South Asian Star May 18, 2011

May 18 - 31, 2011

www.southasianstar.com

Ph: 905 487 1320

Six nations including India to dominate growth by 2025 Six major emerging economies including India will account for more than half of the global growth by 2025 and it is likely that the international monetary system will not be dominated by any single currency by that time, a new World Bank report said on Tuesday.

As economic power shifts, these successful economies will help drive growth in lower income countries through cross-border commercial and financial transactions, the bank said in its latest report ‘Global Development Horizons 2011 Multipolarity: The New Global Economy’.

According to the report, the six countries-- Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Russia-- will grow on average by 4.7 per cent annually between 2011 and 2025.

However, the advanced economies which are expected to grow by 2.3 per cent over the same period will remain prominent in the global economy with the euro area,

Japan, the United Kingdom, and the US all playing a core role in fuelling global growth.

“The fast rise of emerging economies has driven a shift whereby the centres of economic growth are distributed across developed and developing economies

it’s a truly multi-polar world,” said World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of development economics Justin Yifu Lin. Global Development Horizons maps out the challenges that a multi-polar world economy poses for developing countries over the next 20 years. Growth spillovers

are likely via cross-border trade, finance, and migration, which will induce technological transfer, and increase demand for exports, it added.

With the emergence of a substantial middle class in developing countries and demographic transitions underway in several major East Asian economies, stronger consumption trends are likely to prevail, which in turn can serve as a source of sustained global growth.

To sustain growth and cope with more complex risks, economies that are home to emerging growth poles need to reform domestic their institutions, including in the economic, financial, and social sectors.

China, Indonesia, India, and Russia all face institutional and governance challenges. Human capital and ensuring access to education is a concern in some potential growth poles, particularly Brazil, India, and Indonesia.

Road Today Truck Show set for May 28 and 29 Entry, Parking and Entertainment is FREE After the tremendous success of 2009 and 2010, the 3rd Annual Road Today Truck Show will be organized at the Powerade Centre in Brampton on May 28th and 29th (Saturday & Sunday), 2011.

Produced by Road Today Media Group and organized during the South Asian heritage month of May, the weekend trucking event will be a true reflection of the changing face of the trucking industry with an ideal blend of cultural extravaganza.

The event has generated huge interest from all sectors of trucking industry. About 100 exhibitors will showcase the latest in trucks, heavy-duty parts and accessories, engines and power train components, service shop equipment and supplies, tires, fuels, financial services, and many other products and services used in the trucking and transportation industry.

The event is absolutely free of cost to attend and will include plenty of activities including In-

side & Outside Trade Show, Show & Shine, Job Fair, Road Safety Awareness including OPP Rollover display, Kids and Family Entertainment, Ethnic Food Stalls and lots more. It’s a show not to be missed!

Detailed information on Road Today Truck Show, line up of events including list of current exhibitors is available at www.roadtodaytruckshow.com For more information call Manan Gupta at 416 451 0040.

Canada has Spoken: Top 25 Immigrants of 2011 Baljit Bawa from Brampton amongst chosen few

TORONTO - A famous Dragon investor, a former Toronto Argonaut football coach and an influential former cabinet minister are among the winners of the third annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrants awards presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine and sponsored by RBC. This national people’s choice award celebrates the untold inspiring stories and remarkable achievements of immigrants to Canada.

More than 25,000 Canadians voted online for their top choices, some 15,000 more than voted for the first awards two years ago.

The winners will receive a commemorative certificate and lapel pin, as well as a $500 donation to an authorized Canadian charity of their choice.

The 2011 awards program received more than 500 nominations over a two-month period, from which 75 finalists were shortlisted by a panel of Canadian Immigrant Magazine judges. The awards program was also supported by the Toronto Star, Metro and Sing Tao. Some of the well-known Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2011 are: • Michael “Pinball” Clemons • Robert Herjavec • Jean Augustine • Karim Hakimi • Nick (Naeem) Noorani Pg 2

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May 18 - 31, 2011

Brampton to become a city of Great Neighbourhoods In the past, Brampton has tive Director of Brampton Safe if the neighbourhood continues been recognized as an interna- City Association. “Maybe they to meet the criteria. tional safe city, a flower city and keep an eye on your house when The Brampton Downtown a champion in the worldwide you are away on vacation, collect Development Corporation will Communities in Bloom compe- your mail, or even mow your be encouraging downtown busitition. Soon, it’s also going to be lawn. They do the kinds of things nesses and residents to get inknown as a city of great neigh- that make your neighbourhood a volved in the Good Neighbours bourhoods. Brampton Safe City better place to live.” / Great Neighbourhood Project, Association, City of Brampton A special webpage has been making downtown Brampton and Brampton Downtown De- set up where anyone can nomi- a designated great place to live, velopment Corporation have nate a Brampton resident, re- shop and visit. teamed up to create a During the past new community proseveral months, the gram, Good NeighCity of Brampton and bours / Great NeighBrampton Safe City bourhoods that will have worked together foster safe, friendly, to create a ‘Neighgreen and caring bours Tool Kit’ to help neighbourhoods. residents plan and orGood Neighbours ganize their events. / Great NeighbourThe tool kit is a stephoods was officially by-step guide for planlaunched on Tuesday, (L to R) - Larry Zacher, Executive Director of Brampton Safe City ning block parties, May 17 at the Profes- Association, Jim Diers, North America’s renowned ‘neighbourhood bbq’s, clean-ups, etc. guru’ and Manan Gupta, Chair, Brampton Road Safety sors Lake Recreation It is chockfull of great Committee at the media launch.

Centre, in Brampideas for games, food ton. North America’s renowned gardless of their age, as a good suggestions, tips on where to get ‘neighbourhood guru’ Jim Diers neighbour. Good Neighbours discounts for neighbourhood was in town to help launch this will be profiled with a photo and parties and how to stay safe while exciting new initiative. Diers has a short story about what they having fun. The kit also explains been an advocate of grassroots have done. Each year, nominated the application process for closcommunity development for Good Neighbours will receive a ing a street to hold a block party. more than 30 years, and is the certificate signed by the mayor, It can take up to 6 weeks to acauthor of Neighbor Power. thanking them on behalf of our quire a road closure permit.

The Good Neighbours / community for their contribu“Even if a group doesn’t want Great Neighbourhoods program tions to their neighbourhood. to pursue designation as a Great consists of two major parts. The The second component, Neighbourhood,” says Donnafirst, ‘Good Neighbours’ will ‘Great Neighbourhoods’, is a Lynn Rosa, Director of Recregive people an opportunity to designation process to recog- ation, City of Brampton, “ the kit recognize others on their street nize neighbourhoods actively has some fantastic ideas for havwho are doing good deeds and engaged in making their street ing fun and organizing neighenhancing the quality of life in or block safe, friendly and green, bourhood projects. We have staff the neighbourhood. These can as well as a place of pride. The at the city who can help residents be deeds large or small, such as designation criteria is available plan activities such as spring shoveling a seniors’ walk in win- at www.bramptonsafecity.ca and clean-ups, creating a community ter, or organizing after-school www.brampton.ca. garden or planting trees.” activities for neighbourhood Neighbourhoods can apply People can contact Brampchildren. to be designated in an applica- ton Safe City Association at “ I think most of us know tion form also available online. (905) 793-5484, ext 227 for more someone who’s a good neigh- Designations will be for a term information. bour,” says Larry Zacher, Execu- of one-year, renewable each year

Determination is key

Continued from page 1

Upon arriving from India in 2000, Baljit Bawa was confident in his choice of coming to this “land of opportunities,” even though he had no connections or resources whatsoever.

