6 July,2010 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

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Sports: Brazil sack Dunga, players face backlash Pg 18 Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived.

-- Lincoln

IN BRIEF Communal clash in Ahmedabad A clash broke out here tonight between members of two communities, prompting the police to fire two rounds in the air to bring the situation under control. The incident took place in the communally sensitive Shahpur area after an altercation between two groups over some a “petty” issue, they said. – (PTI)

Seven suffer from anthrax At least seven persons suffered from anthrax after they handled the meat of an affected bull at Domkol in Murshidabad district. Eight cattle have died and several other livestock have been found to suffer from anthrax.– (PTI)

The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, tuesDaY, julY 6, 2010

Business: Food inflation easing -- Finmin Pg 12

pRiCe Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

Goa’s Heartbeat: Bipasha joins the Tweeting Bandwagon Pg 14

Goa feels Bharat bandh heat Mickky’s custody extended by a day

3 Sainiks held for trying to shut hotel. l Courts functioning hit as staff and lawyers took a break. l OPDs at the GMC were empty by 11 am. l Of 370 KTC buses only 70 plied. l

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 5

Goa remained paralysed for most part of the day due to Monday’s ‘Bharat bandh’, even as stone-pelting incidents were reported from some parts keeping the police on their toes to ward off untoward incidents.

While a few minor incidents of trouble were reported from across the State, police said the capital city remained peaceful for major part of the day, barring an incident in which three Shiv Sainiks had to be arrested for trying to close down the Navtara Hotel. (Related reports on pg 2) V ijay Surlakar, Gajanan Mutkekar and Sunil St Inezkar were placed under preventive arrest (section 151 of Cr Pc) and later produced before the magistrate. They were released on an interim bond.

Though life in the city came to a standstill with shops and other business establishments downing their shutters, some of the pharmacies remained open throughout the day.

Most of the schools had minimal attendance which prompted the heads to urge students to return home, while some schools despite having (Continued on page 11)

KTC conductors and drivers at the Panjim bus stand, which wore a deserted look on account of the “Bharat bandh” on Monday.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

Bus owners: meet demands or face indefinite strike

No need of army in Naxal areas: Pillai

Briefing media after the meeting of all private bus owners in Panjim, Tamankar said that a fare hike of 10 paisa is not acceptable as they have to shell to nearly Rs five for diesel every time.

“We would have considered ten paisa hike if the petroleum product prices had not been hiked after an increase in April, this year,” he stated.

Tamankar also said that if the diesel prices go down, then they are ready to go ahead with ten paisa hike in fares.

“We asked state government to prepare a chat mentioning the prices of diesel (up and down) and fix the ticket fares accordingly, in near future,” he added.

Along with ticket hike, bus

The government today said there was no immediate need to deploy army in Maoist-hit regions and it could take nearly seven years to get rid of the menace.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, who is on a visit to review the situation in Chhattisgarh, said there was no need to deploy army personnel at present in the Maoist-hit regions.

Speaking to reporters at Kanker, Pillai said that it could take between 3 and 7 years to get rid of the Naxal menace.

Referring to the casualties suffered by paramilitary forces, he said the Naxals were taking advantage of situation whereby jawans enter into their territory to fight them.

HERALD REORTER PANJIM, JULY 5

Snubbing ten paisa ticket hike offered by the State government, the private bus operators on Monday announced indefinite bus strike from Monday, July 12.

The bus operators are demanding fare hike of 20 paisa per kilometer from existing 45 paisa.

“We have decided to go on indefinite bus strike from Monday, if government does not fulfill all over demands by July 11.

A seven-day notice will be ser ved to the government today,” All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA), General Secretary Sudip Tamankar told reporters on Monday morning.

John charged with Russian’s rape HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

The South Goa Sessions Court on Monday ordered framing of charges of rape and destruction of evidence against John Fernandes in the Russian woman rape case.

While passing the order framing of criminal charges, Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande said the medical re-

The Sessions Court on Monday extended judicial custody of former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco by a day; even as Pacheco’s legal counsel asserted that the Benaulim MLA cannot be blamed for Nadia Torrado’s death and termed the ongoing investigations as politically motivated.

Saying that Pacheco is in no way responsible for Nadia Torrado’s death, legal counsel Adv Surendra Dessai submitted that deceased Nadia Torrado has

port has supported the contention of the victim in view of the multiple injuries present on her body.

Judge Deshpande said the offence of rape is sufficiently brought out in the complaint as well as in the statement made by the victim, which has been supported by medical evidence.

“At the stage of framing (Continued on page 11)

He needs treatment for his heart?

But I thought he doesn't have one!

operators have also asked the government to take necessary action over the harassment by Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) to private bus operators.

“We have noticed that KTCL runs nearly 15-16 buses on Mapusa-Panjim route, where only five official permits are granted to them. Similar is the case on Ponda-Panjim route, where two permits are given,” Tamankar pointed out.

“The government and the transport department need to take immediate and serious action in this matter,” he added.

In order to give KTCL a parallel service with private buses, the Association has demanded formation of a committee with (Continued on page 11)

PTI RAIPUR, JULY 5

Judge pulls up jailor

committed suicide as she allegedly had a suicidal tendency.

Praying for bail for the former tourism minister, Adv Dessai said deceased Nadia might have gone into depression after reading a tiatr advertisement in the local newspaper which stated that Viola is the wife of Pacheco.

He submitted to the judge a copy of the newspaper carrying the tiatr advertisement.

Saying that Nadia has allegedly committed suicide, Adv Dessai maintained that when one consumes 20 tablets and

Where is Mickky Pacheco? What is his latest medical status?

These questions came to the fore in the Sessions Court on Monday during hearing of former tourism minister’s bail plea, prompting a visibly perturbed Additional Sessions Judge P V Kamat to censure a judicial lock up jailor.

(Continued on page 11)

(Continued on page 11)

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

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GOA, TUESDAY, 6 JULY, 2010

Strike brings life to grinding halt in State

Protesters sit on the road to block the traffic in Mapusa.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JULY 5

Life came to a grinding halt in the State on Monday as nearly all shops, establishments, private transport operators and educational institutions suspended services for the day, in response to the opposition-led Bharat Bandh to protest against a hike in fuel prices.

Herald’s team of correspondents visited various parts of the State and reported that the Bandh was near total but by and large largely peaceful, barring a few incidents where miscreants damaged KTC buses and some private vehicles.

Miscreants punctures the tyres of four Kadamba buses and some private buses at the Curchorem KTC bus stand, while minor incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses were also reported near the Sessions Court and Karaswada in Mapusa. The windscreen of the Ponda-Vasco KTC bus was also damaged at Borim-Ponda.

Two vehicles, a Kadamba bus and a trailer, were stoned in Bicholim taluka, while a Maharashtra-bound goods carrier truck was also punctured at the Sarvan main road. Stray incidents of burning of tyres were

sisted the national bandh call, where except for Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar requesting few shopkeepers in his constituencies Poinguinim bazaar area, there were no efforts from anyone to enforce the Bandh.

Even though no untoward incident was noticed anywhere in the taluka, sources informed that a huge tree was cut and thrown on a culvert at BarcemPadi, disrupting highway traffic for a short while, before the route was cleared.

All the Café’s, tea stalls, restaurants, besides all other shops and including Bhajji and fish market at Chaudi and surrounding areas remained closed.

Few bars and taverns were seen doing brisk business. Few working restaurants at Palolem and Gulem did business as on any normal day in the taluka.

Town schools including higher secondary and a college which commenced as usual in the morning, winded up for the day early before time, due to absence of teachers, while pharmacies, clinics and hospitals functioned as normal.

Sources informed that presence in government offices was almost normal, but some banks kept their shutters half closed

The KTC bus, whose tyres were punctured by some miscreants at KTC bus stand, Curchorem.

Photo by Suresh Naik.

also reported at Baina-Vasco.

Most of the people opted for an extended weekend and preferred to remain indoors, instead of risking any backlash or untoward incidents by miscreants.

Most educational institutions in the State were closed due to poor attendance, while government offices all over the State also wore a deserted look.

Police arrested Shiv Sena S t a t e P re s i d e n t U p e n d r a Gaonkar and Bicholim Municipal Council Councilor Kamlakar Teli on charges of obstructing traffic at Bicholim. They were later released in the evening.

Police also arrested three Shiv Saina activists in Bardez on charges of forcing shopkeepers to close down their shops.

In another incident, Marcaim Madkaim BJP Block President Prashant Naik was detained on charges of blocking the road at Farmagudi.

CANACONA

Canacona witnessed a near to total Bandh at least in commercial town of Chaudi, even though traffic ran unhindered on all the roads, including the NH-17.

Most of the shops and establishments remained closed in Chaudi and surroundings, while the entire fleet of private buses remained off the road throughout the day in support of the opposition parties demand for reducing fuel prices and State private bus operators demand to increase the fare.

However, Kadamba buses operated normally, transporting only few commuters who came out of their houses.

The Bandh seemed almost a voluntary one, as few shops in local village bazaar areas of villages in Poinguinim, Maxem (Loliem) and elsewhere in the taluka’s interior remained partially closed for major part of the day.

Not much movement of people was seen in the taluka, as the rains lashing the State since early morning seems to have as-

and functioned from inside, whereas few ATMs were kept shut since morning fearing incidents of stone throwing.

With almost no transportation plying from talukas interior areas, school-going children seems to have been the most effected with many taking on foot to reach back to their homes situated in town pockets like Kindlem, Ponsulem, Rajbhag, Patnem, Palolem, Mastimoll, Devabhag, Shristhal, etc for want of local internal bus transportation.

Many school buses (Bal Rath) were reportedly not operated for fear of stone throwing incidents.

Police were seen stationed only at some of the main places in the taluka, at Char Rasta, Chaudi, where no untoward incident took place, while even private transportations though plied freely was noticed running only intermittently.

The overall movement of vehicles along the highway plied normally, but was very brisk throughout the day, as except for one ST bus which early morning raced towards Karwar, no more Karnataka buses plied along the highway during the day.

MORMUGAO

Mormugao taluka observed a complete bandh except for some incidents of burning tyres at Baina.

Markets were shut, schools were empty and roads wore a deserted look across Vasco, Mormugao, Sancoale and Cortalim, as major commercial establishments, transporters in Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), tourist taxi operators and Black and Yellow Taxi operators at Dabolim airport remained off the road.

Stray incidents of burning of tyres were reported at Baina and along the NH-17A near Sancoale, but by and large the bandh was peaceful in entire Mormugao taluka.

However, the port town started limping back to normalcy in the evening, as most

of the commercial establishments and all major markets resumed its business activities by 6 pm.

The BJP workers along with former Vasco MLA Rajendra Arlekar were seen in Vasco city near Vasco Kadamba shuttle service and urging the people to support their cause.

Interestingly, the Vasco fish market that has rarely observed such political bandhs, was fully cooperative with BJP workers, as they have shut their business since morning.

Addressing the media, State BJP Spokesperson Rajendra Arlekar congratulated the party workers and express gratitude of the people of Mormugao taluka for supporting Bharat Bandh successfully.

“With this bandh, we believe our message has reached to the people about the government inefficiency to control inflation and fuel price hike that has badly affected the entire nation,” said Arlekar.

“BJP expresses its gratitude towards transporters, tourist taxi unions, bus operators, unions of vegetable market, youths and fish community and people of Mormugao taluka for supporting the bandh,” added Arlekar.

When asked whether there was mixed response at Valpoi because of former health minister Vishwajit Rane, he alleged that Rane has used his force and utilized government machinery by forcefully opening commercial establishments to show that bandh has no effect in Valpoi.

CURCHOREM

The twin towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem witnessed a total Bandh, which passed off peaceful, except for some incidents of tyre punctures.

According to sources, tyres of four Kadamba buses and some private buses, which were parked at KTC bus stand, were punctured by some miscreants.

Roads were blocked at some places by cutting down trees and throwing them on the road, but Curchorem fire brigade services cleared it.

All the shops and establishments remained closed throughout the day, while the vegetable and fish markets wore a deserted look. Buses remained off the roads as only few KTC buses were seen plying along the road.

Since most of the schools had poor attendance, the schools were closed early for the day.

CCMC office, some banks and medical stores functioned normally.

MAPUSA

Mapusa police arrested three Shiv Sainiks on charges of forcing the shopkeepers to close down their shops, even though Mapusa and Porvorim witnessed total Bandh.

Mapusa PI Rajesh Kumar informed that they have arrested three Shiv Sainiks, who were forcing the shopkeepers to close their shops.

Police arrested Shiv Sena (Goa unit) President Upendra Gaonker at Bicholim. The Shiv Sainiks were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First class in the evening and were released on bail.

“We had offered police protection to the establishments, who had requested for it. The police were patrolling along the

roads in Bardez to maintain law and order. We were fully geared up to meet any eventuality,” said PI Kumar.

Speaking to Herald, Bardez Mamlatdar Gaurish Shankhwalker said there were some minor incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses near the Sessions Court and Karaswada.

“However no one was injured in the incident. Overall, the bandh was peaceful in Bardez,” said Shankhwalker.

Barring one restaurant in Mapusa, all the shops, restaurants, petrol pumps and banks remained closed. All the schools, except government schools, declared holiday due to poor attendance of the students.

The Yellow and Black taxis and auto rickshaws also remained off the roads. However, KTC buses were seen plying on certain routes. The Kadamba bus stand at Mapusa wore a deserted look, as the private buses did not ply.

Since private buses were off the road, people residing in the villages, where KTC buses do not operate, had to face a lot of hardships due to non-availability of transport. Police in large number were deployed at Kadamba bus stand, municipal market, Navtara restaurant and along the main roads of the city.

The BJP protesters sat down on the road near Gandhi Circle at the entrance of the Mapusa city in morning and tried to block the traffic. DySP Sammy Tavares along with the police force rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd and cleared the road for vehicular traffic.

The BJP protestors also tried to block roads in Siolim by placing stones and tree branches on the road, due to which traffic was disrupted for some time.

However, the barricades were removed by the police.

Mapusa PI Rajesh Kumar said they have arrested three Shiv Sainiks, who were forcing the shopkeepers to close their shops.

CALANGUTE

The Bandh also evoked good response from the people in the coastal belt of Calangute.

All shops in Calangute, Arpora, Saligao and Anjuna were shut, while in Candolim except for few shops, other business establishments remained closed.

The fish market in Calangute was also closed. However, the essential services functioned normally. Schools in Calangute were also affected due to the Bandh.

Except for a stray incident of felling of a tree to block the road at Saligao, no untoward i n c i d e n t w a s re p o r t e d i n Calangute.

In Candolim, a roadside well collapsed, posing a threat to motorists and pedestrians. However, it was immediately covered with the help of an excavator.

The worst affected were the tourists, as some wanting to travel to South Goa for hotel accommodation and railway station for their train, were unable to do so due to support of the Taxi Owners for the Bandh. Few taxi owners were however seen plying their taxis.

Calangute police kept a strict vigil on the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, while RTO Mapusa was also seen patrolling the area.

The BJP Calangute unit led by Saligao ZP member Michael Lobo expressed satisfaction over people’ support for the Bandh.

“We went to each and every shop or business establishment and appealed to the people for their support to the bandh to protest against hike in petroleum products. The rise in petroleum products will definitely have the desired effect on prices of essential products, thus making the cost of living of middle class people miserable,” said Lobo.

BICHOLIM

Shiv Sena State President Upendra Gaonkar and Bicholim Municipal Council Councilor Kamlakar Teli were arrested for allegedly obstructing traffic at Bicholim. Both were released later in the evening.

Two vehicles, including a Kadamba bus and a trailer, were stoned at Bicholim and Vhalshim respectively. A Maharashtrabound goods carrier truck was also punctured at Sarvan main

The BJP has claimed that today’s bandh was “total success” as people in Goa voluntarily participated in it revealing their deep discontent towards the Congress-led government for increasing oil prices.

Addressing a press conference in the presence of senior BJP leaders today evening, State President, Laxmikant Parsekar, said it was 100 per

cent bandh as shops, commercial establishments, schools, colleges remained closed and vehicular traffic was totally brought to a halt.

He claimed bus owners association, auto rickshaw associations, motorcycle pilot associations, taxi owners associations, petrol pump owners and others supported today’s bandh and thanked all for their support.

North Goa MP, Shripad Naik as well as Leader of Opposition

road.

The Bandh called by BJP unit of Bicholim taluka and assisted

by Shiv Sena was cent percent successful in Bicholim, as all the educational institutions, private transport operators, banking institutions and NGOs supported the Bandh.

All the schools declared holiday due to poor attendance of the students. However, though all the government offices were open, they wore a deserted look due to poor attendance of staff members.

Enough though it was a Bazaar day at Sanquelim, about 95% shops remained closed, while vendors also preferred to participate in the Bandh.

The activities of the agitators, who participated in the Bandh, were so fast that police and fire brigade personnel found it difficult to clear the barricades, comprising trees and stones, which were placed at different places in Bicholim and surrounding areas like Sarvan, Vhalshim, Mulgaon, Assanora, Bordem and other areas.

On Monday morning, people preferred to travel by Kadamba buses, which were traveling under police protection, but after stone pelted on a bus, people preferred to go home without attending their work.

When some agitators learnt that work was going in Bicholim Industrial Estate area, they send some activists and stopped the work. The entire market area in Bicholim wore a deserted look, as all the shops including fish market, bar and restaurants, kiosks and establishments remained closed.

Manohar Parrikar said voluntary participation of people in this bandh indicated that people are not happy with government.

Parrikar said “no force was used” and people spontaneously participated in the bandh reflecting their frustration towards rise in the prices.

He also reiterated that the State government should reduce the burden of common by bringing down its revenue intake on VAT.

No interruption at airport HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 5

The Bandh may have affected normal life in the State, but operations at the Dabolim International Airport went uninterrupted, as most flights were on schedule.

While tourist taxi operators and Black/Yellow taxis – the essential mode of transport at the Dabolim airport – were vir-

tually missing in the parking lot, most passengers had made alternate plans to travel to and from the airport.

Morning operations at the airport were smooth and the airport remained closed for civil operation after 8.30 am because of naval sorties.

“Passengers, who were supposed to board flights in the afternoon, arrived at the air-

SANGUEM

The All India Bandh was total success in Sanguem taluka with all shops and establishments remaining closed and private buses operating along various routes in Sanguem remaining off road for the day.

There was however no unto-

Trees cut and placed as makeshift barricades on the road in Bicholim.

Bandh total success, boasts BJP HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 5

In Sanquelim, though it was a Bazaar day, hardly any 5% shops were open and that too with half shutters, while all the government offices also wore a deserted look.

Bicholim PI Harish Madkaikar, PSI Tukaram Walke, PSI Terrance Vaz and DySP Bossuet Silva were seen taking stock of the situation.

Bicholim Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad and Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat were also seen handling the situation.

Meanwhile, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, MLA Anant Shet, BMC Chairperson Satish Gaonkar and councilors claimed that the Bandh was 100% successful.

port in the morning itself, as most commercial airlines had alerted passengers of the Bandh and had requested them to arrive at the airport well ahead of schedule time,” said a source at Dabolim airport.

Passengers who arrived in the airport had either informed their relatives to receive them or had engaged private vehicles in advance.

ward incident of any sort reported from any corners of the taluka.

Incidentally, it was for the first time that all the shops and establishments remained closed in Sanguem, particularly in the remote areas where notwithstanding the Bandh call given by any party, shops used to remain open.

Hotels, tea shops and general stores in the remote areas as that of Uguem, Bhati, Neturlim, Rivona and other areas remained closed, thereby making the bandh a total success in Sanguem.

Schools and the lone higher secondary school in Sanguem functioned as usual, but with

Police personnel were deployed along various locations to prevent any untoward incident. Major trading and business centers in Ponda remained closed, however few small business establishments at the new KTC bus stand did not support the Bandh.

Private bus operators, motorcycle and taxi operators also supported the nationwide bandh called by the BJP in protest of price rise.

Essential services like pharmacies were open, however some petrol pumps in Ponda taluka remained closed.

Unaware of the situation, few interstate commuters were stranded at the KTC bus stand, Ponda.

Sitaram from HimadgaoAnmod, Karnataka, along with his 10 colleagues waiting for a bus at Ponda new bus stand said: “We were unaware of this development. We are waiting since morning, but no bus has arrived.

We don’t know whether we will reach to our native place today.”

Photo by Vishant Vaze

Shiroda MLA Mahadev Naik was seen at the old bus stand Ponda along with BJP supporters.

“The Bandh is 100% percent successful. People have supported our call for a bandh and we are thankful to them. The Congress government has taken the common man for a ride and with 100 percent support to our bandh, it is clear that mandate is on our side,” he said.

“This is definitely not a common man’s government. Inflation has affected the aam admi.

The government should roll back price rise on petrol, diesel and the cooking gas,” he added.

Ponda Merchants Association President Sunil Dessai said they have supported the bandh as it

their duties, however in some offices the attendance was thin.

Some policemen were seen posted in Quepem town.

SATTARI

The Bandh at Valpoi evoked mixed response, as most shops in Valpoi market were closed, while only a few shops were seen open till 10 am on Monday.

H o w e v e r, t h e s i t u a t i o n changed thereafter and some more shops were seen open under the protection of police force, who was camping in the market area.

Private buses, rickshaws and pilot motorcycles remained off the road throughout the day, thereby causing inconvenience to the public.

Most aided high schools in Valpoi closed early. Although the banks in Valpoi remained open, the credit co-operative societies remained closed.

Sources from some of the offices in Valpoi informed that the staff attendance was low due to unavailability of adequate transport facility.

Honda Sattari junction and surrounding area wore a deserted look as almost all the shops in the area remained closed. However, most of the shops in Keri-Sattari were seen open, while the restaurants and hotels in most of the places in Sattari remained closed. Even the fish market at Valpoi remained closed.

When contacted, Valpoi PI Shivram Vaigankar informed that the bandh was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.

Later in the evening, exdeputy speaker and BJP leader Narhari Haldankar addressed the press conference and informed that the Bandh was a 90% success.

“People from Sattari gave an overwhelming support to the bandh, as all the common men are being affected due to rising inflation,” he claimed.

He further said no shopkeeper was forced by BJP workers to shut down, but the shopkeepers themselves supported for the bandh responding to the appeal of BJP north Goa MP Shripad Naik and other local leaders.

Haldankar claimed that out of about 150 shops in Valpoi, only about 20 shops remained open.

He thanked Valpoi people and shopkeepers for supporting the Bandh, thereby expressing resentment over rising inflation.

PERNEM

Margao wears a deserted look due to the nation-wide strike.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

poor attendance. Government Offices, banks and a pharmacy in the town area however remained open for the day, but with less clientele.

The Mamlatdar’s office in Sanguem which is otherwise found busy on any given working day wore a deserted look with hardly any people visiting the office for official work.

Buses plying from Sanguem towards various destinations were seen parked at Sanguem bus stand. A couple of extra Kadamba buses which plied along the Sanguem-Curchorem route also had any passengers, as most people preferred to remain indoors.

Speaking to Herald, Sanguem MLA Vassudev Meng Gaonkar thanked the business community and bus owners from the constituency for supporting the bandh and making it a total success in Sanguem.

Gaonkar claimed that due to escalating prices of essential commodities, it has become difficult for the common man to live in the country.

“The government has totally failed in putting a check over the rising prices all over the country, thus affecting the common man,” added Gaonkar.

PONDA

The Bandh was peaceful in Ponda taluka, barring a stone pelting incident, wherein a windscreen of the Ponda-Vasco bound KTC bus was damaged at Borim. Luckily, no one was injured and one Sandip Gaude was arrested in this connection.

In another incident, Marcaim Madkaim BJP Block President Prashant Naik was detained on charges of blocking the road at Farmagudi.

has adversely affected the economy.

“I am thankful to the Ponda Merchants for supporting the bandh call. We are against the government decision on the price hike as it has affected the common man,” said Dessai.

Shiva Sena has also supported the bandh call. North Goa Shiva Sena Chief Damu Naik said his party workers were already instructed not to indulge in lawbreaking activity.

“Shiv Sena has supported the bandh call as the price rise has affected the people. The government does not care for the aam admi or else they would have controlled the price rise.

However I have already instructed our North Goa party workers not to break law and observe bandh peacefully,” added Naik.

QUEPEM

The bandh was total in Quepem taluka, though no untoward incident took place.

Sources informed that the bandh was voluntary, but on Sunday BJP volunteers were seen moving in Quepem Bazaar distributing pamphlets and requesting the shopkeepers to observe bandh on Monday.

Except for three pharmacies in Quepem town, all the shops and establishments remained closed throughout the day. However, some shop owners opened their shops late in the evening.

Private schools in Quepem declared a holiday due to poor attendance. All the government institutions like mamlatdar, Deputy Collector, BDO, council, other departments and banks functioned as usual. In most of the offices, most staff attended

The Bandh evoked good response in Pernem taluka, as all the shops and establishments remained closed.

No untoward incident was reported. Pernem police said the bandh was peaceful and had deployed police personnel in sensitive areas.

In the morning, a large number of commuters were seen at Pernem bus stand and most of them had to return back to their residences, as few KTC buses were seen plying.

Most of the industrial units and schools in Pernem remained closed, while one-third of the government staff reported for duty.

Many schools were open, but had to close down early for the day due to poor attendance.

TISWADI

The area around Old Goa evoked huge response for the Bandh. Over 35 police personnel, including police officials from Old Goa police station, were deployed at various places in and around Old Goa to avoid any untoward incident.

Shops and other establishments in Old Goa remained closed for the day, while the locals who are doing their vegetables business near the Old Goa Circle also joined the bandh.

Early morning, locals from Corlim and Old Goa, who were waiting for bus transport to proceed towards Panjim to their offices were forced to go back home after private buses went off the road and KTC buses were seen plying at odd hours during the day.

Some BJP workers were seen moving in and around industrial area in Corlim, asking the company officials to close their business and support the Bandh, which some companies agreed to.

