set to become the three major players in the forex market, besides top 10 economies.

China is expected to have a daily turnover of $6.2 trillion, Brazil ($2.5 t) and India ($1.9 t) in 2030, the report said. The study said that the higher a country's per-capita income, the more sophisticated and developed its financial markets are likely to be.

Besides, economic reform, privatisation and financial innovation would contribute to the growth of equity markets in Asia, it added. It also said that increasing capital requirements and a structural shift to savings would drive growth in emerging market equity markets.

UNIDO to aid third world exporters

Radio-taxi service provider EasyCabs today said it has commenced operations from the Mumbai domestic airport with a fleet of 400 cars.

The company has started services from the Santa Cruz airport, servicing passengers arriving at Terminals 1A and 1B. It would start a similar service from the international airport in the next one month, Carzonrent (India) Pvt Ltd, which owns the EasyCabs brand, said a release said here.

"We are in talks with authorities at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and will begin a similar operation there with a larger presence," the

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on private standards has launched a guide to help exporters in the developing countries like India to deal with a maze of standards on environment and social issues. The guidebook will help exporters in the developing countries in areas like garments, footwear and furniture sectors.

"Today, more and more companies in developing countries are becoming global producers. The liberalisation of consumer markets provides these companies with opportunities for exporting their products to global markets, where they are increasingly required to comply with ''private standards'' a phenomenon on the rise," it said.

company's COO, Vikas Marwah, said.

The company also plans to tie-up with leading airlines to offer special schemes for frequent EasyCabs users, he said.

"We will expand our fleet to 1,000 cabs by March 2011, aiming at the fastestever growth in a city by any radiotaxi company in the first year of operations," Marwah said.

Customers at the airport would have to pay basic fare as per the meter and would not be levied airport parking charges, the release said.

EasyCabs are air-conditioned and equipped with state- of-art technology like GPRS tracking, mobile data terminals, digital meters and thermal printers for issuing receipt.

under Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).

The government supplies 35 kg of subsidised rice and wheat to BPL and AAY families every month.

The BPL cardholders get wheat at Rs 4.15 per kg and rice at Rs 5.65 per kg, while AAY card holders are eligible for wheat at Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg.

Food and Agriculture Min-

REUTERS MUMBAI, NOV 17

EasyCabs now at Mumbai airport PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

steps to eliminate duplicate cards as part of the measure to streamline the functioning of Targeted Public Distribution Systems (TPDS) from July 2006, he said.

The official, however, declined to give the details of financial losses suffered by the government due to the issue of foodgrains to these ineligible card holders.

According to official data, there are 6.52 crore people

Air France-KLM to buy stake in Indian Co

Asian mkts to represent half of world’s market-cap PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

tember, this year," the official said.

West Bengal topped the list of bogus cardholders at 60 lakh, followed by Maharashtra at 30 lakh, Madhya Pradesh at 25 lakh and Andhra Pradesh at 10.46 lakh, he said.

Among union territories, Delhi had maximum number of bogus cards at 16.32 lakh, the official added.

The government has taken

PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

Dabur to expand capacity PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

Dabur India is betting big on its international business and plans to expand its manufacturing capacity to cater to the growing markets besides readying a slew of products for launch in new categories.

Dabur, the fourth largest Indian FMCG firm with an annual turnover of around Rs 3,400crore, aims to increase its foreign sales substantially to 25 per cent through both inorganic and organic expansion going forward.

Trade between Argentina, India to reach $2 billion AGENCY BUENOS AIRES, NOV 17

Argentina has expressed willingness to diversify exports to India as bilateral trade between the two countries is set to reach $2 billion in 2010, a near three-fold increase over the last year.

'Argentina and India have a common goal regarding vertiginous growth in bilateral trade and investments,' Xinhua quoted Argentine Minister of Industry Debora Giorgi as saying.

'The challenge is to diversify

exports, replacing the large part of raw materials by products with added value. The Argentine industry has an unbeatable opportunity due to India's growing demand for food,' Giorgi said Tuesday at the opening of a business seminar in Buenos Aires.

India is the second largest Asian investor in Argentina, after China, with 13 companies in the country that have invested $1.1 billion and generated some 9,000 jobs, she said.

According to official figures, the two-way trade will reach

sula Wines valued at $100 m HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, NOV 16

Nashik Vintners Pvt Ltd (NVPL), owner of Sula brand and majority - owned by Rajeev Samant, has touched the enterprise value of $100 million, based on the divestiture of 15% stake in their existing stake by GEM India Advisors at $15 million to a Belgian based investment company Verlinvest SA which has €250 million under its management, according to media reports Rajeev Samant, founder of the company which also owns Sula Vineyards as its subsidiary, reportedly confirmed on Thursday that the investment was significant by Verlinvest, adding that GEM India Advisors (GIA), who had invested in Sula in 2004 at a tenth of the existing reported price, is among the earliest investors and has sold only a part of its holding in the company to the new investor. GIA had purchased a 35% stake for $3.5m in 2004.

Samant declined to give details of the shareholding pattern, according to the report, however confirming that the Samant family continues to be the largest shareholder in Sula and did not divest any shares as part of the transaction, which is being dubbed as the third round of private equity investment by the privately held NVPL in the financial circles.

“The capital raised will primarily be used to boost sales and marketing efforts, and construct-

ing a new ecologically friendly, state-of-the-art winery with a capacity of four million liters in Maharashtra. Sula aims to engage in sustainable agriculture in the Nashik region and to support the local rural economy,” Samant reportedly said.

It is not clear how the company will start the new winery with the funds which are supposedly to come to the investor GIA for the sale of its stake and not to the company-unless GIA has agreed to lend the money for the expansion at a mutually agreed rate of return.

Verlinvest is also an investor in the French liquor company Rémy Cointreau with whom Sula tied up this fiscal year for exclusive marketing arrangements of their products in India, including Piper Heidsieck Champagne.

Everstone Capital, which holds a 10% stake in the company, was reportedly the exclusive adviser to the transaction. Investors in Nashik Vintners include Everstone Capital's Indivison India Partners, Haystack Investments and ICP Holdings. Nashik Vintners was promoted by Rajeev Samant in 1999.

After overtaking Grove Vineyards in sales around 5 years ago, it displaced the long-time leading wine producer Indage Vintners a couple of years ago when the latter fell victim to the highly leveraged and mismanaged operations and almost went bankrupt.

$2 billion in 2010, almost a three-fold increase over 2009.

In 2009, Argentine exports to India totalled $648 million.

Food industry, enterprise services, pharmaceutical and agrochemistry are among the sectors with potential for Argentina to win markets in India.

'President Cristina Fernandez's visit to India in October 2009 represents a significant milestone in the ties between the two nations. Since then, bilateral trade has significantly increased,' Giorgi said.

HMsI to invest Rs 1k cr for new facility PTI

HYDERABAD, NOV 17

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), a subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, will soon set up its third two-wheeler manufacturing facility near here with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, a government official said today.

He also said that two more global companies -- Italian industrial manufacturing firm Camozzi and Korean power equipment major Hyosung Corporation -- are planning to invest Rs 300 crore and Rs 450 crore, respectively in Andra Pradesh.

"Honda wanted 100 acres of land for setting up the facility and we have shown them available land in Medak and Nalgonda districts close to Hyderabad," Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation MD B R Meena said.

BOARD MEETINGS Automotive Axle Natraj Fin Tele Techno Source: Indiainfoline.com

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India to seek info about specific Swiss accounts PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

Stepping up efforts to bring back black money stashed in Swiss banks, India is set to seek information on specific accounts there through the Federal Court of that country.

The Finance Ministry has initiated steps under which the Swiss Federal Court of Justice would be requested to ensure that information on specific accounts is provided by April 1, 2011 under the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement, sources said today.

Attorney General G E Vahanvati would be writing to the Swiss authorities to obtain information for the Foreign Tax (FT) and Tax Research (TR) Divisions of the Finance Ministry, which are investigating aspects related to Indian black money stashed in bank accounts abroad.

India, RIM move closer to deal REUTERS NEW DELHI, NOV 17

India and Research In Motion have moved closer to an agreement on lawful access and monitoring of the highly-secure corporate email services on BlackBerry devices, it was reported, citing an unnamed interior ministry official.

A series of meetings took place last week between RIM executives and officials from the Indian interior ministry and intelligence agency.

"They have in principle agreed to provide us recorded data from their servers," it quoted an interior ministry official as saying.

"Now they have assured us that they will discuss the issue first among themselves and find a way to meet our demands. Later, they would be providing live access to BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server)," the official told the paper.

An India-based spokesman for RIM was not immediately available for comment.

India, among several countries to express concerns that BlackBerry services could be used to stir political or social instability, had initially threatened RIM with a ban if denied access to its highly-secure Messenger and corporate email communications.

The sources, however, did not specify the accounts about which the details would be sought.

Sources said several individuals have made investments to the tune of crores of rupees, taking advantage of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) in various countries and the details sought from Switzerland would help agencies investigate tax evasions.

In August this year, India and Switzerland had signed a protocol to amend the existing DTAA between the two countries so as to bring under its ambit information regarding the money stashed away in banks in that country.

"Under the current DTAA between India and Switzerland, India has not been able to obtain banking information from Switzerland. The protocol now seeks to amend the Article con-

Steve Forbes gives up CEO reins REUTERS NEW YORK, NOV 17

cerning Exchange of Information to enable exchange of such information," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had informed the Lok Sabha in a statement made in August.

Under the revised DTAA, information, which is foreseen as relevant for carrying out the provisions of the agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes, can be exchanged under the pact.

Earlier, information which was relevant only for carrying out the provisions of DTAA could be exchanged.

The objective of the DTAAs is to evolve an equitable basis for the allocation of the right to tax different types of incomes between the 'source' and 'residence' States, ensuring in that process tax neutrality in transactions between residents and non-residents.

Media veteran Mike Perlis was named president and chief executive officer of Forbes Media, taking over executive duties from Steve Forbes and his brother Tim. Steve Forbes, who made failed runs for U.S. president in 1996 and 2000 in the Republican primary, had been CEO of the company and Tim Forbes was the chief operating officer.

Steve Forbes will remain chairman and editor-in-chief of the privately held Forbes Media. Forbes magazine was founded in 1917 by B C Forbes, establishing a company that his descendants have presided over since then.

The bi-weekly Forbes Magazine has a circulation of over 900,000 and its website gets 18 m unique monthly visits.

"The whole move here is to bring outside energy in to com-

Branson to work as air hostess on AirAsia flight AGENCY KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 17

Virgin Atlantic boss Richard Branson will don a striking red skirt and play a stewardess on a rival airline AirAsia flight after he lost a bet with the company's owner.

Branson lost a friendly bet to AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes as his Formula One Virgin Racing team ended behind Lotus Racing in the overall team rankings.

'We want him to shave his legs. We are going to try and get him to shave his legs and wear some make-up,' The Star quoted Fernandes, the Indian- Virgin racing team owner Richard Branson walks in the paddock of the Yas origin chief of the Malaysian Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. budget airline, as saying in the world of civil aviation. Both are knighted Wednesday. in their respective countries. If Branson is Sir If Richard is sporting, so is Tony. He is pre- Richard, Fernandes has the Malaysian equivapared to make a concession to his British friend lent, Datuk Seri. as he seeks his pound of flesh.

The Malaysian media and the online world 'But we will leave his moustache alone as it have been abuzz about the bet, with blogs, is his trademark,' said Fernandes, who is the Twitter and news portals worldwide picking up Lotus Racing team principal and AirAsia Group on the result of the wager. chief executive.

The excitement is fuelled further by the fact Branson, who has already received his AirAsia that Fernandes said Branson would be expected badge and uniform for the Kuala Lumpur-Lon- to wear high heels during the flight and perdon charity flight, has been a good sport about form tasks like any other crew member, includthe whole deal, added Fernandes. ing cleaning the toilets, the newspaper said.

The budget airlines owners had wagered the A nervous Branson was looking for loopholes friendly bet at the start of the Formula One (F1) to get out of shaving his legs, one report said. season in March. Although neither won the The date of the Kuala Lumpur-London AirAsia race, Lotus Racing finished 10th while Virgin flight has yet to be set, but seats will be aucRacing came in last (12th). tioned off and the money given to Branson's Both Branson and Fernandes are big names chosen charity.

NSEL unveils e-copper PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

After e-Gold and e-Silver, the National Spot Exchange (NSEL) has launched e-Copper in its portfolio of e-Series products and plans to have 20 e-Series products by end-2011. e-Series products provide an opportunity for small investors to invest in physical commodities in smaller denominations in demat form.