At first, he faced multiple settlement issues, but overcame every challenge he confronted in due course. “The biggest challenge, like for any immigrant, was to settle into my new country with my family and then start looking for employment,” he recalls. “It was first a challenge to find the right networks to get into the system followed by creating a social circle for myself.”

While he started out in a survival job, Bawa, however, defied everyone who told him he wouldn’t get equal profes-

sional opportunity having “no Canadian experience.” His hard

Baljit Bawa work and determination were rewarded when he was offered his dream IT job just months after he arrived in Canada. He now makes a conscious effort to provide guidance to any newcomer who comes into his network, encouraging them to be persistent and focused on mak-

ing it in their adopted country, citing his own example.

He says emphatically, “When you help, support and guide another individual, you gain more satisfaction, love, respect and success, than you gave. So, in essence, it is more beneficial to me [to give back].

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another. I live by this mantra today.”

According to Bawa, every immigrant to this country is a success story. “I consider myself to be in the minor league of successes, but want to make sure any newcomer who comes to Canada and who I can help, I will, so they don’t feel lonely like I did, in a new country.”

All of us at South Asian Star wish Baljit continued success.

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May 18 - 31, 2011

Health Canada reminds Canadians of the importance of food allergy awareness

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Health Canada is reminding Canadians of the importance of allergy awareness. For those with food allergies, severe allergic reactions can occur quickly and without warning, and some foods can be life-threatening to people of all ages, particularly children.

It’s estimated that as many as 1.2 million Canadians may be affected by allergies and some studies indicate that these numbers are increasing, especially among children. Foods account for most people’s allergies, with peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy, seafood, wheat, eggs, milk, mustard and sulphites being the food allergens most commonly associated with severe allergic reactions in Canada.

When someone ingests even a tiny amount of an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and can become very serious. The most dangerous symp-

toms include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure with shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death.

There is no cure for food allergies. Avoiding the consumption of an allergen is the only effective way to prevent allergic reactions. There are many important steps that you can take to help protect yourself.

Some general tips include: Read product labels very carefully as manufacturers sometimes change the ingredients used in familiar products.

• Avoid food products that contain the specific allergens and/ or derivatives of the specific allergens that you are allergic to.

• Avoid food products that bear a precautionary statement naming an allergen that you are allergic to; for example, precautionary statements like “may contain X” (where “X” is the name by which the aller-

gen is commonly known).

• Avoid food products that don’t list their ingredients or food products that contain an ingredient that you don’t recognize.

• When eating at a friends’ or in a restaurant, tell your host/server about your food allergy, and ask specific questions about the food to be served.

• If an allergist prescribes an epinephrine/adrenaline auto-injector, learn how to use it properly and carry it with you at all times.

• Always wear a MedicAlert identifier so that, in case of an accident, others know about your allergies and reactions.

• Look out for allergens listed by other names - food allergens and their derivatives are sometimes found in food under different names.

Key cancer drug supply precarious

Critical cancer drugs are in short supply, but the federal government isn’t doing enough to remedy the situation, medical experts say.

Cancer doctors and hospital pharmacists across the country are reporting spot shortages of drugs that are recommended treatment and in some cases are the only option.

In an email to CBC News, Health Canada said it recognizes the impact that shortages can have on patients and people who care for them, but that “Industry is responsible for understanding the supply needs of their products.”

Health Canada’s response isn’t enough, said Michael McBane, national co-ordinator for the Canadian Health Coalition in Ottawa.

“I think it points to a bigger problem on relying on the market to meet medical needs,” McBane

said Friday.

Essential medicines should not be subject to the “whims of supply and demand,” he added.

Dr. Peter Ellis, a medical oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, agrees Health Canada needs to play a bigger role.

“I think the only way that this can be prevented from happening would be increased government regulation,” Elllis said.

In Canada, drug companies are not required to report impending shortages. Hospitals are often caught by surprise and have to scramble to ration drugs to cope with interruptions in supply.

“Vincristine could be a big problem because it’s very often used … to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” said Kathy Vu, a clinical pharmacy practitioner at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “We

can potentially cure a patient and there isn’t another protocol that we can use. This is first-line treatment.”

Doctors and pharmacists are therefore calling for an early warning system, such as a centralized database to track drug supply, to give them time to prepare before a drug runs out.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a website to help anyone find out if a drug is in short supply and when it is expected to become more available.

“We don’t have that in Canada,” said Jeff Morrison, director of government relations and public affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. “We’re actually trying now to work with manufacturers to create that.”

Reprinted with permission from CBC.ca

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NEWS

May 18 - 31, 2011

RIM recalls Increase duty-free limits, U.S. urges Canada 1,000 PlayBooks

Reports suggested Monday that Research In Motion Ltd. has recalled about 1,000 of their recently launched PlayBook tablet computers because of faulty operating systems installed on the devices.

The problem makes it so that users are unable to install new software on the devices after startup. “A majority of the affected devices are still in the distribution channel and haven’t reached customers,” RIM is quoted as saying in a statement via various media reports. The company was not immediately available for comment when asked by CBC News.

Website CrackBerry.com published a memo over the weekend from retailer Staples that showed more than 900 were being recalled from the store’s shelves.

Last month, Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM cut its first-quarter earnings outlook, citing declining smartphone sales. The company launched the PlayBook on April 19, and it is expected to reveal its first look at sales figures when RIM next announces quarterly results in June.

Reprinted with permission from CBC.ca

Mississauga City Council Declares Intention to Fill Ward 5 Vacancy Through By-election On May 11th, Mississauga City Council declared its intention to proceed to fill the vacancy of Ward 5 Councillor through a by-election and directed staff to prepare a report back to Council outlining the details of a municipal by-election.

The staff report, due no later than July 6, 2011, will include key dates and budget requirements for holding the by-election. A by-law to fulfill the requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 would be enacted at that meeting.

As a result of the election of Ward 5 Councillor Eve Adams to the House of Commons of Canada, in accordance with Section 262 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, Council declared the office of Ward 5 Councillor vacant, with the vacancy to become effective once Adams has been sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

Once the vacancy becomes effective, Mayor Hazel McCallion with support from Council, will ensure Ward 5 residents continue to be represented and appoint a replacement to the committees Councillor Adams was appointed for the 2010 – 2014 term of office.

The United States is calling on Canada to raise its duty-free limits for day trips to the U.S., but the idea isn’t getting a warm reception from retailers or government officials north of the border.

Americans are allowed to bring back $200 US in merchandise duty free, but Canadians must stay in the U.S. for at least 24 hours to bring back duty-free goods. The Globe and Mail says the U.S. wants to increase those limits to $1,000 for American shoppers making a day trip to Canada, and wants Ottawa to do the same.

Allowing the same exemptions for Canadians returning from the U.S. could be a big problem for Windsor, Ont., businesses, according to Freeds of Windsor clothing retailer Dan Orman.

He said he works hard to keep Canadian dollars on this side of the border. A change to duty rules would mean fighting even harder.

“It almost feels like we are at the end of the world in Canada and that no one is thinking of people doing business in this city, so we are concerned,” said Orman.

He admits cross-border shopping can benefit both sides, but

adds if it’s lopsided in favour of American stores, Windsor’s already fragile economy won’t stand a chance.

“Hopefully if that Windsor consumer is going over, they realize what kind of damage they’re doing to the core of our city,” Orman said.

At Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, Mich., retailers roll out the red carpet each year to accept loonies and toonies on the Canadian Thanksgiving in October. It’s their third-busiest annual shopping day.

The strong Canadian dollar — the Bank of Canada’s website reports the loonie peaked at $1.0582 US at the end of April — has been enticing even more Windsor consumers and those in other parts of Canada to cross into the U.S. to shop.

Brian Masse, Windsor West’s NDP MP-elect, was shopping at Freeds on Thursday, but said crossborder shopping can be a perk of living in a border town.