[W ith inputs from Kathy Pereira, Suresh Naik, Thomas Fernandes, Anil Shankhwalker, Vishant Vaze, Alfred Fernandes, Amresh Parab, John Fernandes, Ashraf Khan, Taurappa Lamani, Arun Naik and Kanzil Rodrigues]

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GOA, TUESDAY, 6 JULY, 2010

Bandh leaves Margao deserted HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

Trade and commerce came to a complete halt in the commercial capital on Monday in support of the Bharat bandh, even as the police arrested two persons for stoning a Curchorem-bound KTC bus at Sao Jose de Areal village this evening.

Margao’s major markets – the New Market and the Gandhi market – wore a deserted look as the shops and business establishments down shutters voluntarily today. The hustle and bustle at the KTC bus stand and the old bus stand in front of the Margao police head quarters went missing. There was not much activity in SGPDA’s mega market, including the fish market.

Though a fleet of KTC buses were found stationed at the KTC stand, private buses were completely stayed off the road in support of the bandh call.

Educational institutions in the city reported thin attendance in the morning, prompting many a management to shut the institutions for the day.

Lucky escape for four as two cars collide at Corlim

Government offices in the city also reported poor attendance, thus affecting official work throughout Monday.

Led by MLA Damu Naik and Rupesh Mahatme, the BJP took out mrocha in the city in the morning to enforce the bandh.

The police had to intervene near the Margao Residence as the activists attempted to close down the establishments in and around the place.

DySP Umesh Gaonkar and other police officials intervened to bring the situation. The morcha later wend its way through the city in both Margao and Fatorda.

Meanwhile, the police took into custody two youths from the Housing Board area for stoning a Curchorem-bound KTC bus. The police said the duo Anand Damodar Naik (16) and Pritesh Bikaji Godkar (21) were arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, the President of the Margao unit of the BJP, Chandan Nayak has thanked the people of Margao, besides the owners of shops and business establishments for voluntarily

closing their establishments in support of the bandh call.

The Margao police made elaborate arrangements across the city as a precautionary measure.

Pickets were set up at the New Market and the Gandhi market and at the KTC and old bus stand to keep the miscreants at bay.

Meanwhile, Fatorda MLA and BJP spokesman Damu Naik has congratulated the people for the total bandh in Margao and Fatorda and warned that the Governments both at the Centre and in Goa to read the writing on the wall of the people’s discontent with their policies.

He thanked the merchants of the New Market for voluntarily keeping their shutters down and also all the vendors and hawkers in the different markets of Margao including the SGPDA market at Old Market. He also thanked the private bus operators for staying off the roads. “I would like to thank everybody and specially the fish vendors who closed shop today in response to the call for a bandh given by

us,” he said adding that the people of Goa should also be complimented for bearing up with the inconvenience for one day. “The very fact that vendors, hawkers and the trading class voluntarily kept their shutters down and that people did not protest or object to the bandh proves that the aam admi is totally discontented with the Congress policies and realising that the Congress is only paying lip service to their causes,” he said.

Naik announced that if the ‘unjust’ hike in petroleum prices is not rolled back immediately, his party would intensify its agitation and added that going by the response the bandh evoked today, the masses would willingly support them.

Meanwhile, former MMC Chairperson Johnson Fernandes said the people has fully supported the bandh because the government has failed to protect the interest of the common man.

“This is not the Aam Aadmi sarkar. The prices of petroleum products have been hike, thus depriving the daily bread of the common man”, he added.

‘Support for Valanka swelling’

Vishwajeet launches poll campaign HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JULY 5

Vishwajeet Rane has begun his election campaign to the byeelections in Valpoi constituency since Wednesday.

He performed the pooja at Karanzol Kumtal temple in Sanvordem Panchayat and conducted a corner meeting and briefed voters about development works he did in last three years and appealed to them to re-elect him in this bye-election.

The delegation from Colva which called on PWD Minister Churchill Alemao to pledge support for Valanka’s candidature.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao on Monday claimed that support for his daughter Valanka – who has decided to contest the next Assembly polls from Benaulim - is swelling day by day in the constituency.

Alemao told newsmen on Monday evening that her daughter’s candidature has evoked good response from Colva village, which had in the past given mixed response to him. ”During my election, I might have received mixed support from Colva village, but Valanka will get support from the villagers. Those who were not with me during my elections have pledged support for Valanka’s candidature,” Alemao added.

The PWD Minister reiterated his decision to open the Benaulim office on August 15 at

The Gogol flat which was engulfed in a major fire on Monday evening. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

A major fire completely gutted a residential flat on the third floor of a ground-plus three storey building Kalika Square at Gogol here on late Monday evening.

Property worth around Rs 56 lakhs is believed to have been destroyed in the fire.

Fire personnel rushed to Gogol at around 8.20 pm after

11 am.

Valanka said she failed to understand how Dr Hubert Gomes can expect her support to his candidature when she would be in the fray in Benaulim. “I will contest 200 per cent in Benaulim. When I am contesting the polls, how can I support Dr Hubert,” she said.

She said so many people, who had in the past not supported my Father, are now supporting her candidature.

W h e n a s ke d h o w m a n y sarpanchas and Pacnhas are supporting Valanka’s candidature in Benaulim, the PWD Minister recalled that not many Sarpanchas or Panchas were with him when he threw his hat in the ring in Navelim constituency.

Replying to a question, Valanka said she is quite positive in getting the Congress ticket and exuded confidence that the

receiving a call and were engaged in the fire fighting operations till 9.45 pm.

Sources in the know said that around six tenders were pressed into service in the fire fighting operations. It took more than an hour to bring the fire under control.

The inmates were out of the house when the fire broke out in the flat. Household items in the living room and bedroom were destroyed in the fire. A

dog which was holed up inside the flat was later rescued by the fire fighters.

Fire men managed to remove the LGP gas cylinder from the house before any tragedy could occur. The fire men broke open the main door to gain entry into the flat to bring the fire under control Fire Officer Gil De Souza informed that the flat owner Lovina S Nair has informed that cash of Rs 12,000, gold ornaments, a laptop, TV, three cupboards containing costumes, besides other household items were gutted in the fire.

He said that fire might have occurred due to a suspected short circuit, adding that investigation is on to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.

Fatorda MLA Damu Naik visited the spot and took stock of the situation. When it was pointed out to him that the fire men lack basic facilities, Naik assured to take up the matter in the coming Assembly session and ensure that adequate provision is made by the government for the fire fighting operations.

Police remand Staff shortage hits Sattari civil supply office for four women HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JULY 5

The Sattari Civil Supply office has been hard hit by shortage of administrative staff, which causes inconvenience to the public.

The office has been functioning with only two staff members, one civil supply inspector and another LDC. The workload is increasing day-by-day, but the ill-equipped

A driver from Ponda died, while two other persons were injured when a car and a bus collided with each other at Sawantwadi on Sunday evening.

According to reports, the incident occurred when deceased Mohanlal Yadav along with Deelip Naik and Babu Rama Naik, who were proceeding in their Indica car (GA-01-B-1584) from Ambolim towards Sawantwadi, collided against a speeding mini bus, which was proceeding from Swaantwadi towards Belgaum.

MohanlalYadav died on the spot, while the other two occupants in the car, Deelip Naik and Babu Naik were injured in the accident. They were rushed to a hospital in Sawantwadi, from where they were referred to GMC Hospital in Bambolim.

The bus driver fled from the site. Sawantwadi police have registered a case against the bus driver and are investigating the case.

Pernem local gets bail The Children’s Court granted bail to Sunny Tirodkar, who was arrested by Pernem police in connection with the suicide case of Sarika Fadtare of New Waddo, Pernem.

Gogol flat gutted in major fire

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 5

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, JULY 5

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, JULY 5

HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JULY 5

Four members of a family had a lucky escape when two cars collided with each other along the highway near the Konkan Railway Bridge at Mallar-Corlim.

According to Old Goa Police, four members of a family were on their way from Banastarim to Mapusa in a car, driven by Viraj Vinayak Naik, while the oncoming car was driven by Mahesh Naik of Shiroda.

According to police officials, Mahesh was overtaking another vehicle and was speeding at the time of the mishap.

The Old Goa Police registered the case under the Motor Vehicles Act and further investigation is in progress.

Ponda car driver killed in accident

civil supply office is unable to meets the needs of the people and many a times people are turned back without their work done.

Sources in the office informed that a lot of work is pending, including RTI applications and the staff is helpless to complete the work on time unless two more clerks as per requirements are appointed to make the office function smoothly.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, JULY 5

Pernem Judicial Magistrate First Class Cholu Gawas remanded four Lamani women to seven days in police custody.

According to reports, Pernem police had arrested rag pickers Charu Ramesh Lamani, Gita Rahul Lamani, Laxmi Krishna Lamani and Sunita Rahul Lamani on charges of stealing 10 kgs copper samai and other utensils, all worth Rs 9,000.

Congress president will not say no to a women intending to contest the polls. “Let us cross the bridge when it comes”, she said, when newsmen asked whether she would contest the polls if the Congress denies the ticket.

The PWD Minister said that South Goa Zilla Chairperson Maria Rebello will support Valanka in the next Assembly polls. “I have brought Maria into politics. Her husband has been with me for a long time”, he added.

Govt vows action against bus operators for joining strike HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 5

Transport Department said that it will conduct case-to-case study on the private buses, which remained off the roads today, before initiating action against them.

In spite the State government’s decision to hike bus ticket fares by ten paisa per kilometre, the State private buses preferred to continue their daylong bus strike on Monday. The bus operators had expressed unhappiness over the quantum of ticket hike.

“We will initiate the action only after going through the circumstances that made private operators to remain off the

roads,” Transport Director Arun Desai said.

He said that the department will conduct case-to-case study.

“We need to hear from each operator the reason for going on strike,” Desai said.

Desai said that the action could be either in form of suspension of temporary or permanent permits or imposition of fines.

“The action will be taken tomorrow. The report is under progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, the private operators who met today in Panjim decided that even if a single permit is cancelled, then the entire private bus transport will come to standstill.

Transport Minister Ramakrishna Dhavlikar had warned of cancellation of temporary bus permits, if the vehicles remained off road.

“He said that our strike is illegal and had warned suspension of bus permits. But if he does so then he will be responsible for further consequences.

Not a single bus will run in the State,” North Goa Private Bus Owners Association, President Sudesh Calangutkar said.

He even said that they would protest at respective RTO offices.

Calangutkar pointed out that most of the buses that run on Margao-Vasco route are have only temporary permits.

Canacona youth hangs to death HERALD CORRESPONENT CANACONA, JULY 5

A youth from GaondongrimCanacona committed suicide by hanging himself to a cashew tree in the cashew plantations nearby his residence at Satorlim.

According to Canacona police, Suhas Gaonkar (22) was reported missing from his house since Saturday and his whereabouts were unknown till the family on Monday found a suicide note left by him in the house.

It was then that family members and some neighbours conducted a frantic search, only to find his body hanging at a neigh-

bouring cashew plantation in Satorlim.

The boy, who completed his graduation during the last academic year, had reportedly got admission to complete a DEd

course and was ambitious to become a teacher.

Police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem on Monday evening, informed Canacona police.

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S H O RT TA K E S Calangute ASI retires

Govt has aided development of art, culture in State: CM HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 5

Calangute PI Nolasco Raposo presents a token of appreciation to ASI G B Thapa on his retirement.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

CALANGUTE(HC): Assistant Sub-Inspector (Wireless) G B Thapa, attached to Calangute Police station, retired from the services of Goa Police recently.

Thapa, who served for 16 glorious years for Goa Police while doing 26 years of duty for Indian military, was given a warm send-off by the officers and staff at Calangute police station.

Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo congratulated Thapa for his meritorious and sincere services to the police department and wished him well in his retired life.

Later, PI Raposo presented a small token of appreciation to Thapa. Others present included PSI Gaurish Parab, PSI Harish Gauns, PSI Mahesh Kerkar among other staff.

Extension centre opened

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Thursday stated that the State government has made revolutionary progress for the development of art and culture in the State.

Kamat was addressing the gathering during the inauguration of newly formed music academy ‘Shadj Gandhaar Music Academy’ (Sgma) by Manda and Narayan Bandekar Charitable Trust at Essen Arcade, 5th Floor, behind Government High School, Mangor Hill, Vasco.

Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza, Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho, Mormugao MLA Milind Naik, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairman Shekhar K h a d a p k a r, Pa d m a s h r e e Prashad Savukar, Councilors Nitin Chopdekar, Manesh Arolkar and Kritesh Gaonkar, philanthropist and industrialist Nana Bandekar, Manda Bandekar and others were present on the occasion.

Kamat said revolutionary progress for development of art and culture is evident in the State cultural policy. “The government has implemented it efficiently, while every prominent town in the State has state-of-

Cheques given under Indira Awas Yojana at Mollem HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, JULY 5

Sister Rena, Missionaries of Charity cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the extension centre of Agnel Polytechnic,Verna.

PANJIM(HND): Agnel Polytechnic,Verna, inaugurated its first extension centre at Fatorpa, under the Govt of India’s Scheme of Community Development through Polytechnics, at the hands of Sister Rena, Missionaries of Charity, in the presence of the villagers.

In their respective speeches, Fr Simon Rodriguez, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church and Kamat Rebello, Sarpanch of Fatorpa appealed to the audience to take full advantage of the scheme for the betterment of community of Fatorpa. Subhash Lotliker, Principal, Agnel Polytechnic gave an introduction to the activities of the scheme while Seneva Oliveira, junior consultant welcomed the gathering and gave a presentation on the achievements at other village extension centers where such activities were conducted by the Polytechnic.

Freddy Dias, internal coordinator proposed the vote of thanks The inaugural function was followed by a demonstration

by Pooja Dabhale of Goa Energy Development Agency on various solar appliances useful for saving natural resources and reduction in electricity bill.

Under this Scheme Agnel Polytechnic conducts a variety of skill development programmes such as electrician, flower making, screen printing, etc at the Polytechnic and at extension centers which are free of cost. Shortly, extension centers will be set up at Raia, Sao Jose de Areal, Loliem and Agonda, says a press release.

A cheque distribution function of Indira Awas Yojana was recently organized at Mollem panchayat hall.

On the occasion, 33 cheques of Rs 30,000 each were distributed to Indira Awas Yogana beneficiaries from Mollem, Collem, Sancorda and Kirlapal-Dabal panchayat areas.

Dharbandoda ZP member Rashmi Lambor, RDA Assistant Programme Officer Reema Marathe, Gram Sevika Nirmala Marathe, Sanguem BDO Anuja Faldesai, Sancorda Sarpanch Yogita Naik and others were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Lambor appealed to the people to avail benefits of various schemes launched by the department.

In her speech, Reema Marathe explained various schemes like Suvarn Jayanti Gram Rojzar Yogana, Self Employment Scheme Yogana, Indira Awas Yogana, National Family Benefit Scheme, Indira Gandhi Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi Disable Scheme.

‘Creators’ to organise courses in Margao HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JULY 5

Chameleons seen mating on the road at Sancoale.

Photo by Joywin Fernandes

Uday is chief of Valpoi panel

Uday Raikar and Mhalu Gawas.

VALPOI(HC): Uday Raikar was elected president of Valpoi Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Mandal for 2010-11.

Other office bearers elected are Mhalu Gawas (secretary), Sainath Shirodkar (vice President), Rudresh Manerkar (joint secretary), Vasudev Narvekar (treasurer), Sunil Katkar (joint treasurer) and Nitin Pokle (member).

The meeting also decided to publish a souvenir and appointed Mhalu Gawas as in-charge of the souvenir committee.

The other sub committees have also been formed during the meeting held at Valpoi recently.

Creators, a group of professionals, will conduct various courses at BPS Club Margao in the evenings from July 13 to April 2011.

The courses include disciplines such as Personality development (Kids/Adults), keyboards, guitar, violin, drums, skating, Indian classical dance, Hip Hop Dance, learn to speak English, art and painting.

In the musical instruments category, prominent musicians from Goa will train students to answer the Trinity College exams at the end of the course apart from the practicals.

The proper techniques of drawing and painting will be imparted to the students by a qualified professional artist.

Goa’s champion skater, who is also the member for the Indian team, will train the kids in skating. An African dance trainer will train students in Hip Hop dance, while personality development classes will have a visiting faculty comprising doctors, HR professionals, personality development trainers, Soft Skill trainers, Managers and teachers. IELTS qualified English trainers will teach Spoken English for Foreigners and to those aspiring for jobs abroad and also to those seeking higher positions in the country.

Admissions are open to children and adults at the BPS club premises from 10 am to 6 am from July 5. Further details are available on Ph: 9822388812 / 9890013097.

n Goans are born artistes and they need the infrastructure to showcase their talent and the State government has delivered its best to ensure that they get government support. the-art Ravindra Bhavan for the artistes,” he added.

“Goans are born artistes and they need the infrastructure to showcase their talent and the State government has delivered its best to ensure that they get government support,” claimed the chief minister.

He further said the State government has made a provision for financial assistance scheme for elderly artistes, who have contributed for art and culture.

Kamat appreciated the efforts of Manda and Narayan Bandekar Charitable Trust for creating an infrastructure to promote classical music in Vasco.

“With corporate houses taking such an initiative, it will certainly reduce the pressure of the government, as people often have high expectation from the government. But due to other compulsion, some governments fail to delver its best in all aspects,” said Kamat.

Earlier, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza expressed gratitude and congratulated the Bandekar Trust for opening music academy and urged them to contribute for the development of Vasco city.

Deputy Speaker and Cortalim ML A Mauvin Godinho also thanked the Bandekar Trust for showing generosity towards promotion of classical music in Vasco.

“Though there are many highprofile businessmen in Goa, but very few have taken the initiative to contribute for the social welfare,” said Godinho.

Mormugao MLA Milind Naik too expressed similar views and congratulated the Bandekar Trust for providing music academy for the people of Vasco.

Padmashree Prashad Saukar also spoke on the occasion.

Manda Bandekar welcomed the guests, while Nitin Bandekar compered the function.

Tourism minister feted HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

Minister for Tourism Nilkant Halarnkar was felicitated at the special function organized to promote love toward the environment by Tivim Parish Council members at the St Christopher Church Hall, recently.

On the occasion tourism minister said that the government was working for the betterment of common man and has launched various schemes for their welfare. He appealed to people to avail the schemes. He also assured to provide basic amenities. He appealed to the poor to avail financial assistance scheme to repair their houses.

Highlighting the role of students, Halarnkar said children should actively participate in extracurricular activities to expand their knowledge. He said children are wealth and future of the nation.

Halankar thanked the villagers for felicitating him and appealed for support in carrying out developmental works in the constituency.

Earlier, Fr Mateus Rodgrigues welcomed. Adrian D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks.

Later, Halarnkar distributed the coconut and mango saplings to children.

Govt allocates Rs 1.5 cr for taxi scheme HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

Minister for Social Welfare Sudin Dhawalikar has said that an amount of Rs 1.5 crore has been earmarked for ‘Motorcycle/Taxi Maintenance Scheme’ during the current year. The amount will be disbursed to about 3000 beneficiaries.

He said the unique scheme is first of its kind in Goa to provide financial assistance of Rs 5000 for vehicle maintenance to those completing three consecutive years in profession.

Dhawalikar was speaking as the chief guest after disbursing cheques of financial assistance amounting to Rs 3.75 lakh under Motorcycle/Taxi Maintenance Scheme to 75 beneficiaries from Ponda taluka at a function held at Kavale Panchayat, Ponda on Saturday.

He said efforts would be made to enhance the budgeta r y p ro v i s i o n u n d e r t h i s Scheme and also to hike income limit to enable more peo-

n Efforts would be made to enhance the budgetary provision under this Scheme and also to hike income limit to enable more people avail the benefit of this unique scheme of the State Government. ple avail the benefit of this unique scheme of the State Government.

Dhawalikar further said the Government will soon introduce a new scheme called “Home Nursing’ for those who are non matric and the same will be implemented through the Social Welfare Department. The course fees

Pale MLA visits inmates of damaged houses at Bicholim

Pale MLA Pratap Gawas visit the damage house of Parwar family at Amona-Bicholim.

Photo by Vishant Vaze HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JULY 5

Pale MLA Pratap Gawas visited the damaged houses of Deepesh Parwar and Tukaram Parwar at Ambedkarwada-Amona, Bicholim.

It may be recalled that the houses of Deepesh and Tukaram were damaged after a tree came crashing down on them recently. Both the house owners have suffered a loss of about Rs 1 lakh, in which household items, clothes, etc, were destroyed.

MLA Gawas assured maximum help from the Disaster

Management Relief Fund to both the families. Gawas will also meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for providing financial help. However, the MLA provided personal financial help to both the families.

Meanwhile, due to heavy rain in Bicholim taluka on Thursday evening, reports of uprooting of trees were reported in Mayem, Latambarcem, Sal, Advalpal and Mulgao.

“The Disaster Management Team is looking after the situation and every thing is under control,” said Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat.

Konkani musical show

PANJIM(HC): A Konkani musical show on national integration ‘Bharat Amcho Des’ will be organized by Socorro de Santa Cruz, a well known Konkani stage artist in collaboration with Tiatr Academy of Goa, on July 8 at GVN hall, Margao at 3.30 pm and on July 27 at Kala Academy hall, Panjim at 7 pm.

The cast includes Anthony San, Clarissa, Aniceto Bab, Andrew, Albert, Andrea, Sheikh Amir, Priyanka, Jose de Agacaim, Cyril Almeida, John Fenandes, Francis de Mungul, Cosma Fernandes, Jasmine, Sonia and Socorro de Santa Cruz.

The music is arranged by Luiz Cota(saxophone), Norbert Cota(trumpet), Norman Cardozo(keyboard), Benny(bass guitar) and Xavier de Moira(drums) and sound and light effects by Praveen.

of Rs. 3500/- and the travelling allowances will be borne by the State Government, he added.

He urged the motorcycle taxi and rickshaw drivers associations to form societies in order to avail the benefits of the Government schemes, which include the risk coverage, medical insurance, pension etc.

Suresh Thakur, President Motorcycle Taxi Riders Association, who also spoke lauded the efforts taken by Dhawalikar to help the needy and poor.

Damodar Naik, Sarpanch, Village Panchayat Bandora, Smt. Poornima Naik, ZP Bandora, Nalini Korde, Retired teacher, Suvidha Palekar were present on the occasion.

Earlier Usha Naik, Sarpanch Kavale welcomed while Rajesh Kawlekar, Panchayat member compared the function and later proposed the vote of thanks.

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‘Gaps in accountability in flagship schemes a concern’ PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today said there were "serious gaps" in accountability framework for government's flagship programmes implemented through private agencies, which was a major concern of the new Audit Bill proposed by Comptroller and Auditor General.

Inaugurating a national seminar on 'Legislature-Audit Interface', Kumar said transparency and accountability were the driving forces of good governance.

"There are serious gaps in the accountability framework of these implementing agencies and the CAG's present mandate for audit of these agencies is also limited," she said here.

"One of the major concern of the (Audit) bill is about the instrumentalities through which expenditure is being increasingly channelled by government," she said.

Kumar noted that public spending on flagship pro grammes for improving health care, universal elementary education, sanitation and employment had increased by leaps and bounds.

"Most of these programmes are being implemented by panchayats and municipal bodies

or under the society mode by direct transfer of funds from central ministries to registered government societies at state, district, block and panchayat levels," she said.

Referring to the public-private partnership (PPP) model used more intensively by central and state government to help meet gaps in provision of basic services in infrastructure sector, she said it was essential for the government to ensure that services being delivered through such arrangements to the users met the agreed time, cost and quality standards. "Apart from ensuring transparency and competitiveness in the process of award of contracts, it is equally important to protect the public exchequer

from unintended misuse of claims from concessionaires," she said, recommending that such programmes should receive adequate attention of oversight bodies like CAG, Committee on Public Undertakings (CPU) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This, she said, would protect the user interest and the need to secure value for public money.

Noting that audit was frequently faced with situations where auditees did not comply with CAG's request for records and information, Kumar said it not only delayed the audit rocess, but also seriously impacted the quality of audit examination and thwarted possible disclosure of serious irregularities, frauds and embezzlements.

Referring to the functioning of the PAC and CPU, the Speaker said it was not just self-assessment, but also public perceptions about effectiveness that needed to be taken into account by these committees.

"Effective parliamentary oversight is the cornerstone of good governance. Prompt response of the executive in taking corrective measures on the objections raised by CAG in inspection reports...is crucial," she added.

Ishrat was LeT suicide bomber, Headley told NIA PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

Bearing out the version of Gujarat Police, American-born Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley has claimed before NIA sleuths that Ishrat Jahan, a Mumbai girl killed in a police encounter in Ahmedabad, was a suicide bomber of the outfit.

Official sources said that Headley shared this information with the four-member team comprising officials from National Investigation Agency and Law Department during their visit to Chicago in the US. The girl, whose death had sparked a major controversy, was alleged to be a member of Lashker's suicide squad who had been inducted by top LeT operative Muzamil.

Headley's information corroborates the stand of Gujarat Police and the Centre. The encounter had run into controversy after Jahan's family claimed that she was just a student and filed an appeal in the court. Gujarat Police had claimed that the terrorists were in the state to attack Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources said Headley's reconnaissance missions for Lashkar in India started in 2006.

Jahan was killed along with Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai and two Pakistani nationals -Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar Abdul Ghani -- on June 15, 2004.

Curfew reimposed in parts of Kashmir PTI SRINAGAR, JULY 5

Ahead of the march by separatists to curfew-bound Anantnag in south Kashmir, authorities today reimposed curfew in Pulwama and Kakpora towns, parts of Srinagar and Baramulla districts.

The step to clamp curfew again was taken to avoid any untoward incident, police said.

Police vehicles fitted with public address system went around old city areas and Batmaloo in central Srinagar to announce imposition of curfew.

Hurriyat Conference headed by jailed leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had given the "Anantnag chalo" call to protest civilian killings and to express solidarity with the families of three youths killed in alleged firing by security forces.

Curfew, which was imposed in Sopore on June 25 and subsequently in rest of the valley including Srina- Deserted street of Rainawari Chowk in Srinagar as authorities reimposed curfew restrictions in most gar was lifted yesterday. However, parts of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar on Monday. it continued in Anantnag where violence erupted again yesterday.

"No one will be allowed to disturb law and order situation", a senior police officer told PTI. Security restrictions would continue especially during the day when the separatists have decided to organize protest programme and march, the police said.