This segment is similar in functionality to the cash segment in equities. The Exchange plans to have 20 e-Series products by the end of 2011 to promote savings and investment in commodities, a press release issued here stated.

On the first day of its launch, e-Copper opened at Rs 466.70 per kilogram. It hit an intra-day high of Rs 466.90 and eventually closed at Rs 452.10. e-Copper recorded a total traded volume of 15,30,012 kilogram valued at Rs 70.40crore.

Investors can trade and invest in one trading unit of ecopper and multiples thereof.

One unit of e-Copper is equivalent to one kilogram of copper. The clearing and settlement pay-in and pay-out are based on T+2 settlement cycles. Physical delivery of copper is possible in the form of Grade 1 Copper Cathode, the release said.

Gold imports set for leap PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

India's gold imports, which had already exceeded 2009 levels, is likely to cross the 750-tonne mark this year due to increasing consumer demand for jewellery despite soaring prices, the World Gold Council (WGC) has said.

"Going by the trend, its good to estimate that the gold imports would cross the 750-tonne mark this year, a level earlier achieved in 2007.

We have already crossed last year's total imports by almost 100 tonnes in the third quarter to reach 624 tonnes," WGC Managing Director, Middle East and India, Ajay Mitra told reporters here today.

In 2009, the total imports stood at 559 tonnes.

He was talking to reporters after releasing a report on gold demand trends in Q3, 2010.

In Q3 2010, India, the world's largest consumer of the yellow metal, has bought 214 tonnes of gold compared to 176 tonnes in the same quarter in 2009.

Gold jewellery demand in India in the July-September quarter surged 36 per cent to 184.5 tonnes from 135.2 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, the report said.

The total gold demand rose 79 per cent to 650.4 tonnes in the January-September period

Jaquar enters Royal Enfield eyes high-end market sanitary ware biz PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

Bathing and lighting solutions provider, Jaquar, is looking at a three-fold growth in its revenue at Rs 2,000 crore over the next two to three years even as it plans to expand into new categories and strengthen its current product portfolio, a top company official said.

Jaquar, that recently forayed into the sanitary ware business with a launch of around 125 SKUs, had posted a revenue of Rs 780 crore in FY 10 and is expecting around Rs 1,050 crore this fiscal.

"We are eyeing a Rs 2,000 crore turnover over the next two to three years. The growth will be driven majorly by the growing economy and changing lifestyle of Indians.

The other factors will be the launch of the sanitary ware, expanding the dealer network and increase in exports," Jaquar's Director, Rajesh Mehra said.

With rising incomes and a boom in the real state and hospitality sectors, the sanitary ware market has also undergone a sea change in India with several domestic and international players such as Roca, Villeroy and Boch, Kohler, Toto, Grohe and Hindware entering

the Indian market.

Jaquar, set up in 1960, was mainly into faucet manufacturing but of late has expanded its portfolio to 2,500 products in high-end bathroom fittings, health and wellness products such as jacuzzi, showers, lightings and sanitary ware with a strong network of 1,800 dealers across the country.

Its high-end brand Artize has collections including Kavalier, Leblanc, Xquisite, Signac, Celini, Angelo, Leon and Travina, whereas its mid-segment Jaquar sells products under Florentine, Solo, Fonte, Aria, Lyric, Opal, Vignette, Fusion and Kubix. Its products ranges from Rs 4,000 to 50,000 and above.

The company also has an entry-level brand called Essco.

"Our venture into the sanitary ware business is an important move for us as the segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 22 per cent for the next five years," Mehra added.

On exports, Mehra said the company is supplying to markets in the Middle-East, Europe and the UK and is planning to enter into newer geographies soon.

Over the next three to four years, the company expects to garner 25 per cent revenues from exports alone. Currently it is a mere five per cent.

It also plans to invest close to Rs 15 crore every year on marketing and promotion of the brand.

AGENCY CHENNAI, NOV 17

Royal Enfield has charted an ambitious plan to double production at 10,000 bikes a month over the next few years.

This forms a part of the company’s strategy to penetrate into the burgeoning high-end bike market in the country, which is growing in double digits.

“We will be continuously

looking to ramp up the capacity, even up to 10,000 units to meet excess demand, for which we are looking at options of setting up a new manufacturing facility,” Eicher Motors MD and CEO Sidhartha Lal said.

In the previous quarter, the company produced around 4,000 motorcycles per month which is lower than the design capacity of 5,000 which was on account internal constraints at

the Chennai facility of the company.

“Very soon, we will be back to the 5,000 units per month mark and by next year, we will be reaching the 6,000 units per month-mark,” Lal said.

He said that the recent announcement by premium luxury motorcycle maker Harley Davidson to set up an assembling unit in Haryana was significant as this would also expand the segment in the country.

“When there is more attention to a category, the best man wins. About 99% people say ‘nice’ to a Rs 10 lakh motorcycle, but when they think about the cost and mileage attached to it, they will come to a lesser expensive motorcycle,” he added.

Lal added that the joint venture between Eicher Motors and Volvo Group would be investing Rs 800 crore over the next three years to increase

India-China trade pact a matter of time: lawyer PTI SINGAPORE, NOV 17

It is only a matter of time before India and China sign a bilateral trade pact, as there is too much at stake for the Asian giants to ignore each other, according to a Singapore-based advocate and solicitor. "There is too much at stake between the two giant economies to ignore each other and the changing trends in the global economy mandate a complementary trade pact, which will be beneficial to both," said Aloysius Wee, Managing Partner at Singapore-based Dacheng Central Chambers LLP, a SingaporeChina joint law firm.

"We must acknowledge the

competitive importance of India and China as global players, though friction and confrontational issues are still pending between the two countries," he said. Wee supported his observations with recent trade statistics, citing the general consensus that India and China trade could cross USD 60 billion by the end of this year, nearly double the 2007 figure of USD 38.68 billion.

He also highlighted global projections that India and China would eventually become the world''s two leading economies and suggested New Delhi and Beijing would have to consider a bilateral free

trade agreement to facilitate sustained growth of both the economies and achieve trade goals. However, Wee noted that framing such a complex bilateral trade treaty would be a "massive and mammoth" task for both India and China, as the two countries have completely different business and legal systems.

However, he emphasised that the process was not impossible and was slowly taking shape. He cited the example of Chinese state-owned companies working on Indian infrastructure projects and the exponential growth of Indian IT and IT-related companies operating in China.

plement all the great things they did with the platform and build value," Perlis told Reuters in a phone interview.

Perlis most recently was general partner at SoftBank Capital, which invested in online news and information companies Beliefnet, Huffington Post and Associated Content.

Before that, he had been chairman and CEO of IDG Peterborough and a publisher of Gentlemen's Quarterly, which is published by Conde Nast.

Perlis said that his "kooky background" combining print and online media should give him a good foundation for success at Forbes. He also said that Tim Forbes was instrumental in bringing him to Forbes Media.

"I'm not going to be day-today involved in the management but I will stay involved and work with Mike and do what I can to be supportive and helpful," Tim Forbes said.

production capacity and set up a new engine plant.

“VE Commercial Vehicles will be increasing production capacity to 8,000 per month from the current 4,000 in the next three years and work is already on,” Lal said. The total investment for the unit would be around Rs 500 crore.

compared to 363 tonnes in the same period in 2009, indicating a robust demand, Mitra said.

"We expect this phenomenon to continue. With the wedding season coming up and two months still remaining

until the end of 2010, we anticipate that Indian gold will continue to reach greater heights," he said.

The total demand for jewellery and investment for the quarter rose 28 per cent to 229.6 tonnes compared to 179.37 tonnes in the same quarter last year.

Jewellery demand may exceed 2009 level due to an anticipated recovery in India and China's growing economic strength, Mitra said. "While

jewellery demand may face challenges ahead, latest figures show that in key markets it has shown resilience in the face of higher price levels."

Giving the global demand statistics, Mitra said in the third quarter the total demand grew by 12% to 922 tonnes.

The global demand for jewellery rose 8 per cent in Q3, with four of the best performing markets -- India, China, Russia and Turkey -- accounting for 63 per cent of the demand. Retail investment went up by 25 per cent to 243 tonnes during Q3 this year, the report said.

The global industrial demand for gold registered a 13 per cent growth in the third quarter at 110.2 tonnes, driven by improving demand for consumer electronic goods, WGC said.

The total industrial demand rose 19 per cent to 320 tonnes for the nine-month period (JanSep) against 270 tonnes in the same period last year.

However, the total Electronic Traded Fund (ETF) fell 7 per cent to 39 tonnes in the third quarter compared to 41 tonnes in the same quarter in 2009.

Pg 14

SPORTS GOA, Thursday 18 November, 2010

Margao move up

PANJIM (HSD) -- Margao SC beat Betalbatim SC 2-1 to enter the semi-finals of Fr Basilio Andrade memorial soccer at Musson ground, Majorda on Wednesday.

All goals came in the first half.

Margao opened their account in the 4th minute when Stefan Noronha shot on target. Betalbatim’s Dickson Rogtao reduced the margin in the 9th minute.

Margao’s Samson Pinto rounded off the tally in the 18th minute.

Gilbert saves day for Salgaocar HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

Gilbert Oliveira’s lone goal in the second half helped Salgaocar Sports Club register a narrow 10 win over Sesa Football Academy in Kingfisher Pro League at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Wednesday.

After a couple of missed

Areal thrash Immaculate Conception HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, NOV 17

A fine brace by Olcy Endro helped Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club thump Immaculate Conception Sports Club, Paroda 51 in the GFA Third Division play-off at Curtorim ground, on Wednesday. There was no score at the breather.

Sao Jose de Areal enjoyed a lion share of exchanges and held sway over their opponents but failed to get their scoring act, as their forwards were inept in ideal positions.

At the other end, Immaculate Conception did well to contain the rival forwards and also occasionally went for attack but

it was not enough to trouble the rival defense.

Crossing over, striker Alleulia Fernandes drew first blood in the 50th minute while Olcy Endro, who was the hero of the day, struck twice in the 53rd and 68th minutes to complete his brace.

Sao Jose de Areal continued their fine run and notched up two more goals when Aggie Antao increased their tally in the 78th minute with a pile driver.

At the fag end, Immaculate Conception reduced the margin through Lawrry Mascarenhas in the 80th minute. Godfrey D’Silva rounded off the tally in the 84th minute.

Maharashtra win MAYEM CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, NOV 17

Maharashtra and Karnataka took the honours at National Petanque and Boules championships which concluded at Karyadichi Mali Bordem Bicholim on Friday.

Maharashtra excelled in petanque women while Karnataka won the men’s event.

Maharashtra excelled boules championship for men as well as women.

chances by Salgaocar early, it was their rivals who would have shot into the lead in the closing stages of the first half, but skipper Inacio Colaco failed twice to hit the target from handshaking distance after he was spoonfed by teammate Sidroy Afonso.

W ith the entr y of Ryuji

Sueoka and Anthony Barbosa, just before the breather, the attack of Salgaocar’s strikers kept the Sesa defense on their toes.

In the 62nd minute, Sesa could not help themselves as U20 Gilbert Oliveira came from behind to slot the ball in.

Salgaocar had two more

chances to further increase their lead but substitutes Thoi Singh and Ryuji failed to direct their headers accurately. Though the Green Brigade held the upper hand in the remaining part of the match, yet Sesa would have levelled terms, but striker Gabriel Monteiro came a poor cropper shooting out from just outside

the 6-yard box after being set up by Lezly Fernandes.

In the 83rd minute, Salgaocar were reduced to ten men as defender Syed Farid was sent off by referee Adley D’Costa for a double booking. With this win, Salgaocar, Dempo and Churchill are all locked at 18 points each.

GCA awaits Tivim Panchayat nod HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, NOV 17

“I am thrilled to witness the Ranji League matches being held here at Indoor Cricket Stadium and indeed the GCA needs to be complemented on achieving the task thereby providing plenty of opportunities to cricket lovers of Goa,” stated Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat at the elevation of the ground to Ranji status and inauguration of 4-day Ranji Trophy League match ‘A’ between Goa and Jharkhand on Wednesday.

“All hurdles including forest department clearance, that were in the path of the construction of the cricket stadium at Tivim have been cleared and hence the GCA can now go ahead with the said project,” added Kamat. He expressed hope that the GCA’s dream to build a cricket stadium of international standards would be fulfilled during his tenure as CM. GCA president, Dayanand Narvekar went on to say, “The Goa Cricket Association is waiting for the Tivim Panchayat to give the green signal. The sta-

Calangute nose out Saligao anjuna-caisua cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, NOV 17

Calangute Association prevailed over Saligao Sporting Club 6-5 via the tie-breaker after the teams were involved in a 1-1 draw to move into the semi-finals of the Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Chapora Yuvak Sangh at Chapora ground on Wednesday.