“That’s part of our culture here, but when it becomes so lopsided in the sense that the dollar is being artificially raised, it becomes a real

concern,” Masse said.

As a member of the Official Opposition, Masse said he will fight any change to the Canadian duty-free amounts.

Bill Anderson, a professor of cross-border policy studies at the University of Windsor, said the issue of personal exemptions could become a bargaining chip in the border security talks currently heating up between the U.S. and Canada.

The talks are really about harmonization of different policies so that the two governments can reduce border restrictions between the two countries and improve the flow of trade, Anderson said. Increasing duty-free limits could be something Canada would consider in order to see the U.S. ease those restrictions, he said.

But it would be good for Canada if the Americans increased their limits unilaterally, he added.

“If the Americans were to do it unilaterally, I think it would be a positive thing for tourism in Ontario because this is something that has been hurt,” Anderson said.

Reprinted with permission from CBC.ca

Recount gives NDP historic seat total

The New Democratic Party has captured one more seat in Quebec after a judicial recount of ballots from the May 2 federal election determined its candidate upended a Conservative incumbent by nine votes.

Conservative Bernard Généreux was declared the winner on election night in the eastern Quebec riding of Montmagny– L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-duLoup, with a 110-vote lead over the NDP’s François Lapointe.

But a tabulation error awarded about 100 NDP votes to the Green Party, and when the results were validated the next day, Lapointe came out on top by five votes.

The narrow victory margin prompted a judicial recount that began Wednesday and concluded

Friday evening with Lapointe being confirmed the winner by the nine votes.

Elections Canada calls in a judge every time the margin of victory is less than a thousandth of the total votes cast.

With Lapointe’s triumph, the Official Opposition NDP have 59 seats in Quebec and 103 overall.

The governing Tories now have five in the province and 166 overall.

The extra seat ties the NDP with Joe Clark’s Progressive Conservatives from 1980 as the largest ever Official Opposition to a majority government.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was said to be waiting for the results of the recount before settling on the composition of his next

cabinet. He now has fewer options for ministers from Quebec.

Elections Canada said Friday that there would also be a judicial recount in Winnipeg North, where Liberal incumbent Kevin Lamoureux defeated New Democrat Rebecca Blaikie by just 45 votes on May 2. That recount will start Monday.

Automatic recounts were already slated for Etobicoke Centre in Toronto, where Conservative Ted Opitz leads Liberal incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj by 25 votes, and the Ontario riding of Nipissing–Timiskaming, where Tory candidate Jay Aspin holds a 15-vote lead over Liberal Anthony Rota.

Reprinted with permission from CBC.ca

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NEWS

May 18 - 31, 2011

COUNTERING DISTRACTED DRIVING: ARE DRIVERS PAYING ATTENTION? OPP Launches Education and Enforcement Blitz

How many people would knowingly get in a vehicle with a drunk driver?

Would you speak out if a friend, family member or loved one was driving while impaired or would you just sit and wait to be a victim? Would you intervene if a friend or family member was talking on a hand-held phone, or texting while driving?

Research conducted in Canada and the U.S. has identified and documented the increased risks and negative impacts associated with distracted driving.

The OPP has declared: “Enough is enough!” The lack of voluntary compliance by many motorists regarding the use of hand-held devices, and other forms of distracted driving, has prompted one of the largest enforcement campaigns in recent OPP history.

The week of May 16 to May 22 will be the first of four one-week enforcement campaigns focusing on distracted driving, over the next 12 months. Education efforts are also being stepped up, using a number of innovative resources.

“People need to understand the level of risk they are dealing with; dis-

tracted driving kills! We know it is seriously under-reported in our statistics and is a major cause of collisions in Ontario,” says Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division.

Distracted driving is defined as engaging in any secondary activity which takes a driver’s attention away from driving and can include: adjusting the radio, searching for something in the car; eating while driving, watching an entertainment monitor or using a hand-held communications device or other entertainment device.

Using a cell phone or device capable of texting while driving can result in a fine of $155 under Section 78.1 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Watching an entertainment device can result in a fine of $110 under Section 78 of the HTA. Other forms of distracted driving can result in a charge of Careless Driving with fines ranging from $400 to $2,000, a possible licence suspension of up to two years and/or a jail term of not more than six months.

“Driving while distracted is bad judgement, plain and simple. There is

no place for it on our roads. It is every driver’s responsibility to devote their full attention to driving,” says OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, the Provincial Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support.

OPP personnel will be working with the media, schools, other law enforcement partners, road safety advocates, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police to educate drivers over the coming year about the dangers of distracted driving.

The OPP has added distracted driving to its list of “Big Four” causal factors for death and injuries on Ontario highways. The other three are: aggressive driving, failure to use restraint devices and driving while impaired.

Fast Facts on Distracted Driving • In 2010, the OPP charged 8,522 drivers under Section 78.1 of the HTA for using a hand-held device while driving.

• Police began enforcing the new distraction legislation in January 2010.

• In 2010, there were 7,733 collisions on OPP-patrolled roads where the driver was deemed to be inatten-

tive/distracted, resulting in 35 deaths, 1,040 injuries and considerable property damage. (Note: The preceding statistics refer to all forms of distracted/ inattentive driving, not just the use of hand-held devices as outlined in Section 78.1, HTA.) • A recent study by researchers at the University of Utah concluded that drivers on mobile phones are more impaired than drivers driving over the legal limit.

• A Canadian Automobile Association poll of 6,000 Canadian drivers found that “texting while driving” is the single biggest traffic safety concern of drivers while on the road.

• A recent Ontario Health E-Bulletin indicated: “Teen-driver car crashes remain the leading cause of permanent injury and death in Canada, the United States and almost every industrialized nation world wide”. The main culprit is teenage overconfidence in emerging driving skills and a failure to acknowledge personal limitations. Teenagers falsely believe they can “drive distracted” without increasing the risk of a serious collision.

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The Region of Peel has begun the 2011 Cordon Count to collect vehicle and people movement data to monitor travel patterns. 263 Cordon Count stations in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon will be observed from late April until end of June where traffic will be measured. New stations have been added this year to monitor the use of new transportation infrastructure and services, including: • Highway 410 extension (from Mayfield to Hurontario) • Brampton Transit and ZUM service along Queen Street for both passenger and bus impacts on traffic • The new Mayfield/Highway 50 Commuter Parking Lot • Two new overpasses at Highway 403 “There have been a lot of changes in the past few years, such as the economic downturn, new developments in Brampton and Caledon, and major road improvements throughout the Region,” said Gary Kocialek, Area Lead, Transportation Planning. “We are very interested in finding out how travel patterns have shifted as a result of these events. Cordon Count is an important traffic-data collection program in Peel. This up-to-date information will help the Region identify road improvements, and to better understand and plan for future needs.”

The Cordon Count data is used for: • Conducting environmental assessments for road widening and in-

tersection improvement projects, • Influencing and shaping development applications, • Validating the Region’s travel demand forecasting model and other transportation data collected, • Updating the long range transportation plan that feeds into the official plan, and • Supporting planning initiatives like the Caledon Transportation Needs Study and Peel’s active transportation plan.

The data helps shape transportation policy and plan future infrastructures. The count provides an understanding of how population growth is changing travel trends. Area municipalities will receive data for local planning and forecasts.

The Cordon Count involves counting vehicle types (including trucks and bikes), vehicle occupancy and the direction of travel. Coinciding with Census survey, a full count is conducted every five years (2006 and 2011), and partial count every two to three years (2004 and 2009). The count began at the end of April and continues until mid-June. Counts are undertaken from Monday to Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Count stations where the counting takes place are located throughout Peel Region on major roads, local roads and highways. Results from the 2011 count will be available by the end of this year. Results from previous Cordon Counts can be found online at peeldatacentre.ca

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NEWS

The impact of smoking on Canadians (NC)—Despite the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy’s goal to reduce smoking prevalence in Canada from 19 per cent to 12 per cent by 2011, 18 per cent of the population still smokes. This year more than 37,000 Canadians will die due to smoking, making it a major public health issue. In fact, according to Health Canada, close to half of all smokers will die from smoking before they turn 70 years old.