Police and paramilitary contingents are patrolling the deserted streets and have blocked roads with razor wire and armoured vehicles at Lal chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Sonawar, Nowgam and Panthachowk in the city to prevent people from assembling or proceedings towards Anantnag.

Police are looking for separatist leaders spearheading the protests in various parts of the valley, official sources said.

Geelani and his top aides including Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ayaz Akbar have already been booked under the Public Safety Act. Normal life was disrupted in many parts of the valley due to security restrictions. Government offices, educational institutions, banks, semi-government offices, shops and business markets were closed and transport, both public and private, was off the road in the city.

India set to roll out LCA today PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

India is all set to roll out its indigenous naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bangalore tomorrow, which will be witnessed by Defence Minister A K Antony.

"The first indigenous naval Light Combat Aircraft – the LCA (Navy) NP1 -- is scheduled to roll out from HAL Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) hangar on July 6," a Defence Minister official said here today.

An important milestone for the naval programme of Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the aircraft would be brought out of the hanger where it was as-

sembled part-by-part during the roll-out.

Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma will be the chief guest at the event. The aircraft is being readied for induction into the Navy and for deployment on board the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), currently under construction at the Cochin Shipyard, by 2015.

Following the roll-out, the Naval LCA, with state-of-the-art technologies and punch, will be ready for the phase of systems integration tests leading to ground runs, taxi trials and flight trials.

Once the ground based tests are completed , the 'NP1' is expected to fly by the end of this year and the NP2 is likely to fly by the end of 2011.

The government had sanctioned the LCA (Navy) programme in 2003 and the first stage of development included design and fabrication of a trainer and a fighter -- NP1 and NP2 respectively -- along with a Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Goa naval air base, which has already come up.

The SBTF is being used to simulate carrier take off and arrested landing and as a training facility for future pilots of the naval LCA. It is also being used for train-

ing on the newly acquired MiG29K fighter jets, bought from Russia to be operated on the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, which is under a repair and refit programme in a Russian shipyard.

The LCA (Navy) NP1 would be flying with the GE-F-404-IN20 engine and is designed for Skijump Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) operations.

The only carrier-borne aircraft in the light category in the world, Naval LCA will be operating with a wide variety of operational weapons and equipment like the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, antiship missiles, conventional bombs, air defence guns, counter-counter measures and drop tanks.

The ADA is responsible for design, development, ground test and flight test of both the Naval and Air Force versions of the LCA. HAL is the principal partner of ADA in this task.

The Indian Navy, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), all have played an important supporting role in the development of the Naval LCA right from its inception, the officials said.

Will not allow Taliban-type attacks: LDF PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 5

Devotees offering special prayers on the occasion of Guru Hargobind anniversary at Gurdwara at Chatipadshahi in Srinagar on Monday.

Fernandes to remain with wife, brothers can visit: HC PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

Ailing former union minister George Fernandes will continue to stay with his wife Leila Kabir for the time being with the Delhi High Court today finding his response incoherent on the issue of his custody.

The court refused to interfere with the present arrangement after an hour-long chamber proceeding during which Justice V K Shali tried to elicit response from the 80-year old leader to ascertain with whom he would like to stay.

The court, however, could not come to any conclusion because the leader, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, could not respond to the questions put by the judge.

"Fernandes is not able to articulate in coherent and consistent manner his views.

He does speak few words which are inaudible. He could not speak a complete sentence and his speech was more in the nature of murmur from which no inference could be drawn as to what he wanted," Justice V K Shali said after interacting with the leader one-on-one for about 15 minutes.

"The court is of firm opinion that so far as Fernandes is concerned on account of his ailment he is not able to articulate and express his views which may help the court in deciding the application with regard to the case," the court said.

The court, which allowed his brothers and wife who are fighting legal battle for his custody, to meet him separately, came to the conclusion that the Rajya Sabha MP has no problem with any of them.

"From the aforesaid interaction Fernandes individually as well as the interaction of the parties, I am of the prima facie view at this stage no further orders are warranted and the existing arrangement will continue till the time all the pending applications are heard and decided," the court said.

The judge said Fernandes' interaction with the his wife shows that he does not nurture any kind of discomfort while being with her.

The judge, after consulting his wife Leila Kabir and three brothers of Fernandes in his chamber for an hour, said that the case will be taken up for further hearing on July 19.

Wearing a green Kurta and white pyjama with a saffron scarf, the leader reached the court premises at around 14:35 hours and left at 15:50 hours. Once a fire-brand trade union leader and a rabble rouser, Fernandes was a pale shadow of himself when he was brought to the court room as he appeared lost and was unable to speak or recognise his kin and friends.

He was brought to the court room in a wheelchair by his wife. The frail leader, showing no emotions, was unable to recognise his supporters who surrounded him as soon as security guards lifted him from the car to the wheelchair.

As soon as the court proceedings begin, the lawyer, appearing for the brothers, pleaded that it should be conducted in chamber, which was supported by the wife's counsel.

The judge then agreed to hear the case in-chamber and called Fernandes, his warring kin along with their lawyers to his chamber.

Justice Shali then asked all the relatives and lawyers to leave his chamber in order to have hold a one-on-one talk with the leader to know his views.

No war on judiciary, says CPI-M PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 5

The CPI-M in Kerala today alleged a section of media and certain 'vested interests' were trying to create a false impression that it had declared a war on judiciary by highlighting the party's critical views on the Kerala High Court order banning road-side public meetings.

The party, however, defended its stand on the issue maintaining that roadside meetings had been an important democratic means to educate people on vital issues, especially in India where large sections are still illiterate.

"Similarly, protest marches and public meetings are methods for people to give vent to their strong feelings and sentiments in a democratic manner," CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement.

Accused in drug peddling let off after 17-yrs for no evidence PTI MUMBAI, JULY 5

Seventeen years after being granted bail in a drug peddling case, Maliram Saharsar (38) was last week summoned by a special NDPS court and sent to jail only to be later discharged from the case.

Saharsar's case is one of the matters that came up for hearing during the 1992-93 Hindu-Muslim riots where the city was so tense that even judicial offices came to a standstill for over a month.

Saharsar, a labourer from Rajasthan, was arrested in 1992 in a drug peddling case but was released on bail in October 1992. When his case came up for hearing

post the Babri Masjid demolition, curfew was imposed in the city.

"His case came up for hearing again on January 12 but there was a second round of riots in the city.

Saharsar had come to court on both the dates but the courts were shut. The court documents marking his presence in court on the hearing dates were also misplaced," his lawyer Ayaz Khan said.

Now, after 17 years, a non-bailable warrant was issued against the accused after he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons sent to him.

"Soon after he received the warrant, he came to the court, which however arrested him and sent him to ju-

dicial custody," Khan said.

According to Khan, Saharsar was not aware of the summons sent to him by the court on previous occasions as they were sent to a wrong address.

Special NDPS Judge M V Kulkarni on Saturday, however, discharged Saharsar from the case after observing that there is no case made out against him.

The case dates back to October 1992, when Saharsar was arrested on the basis of a statement given by a coaccused Umed Khan Bhawar, who claimed that Saharsar had collected narcotic substances from him in Rajasthan and brought it to Mumbai. However the police had not seized any narcotics from Saharsar.

The Kerala government today said it would not allow Talibantype attacks, a day after a coll e g e l e c t u re r ' s p a l m w a s chopped off for allegedly preparing an inflammatory question paper that triggered protests from Muslims.

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asked all political parties to unite and isolate forces responsible for the "barbaric" attack on the lecturer at Moovattupuzha yesterday.

"All political parties should come together to isolate such forces," he said in reply to a submission by P J Joseph (KC-M) in the Assembly.

The minister said a sevenmember gang attacked T J Joseph, a Malayalam lecturer at Newman College in Thodupuzha and chopped off his right palm.

Balakrishnan said police are questioning the suspects and stringent action would be taken against the culprits.

He said the government would verify if there were lapses on the part of police in providing protection to Joseph, who was suspended from the college after the question paper row.

Inter vening, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy said the attack was part of a "conspiracy" to destroy the communal harmony in the state.

Court defers order on move to drop case against Quattrocchi PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

A Delhi court today deferred the pronouncement of its order on a plea by an advocate opposing CBI's move to withdraw the two-decade-old Bofors pay-off case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja posted the matter for further proceedings on August 7 in view of the case records lying with the Supreme Court.

Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, appearing for CBI, submitted before the court that the probe agency has filed an application in the apex court seeking its direction to send back the case records to the trial court.

The CBI application is likely to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court on July 13, he said.

Advocate Ajay Agrawal, who filed an application before the court opposing CBI's decision to withdraw the case against 70-year-old Quattrocchi, contended that the original records relating to the case were sent to the Supreme Court in a separate matter in which a few accused were discharged by the Delhi High court.

"The CBI is acting in collusion with the accused and was unnecessarily hurrying up to withdraw the case against Quattrocchi, even though the

matter with regard to other accused is already pending before the Supreme Court," he alleged.

After hearing the submissions of Agrawal and the CBI, the court adjourned the matter. The court had also on May 15, deferred its order.

"Apart from the fact that there is sufficient material and grounds against Quattrocchi for his prosecution, the conduct of the CBI and its counsel who happens to be top law officers of the countr y is highly deplorable and depicts an apparent and active collusion with the accused," Agrawal had alleged in his affidavit seeking rejection of CBI's plea.

He had claimed that CBI had not filed the appeal against the Delhi High Court judgement discharging some accused in the case.

Quattrocchi, the sole surviving accused in the case after the Delhi High Court quashed the charges on May 31, 2005, against other accused, has never appeared before any court in the country.

CBI had failed on two occasions in its attempt to get Quattrocchi extradited -first from Malaysia in 2003 and then from Argentina in 2007.

In November last year, the agency had asked the Interpol to take Quattrocchi's name off the Red Corner notice list.

OHERALDO

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OPINION

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O Vol No CX No: 172 Goa, Tuesday 6 July, 2010

Will the ‘bandh’ make a difference?

A

n unlikely ‘rainbow coalition’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Left parties, Regional outfits like the Telugu Desam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and some other non-Congress parties achieved a significant success in yesterday’s ‘Bharat Bandh’, called against rising prices. Expectedly, the bandh was total in all non-Congress ruled states except Punjab and Tamil Nadu. But it also made a significant impact in Congress-ruled states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Goa. The states where it had less impact were Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

The impact of the bandh was clearly visible. Hundreds of flights and trains were cancelled. In Kolkata, even the government-run Air India operated flights only till noon, shut down, and then resumed operations only after the bandh was called off at 6 pm. Taxis and autorickshaws were off the road in most states. In the national capital, even the hi-tech Delhi Metro services were affected. Over 80 flights to and from Mumbai were cancelled. In Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, even private vehicles stayed off the roads.

While it may have been called after the central government raised petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas prices on 25 June, the bandh got backing because ordinary people are angry with runaway food prices that have made it difficult for them to make ends meet. The ruling UPA government has been promising since it came to power for a second time last year, that prices will start to go down “after a few months”. The promises have proved false time and again; prices have steadily continued to climb. But even the most responsible leaders like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continue to say that inflation will “peak” and then start to move down, “soon”. So far, this formidable economist-statesman’s predictions have been proved wrong at least twice; why should people believe that his third prediction will be proved right?

The latest fuel price hike, which has set off this latest wave of protest, is likely to push up monthly price rise by an additional 1 per cent. Inflation according to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was at 10.16 per cent in May. In terms of the retail prices the common man pays, it translates to a 17 to 20 per cent rate of inflation in food and other essential commodities, a burden that has become nearly impossible to bear.

The irony of such protests is that the ultimately, it is the people themselves who pay the price; in loss of earnings – which affects mainly poor daily-wage workers – loss of business for closed establishments, and in the damage done to public property by bandh enforcers, like in Mumbai yesterday, where dozens of buses were burnt. It is not a system of protest that must be encouraged. But occasionally, just occasionally; it can send a strong message to an unfeeling government like no other.

A

Greatest race

mid the high-volume fanfare of the FIFA World Cup 2010 and the Wimbledon Tennis championship, a rather more low-key event has kicked off in Belgium. It is the ‘Tour de France’, the world’s greatest cycling race and most difficult endurance event on Earth. Over 21 days, the world’s top cyclists will ride a punishing 200 km a day, rain or shine, over the Pyrenees and the Alps, and across the picturesque French countryside.

Overcoming a series of high-profile doping scandals over the last few years, the Tour has re-established itself as one of the planet’s greatest sporting events. This year, seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is making a bid to win the race for a record eighth time. A live telecast is available each evening on Ten Sports.

‘Independent’ members of Congress family Vishwajeet, Valanka, Sameer and Jennifer are ready to ditch their party, says SANDESH PRABHUDESAI

H

ealth Minister Vishwajeet Rane’s joining the Congress has opened up Pandora’s Box. Or has it? Actually, there is nothing strange about it. As elections approach, such characters join the Congress. Then, if they are denied tickets, they catch hold of regional outfits like the United Goans Democratic Party (UGPD) or Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), or even so-called national parties like the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), get elected with a thumping majority and become coalition partners with ministerial berths, either with the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whichever forms the government.

Ideology simply does not matter; neither for so-called ‘ideological’ parties like the Congress and BJP, nor the ‘regional’ parties like the UGDP, MGP, etc. Or, they contest as Independents.

Vishwajeet was denied a ticket in the last Assembly election. The reason? A Congress principle; no two tickets in one family. Papa Rane (Speaker Pratapsingh Rane) was contesting from his traditional Poriem constituency. Vishwajeet was therefore denied a ticket from Valpoi.

It was no bother hoodwinking the High Command. A strange guy very few people had ever heard of was announced as the Congress candidate from Valpoi. At the very last minute, he officially withdrew his candidature and simply disappeared.

It was a cakewalk for Junior Rane, who handsomely defeated BJP candidate Puti Gaonkar. Now, this Puti is in the Vishwajeet camp and has joined the Congress like his ‘leader’.

And, for his upcoming by-election (he resigned his seat to join the Congress) the junior ‘Khashe’ has announced that he will do nothing – no posters, no banners, no moving from house to house… nothing. See the power of democracy (money-cracy?).

By now, the Yuvraj of Sattari has spread his tentacles like a giant amoeba. He got Pratap Gawas elected from Pale, after his MLA brother Gurudas expired. Besides Sattari, his vitamin M is making waves in the Bicholim taluka. In the Zilla Panchayat elections held recently, he posed a threat to Home Minister Ravi Naik in his Ponda constituency, by defeating Ravi’s candidates in places like Kurti-Khandepar. Political observers

CLEAR CUT tell me that he has started expanding his sphere of influence to the Pernem taluka, especially the Mandrem constituency.

When Vishwajeet has such widespread influence, is it at all possible for the Congress to stick to its great principle of no two tickets in one family? The first exception to the rule was Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The Ranes may be the second exception.

There are other ‘Gharanas’ too in Goan politics.

When Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao was elected on a Congress ticket from Cuncolim, his brother Churchill had defied the Congress High Command to contest from Navelim on the ‘Save Goa Front’ (SGF) ticket, to defeat his one-time mentor Luizinho Faleiro. Simultaneously, he got Alex Reginaldo Lourenco elected from Curtorim, defeating Congress veteran Francisco Sardinha; who was later rehabilitated as the South Goa MP. A year later, as usual, Churchill merged his antiCongress SGF into the Congress, and became the PWD minister. The strongman has gone to the extent of publicly saying that out of every 100 rupees he ‘gets’ from the government, he gives 90 rupees to the people. A public justification for a 10 per cent commission on every contract!

But, will the Congress will have the guts to deny tickets to both Alemao brothers – Churchill and Joaquim?

But even this generosity from the Congress will not satisfy him. He tried very hard to get the South Goa MP ticket for his lawyer-turnedpolitician daughter Valenka. Now, he has unilaterally announced that she will contest from Benaulim, on a Congress ticket!

Will the Congress now set a new precedent by giving three tickets in one family? The answer is, does it have any choice? If denied, the Alemao brothers will get Valanka a ticket from some regional party like the UGDP, or field her as an Independent. And, in the event that the alliance ticket for Benaulim goes to the NCP’s Mickky Pacheco, the Congress will probably get yet Valanka as another Independent MLA to support its coalition government (with a ministerial berth, of course).

That is not all. Mining magnate and Sanvordem Independent MLA Anil Salgaocar’s son Sameer Salgaocar has unilaterally announced that he will contest from Mandrem, on a Congress ticket of course. The statement was intended to put an end to rumours that the father would make way to field his son from Sanvordem. But the ‘dona-

tion-fame’ son has already ‘given’ himself a Congress ticket, without any reference to the hallowed ‘High Command’.

This case is unlike the other two. A so-called Congressman is claiming a party ticket for himself, when his father is an Independent MLA. The Congress has to give Sameer the ticket, if it wants the support of his Independent father.

There is yet another rumour. Education Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monseratte, who ditched the Congress at the very last minute to contest on a UGDP ticket in the last Assembly election and came back to the party recently, is – as a disciplined soldier of the Congress – now planning to field his wife Jennifer from Taleigao, while he will contest from Panjim. The BJP’s Leader of the Opposition, Manohar Parrikar, is to shift to Porvorim, a new constituency.

It could be true. Babush quit the Congress last time as his wife Jennifer was denied the Congress ticket from Santa Cruz. Both contested on UGDP tickets. Babush won, but Jennifer lost. She is now a Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member. Does the Congress have the guts to deny tickets to both? If not, both – or at least Jennifer – could be a UGDP candidate or an Independent.

Whether it’s Vishwajeet, Valanka, Sameer or Jennifer, they are all from the upcoming young brigade of the Congress, and are ever ready to sabotage their own party and contest as Independents. They are not at all dependent on the Congress. On the contrary, the Congress is dependent on them.

For all of them – the Ranes, the Alemaos, the Salgaocars and the Monserattes – the Congress is their family. If the family does not accept them, they are Independent enough to part ways, contest as an enemy, get elected, extend support to the coalition government, become ministers, and then once become ‘disciplined soldiers’ of this great, 125-year-old party.

And if the Congress doesn’t agree, the BJP – another great party with a difference – is ready to embrace these Independent Congress family members. It’s just a part of running the family business – Politics!

(This article first appeared on: www.goanews.com)

Monsoon Musings

The Accidental Activist

T

his is the season in which Goa comes into her own. Even an everyday morning walk becomes a thing of wonder. Trees are gleaming and growing and delightful – the eye can barely take in all that the rain bestows upon us.

The fields are a hundred shades of green, dazzling in the occasional sunshine. Speckled amidst the patchwork are the bright colours of the women planting. Paths are spattered red from the last of the gulmohur blossoms that the rain brought down.

White birds rise suddenly from the water-sodden fields. The dark grey sky provides the canvas against which a wet, satiated land gleams. Nights are no less stunning, bedecked with fireflies and loud with the songs of frogs. I never knew that frogs could whistle, coo, cluck; and produce an astonishing range of music to welcome the rain.

As the rain pours down, I have been taking a series of drives, just to see what the world looks like all washed and new and dazzling.

At Anjuna, the rain came pouring down as we indulged in a pizza. The road was ankle deep in water – and a large water tanker was busy filling drinking water into the pizzeria’s water tank. The wells in the area are polluted by septic tanks, so for all the water everywhere, there is not a drop to drink.

At Pernem, we drove parallel to the river. The road wound along the upper edge of the valley. Unwinding in front were rolling acres of green. Nestled between them was the river. Along the entire length of it were sand extractors busy at work, as boats came to shore laden heavy with sand. Up on the plateau the sand was piled high for trucks to carry away to hungry construction sites.

At Arambol, the sea was a raging grey fury. Where earlier there was nothing, were the sodden remnants of dozens of shacks; concrete poles still standing. Signs announced that food was ready – in Russian. Billboards announced exclusive villas for sale – in Cyrillic script.

Heading back home, we travelled through what used to be a tiny fishing village. Russian tourism has changed it. Ugly concrete buildings huddled on either side of the road. Garbage was strewn everywhere. And again, there were the ever-present signs in Russian announcing the availability of everything, from a hair cut to airline tickets.

Perhaps the South would be better, I thought. I had never seen Cabo de Rama, so a friend and I drove off one lazy afternoon. The drive to the fort wound above villages huddled into the side of hills, looking as if they came from five centuries ago. All was untouched and pristine. You could imagine that you were in the Goa

By Venita Coelho that every old person talks about with such nostalgia.

The fort itself was a revelation. The view from the ramparts was absolutely breath taking – angry sea pounding on ancient rocks.

But at its entrance we were greeted by graffiti that let us know the assorted travellers who had been here (and done that?). Not the work of locals, it was elaborately painted with spray cans in three different languages – including the ever-present Russian.

Driving back, we came onto the plateau and stared with shock at the raw red gashes in the ground, in stark contrast to the green everywhere else. Suddenly, mining trucks pushed us to the side of the road. The green vanished, as if it had been a mirage. All we saw was raw red earth, piled in huge mountains. It was like driving from a dream of Goa at its best into the harsh reality of what it really is.

The monsoon does a great cover up job. The garbage that litters the banks of our river is covered. The ugliness, the shoddiness – all of it gets a benediction of green. So we can take our monsoon walks revelling in the beauty that surrounds us.

One certainly doesn’t feel like being an activist in this season. I just want to take my walks, drink in the beauty, and believe that Goa will always be this beautiful. Unfortunately, reality is just a drive away.

Letters to the Editor Blowing cold Dr Francisco Colaço, Margao You will agree that ‘facts are sacred but comment is free’. But not to the extent that it allows your ‘Whistleblower’ (Herald Mirror, 4 July) to cleverly use a mix of in-between commas and phraseology to add grist to the mill. To say that the Catholic Church urges its flock to vote for corruption rather than communalism is just not true.

I also don’t agree with Whistleblower when (s)he says: “Unlike corruption, communalism can be stopped in a state with a hyperactive media and a wide-awake (sic) High Court”. Past experience fails to substantiate this. Communal forces are lying dormant and no power on earth will be able

100 Years Ago

to stop them when they strike at the first opportunity. We have been witnesses to this time and again, here and in other states.

I agree with Whistleblower when (s)he states that corruption seeps into the soul of a society and destroys everything like a cancer. But let’s not forget that the brand of radical communalism being propounded today poisons the very roots of the tree of our nation, pollutes its sap and yields bad fruits. Human memory is not so short as to forget the great communal atrocities committed in the recent past.

Let’s condemn corruption by all means.

But let’s not underestimate the danger of communal poison.

Sudden illness Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Any Indian who would like to revive his own spirit of consciousness cannot stop recognising that daily he is subjected to impudence, mockery, and affronts, due to his own traditions.

The rich, powerful and well connected can manipulate things to get themselves out of any awkward situation. Micky Pacheco managed to evade jail and stay in the comfort of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Margao Hospicio.

He was well all day, but suddenly when told to go to jail complained of hypertension.

He allegedly later tested positive for jaundice. Did this health condition merit a stay in the ICU? The authorities and the doctors in particular have a lot to answer for. Will the same concern be shown to all accused in custody?

Salaries unpaid

Indian Taliban?

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

6 July 1910 Casteism

The temporary employees of the Directorate of Survey have not been paid as yet since November last.

Prisoners freed At the Imperial Legislative Council, the Viceroy of British India announced that all the political prisoners who were deported are being set free for want of any legal process.

Felicitation The Hindus of Nova Goa are going to pay tributes to General Machado under the auspices of the ‘Goa Hindu Pustocalaia’ (Hindu library).

Michael Vaz, Merces It is shocking that a Christian lecturer was attacked with sharp weapons and his palm was severed right in front of his family by an extremist Muslim outfit in Kerala, allegedly because a question paper he had set contained allegedly derogatory remarks against the Prophet, which triggered protests. It may be noted that the lecturer not only suspended from his job but was arrested for this. He was on bail when the incident took place.

Even assuming the lecturer was at fault, the government had proceeded to take action against him according to the law. But who gave powers to these hardline elements to take the law in their hands and cause him such grievous hurt? Proper action should

Letter of the Day

Corruption by size?

Savio Correia, Vasco

With reference to the P K Pattidar bribery episode, I was rather amused to read the statement of Superintendent of Police for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Bosco George, that he did not arrest the accused officer because the bribe amount was “only” Rs15,000, and that he would have done so, had it been in lakhs.

Lord Coke said long ago: “Though the bribe may be small, yet the fault is great.”

The officer concerned is one of the seniormost in the Goa Civil Service. He was caught red-handed. There is suspicion that his assets are grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income. He is accused of fudging his birth records.

The complaint is that he demanded Rs2.30 lakh; the ACB claims to have recorded telephone conversations to this effect. His arrest and custodial interrogation should have been a natural corollary.

The so-called exercise of discretion by the ACB in the Pattidar matter is bound to set a bad precedent. It smells of a tacit ‘quid pro quo’ between the accused and his political bosses. One of the latter has already given him a clean chit, publicly describing him as a “good officer”.

The day after P K Pattidar was caught in Goa, one Ikhlaq Hussain Dev – a forest beat guard of Patnazi Forest, Jammu – was caught red handed by the J&K State Vigilance Organisation for accepting a bribe of Rs15,000. He was promptly arrested and remanded to police custody.

The Pattidar episode actually raises several questions on the functioning of the Goa Vigilance Department, which has a penchant for opacity. It thwarts any attempt by citizens demanding accountability and transparency in its functioning. I happen to be a victim who is being made to run from pillar to post to get information on its core functions under the RTI Act. be taken to nip such nefarious activities in the bud.

This is a democratic country, where the law takes its course. We do not want any Talibanisation of this land at any cost.

Discrimination Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata The editorial ‘Weak hearted?’ (Herald, 5 July) rightly points out that the wealthy and powerful, if at all nabbed by the administration and sentenced to police or judicial custody, suddenly develop chest pain or heart ailments and end up in posh hospitals or nursing homes instead. Even if such excuses fail and they indeed land up in prison, they get five-star facilities there.

In contrast, ‘have-not’ convicts and undertrials are denied basic human dignity and languish in overcrowded jails in the harshest of conditions. When will the antics

of convicts of privileged backgrounds be discouraged and they get treated at par with the rest?