Dominating the proceedings, Calangute shot into the lead in the very 2nd minute through Francisco Fernandes. Playing with 9 men, Saligao fought back and restored parity in the 43rd.

With scores even, the teams tried to out do the other but their forwards failed to score.

In the penalties, Calangute kept their nerves to prevail over Saligao 5-4. Emmanuel D'Costa, Samir Chodankar, Domnic Fernandes, Sherwin Lobo and Bruno Coutinho converted for Calangute while M. Sheikh, V idesh Satardekar, Xavier Clemente and Uday Naik found the mark for Saligao.

Third division football: Holiday SC, Arpora v. FC de Sanquelim, Duler Stadium, Mapusa; Carmona SC v. Sporting Club of Davorlim, Nagoa ground; United Club of Utorda v. Orlim SC, Curtorim ground.

Kick off 4 p.m.

GFA U-14 soccer: United Boys, Palolem v. AA de Majorda-Utorda-Calata, Deobagh ground; Salcete FC v. Curtorim Gymkhana, Don Bosco ground, Fatorda; Verna SC v. Betalbatim SC, Verna ground; Ambelim SC v. Rossman Cruz Nagoa SC, Assolna ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

Fr Basilio Andrade memorial soccer: Raitura SC v. PY, Nuvem, Musson ground, Majorda, 4.30 p.m.

dium will be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, the entire low lying land will be filled with mud so as to raise the level of ground upto three feet, only then the work of ground and pitch will begin. They have prepared the estimate for the said work to about Rs 40 lakh and have submitted the same to the Public Works Department.”

Narvekar further mentioned that, “the Tivim stadium will have facilities like ample parking space, swimming pool and club house. If the GCA gets clearance from Tivim Panchayat soon, then the GCA will start the preliminary work immediately and will ensure that the foundation stone for the same is laid by February 2011 and the stadium is ready in two years time. In case the Tivim Panchayat starts creating any problems to issue NOC the government should intervene and direct the panchayat to issue clearance to GC A promptly for the construction of the said stadium.”

The CM t then exhibited his batting and bowling skills.

Chief Minister Digamber Kamat releasing balloons marking the elevation of GCA ground to Ranji status to inaugurate the 4-day Goa Ranji Trophy League match in the presence of Dayanand Narvekar and other dignitaries. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

Reagan excels for Goa with 105 n.o. against Jharkhand HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 17

A classic 105 not out by Reagan J Pinto enabled Goa to post 315 for four on the first day of the 4-day 3rd Ranji Trophy League match against Jharkhand at GCA stadium, Porvorim on Wednesday.

Pinto’s unbeaten century was studded with 12 fours and came off 190 balls.

Goa began on a disastrous note after wining the toss and electing to bat, losing the first wicket, with captain Anil Kamat being dismissed for just four runs of 11 balls on the board in 2.6 overs. The second wicket fell at 91(27.2 overs) with

Vidyut scoring 44 studded with five fours and two sixes, off 85 balls.

Goa lost the third wicket at 131 (41.1 overs) with Naik accounting for 63 with 12 lovely hits to the fence off 113 balls.

Ratra was the next to go after registering 54 off 62 balls with eight fours after (61.6 overs). R Keni was the other not out batsmen with 33 off 86 balls at stumps.

It was the fourth wicket partnership of 93 runs that gave Goa some solidity. The current partnership produced 91 runs.

Scores: Goa S K Kamat c Gautam b Kuldeep Sharma 4, V U Naik c Shukla b Quadri 63, S

Vidyut c Aaron b Quadri 44, R J Pinto not out 105, A Ratra c Prasad b Shukla 54, R Keni not out 33, extras 12. Total (4 wickets, 90 overs): 315.

To bat: S B Jakati, S S Bandekar, R R D'Souza, Amit Yadav, S B Yadav.

Fall: 1-4, 2-91, 3-131, 4-224.

Bowling: Kuldeep Sharma 124-28-1, R Shukla 21-4-59-1, V R Aaron 13-2-48-0, S S Quadri 31-4-119-2, M S Va r d h a n 1 1 - 1 - 5 7 - 0 , D A Chougule 2-2-0-0.

Jharkhand: S S Tiwary, V R Aaron, S P Gautam, Rajiv Kumar, I R Jaggi, R Shukla, Kuldeep Sharma, D A Chougule, S Prasad, S S Quadri, M S Vardhan.

Diljeet, Alisha, Vaishali, Goa Varsity Arantxa, Roshni, Devika, in quarters Wesley, Tejas top Goa University entered the quarHERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Goa’s No. 1 women’s TT player, Alisha Alfonso of Vasco Table Tennis Academy scored a crushing 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 whitewash over Nyssa Alvares in the finals of Jackito Sequeira memorial allGoa Major Ranking Table Tennis tournament organised by Don Bosco Oratory on Friday.

In another awesome display of attacking TT, Alisha, a student of PCCE left her opponent wilting in the finals. Hitting forehand top spin drives into the opponent’s body and lethal backhand down the line and cross court drives, Alisha had her opponent clueless in the face of the non-stop barrage of attacking strokes, to romp home an easy winner of her 4th successive women’s title this year.

Other results: Young Vaishali

Chandana from Panjim beat Abigail Cunha12-10, 11-8, 11-5 in the mini-cadet girls finals while Arantxa Noronha played a superb controlled game to upset top seed Tanishi Kirtani 11-8, 114,12-10 in the cadet girls finals.

Roshni Gopani lived up to her top billing in the sub-junior girls f i n a l s b e a t i n g Ke f i r a Ro drigues11-9, 11-8, 12-10. Devika beat Eleanor 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 in the junior girl’s finals.

In the cadet boys, Wesley do Rosario beat Manguesh Sakordekar 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 while Tejas Shevde beat Krishal Peres De Silva 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 in sub-junior boys and Arjun Sood 10-12, 11-2, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9 in junior boys finals.

In a one-sided men’s singles finals, top seed Diljeet Velingkar put it across Agnelo Naik 4-1 to bag the title.

Goa bag chess silver HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Goa bagged a silver in U-17 boys chess in the 56th National School Games at Fatorda Stadium, Margao on Sunday.

Goa had to settle for a silver though they were tied at the first position with nine points with Tamil Nadu having a better board score. The Goa team scored 15 points whereas TN scored 15.5 points.

Anurag Mhamal got the best player on the 2nd board and

Pranav Zantye got the best player on the 4th board. Their score was 4.5 points each out of five rounds.

Niraj Saripalli scored four points and Vipul Kulkarni scored two points.

Goa team: Anurag Mhamal (People’s HS, Panjim), Niraj Saripalli (Bhatikar Model HS, Margao), Pranav Zantye (Sharada Mandir, Mira Mar), Vipul Kuklkarni (People’s HS, Panjim), Saish Bandodkar (Mahila Nutan HS).

ter-finals of All-India inter-university football (men) championship at Jabalpur on Wednesday.

The championship is held on a league-cum-knockout basis where 16 top teams from West, North, East and South zone are participating.

In Group ‘A’ Goa University topped the table to enter the quarter-final knock out stage. Punjab University stand second to qualify.

Goa University beat Kerala University 3-9. Jovito Fernandes scored a brace while Tyson netted one. Goa University drew with Kalyani University 0-0. Goa University beat Punjab University 1-0. Mandarrao Dessai scored the winning goal.

Carvota Youth in semis HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Youth of Carvota defeated Orgao Sporting via the tie-breaker in the first semi-finals of Arcanjo memorial football tournament organised by Miracles Youth Club, Vaxem at Loutolim church ground on Wednesday.

At the end of full time, the teams were tied at 1-1 with Peter netting for Youth of Carvota while Volney helped Orgao to equalise.

In the other semi-finals, Rosary Boys of Carvota defeated Hostel Boys 1-0. The only goal was scored by Xavier Fernandes.

Maina thump Chinchinim HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, NOV 17

Maina Sports Club crushed CRC, Chinchinim 5-2 to enter the quarter-finals of 2nd All-Goa Eslinda Alemao memorial inter-village football tournament organised

by Cuncolim Union at Cuncolim ground, on Wednesday. The teams were tied 2-2 at half time.

Maina were a dominant lot and struck good rhythm with well orchestrated raids. Maina netted in the very 3rd minute

when striker Jose Fernandes outpaced rival defenders and punt the ball to the far corner of the net after he received a pass from Elvis Cardozo. However, their joy was short-lived as Chinchinim’s striker Ryan Fernandes reduced the margin in the 11th minute off a pass from Cedric.

After a couple of misses, striker Ryan Fernandes who had a good match and was a thorn in the rival defense, was brought down by the Maina keeper in-

side the penalty box and the referee, without any hesitation awarded the spotkick. Ryan did well to send the rival keeper in the wrong direction.

Serino Noronha restored parity for Maina in the 16th minute.

Jose Fernandes struck a second time to give his team a 3-2 lead soon after resumption. Royston Carneiro put the issue beyond doubt while Serino Noronha drove the last nail into the Chinchinim coffin.

Pg 15

SPORTS GOA, Thursday, 18 November, 2010

Guardian Angel Sanvordem triumph HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, NOV 17

Guardian Angel, Savordem defeated Youth of Angel, Savordem 3-2 via the tie-breaker in the finals of All-Goa football tournament organised by Progressive Sports and Cultural Club, Collem on Sunday at Collem Village Panchyat ground to mark Our Lady of Piety church feast. The score was 2-2 during regular time.

Guardian Angel pocketed Rs. 7,777 and a trophy while Youth of Angel had to be content with Rs. 4,000 and a trophy.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Best player Succor (Youth of Angel). Best goalkeeper Batty Fernandes. Best striker Naray (Guardian Angel).

Best mid-fielder Philip. Best defender Boyet. Best disciplined team Collem Footballers.

The prizes were sponsored

by Martin Fernandes, Digo Fernandes, Nazareth Fernandes in memory of their parents, Luci and Francis Fernandes.

Rashmi Lambor, ZP member was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Govind Gaonkar, sarpanch, Sandip Dessai, sarpanch, Sudhakar Gaonkar, Fr Jesus Orlando, parish priest of Pilar, Appu Mairekar, panch, Nutan Kolvekar, panch.

Kistod Fernandes, Simon and Walton Diniz were the referees of the tournament.

Earlier, Martin Fernandes welcomed. Walton Diniz proposed the vote of thanks.

Health and Wellness Literally translated from Sanskrit, Prana means life force. Seemingly an esoteric concept, it refers to the all-pervasive energy within the universe that exists also within every individual, giving them life. The ancients believed that aligning one’s Prana with the universal energy brought good health. Therefore Prana is a key concept in the science of Ayurveda.

The ambient Prana is often described as the nutrient Prana, reflecting upon its ability to nourish a being. It replenishes the vital Prana contained within a life form in two ways: one being through the process of respiration, and the other through ingestion.

Respiration, or the process of breathing, refreshes the vital Prana through the exchange of energy. Therefore one of the centres of absorbing nutrient Prana is the respiratory system, more specifically the lungs.

The oxygen breathed into the body brings an influx of good energy, whilst the expiration of carbon dioxide expels the stale or negative en-

ergies contained within the body. Proper respiration is so vitally important to the concept of Ayurvedic principles that it has spawned an entire branch of yoga, known as Pranayam.

What is Prana?

diet is an important limb of Ayurveda. Specific foods and food groups are considered to be better to the acquisition of Prana, and the overall maintenance of good health. Not surprisingly, fresh produce like vegetables and fruits are considered the best fare for the body.

Non-vegetarian foods like meat and fish is considered to be bad for the Prana, as the food is dead when taken in. Dead food means that there is no nutrient Prana to be absorbed from the meal. In fact, meat and fish is said to drain vital Prana away from the body.

The second method of absorbing replenishing Prana is an essential energies is ingestion. part of the make-up of a While the principle of being. Most of the prinfood supplying energy ciples expounded in the for the body is not a con- ancient Ayurvedic texts cept unique to Ayurveda, are now finding a way the right nutrition is into the modern allomore emphasized in its pathic practices, as more practices. Energies are and more people turn to absorbed while the food esoteric teachings for is in the large intestine, answers that modern making that the second science may not hold. centre for energy abContact Us: sorption. The waste Comments or queries? Bouquets or products leaving the brickbats? Talk to us! body also contain Email Junior Herald at within them the neg- junior@herald-goa.com or join our Facebook fan page. Our ative energy from readers are invited to rave, rant, that area.