Smoking causes more than two dozen diseases, many of which may be fatal. It is the single most important preventable cause of lung cancer, contributing to 85 per cent of all new cases in Canada.

Researchers say that more than 90 per cent of lung cancers in men and at least 70 per cent in women are directly caused by smoking cigarettes.

Smoking also increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease and stroke by contribut-

ing to build up of plaque in arteries, increased risk of blood clots, blood pressure and reduced oxygen in the blood.

The respiratory symptoms associated with smoking include coughing, phlegm, wheezing and difficulty breathing, and can lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) over time. “Quitting smoking is one of the most important things a person can to do to improve their health,� said Dr. Anil Gupta, Cardiologist, Trillium Health Centre. “Smoking is the leading cause of most preventable diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease. But smoking is an addiction and the quitting process is hard; that is why it is important to speak to a doctor to learn about treatment options available that can help you quit smoking for good.�

Smoking is often incorrectly referred to as a habit when it involves

an addiction to nicotine.

Quitting smoking is often difficult and only 5–10 per cent of smokers will succeed in quitting cold turkey. Nicotine addiction is just as powerful as an addiction to heroin or cocaine.

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are a major cause of quitting failure and can include: light– headedness, sleep disturbance, craving for nicotine, irritability, aggression, restlessness, poor concentration, depression or increased appetite.

Discussing withdrawal symptoms with your doctor may make a quit attempt more successful. For more information about quitting smoking, including treatment options and how to overcome the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, speak to a doctor or visit the new www.itscanadastime.com.

May 18 - 31, 2011

Foreign skilled workers bring talent to Canada

(NC)—The number of temporary foreign skilled workers entering Canada has increased by 79 per cent over the last 10 years, and the numbers continue to increase, helping boost the Canadian economy. “The foreign skilled workers who come to Canada every year contribute to the overall proficiency and diversification of the Canadian workforce,� notes Camon Mak, director, Multicultural Markets, Royal Bank of Canada. “We highly support these individuals as they not only bring increased talent to Canada as immigrants, they also reinforce the diversity of our country.�

Mak offers the following tips to help prepare for the move: Moving: • Review what you can and cannot bring at http://www.cic.gc.ca/

english/newcomers/ before–goods.asp. • Submit a change of address to all important contacts and make arrangements to have mail forwarded to you.

Banking • Transfer funds to your Canadian bank account. • Order Canadian dollars in advance, so that you have cash to cover out–of–pocket expenses.

Living • Collect important documents (driver’s licence or international driving permit, birth certificate, marriage papers, children’s school records) and keep them in a safe place. • Ensure you are covered by medical insurance through a private insurance company or your Canadian employer.

In addition, RBC has many products which help support temporary foreign workers, including unsecured credit cards and term loans for vehicle financing of up to $75,000. For more information visit: http://www. rbc.com/canada

Impaired Driving Impaired driving, which means driving while your ability is affected by alcohol or drugs, is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada. If convicted, you can lose your licence, be ďŹ ned, or spend time in jail. Your vehicle does not even have to be moving; you can be charged if you are impaired behind the wheel, even if you have not started to drive.

The Tax Man’s Motto: In God We Trust, All Others We Audit!!!

Minimize your chance of being audited.

Drinking and Driving Drinking and driving is a deadly combination. One drink can reduce your ability to concentrate and react to things that happen suddenly while you are driving. The more alcohol in your blood, the more difďŹ culty you have judging distances and reacting to sudden hazards on the road. To make matters even worse, your vision may become blurred.

Drugs and Driving Any drug that changes your mood, or the way you see and feel, will affect the way you drive. This is not only true for illegal drugs. There are prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drugs that can also impair your driving ability.

Tips to remember • If you are planning on drinking, plan not to drive. • Ask your doctor about side effects if you use prescription medication or get allergy shots. • Read the information on the package of any over-the-counter medicine, including allergy and cold remedies. • Drugs and alcohol together can combine to impair your driving even more drastically; ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Remember, fatigue and stress will also affect your ability to drive.

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HOME / FAMILY

Give kids a sporting chance

(NC)—According to a 2010 report from Statistics Canada, the number of overweight children has become a “pandemic” and prevalence rates continue to rise.

Organized sport and recreational activities are needed now more than ever to get kids active. However, some kids aren’t able to access these opportunities because of limited family resources and, in some communities, the programs just don’t exist. That’s where the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program comes in. Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids ‘get in the game’ by covering registration, equipment and/or transportation costs.

But what if more common activities like hockey, soccer or baseball don’t tickle their fancy? Perhaps it’s time to

introduce your child to something a bit different: • Martial Arts: exercise and discipline all in one.

• Dance: A great way for kids to get cardio exercise, learn coordination and have lots of fun. It’s a chance to make new friends and be part of a group.

• Swimming: Swimming lessons are important for children not only for exercise, but for safety.

• Gymnastics: A fun way to incorporate rhythm and movement while gaining flexibility and self–confidence.

“We all need to send our kids ‘out to play’,” said Andrew Pipe, University of Ottawa Chief, at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

“It’s time we helped them rediscover the joy of physically active play –– roaring around on bicycles or roller blades, playing pick– up soccer in the park, shooting hoops in the driveway –– every day should be a play day! Their health depends upon it.”

Help kids get active in your community by supporting Jumpstart Day on Saturday, May 28, 2011. For every $1 you donate, Canadian Tire will match it with $2, making the total contribution $3.

National in scope, but local in its focus, Canadian Tire Jumpstart delivers support to kids through a Canada– wide network of 300 local chapters. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go directly to help financially disadvantaged kids through the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program. You can learn more at www.canadiantire.ca/jumpstart.

May 18 - 31, 2011

Let’s keep kids healthy inside and out

(NC)—Winter is finally over and the sound of kids playing in the neighbourhood is starting to fill the air. Bike rides, shooting ‘hoops’, or playground fun are just some of the ways kids can become active in the spring and summer. It’s a good thing too, because recent reports show that Canadian kids just aren’t getting enough exercise.

Kids should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day, according to the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology.

“Healthy, physically active kids more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful,” said Howie Dayton, chair of the Ontario Task Group on Access to Recreation for Low Income Families. “Whatever their fitness personality, all kids can be physically fit.

A parent’s positive attitude will steer them in the right direction.”

Consider enrolling your child in an organized sport or recreational activity, like soccer, baseball, swimming or ball hockey. The benefits of participating in organized play are often lifelong: • Increased self–esteem and self–confidence; • Discovery of leadership skills; • Improved school performance; • Development of healthy lifestyle habits; and • Learning that physical activity can be fun.

If costs are a barrier to organized sport or recreation, there are various kinds of charitable programs that can help, like the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program. It is a national charitable program that covers registration, equipment and/or transportation costs to help financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreation and has helped over 315,000 kids since 2005.

Learn more about the program online at www.canadiantire.ca/jumpstart.

Don’t let a break–in ruin your summer vacation

(NC)—By far, the most common threat to our home while we are away on summer holidays is burglary. Burglary, by definition, is a non–confrontational crime but being victimized can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated.

According to Patrice De Luca, V.P. of Marketing and Business Development for Reliance Protectron Security Services, the first step in burglary prevention is gaining an understanding of who commits these crimes and why.

“The majority of home and apartment burglaries occur during the daytime when most people are away on holidays, at work or at school,” De

Luca explained. “Burglaries also occur at night when there are obvious signs that residents are away.”