Punish the doctors Shrikant Vinayak Barve, Taleigao What is this going on? Is there a separate law for the few? A minister or politician going underground to escape the law should directly be given life imprisonment. An inquiry should be initiated against all those who have helped former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco to remain underground.

Similar is the case of Police Hawaldar Parab, who remained underground for over two weeks in a drug dealing case, before he finally surrendered before the Sessions Judge. It’s very bad trend and has stained Goa’s image.

How is that politicians when arrested are send to the ICU by doctors? There should be strict action against such doctors.

When-vironmentalists P L Fernandes, Old Goa Just the other day, a known activist was seen and heard on cable television, justifying the discharge of human waste into the river Mandovi by casinos, saying it was only for a few hours, and the ‘less soluble’ kind. Then he pointed fingers at marine craft and barges.

Just because some people relieve themselves on the banks of the River Mandovi or answer nature’s call on the new Patto Bridge, or because river craft and barges handle their waste under similar circumstances, does it justify the casinos parked in the Mandovi polluting the river?

Our standards are showing a downward trend. I wonder whether our intelligent brains would shrink in size too. Should I believe in anyone who is supposedly responsible anymore, leave along the environmentalists?

Action, please Jose Maria Miranda, Margao Many Goans are awaiting the next Assembly session with bated breath. The BJP has threatened to expose the ‘commission agents’ of the ministers.

Many of them also demand bribes from candidates who, through merit and hard work, have earned the jobs and promotions they aspire for. How can we expect honesty from government servants if they need to pay so much to get a job or promotion? What about those with merit that cannot afford to pay?

Most government jobs go to the highest bidder. It is unfortunate that no one has been willing to sacrifice a job to expose the corrupt. The BJP could have planted someone to expose the racket, but it hasn’t happened so far.

Can we expect the BJP to be serious this time, fulfil its promise of exposure and insist on action against the guilty? Else, we may have to conclude that the BJP is only looking forward to its turn in power.

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 Two minutes There was a famous dacoit who advised his son to never listen to stories of the Lord. “Do not stay to listen to any Purana or any reading of the Bhagavatha,” he exhorted the young aspirant. The son scrupulously observed this injunction for years and amassed a good fortune.

One night, however, while running with his loot on his shoulder through a side lane of the city to avoid the police, a piece of glass cut his sole. As he sat for a while behind a house, to pull it off and stop the flow of blood, he listened perforce for a short two minutes to someone reading and explaining the Bhagavatha to a small group of listeners.

During that short period, he heard the pundit explaining the nature of God. He has no ears, no eyes, no limbs: he has a thousand forms; He is without form. “Sarvathah paani-paadam,” as the Gita says. That description got fixed in his heart. He could not shake it off.

A few days later the police came to know of the depredations made by him as well as his associates and kinsmen.

In order to know more about their activities they entered the area incognito, one constable as Kali and some others as the worshippers and priests. They shouted and yelled, cursed and terrified the dacoits and called upon them to come out of their homes and fall at the feet of Kali.

Many did so, but the son who had heard the Bhagavatha, albeit for two minutes, knew just enough to save his skin. He challenged the constable who was acting the role of Kali and tore off his make-up and exposed the plot and instilled courage into the hearts of the gang. Then, when the police left discomfited, he argued within himself thus: “If two minutes of the forbidden fruit could help me so much, what can I not gain, if I devote myself entirely to the stories of the glories of God?” He left off the evil path and became a Sadhaka.

(Source : Stories and parables ‘Oka Chinna Katha’)

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HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com — For press notes, general queries. junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald & Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com — Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com — For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com — For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com — For Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com — For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com — For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com — For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com — For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

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OHERALDO

INDIA

GOA, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010

MUMBAI COMES TO A STANDSTILL 10,000 detained; road, rail, air traffic hit; schools shut

PATNA Normal life was disrupted in several parts of the country with protest rallies and violence being the order of the day during the 'Bharat Bandh' called by a combined Opposition today in protest against fuel price hike. Several top NDA leaders including BJP President Nitin Gadkari and his colleagues Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley and JD(U) Chief Sharad Yadav courted arrest.

ALLAHABAD PTI MUMBAI, JULY 5

Normal life was hit today in several parts of Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai where stone-pelting BJP and Shiv Sena activists tried to disrupt road and rail traffic during the 12-hour bandh called by the Opposition to protest price rise.

Cracking down on trouble makers in Mumbai and other places, the police have detained nearly 10,000 people since yesterday, official sources said.

Considering low passenger load in view of the bandh, domestic airlines have cancelled 45 departures and 39 arrivals at the domestic airport here.

While taxis and auto-rickshaws are off the road in the country's financial capital, municipal buses and local trains are plying with very few passengers during the usually crowded morning hours.

Schools and colleges in most areas were closed as a precautionary measure.

At suburban Mulund railway station, BJP workers led by former MP Kirit Somaiya were detained while staging "rail roko". In suburban Borivali also, Mumbai BJP president and MLA Gopal Shetty was detained with supporters during a similar protest.

Incidents of stone-pelting on buses and trains were reported from Pune and some parts of Mumbai including Vikhroli, Borivali and Kandivali. However, no one was injured.

Nearly 50 activists led by Shetty stopped a local train at Borivali for 10 minutes before being evicted from the tracks by Government Railway Police (GRP).

At Mahim, tyres of few buses were deflated while window panes of a bus were smashed by agitators in Vikhroli. Four buses were damaged by protestors in Dadar, police said.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was detained with supporters at Shivaji nagar in suburban Govandi while blocking vehicular traffic.

3,500 arrested in Bihar PTI PATNA, JULY 5

Normal life was thrown out of gear today in Bihar due to the nation-wide strike called by NDA and Left parties to protest the fuel price hike, while 3,500 supporters including senior leaders were taken into preventive custody.

Private buses and those of the Bihar State Transport Corporation were off the roads and all schools, colleges and educational institutions were closed, while shops and major business establishments too did to function, police said.

Bandh supporters targeted railway services and cut the hose pipes of some trains and squatted on the railway tracks.

The strike call also evoked good response from Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Biharsharif, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Motihari, Bettia, Siwan, Gopalganj, Chapra, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Khagaria and Katihar.

Some BJP leaders, including state cooperatives minister Giriraj Singh and Harendra Pratap Singh, who were returning to Pa t n a f r o m D e l h i b y t h e Shramjivi Express, faced the brunt of the bandh as the train was held up for over three hours at Bihta, railway officials said.

Several long distance and passenger trains, including New

Little impact at IGI PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

'Bharat Bandh', called by a combined opposition today in protest against fuel price hike, had little affect on flight operations at the IGI Airport barring those coming from Kolkata and Mumbai.

The airlines, which combined flights and operated curtailed schedules, witnessed an average fall of 25 per cent in the number of passengers against any other day.

About 40 flights to and from Mumbai and Kolkata to the national capital remained cancelled while four Air-India flights --three on Delhi-Mumbai and one on Delhi-Kolkata sectors-- operated after being merged with other flights on the same sectors.

Delhi-Muzaffarpur Sampark Kranti Express were detained at different stations, East Central Railway (ECR) Chief Public Relations Officer, Dilip Kumar said.

Among the protesters and bandh supporters taken into preventive custody included BJP General Secretary Ravishankar Prasad, Vice-President, Kiran Ghai, state party chief Dr C P Thakur, besides JD(U)'s state president Vijay Kumar Chowdhary, its national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha, official sources said.

NDA legislators, including Shivaji Rai, Bilat Paswan, besides, Rajya Sabha member Anil Sahni and MLA Bilat Paswan were also taken into preventive custody while trying to enforce the shutdown at different places in the state.

ECR CPRO Kumar said among the trains cancelled due to the agitation were 3332 Patna-Dhanbad express, 2340/2330 DhanbadHowrah express, 2023 Howrah Express and 2303 Howrah-New Delhi Poorva express.

Other trains were 3007 Howrah-Sriganganagar Udhayanabha express, 3317/3318 Black Diamond Express, 20192020 Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi express, 3233/3232 DanapurRajgir, and 3251/3252 Rajendra Nagar Islampur Intercity, he said.

Mumbai Taximen Union General secretary A L Quadros said that its fleet of over 50,000 taxis was not plying apprehending violence. Similarly, autorickshaw unions said they have also joined the bandh.

Suburban trains were running as per schedule but very few people ventured out, fearing violence.

Attendance in public and private offices, banks and financial institutions has been hit.

Police contingents are standing guard across the city, particularly vital installations like railway stations, to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile in Pune, as many as 12 city buses have been damaged by bandh supporters. The buses plying in Kothrud and Pimpri area were stopped and stoned, damaging window glass panes, a spokesman for the Pune municipal corporation said.

Pune-Mumbai Sinhagad express and Indrayani express were halted at Kandhala near Lonavala hill station for 10 to 15 minutes.

In Amravati, the Mumbai-Gondia Vidarbha Express was stopped between Malkhed and Chandur railway station for atleast 40 minutes in Nagpur division around 0600 hours this morning by a group of Shivsainiks, who boarded the train at Patnera in the district.

In Parbhani, Sena and CPM protesters staged a rail blockade and stopped Sachkhand Express, Adilabad-Parbhani Express and Hyderabad-Abad Express were stopped for nearly half an hour while in Beed district, Gopinath Munde's daughter and MLA Pankaja and nephew Dhananjay Munde staged protests at Parli railway station.

In Nashik, all commercial establishments, restaurants, markets, petrol pumps and schools remaining closed in view of the bandh.

According to MSRTC sources agitators damaged seven city buses at Ambad, Satpur, Aadgaon-naka, trimurti-chowk localities by pelting stones, following which they were routed back to Panchavati depot.

NDA, JD(U) slam govt PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

As they organised a coordinated strike against rising prices of essential commodities, NDA and Left parties today slammed the government for the situation and particularly targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him to quit if he was unable to deal with it.

BJP and its allies JD(U), Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena took to the streets to protest the continuing rise in prices of foodgrains and fuel across the country and its top leaders courted arrest at various places.

Left parties and Samajwadi Party held coordinated protests in the states having their strongholds and their leaders too courted arrest.

Leaders of NDA and the Left said the protest was beyond party affiliations and will continue in Parliament in the Monsoon Session beginning July 26.

"UPA-II has left the people at the mercy of market forces and the Monsoon. While market forces are deciding the prices of essential commodities, the Prime Minister is hoping that Monsoon would be good and it will bring down foodgrain prices," JD(U) chief and NDA convener Sharad Yadav said.

"The Prime Minister should either bring down prices or leave his chair," he told reporters.

Contending that it was for

Nitin Gadkari

Sharad Yadav

the first time in India's history that all political parties outside government came together against the ruling dispensation, Yadav said hailed opposition unity as "people's wish".

BJP President Nitin Gadkari said the issue of price rise was not limited to any one political party as 50 per cent of the country's population was living below poverty line and earning less than Rs 20 per day.

"With inflation at 15 per cent, the government has betrayed the people and done injustice to them," he said.

He wondered why Prime Minister Singh and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi were silent on the issue of price rise.

"I appeal to Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to break their silence...there is a committee (National Advisory Council) under Sonia Gandhi, why does it not speak on the issue," he said.

He also took a swipe at Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, wondering whether he could not "see poverty" when he "visits the houses of the poor and eats with them" and asked "Why does the Rajkumar (Rahul Gandhi) not speak about this?"

Joining the attack on the government, CPI leader D Raja said, "Government should take note of this massive agitation all over the country" and consider rollback in increase of prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and LPG. "Unless the government considers these demands this struggle will continue," he said.

Justifying coordination of Left's strike with that of BJP-led NDA, CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat said price rise was not "political party issue" but concerns all sections of the society. "The signal for the government is widespread opposition to this hike among the people. This is not a policy of this or that political party.

This is because of the impact on aam aadmi (common man),"

Bandh total in Belgaum HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 5

The countrywide Bandh that was declared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with various political parties against the price rise on Monday was total in Belgaum.

Schools, colleges, shops and business establishments remained closed throughout the day, while buses and auto rickshaws also remained off the road.

Barring a few stray incidents of stone-throwing on some auto rickshaws, the city remained peaceful while no major untoward incidents were registered anywhere in the district.

Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang told reporters that the district was peaceful as sufficient preventive measures were initiated. Various units of BJP took out a protest rally in the city shouting slogans against the Centre for hiking the prices of various commodities, including fuel.

Member of Parliament (BJP) Suresh Angadi passed through several streets of the city protesting the price rise by the Centre.

Traffic along the National Highway was disrupted for some time due to the dharna staged by members of BJP Mahanagar unit.

However, some of the government offices functioned as usual, while all the schools and colleges remained shut down for the day.

Bollywood schedule takes a hit, shootings cancelled PTI MUMBAI, JULY 5

The Opposition sponsored 'Bharat Bandh' called to protest price hike in petroleum products today cast its shadow on the Mumbai film and television industry with several shootings being cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Many film shootings were called off in Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Filmcity) while in Filmistan Studios there were no shootings scheduled for the day in view of the bandh, sources at the studios in suburban Goregaon said.

Similarly, shooting of daily television soaps scheduled in suburban studios in the metropolis and neighbouring Thane district were also affected.

Spokespersons of Star TV and Colors said shooting of their shows have been put off during the bandh period as precautionary measure.

Federation of Western India Cine Employees President Dharmesh Tiwari said shootings at several locations could not take place as film crew could not reach there.

Meanwhile, actors Anupam Kher and Bipasha Basu shared their concern over rising prices.

"Rising prices are alarming!Its time the govt made by the people, starts working for the people.But. can a Bharat Bandh solve anything ?," Bipasha who is in Diu with Ajay Devgan for shooting of 'Akrosh' tweeted.

Kher said his driver Sabir called to tell that he won't report

for duty today. When the actor asked for reason, the driver replied, "Sir price rise is not affecting this Government but it is affecting me".

The veteran said he agreed with his driver's sentiments.

Endorsing his support for the bandh, Anupam Kher said bandh affects the common working people the most and yet this is only noise they can make that reaches the deaf ears. "Prices must come down," he tweeted.

When hearts fail, docs give electric shock. Similarly, when government fails, it should be given a shock, he said.

Amitabh Bachchan on Twitter said, "God!! The silence is just unbelievable! Not a sound here in Juhu at noon! Even the rain

KOLKATA

has stopped !.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrote that he spent the day watching television. "All our politicians are so camera friendly... in front of media better then some of our actors also!!! ." Silence on the road!!!

Don't remember also when was the last bharat bandh was??? , he said.

Actress Priyanka Chopra who is currently shooting for 'Anjana Anjani' in Mumbai said, "Whatever the reason guys!! It's awesome to just be chilling at home.. Aaaah!! Been too long since I did this...Months in fact."

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote, "Deserted Mumbai brings back memories of the bygone days. Nothing has changed!"

"Thought for UPA: You never

conquer a mountain. You stand on the summit a few moments; then the wind blows your footprints away. All shootings have been cancelled," he said.

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosale who is in the US said, " It's 1.30 am here in San Francisco and my eyes are getting bandh! Goodnight."

Later she wrote, " I am tweeting because a Bandh is too serious a thing to be taken seriously!". Another tweet from the singer read, "Not allowed to tweet. It's Bandh."

Asha said Bandh was a democratic way of showing anger against government. "Also stoning shops, burning buses, vandalism, etc," she said.

Neli Nitin Mukesh felt the bandh is harrowing.

Meanwhile both city and rural police in Nashik have made elaborate security arrangements at sensitive points and more than 250 people were rounded as precautionary measure.

Reports from Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar and Ahmednagar districts under Nashik division said transport was disrupted in several areas there as auto rickshaws and taxis were off the roads and protesters stopped Dhule-Chalisgaon shuttle train causing inconvenience to daily commuters.

In Nagpur, 23 buses were damaged by miscreants and 100 persons were detained by police following the bandh.

BJP state spokesman Girish Vyas claimed the bandh to be a success and said traders have extended their support to the shutdown call.

All schools and commercial establishments remained closed in this second capital of Maharashtra.

Lukewarm response in Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Manipur PTI CHENNAI, JULY 5

The nation-wide bandh called by the Opposition NDA and the Left against the fuel price hike evoked a lukewarm response in Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Manipur today.

Public transport, educational institutions, the banking sector and other business establishments functioned normally as the bandh, supported by the state's main opposition party AIADMK and its allies, did not affect normal life, police said.

"All trains coming to the city were on time," railway sources said.

However, four Kolkata-bound flights were cancelled following the strike in Left-ruled West Bengal, airport sources said, adding flights to other cities remained unaffected.

Security has been stepped up at important places like railway stations, power units, high court premises and telephone exchanges, police said.

The state government has warned of stringent action against those indulging in violence and damaging public property.

District authorities said they have taken steps for smooth supply of commodities and maintenance of essential serv-

ices. Only a few shops were seen closed as traders' bodies have not supported the bandh. A section of autorickshaws, owing allegiance to some Left unions, kept off the roads.

AIZAWL (Mizoram): The bandh did not have any impact in Mizoram barring cancellation of some Kolkata-Aizawl flights.

appointment

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HE RA LD

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GOA, TUESDAY, 6 JULY, 2010

‘Brain patterns may show mental illness risk’ Reuters LONDON, JULY 5

British scientists believe they have found specific patterns of brain activity in children and young people which could be signs or ''markers'' of those who will later go on to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Researchers from Nottingham University, who presented their study at the Forum for European Neuroscience in Amsterdam, said the patterns suggest it may be possible in future to identify those at risk of becoming ill before they develop symptoms.'

“If we can identify people who are at particularly high risk of developing schizophrenia, perhaps using neurocognitive brain markers, then we might be able to reduce that risk and also help them to function better,'' said Dr Maddie Groom, who worked on the study and gave a briefing to reporters in London. ''If we give them a better start, they may encounter the illness in a more positive way and not get quite so ill.''

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by mental, behavioural and neurological illnesses such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, epilepsy and dementia.

Many people who go on to develop diverse mental health

problems will have a history of behavioural problems going back to childhood, but experts say the problem with finding them at that stage is that differences then are often extremely subtle.

In one study, Groom and her colleagues investigated looked at the healthy siblings of people with schizophrenia, who also have a very slightly increased risk of developing schizophrenia compared with the general population.

Using brain imaging to read activity levels, the scientists asked the siblings to perform task which involved playing an alien-zapping computer game in which they needed to respond quickly, and crucially, halt the urge to respond if the wrong kind of alien popped up. The task was called a ''go, no-go'' task.

“When we measured the brain activity of the siblings of people with schizophrenia, their brain activity was reduced at the time when they needed to pay attention to the stimulus, and when they needed to inhibit their response,'' Groom explained.

She said this suggested the subtle differences in brain activity may act as a risk marker for the disorder.

In a second study, scientists compared brain activity of children with ADHD -- a mental disorder that affects between 8 and 12 per cent of children, and 4 per cent of adults worldwide.

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GOA, TUESDAY 6, JULY, 2010

from page 1 Goa feels bandh effect

less staff functioned normally.

The Don Bosco School, which otherwise is always humming with students, wore a deserted look in the morning during working hours with most students returning home for an extended holiday after a Sunday.

Functioning of all courts in the city was impacted as administrative staff and lawyers took a break. “Matters had to be adjourned due to the absence of lawyers,” said one of the High Court employees.

However, by evening, the city started springing to life with some of the petrol pumps opening up to make up for the business lost during major part of the day. After 6 pm some of the hotels too opened their shutters.

A press release issued by the Department of Information quoted the two Superintendents of Police (North and South Goa) Arvind Gawas and Allen De Sa claiming the bandh in the State as peaceful barring stray incidents of stone pelting on Kadamba buses.

Managing Director of Kadamba Transport Corporation Venancio Furtado said out of the 370 buses only 70 plied on the routes.

“Some minor damages were caused to the vehicles due to stone pelting but no complaints were registered because the loss was minimal,” he stated.

KTC Chairman Deepak Dhavlikar claimed Kadamba was successful in providing transport service to the people across the State. “The buses, most of them under police protection, were able to carry double the capacity in the morning session,” he said. Director of Transport Arun Dessai too claimed KTC buses were everywhere and more than required.

At the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim the serpentine queues at the outpatient departments (OPDs) were absent. On regular days the OPDs extend upto 2 pm, but today by 11 am they were empty. Medical Superintendent Rajan Kuncolienkar said hospital functioning remained normal even though some nursing staff and Class IV workers couldn’t make it for duty. “Nevertheless, all the scheduled and some emergency operations were conducted without any hassle,” he stated.

pak forms STfs to tackle ultra groups PTI ISLAMABAD, JULY 5

Pakistani authorities have formed special task forces to crack down on 17 radical groups, including the Jamaatud-Dawah and Lashker-e-Taiba, in the wake of the suicide attack on the Data Darbar shrine.

The Home Department of Punjab has set up the task forces comprising officials of the Crime Investigation Department, Special Branch and Anti-Terrorism Squad in several districts of the province, said a report by BBC Urdu.

The groups against which action will be taken include the JuD, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e- Sahaba, and Tehrik-e-Nifaz-eShariah Muhammadi, among others.

Nine of the groups belong to the hardline Deobandi sect, three are Shia organisations while three are influenced by the ideology of Ahl-e Hadith.

The other groups on the list are Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Jafriya Pakistan, Millat-e-Islamiya Pakistan, Khudamul Islam, Islami Tehrik Paki s t a n , H i z b - u t - Te h r i r, Jamiat-ul-Ansar, Jamiat-ulFurqan, Khair-un-Naas International Trust, Islamic Students Movement and Balochistan Liberation Army.

The BLA is a Baloch nationalist group and the ISM is a radical students' organisation. However, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is not among the groups to be targeted by the task forces.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the Taliban and al Qaida are working with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-eSahaba in parts of the country, especially Punjab.

The Sunni Tehrik also has been placed under observation by the Home Department.

About 4,000 people are currently under surveillance under the provisions of the Anti-Ter-

rorism Act for alleged links with extremist groups.

They have to inform police stations in their areas about their movements.

The task forces have been advised to establish close contact with intelligence officers in the districts to exchange information on the 17 organisations that will be the focus of the crackdown.

An official of the Punjab Home Department told BBC Urdu that orders had been issued to launch crackdowns on the hideouts of these groups and arrest those connected with them immediately.

The task forces have also been asked to trace those who are financing these groups and their other sources of funding so that action can be taken under the Anti-Terrorist Act. The task forces led by district police chiefs will report to the Punjab Home Department.

Pressure is mounting on the

Punjab government to crack down on militant groups in the province in the wake of the attack on Data Darbar shrine in which 45 people were killed.

Several leading Sunni groups have also demanded that provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah should be sacked for his alleged links with the Sipah-e-Sahaba.

The Punjab government and Interior Minister Rehman Malik have engaged in a war of words over the sharing of intelligence on possible terrorist attacks.

Malik has insisted that a “clear and specific” warning was issued to the Punjab government that terrorists could target mosques or other places of worship before the suicide attack on Data Darbar.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif, whose PML-N party rules Punjab, contended that intelligence and security agencies under the federal Interior Ministry were not sharing information with provincial authorities.

Meet demands or face...

involvement of private bus operators and KTCL members, which will be headed by Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar.

Besides this, the Association in its charters of demands has asked for subsidy on diesel prices, two tyres to each bus operators under the Social Welfare Scheme, concession on passenger tax, an office in each bus stands and permits to run buses on nationalised routes in the State.

Talking about government directive to form a ‘society’, Tamankar said that the Association is ready to form their society if the Transport Department provides full support.

“Without the help of Transport Department the society cannot be formed nor can it run. The department’s Enforcement Wing needs to take strict measures to get detail information about the bus owners, drivers and conductors,” he maintained.

Earlier during the meeting, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), General Secretary Govind Parvatkar extended full support to the Association over the strike for fulfilling their demands.

“BJP will provide full support to the operators in getting their demands fulfilled from the government. Unless we come on road, the government won’t wake up,” he said.

Parvatkar said that government should not take people on granted. “We need to be united and fight,” he said.

Mickky’s custody extended

then consumes Ratol, it only suggests that the person wanted to commit suicide.

Arguing for bail for the former minister, Adv Dessai charged the investigating agency for making a mountain out of a molehill due to vested interests.

Saying that the post-mortem report has clearly stated that Nadia’s death was due to multi-organ failure due to poisoning, Adv Desai sought to know how the investigating agency can attribute the injuries to the former minister. “None of the injuries are grievous all are contusions. Nadia’s death is not on account of the contusions but due to poisoning”, he asserted.

Asserting that no injuries were found on Nadia’s body at Apollo Victor Hospital or Jupiter Hospital, Adv Dessai sought to know why the former minister should explain the injuries on the body of the deceased. He also took strong exception to the dispute raised by the investigating agency to the statement made by Nadia to a magistrate at the Jupiter Hospital.

At the outset, Adv Desai submitted before Judge P V Kamat that it will be a miscarriage of justice if the court goes by the observations made by the High Court or his predecessor.

He said the Supreme Court has clearly stated that the court should not be influenced by the observations made by the High Court while rejecting the anticipatory bail application.

Saying that the case against the former minister is politically motivated, Adv Desai said that neither the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder nor the abetment to commit suicide are attracted to Pacheco.

Additional Sessions Judge P V Kamat later adjourned hearing of the arguments to Tuesday noon. The prosecution will begin their arguments seeking Pacheco’s police custody.

The court room was packed to capacity during the hearing of Pacheco’s bail plea. A large number of Pacheco’s supporters were seen outside the courtroom eagerly awaiting the court verdict.

Judge pulls up jailor

“You are unfit to be a jailor. This is a serious case”, Judge Kamat remarked, even as he demanded to know the whereabouts of the accused.

Judge asked the jailor whether he has come to the court to “see” the people and directed the jailor to produce Mickky in the court. The jailor later came to the court with the medical status of the former tourism minister.

The matter came to light when Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha drew attention of the judge to the absence of Pacheco in the courtroom. “The proceedings in the court started at 3.30 pm, but the accused is not present in the court despite the expiry of the two-day period of judicial custody. The medical status of the accused is also not available”, she asserted, adding that the accused is duty-bound to be present in the court today.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch appears bracing up to take the former tourism minister in their custody. The Crime Branch is set to oppose Pacheco’s bail plea in the Sessions Court on Tuesday and seek his police custody.

Sources in Crime Branch did not rule out the possibility of demanding the constitution of a medical board to seek the medical status of the former minister.