Understandably

chat or even contribute. No message will go unanswered!

Lemons

Its Natural Healing Effects

1

Lemons are full of Vitamin C, which rids the body of free radicals.

Free radicals damage cell membranes.

CBD Boys lift GCO Cup HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

CBD Boys emerged proud winners of 4th annual 8-a-side GCO Cup football tournament organized by the Goan Community of Oman edging out strong Black and White Kerala 4-3 via the tiebreaker in the finals at Oman Club ground, Al Khuwair.

The finals was a see-saw battle with both teams exhibiting exciting brand of soccer which kept the crowds on their feet till the final moments.

The tournament opened with a colourful march past by 16 participating teams. It was a grand spectacle organised by the committee in a real professional manner. Lynne Fernandes took the sportsman oath on behalf of the players. St Anne’s were declared the best dressed team.

The tournament was later inaugurated by Flynn Delima, GCO president in the presence of other GCO committee members.

Bruno Coutinho, former Indian football team captain and Arjuna awardee kicked the ball to declare the tournament open.

Brief programmes were coordinated by the organisers in between the matches and spot prizes were given away sponsored by Nawras Telecom. Ladies 3-a-side football tie-breaker was the highlight of the day. Shyline, Lino and Croyden kept the crowd on their toes with some feet tapping music.

CBD Boys

During the league stages, strong teams like FC Kerala and Chivas Muscat made early exits.

The tournament got to business end in the quarters as fancied teams like Curtorim, Ave Maria, AIG and Saligao were knockedout via the tie-breaker. In the semi-finals, CBD Boys got the better of Chinchinim Club 9-8 via the tie-breaker while B&W Kerala downed FC Siolim 1-0.

Edwin Viegas was the referee for the finals.

Bruno Coutinho was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Flynn De Lima, general secretary Dr. Mario D’Souza and treasurer Allan Fernandes.

During the vote of thanks, the sports co-ordinator appreciated the support extended by his colleagues and sponsors Muna Noor Engineering, Prudent Loss Adjusters, Profab/Vanguard, Oasis Water Co, Majan Continental Hotel, Talents, Tech

Curchorem complex renovated

2

Sliced lemon can be rubbed over burning soles and heels of the feet. Toxins are eliminated through the pores of the feet and lemon application helps the process.

4

Lemons are also effective diuretics which help the human organism eliminate excess fluids.

Beside cleansing the organism of toxins and bad bacteria, the natural diuretics found in the juice of lemons help prevent a host of problems associated with water retention.

Sanguem complex stone laid HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

Lemons cut through grease, and therefore can be used to effectively reduce fat deposits in the body. It is also good for people with high cholesterol.

3

Rock, Muscat Duty Free and Raha Polyproducts. The winners and runners-up trophy was sponsored by Supa Sportsman LLC. Following individual prizes were awarded: Best disciplined team Curtorim Gymkhana.

Best goalkeeper Thomas of FC Siolim. Player of the finals Shahid of CBD Boys. Player of the tournament Shabeer of B&W Kerala and upcoming player of the tournament Ian of Chinchinim.

Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar inaugurating the renovated facilities at Curchorem sports complex in the presence of Shyam Saterdekar. Alifa Fernandes, V M Prabhudesai and others.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, NOV 17

Budding sportspersons should avail of the latest modern facilities made available at Government Sports Complex at Curchorem and try to excel at National and international levels, said Sports Minister, Babu Ajgaonkar at the inaugural of the the renovated badminton court, gymnasium and cricket ground at the Curchorem

sports complex.

Curchorem MLA, Shyam Satardekar, SAG’s ED V. M. Prabhudesai, Executive Engineer of SAG, P. C. Gupta , CCMC Chairperson Alifa Fernandes and vicechairperson Baburao Fatto Dessai were present.

Satardekar said that the renovated complex would fulfill the long standing demand of the sportspersons. The work on pro-

posed swimming pool at Curchorem will also be taken up soon..

Prabhudessai said that the facilities were of international standard and that the SAG had spend more than Rs 16 lakh on the renovation work.

Alifa also spoke. John Fernandes welcomed. Coach Ravi Dessai proposed the vote of thanks.

Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Manohar Azgaonkar laid the foundation stone for the proposed Rs. 2.28 crores sports complex phase II at Sanguem on Monday.

Vasudev Gaonakr, MLA and Sanjay Raikar, chairperson, Sanguem Municipal Council Sanjay Raikar, chairperson, Sanguem Municipal Council and Anuja Prabhudessai, BDO attended the ceremony.

The project will be taken up jointly by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Sports Authority of Goa. Vasudev Gaonkar, MLA, expressed satisfaction over the construction of the second phase of the sports complex which was the long pending demand of sport lovers of Sanguem.

Earlier, Shenvi, APO welcomed and later proposed the vote of thanks.

Azgaonkar also disbursed cheques worth Rs 5,000 as financial assistance to 44 vegetable vendors from Sanguem areas.

Siolim football camp concludes

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, NOV 17

U-14 boys and girls at Siolim alongwith Lavinio Rebello, organisers and guests.

The Diwali football camp for U14 boys and girls organised by Village Panchayat Child Committee Siolim-Marna concluded recently at St Anthony's church ground. The camp was held under the guidance of SAG coach Baptist Fernandes, Terrence D’ Sousa and Tyson Fernandes, VPCC:SLM coaches.

GFA vice-president Lavinio Rebello encouraged the players to take up sports seriously and explained GFA’s new vision for young footballers. He then appealed to the panchayats and football clubs of Siolim to get together and initiate a programme to train and form teams of different age groups by adopting at least one team and prom-

ised all support from the GFA. Kanya Shirodkar from FC Siolim congratulated the committee for conducting the camp and stated that such camps will help clubs to catch new talent and hence the future of Siolim football will be bright.

Chairperson, Gregory D’Souza thanked Victor Fernandes, project manager, SAG’s assistant di-

rector, Bruno Coutinho and sarpanch Prathibha Shirodkar for providing footballs.

In all, 80 children participated. A plastic pet bottle collection drive was also carried out at the end of the camp by the children around St Anthony's church ground which was initiated by ‘My Siolim: The environment and heritage club.’

pg 16_Layout 1 11/17/2010 10:48 PM Page 1

SPORTS

Gilbert saves day for Salgaocar Pg 14

CBD Boys lift GCO Cup Pg 15

GOA, THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

IPL-4 starts from April 8 lNo

decision on Kochi; IPL auction in January

PTI MUMBAI, NOV 17

Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem celebrates during the women’s Wushu Sanshu 60kg finals medal ceremony in Guangzhou on Wednesday.

India bag silver in wushu

PTI GUANGZHOU, NOV 17

Unheralded Sandhyarani Devi proved to be the saving grace by bagging a silver medal in wushu while the fancied shooters flopped yet again as India slipped to the 11th position on the medals table on the fifth day of competitions at the 16th Asian Games here today.

The 27-year-old Sandhyarani's achievement was the lone bright spot in an otherwise heart-breaking day which saw below-par performances in most disciplines though pugilist Vijender and shuttler Saina Nehwal booked quarter final berths and the men's hockey team kept themselves in medal reckoning with a 9-0 trouncing of Bangladesh.

With the addition of just a silver medal, India's medal tally rose to one gold, five silver and seven bronze but the collection could have been far better had the shooters lived upto their reputation.

The Indians, who were in the ninth position yesterday, slid to the 11th place in the medal rostrum.

Hosts China maintained their supremacy to lead the table with a whopping tally of 96-39-35 while South Korea (29-22-31) and Japan (17-40-35) maintained their positions in the second and third spots respectively.

Pugilist Vikas Krishan (60kg) also had a good day as he romped into the pre-quarter finals, but Virdhawal khade, who scripted history by breaking the swimming medal drought after 24 years, failed to qualify to the finals in his event alongwith compatriots Aaron Agnel D’Souza and Rehan Poncha.

The women hockey team's

Lanka 165-3 as rain spoils day three AP GALLE, NOV 17

Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored halfcenturies to steer Sri Lanka to 165-3 in reply to West Indies' 580-9 before rain brought an early end to play on day three of the first test today.

Sri Lanka went to lunch on 148-3 but only 25 deliveries were possible after lunch when bad light stopped play.

The rain then started and persisted through the scheduled second session, forcing Australian match referee Alan Hurst to call off the day's play.

Jayawardene was unbeaten on 51, his 37th Test half-century, with Thilan Samaraweera on 11 at stumps.

chances of a medal was severely dented after going down to South Korea by a solitary goal.

The Indian eves now need to win two of their last three matches to keep themselves in the race for a bronze medal.

India had a mixed day in tennis as Karan Rastogi and Vishnu Vardhan started their campaign with a comfortable victory in men's double while Rushmi Chakravarti and Poojashree Venkatesha crashed out of the women's doubles in the first round.

The day clearly belonged to Sandhyarani for her feat of winning a silver medal in wushu, a traditional Chinese sport which integrates several martial art forms. The Manipuri lost 0-2 to Iran's Khadijeh Azadpour in the 60 kg final to fetch the second medal from the event.

But India's medal quest has been badly hit by the poor show of the shooters who again drew a blank at the Aoti shooting range.

The shooters put up a dismal show on another windy day with only pistol expert and Melbourne Commonwealth Games hero Samaresh Jung coming up with something notable in the morning session of the competitions.

Bespectacled Jung, who earned the nickname 'Goldfinger' after grabbing a record five gold medals four years ago in Melbourne, missed the men's 25m standard pistol shoot-off for the bronze by one point in a straight final to finish 7th overa l l w i t h 5 6 9 p o i n t s f ro m amongst 39 shooters.

In boxing, Vijender prevailed over Yu Ting Yang of Chinese Taipei 9-4 to move into the quarter finals of the 75 kg category.

Vikas (60kg) beat Thailand's Saylom Ardee in his opening round bout to join Suranjoy Singh (52kg) as the second Indian in the pre-quarters stage.

The Haryana-lad, a reigning world youth champion and a bronze medallist of the inaugural Youth Olympics this year, won 8-1 against Saylom Ardee in his first bout at a senior international event.

The Indian hockey team too delivered by routing Bangladesh 9-0. Penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh pumped in four goals in that tally to guide India to their second straight victory in Group B men's league.

Two-time champions India, who opened their campaign to regain the gold they last won in 1998 and qualify for the 2012 Olympics with a facile 7-0 victory over Hong Kong, led 3-0 at half time before upping the pace in the second half and pumping in six more goals to complete the rout.

However, there was disappointment elsewhere with swimmers failing to create a splash.

After ending India's 24-yearold medal drought in the pool in Asian Games, teen swimming sensation Virdhawal Khade topped his 100m freestyle heats but the effort was not good enough to fetch a place in the finals of the event.

Khade, clocked 51.25sec to top the 100m freestyle heats today but the eventual eight qualifiers returned timings of under 51 seconds.

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal cruised into the quarter finals of the women's singles after steamrolling Lydia Cheah of Malaysia in the second round.

The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League will begin from April 8 next year, six days after the conclusion of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, with the high profile players' auction to be held on January 8 and 9 here.

Like the first three editions, there will be eight teams participating in the Twenty20 event, with 60 matches to be played with the title clash to be held on May 22.

"The IPL GC met today to discuss matters related to next IPL. It was decided that the players auction will take place on January 8 and 9, 2011 in Mumbai.

The IPL season will start on April 8 and end on May 22 but the opening ceremony will be held on April 7," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

The dates were fixed at a meeting of the reconstituted fivemember IPL Governing Council,

AGENCIES LAHORE, NOV 17

They might be suspended for alleged spot-fixing but that has not stopped former Test captain Salman Butt and pacer Mohammad Asif from asking the Pakistan Cricket Board to release their outstanding match fees and bonuses since the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this year.

Butt and Asif have written to the Pakistan Cricket Board to release the money.

Butt, who along with pacers Asif and Muhammad Aamir were suspended on suspicion of spot fixing confirmed he had written to the PCB for release of an amount of approximately Rs 8.7 million (USD 101,000).

"I am facing a lot of difficulties now because of not having received any of my outstanding amount from the board, this amount goes back to the Twenty20 World Cup and includes match fees, win bonuses and shares from logo sponsorships," Butt said.

Zakir Khan, the director of PCB's international cricket operations, confirmed receiving emails for release of funds.

"But there is no way we can release the funds since they are under suspicion and are being investigated by the ICC anti-corruption unit," Khan said.

Veteran all-rounder Scott Styris and batsman Jamie How have been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the five-match One-Day International series against India.