Most home burglars are young males looking for things that are small, expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Items like cash, jewelry, guns, watches, laptop computers, and other small electronic devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living expenses and drugs. Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a careful selection process.

“This selection process is simple,” De Luca added. “They choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes.”

What follows is a list of suggestions from Protectron to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.

• The first step, according to De Luca, is to “harden the target” or make your home more difficult to enter. “Remember burglars will simply bypass your home if it requires too much ef-

fort or requires more skill and tools than they possess,” he says. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even inside your garage.

Use high quality Grade–1 or Grade–2 locks on exterior doors to resist twisting, prying, and lock–picking attempts.

• When vacationing, leave a car in your driveway or arrange for a neighbor to keep a car there and move it around from time to time. Have someone mow your lawn, rake leaves and pick up your mail while you’re away.

• Home security systems play a crucial role in a home security plan and are very effective, if used properly, especially when monitored 24–7 by ULC–listed monitoring centres. “The reason why home security systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police,” added De

Luca. “The deterrent value comes from our house alarm system decals on the windows.” De Luca cautions that home security systems need to be properly installed and maintained to be most effective. He recommends your home security system include a loud inside alarm, detectors at all exterior doors,

and motion sensors in the master bedroom and main living areas.

More information on home security is available at www.protectron.com.

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NEWS

Uniting the world against injustice Amnesty International turns 50: (NC)—It all started 50 years ago when one man saw that by using our rights–our freedom to act for a just world–we can achieve incredible things. Outraged by human rights abuses around the globe, Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, made an appeal to others to unite with him in common action. In 1961, Amnesty International was born.

Since then, ordinary people have been joining together and acting as one for human rights for almost 50 years. From London to Santiago, from Winnipeg to Kampala, one person joined with another to insist that the rights of each and every human being are respected and protected.

Over five decades, Amnesty members have secured the release of tens of thousands of people who had been imprisoned for their beliefs or their way of life. Amnesty members have helped bring human rights abusers to account.

Amnesty members have changed laws and changed lives.

In Amnesty’s 50th year, millions of people around the world will be uniting in common ac-

tion for human rights.A new website will enable people to take action on critical campaign issues. The website will do so much more than just provide an opportunity to take action. It will also provide new ways to see how each action combines with thousands of others to achieve impact and improve lives.

If you’d like to get involved in fighting injustice and human rights violations, it’s easy. Just visit www. AI50.ca. You can also ask a friend or colleague to do the same. Imagine the impact if millions of people around the world asked one more person to take part.

Safety tips can help gardeners avoid injury (NC)—Any green thumb will tell you there’s plenty of hard work required to make your garden grow. Lifting and hauling, digging, aerating and planting are all good exercise, but they can also lead to injury.

The good news is: it is possible to have a beautiful spring garden without suffering for your horticultural art. It starts with a little know–how. That’s why the Ontario Chiropractic Association is relaunching Plant and Rake Without the Ache, a public education program aimed at helping gardeners stay pain–free.

“Improper gardening techniques are a frequent cause of injury in the spring,” says OCA President Dr. David Brunarski, noting that commonly seen injuries among gardeners range from repetitive strain injuries of the wrist and elbow, to sprain and strain injuries, especially in the lower back, as well as wear–and–tear on joints and muscles.

“Simple things, like warming up before you begin and staying hydrated can make a big difference.”

Here are a few stretching tips

that will help you make your garden the envy of the neighbourhood while helping you stay active all season long.

Warm up with a short, brisk walk, then gently repeat each of the following stretches five times.

Hold all stretches for 15 to 20 seconds. Stop if it is painful.

• Thigh Stretch: With one

hand on the wall or a tree, bend your left knee then reach back and hold your ankle with your right hand. Pull your heel toward your buttocks and hold for 30 seconds. Relax and repeat with the other leg. To stretch the back

thigh muscles (hamstrings), with one hand on the wall or a tree put one foot on a chair, stump, or step. Slowly bend forward from the waist until you feel the pull at the back of your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. Relax and repeat with the other leg.

• Back Stretch: Sit on a chair and slowly bend your body forward from your hips, putting your head down and resting your hands on the floor. Hold, then relax.

• Shoulder Rolls: With your arms hanging loosely at your sides, slowly rotate your shoulders in a circular motion forward, then backward.

• Wrist Extension: Hold one arm straight out as if you were giving a ‘stop’ signal, use your opposite hand to hold this position. Hold. Repeat with the other hand.

• W r i s t Flexion: Hold one arm out in front, palm down. Bend your fingers until they point toward the ground. Use your opposite hand to hold this position.

For more information about the OCA’s Plant and Rake Without the Ache program, visit our website at www.chiropractic. on.ca, or call 1–877–327–2273.

May 18 - 31, 2011

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NEWS

May 18 - 31, 2011

Real estate searches made easy with online innovations (NC)—Today, most of us start just about any new initiative with a few clicks on the Web. The same holds true when shopping for a home. Real estate companies now offer a myriad of innovative Web offerings to help sellers and buyers.

“We’ve added a variety of enhancements to our consumer–facing website, www.royallepage.ca,” says Carolyn Cheng,” VP of strategic business services for Royal LePage Canada. “To start, now homebuyers across Canada can create a personal profile to enable

saved searches; receive email notifications when new listings meet their search criteria; and, find driving directions to listings that interest them.” www.royallepage.ca also allows for login through Facebook and the ability to share finds with others through both Facebook and Twitter. You will also find profiles on the entire roster of Royal LePage agents – some 14,000 across Canada – including their special interests, areas served, along with accreditations, designations and languages spoken.

“Essentially, we’ve developed a portal that makes the process of searching for a home, or finding an agent, a whole lot easier,” adds Cheng. “Our agents and offices also appreciate the functionality as it provides yet another vehicle for them to get the word out about their areas of expertise.”

Real estate websites provide the backbone for housing information, and include features and resources that make the search for a home easier, faster and in lockstep with technology advances.

Smart energy–saving choices deliver faster returns (NC)—As summer temperatures continue to rise, so does the cost of energy bills. Homeowners can keep their cool with a number of energy saving options. To get the fastest payback, homeowners should identify and fix the major sources of air leaks in the home.

Air leakage can account for up to 40% of a home’s heating and cooling costs. In the average home, typical areas through which air escapes include joints

at windows, cracks at doors, electrical service and cable TV entry points, electrical outlets and ceiling light fixtures, ductwork and chimney leaks. To compensate for the loss of conditioned air in the home, the heating and cooling system has to work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.

Energy saving options that offer the best payback are those that help homeowners realize a return on their investment as quickly as possible. This benefits all homeowners, whether they plan on staying in the home for the

short– or long– term.

Air–sealing with a spray foam insulation, such as those offered by Icynene, can offer significant savings each month. Icynene offers proof by estimating the energy payback for homeowners who want to see instant savings from their insulation purchase. A local dealer can provide a customized energy analysis.

More information about air–sealing for energy and cost savings is available online at www.insulationsmart.com.

Affordability tips for first time homebuyers

(NC)—Owning your first home is a milestone as well as an exciting experience. However, many first time homebuyers can be nervous about the process, as they don’t know what to expect or how to make the best decisions.

RBC Royal Bank research shows that homebuyers between the ages of 18–34 worry that buying their first home will mean living outside their means.

“With the proper advice and budgeting tools you can still live within your means and purchase your first home – you can do both,” said Kavita Joshi, director, Client Strategies, RBC.

“An RBC mortgage specialist can help you understand all the financial aspects of owning your first home, by offering tailored advice and support.”

Joshi offers a number of tips to help first time homebuyers stretch their dollars even further: Determine how much you can afford – before beginning your house search in earnest, review down payment options, household income, current debt, estimated monthly housing– related costs and closing costs.