John charged with rape

charge, it is settled proposition of law that a court is not required to conduct roving inquiry, but only to find out the presence of ingredients which constitutes the offenses”, the judge said.

In his brief order, Judge Deshpande said the victim has clearly disclosed regarding penetration and hence the same is covered under the ingredients of Section 375 of the IPC. “The said statement or even the complaint lodged by the victim has clearly established the ingredients of Section 375 of the IPC”, the judge added.

As far as Section 201 of the IPC is concerned, Judge Deshpande said, “It is to be observed that the material piece of evidence was destroyed by the accused. The ingredients of Section 201 of the IPC is established prima facie by the prosecution”, the judge said while ordering framing of charges against the accused.

The Russian woman had charged John Fernandes for allegedly raping her in his car late night in December last year. Since his surrender in the first week of January this year, the accused has been languishing in jail and his legal counsel has moved the Sessions Court to expedite trial in the case.

A man covers his children with sand in order to shield themselves from the sun at a bathing beach in Qingdao city,eastern China's Shandong province. China's weather forecast authorities on Sunday said the heat that had been bearing down on many parts of the country would continue for a few more days. The temperatures which over 35 degrees Celsius so as to the the sweltering weather could be expected in at least 13 provinces and regions across China,the National Meteorological Center said.

Iraq provinces defy US withdrawal timeline Reuters JALAWLA, IRAQ, JULY 5

It was a tip-off about a weapons cache that drew the US soldiers of Charlie Troop away from their Stryker armoured vehicles in the densely populated Iraqi town of Jalawla on Friday morning last month.

That was when the suicide bomber struck, detonating a car bomb so ''catastrophic'' that details of the attack that killed Sergeant Israel O'Br yan and Specialist William Yauch are still hazy, their commanding officer said.

One thing was clear: the insurgency in Jalawla won't lie down. Like other towns across Iraq's restive northern provinces of Diyala, Kirkuk and Nineveh, Jalawla defies the US narrative of an end to combat operations next month under a plan to pull out of Iraq completely by the end of 2011.

“I would say we're pretty far from rolling up the insurgency

Soldier killed in Pakistan PTI PESHAWAR, JULY 5

In a pre-dawn attack, four suicide attackers armed with car bombs targeted a key base of security forces in northwest Pakistan today, killing a soldier and injuring at least 12 others, officials said.

The attackers, who were travelling in two vehicles packed with explosives, tried to storm the security forces headquarters at Timergara, the main town in Lower Dir district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa province. The attackers opened fire at the troops manning the gate of the base.

When the security forces retaliated, the militants detonated their car bombs.

The explosions killed a soldier and injured 12 others, including paramilitary personnel and policemen. All four suicide attackers were also killed, officials said. Reports said two civilians in a nearby home were injured by retaliatory fire by paramilitary personnel and policemen though there was no official word in this regard.

The military claimed the troops had averted an attack by destroying the car bombs and killing the four suicide bombers.

in Jalawla,” said Charlie Troop commander Captain Mark Adams of the 1st Squadron, 14th US Cavalry. “I don't feel we've made a whole lot of progress there.”

For the ethnically and religiously-mixed arc running from Jalawla near Iraq's eastern border with Iran to the western frontier with Syria, the transition on Aug. 31 is less a milestone than a matter of semantics.

Operations that to outsiders will look pretty much like combat will continue in areas where a stubborn Sunni Islamist insurgency remains entrenched, despite a sharp fall in overall violence since the height of the sectarian slaughter in 2006/07.

They will, however, be called “stability operations”, loosely defined as advising, assisting, training and equipping Iraqi forces -- a role US forces have had for some time.

US troops will “ continue to

conduct partnered counter terrorism operations to maintain pressure on extremist terrorist networks,” said chief spokesman Major General Stephen Lanza.

US troop numbers will fall to 50,000 on September 1 from around 77,000 now. Bases are closing, hardware going to Afghanistan and units flying home without replacement.

In disputed territories adjacent to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, where Arabs and Kurds wrestle over land and power, insurgent cells have regrouped after being driven out of much of Iraq's Sunni heartland.

Here, US soldiers will still occasionally shoot, and be shot at after September 1.

Al Qaeda “is down but not out,” said US forces division North commander Major General Tony Cucolo. ''We take down a cell, but on a smaller, less capable level it re-forms.”

The threat “can't be handled”

by Iraqi Security Forces “as they are”, he said on a Blackhawk helicopter flight over Diyala.

Playing second fiddle: The response to the Jalawla attack on June 11 provides a snapshot of the challenges and frustrations that confront US forces often playing second fiddle to their Iraqi counterparts.

While U.S. special forces successfully hunted down at least one suspected insurgent, Iraqi police failed to turn up for a 6 a.m. (0830 hrs IST) roadside rendezvous on the last day of a two-week search operation across Jalawla.

They began without US support and found nothing.

“We're supposed to clear the whole town, but they never find anything,” said Lieutenant Jan Dudzinski, 26, seeking shade in the desert as his platoon provided a “cordon” for the operation named Jalawla Peacemaker.

Trust between the two forces is low.

Thais must lift emergency or risk violence, says group Reuters BANGKOK, JuLY 5

Thailand should immediately lift a state of emergency imposed during recent political protests to promote reconciliation or frustration could lead to more violence, a think tank said today.

The anti-government protests by supporters of an ousted prime minister turned violent in April and May. Ninety people were killed and almost 2,000 wounded, raising fears for stability and growth in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

Calm has been restored since soldiers cleared the protesters from a central Bangkok shopping area in May. The demonstrators wore red to distinguish themselves from their yellowclad, pro-establishment rivals.

Analysts say nothing has been done to heal divisions between the rival political blocs.

Critics say while the government calls for reconciliation it is stifling opposition with arrests, censorship and emergency rule in the capital and 23 of its 76 provinces.

The Brussels-based International Crisis Group said emergency rule should be lifted

immediately as part of steps towards peaceful elections and the restoration of stability.

“While the red shirts have no opportunity for open and peaceful expression because of draconian laws, their legitimate frustrations are being forced underground and possibly towards illegal and violent actions,” the group said in a report.

“The first gesture that might demonstrate a renewed commitment to building bridges would be to unconditionally and immediately lift the state of emergency,” it said.

Considering emergency : The government is due to consider the emergency on Tuesday. But while it might be lifted in some provinces, it is expected to be extended in Bangkok and bastions of support for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the north and northeast.

The former telecoms tycoon turned populist politician, who is living in self-exile, was ousted in a 2006 coup and later convicted of graft in absentia.

The red-shirted protesters are largely his supporters, outraged that their hero was forced from power by what they see as an

undemocratic establishment.

Thaksin has been charged with terrorism in connection with shadowy black-clad gunmen who mingled with the protesters and battled security forces in Bangkok in April and May, raising the prospect of a country sliding into civil war.

Thaksin denies any connection with the gunmen or financing the protest.

The government has stressed the need for security that it says the state of emergency ensures.

“We will take every concerned voice into consideration but security is our priority. Tourists and investors want security and s t a b i l i t y, ” g o v e r n m e n t s p o k e s m a n Pa n i t a n Wa t tanayagorn told the Thai PBS TV channel.

Officials point to a series of small attacks, including a blast last month outside the office of a party in the ruling coalition, which wounded one man.

Cambodian authorities said on Sunday they had arrested two Thais who Thai media have reported are wanted in connection with that blast and would send them back to Thailand today.

Lanka ropes in ex-Tiger to gain Tamils support PTI COLOMBO, JULY 5

The Sri Lankan government has roped in former Tiger leader Kumaran Pathmanathan, once a close aide of Vellupillai Prabhakaran, to mobilise the Tamil diaspora for its support and is using his 'data base' on the LTTE to crush its international network.

The detained LTTE leader Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP), the former chief of LTTE's international wing, is now reportedly leading efforts to bring together Tiger sympathisers to assist in the rebuilding of the war-torn Northern areas that were once their stronghold.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the government was working with KP in a strategic manner to mobilise the support of the Tamil diaspora, but denied reports that it had formed an 'alliance' with the LTTE remnants, the State-run Sunday Observer said.

KP was appointed the chief of the LTTE's international activities

by Prabhakaran during the last phase of the war, shortly before the LTTE chief was killed along with most of the Tiger leadership.

“We must remember that three groups - Global Tamil Forum, and two factions led by Rudrakumar and Nediyawan – are still active and propagating the LTTE's separatist ideologies.

The truth needs to be revealed to the world," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Rajapaksa refuted claims that the government was grooming KP to be the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, but said they were exploring his 'data base' on the LTTE to crush its international network.

Rajapaksa said a group of Tamil diaspora known to KP had visited Sri Lanka and they had been convinced by KP to deviate from their confrontational atti-

tude towards the government.

“KP had told them categorically that there was no point in reviving the LTTE's separatist ideology," he said.

According to the Defence Secretary, KP had told the Tamil diaspora representatives that nothing had been gained from the 30-year-old conflict, but destruction and a bleak future for the Tamils in the North and the East.

Pathmanathan, the former chief arms smuggler for the rebels, was reportedly taken into custody last August in a Southeast Asian country and brought to Sri Lanka.

Kosovo Serb MP shot at ReuTeRs MITROVICA, KOSOVO, JULY 5

An unidentified gunman shot and slightly hurt an ethnic Serb member of the Kosovo parliament in a fresh incident in the divided northern town of Mitrovica, police said today.

It was the second act of political violence in Mitrovica in the past week, highlighting continuing tensions in the former Serb province, whose Albanian majority declared independence from Belgrade in 2008.

“The incident occurred at 8.20 (1150 hrs IST) when Petar Miletic was leaving his home in northern Mitrovica to go to work in Pristina,” said Ergin Medic, deputy regional police chief.

He said Miletic, one of 10 Serb deputies in the 120-seat Kosovo parliament, was shot in the leg and his injuries were not life-threatening.

OHERALDO

Biz12:Pg12 7/5/2010 11:00 PM Page 1

Pg12

BIZ

GOA, TUESDAY, 6 JULY, 2010

TALK BUSINESS

Suzuki June 2-wheelers records growth of 44% PANJIM (HBD) -- Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, registered an increase in their monthly sales figures.

Suzuki Motorcycles has sold 17876 units in June ’10 as opposed to 12382 in June 2009, listing a growth of 44% over its sales in June ‘09. This increase of sales is attributed to the tremendous response from the new product GS150R and Access 125, the scooter from the house of Suzuki Motorcycles.

Vrundavan expands services to kidney patients PANJIM (HBD) -- The dialysis unit at Vrundavan Hospital which started in 2004 with four machines, now has Dr Sheetal Lengade MD, DM (Nephrology) joining as chief Nephrologists and 25 more machines.

Of the 25, 8 machines will be placed at Vrundavan Hospital, 11 in Apollo and 5 at SMRC. Coupled with Hi-tech ultramodern (Forserium and B – Braun) Reverse Osmosis plant for water supply.

Till date, Vrundavan Hospital has nearly done 40,000 dialysis treatments untill May 2010 and is doing about 2000 dialysis a month. Their dialysis unit is running four shifts with emergency dialysis 24 x 7 and they have separate units for Hepatitis B and C patients, specific services in isolation are provided.

Vrundavan Hospital is planning to put up one center in Panjim and one at Canaconna. Vrundavan Hospital is also starting nocturnal Dialysis programme for working class people and people with high BP. Meanwhile, Vrundavan hospital has opened International Institute of Medical Technology [IIMT] which offers courses in physiotherapy, nursing, dialysis technology, cardiac catheterization technology, medical laboratory technology, X-Ray/CT scan/ultrasound and echocardiography technology, ICU and ECG technology, operation theatre assistant, optometry and ophthalmic assistant, hospital management technology and other miscellaneous job oriented courses. These courses are offered through correspondence as well as full time classes.

Courses are given by highly trained staff from the hospital as well as other renowned consultants. Courses are affiliated with Human Resource Development Foundation - A Registered Society of Government of Goa.

AIBS offers course in cosmetology PANJIM (HBD) -- The Anoo’s International Beauty School (AIBS) is offering India’s first and only MSc course in Cosmetology in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University.

A graduate of any disciple is eligible to apply for the course, which is spread across 2 years involving 4 semesters. Students will be taken through 2500 hours of theory and practicals.

The school is spread across an area of 10,000 sq ft with ultramodern classrooms and audio visual equipment, comprehensive learning material, seminar and video conferencing halls, excellent library facilities, good cafeteria with Internet, labs, private treatment rooms and student lockers.

Application forms are available on www.aibs.in or call (040) 23316184 / 23316147.

Merc magazine now in India PANJIM (HBD) -- Mercedes-Benz India announced the launch of the Indian edition of its international magazine called ‘MercedesMagazine’ in India. The magazine was launched at the hands of the Bollywood actor Vidya Balan and Dr Wilfried Aulbur, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

Mercedesmagazine is a vibrant kaleidoscope of interesting reads including myriad topics on various aspects like high end products and services. Accessories & fashion, hobbies and holidays, communication and entertainment, are some of the areas that this publication depicts.

Apart from giving readers the latest updates on the brand, the magazine will cover the global lifestyle of the rich, the famous and the creative. Besides these, sections on the Mercedes-Benz history and heritage, production and future technology are incorporated for the automobile aficionados.

Published quarterly, the magazine will be circulated to the exclusive clientele of Mercedes Benz in India and to the ever growing group of people who aspire to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz family.

Sensex ends little changed; brisk trading in RNRL, R-Power PTI MUMBAI, JULY 5

In the midst of Reserve Bank raising key policy rates, the BSE benchmark Sensex today ended flat after a range-bound trade due to the nationwide bandh called by the BJP-led NDA and Left parties.

The 30-share bellwether of the Bombay Stock Exchange settled at 17,441.44, down 19.51 points, or 0.11 per cent.

Similarly, National Stock Exchange's 50-share Nifty Index finished 0.02 per cent lower at 5,235.90 points.

Marketmen attributed limited trade to the Bharat Bandh called to protest hike in fuel prices and rising inflation. The total volume of trade fell to Rs 2,857.42 crore from last Friday's level of Rs 4,554.87 crore.

Food inflation easing: Finmin PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

The Finance Ministry today said food inflation, which fell steeply by almost four percentage points during the third week of July, will take some time to come down to an acceptable level of 5-6 per cent.

"Food inflation is going down, it will take some time before it really comes into a range which is acceptable to the government and which is good for the people," Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on state highways here.

When asked what is an acceptable range, he said 5-6 per

Plan panel is 'armchair advisor': Nath PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

basis points last week. While announcing the measures -which came ahead of its scheduled quarterly monetary review on July 27 -- the RBI had said the developments on the inflation front raise several concerns.

"Overall WPI inflation increased to 10.2 per cent in May, 2010, up from 9.6 per cent in April, 2010. Food price inflation and consumer price inflation remain at elevated levels.

There has been some moderation in food price inflation, but the price index of food articles continues to increase," it had said. The central bank further said the prices of non-

food manufactured goods and fuel items have accelerated in recent months.

"Although entirely justified in terms of long-term fiscal and energy conservation objectives, the recent increase in fuel prices will have an immediate impact of around one percentage point on WPI inflation, with second round effects being felt in the months ahead," the RBI had said.

The government had last month deregulated petrol prices, leading to a Rs 3.5 a litre hike, while diesel rates were raised by Rs 2 a litre, LPG by Rs 35 a cylinder and kerosene by Rs 3 a litre.

Opposition to price hike illogical: Montek PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

Terming the Planning Commission as an "armchair advisor", oblivious to the ground realities, Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath today said he was forewarned that the Plan panel would not allow him to achieve a 20 km-a-day road-building target.

Sharing a dais with Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia here at a programme organised by the commission, Nath said, "When I joined this ministry... everybody asked me that Planning Commission will never let you do (building 20 km a day)."

Earlier this year, the Planning Commission had said the ministry was being over-ambitious in its target for building 20 km of roads every day and advised it to be realistic in approach.

Taking a dig at the commission for its assessment that the target set by the Road Transport Ministry was not realistic, Nath said, "Producing a book is one thing and producing a road is another thing."

He even questioned the quality of reports produced by the Plan panel. "You (Planning Commission) collect something from here, something from there and produce a book. It is all very well when you are an armchair advisor," he remarked, adding "Book (report) should not only be well-bound, but it should have content also."

Later, talking to reporters, Ahluwalia termed Nath's broadside as "constructive criticism".

He agreed that there are problems within the commission.

"We are are sorting them out," he said.

Nath said as a politician he has remained in public life for several years and was aware of the ground realities, which the Planning Commission was not aware of.

Referring to the public-private-partnership model, he said it cannot be one-size fits all.

Aban Offshor, 836, 840.8, 809.15, 812.8 Abb Ltd., 863.5, 869.9, 861, 861.45 Abg Shipyard, 259.3, 260.5, 255.1, 257.9 Acc Limited, 858, 868.95, 855.15, 862.9 Adani Enterp, 540, 540, 532.55, 536.25 Aditya Birla, 750, 780, 740, 769.65 Allahabad Ba, 158.25, 161.5, 158.25, 160.8 Alstom Proje, 660, 667, 653.25, 657.3 Ambuja Cemen, 112.05, 114, 112.05, 113.7 Andhra Bank, 128.5, 130.5, 127.5, 130.1 Ashok Leylan, 63.1, 66.35, 62.4, 65.5 Asian Paints, 2330, 2349.7, 2317, 2329.55 Axis Bank Li, 1236.1, 1245, 1225.45, 1235.95 Bajaj Hindus, 117, 118.1, 116.15, 116.45 Bank Of Baro, 710, 720, 710, 715.35 Bank Of Indi, 355.5, 366.85, 354, 364.6 Beml Limited, 1000, 1009.35, 981.7, 984.4 Bharat Elect, 1725, 1755, 1725, 1750.1 Bharat Forge, 294.25, 296.5, 290.35, 291.7 Bharat Petro, 669, 677.45, 654.4, 658.75 Bharti Airte, 265.4, 267.95, 263.15, 267.45 Bhel, 2385, 2396.95, 2351.5, 2359.6 Bhushan Stee, 1405.9, 1425, 1405.9, 1419

cent. The Finance Secretary''s statement came on a day when the Opposition NDA and Left Front staged protests against the hike in fuel prices.

Chawla said he agrees with the RBI''s estimate on overall inflation. RBI expects inflation to come down to 5.5 per cent by the end of this fiscal, against over 10 per cent in May. Meanwhile, food inflation declined by a whopping 3.98 percentage points to 12.92 per cent for the week ended June 19. However, food prices are still at an elevated level.

To rein in rising prices, the RBI raised short-term lending and borrowing rates by 25

The Planning Commission today described the political opposition to the fuel price hike as "completely illogical", even as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left Parties went ahead with a nationwide strike to protest against rising prices. "It is completely illogical to oppose the fuel price hike unless it is your view that you should drive the country into economic policies which do not make any sense," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on developing state highways.

The Bharatiya Janata Partyled NDA and Left Parties, including the CPI-M and CPI, have organised a "Bharat Bandh" today to protest against rising inflation and the hike in prices of petrol, diesel

and cooking gas. Even Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday ruled out any rollback of the fuel prices announced by the government last month.

On June 25, the government raised the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 3.50, Rs 2 and Rs 3 a litre, respectively, and increased the rates for cooking gas by Rs 35 a cylinder. "Even with the price hike, kerosene is heavily subsidised.

Both LPG and kerosene are still heavily subsidised. They are still cheaper in India than in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The notion that prices have been raised usually and unfairly is not actually correct," Ahluwalia said. The hike in prices of petroleum goods, however, is likely to have a cascading effect on inflation, which is ruling high.

Wholesale prices-based inflation crossed double-digits (10.16 per cent provisionally) in May, but as per the final figures, the rate of price rise has been 11 per cent or more since February. Food inflation, however, eased to 12.92 per cent in the third week of June from above 16 per cent.

Admitting that inflation is high currently, FUEL Ahluwalia said, "Allow a little bit of time. When people perceive that global demand is good and there are good signs of monsoon, the inflation will be back in comfortable zone by the end (of) this year (December).

"He further said that by December, "The inflation will be lower and growth will be good." During the current fiscal, the economy is expected to grow by around 8.5%, up from 7.4% in the previous fiscal.

‘Hike should have come sooner’ PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 5

New Chief Statistician T C A Anant said hiking fuel prices was a better option than keeping them artificially low and widening the fiscal deficit, even as the Opposition organised a nationwide strike against the government's decision today.

"On the balance, it would be better to make fuel prices rise than to let Budget deficits grow," Anant, who recently took over as Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, said in an interview.

Anant also hinted that the government's move to hike fuel prices should have come sooner, but acknowledged that it was difficult to time these kinds of decisions because of "multiple pressures" in a democracy. "It is very difficult to time these kinds of things, trying to time these things right is next to impossible, particularly in a democracy where you have multiple pressures at any given point of time.

It is a right policy and it PRICE should have been taken earlier," he said. Explaining his reasoning for supporting the hike, he said if an open-ended fuel subsidy is maintained, huge budget deficits would occur when global petroleum prices rise.

"This, too, contributes to generalised inflation," Anant said. When asked whether diesel prices should also be deregulated like petrol, he said it is not a question of whether

you should give a diesel subsidy or not, the relevant point is whether it should be given in a manner that it has an unbounded effect on the budget deficit.

"Then what you are doing is you are converting uncertainty in a single commodity''s price into a generalised uncertainty over your entire price level," he explained. Anant said an economy cannot have a strict regulated regime for fuel prices, as it will widen the Budget deficit.

"You can continue a policy of management, where you temper the global effects on the domestic economy, but you cannot have a strict regulated regime that we will not allow diesel prices to rise. What does it mean? It means that you have created an open-ended draw on your Budget," he said.

The Chief Statistician said since a rise in petroleum prices makes them relatively expensive vis-a-vis other fuels, some kind of substitution of these petroleum products will also happen, leading to a dampening impact on inflation. "Rise in fuel prices will lead to some effect on general price level, but because it changes relative prices, there will be some substitution.

So, the effect would be dampening. If I don't do it, I will be creating generalised inflation," he said.

The government had last month deregulated petrol prices, leading to a hike of Rs 3.5 a litre, while diesel rates were increased by Rs 2 a litre, LPG by Rs 35 a cylinder and kerosene by Rs 3 a litre.

Singapore food festival opens July 16

HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

Singapore’s cultural diversity is best reflected in the unique fusion cuisine that it has to offer including Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan food and many more.

From July 16 to 25 this year, the cosmopolitan will celebrate a food event – Singapore Food Festival 2010 - with a special focus on various Chinese dialect groups including the Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainanese communities.

Kick starting the 10-day Singapore Food Festival 2010 will be Clarke Quay Food Street festival, where the entire length of the bridge will be transformed into a food haven offering sumptuous Chinese delicacies from more than 30 famous restaurants and hawkers all under one roof. Savour bites served in a tingkat (tiffin carrier) from different Chinese

Biocon Limit, 319, 320.7, 313.5, 314.7 Bombay Dyein, 482, 502, 480.7, 492.5 Bosch Limite, 5479.9, 5479.95, 5375, 5407.25 Brigade Ente, 131.3, 133.5, 130.5, 131 Cairn India, 295, 297.45, 294.05, 295.25 Canara Bank, 448, 458.8, 445.1, 456.45 Central Bank, 139.7, 140.8, 138.3, 139.7 Century Text, 462.95, 465.5, 457, 460.95 Cesc Ltd, 371.05, 377, 371, 374.65 Chambal Fert, 67.9, 69.5, 67.45, 68.85 Chennai Petr, 262.6, 270.5, 260.5, 261.9 Cipla Ltd, 338, 342.9, 336.05, 337.3 Colgate Palm, 838, 850, 836, 841.75 Container Co, 1424.7, 1445, 1405.1, 1418.45 Crompton Gre, 252.9, 255, 250.25, 252.1 Cummins Indi, 588.5, 602, 582.1, 598.15 Dabur India, 202.55, 203.85, 200.5, 202.15 Deccan Chron, 123.5, 123.5, 121.5, 121.95 Dish Tv Indi, 45.8, 45.9, 44.85, 45.15 Divi’s Labor, 757.6, 773.85, 757.6, 770.05 Dlf Limited, 281.5, 282.75, 279, 280.8 Dr. reddy’s, 1435, 1474.75, 1435, 1461.35 Edelweiss Ca, 480, 498.75, 477.9, 487.7

dialects on the relaxing Singapore Chinese Dialect Tingkat Cruise along the Singapore River.

Sample nostalgic street snacks that our forefathers enjoyed such as Malt Candy, Red Bean Cake, Ting Ting Candy and Mua Chee at the Singapore Chinese Dialect Street Snacks event. Catch street entertainment like wayang performance at Clifford Square, string pup-

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Hdfc Ltd, 2910, 2949, 2900.7, 2939.35 Hero Honda M, 2021, 2029.9, 1995.2, 2022.25 Hindalco in, 144.8, 144.8, 141.25, 141.65 Hindustan Co, 116.9, 118.2, 116.55, 117.05 Hindustan Ma, 71.3, 72.3, 70.7, 71.2 Hindustan Pe, 478, 478, 461.55, 466.45 Hindustan Un, 269.2, 269.35, 265.35, 266.15 Hindustan Zi, 935, 953.5, 935, 943.55 Housing Dev, 241, 242.3, 238.95, 240.2 Icici Bank L, 838, 845.7, 834, 840.6 Idea Cellula, 58, 60.5, 57.3, 59.35 Ifci Ltd, 56.3, 57.6, 56.1, 56.9 India Cement, 106.4, 107.95, 106.2, 106.5 India Infoli, 95, 95.2, 93.25, 93.55 Indiabulls F, 139.1, 142.5, 139.1, 141.45 Indiabulls R, 154, 156.45, 154, 155.15 Indian Bank, 228, 260, 220, 223.1 Indian Hotel, 103.5, 104.7, 102.3, 103.95 Indian Oil C, 402, 403, 395.65, 398.8 Indian Overs, 103.15, 103.6, 102.5, 102.8 Indus Dev Ba, 119, 119.5, 117.8, 118 Indusind Ban, 205, 209.9, 205, 207.8

pets at Merlion Park, hand puppets at Central’s River Promenade and a classic movie screening at Clarke Quay Jetty.