Styris will make a comeback after missing the recent ODI series against Bangladesh due to a partial stress fracture of the back, while How was called back after nearly two years.

"We welcome back Scott Styris from injury while Hamish Bennett and Shanan Stewart were unavailable for selection due to injury," Stuff.co.nz quoted selector and coach Mark Greatbatch, as saying.

"The squad sees the return of Jamie How who deserves his opportunity after impressing the selectors for some time. We feel one-day cricket is the format for him to return to international cricket," he added.

Apart from the duo, batsman Martin Guptill and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, who have been impressive in the ongoing Test series, have also been included in the squad.

"We have kept faith with the bulk of the squad who played in the disappointing tour of Bangladesh and who have performed well in the current Test series against India," Greatbatch said.

"Martin has shown good form

with the bat and Gareth will provide wicket keeping cover for Brendon McCullum," he added.

Greatbatch further insisted that the 15-man squad is looking forward to "playing positive cricket" in what promises to be an exciting series.

The first match of the series will be played in Guwahati on November 28, followed by matches in Jaipur, Vadodara, Bangalore and Chennai.

Squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey and Kane Williamson.

England will start next week's Ashes contest with the rare tag of favourites, but former coach

Duncan Fletcher has warned that it will be more of a hindrance than a help. ''There is no doubt in my mind that England start this series as favourites. Of course they have to be careful, Australia are a side that come out fighting when they find themselves in sticky situations. But the biggest worry I have about England is how well they will cope with being in such a strong position. ''It is not a situation they have been in very often, and in recent years they have always been happier being the underdogs.

The risk is that when you are the favourite you just start to get a little cocky, your work ethic

slips and you stop practicing with the necessary int e n s i t y.

When Eng-

land are favourites they seem to falter,'' Fletcher wrote in the 'Guardian'. ''They are not wanting for anything at the moment, so if they do not perform they are going to start questioning themselves and their ability to live up to that favourites tag,'' he added.

The former Zimbabwe player however, asserted that the leadership and form of senior players like captain Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood will be crucial and will go a long in helping England to retain the Ashes title. ' ' T h i s i s w h e re A n d re w Strauss's influence will be key.

It is great for England that he started the tour so well, with two centuries in two matches.

Otherwise the Australians would have been quick to pile more pressure on him by picking him apart in the press. ''Their bowlers will still be looking to come hard at him when the first Test starts, but he is a tough nut. And he will have learned a lot from the last

tour in 2006-07, when the most successful English players were the ones who were the most aggressive in the field,'' Fletcher stated. ''Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood were England's leading run scorers, and they both took a ruthless approach to the opposition.

Strauss had a similar mindset, but he suffered a series of poor umpiring decisions which stopped him going on to make big scores. ''He will have to set a hard, unyielding tone for the team in Australia this time if England are going to take advantage of the home side's poor preparations,'' he added.

He also felt that the Australian team is a very different unit from the one that won the Ashes comprehensively in 2006-07 and is probably one of the worst teams in the history of Australian cricket. ''A good way to judge the health of the Australian team is this: Between 2000 and 2007,

team of play-off 2 in a preliminary final, winner of which will progress to the grand finale.

BCCI Vice-President and IPL Governing member Rajiv Shukla said the issue of Kochi IPL franchisee was not discussed during the meeting at all.

"Basically, today's meeting was about preparations for IPL 4. Because now the preparations for IPL-4 has started in full strength.

We have to make IPL-4 a full success," Shukla told reporters after the meeting.

"The issue of the Kochi was not discussed at all during today's meeting. Because they have been given a notice of one month which expires on November 27. The issue was not in the agenda at all. A decision on the issue will be taken only after that," he said.

Kochi were given a 30-day notice by the BCCI last month to sort out their internal differences.

Speculation is, however, rife

that the group of investors in the franchisee is not interested in running the franchisee and will soon ask permission of the Cricket Board to withdraw from it.

On retention of players in the IPL teams, Shukla said that it would stay the same as decided by the technical committee of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi earlier this year.

"The same players' rules as decided by the technical committee will be implemented," he said.

A maximum of four players from each team, including a maximum of three Indian players, have been allowed to be retained by the franchisees, with USD 1.8 million to be deducted from their kitty for the first players and so on.

As per an earlier decision taken by the BCCI, the retention of players would result in reduced amount available with each franchise with amounts of USD 1.8 million per annum for

the first player so retained, USD 1.3m, 0.9m and 0.5m for the other three players reduced from its kitty.

This is irrespective of the actual player fee paid to each of these players. If a franchise retains four players, its salary cap will be charged by USD 4.5 million in each of 2011 and 2012 seasons and it will have only USD 4.5m remaining to pay as player fees for the remainder of its registered squad.

The IPL has added a rider to player retention saying the franchisee and the player must mutually agree to it as well as the player fee to be paid for 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The two new franchisees -Kochi and Sahara Pune – who did not participate in the 2010 season were allowed to sign upto four players from the list of players who were not a part of the squad of any of the teams in the past three IPL editions.

We will give all the answers: Kalmadi

Butt, Asif ask outstanding dues from PCB

Kiwis recall Styris, How for India ODIs

AGENCIES WELLINGTON, NOV 17

headed by Chirayu Amin, here.

Even though the statement did not mention anything about troubled IPL franchisees -- Kochi and Rajasthan Royals — it said that only eight teams will participate in the Twenty20 league next year.

"There will be a total of 60 matches, played by eight teams.

The hosting venue arrangements were finalised and approved at the meeting," Srinivasan said in the release.

The committee also announced a new format to decide the finalists of the IPL on the basis of play-offs.

The play-offs will be played based on league standings with the Team 1 meeting Team 2 and Team 3 meeting Team 4 in the semi-finals.

The winner of play-off 1 will automatically qualify for the grand finale.

However, the losers of playoff 1 will get a second chance as they will take on the victorious

n We can answer all the questions satisfactorily. Our job was to conduct the Games and we have the answers to anything related to that.

-- Suresh Kalmadi

PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 17

The Commonwealth Games corruption probe is gaining steam after the arrest of two former organising committee officials but an unfazed OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi today said he would give "satisfactory answers" to the government panel investigating the matter.

Kalmadi, who has maintained a low profile ever since the controversy-ridden Games concluded on October 14, said that the VK Shunglu committee has been entrusted with the task of probing the entire Commonwealth Games and not only the Organising Committee.

McGrath wants Oz pacers to target Strauss UNI MELBOURNE, NOV 17

Legendary pacer Glenn McGrath has urged Australian fast bowlers to target England captain Andrew Strauss during the upcoming Ashes series. ''I grew up watching the great West Indies sides of the mid1980s. They targeted the opposition captain and that had an effect on the rest of the team.

Andrew Strauss is a key for the English,'' McGrath told Sportsmail. ''You can think about the way you have gone in certain conditions and it can always play on your mind. The opening batsmen are key for England and Australia will target them,'' he said.

England will be wary of favourite tag: Fletcher UNI LONDON, NOV 17

Pg16

every single one of their players would have been snapped up by the English county sides. Not only that, they had about 10 players who could not even get in the team who would have been picked up as well. Look at Australia now and there are not many players in the team that the counties would be scrambling over each other to sign up for a season, let alone 10 more from outside the squad,'' he said. ''It all makes you wonder exactly where Australian cricket is at the moment. You have to go back more than 30 years, to the era when Kerry Packer had tempted away the best p l a y e r s t o Wo r l d S e r i e s Cricket, to find the last time the team were in such a muddled state. And at least back then it was obvious that they still had some talented players in reserve. At the moment you would struggle to know if that was true of this team, simply because none of the young players has been capped yet,'' he added.

"We can answer all the questions satisfactorily. Our job was to conduct the Games and we have the answers to anything related to that," Kalmadi told PTI from Guangzhou, where he is attending the 16th Asian Games.

Former Comptroller and Auditor General VK Shunglu was appointed as the head of the committee to probe the corruption allegations that marred the build-up to the mega-event here.

Kalmadi emphasised that the Organising Committee was not responsible for the all the construction and other works for the Games.

"The Organising Committee was responsible for Rs 1800 crore. We had no role in constructions and the work at the stadiums. We can only answer for these Rs 1800 crore," he said.

Kalmadi said that the international delegates, who are here for the Asian Games, have praised the conduct of the Commonwealth Games as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

"But I have been pained by the constant negative publicity by the media. The trial by the media has been unfortunate. More so when we are ready to answer all questions.

I have all along maintained that there should be an inquiry," he said.

On the arrest of two of the former OC members – TS Darbari and Sanjay Mohendroo -in connection with alleged financial bungling in the Queen's Baton Relay, Kalmadi said that both of them had been sacked by the OC. "The Organising Committee has already taken action against them after reports of corruption.

The OC CEO (Jarnail Singh) has

AGENCIES MUMBAI, NOV 17

ing. I will be thankful to both of them for helping me become a better bowler," he said.

He said that he is here because of his performances at the first-class level and wants to continue that.

"I don't believe in comparisons. There is a healthy competition among the Indian bowlers, which is good for Indian Cricket. I am here because of what I have done in the past. I would work hard to maintain that consistency," he said.

Unadkat also revealed that Harbhajan Singh inspired him to concentrate on batting as well.

"I have never worked on my batting earlier. But now I will consider that. I want be an all-rounder like Harbhajan.

I will take tips from him for sure," he said.

He is also excited to be a part of Indian dressing room with legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

"Just like millions of cricket

already terminated their services," he said.

Kalmadi also hailed the performance of gymnast Ashish Kumar, swimmer Virdhawal Khade and wushu player Bikramjit Singh -- all three of whom bagged historic bronze medals during the Asian Games.

"After a gap of 24 years, we have won a medal in swimming.

We have won a medal in gymnastics for the first time. In wushu also we have done well, it all goes to show that other sports are also coming up in India," Kalmadi said.

Ashish became the first Indian gymnast to clinch an Asian Games medal by securing a bronze in the Men's Floor event of the Artistic Gymnastics.

The 19-year- old Khade scripted history by becoming the first Indian swimmer in 24 years to clinch an Asian Games medal by notching up a bronze in the 50m butterfly event.

"It is a great achievement and we are proud of them. It shows that we are rising as a sporting nation and going in the right direction. We need to keep up this trend," Kalmadi said.

Zaheer source of my inspiration: Unadkat

He is the newest among the breed of left-arm quicks that India have produced in recent years and no wonder Jaidev Unadkat idolises India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, whom he has replaced in the squad for the third Test against New Zealand, starting from Saturday.

If that’s not all, he wants to bat like Harbhajan Singh, who has surprised one and all with his back-to-back centuries.

"Zaheer is my idol as I have learnt a lot by just watching him bowl. It is indeed a privilege for me that I got a chance to be in Test team. If I get a chance to play, I will try to prove my mettle," the 19-year-old Saurashtra speedster said.

Unadkat had replaced injured Ishant Sharma during second Test against Australia in Banglore last month but wasn't a part of the playing XI. The lanky pacer rose to fame through his impressive performance in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League season and then for India A in their tour of UK. Incidentally, Unadkat got a match-haul of 13 wickets against West Indies A side during his debut first-class game in Leicester.

Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders he won the man-of-thematch award for his three-wicket haul against Shane Warne-ledRajasthan Royals at Eden Garden. He has been praised by none other than the legendary Wasim Akram.

Unadkat also owes his success to KKR captain Sourav Ganguly and bowling coach Akram.

"Dada (Ganguly) taught me to be mentally tough. He gave me lot of tips about handling the pressure. Wasim bhai (Akram) also worked a lot on my bowl-

lovers, I have also grown up watching them (Tendulkar, Dravid) on television. It is dream come true for me to share the dressing room with them," he concluded.

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Thursday, 18 Nov 2010

Making a Musical Mark Music has no barriers, yet the preference of the listeners play a huge role in a musician’s career. Joey Mascarenhas is launching his debut album in Goa and shares his experience with Herald about his shows in Goa and in Switzerland

BY DOLCY D’CRUZ HERALD FEATURES is long curly hairstyle and his passion for music even while he talks explains his love for music. Joey Mascarenhas is a Goan who has travelled across the globe performing for different listeners and yet has been able to create a niche for himself and his music. Down in Goa to launch his debut album, Joey relives his childhood memories and the beginning of his musical career, “I was born in Mumbai and shifted to Goa at the age of four.

When I was 9 years old I learnt to play the guitar with my brother. I learnt a few chords, practised hard and even played in the church choir in Sangolda. Then I learnt the violin which gave an insight into Western classical music.