Create your wish list Determine what features in a house are need–to–have vs. nice–to–have.

Establish your down payment amount It’s helpful to establish an amount you are comfortable with prior to making your purchase. You’ll be glad to know that there are options available depending on how much of a down payment you can afford.

Factor in your closing costs It helps to know upfront what your closing costs will be. When calculating

closing costs, it’s fairly safe to assume you’ll need at least an additional 1.5 per cent of the purchase price.

Get pre–approved for your mortgage If you are unsure you qualify for a mortgage or how much you qualify for, speak with a mortgage specialist who can see if you can pre–qualify, so you’ll know what your mortgage options will be.

Understand your payment options Many first–time homebuyers give more thought to interest rates than the mortgage solution itself. While rates certainly have to be considered, the different types of mortgages, various payment structures, terms and flexibility may have a much greater bearing on your overall costs of homeownership.

Consider unforeseen expenses ahead of time When you’re buying a home for the first time, there are a number of related costs that you may not be familiar with, including: professional home

inspection, lawyer fees, land transfer tax, property tax and property insurance. You also should take into account “one–time” costs, such as moving expenses, and ongoing costs, such as heating, electricity and water.

Be realistic You may be under–or over–estimating how much you can afford for a home. Online mortgage calculators make it easier to estimate accurately, by providing you with information on the maximum mortgage payment amount you can afford each month (www.rbcroyalbank.com/cgi–bin/mortgage/ tools/howmuch/afford.pl) Love your new home Once you’ve received the keys to your new home, it will time to sit back and enjoy every minute of being a new homeowner.

For further advice and tips, visit the RBC Advice Centre at www.rbcadvicecentre.com and join the discussion on purchasing your first home on the RBC Facebook page at Facebook.com/ rbcroyalbank.

Insurance tips for homebuyers By Gillian Birch

(NC)—Summer to–do lists are often filled with road trips, swimming pools, vacation adventures and taking in the great outdoors. However, for many Canadians, the warm–weather season means even bigger plans – such as buying a new home.

Purchasing a new property, especially for the first time, presents many questions. From separating your must– haves vs. your wish–list, finding the right real estate agent, and calculating how much you can afford, insuring that new home is often only consid-

ered after the papers are signed and the move–in plans are underway.

“The type and location of home you buy can have a significant impact on your insurance premium,” said Wayne Ross, insurance expert at Aviva Canada. “By looking at your new home through the eyes of your insurance company, you could save thousands in your home insurance premiums.”

Ross offers four simple tips to keep insurance in mind when shopping for your dream home: Explore the location: Neighbour-

hoods with lower crime rates and that are close to fire stations are kinder to your insurance premiums.

Think warm thoughts: Check out the heating system installed in the home. Oil tanks can cause expensive environmental damage if they leak while gas furnaces and electric heat are much less risky. If you heat with oil, you’ll likely pump more money into your premium.

Some things are better new: Houses with more recent heating, electrical and plumbing systems are less suscep-

tible to fire and other dangers, and result in lower premiums. Also search for an updated roof and look for signs of wear and tear.

Examine your extras: Adding upgrades such as swimming pools or hot tubs can increase your chance of liability – and therefore your insurance costs.

More information and insurance tips for homebuyers are available from your insurance broker or at avivacanada.com.

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SOUTH ASIA

May 18 - 31, 2011

SC directs govt to allocate 5 million tonnes foodgrain to PDS

The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the government to allocate additional five million tonnes of food grains to the 150 poorest districts of the country under supervision of a committee appointed by it.

A bench of justices Dalveer Bhan-

dari and Deepak V e r m a asked the government to distribute the a d d it i on a l foodgrains d u r i n g the summer to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society under the guidance of Justice D P Wadhwa Committee.

The bench said the committee would identify the vulnerable sections in consultation with the Centre and would recommend allocation of

foodgrains to the targeted beneficiaries.

The court also directed the chief secretaries of all states receiving the additional foodgrains to first exhaust their unutilised stock of foodgrains allocated to them and then distribute the additional one.

Earlier on 10th May, the bench had expressed concern over the high malnourishment deaths in the country.

The Centre had told the bench that 50 lakh additional tonnes of PDS foodgrains would be distributed among below poverty level families by next two weeks.

The bench had also repeated its earlier stance that if godowns were overflowing or foodgrains are being destroyed on account of other reasons there was no reason why government should not distribute them at subsidised rates to the BPL and Antodaya

Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

“We are repeatedly requesting you.

Please distribute it. You are procuring (foodgrains) at a huge cost. But the storage capacity will be inadequate to cope with the fresh harvest. That is happening every time when you have bumper crops.

Anybody who watches the TV will have the same view.

“There are said to be 3,000 malnourishment deaths in the country. It may not be 3000 but even if it is three deaths in a country like ours, it is a matter of grave concern,” the bench had said.

“Why can’t you give it to the poor on a subsidised rate,” the bench had asked the Solicitor General of India after the petitioner PUCL (Peoples Union for Civil Liberties) complained that massive quantity of foodgrains were recently destroyed in Punjab.

Bin Laden wives, daughters Govt of India to conduct interviewed by U.S. Economic Census in 2012 U.S. intelligence officials have interviewed three of Osama bin Laden’s wives and some of his daughters, the Guardian’s Declan Walsh told CBC News in an interview.

The interviews were brief and happened at a time when the U.S. was publicly applying pressure to Pakistan to give access to these women.

The former al-Qaeda leader’s wives and daughters were hostile toward the American investigators and did not want to co-operate, said Walsh, the newspaper’s foreign correspondent for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Intelligence officials did not divulge what they gleaned from the interviews, but said the women’s reluctance to talk was not surprising given the killing of bin Laden at the hands of the United States.

Bin Laden was killed May 1 in a

U.S. raid in Abbottabad, a Pakistani town 150 kilometres north of Islamabad.

Specifically, the American interrogators were seeking information from the women on movements in and out of the compound, and any evidence of a support network for bin Laden within Pakistan.

“They also want to know how these women managed to link up with bin Laden because some of them were separated from him after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks,” Walsh said.

“One of them actually returned to her home in Yemen, and it seems that they managed to slip [in] under the nose of authorities [to] reunite with bin Laden, and that’s something the U.S. will want answers about.”

Reprinted with permission from CBC.ca

Saudi diplomat shot dead in Pak; Taliban claims responsibility

Four motorcycle-borne Taliban militants on Monday shot dead a diplomat of Saudi Arabia in Karachi, a staunch US ally, apparently to avenge Osama bin Laden’s killing by American forces in Pakistan.

The incident came days after explosives devices were lobbed at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Karachi.

The Saudi diplomat, identified in media reports as Hasan M M AlKahtani, was attacked by four gunmen riding two motorcycles while he was driving to work.

The attack occurred a short distance from the Bahrain consulate. The Saudi Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that the victim was a diplomat.

The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the killing, Geo News channel reported. A

Taliban spokesman called the media to take responsibility.

Earlier on May 11, two men riding a motorcycle lobbed two low intensity explosive devices at the Saudi consulate in Karachi though no one was injured in the attack.

Saudi officials said the blasts caused minor damage to buildings within the consulate compound. Saudi Assistant Foreign Minister Prince Khaled bin Saud had urged Pakistani authorities to ensure the protection of the kingdom’s diplomatic missions in the country.

The attack came a fortnight after US special forces raided a compound in the garrison city of Abbottabad and killed Osama bin Laden, a critic of the Saudi government.

Al-Qaeda and Taliban have pledged to take avenge bin Laden’s death.

The govt will launch an economic census next year involving collection of data from entrepreneurial units in the country with a view to help in micro level planning and policy formulations, specially in the unorganised sector.