Enjoy a gastronomic adventure of five buffet spreads featuring the best of Chinese dialects food at the Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Feast.

Shop for fashionable knickknacks at the Singapore River Market along the river. Walk along the banks of the river Infosys Tech, 2730, 2752, 2720, 2743.45 Infra. dev., 180, 181.7, 179.25, 180.2 Ispat Indust, 18, 18, 17.55, 17.85 Itc Ltd, 302.4, 304.5, 300, 302.15 Ivrcl Infras, 185, 187.55, 184, 185.1 Jai Corp Lim, 257, 261.8, 252, 254.15 Jaiprakash A, 127.7, 127.85, 125.75, 126.1 Jet Airways, 527.25, 532, 518.2, 522.1 Jindal Saw L, 196, 198.95, 196, 197.6 Jindal Steel, 615.2, 618.9, 611.05, 615.95 Jsw Steel Li, 1026.8, 1038, 1025.05, 1028.75 Kotak Mahind, 761, 765, 751.25, 763.1 Lakshmi Mach, 2030, 2050, 1986.2, 1997.85 Lanco Infrat, 65.6, 67.6, 65.35, 66.55 Larsen & Tou, 1786, 1806.4, 1780.15, 1790.85 Lic Housing, 970, 983.95, 967.65, 978.05 Lupin Limite, 1930, 1938, 1915, 1925.3 Mahanagar Te, 65, 65.2, 64, 64.5 Mahindra & M, 602, 614, 598.6, 610.1 Maruti Suzuk, 1415.9, 1415.9, 1392.2, 1396.1 Max India Lt, 156, 158.85, 155, 157.9 Maytas Infr., 206.8, 209.85, 204.1, 208.25 Moser-baer (, 67.9, 68.1, 66.85, 67.4

and look out for a wide array of collectibles ranging from intricate handicrafts to finger food.

Discover interesting cooking tips, from choosing the right ingredients to preparing a Chinese Dialect dish. Choose from a wide variety of cooking classes ranging from hands-on classes to engaging cooking demonstrations.

For the first time Singapore Food Festival goes digital with an exciting online cooking game, ‘Grandma’s Kitchen’, where you can choose and whip up your own Chinese dialect dishes such as Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) or Hokkien Mee (fried noodles).

At the end of the game, you will receive the full recipe of your chosen dish. The game is hosted on www.singaporefoodfestival.com and downloadable as an iPhone application.

Check out the Food In Trans-

Mrpl, 83, 84.25, 81.65, 82 Nagarjuna Co, 186.75, 187.5, 184.35, 185.8 Nagarjuna Fe, 33.4, 34.5, 33.1, 34.4 National Alu, 429.3, 433.8, 424.5, 426.6 Neyveli Lign, 160.5, 163.4, 157.55, 161.45 Ntpc Ltd, 203, 203.8, 198.85, 199.95 Oil And Natu, 1297.3, 1309.9, 1282.3, 1285.4 Omaxe Limite, 93.2, 94.6, 93.15, 93.9 Oriental Ban, 323.5, 324.9, 319.1, 322.25 Pantaloon Re, 415.15, 423.95, 415.15, 421.35 Parsvnath De, 122.9, 125.45, 122.05, 122.55 Petronet Lng, 78.65, 79, 77.6, 78.4 Power Fin Co, 295.7, 299, 293.6, 297.1 Power Grid C, 103, 103.9, 100, 102.1 Praj Industr, 81, 81.95, 80, 80.75 Punj Lloyd L, 133.5, 135.25, 132.3, 133.4 Punjab Natio, 1032, 1098, 1024.75, 1074.7 Rajesh Expor, 82.2, 82.25, 80, 81.25 Ranbaxy Labs, 451.55, 462.4, 451.55, 460.15 Rashtriya Ch, 90.1, 91.85, 87, 90.3 Rel. nat. re, 51.2, 51.2, 45, 46.3 Reliance Cap, 754.9, 757.25, 743.1, 748.5 Reliance Com, 192, 192.3, 185, 185.5

lation blog where famous local food bloggers share their experiences about the Singapore Chinese dialect dishes they tried on their food tours.

Throughout the month of July, there will be island wide dining privileges to boost the local dining scene and a lucky draw which will be open to all diners who incur a minimum spend at participating F&B establishments.

Exclusive dining privileges at participating establishments will also be extended to Standard Chartered Bank card members.

BOARD MEETINGS Available Fin Infodrive TECIL Chemicals Chemfab Alk Religare Enter Zodiac Cloth Source: Indiainfoline.com

Reliance Ene, 892, 919.99, 892, 896.56 Reliance Ind, 984.8, 987.8, 967.5, 969.75 Reliance Ind, 1070, 1073.15, 1062.7, 1068.3 Reliance Pow, 178, 190, 176.7, 181 Rolta India, 166.8, 168.5, 166.15, 167.15 Satyam Compu, 91.75, 92.9, 90.5, 91.75 Sesa Goa Ltd, 346.9, 351.7, 343.15, 346.8 Shipping Cor, 156.2, 158.9, 156.2, 157.65 Siemens Ltd, 719, 723.6, 713.25, 714.85 Sintex Indus, 319, 319, 310.25, 314.75 Sobha Develo, 285, 290, 283.15, 287.75 State Bank O, 2265.1, 2294, 2253.55, 2272.5 Steel Author, 190, 191.35, 189.1, 190.35 Sterlite Ind, 161.5, 162.6, 159.5, 160.2 Sun Pharmace, 1742, 1767, 1735.3, 1740.2 Sun Tv Netwo, 431, 434.35, 425, 430.15 Suzlon Energ, 58, 58.95, 57.5, 58.05 Tata Communi, 258.75, 264.3, 248.65, 260.35 Tata Consult, 748.8, 748.9, 737.1, 739 Tata Motors, 764.95, 779.75, 759.1, 763.2 Tata Power C, 1300, 1319.5, 1298, 1309.2 Tata Steel L, 476, 476.1, 470, 471.75

Tata Tea Ltd, 120.8, 121.9, 120, 120.4 Tata Teleser, 21.8, 21.95, 21.6, 21.65 Tech Mahindr, 742.1, 764.2, 742.1, 753.65 The Ge Shpg., 291.8, 295, 285.95, 292.35 The Phoenix, 214, 217.95, 212, 216.65 Thermax Ltd, 741, 772.9, 738.05, 752.25 Titan Indust, 2344.9, 2344.9, 2301.55, 2330.45 Torrent Powe, 351.1, 375, 351.1, 354.3 Triveni Engg, 104.5, 104.65, 102.15, 103.2 Tv18 India L, 95.65, 97.85, 94.3, 97 Uco Bank, 77.5, 78.25, 77.25, 77.85 Ultratech Ce, 871, 890, 833.95, 867 Union Bank O, 314.95, 314.95, 310, 312.05 Unitech Ltd, 72.6, 73.15, 72, 72.4 United Phosp, 183, 183.05, 179.6, 180.2 Videocon Ind, 209, 212.4, 208.25, 210.7 Vijaya Bank, 60.2, 61.4, 60.2, 60.9 Voltas Ltd, 203.7, 205.75, 200.1, 204.05 Wipro Ltd, 386, 391.4, 383.8, 390.05 Yes Bank Lim, 266, 270.25, 266, 268.4 Zee Entertai, 293.8, 297.15, 292.85, 293.85

Pg13­

HE RA LD

SPORTS GOA, Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

Paes steady, Sania drops further in rankings AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 5

l Federer drops to No 3 for 1st time since Nov 2003

Veteran Indian tennis ace Leander Paes, who clinched his 12th Grand Slam with the Wimbledon mixed doubles' title, remained steady at sixth in the ATP list but Sania Mirza's free-fall continued in the WTA chart issued on Monday.

Paes, who partnered Zimbabwean Cara Black to lift his sixth mixed doubles Grand Slam on Sunday in London, has 5,960 points in the doubles rankings.

With the Wimbledon triumph, Paes went one better than his estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi in the number of Grand Slams titles and he maintains that upperhand even in rankings.

Bhupathi, who along with Belarussian partner Max Mirnyi made a third-round exit from the Wimbledon, is seventh on

the chart with 5,110 points.

In the WTA list, the dip continues for Sania, who made a firstround exit from Wimbledon.

Fr o m l a s t week's 111, Sania has now dropped to 132nd spot with 497 points to her credit.

The Hyderabadi, how ever, remained steady on the doubles chart at 92nd with 857 points.

Meanwhile,

been ranked outside the top two since November 2003.

Federer, winner of a record 16 Grand Slams, suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to Czech Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon, won for the second time on Sunday by world number one Rafael Nadal.

Federer also lost at the same stage of the Leander Paes (right) and Cara Black of Zimbabwe celebrate after French Open in beating Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Lisa Raymond of US 6-4, June, breaking a 7-6, (7-5) in the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon Tennis Championships record sequence at the All England Tennis Club, in south-west London, on Sunday. of 23 consecutive semi-final or betslipped down one place to world number three on Monday, the ter appearances in Grand Slams Roger Federer first time the Swiss great has going back to Roland Garros in

Nadal cements top spot, targets US Open next

Serena Williams of USA and Rafael Nadal of Spain with their winners trophies at the Wimbledon Championships 2010 winners ball at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel in London on Sunday.

AP WIMBLEDON, JULY 5

The Queen of England had the right idea coming to Wimbledon during the first week. That’s when the tournament produced most of its drama, while the final weekend stuck with a predictable script, thanks to Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Nadal cemented his status as the world’s No. 1 player Sunday, winning his second Wimbledon trophy, eighth Grand Slam championship and second major title in four weeks. He dismantled first-time Grand Slam finalist Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

The top-ranked Williams, who won Wimbledon for the fourth time Saturday, eased through seven rounds without losing a set. Nadal had the more arduous journey, being pushed to five sets in rounds two and three while battling soreness in his right knee that subsided for his later matches. He made winning the final look routine, deftly defusing Berdych’s power and dominating pivotal points.

Nadal celebrated with perhaps the first centre court somersault in the histor y of a tournament that dates to 1877.

Later, cradling the trophy under that talented left arm, he signed autographs outside the members’ entrance to the All England Club.

The victory extended Nadal’s winning streak at Wimbledon to 14 matches. The Spaniard won the title in 2008, then missed the tournament last year because of tendinitis in his knees.

“One of the toughest moments in my career, no?” he said

during the trophy ceremony.

“Amazing for me after a difficult year last year that I can be here.”

While the final weekend went as expected, with a sweep by the No. 1 players, the first week generated plenty of surprises to go with the Queen’s first Wimbledon visit since 1977.

Besides Nadal’s close calls, there was a narrow escape for top-seeded Roger Federer, who was three points from defeat in the opening centre court match, and there was the longest match in tennis history. John Isner needed three days to beat Nicolas Mahut, winning the fifth set 70-68, creating such a sustained buzz Nadal was still talking about the match after his final.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “They show amazing good spirit for the crowd, for the young people, because the attitude was very positive and fighting a lot every point, like for 10 hours or 11 hours. Just amazing.”

Nadal’s title run on the heels of his fifth French Open championship was plenty impressive, too.

In 2008, Nadal became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to sweep both majors. Federer pulled off the sweep last year, and now Nadal has done it twice.

“It didn’t happen since Borg,” Nadal said. “Now last three years it happens. How crazy is the life?”

While Spanish players were long considered clay-court specialists who couldn’t adapt to faster surfaces, Nadal spoke from the start of his career about wanting to do well at Wimble-

don. Two years ago he became the first Spanish man to win Wimbledon since Manuel Santana in 1966, and now he’s the first Spanish man to win it twice.

“To play here for me was all my life a big goal,” Nadal said.

“If you really want to play well on one surface and you are a good player, I think in the end you’re going to find a way.”

Nadal’s zeal was evident before the final began. He walked onto the centre court lawn holding a racket, eager to start swinging.

The 12th-seeded Berdych upset Federer in the quarter-finals but couldn’t duplicate that performance, and a handful of points were his downfall. Nadal converted four of six break-point chances, and saved all four break points he faced.

“The biggest difference between us was that when he got a chance, he just took it,” Berdych said. “That just shows how strong he is.”

The gap between Nadal and the rest of the men’s tour widens. This week Novak Djokovic supplants Federer at No. 2 in the rankings, but the Serb hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final since winning his only major title at the 2008 Australian Open. Federer, now No. 3, has gone five months without a tournament title since winning the Australian Open.

Nadal, meanwhile, is 31-1 with five titles since mid-April.

As the winner of eight major championships, he’s tied with such greats as Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, but Nadal still seeks a breakthrough at the U.S. Open. He has won other hard court tournaments, including the Australian Open, but his grinding style of play takes a toll on his body, especially his troublesome knees, and he has never been at a peak for the year’s final major tournament.

Nadal lost in the semi-finals the past two years and has yet to reach a final. Barely two hours after his latest London win, he wasn’t quite ready to start thinking about New York.

“For sure the U.S. Open is going to be one of my goals for rest of my career,” he said. “But right now it’s to enjoy the beach, fishing, golf, friends, party and Mallorca.”

Vagator PY soccer today HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JULY 5

The All-Goa Vagator Parish Youth inter-village soccer will get underway on July 6 (Tuesday) at Ozrant ground, Vagator.

Parish Youth, Nuvem will meet Valankani Sports Club, Arambol in the inaugural match at 4.30 p.m. Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 will be given away as prizes to the

winners and runners-up respectively besides trophies.

The other teams taking part in the tournament are - Football Club of Siolim, Saligao Sporting Club, Goa Velha Sports Club, Siolim Sodiem Sports and Cultural Association, Sao Minguel Taleigao, Holiday Club Arpora, Saligao

Four Goan boys get FIDE rating

Vagesh

Shane

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

Four more Goans have been accorded FIDE rating according to Goa State Chess Association.

That takes the Goans tally to 68.

Those awarded the new rating are: Rajas Chari: 1527. The 11-yearld-old is a Std VII student of Bhatikar Model English High School, Margao.

Vagesh Tendulkar: 1493. A

Rajas

Tejas

student of I.B.D’s S.S.Smruti High School, Ponda, who is being c oac hed by Amogh Namshikar, Prasanna Swamy and Raghunandan Gokhale.

Tejas Chari: 1452. A student of Std XI at Bhatikar Model English High School, Margao.

Shane Braganza: 1344. A student of Don Bosco High School, Panjim who is being coached by Sivaswamy, Prasanna Swamy.

United, Arpora Sporting Club, Candolim Sports Club, Nerul Sports Club, Milagres Sports Club, PVC Parra, Calangute Association and Vagator Parish Youth.

Nokia football finals HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

Andrew Telecommunication, India Pvt Ltd beat Zero Octa Selective Sourcing 3 – 2 and De Souza Hotels beat Club Prive Casino 6-5 in Nokia football fever at Don Bosco Oratory hall, here.

Casino Carnival beat Lupin Pharma 5 – 4 and Fort Aguada Beach Resort beat Syngenta India Ltd 5 – 2.

Don Bosco stormed into the finals of under-17 football defeating Portugal 6, Ponda 2-0.

Espanyol defeated Juventus Brothers 4-3 in the other match.

In all, 42 teams participated.

The finals will be held on July 11.

New gym at Mashem

2004.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, is now world number two.

Federer was last at three in the world on November 10, 2003, since which time he has notched up 15 Grand Slam titles after opening his account at Wimbledon that year.

The 28-year-old first reached world number one on February 2 2004, holding the position until August 2008 when Nadal climbed to the top.

Federer then reclaimed the top slot the following July after winning Wimbledon for the sixth time, but saw Nadal again oust him as world number one in June this year.

American Pete Sampras holds the record for time spent at number one with 286 weeks, just one more than Federer.

Sharath wins US Open TT title NEW DELHI, JULY 5

Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal notched up the biggest title of his career when he clinched the US Open Table Tennis Championships crown, beating Keineth Thomas of Slovakia at Michigan.

The world number 76 Indian overcame some tough resistance before overcoming Thomas 119, 5-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 in the long-drawn summitclash to become richer by USD 10,000 and the success would surely boost his confidence when he defends the men's singles title in Commonwealth Games.

"I am really going along nicely at the moment and happy to beat the Slovakian in the US Open. It was a tough final," said Sharath on his return.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking government control over the working of BCCI and IPL to check alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds in the two bodies.

"You want the accounts of BCCI should be audited. It is audited under the Companies Act," a Bench headed by Chief Justice, S H Kapadia said.

Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel took over the leader's yellow jersey after winning a dramatic second stage of the Tour de France from Brussels to Spa, here.

The 31-year-old was part of an eight-man breakaway after 10km and remained clear as his rivals dropped back.

The bulk of the field finished together, three minutes 56 seconds back, following a series of crashes.

Lance Armstrong slipped to

Newly-married Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not supposed to tie the knot with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat before next year but astrological considerations led to the marriage being advanced.

According to a source who attended Dhoni's wedding, at a farm house near Dehradun on Sunday night, the hushhush affair was initially planned for 2011 but had to be brought forward due to several reasons.

According to his astrologer, Dhoni, who turns 29 on July 7, has entered one of the most auspicious years of his life and both the families thought this would be the best time to formalise the couple's relationship.

Besides, the Indian skipper

didn't have the time for a complex Hindu ritual given the packed international schedule he would endure in the coming few months.

Apart from this, Sakshi's family was not exactly comfortable with the media gossip surrounding Dhoni's alleged affairs with Bollywood actresses Deepika

Padukone and Asin.

Deepika was even seen in the stands when India toured Australia last year. The Indian skipper never commented on these link-ups but that never stopped the speculation.

Dhoni and Sakshi had studied together and though they were seeing each other for around

AFP BIRMINGHAM, JULY 5

Daya Pagi inaugurating the Mashem Cricket Club gymnasium.

The remarks of the Bench came when advocate Manjulla Wadhwa, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the accounts of BCCI should be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) because the body represents the Indian cricket team.

The Bench, also comprising Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, was not impressed by the counsel's submission that government

fifth overall, while Briton Bradley Wiggins will have tests on an injured leg.

Quick Step rider Chavanel seized yellow from Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who held up the field to allow the likes of Armstrong, defending champion Alberto Contador and last year's runner up Andy Schleck to catch up following a number of spills on the slick Belgian roads.

Cancellara then orchestrated a go-slow in protest as the peloton crossed the line in union.

Chavanel leads Cancellara by

F

Football legends- Maradona, Messi and Yolanda Photo: Aldrid Da Costa

holding a pack of cards depicting his ace bowler Harbajan Singh whose performances helped

R P Singh, who is training in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, took leave days in advance to be there at the ceremony.

The wedding, for which only a few close family members and friends were invited, was a simple affair minus any alcohol.

The food ser ved for the guests was Indian and all these arrangements were made by Dhoni's Delhi-based sister Jayanti.

Australia add pace duo after Harris injury

should involve itself with the working of BCCI which is a registered society under law.

The counsel also contended that BCCI does not come under the RTI Act. The PIL, filed by a freelance journalist Alok Varshney, had sought a direction that the accounts of both BCCI and IPL should be scrutinised thoroughly and all international matches should be telecast only on Doordarshan.

two minutes 57 seconds with German Tony Martin third a further 10 seconds back.

Australia have called up pace bowlers Peter George and Doug Bollinger to their Test and Twenty20 squads respectively as replacements for the injured Ryan Harris for matches against Pakistan in England.

Harris suffered a tour-ending knee injury in the fifth and final one-day international against England at Lord's on Saturday, which Australia won by 42 runs to reduce the hosts' winning series margin to 3-2.

South Australia quick George, 23, has impressed in domestic cricket but has yet to make his international debut.

Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said in a Cricket Australia statement issued Monday: "Peter George had

India reach the final that year.

Q. What do you feel is your greatest achievement as a football

player?

YS: I have entered the Limca Book of Records for scoring the first International hat-trick for the India women’s team and also was named player of the decade in 1980 by the federation. These were great moments but scoring a bicycle kick for India in Malaysia was my fondest memory as I worked hard to perfect that action.

Q. Recently the Sports Policy has given extra marks to sports people answering exams. Do you agree with this?

YS: I feel the government has made great strides in recent years to help sportsmen but I feel in my position, I would not have been happy to receive extra marks which I have not earned because in the long run it is not going to help.

an excellent (Sheffield) Shield season last year and was called up to the New Zealand tour earlier in the year where he impressed around the squad.”

"He has followed that with a very impressive bowling performance for Australia A against Sri Lanka A recently and we are confident he will perform well at international level should he get the opportunity on this tour."

Bollinger was already in England, having been a member of the one-day squad.

Australia arrived on tour without several injured fast bowlers including Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Johnson, however, has since recovered from an elbow infection and is now with the Australia squad.

Marsh to coach Sahara Pune Warriors AGENCIES PUNE, JULY 5

Geoff Marsh, the former Australian opener, has been appointed coach of the Sahara Pune Warriors, one of the two new IPL franchises which will join the competition next season.

Marsh's coaching credentials include overseeing Australia's march to the title in the 1999 World Cup and being in charge of Zimbabwe between 2001 and 2004.

Marsh will be assisted by former England all-rounder Dermot Reeve, whose most recent assignment was a year coaching New Zealand's Twenty20 champions Central Districts.

A Sahara official confirmed to Cricinfo that Marsh and Reeve had been hired by the franchise.

Competition against good foreign rivals is needed: Yolanda

ormer international footballer Yolanda de Souza will be showcasing her collection of World Cup 2010 paintings at Kala Academy, Panjim from July 9-11.

Herald Sports Reporter, Aldrid Da Costa caught up with Yolanda at her art chamber in Calangute.

Following are the excerpts of the interview.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration from when painting?

YS.I get my inspiration from the people I have met in my life and also from my beloved Calangute which has seen drastic changes over the years. I get upset when I take my daughter to the beach and see all the garbage.

Q. Who is the first sportsmen you have painted?

YS: In 2003 I painted Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly

lost to the home team Bhopal yesterday.

Goa coach Kapil Kohli, who lost his aunt today, said, “The boys played extremely well and should have at least won the match by a margin of four to five goals.” Goa goalkeeper Lincoln Taites also pulled off some brilliant saves, stated Kohli.

Association for Control of Hockey in Goa (ACHG) president, Sigmund de Souza and general secretary, Anselm Gabriel have congratulated the team on their praiseworthy outing.

From Mumbai, Olympian, former India captain and former India coach Joaquim Carvalho has also conveyed his congratulations to the team and the ACHG on a very good performance by the Goa boys in the Nationals.

three years, the high-profile cricketer managed to keep the relationship a secret from the prying media.

Never the one to compromise on his privacy, Dhoni informed only close friend R P Singh about the wedding and even Harbhajan Singh got to know of it only on Friday -- a day before Dhoni got engaged to the 23-year-old Saskhi, the source said.

Chavanel wins 2nd stage, leads AGENCIES BELGIUM, JULY 5

Goa made history winning a match in 63rd Senior Hockey Nationals for the first time-ever when they beat Himachal Pradesh 1-0 in Bhopal on Monday.

The lone goal was scored in the 67th minute by Mulla Ibrahim.

Goa earned five penalty corners but failed to convert any due to the team’s lack of experience of playing on astroturf. But the Goa boys led by Dattesh Priolkar won the hearts of the Bhopal crowd, informed team manager Carlton Fortes.

With this result Goa finished their pool engagements with one win and one loss. Unfortunately, the result was not enough for Goa to qualify for the quarter-finals as they had

AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 5

No government control over BCCI, IPL: Supreme Court AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 5

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIML, JULY 5

Astrology led to Dhoni’s marriage being advanced

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 5

The new gymnasium worth Rs. 3.5 laks at Mashem Cricket Club was inaugurated by Daya Pagi, ZP member at Mashem, Canacona.

Pagi stated that the money was provided from the ZP funds and that if need be, the gymnasium would be upgraded in the future.

Sudesh Prabhudesai, GCA member, Santosh Satarkar, president of the club, Sharendra Naik also spoke. Govind Naik compered the function.

Goa’s first-ever win in National hockey

Q. What can be done to restore glory in women’s football in India?

YS: I believe competition against good foreign opponents is the answer especially at the age group level. In 1981 we drew with Germany at the World Cup and were also the second best Asian team behind Taiwan at the time. This was only achieved through regular matches against strong National teams.

Q. Do you have plans to get back into football as a coach?

YS: For many years I dedicated myself to football and art took a back seat. I would love to coach but to give it my all, it would have to be full time, so for now I am concentrating on my paintings.

Pune have no squad of players yet, and any strategy by the new coaching staff for building a team can be made only after the IPL governing council decides whether the original eight franchises will get to retain players.

The Sahara group, one of the biggest patrons of sports in the country, became owners of the Pune franchise in March after offering a staggering US $ 370m.

Vagator Parish Youth soccer inaugural: Parish Youth, Nuvem v. Valankani Sports Club, Arambol, Ozrant ground, Vagator, 4.30 p.m.

15th Don Bosco Youth Centre’s PVC interward football finals: Silva-Salis v. CB Gama Aradi, Verla ground, 5 p.m.

Exhibition U-15 soccer: Mary Margaret Boys Paliem v.

D o n B o s c o Pa r r a , Ve r l a ground, 4 p.m.

Sports

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Pg14 GOA’S HEARTBEAT Mexican Flautists’ Goa Eagerly awaits… … the Queen’s Baton Connect with Goa always comes bearing gifts “Change - Price Pritchett

sothan nitoll “ Mon - Anonymous

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

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The Queen’s Baton Relay, which first began at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in the then British ruled Cardiff, Wales has seen a change in form, shape and route over the years.

With the Baton having arrived in India, the host nation to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Herald takes you through the path the Baton will soon follow, in India’s tiniest state

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES ndia won the bid to play host to the nineteenth Commonwealth Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games which will take place in the capital of the country between October 3 and 14, 2010. This is huge for Indian athletes and the common Indian as it is the first time that the Games are being held in our country and possibly a pre-requisite to playing host to other bigger sporting events. Those associated with sports in Goa are excited and looking forward to it. In their opinion, it will create and spread awareness about sports and sports policies and bring in a sports mentality to the young.