Due to health reasons, I had to move back to Mumbai where I continued learning music while studying in college.

I learnt to play the violin with Professor Kenneth D’Silva and graduated in Anthropology from St Xavier’s college.”

Joey was also a trainer at Iyengar School of Yoga in Mumbai.

He adds, “After college, I started working in a bank which was totally different from what I wanted to do in life. I had to cut my long hair and sit in office at a desk, staring at a computer. It was too much to handle so I picked my guitar, took my bags and left for Goa. At that time Goa was very different. The music scene has totally changed since then. I travelled across the coastal belt to notice the music and I found out that musicians were performing the songs but with less enthusiasm. There was very less interaction with the audience. I wanted to have my own style of music. I approached a few hotels and shacks where I was performing and presented the idea to start karaoke singing. This was way back in 1996, when Karaoke was something new to Goans. The idea clicked with the audience and the shows started gaining popularity.” Joey was known as Goa’s Karaoke and was the first Goan to represent India at the International Festival of Karaoke 2004 in Finland. With 22 countries and over 200 participants, Joey made it to the top 10.

H

After the implementation of loud music ban, Joey’s shows started taking a beating. After all, who would like to have their music cut short while happily singing along to the lyrics? “Goa was changing but not in the favour of a musician. The mood sets in late for a party, an immediately the music would be stopped. Joey moved to Zurich, Switzerland along with his Swiss wife, Tanja where he gave his music priority, again with a different concept. “I started studying music production very well and also softwares like Logic pro 8 over the net. The internet has proved to be a great medium to interact with musicians from different countries.”

Coming back to the debut album, ‘Indian Girl’, the titled itself was inspired by his wife. “Tanja is from Switzerland but has Indian features and now she has also learnt to speak with an Indian accent. In her office, her colleagues nicknamed her as Indian Girl so I took that as a title for my album.” The album is an international lounge album featuring Indian and western musical instruments. The ten songs have been written and sung by Joey Mascarenhas. The tracks have been arranged by Shani Bencanar and the music is mixed and mastered

by San. “It took me nearly three years to come out with an album but for me it is more important to have a good product.

I am very happy with the final product.” The songs have been written over the years like the title track, ‘Indian Girl’ was written when he met his wife, ‘Do You Really Care’ was written for a cleanliness campaign in Zurich and ‘Kahan Ho’, the only Hindi song in the album was written for an organisation in Pune.

The internet is helping musicians in a big way except for the fact that it is making it very easy for music to be heard but difficult to be bought. “I met a few musicians over the net where we discuss about music and send music files. A few musicians sent me their music files which were later recorded or pre recorded for the album.” Joey has also started working on his next album, a double CD project which is also a lounge album with music for both Indian and international audience.

So how does Joey want to stand out from the rest? “Every musician should have a unique signature. There are two ways that music works, identify the artist then the music or identify the music and then the artist. It is better to make a mark with the audience who prefer your music rather then them getting familiar with you but not listening to your music. My message to the readers will be; listen to music, like it and then buy the CD.”

Exorcists Wanted: Apply to Catholic Church

F

The church has signed up 56 bishops and 66 priests for the two-day workshop

O

verwhelmed with requests for exorcists, US Roman Catholic bishops are holding a special training workshop in Baltimore this weekend to teach clerics the mysterious rite, the Catholic News Service reported. The church has signed up 56 bishops and 66 priests for the two-day workshop that began on Friday, seeking to boost the small group of just five or six American exorcists that the church currently has on its books.

“There’s this small group of priests who say they get requests from all over the continental US,” Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, was quoted as saying.

“Actually, each diocese should have its own exorcist,”

he added. Paprocki did not say why there was increased demand for exorcisms, which he noted were rarely performed.

While solemnly regarded by the Catholic Church, exorcism is a staple of Hollywood fright films, most notably the 1973 film ‘The Exorcist’ and regarded by many as superstition that lends a chill tremor to festivals like Halloween.

Catholic Church law stipulates that only properly trained priests can perform the rite and only with the permission of their bishops.

Possible signs of demonic possession include scratching, cutting, biting of the skin, profound displays of strength and a strong or violent reaction to holy water.

Tolvaricho ghai pekta, jibecho ghai pekona - Anonymous

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence - Leopold Stokowski

Getting Ready for the Hindu Wedding Season Tulsi Lagn is being celebrated today by Hindus across the globe. A unique festival that pays tribute to the Gods as well as nature, Tulsi Lagn blesses the start of the Hindu wedding season. Herald delves into the religious significance of the festival HERALD FEATURES ith sugarcanes making their way to the markets in trucks, one is amazed to see their sheer quantity, a sight which will not be seen at any other time of the year. The reason? Tulsi Lagn, the marriage of ‘Tulsi’ with ‘Dino’, a plant that represents Lord Vishnu or his incarnation Krishna. Tulsi Lagn is one of the grand festivals of India, also known as Vhoddli Diwali in Goa. In Goa, every big and small house has to have a ‘tulsi vrindavan’, a pedestal which was formally made of clay but has now changed to concrete pedestals. On this day, the ‘tulsi vrindavan’ is painted and colourfully decorated by the women with marigold flowers.

As the tulsi is one of the most popular medicinal plants in Goa, it is giving significance in every household. The tulsi is considered a bride and ‘dino’ (Bandicoot berry), a wild plant, her groom.

The wedding also has a bridesmaid and a best man. The sugarcane takes the place of the best man and a tamarind branch represents a bridesmaid.

“We start decorating the ‘tulsi vrindavan’ one day earlier or on the morning of Tulsi Lagn.

The ‘dino’ is carved in beautifully and the entire

W

setting of a wedding is created at the pedestal. Mostly unmarried girls do the decoration for the ceremony while the married women in the house say the prayers.

Spinsters pray for a good groom and a happy married life while the married women pray to be blessed with children and the good health of their family,” says Prema Naik from Assnora while shopping for the perfect sugarcane.

Even a branch of an ‘amla’ tree is placed in the pedestal.

Tulsi Lagn marks the first day of the wedding season. According to Hindu tradition, it is a grand wedding and any wedding prior to Tulsi Lagn does not enjoy religious sanction among Hindus.

(-DDC)

Get a Glitzy Tattoo in Real Gold Self expression has taken many forms past the colourful sixties - from fashion to art to music, not to forget body art. Tattoos are a popular form that entails plenty of creativity among the young. Dubai has some gilded offerings

orget the ‘henna’ and flashy jewellery, the latest accessory trend for the fashion-conscious partygoer in Dubai is a temporary tattoo made of real gold. A new business in Dubai is offering temporary 24-carat gold tattoos as the ideal body adornment for weddings and other special occasions at a modest starting price of $50, an affordable option given rising gold prices.

Precious Skin has two outlets in Dubai, one at the luxury, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel which will design and apply body tattoos made of 99.9 percent gold or platinum to add a bit of glitz to your personal style.

“It’s a revolution in the body art business, it’s the first time we can use 24 carat gold and platinum on skin,” said Arnaud Flambeau, managing director of Flambeau Luxury Trading and Precious Skin.

Originally a Japanese concept, Flambeau thought the idea would catch on in the Gulf, where many women have temporary ‘henna’ tattoos applied for weddings and special occasions. “We have had a lot of interest so far because it is a new idea and a new product that’s between jewellery, makeup and accessories and it’s a lot easier to make the decision to get a gold tattoo than buy new jewellery,” said Flambeau.

A thin film of gold or platinum is used to make the tattoo which is then applied to the skin and can last for up to a week, he said.

“More elaborate and larger designs can cost up to $5,500, and the idea really is just to have something that is very unique and new,” Flambeau said. “We plan to have a total of 25 branches in Dubai over the coming year and by January we will be in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.”

Branded as the city of gold, Dubai’s gold retail sector has faced huge drops in sales as cash strapped consumers struggled to keep demand up with rising prices for the yellow metal.

Spot gold gained 0.3 percent to $1,407.34 an ounce on last Thursday, just off an all-time high of $1,424.10 hit on Tuesday.

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Thursday, 18 Nov 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

A jumble sale, organised by Sethu is open for collection.

Organisers must be informed before November 20. E-mail reachus@sethu. Call 6513749.

The 20th Ranga Sammelan and Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar: Felicitation of Dr Ashok G Ranade for his contribution towards music will be held on December 17 and 18 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

Thermal and a quarter and HFT will perform live on November 18 at 8pm Goa Chitra, Benaulim.

E-mail at goachitra@gmail.com. Call 2772910, 6570877 or 09850466165.

‘Developing English Teaching Skills – a practical approach’ will be held from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm in Alto-Porvorim. Call 6513749.

The 3rd All India Annual Art Competition and Exhibition 2010, organised by Bhikuram Jain Foundation, New Delhi is open for entries. Registration closes on November 30. The exhibition and the award presentation ceremony will be held on February 12, 2011. Call the Kala Academy, Panjim on 2420452.

‘Our Cultural Diversity’, a workshop for in service school teachers up to the age of 48 years, organised by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi will be held from December 1 to 11. The schools intending to depute their teacher can visit the Department of Art and Culture, Patto, Panjim. Call 2438103.

Minal Hajratwala will be the author at this ‘Meet the Author’ session which will be held on November 17 at 5pm at Literati Bookshop and Café, Calangute. E-mail books@literati-goa.com. Call 2277740.

Solo Dance Competition for under 16 year olds, organ-

HOROSCOPE ised by Omkar Cultural Association, Colvale will be held on December 30 at Kala Academy.

Registration is open. Entry forms are available at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Call 9673997188 or 9823306652.

Festival of Carols, organised by the Kala Academy will take place on December 19 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Registration closes on November 19. Call 2420452.

‘Crazy Idea Competition’, organised by the Staff Club of the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula is open for registration. It will be held on the occasion of NIO Foundation Day. Visit www.nio.org/innovative ideas competition. E-mail crazyidea@nio.org.

XIIth Annual All Goa Tiatr Competition organised in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and the Directorate of Art and Culture is underway till November 18 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Call 2653083.

‘Shiksha Abhishek’, a joint cultural event that will feature students from the ages of age 4 to 50 years in bands, duets and solos, organised by Taught To Teach Music School Society will be held on November 21 at 4.45pm at Emerald Lawns, Parra. Call 2256165 Yoga for senior citizens, organised by the Lions Club of Margao Service Trust is underway till November 19 at the Recreation Centre, Margao.

E-mail srcitizenmargao@yahoo.in. Call 2700886.

A 3-day glass mosaic workshop

by Shamoli Barreto will be held on November 18 and 19 from 4pm to 6pm at Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim. E-mail info@sgcfa.org. Call 2421311.

Daily Kayaking Expeditions by Goa Kayaking will be held on November 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the Mandovi, Zuari and Nerul rivers.

Call 9422056037 or 2541715.

You might not be psychic, but today you will have a strong 21 Mar - 19 Apr sense of your f u t u r e . Yo u should go out of your way to introduce yourself to strangers -- especially those who seem confused or lost. Your social energy is just right for making them feel comfortable and secure.

Taurus You are entering a contemplative phase.

Be open to your 20 Apr - 20 May moods -- and follow them. It may feel as if the whole world is against you, but that's not really the case. You just feel pressured to go faster than you would like, but you're the master of resisting such pressures!.

Someone who's Gemini usually strictly business will suddenly show you a softer side 21 May - 20 Jun today. You don't usually need to be told to communicate, but on a day like today, you may feel a bit intimidated. Shake it off and speak up! Your voice needs to be heard, and that can only happen if you push yourself.

Beef up your karmic bank account today.

Be big-hearted 22 Jun - 23 Jul and generous to a fault. Your suspicions don't make you paranoid -- but they don't make you right, either. You need to decide whether or not to act on your worries, but it may be a good idea to hold off for now.

You'll be in the right place at the right time today, so get 24 Jul - 23 Aug ready for action! You can learn all sorts of interesting details about that new person or project today -- information is flowing your way organically. You may want to act as a conduit to pass it along to others.

Shallow ideas and people hold no attraction. Seek sub23 Aug - 22 Sep s t a n c e a n d things that last.

Any financial issues need to be dealt with -- but they probably aren't as urgent as they seem at first glance. Just make sure that you're taking them seriously and you should find the time for them.

Sit back and admire your handiwork today. Splurge 23 Sept - 22 Oct on a big reward for yourself.

Colleagues and clients at work are easier to deal with -- so much so that you might want to get them to sign on for more or longer relationships. Do whatever it takes to woo them for now.

Scorpio Start working on the things you promised yourself you 23 Oct - 22 Nov would work on.

Get it done.