The Sixth Economic Census would be conducted as a Central Sector Plan and would take place during January to June 2012, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) said in a statement on Friday.

“The Central Government plans to conduct the Sixth Economic Census as a Central Sector Plan Scheme during 2012. MOSPI plans to carry out the fieldwork of this census during January-June 2012, in collaboration with all state and union territory governments,” it said.

The Fifth Economic Census was conducted in 2005. Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation M S Gill has reviewed the plan of action for conducting the census.

“The census would involve collection of data from entrepreneurial units in the country. Data on sectoral activity of the unit, number of workers, social group of the owner, femaleowned enterprise among others would be collected for micro level planning and policy formulations with respect to various economic activities,” it said.

According to MOSPI, the unorganised sector in the country has assumed greater importance, with a significant contribution in the GDP and employment generation due to emergence of services in the post-liberalisation era.

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) in its third report on condition of workers in the sector submitted in 2007, has said that 86 percent of the country’s workforce or 394.9 million workers form part of the unorganised

sector.

“As a result of economic liberalisation, it is essential to study this particular sector which might have led to structural and compositional changes more rapidly in the recent years,” MOSPI said.

It added that the database gathered during the census would enable policy makers and analysts to assess the impact of the economic liberalisation process on entrepreneurial activities, especially in the unorganised sector.

“The data at lower geographical levels like tehsil/ village in case of rural areas, and wards in the case of urban areas, would also be a valuable input for local level planning required under 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments,” it said.

The data on number and distribution of entrepreneurial units is also expected to provide framework for undertaking follow-up statistical sample surveys for assessing the individual contribution of various industrial sectors in the country’s GDP. For proper implementation of the census, directions have been issued by MOSPI to prepare detailed activitywise plan of action and need for engaging qualified personnel for collection of data, supervision and imparting training.

“A proper publicity plan will be mounted to create public awareness to elicit correct information and cooperation from the respondents of the census,” it said.

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SOUTH ASIA

May 18 - 31, 2011

Supreme Court of India stays Allahabad High Court verdict on Ayodhya title suit The Supreme Court has stayed the Allahabad High Court’s verdict dividing in three parts the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, terming as “something strange” the judgement although the parties had not asked for trifurcation of the land.

The court on May 9th, while staying the 13th September 2010 judgement of the Lucknow bench of the high court, ordered status quo at the site.

A bench of justices Aftab Alam

and R M Lodha, while terming the high court’s judgement “as something strange,” said the partition of the land was ordered despite none of the parties to the dispute seeking it.

While directing that there shall be no religious activity on the 67 acre land, acquired by the central government adjacent to the disputed structure, the apex court bench said the status quo shall be maintained with regard to the rest of the land.

In the wake of the court’s order, prayers at Ram Lala’s make-shift temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya would be going on as usual.

The Lucknow bench of the high court had in September last year passed the verdict directing partition of the 2.77 acre on which the disputed structure once stood into three parts among Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara.

Although the appeals filed by vari-

ous Hindu and Muslim religious organisations pertained to only 2.77 acre of disputed land, the bench, however, also ordered status quo on the 67 acre of land adjacent to the disputed site.

The bench was hearing a batch of appeals filed by Nirmohi Akhara, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Jamait Ulama-I-Hind and Sunni Central Wakf Board, besides the one filed on behalf of Bhagwan Ram lala.

Jayalalithaa sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for a third time along with 33 ministers at a glittering function at the Madras University centenary auditorium on Monday.

This was the same venue where she took over as Chief Minister for the first time in 1991.

Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala administered the oath of office and secrecy. 63-yearold Jayalalithaa and others took the oath in Tamil and in the name of god. This would be the largestever ministry in the state since independence. Jayalalithaa will be retaining the home and police portfolios.

The AIADMK leader had steered the alliance led

by her party to a spectacular victory in the elections by winning 200 of the total 234 seats. Jayalalithaa’s new ministry is a blend of experience and youth.

Most of the ministers are making their maiden entry into the state cabinet.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan, among others.

In keeping with Tamil Nadu’s political practice, it will be a single-party government despite AIADMK winning the elections in alliance with some other parties.

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SOUTH ASIA

May 18 - 31, 2011

Bangladesh donates Farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait dead $2m for tremor-hit Japan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently handed over a cheque for US$ 2 million to Japanese envoy in Dhaka as contribution of Bangladesh for reconstruction of his earthquake ravaged country.

“She (Sheikh Hasina) handed over the cheque to Ambassador Tamotsu Shinotsuka at Ganobhaban this afternoon,” a spokesman of the prime minister’s office said.

He said Foreign minister Dipu Moni and Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin were present as the cheque was handed over at a simple ceremony.

The spokesman said the Japanese envoy expressed deep gratitude for Bangladesh’s gesture and recalled that succor sent by Dhaka earlier for the tremor victims immediately after the quake that claimed at least 18,000 lives.

Bharatiya Kisan U n i o n President Mahendra Singh Tikait, who spearheaded several movements for peasants’ rights in northern India, died in Muzaffarnagar Sunday morning due to protracted illness from cancer.

76 years old, Tikait, who also served as the council head of Baliyan Khap, was suffering from bone

cancer since a year and died at his son’s residence here, family sources said.

Scores of people, mostly farmers, paid tributes to the senior farmer leader. His cremation would be held on Monday at BKU headquarters in Sisauli.

A popular leader among farmers, Tikait had led a number of mass kisan movements against the state and central governments to support the rights of the farmers.

The BKU had in 1988 laid a virtual siege of Meerut in pursuit of higher prices for sugarcane, cancellation of loans and lowering of water and electricity rates. That same year

he had organised a week-long protest in Delhi’s Boat Club to focus on the plight of farmers.

Tikait courted controversy in 2008 when he was arrested and later released on bail for allegedly making derogatory and caste based remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati.

Tikait was arrested several times during his farmers’ agitations and the latest being in February 2000 in Moradabad while on his way to hold a panchayat in Lucknow.

Born on in 1935 at Sisauli in this district, Tikait, a Jat, inherited the leadership of Baliyan Khap at the age of 8.

SAD-BJP Ministry expanded in Punjab

Days after all the BJP nominees resigned from Punjab cabinet, the Parkash Singh Badal-led ministry was expanded on Sunday with the induction of five ministers, including two who had quit last week.

The expansion comes four days after all the five BJP cabinet ministers resigned in the wake of a Rs 1.50 crore graft case in which a BJP MLA Raj Khurana was arrested. Names of two ministers also figured in the case.

Tikshan Sud, Laxmi Kanta

Chawla (both of whom were asked to resign), Satpal Gosain (who resigned as Deputy Speaker of the assembly), former minister Surjit Kumar Jyani and Arunesh Shakir were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil.

Besides the ministers, five BJP legislators were sworn in as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries - a rank equivalent to cabinet ministers by Badal at the Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh on Sunday.

Those sworn in as CPS are Sukhpal Singh Nannu, who resigned as CPS this week, K D Bhandari, Amarjit Singh Sahi, Bishamber Dass and Dinesh Singh.

Following the expansion the strength of the Council of Ministers has increased from 12 to 17, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

The strength of CPS, who hold rank equivalent to that of ministers has gone up to 15 from 10.

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SOUTH ASIA

May 18 - 31, 2011

Farmers killed, women raped in UP villages: Rahul to PM

Taking the land acquisition issue in

Uttar Pradesh to the Prime Minister’s door, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday complained to him about alleged “repression” and “murder” of farmers in the Mayawatiruled state.

Emerging from an half-an-hour meeting, Gandhi alleged huge heaps of ash carrying burnt bodies have been found in the villages where farmers

were agitating for better compensation for their land acquired by Maaywati government.