Parallel to the Olympic Torch Relay, the Commonwealth Games holds the Queen's Baton Relay, also held before the start of the Commonwealth Games. It travels to all the participating nations of the Commonwealth with the baton carrying a message to the athletes from the Head of the Commonwealth, presently Queen Elizabeth II. The 2010 Baton has this message encrusted upon an eighteen carat gold leaf.

Keeping with this charming tradition, the Queen’s Baton Relay began on October 29, 2009 from the Buckingham Palace, London in the presence of the president of India, Pratibha Patil and the Queen of England. During its travelling period it will visit seventy countries of the Commonwealth. India being one among them, the Baton arrived here through the Wagh Border from Pakistan on June 25, 2010.

From this point it will make a hundredday tour through the countries twentyeight states

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­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E You can be forceful and tactful. Push a little harder, and you'll get what you want. It's a (21 Mar – 19 Apr) struggle to make it past all of today's obstacles -- but you never let a struggle stop you! Just expect slower movement for the time being, and things should be fine in the near future.

There's no need to feel possessive -- what's yours is yours. Be more at ease.Your cultural in(23 Sep – 22 Oct) stincts are good today, so get out there and soak up some art or music -- and make sure to drag along a Philistine friend or two!

Exposing them to the best parts of life is your job.

Someone you relate to is interested in more than friendship. Be ready for romance.Your interper(20 Apr – 20 May) sonal skills are off the charts today! You may finally get the clue you've been looking for that helps you figure out that one crazy coworker or unreasonably angry family member.

Unfortunately, you can't win 'em all. Take your losses as a lesson and learn! Don't be so hard (23 Oct – 21 Nov) on yourself -- even someone like you has to come up short now and then! It's one thing to accept defeat to a superior opponent and plan for the future, and another to complain and work the ref.

Issues need attention, not avoidance. Pretending won't make it go away. Though you may (21 May – 21 Jun) be tempted to just bounce along from person to person today, you need to make a more concerted effort to pay close attention to what folks are really trying to tell you.

Their behavior is so predictable, it's mundane.

Throw a curve -- see what happens. Break (22 Nov – 21 Dec) down today's big issue into tiny, bite-sized pieces -- otherwise, you're sure to feel overwhelmed quickly! Your left-brain powers are all charged up and more than ready to go.

Even your craziest ideas get a lot of support -- put your plans into action.

You've got vast reserves (22 Jun – 22 Jul) of natural charm to draw upon when the time is right -- like right now! Whether you're at a job interview or a casual get-together, you can really wow those you're chatting with.

Seek out pleasure ... relaxation and pampering are just what you need right now. Your soft side (22 Dec – 19 Jan) comes out in a big way today, making it perfect for romance.

Settle in for an evening with your sweetie -- or rework your online profile from top to bottom to attract fresh eyes.

You deserve a celebration, just don't overindulge. Splurge a little -- not a lot. You're (23 Jul – 22 Aug) feeling a little extra stubborn today, but that doesn't mean that all is lost for those around you!

It may be a good time for you to experiment with standing your ground in a different way.

It takes time to learn new things. And pressure won't speed anything up.

You need to cope with (20 Jan – 18 Feb) today's intense boredom, rather than trying to escape it.

There's a silver lining, of course: The down time can give you the space you need to figure out a few things.

Compatibility is important, but it's not everything. If there's spark, continue. You need to (23 Aug – 22 Sep) broaden your horizons - literally. Travel should be on your mind now, and if it's not, that means you need to force yourself to pick a destination and then make plans to get there somehow.

Build your intuitive senses by believing in yourself -- your gut won't let you down. Expect a (19 Feb – 20 Mar) little sprinkling of romance to come your way today -even if you're firmly enmeshed in a long-term relationship. It may be a flirt at work or a deepening of your connection, but you love it.

and seven union territories, which will end in New Delhi on the first day of the Games, October 3.

Travelling through land, sea, rail and road the historic Baton will arrive in Goa, from Karwar in Karnataka on September 7 say sources at the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Campal, Panjim. It will be passed around for two days in Goa and handed over to its next destination.

While in Goa, the Baton will travel from Margao where it will arrive, to Ponda to Old Goa to Panjim, Mapusa, the Cabo Raj Niwas, Dona Paula to Patradevi where it will be shipped out of the state to the neighbouring Maharashtra. Through the course of its circulation in Goa it will travel on wheels, the two exceptions being from Old Goa to Panjim where the Baton will be shipped across via the ferry boat.

From here it will scale most of Panjim, passing the famous Immaculate Conception Church. The second route will be from the Secretariat in Panjim to Mapusa. Runners will be stationed every half a kilometre in beThrough the course of tween the routes and the Baton will its circulation in Goa it be carried among them, on foot. will travel on wheels, the The Baton Rally will be accompanied an array of cultural programmes two exceptions being by and felicitation of senior from Old Goa to Panjim sports achievers of where the Baton will Goa. be shipped across via the B e i n g ferry boat and the second passed down top Goan being from the Secre- from athletes who tariat in Panjim to Ma- have excelled pusa. Runners will be at the internastationed every half a tional and nalevel and kilometre in between the tional Arjuna Award routes and the Baton will recipients, the be carried among them, Baton will also be handed over on foot. to the average common athlete and what an exciting moment for them it will be. “The general public should join in too”, says a top director of a sports association, adding, “and in large numbers.

And they should welcome it from their heart.” It is indeed a very proud moment for Indian and Goan athletes alike.

Designed by Michael Foley, a graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, the Baton is made up of a triangular section of aluminium, twisted in the form of a helix. Soil is coated upon it and at its pinnacle lays the message of the Queen. This was designed keeping in mind 'patras’ or leafs that were solidified together to put down textual matter in ancient India. As the rules of design state that the material utilised for the design should be from within the country, Foley used a variety of different coloured soils – white, red, brown, yellow - from various parts of India

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BY CLARON MAZARELLO alking about corridors, watching children on their instruments, this seven-year-old sees a much older girl playing traverse flute. “It was love at first sight,” says Aura Rascon on the birth of her love for the flute. Besides performing alongside her Guruji, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, on different occasions, including concerts in the Nehru Centre and the ‘Spiritual Morning Concert’, organised at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, a few years ago, this Mexican flautist has possibly seen and experienced a lot more of India than you and me. “I came to live here from 1997 to 1999 as a UWC (United World Colleges) student. It was a wonderful experience; I not only met and lived with people from all over the world, but also with Indian people, from all regions, religions and socio-economical backgrounds of India. All these differences made me realise and experience the huge contrasts of India and understand its complexity as an extremely diverse nation,” she beams, with a look typical of a foreigner mesmerised by our country.

Currently preparing to accompany her Guruji on his USA and Mexico tour in September 2010, Aura's is also completing her Masters in ‘Bansuri', North Indian Classical music, at the Conservatory of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. “I am basing my artistic research for my masters, on the possibilities to expand the ‘Raag’ improvisation structure of Hindustani classical music, into (polyphonic) ensemble compositions, mixing Western and non-Western instruments…developing Hindustani classical music structures for chamber music ensembles. In this way, I combine the main musical traditions I have studied during my life - Western classical music and North Indian classical,” she explains.

Having seen both sides of the fence, she draws many parallels between India and her country. “It is exactly what I see in my country.

Mexico and India are both extremely rich countries, strong international economies in the general sense; but it is so sad to see that the political system in both countries give incredible benefits to a very few individuals and none to the large majority of its population. It is this uneven and undemocratic distribution of wealth that is making India and Mexico a third world country, which I don’t think either of these two beautiful and powerful nations deserves,” she opines.

In a country where some people do not have literally anything to eat and have to fight to keep their one-metre square sleeping place; to Aura Rascon, it seemed totally incongruous that some others live in mansions with eleven servants and spill out money in frivolous events.

“Without feeling any social concern and commitment,” is her observation.

Apart from playing at the Saturday Night Market at Arpora this April alongside the legendary Niladri Kumar (zitar or the electric sitar), Aura Rascon's tryst with Goa happened in 1997. Already involved in electronic music (predominantly down tempo or chillout) and very interested in underground music circuits, “… psychedelic trance was in its rise and Goa was its Mecca…” she recalls. “Things were very much happening then… It was wild and wonderful; a meeting point for very interesting, alternative and creative people from all over the world in a beautiful paradise; what else do you need?” she questions.

Aura is another one of those who firmly believes that Goa is an inspiration for many, in fact all – the creative as well as the non-creative.

“Technique, skill and mastery of your instrument is a must; but not all,” reviews Aura, adding, “it is ultimately not about how fast or complicated you play; but simply about how much you truly feel what you play.” Coming from someone this well-read and renowned, this surely holds true.

Lautner puts a Pause on College for Hollywood Career T

wilight’ star Taylor Lautner has indefinitely put his plans to finish college on hold in order to focus on his budding movie career. The 18-year-old actor enrolled into a local community college near his hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA but quit when he landed his big Hollywood break with the vampire franchise.

But Lautner, who plays werewolf Jacob Black in the hit movie series, fears he may never finish his coursework if the acting offers continue to pour in. When asked whether

he plans on going back to college, Lautner said, “Yeah, as long as I'm not working.”

His career in acting seems to be on a new high, apart from basking in the glory of the third instalment of the Twilight series and awaiting the next two movies, this good looking werewolf, is being considered for a role in another sci-fi flick.

The 20th Century Fox studio is eyeing Lautner for a role in the upcoming ‘X-Men: First Class’, as it wants more young talent in the movie.

If Lautner is lucky he will be a part of another epic series.

Bipasha joins the Tweeting Bandwagon A

nd finally the fans of oomph lady, Bipasha Basu have reason to celebrate. The dusky beauty has now joined the Twitter bandwagon. Sensing that her counterparts in Bollywood are having a gala time on the website, she has become a part of it adding more glitter to the star-studded micro-blogging site.

Quotes the actress’s first tweet, “Hello guys! late entry in twitterverse but nevertheless am here now. A big thank you to all my fans for helping me become who I am 2day.” When buzz that Bips had entered the Twitter zone, as expected, she earned nearly 27, 000 followers, and all in a day.

Bipasha was later welcomed by her film industries near and dear ones, among who was Abhishek Bachchan. Reflecting his usual jovial side, the actor tweeted, “please welcome my ‘sautan’ bipasha.... fyi John still likes me more! Haha,” to her. Here, Abhishek was referring to John as his ‘Dostana’ partner. Bipasha tweeted back saying, “Thank you for a warm welcome my dear ‘sautan’, and the cutest and the naughtiest co-star of mine.”

Twitter has a long list of Bollywood actors logging in to keep in touch with their fans and wellwishers, some of the likes are Aamir Khan, who joined Twitter a few days ago after Amitabh Bachchan persuaded him. Other tweeters include Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Mallika Sherawat and plenty more.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Art Event 2010’, free art workshop, organised by the Society for Promoting Arts, Culture and Education (SPACE) and supported by the Directorate of Art and Culture will be held till March 2011 every Sunday from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Bartholomeu’s School Hall or at the Dayanand Bandodkar High School.

Call 9922898694 or 9850871608.

‘Gadad Tinsana’, in memory of the legendary Goan poet, the late B B Borkar will be held on July 8 at 4:30pm at the Kala Academy, Panjim. It is organised by the Department of Art and Culture and the B B Borkar Birth Centenary Committee. Call 2420452.

Applications for various music examinations are open at the Bal Bhavan, Campal Goa. Registration closes on August 16. Call 2226823.

A Ponda Taluka Interschool and Higher Secondary School Level Essay Competition will be held on July 18 from 10am to 12pm at the Saraswati High School, Kawale. It is organised by the Gomantak Maratha Samaj as part of the Dayanand Bandodkar birth centenary celebration.

‘Fundamentals of Photography’, photography classes, conducted by Tiger Studio begins on July 19 from 3pm to 5:30pm. Call 9822388450 or 9421742818.

A part time Konkani course in the Roman script, conducted by the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), Porvorim will be held from July 12 to August 11 every Monday and Thursday between 9:45am to 12:45pm at Chicalim, Vasco. Call 2415864 or 2415857.

A Konkani literary contest in the Roman script, organised by the Goan Review Art Foundation (GRAF) is

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

scuttle

Funny Quote

“Just because nobody complains doesn’t mean all parachutes are perfect.”

Pronunciation SKUH-T-l Function Noun

– Mae West

Meaning 1 : a deep bucket for carrying coal 2 : a small hatch or port in the deck, side, or bottom of a vessel 3 : a small hatchlike opening in a roof or ceiling

SUDOKU 597

open for registration till July 31. Call 2630139.

‘Click a Croak’, an amphibian photographer contest, organised by Earthworm Ecostore is open for registration till August 8.

E-mail earthwormgoa@gmail.com. Call 2410871.

‘Coconut Heritage Photography Contest’, organised by Heritage Jazz is open for registration till July 10.

Entry forms are available at Champs and Big G in Margao and Champs, Magsons, Don Bosco Oratory and the Gonsalves Mansion in Panjim.

Entries should be submitted at the Gonsalves Mansion, Campal. Visit www.heritagejazz.com. Call 2228010.

A legal literary camp will take place on July 17 at 4pm at Gananath Temple Hall, Nivankal, Ponda.

‘Financial Assistance for Cultural Institution’, a scheme of the Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi is open for registration till July 6. Visit the Directorate of Art and Culture, Shrama Shakti Bhavan, Patto, Panjim. Call 2438103.

A course on interpersonal psychotherapy, organised by Sangath will take place from July 19 to 30. Email robert@sangath.com. Call 2414916, 2417914, 2411709 or 2415118.

‘The Eco-Modular Kitchen Contest’ is open to entries. Registration closes on July 15. E-mail creativeimpressionsgoa@rediffmail.com. Call 9822127845.

The birth anniversary of educationalist Professor Vinayak Jeevaj Mahatme will be celebrated on July 22 at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Parchment, punch craft, paper quilling will be taught in an art and craft workshop for kids between 5 to 16 years. Call 9881696445.

DAILY GROOK AXED TEXT

by Francis Rodrigues dumping her by sms, cld get real vexed, to avoid this mess prepare a pretext!

YMCA Charity Jumble Sale attracts Heavy Crowds HERALD FEATURES he YMCA, Women’s Forum recently held their self-organised jumble sale at the YMCA, Campal, Panjim. The sale, which the members of the YMCA had begun collections for some months prior to the date saw a good response. Tables were laden with a collection of books, household items, clothes, footwear and traditional Goan food and bakes. There was a flow of buyers, of all ages, all through the day, which began at 10am and ended at 5pm. A highlight of the day was hampers which were up for auctioning. The entire money received from the slae will either go to an orphanage or a home for HIV AIDS children say organisers at the YMCA, Women’s Forum.

Their next event will be something related to the environment

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09:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli

09:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 10:00 Papad Pol 10:15 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta 11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta..

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Papad Pol..

14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta..

14:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 15:00 Lapataganj 15:30 FIR 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta..

16:30 Papad Pol...

17:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma

08:30 Like Mike 10:30 The Big Boss 12:30 Casino Royale 15:15 Starsky & Hutch 17:15 Swimfan 19:00 Penelope 21:00 Taken 22:55 The Living Daylights

09:15 Pitch Black 11:30 Hollywood One on One 12:00 Mad City 14:30 Hamlet 2 16:15 Stealing Harvard 18:00 TMZ 18:30 Kiss the Girls 21:00 Polar Storm 23:00 Fear

10:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 11:00 India's Magic Star

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A Proud Moment forJustice Ferdinho Rebello HERALD FEATURES he Goa Hitrakhan Manch felicitated Justice Ferdinho Rebello for assuming the high office of the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court. It is a great honor to this state that Rebello has been chosen to head the biggest High Court in India. The Goa Hit Rakhan Manch records the progressive outlook of Justice Rebello who has always been a person with a great social vision. Rebello who has functioned as a member of the Goa legislative Assembly has also set high standards for legislators.

The Goa Hit Rakhan Manch hopes that the judges and the legislators of this state shall take note of the high standards set by justice Rebello and take steps in that direction in emulating on the social and progressive path.

The degradation of value system in our state, which was otherwise known for high moral standards should be put to an end. With the elevation of Justice Rebello as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Goa has proved that it can produce persons of eminence who can dawn any high office in the country.

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NRBSC Recreation Centre celebrates 3 Years with Laughter Show HERALD FEATURES he Narayan Rajaram Bandekar Senior Citizens Recreation Centre (NRBSC Recreation Centre), Pedda, Margao, a venture of the Lion Club of Margao Service Trust, completed three years on July 1.

The event was celebrated with ‘Laughter Evening’ at the Ravindra Bhavan. Dr Ajay Vaidya, noted orthopedic surgeon and writer was the chief guest for the function. With his typical humour, he gave the audience a list of benefits of being a senior citizen. He also said that the number of recreation centers should be increased rather than old aged homes.

He appreciated the activities of the centre for their efforts. Tulsidas Malkarnenkar president of center also spoke on the occasion. Bhinge from Prudent Media imitated the political leaders of Goa. Dhargalkar presented humorous skits. Sandeep Ambe and partner presented an amusing short play depicting the present issues of the common man.

A group of well-known comedy child artistes entertained the audience with their skits and short plays.

A large group of senior citizens with their families and children were present in the evening, and all laughed to their hearts content.

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Kitchen Garden Workshop at Goa Chitra, provides Valuable Home Gardening Info HERALD FEATURES o cope with changing lifestyles, a daylong workshop was organized by the Goa Chitra Museum and Vardaan – The Eco Shop on the July 4, with an overwhelming response.

The aim of the workshop on kitchen gardening and organic farming was to teach participants to grow their own vegetables the healthy way and to discuss the self sustaining lifestyles of our ancestors.

To make it even more beneficial the participants were taken on a tour of the museum by the curator Mr. Victor Hugo Gomes, which has on display various indigenous tools used in farming that are hundreds of years old. Victor adds “The reason we are conducting such workshops is to promote a self sustain life style for a better tomorrow. Not only our bodies but the earth that houses us is crying to be looked after, and we have the answers that our ancestors took so much effort to find out.

We need to relearn” The resource expert Mr. Miguel Braganza, Addl. Director, OFAI Secretariat, Mapusa, explained the methods involved in preparation of the soil. “The composition of a soil, the nutrients present in it as well as the local climate is the deciding factor about what will or will not grow in a particular kind of soil in a particular area. One can

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08:00 Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin 12:05 Pyar Hua Chori Chori 16:10 Jung 20:00 Darna Mana Hai 23:00 Sssshhh...

14:10 The Whole Ten Yards 16:15 Game 6 18:00 Hollywood One on One 18:30 Dark Blue 21:00 Into The Sun 23:15 Click

09:30 1947: Earth 12:30 Veergati 16:00 Tirchhi Topiwale 20:00 Humjoli

08:30 Tadipaar 12:00 Jamai Raja 16:00 Aadmi Khilona Hai 20:00 Beta 23:50 Ghaath

09:35 Chicks on Flicks 10:05 A Good Man in Africa 12:00 Phoenix

08:00 Shapath 12:00 Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi 16:00 Dillagi 20:00 God Tussi Great Ho

E N T E R TA I N M E N T Allahabadwale 17:30 Gutar Gu 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta..

18:30 Papad Pol...

19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Papad Pol 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta..

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale

Fashion

INGS

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SOUTH POLE

11:30 Indian Idol 13:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 13:30 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 14:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 14:30 Aahat 15:30 C.I.D 18:00Comedy Circus Ke Superstars 19:30 Godh Bharaai 20:00 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00Indian Idol 22:30 Aahat

EN

PEN T HAP

Entertainment

HERALD FEATURES he Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd (GHRSSIDC) is proud to announce the launch of its e-portal for marketing of Goan Handicrafts. It launch took place recently at the hands of Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat in the presence of Chairperson, GHRSSIDC, Sameer Salgaocar and the Board of Directors, GHRSSIDC at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim.

The Chief Minister appreciated GHRSSIDC's efforts to provide the artisans another platform to sell Goan handicrafts and for its efforts to keep up with the advances in technology.

He also noted that it will henceforth be very convenient for customers to purchase handicrafts from the comfort of their homes.

Besides his statement, this website will also provide the Goan artisans a marketing channel to sell their handicrafts.

Customers from all over India can now log on to www.ghrssidc.org or www.goanhandicrafts.com and purchase an array of Goan handicrafts online.

GARFIELD

11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 14:30 Behenein 15:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 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 Tere Liye 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 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye l

CURR

Information Technology

GHRSSIDC launches its E-Portal

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 596 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

09:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 10:00 Choti Bahu 10:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 11:00 Agle JanamMoheBitiyaHiKijo 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Do Saheliyaan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Do Saheliyaan 15:00 AgleJanamMoheBitiyaHiKijo 15:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 AgleJanamMoheBitiyaHiKijo 17:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Do Saheliyaan 19:00 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 AgleJanamMoheBitiyaHiKijo 22:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 22:30 Do Saheliyaan

Education

12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 14:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 15:00 Jeena Sirf Mere Liye 18:00 Laughter Ke Phatke 18:30 Star One Horror Nights 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet

11:00 CSI: NY: Manhattanhenge

12:00 Guinness World Records 13:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 14:00 Top Chef : The Elements 15:00 Whacked Out Sports 15:30 Slamball 16:00 Infomercial 17:00 The Amazing Race 18:00 Leverage 19:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 19:30 Total Wipeout 21:00 So You Think You Can Dance 22:00 Caught on Camera

10:00 30 Rock 10:30 The Simpsons

11:00 V.I.P 12:00 Friends 12:30 White Collar 13:30 America's Got Talent 14:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

15:00 Desperate Housewives 16:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 White Collar 18:00 V.I.P 19:00 30 Rock 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 Glee 21:00 Friends 21:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

22:00 White Collar

09:00 Resorts World Sentosa Martial Combat 2010 13:00 ICTSI 14:00 FIM Motocross World Championship 2010 H/ls 20:30 Golf Focus 2010 21:30 2010 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships 23:30 Spirit of Golf 2010

09:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Afric: Chile vs. Spain 11:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Review 12:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Magazine Show 12:30 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Switzerland vs Honduras 14:30 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: USA vs Ghana 17:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: Argentina vs Mexico 19:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Matchday H/ls 21:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Matchday H/ls 22:00 Sportscenter India

23:50 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Semifinal 1: Uruguay vs. Netherlands

08:30 2010 Australia vs. Pakistan H/ls : 1st T20 10:30 Moto GP H/ls : Gran Premi Aperol De Catalunya 11:30 2010 South Africa Tour to West Indies H/ls : 4th ODI 13:30 Great Centuries 14:00 The Inside Story : Pakistan vs. England: 1st T20 14:30 ICC Cricket Show 15:00 2010 Australia vs. Pakistan H/ls : 1st T20 17:00 WWE: After Burn

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Juke Box 11:30 Goa Fusion Concert 12:00 Talking Talkies 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Kids Club 15:30 Goa Youth Fusion Concert 16:00 Juke Box 16:30 Flavors 17:00 Khell Tiatr 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Khell Tiatr 22:00 English News 23:00 Juke Box 23:30 Sportlight with Malaika 00:00 Youth Fusion Concert 00:30 Flavors 01:00 Art of Living 01:30 Sangeet Note: Subject to change

however alter the state of the soil by using additives such as sand, compost and humus, mud to improve the drainage and water holding capacity of the soil to help plants grow better.” He took the participants into the field to demonstrate how to make ridges and furrows, how to sow vegetable seeds and how to top up the soil around the seedling once it grown The lecture further helped participants to understand various concepts involved in organic farming from Nutrients, Pest and disease management and Panchagavya.

Miguel demonstrated the art of potting a plant; how to plant a tree or vegetables in a pot. Soil care, potting, pruning of shoots and roots, repotting, watering and sunlight requirements were covered in brief.

The post lunch session had a lecture cum demonstration of composting by Clinton Vaz; a young environmentalist from Benaulim. The programme was then concluded by Miguel with a lecture session covering the specific needs of different vegetables and fruits in cultivation; Preparation of seeds for germination etc.

HERALD CROSSWORD - 597 Across 1- Like a recluse; 9- Overhaul; 15- Spanish Miss; 16Dodges; 17- Bed; 18- Alberta's home; 19- Switch ending; 20- Mall-goer, often; 22- Component of organic fertilizer; 26- Fishermen; 27Damage; 29- Sun. talk; 30Hwy.; 31- Random; 33Geneva's lake; 38- Person of great influence; 39- Lack of success; 41- Neighborhoods; 42- Accessory; 43Georgia, once: Abbr.; 46Hawaiian acacia; 47- Best; 48- Resident of Canadian region; 52- Chou ___; 54Specialist in religious law; 56- Celestial body; 59Threefold; 60- Manner; 64Wholly; 65- Pressured; 66Closer; 67- Most lucid; Down 1- Salinger girl; 2- Back; 3Group of attendants; 4- Engine; 5- Like some vbs.; 6- Bind; 7T.G.I.F. part; 8- Dramatic troupe; 9- Of late occurrence; 10- In keeping with the Gospels; 11Artificial waterway; 12- Maxim; 13- Passover feast; 14- Autocratic Russian rulers; 21- Decoration at the top of a chair leg; 23- Kill; 24- Milk source; 25Della's creator; 27- Baby's cry; 28- Rent-___; 32- Actress Merkel; 34- Biblical high priest;

35- Throng; 36- He sang SOLUTION - 596 about Alice; 37- Tides that attain the least height; 39Simulate; 40- Bartlett's abbr.; 44- Mariner; 45Hosp. workers; 48- Join the cast of; 49- Chili con ___; 50- Writer Loos; 51Giver; 53- Fall bloomer; 55- Apply powder to oneself; 57- Bustles; 58- 1996 Tony-winning musical; 61___ Aviv; 62- ___ kwon do; 63- Actress Balin;

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GOA, Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

France Football, FIFA merge world player awards

tains.

The new award will be voted

for by journalists, coaches and captains from FIFA’s 208 National members.

Blatter said FIFA’s world player-of-the year award for women would continue under a new name yet to be determined.

FIFA and France Football also will create new awards for the world’s best coach and best technical director, and continue selecting a world’s best starting line-up of 11 players. That honour was created in conjunction with FIFPro, the international umbrella group of players’ unions.

The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony scheduled January 10 in FIFA’s home city of Zurich.

“It will be really a bouquet of flowers and ladies will be included (in having an award category),” Blatter said.

nity."