Avoid conflict at all costs today -- it's just not worth the trouble.

In fact, any fights you start today are sure to get ugly, and even intervening in scraps between kids could get you dragged through the mud.

Sagittarius Things are like

Capricorn Your energy is high -- it's time to roll up your sleeves and 22 Dec - 20 Jan s t a r t s o m e t h i n g n e w.

You've got plenty of regular business today with few surprises -- just how you like it!

See if you can coast along to the end of the day without any big shifts or new projects to manage.

Aquarius A voice from the past will interrupt your day.

It's time you 21 Jan - 19 Feb both got some closure. Live life the way you want to live it today -- nobody can stop you! It's easier than ever for you to step up your efforts and really carve out a space for yourself that feels comfortable and appealing.

You need to spread yourself around.

Align yourself 20 Feb - 20 Mar with people who intimidate you. Someone is trying to fool you. It might be serious or trivial, but you should be on your guard. It's a good time for you to step up and really ask the hard questions -- the bad guys melt under scrutiny.

Aries

Libra

a quarter balanced on its side. One puff 23 Nov - 20 Dec will send things your way. Could you be having more fun than this? Never say never, but it's likely that you'd have to be partying with rock stars and astronauts in celebration of your sixth consecutive lottery win.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Pisces

DID YOU KNOW? What is a film adaptation?

elision Pronunciation ih-lizh-uhn Function Noun Meaning 1: the omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation 2: (in verse) the omission of a vowel at the end of one word when the next word begins with a vowel, as th'orient Example Sentence Many people tend to indulge in elision while speaking rapidly.

LAFFS

Films such as the Harry Potter series and Twilight series are referred to as film adaptations, which is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work. A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis, though non-fiction matter like biographies are also adapted to film. Erich von Stroheim attempted a literal adaptation of Frank Norris’s novel McTeague in 1924 with his film, Greed. The resulting film was over sixteen hours long. A cut of the film only eight hours long, then one running to four hours, appeared.

Finally, the studio itself cut the film to around two hours, resulting in a finished product that was entirely incoherent. Since that time, few directors have attempted to put everything in a novel into a film. Therefore, elision is nearly mandatory.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“It is a scientific fact that your body will not absorb cholesterol if you take it from another person’s plate.”

– Dave Barry

DAILY GROOK GOT CAUGHT

by Francis Rodrigues a fiddle she bought from a shady place, three years she got in the violin case!

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister

Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles.

If Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles, Where is the sieve of un-sifted thistles Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, sifted?

Thursday Chance of Rain 31° C | 24° C 20% chance of precipitation Sunrise 06:38 - Sunset 18:01 Moon rise 15:29 - Moon set 03:31 High –

Riddle Me This

TIDES Low High Low High 02:11 07:45 14:41 21:32

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

20:00 1920

11:50 13:55 16:05 18:20 21:00

Crank 2: High Voltage Quantum of Solace Another Stakeout The Touch Confessions of a Shopaholic 23:15 Behind Enemy Lines

09:45 The Number 23 11:45 Jackie Chan's Who Am I? 14:15 Body of Lies 16:45 Beneath 19:00 The Time Machine 21:00 Funny People 23:45 Eagle Eye

08:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 22:30

08:00 10:40 12:40 14:40

11:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 12:00 Saas Bina Sasural

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: Stars

16:30 18:55 21:00 23:30

Interstate 60 Eastern Promises Paris je t'aime Shinjuku Incident

Vaastu Shastra Pyaasa Sawan Corporate Page 3 Home Delivery

Desperado Agent Red Harry Brown Beverly Hills Ninja

08:30 12:00 Gaye 16:00 20:00 23:20

08:00 12:00 16:00 20:00

09:15 Adalat 13:00 Kissan 15:40 Jaan

12:00 Gulaal 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak? 14:30 MasterChef India 15:00 Kaali: Ek Agnipariksha 15:30 Gulaal 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 MasterChef India 18:30 Sabki Laadli Bebo 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Gulaal 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye

What's black and white and red all over?

12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00

Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle...

Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Saas Bina Sasural Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle...

Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Saas Bina Sasural C.I.D Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle...

Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Kaun Banega Crorepati Saas Bina Sasural Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle...

Aahat

10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00

Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi ...

Pavitra Rishta Dil Se Diya Vachan Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Jhansi Ki Rani Pavitra Rishta Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

Dil Se Diya Vachan Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi ...

Dance India Dance

Angaara Humko Deewana Kar Judwaa Koyla Duplicate

Bandh Darwaza Maharaja Kudrat Ka Kanoon Seeta Aur Geeta

22:00 22:30

Allahabadwale FIR Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

Papad Pol Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale Lapataganj FIR

12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Mano Ya Na Mano Rang Badalti Odhni Geet Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Geet Rang Badalti Odhni Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Geet

15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30

IDIOT BOX 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30

11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00

Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Mera Naam Karegi Roshan Dil Se Diya Vachan Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi...

Jhansi Ki Rani Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Pavitra Rishta Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Mera Naam Karegi Roshan Pavitra Rishta Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Lapataganj Gutar Gu Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

Lapataganj Mrs. & Mr. Sharma

12:00 Minute to win it 13:00 Csi 14:00 So You Think You Can Dance 15:00 Cyril: Simply Magic 16:00 Minute to win it 17:00 Whacked Out Sports 18:00 Mondo Magic Singapore 19:00 Minute to win it 20:00 Sports Crash 21:00 The Amazing Race Asia 22:00 Minute to win it 23:00 CSI: Miami

Rang Badalti Odhni Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Geet Rang Badalti Odhni Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Mile Jab Hum Tum Geet Rang Badalti Odhni Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

22:30 WWE: Raw

13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

The Bold and The Beautiful Modern Family MasterChef Australia Whose Line Is It Anyway?

How I Met Your Mother Friends Modern Family The Simpsons Lie To Me MasterChef Australia Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Koffee With Karan How I Met Your Mother Friends MasterChef Australia Lie To Me Modern Family The Simpsons

09:30 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 21:00 21:30

Golf Focus Barclays Premier League Gp2 Series Barclays Premier League Laureus Spirit of Sport Sport Express TNA Impact Score Tonight TNA Ppv

11:30 12:00 14:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

PBA All Star Shootout Barclays Premier League Australian Masters Goals!

Football Crazy Bpl Express Football Crazy Premier League World Sportscenter India Sportscenter Asia Advantage Australia Epic Encounters Sportscenter India Sportscenter Asia

07:30 17:00 19:00 19:30

Asian Games WWE: Raw European Tour Weekly Indian National Rally Championship 20:00 World Hockey Magazine 20:30 ATP Masters 1000 H/ls 21:30 UEFA Champions League

12:00 17:00 17:58 18:58 19:00 20:00 21:02 22:00 23:02 23:32

ICC World Cup H/ls Summer of 99 ICC World Cup H/ls Cricket Headers Advantage Australia World Cup Upsets Advantage Australia World Cup Upsets Cricket Extra Timed Out

10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Creative Vision Nat Geo Wild Trapped Wild Russia True Stories Big Mega Builds Nat Geo Amazing!

Massive Moves Week Inside Nat Geo Wild Mega Builds Megastructures True Stories

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Village Wise 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Lorna Rocks Goa 11:30 Life is to Live 12:00 Blooming Buds of Disha 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 15:00 Murder Part 1 15:30 French Rock Band 16:00 Life is to Live 16:30 Konkani Duet 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Prevent Child Abuse 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Murder Part 1 21:30 Argham Dium-ia 22:00 English News 23:00 Pilar Mass 00:00 Flavors Kids Club Note: Subject to Change

SUDOKU 709

Instructions for Sudoku 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

SUDOKU SOL 708

HERALD CROSSWORD - 709 Across 1- Coarse file; 5- Men; 10- "… countrymen, lend me your ____"; 14- Gull-like predatory bird; 15Component of organic fertilizer; 16- Leg unit between tarsus and femur; 17- A wedding cake may have three of these; 18- Capital city of Yemen; 19- Sled; 20Freshman; 23- Boxer Laila; 24Yes, in Yokohama; 25- Foosball and billiards place?; 33- Locale; 34- Beige; 35- Man-mouse connector; 36- Busy as ___; 37Verve; 39- One-named supermodel; 40- Sun. talk; 41- Hot rock; 42- Vacant; 43- Widespread environmental disaster; 47Choose; 48- Dusk, to Donne; 49Capable of being understood; 56Quick sharp bark; 58- Delight; 59- Greek temple; 60- Siouan speaker; 61- Tendon; 62- Slant; 63- Ale, e.g.; 64- Singes; 65Earthen pot; Down 1- Queue after Q; 2- Analogous; 3- Took to court; 4- Trim; 5- Brawn; 6- Decorative ivy; 7- Actress Turner; 8- Greek letters; 9- Land along the sea; 10- Cream cake; 11- Make ___ for it; 12- Floor covering; 13- Compass dir.; 21- Describes a gently cooked steak; 22- Hindu lawgiver; 25- Renaissance fiddle; 26- Diciembre follower; 27- Billiards rod; 28- State not to "mess with"; 29- Here, to Henri; 30- Pizazz; 31- Declaim; 32- Numerous; 33- Flower holder; 37- Bed; 38- Eggs; 39- Little devil; 41- Scandinavian; 42- Seemingly forever; 44- Metallic element; 45- Move unsteadily; 46Continues a subscription; 49- Drug-yielding plant; 50- "Night" author Wiesel; 51- Mandlikova of tennis; 52- A big fan of; 53- Remove water from a

boat; 54- Lounge; 55- This, in Tijuana; 56Teenage lout, to a Brit; 57- Hot time in Paris;

SOLUTION - 708

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Thurday, 18 Nov 2010

Getting Cosy with Coffee HERALD FEATURES offee is one of the select drinks that has universal appeal and is said to be the world’s second most popular drink after water. It is a sure pleasure giver, no matter when, where, or how it is consumed and has the great ability to mesmerise the mind and tantalise the taste buds. Coffee is without a doubt a social glue and indeed the ‘elixir’ of life. Over the years, a revival of this culture has been seen in our country and is moving into homes as well.

Understanding the nuances of coffee and the ability to brew a perfect cup of this delightful beverage is surely an art and providing insight into this is the ‘Coffee Festival’, a consumer connect initiative from Café Coffee Day (CCD), which commences on November 20, 2010 and go on for a month thereafter.

In an endeavour to share the art of coffee making with its consumers, CCD has organised a series of Coffee Festivals at two of its cafes in Goa, namely the café at Arthur Veigas Building in Panjim and the Colva Beach Café at Margao. Starting November 20, consumers can walk into any of these two outlets and learn how to make a cuppa using simple coffee making tools like the plunger and stovetop espresso right in the comfort of their homes.

Kick starting the Coffee Festival on Tuesday in Panjim, Felix Daniel, Brewmaster and Coffee Expert, Café Coffee Day showcased the fine art of coffee making while sharing the many interesting facets of coffee. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “Today coffee drinking is becoming more and more a part of our daily lifestyle and the requests we receive to learn this art is testimony to this trend. The coffee festivals are our attempt to help consumers indulge in this fine beverage and take back a part of the café experience home with them.”

Consumers can now purchase their home coffee making kits, comprising of coffee making machines and coffee powders to enjoy a similar taste like in the cafés at home from any CCD outlet in the city.

C

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES he music launch of the Konkani movie ‘O Maria’ was a very casual affair, with the cast and crew of the movie gathering up at the Inox Lounge amidst cheer and goodwill.

The movie directed by Rajendra Talak features four songs composed by Remo Fernandes who remained absent at the venue due to personal reasons.

The music CD was released by the Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, Manoj Srivastava and Rajesh Malhotra, Managing Director of Rock N Raga, was also present at the launch.

The release was preceded by the screening of three songs of the movie, ‘Laranchim Cantaram’, a melodious song about Goa, followed by ‘Surganchi Fati’ which gave a folk-feel while the third number, a rock song, titled ‘Maka Naka Tuka Naka’ took the listeners to a different beat. The music was not only composed, arranged, recorded and mixed by Remo Fernandes, but he also played all the instruments and lent his voice to all the songs of the film.

Speaking at the launch, Rajendra Talak spoke about his movie and was confident about its success. “I am sure that every person will like the movie; I will always strive to make Konkani music and movies popular.” Rajesh Malhotra spoke about how in today’s time, it is difficult to release music because of piracy. Manoj Srivastava commented about the bright future of filmmakers in Goa. Revealing more about the film, Talak said, “The movie is

T

about how Goa is losing its identity amidst the development.

We should have development but it has to be planned development.” Sharing his views about Konkani cinema, he added, “The cinema of Goa is still in its infantile stage but the trends are now changing and there is definitely potential.”