Kuyt, who blossomed at Feyenoord where he scored an impressive 83 goals in 122 matches, moved to Liverpool in 2006 and said he was looking forward to working with new manager Roy Hodgson "It is good news that everything is sorted out," said Kuyt after Hodgson agreed a threeyear deal with the club last week

to replace Rafael Benitez.

"I haven't spoken to the manager yet because everyone at Liverpool wanted me to prepare for Holland's game but I'm looking forward to speaking to him."

Hodgson has taken steps to introduce himself to all members of the Liverpool squad, including those still on World Cup duty, which include Kuyt and fellow Dutchman Ryan Babel.

AFP ERASMIA, JULY 5

pared to Casillas," said Neuer.

He is an incredibly good goalkeeper who has enjoyed so much success in the past. But I like to play for a zero and it will be the same on Wednesday."

The goals Neuer let in came in the 1-0 group-stage defeat

by Serbia and the 4-1 last-16 win over England and he says the credit for Germany's defensive miserliness must be shared with his defence.

"It is thanks to some outstanding defending that we have only conceded two goals in the tournament, we can be very happy with that," he said.

Real Madrid's Casillas has also only leaked two goals so far at this tournament and Neuer says the Germans will need a bit of arrogance in Durban on Wednesday.

"You have to show the opposition who's boss," said Neuer.

"If you manage that, you have already achieved a little something."

AP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 5

World football’s two most prestigious player-of-the year awards will merge into a single title called the Ballon d’Or from next year.

Europe’s existing Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s World Player-of-the Year award will cease to exist as individual entities and the new award will be given for the first time in January.

“From January of next year we will have one single trophy for the best player in the world,” FIFA President, Sepp Blatter said Monday.

The deal was announced by France Football magazine publisher Marie-Odile Amaury and Blatter, though no financial details of the initial four-year partnership were revealed.

“We are very proud to be announcing this together with you,” Amaury told the FIFA President at a ceremony on the sidelines of the World Cup. France Football created its European Footballer-of-the Year award - the Ballon d’Or, or Golden Ball - in 1956 from a poll of European journalists. The award was later opened to players of any nationality playing in Europe, then to those from any club worldwide.

FIFA’s first presented its award

FIFA President Joseph S Blatter and President of the Amaury Group Marie-Odile Amaury pose after a "FIFA Ballon d'Or" (Golden Ball) agreement during a FIFA and France Football joint press conference in Sandton, Johannesburg on Monday.

in 1991. It is voted for by National team coaches and cap-

Workmanlike Kuyt close to lifelong dream AFP CAPE TOWN, JULY 5

Dirk Kuyt admits he has dreamt of playing in a World Cup final all his life, but the Holland and Liverpool winger knows he needs to put those thoughts aside and focus on the job ahead.

The hard-working 29-year-old has been a mainstay of the Netherlands team in South Africa and is certain to take his place in the starting line-up against Uruguay in their semifinal here on Tuesday.

He said the whole team was excited at still being in the tournament, but they were not get getting carried away at the prospect of meeting either Germany or Spain in the decider.

"We are all so happy and we know how close we are to getting to the final," he told his club website.

"This is something we have dreamed about our whole lives but we know that we have got to be careful and everyone expects us to get there now.

"We have got a lot of hard work to do. We have got to make sure we stick together and not get too carried away because the semi-final will be the hardest game we play. But we have got a fantastic opportu-

Shot-magnet Neuer plots Spanish shut-out

Germany's Manuel Neuer has pulled off the most saves of the four goalkeepers left at the World Cup, but the Schalke shotstopper is only thinking about a clean sheet in Wednesday's semi-final.

Having denied Argentina in Saturday's 4-0 rout in the quarter-finals, Neuer is hoping for another shut-out against Spain on Wednesday with a place in Sunday's final at Johannesburg's Soccer City at stake.

Neuer has conceded just two goals so far at South Africa 2010, but saved 18 shots; more than Fernando Muslera of Uruguay, who has 15 saves, Holland's Maarten Stekelenburg (13) and Spain captain Iker Casillas (10).

Spanish media have even dubbed the 24-year-old from Gelsenkirchen the 'German Casillas'.

"I haven't heard that, but of course it's an honour to be com-

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Pg17

GOA, Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

Villa eyes Golden Boot, Klose Ronaldo’s record shooting boots at home, but David Villa and Miroslav Klose are on a hot streak of goalscoring form as the tournament reaches its climax.

Both men have been averaging almost a goal a game as they battle with Thomas Mueller and Wesley Sneijder for the coveted Golden Boot.

Not only that, but Villa and Klose have further records in their sights.

Germany's Klose chose his 100th appearance for Germany to claim his 13th and 14th goals at World Cup tournaments, the same tally as compatriot Gerd Mueller and one less than the allt i m e re c o rd held by Brazilian Ronaldo.

It is an astonishing turnaround for Klose, sent off in the second group game as Germany went down to Serbia.

At that point, it seemed the 32-year-old's World Cup career might David Villa be over, but a narrow AFP win over Ghana in his absence PARIS, JULY 5 handed him a reprieve and since Lionel Messi, Kaka and Wayne he returned from suspension he Rooney left their World Cup has helped to bundle out Eng-

player. I have always watched him and I'm happy to see him join Barcelona, a club which will suit him right down to the ground," says his German rival.

Villa has already become the top marksman for Spain in World Cup histor y with eight goals, leaving behind Spanish greats,

land and tormented Argentina with a brace.

Four years ago, Klose won the sharpshooter's accolade on home soil even though his country only reached the semifinals and now wants to become the first man to retain the award.

Villa, meanwhile, has shown why Barcelona bought him from Valencia where he had averaged 25 goals a game over the past five seasons in La Liga.

The 28-year-old suffered along with sidekick Fernando Torres in a shock opening loss to Switzerland.

But since then he has been unable to stop scoring, saving Spain in the round of 16 against Portugal and then against Paraguay in the last eight.

In contrast, Torres, the man whose goal against semi-final opponents Germany gave the Spanish their first silverware in 44 years at Euro 2008 has cut an increasingly disconsolate figure, having failed to score at all here although "he draws defenders' attention away from Villa," coach Vicente Del Bosque maintains.

Villa's next goal, starting with the game against Germany in Durban on Wednesday, is to score what would be his 44th goal in only his 64th interna-

tional.

That would tie him with Raul's 44 from 102 games as Spain's all-time leading scorer.

But he is not on an ego trip.

"Finishing as the top scorer is the least of my concerns," says Villa.

"The important thing is that we

get to the final, whether through me scoring or someone else.

Klose himself is a big fan.

"Villa is an extraordinary

Emilio Butragueno, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes and Raul, who all netted five times at the tournament.

that," admitted Kingson afterwards.

Abreu insists he knew exactly what the Ghana goalkeeper would do.

"I saw that he was diving before the shooter got to the ball,"

said Abreu. "Knowing that this penalty was worth qualification for the semi-finals, I was sure that he wouldn't stand still."

It was the kind of psychological analysis that his team-mates have come to expect from the Botafogo forward, although they usually use a single three-letter word to describe him -- mad.

"We're used to his crazy things, it's not the first time he's done that," said Uruguay captain Diego Lugano.

"It's a quality but he's as mad as he is intelligent. He studies opponents and goalkeepers. He's brave and smart."

For Abreu it's a matter of keeping your head while others around you are losing theirs.

"The mind plays a huge role. Being positive plays a lot in these situations," he said.

"It's always helped me to expect a mis-

take, even from one of my teammates. Thinking that someone could fall or continuing a run when someone shoots from distance just in case the goalkeeper spills the ball."

His approach has not always gone down well.

He has played for 17 teams in seven countries but arrived at the World Cup with the best career scoring record.

His 305 senior goals, including 26 for his country, put him three ahead of France's Thierry Henry as the most prolific of the 736 players who came to South Africa.

And those goals have come in leagues all over the world from Spain to Israel and Greece in Europe to Mexico, Argentina and his homeland in the Americas.

Right now he plays for Botafogo in Brazil where he has quickly become a cult hero.

But although he has been labelled as "Loco", Abreu feels that's an injustice.

Four years ago at the World Cup in 2006, another player hit a penalty in just the same way as Abreu did on Friday. It was in the final and the player was Zinedine Zidane, hailed a genius both before and since that goal.

"What adjective did you use to describe Zidane's penalty?"

Abreu asked journalists. "Crazy?

No, magic. So why not Abreu?"

1 m visitors in S Africa AP PRETORIA, JULY 5

South Africa’s department of home affairs says more than 1 million visitors entered the country between June 1 and July 1 - 25 percent more than the same period in 2009.

The department says its Movement Control System recorded 1,020,321 tourists in the month coinciding with the World Cup, up from 819,495 a year ago.

Some may consider him mad, but wild-haired Uruguay striker Sebastian Abreu believes he is touched by magic.

The 33-year-old nomad, a veteran of 17 clubs in seven different countries, scored the decisive penalty in Uruguay's World Cup quarter-final victory against Ghana and now may be heading for a starting role in Tuesday's semi-final against Holland.

With Ajax forward Luis Suarez suspended for the clash in Cape Town following his widely-condemned, goal-line handball in the last minute of extra-time against the Africans, Abreu could be in line for a place in coach Oscar Tabarez's team.

And if he is, the man known as "Loco", will be thinking deeply about how he can help engineer his team's progress into the final at Soccer City on Sunday.

His cerebral approach to the game was illustrated in the quarter-final win over Ghana when he scored the crucial penalty in the shoot-out.

Knowing that if he scored he would send Uruguay to the semifinals for the first time since 1970, Abreu jogged up to the ball and dinked it straight down the middle as Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson dived to his right, and out of the ball's path.

"I had no idea he would do

AFP MONTEVIDEO, JULY 5

Buffon faces long rest after operation AFP ROME, JULY 5

Miroslav Klose

Uruguay’s Abreu aims for history AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 5

Assistant ref laments missed Lampard ‘goal’

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be out to the end of the year after undergoing surgery on a herniated disc late on Sunday, Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Monday.

"Gigi Buffon has had herniated disc surgery - it was completely successful," the Gazzetta reported.

"Given the time required to recover, at least four months, the keeper should be ready to return to playing around December."

Buffon - who was outstanding when Italy won the 2006 World Cup - suffered the injury in training ahead of Italy's World Cup opener against Paraguay and had to go off at half-time, the injury ending his tournament.

Buffon, 32, has had back problems for two-and-a-half years, dating back to January 2008 when he missed three weeks due to the same injury.

This time he elected to have surgery.

"I have always put the interests of the team first and put off surgery but now I have to think of myself to resolve this problem once and for all," the Gazzetta quoted Buffon as saying.

Maradona neither coaching genius nor clown

AP PRETORIA, JULY 5

The World Cup proved that Diego Maradona is no coaching genius. Nor was he the clown that some expected.

True, there were times when it wasn’t possible to observe the Argentine coach without humming the theme song to Benny Hill. Picture, for example, the Argentine training session where Maradona pretended to beat up a member of his staff

and theatrically acted as a target for his players to shoot a hail of balls at. He came out of it furiously rubbing the back of his head. Ho-ho, what a jester!

But as Argentina’s victories piled up, there seemed to be method in Maradona’s madness.

No other team had Argentina’s swashbuckling flair. With Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez slotting in goals and world player-of-the year Lionel Messi supplying inspiration, passes and even leadership on the field, it was possible to ignore the holes in Maradona’s defense and midfield. And not second-guess his decision to leave defender Javier Zanetti and midfielder Esteban Cambiasso at home.

Maradona’s strategy, if it can be called that, was to outscore not shut out opponents. “Permanently on the attack” is how he lovingly described Argentina’s style of play.

“We are here to give joy to the Argentines, to play as we

like, in the way which makes us happy,” he said.

What fun, but naive, too.

Maradona used enthusiasm to compensate for his inexperience as a coach. He smothered his players with hugs and kisses before and after games because he had little else to offer in terms of tactical wizardry. The instructions he barked in practice were of the “Come on! Look alive!” variety, not useful nuggets of strategic insight. He talked about the need for “sacrifice, blood and courage” from players, not about playing formations. His players, in turn, praised the value of his experience of having competed in four World Cups, not his game plans - if indeed there were any.

“Nobody ever told me where to play. So, I shouldn’t have to tell Messi where to play either,” Maradona said in the best example of his let-them-get-onwith-it approach.

Maradona made no apologies

for it. In fact, after three group stage wins, he was demanding apologies - “I’m not suggesting you drop your trousers, but it would be honest and great,” he said - from critics who had predicted Argentina could only flop with the former cocaine addict in charge, and waste its best chance in years of winning the World Cup that Maradona lifted as a player in 1986.

The upside of Maradona hogging the limelight in South Africa with his large personality and entertaining and provocative news conferences was that he deflected attention from Messi and why the star forward wasn’t scoring.

But the downside for Argentina was that Maradona failed, as he also did in World Cup qualifying, to make the most of Messi’s goal-scoring abilities. Too often, Messi was stranded without the passes that help to make him such a matchwinner for his club, Barcelona.

That forced Messi to go hunting deep in the midfield himself for the ball.

Because of Argentina’s defensive frailties and Maradona’s lack of alternate plans B, C or D for when his A-plan - attack, attack, attack - failed to work, there was always the suspicion Argentina’s exciting adventure could derail if its forwards couldn’t score. Yet few suspected that Argentina and Maradona would be undressed quite so starkly as they were by Germany in the quarter-finals.

German manager Joachim Loew is his own greatest admirer. But it is also true that he thoroughly outthought Maradona, executing his game plan brilliantly - just as he did against the England side of Fabio Capello, a coach more experienced than Maradona.

Messi’s attacking runs broke against the rocks of dogged, organized German defending, while the Argentine defense and

Javier Mascherano in midfield were overwhelmed by the speed of the Germans.

Most importantly, the Germans played as a well-oiled team, finding each other with just the right pass at just the right time. Argentina, in contrast, looked like talented individuals who just happened to be wearing the same blue and white striped jerseys. As the German goals mounted up, 10, 2-0, 3-0 and finally 4-0, it grew increasingly clear that Maradona had no answer. He looked so sad on the touchline.

This World Cup would not have been as much fun without Maradona, without the sight of him pacing up and down as though he were still out on the field kicking every ball, living every emotion.

But it was always too much to expect that he would be the same genius as a coach as he was as Argentina’s greatest player.

Uruguayan assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa on Monday denied making a mistake over Frank Lampard's 'ghost goal' against Germany, saying it was simply "bad luck" and "one of those things which happen in football."

England's L a m p a r d thought he had equalised against Germany in the round of 16 encounter but Espinosa and his fellow officials did not see that the ball had clearly crossed the line and the effort was ruled out.

The Germans went on to win 4-1 and controversy ensued.

But Espinosa insisted to Uruguayan daily El Pais: "You cannot talk about an error as it was not a technical mistake. It was simply bad luck with the ball moving at high speed which we couldn't see as it came down over the line - even though I was properly positioned."

Following one of the most glaring referring errors at a World Cup referee Jorge Larrionda's team of officials were not selected for the final phase of the tournament.

But Espinosa played down the issue. "These things happen in football this happened at this time in that place."

He added that the officials had only realised what had happened afterwards when they reviewed Lampard's shot on television.

"It was a very bitter business - and we had prepared (for the tournament) for so long. But

these things happen and that's that," said Espinosa, reflecting on the controversy, which revived the age-old debate about whether football world body FIFA should not allow officials recourse to video replay technology.

Following that error FIFA will discuss whether to introduce video replay technology on the goalline in Cardiff at a previously scheduled meeting on July 21 and 22.

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GOA, TUESDAY, 6 JULY, 2010

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www.oheraldo.in

Dutch favourites as biggest prize looms AFP CAPE TOWN, JULY 5

The Netherlands go into their World Cup semi-final against Uruguay on Tuesday as hot favourites, but with the biggest prize in world football at stake anything can happen.

Both sides will be missing key players for the Cape Town spectacle as a final looms against either Germany or Spain, but the statistics speak for themselves.

Under coach Bert Van Marwijk the Oranje have been one of the best performing teams in the world.

They picked up eight wins from eight games in qualifying and have a 100 percent record from their five games in South Africa, which includes sending favourites Brazil packing.

It is a formidable achievement that should have Uruguay quaking in their boots, especially with the South Americans needing huge luck to overcome Ghana after being pushed to extra-time and penalties in their quarter-final.

Before the tournament, the glory years of Uruguayuan football were a fast fading memory, with their last semi-final 40 years ago and just two appearances in the last five World Cups.

But under Oscar Tabarez, who also steered them to the last 16 in 1990 in his first stint as coach, they have been rejuvenated and cannot be written off.

Known as El Maestro in his

KEY TO THE MATCH Robben v Forlan Both Arjen Robben and Diego Forlan are capable of winning the match single-handedly, such are their abilities. Robben can be devastating with his creative moves and clinical finishing, while Forlan has proven once again in South Africa that he is one of the top strikers in the world with an uncanny eye

TODAY’S SEMIS Netherlands v. Uruguay 11.55 p.m.

Netherlands' coach Bert Van Marwijk (centre) talks to his players during a training session at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

homeland, Tabarez is reliable, hard working and a man of few words. He, for one, is not ready to throw in the towel.

"We are amongst the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa," he said.

"My players are very united. I don't know how far we can go in the tournament. The Netherlands have some great players, but we cannot betray this group of players.

"If there is a glimmer of hope we must hang on. We will certainly not throw in the towel before playing that match.

"Holland will be very difficult - but not impossible."

Uruguay though are handicapped by the loss of influential striker Luis Suarez, who misses the game after being red-carded for his deliberate goal-line handball that denied Ghana a famous victory.

Defender Jorge Ciro Fucile is

Brazil sack Dunga, players face angry backlash AFP RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 5

Brazil coach Dunga was sacked on Sunday following the team's World Cup quarter-final exit with charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the title in 2002, immediately being tipped to take over.

"The cycle of work started in 2006 and which culminated with the elimination of Brazil in the World Cup in South Africa is finished," said a statement from the Brazilian football confederation (CBF).

"The CBF announces the dismissal of the technical commission of the Brazilian team.

The new commission will be announced at the end of July."

Dunga, 46, who skippered Brazil to the 1994 World Cup, had been national team coach since 2006.

He had already said that he was intending to step down after four years following the five-time champions 2-1 defeat to Holland in the quarter-finals in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

However, on his arrival home on Sunday, Dunga did not rule out staying in the job.

"I am going to rest before

5 candidates to replace Dunga AFP RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 5

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) have drawn up a list of five candidates to replace the sacked Dunga as Brazil coach it was reported by local media.

Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari heads the list while the other hopefuls are Mano Menezes of Corinthians, Muricy Ramalho who coaches Fluminense, Ricardo Gomes of Sao Paulo and former AC Milan handler and 1994 World Cup winning player Leonardo.

Scolari remains the favourite to be installed for a second time because according to sources within the CBF cited in the press the federation's president Ricardo Teixeira wants an experienced coach "who can withstand the pressure that comes with a World Cup finals being hosted in Brazil (as they host the 2014 edition)".

Dunga, 46, who skippered Brazil to the 1994 World Cup, had been national team coach since 2006.

He had already said that he was intending to step down after four years following the five-time champions 2-1 defeat to Holland in the quarter-finals in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

meeting, in one or two weeks' time, the president of the CBF, Ricardo Teixeira to talk about it (extending his stay in charge)," Dunga told a news conference before the CBF quickly shattered his optimism.

Brazilian media immediately started speculating on the identity of Dunga's successor whose job will be guiding the team on home soil at 2014 World Cup. The favourite is Scolari, who won the World Cup in 2002, although he has ruled himself out saying he intends to honour his contract with Palmeiras which runs until 2012.

"I have a contract with Palmeiras and it is here that I am going to work," Scolari told El Dorado radio.

"It would be great to finish my career coaching a team at the World Cup to be staged in Brazil, but I cannot respond to any offer until after 2012."

Other names being mentioned are Mano Menezes, currently coach at Corinthians, and ex-AC Milan boss Leonardo. Jorginho, who was Dunga's assistant in South Africa, is also believed to be in the running.

Brazilian players were met with insults and pushing and shoving from angry fans amid a welter of recriminations for their poor World Cup showing when they arrived in Rio. Aside from Dunga, the target for much of their ire was Felipe Melo, who deflected in Wesley Sneijder's opener for the Dutch and then got himself sent off.

The Brazilians landed after a 10-hour flight from South Africa and fans immediately vented their anger, judging Melo one of the "fathers of defeat."

Fabregas, Puyol given all-clear for semi-final AFP POTCHEFSTROOM, JULY 5

Spanish stars Cesc Fabregas and Carles Puyol will be fit to play Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Durban on Wednesday, the team doctor said.

Barcelona veteran defender Puyol had to go off in the 84th minute of the 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the quarter-final on Saturday suffering from blurred vision after being hit in the face with the ball while Fabregas fell heavily on a shoulder after being brought down by the Paraguayan goalkeeper.

"Both players will be fit for the semi-final," Doctor Oscar Luis Celada told AFP. Puyol should be able therefore to line-up in the usual Spanish starting XI while Fabregas will be on the substitutes bench - though Raul Albiol will not be able to as he has a right leg injury.

The Spain v Germany clash is a rematch of the Euro 2008 final which the Spanish won 10 to collect their first major trophy.

also suspended while skipper Diego Lugano and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro are injury doubts, heaping even more pressure on the shoulders of Diego Forlan to lead his team to victory.

In the Dutch camp, Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel and Manchester City midfielder

German shoots two Italians after pub row AFP

BERLIN, JULY 5

A German man shot two Italians in a pub on Monday, killing one and leaving the other fighting for his life, after a row about past World Cup performances of their respective teams, police said.

"According to our current investigations, the three men got into an argument in the pub in the morning about, among other things, the success of Italy and Germany in previous World Cups," police in Hanover, northern Germany, said.

"After this, the suspect is thought to have left the pub, returned a bit later and fired at the two victims," the statement said.

One 47-year-old Italian died mid-morning of his injuries in hospital. The other, 49, is in a critical condition.

Police are now urgently searching for the suspect, a 42year-old German man from Hanover. Authorities found a weapon, a 9mm pistol, in the vicinity of the pub.

The two respective teams, Italy and Germany, have had very different experiences in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Loew's sweater stays on while Germany keep winning AGENCIES POTCHEFSTROOM, JULY 5

Spanish national football team midfielder Cesc Fabregas (left) gives a piggy back ride to defender Carles Puyol (right) during a training session.

Germany coach Joachim Loew will continue to wear his trademark blue sweater at matches and won't have it cleaned while his team keep winning.

He claimed on Monday he was not superstitious but admitted that pressure from other coaching staff and players to keep wearing his familiar sweater had paid off ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash against Spain in Dutrban on Wednesday.

"The thing with the sweater is that I am not driven by superstition," a smiling Loew told reporters.

"The other coaching staff said I should be wearing the sweater now because every time I wear it we score four goals," he added.

Germany beat England 4-1 in the second round and reached the semi-finals following a 4-0 demolition of Argentina, with Loew donning the V-necked garment each time.

"I am not even allowed to wash it now and I think I will wear it again (against Spain)," he said.

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger also hoped to see his coach wearing it at Dur-

Nigel de Jong miss out after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament against Brazil.

But everyone else is fit, with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder the danger men.

Ahead of South Africa, Van Marwijk set his team a lofty goal -- the final or bust.

It was an optimistic target with the Netherlands last reaching the showpiece match 32 years ago when they lost to Argentina. Their only other appearance was in 1974 and they were beaten by West Germany.

But their confidence is sky high and Van Marwijk is sure his

team can now lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

"I said to the Dutch Football Association two years ago that I was not going to this tournament just to take part in it," said the former Feyenoord manager, who took over from Marco van Basten following Euro 2008.

"I'm a sportsman and if I go somewhere, I want to win. People might think that's arrogant, but we have proven we can beat Brazil, one of the best teams in the world.

"If that's a fact, we should dare to say this, we should go for it," he added.

"But I will make it very clear to my team: we have still got two matches to play and the next match is the most important. We will have to really concentrate on that."

Nigeria lifts ban on National team 2nd semi-final on July 7, 11.55 pm Germany v. Spain

AFP ABUJA, JULY 5

Nigeria's government on Monday lifted a two-year ban it imposed last week on its national football team after a dismal Wo r l d C u p showing, just ahead of a FIFA deadline to do so, a presidential source said.

"The government has reversed the decision," the source told AFP. A formal announcement was expected later.

Nigeria last Wednesday slapped a two-year ban from international competition on the squad after the traditional African powerhouse finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches.

President Goodluck Jonathan also ordered an audit into how the funds allocated for the team at the World Cup were used.

Sports ministry spokesman Tony Ohaeri said earlier Monday the decision had been taken "in the interest of football".

But the move led to an angry reaction from football world governing body FIFA, which takes a dim view of political interference in the sport.

On Friday, FIFA gave Nigeria until 1600 GMT on Monday to reverse the decision or face "the suspension of the Nigerian (football) federation."

The ban by the Nigerian government drew criticism from some in the oil-rich country who considered it too harsh, but others

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Martino leaving as Paraguay coach AGENCIES ASUNCION, JULY 5

Coach Gerardo Martino is leaving the Paraguay national team and striker Roque Santa Cruz says this was his last World Cup. Martino and Santa Cruz announced their plans Monday as the team arrived home following a 1-0 loss in the quarterfinals to Spain.

An Argentine, Martino said his four-year contract had expired, but he promised fans greeting the team that he would help with the transition to a new coach. Without being specific, he said he had job offers in Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

Manchester City forward Santa Cruz said this was his last World Cup, citing wear and tear on his body.

said drastic moves were needed to move the programme forward.

Kayode Ajibogun, a member of the country's football supporters club, told AFP on Monday before the reversal that the ban was the right decision.

"The boys performed woefully in South Africa because of bad administration in our sports. So banning them for two years will allow us to put our house in order," he said.

Ex-national team goalkeeper Dosu Joseph said earlier Monday that Nigeria had little choice but to lift the ban.

"I see Nigeria reversing the decision even if it is five minutes to go so as not to incur the wrath of FIFA. Nigeria cannot afford to call FIFA's bluff because it will not help the development of our football," he said.