He also pointed put to the fact that if two of Goa’s filmmakers can rise to the national and international level of filmmaking, it shows that Goa does have potential.

The film stars Shernaz Patel and American actor Cory Goldberg, Sulbha Arya, Tiku Talsania, Meenacshi Martins, Kevin D’Mello, Aryan K h e d e ka r a n d Sanjay Talwadkar along with Konkani artistes Roseferns a n d J o h n D’ S i l v a w h o have made special appearances.

The inn umerable posters the film and ban ‘G ne A i s h w a uzaarish’ show Bollywo rs of rya Ra i o d icon Bachch cigarette . Th an smo king a scenes w ere would be th ousands hich cou of ld be dis the stor played to other yline of th c onvey has cho e s e n t h is film, yet the pr oducer obliviou p a r t ic u la r o n s to its a e , q u ie fter-effe t ct

Dear Madam, We would like to draw your attention to numerous billboards in Mumbai showing your image smoking a cigarette in a movie called ‘Guzaarish’.

We would like to remind you that such a display of tobacco related products is against the law as well as an immoral activity. We need not emphasise upon you the obvious consequences of tobacco consumption nor the influence film personalities like you have on the young generation.

We would like to draw your attention to the letter addressed to us by your father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan whose picture, in the similar fashion, was displayed, four years ago. Bachchan, while confirming the fact that he was as teetotaller, refused to share the responsibility for the unabashed display. Despite a personal apology he tried to hide behind the unusual contention that the publicity of the film is not handled by him. Despite this clarification, we were compelled to move to appropriate judicial authority for clear directions in such types of matters.

Madam, obviously the film industry appears to nurture disregard to law as well as morality. In such instances legal action remains the only available recourse. While we are contemplating the move, the content of this letter is without prejudice to the same. Tobacco consumption remains sure-fire cause of cancer in our society and film personalities with their near-god images can have tremendous influence on unsuspecting young minds. I hope our words of sanity would convince you.

This year in particular the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ 2010 is being observed with the theme ‘Gender and Tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women’ by the World Health Organisation.

In view of this, your advertisement for the film ‘Guzaarish’ would be a set back to the movement initiated by the World Health Organisation.

We sincerely hope, your public image as well as your character should be used for eradicating health hazards in the society and not for promoting such a fatal addiction.

Yours Sincerely, Dr Shekhar Salkar, General Secretary, NOTE-India

Screening of the movie songs: Composed, arranged, recorded and mixed by international musician Remo Fernandes who played all the instruments and lent his voice to all the songs of the film

Rocking to the raga: Rajesh Malhotra and dialogue writer Damodar Mauzo

Posing prettily: Priyanka Bidiye(right)

Contemplating a bright future for Goan filmmakers: Manoj Srivastava (CEO, ESG) with filmmaker Rajendra Talak Playing a major role: Kevin D’mello, Meenacshi Martins and Aryan Khedekar

Grand Wedding of Tulsi and Dino

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NOTE India Issues Warning Letter to Aishwarya To, Ms Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 402 Ramlaxmi Niwas 16th Road , Near Khar Gym Mumbai 400054, INDIA

‘O Maria’ launched amidst Cheer

Parenting

H e r a l d ’s l e n s - p e r s o n s capture vibrant moments on the eve of Vhoddli Diwali...

Photos by Herald Features and Chiquitita D’ Souza

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Thursday, 18 Nov 2010

Kajol Tanuja to share Screen after 18 Years

T

he mother-daughter duo of veteran actress Tanuja and Kajol will be seen together on-screen in Toonpur Ka Superrhero after nearly two decades. The film produced by Ajay Devgn will see him starring along with his wife and animated characters.

Kajol and Tanuja are going to share screen space 18 years after her debut film Bekhudi in 1992.

The film, co-produced by Krishika Lulla will be India’s first 3D animation combination feature film and will also star Amev Pandya, Chinky Jaiswal, Mukesh Tiwari, Sanjay Mishra, Delnaz Paul, among others.

The story highlights the hardships faced by a father while trying to be children’s super-dad in real life. Aditya (Ajay Devgan), a film superstar, and his wife Priya (Kajol) have all they ever wanted to achieve. But their two children, Kabeer (Amev) and Raima (Chinky), want their dad to be a super hero in real life.

Suddenly, an opportunity knocks at door when Aditya finds himself in Toonpur, the land of his children’s favourite cartoon show where he has to fight against Toonasurs (bad toons) to save Devtoons (god toons).

Though Tanuja is doing a cameo in the film, her role is a significant one. Similar to Bekhudi, Tanuja will play Kajol’s reel life mom in Toonpur Ka Superrhero. The film is slated for a Christmas release. Also, Ajay and Kajol will be back together in Toonpur Ka Superhero af ter You Me Aur Hum. Other movies where they paired up include Hulchul, Gundaraj, Ishq, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha, Dil Kya Kare and Raju Chacha.

The couple was recently blessed with a baby boy whom they have named Yug. Their elder daughter Nysa is seven years old.

Kunal Kohli hospitalised for Severe Throat Infection

A

new Japanese canned drink vending machine uses facial recognition technology to ‘recommend’ drinks based on the customer's age and gender - and sales have tripled over those from regular vending machines as a result.

The machines, developed by J R East Water Business Co, a subsidiary of railway firm J R East Co use large touch-panel screens with sensors that allow the machine to determine the characteristics of an approaching customer.

“Recommended” labels will then appear on specific drink products. Suggested products may also change depending on the temperature and time of day.

“If the customer is a man, the machine is likely to recommend a canned coffee drink, since men tend to prefer these. If the customer is in their 50s, though, that recommendation is likely to be green tea,” a company spokeswoman said.

A woman in her 20s will be recommended a tea drink or slightly sweeter product, since market research has shown that they prefer these.

“We thought it would make it a lot more fun for the customers to have this kind of interaction with our machines, that it would improve the whole buying experience,” she added.

The company has so far tested one machine at one Tokyo train station. Plans to add five machines to the central Tokyo Station, with the network to be expanded to other major Tokyo stations and nearby suburban areas by early in 2011, are in the pipeline.

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H

arry Potter actor Tom Felton says he knows the value of a hard day’s work as his father forced him to take a job as a car park attendant in a fishery at the height of his wizard franchise fame. The actor was plucked from obscurity to play wizard bully Draco Malfoy in the hit series, starring alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint and even though he was earning a fortune from his work in the movies, Felton was ordered by his father to take a low-paid job when he was 13-years-old so he could learn the value of money.

“Around the third film, The Prisoner of Azkaban, my dad had a thing about me not understanding the value of the pound. While my mum was always protective, saying, ‘You’ve earned it, do what you like,’ my dad was like, ‘Acting’s not a proper job, standing around doing (nothing). You need to learn.’ So I went to the fishery my brother worked at from 6am until 8pm, working in the car park for 20 pounds a day,” said Felton.

Despite his tender age, Felton reveals not all his customers were impressed with his star status.

“Fisheries don’t always attract the nicest people, so as a little 13-year-old kid telling them where to park, there were lots of middle fingers flying about. It was very different from life at Harry Potter. But that 20 pounds was all of a sudden valuable,” he said.Malaika Arora Khan strikes New Year’s Eve gold with a Rs2.5 crore offer to perform at a five-star hotel to the hit track Munni Badnaam. Given that Munni Badnaam is the biggest item song of the year so far, there’s really little to stop Malaika from aiming for the stars.

Malaika confirms, “Offers to perform on New Year’s Eve have come to me from various places; some have been fantastic but I am yet to make up my mind.”

Says a source, “Malaika hasn’t performed at New Year’s Eve for the last three years and has instead been part of family vacations to Dubai, Panvel and Goa. This year, however, she is considering performing, given the track’s popularity. And though she has always had great offers come her way, this year it’s the best.

She is being wooed over bigger names like Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat.”

A source close to Malaika says, “She has already had offers from some major venues. She will decide depending on the place that accepts her terms and conditions. It’s not just how much she will get paid but her comfort level too and what suits her best.”

The terms and conditions being that she will perform only in Mumbai and her performance will only last for a predetermined duration. She also insists on brining her entourage along. Though she is yet to decide if she will perform to a medley of songs or just to Munni Badnaam, it is certain that husband Arbaaz Khan will be involved in the decision-making for her.

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“For you sir, a canned coffee. And for madam, perhaps a nice cold tea”

Parenting

Harry Potter Star Felton worked in Fishery

ilmmaker Kunal Kohli on tweeted that he was undergoing treatment for follicular tonsillitis, an inflammation of the tonsils. “Hospitals can be scary but not if you’re admitted just for intravenous therapy, right? Just got admitted into Lilavati. Hopefully be out in two days. All well,” Kunal wrote on a popular microblogging site.

“Thanks for all your wishes, It’s a bad case of follicular tonsillitis, I am improving, hopefully out of hospital by Thursday,” he added.

Kunal, the producer of upcoming film Break Ke Baad, fell so ill last week that he was forced to cut short his promotional tour of the film, which stars Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone.

“Fell seriously sick in London. Aborted my trip.

Imran continues in London and New York City. Deepika in London too. Me back home, severely ill; recovering to start promotions again,” he wrote.

Directed by Danish Aslam, Break Ke Baad is a film about space needed in relationships. It will hit the screens on November 26.

Vending Machine recommends Drinks to Buyers

Tourism

Pitt to do Cameo in Jolie’s Directorial Venture?

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is likely to make a cameo appearance in partner Angelina Jolie’s debut directorial venture. The Inglourious Basterds star has filmed his scene with a secondunit crew in an abandoned military facility near the town of Kiskunlachaza in Hungary.

The scene is additionally said to feature Pitt’s character trying to escape a military facility through a curtain of sniper fire.

The untitled project reportedly revolves around a love story of “a young Serb and a Muslim woman who fell in love several evenings before beginning of war in Bosnia. The action follows war events with the young Muslim woman ending up in a Serbian concentration camp from where she is somehow saved by the young Serb. Their love becomes passionate but impossible.”

Flirting Style determines Future Relationship Status

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here is a lot more to flirting than fun, according to a new research study that says finding success in romance depends in part on understanding your own personal ‘flirting style’.

Whether or not you prefer sidling up to a stranger in a bar or you would rather sit back and wait for an object of attraction to approach are distinctions that once recognised can help people navigate the rocky seas of relationships, according to Jeffrey Hall, assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas.

Hall recently completed a study into styles of flirting among dating adults, surveying more than 5,100 people regarding their methods of communicating romantic interest.

“Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life,” Hall said. “Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtship,” she added.

There are essentially five styles of flirting, according to Hall - physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful.

In physical flirting, people express their sexual interest in a potential partner and, he says, often quickly can develop the relationships, have more sexual chemistry and have a greater emotional connection to their partners.

Traditional flirts tend to believe that men should make the first moves, with women assuming more passive roles. Both sexes comfortable with this style seem to prefer more ‘intimate’ dating scenes, he said.

There are many people whose flirting styles fall into the category of ‘playful’ and are aimed largely at enhancing their own self-esteem, Hall said. These people are less likely to have lasting and meaningful relationships, he added.

“In some ways, the very early part of developing relationships is important to the success of long-term relationships, including marriages,” he said.

One-time Jab to protect against all Flu Strains

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flu jab, to be given just once in a lifetime, can fight off all strains of flu, and should be available within the next five years, scientists say.The vaccine would fight not only the winter flu that leaves millions feeling miserable each year, but also deadly pandemic viruses. These findings were presented at a conference held by the Royal Society, London.

The current flu jab protects only three-quarters of those immunised and needs to be reformulated each year to keep on top of changes in the virus.

It targets a lollipop-shaped head of a protein that sticks out from the surface of flu particles. The protein is key to infection, but the head constantly mutates, meaning it differs from strain to strain, says a leading UK newspaper.

The new drug, developed at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Maryland, US, uses DNA to trick the body's immune system

into producing antibodies against the ‘lollipop stick’.

Unlike the head, the ‘stick’ changes little from strain to strain, which means one vaccine should protect against multiple strains of the virus.

Gary Nabel, NIH's director of vaccine research, used the DNA from the protein to trick animals’ immune systems into producing antibodies that seek out and destroy the bug.

He then gave a ‘booster shot’ of a harmless flu or cold virus to ratchet up the immune response. The vaccine was also effective against bird flu.

Safety trials have begun on people and its effectiveness could be tested on patients by 2013. If the vaccine is as safe and powerful as the research team hopes, it should be in widespread use by 2015.

(Trends Courtesy: Agencies)

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas.

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