Gandhi also showed the Prime Minister pictures purportedly of bodies burnt and other forms of violence against farmers and their family members.

“The issue here is a more fundamental one with regard to these villages in particular and a large number of villages in UP all down the Agra highway, where state repression is being used, where people are being murdered.

The AICC general secretary said he was “very concerned” about what was going on in the villages there and facilitated the meeting of farmers with the Prime Minister so that they can put forward their views and the PM listened to it. It was a delegation of eight persons.

To a question why the Centre is yet to amend the Land Acquisition Act even as he had met the Prime Minister even last year with the same demand, Gandhi said it was taking time as the legislation was a complex one.

Punjab records all-time high wheat procurement of 107.43 LT

Aided by higher wheat output, Punjab has set a new record in wheat procurement for the central pool, with crop purchases touching 107.43 lakh

metric tonnes (MT) in the ongoing rabi marketing season.

Punjab had previously recorded an alltime high in wheat procurement for the central pool at 107.36 lakh MT in 2009-10.

The total crop procurement in Punjab has reached 107.70 lakh MT, out of which the contribution to the central pool is 107.43 lakh MT. Procurement by private traders and for the Punjab state pool has reached 25,282 MT and 1,797 MT, respectively, a FCI official said in

Chandigarh on Monday.

Punjab has kept a target for 110 lakh MT of wheat procurement this season, amid a foodgrain storage crisis.

“As about 26,000 MT of wheat is still arriving in the grain markets, the total procurement may reach 109 lakh MT,” an official said.

The record wheat procurement has been possible due to bumper wheat output prospects, with the state anticipating the highest-ever wheat production of 160 lakh MT this season on account of favourable weather conditions.

Notably, the highest-ever wheat output achieved by the state in the last 10 years was in 2008-09, at 157.33 lakh MT, followed by 157.16 lakh MT in

2007-08.

Because of extended cold conditions, wheat growers this year witnessed an increase in wheat yield by up to 2 quintals per hectare, which has boosted overall ouput, an official of the Punjab Agriculture Department said.

Meanwhile, wheat procurement for the central pool in the neighbouring state of Haryana has touched the 67.09 lakh tonne-mark, short of the record of 69.24 lakh MT in 2009-10.

Total wheat procurement in the state has reached 67.13 lakh MT, out of which 67.09 lakh MT is toward the central pool and rest was bought by private traders, an official of the Haryana Food and Supply department said.

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NEWS

May 18 - 31, 2011

Canadian building codes promote use of green technology

(NC)—Across the country, and abroad, governments are now mandating construction conservation and sustainability.

In Ontario, for example, homes built after 2011 should be 35 per cent more energy efficient compared to

homes built before 2006. According to the government’s Energuide80 goals, the building code’s more stringent requirements will soon save enough energy to power 380,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to 250,000 fewer cars on Ontario’s roads.

“It is also expected that these new requirements will quickly balance energy–efficiency with affordability,” says Todd Blyth at Nudura, the manufacturers of an advanced version of the insulated concrete form (ICF). In other words, the extra cost to build a home with better performance insulation, windows, doors, and heating, will be recovered by reduced energy bills.

Better still, an energy–efficient house will cost less to heat, cool and maintain with far less pollution and depletion of natural resources.”

Existing homeowners should also be pro–active. The value of your house at resale is going to be directly related to energy efficiency. A future buyer is able to quickly measure the energy performance of one house against another.

Those who plan to build a new home are advised to take a look at the higher building code standards. For example, changing from inefficient wood–based walls, to concrete, is considered a major upgrade for your living quality, your wallet, and for the planet.

“Builders recognize that the Nudura ‘insulated concrete form wall system’ already exceeds the latest green

oriented code requirements,” Blyth explained. “This faster method of construction creates a solid concrete wall with countless benefits such as superior insulation, durability, safety, and resident comfort. Assembled like Lego, the pre–assembled, interlocking blocks deliver savings up to 50 per cent on energy bills.

The home stands to be stronger, provide greater safety, offer greater sound resistance – and will be far less prone to mould, cold spots and drafts.

You will need less energy for mechanical heating and cooling, resulting in greater cost savings throughout the year.”

Insulated concrete forms are an option, so be sure to discuss it with your builder.

Survival tips for newcomers starting a business (NC)—Growing up, you were taught to be safe.

You wouldn’t cross the street without looking both ways, or ride in a car without your seatbelt. So don’t let your family head outside on a summer day without the proper protection.

Help keep every member of your family safe with these protection essentials from the Banana Boat brand.

• Hydration. Water is a crucial part of any outdoor activity. Make sure you pack enough water for every member of your family. The best time to hydrate is before you are thirsty. An extra glass of water

with breakfast will help get you through the day.

• Sun Protection. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Protect yourself appropriately. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and more often if you are swimming, sweating or if you have recently toweled off.

• Clothing. Wear sun–protective clothing.

Choose light weight material to help keep you cool outdoors.

More summer safety tips can be found online at www.bananaboat.com.

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WORLD

May 18 - 31, 2011

Mega-fires may be contributing to climate change, UN report finds

The growing number of mega-fires around the world may be contributing to global warming, a new United Nations report says, calling on governments to introduce comprehensive strategies to reduce the risk of such conflagrations.

The report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), released at an international conference in South Africa, says policy-makers need to improve their monitoring of carbon gas emissions from wildfires to better determine the potential climate change impacts.

The report’s release follows a series of high-profile mega-fires, including the February 2009 Black Saturday blazes in Australia that killed 173 people and obliterated many towns, and record-setting fires last year in Russia that claimed the lives of 62 people and burned about 2.3 million hectares.

The report examined recent megafires in Australia, Botswana, Brazil, In-

donesia, Israel, Greece, Russia and the United States.

The report found that nearly all the mega-fires studied were started by people, sometimes deliberately to clear land for the purposes of agriculture or development.

In all but one of the examples studied, drought was a factor that prolonged or exacerbated the blazes, with hot, dry and windy conditions also contributing to the intensity of the fires.

But the report noted two examples – one in south-western Australia and one in Florida in the US – where despite all the conditions being in place for the uncontrolled spread of a mega-fire, relatively little damage was done.

The report’s authors cited more balanced approaches by authorities in those areas that featured prevention, mitigation and suppression strategies to minimize the impact of fires.

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NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour had a picture-perfect liftoff on Monday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre on the next-to-last flight of the shuttle era before heading to retirement at a Los Angeles museum.

Endeavour roared off the launch pad at 8:56 a.m. ET carrying a six-member crew to the International Space Station (ISS). Endeavour is the baby of NASA’s shuttle fleet. It was built to replace the Challenger, lost in a 1986 launch accident.

Endeavour first flew in 1992 it ended its first mission 19 years ago today.

The shuttle has flown 116.4 million miles in 24 previous flights.

The shuttle’s liftoff was watched by more than the usual number of physicists. That’s because Endeavour is carrying up a USD 2 billion particle physics detector known as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS).

The AMS will be mounted onto the ISS, where it will collect cosmic rays charged particles that zoom through space for a decade.

The equipment was designed to search for primordial antimatter created during the Big Bang, and the mys-

terious dark matter that makes up much of our universe.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Samuel Ting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology pushed for more than 16 years to make the project happen, raising money to build it with the help of hundreds of researchers in more than a dozen countries.

Ting said no one knows what the AMS might discover. “I mean, if you find what you predicted, it’s not interesting,” he said in an April interview.

“The interesting thing is to destroy the current idea, to find something new.”

NASA is retiring its three remaining space shuttles after 30 years to concentrate on interplanetary travel.

The space agency wants to hand over the business of getting crews and cargo to the space station to private companies.

At least one company, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said it can get astronauts to the space station within three years of getting NASA approval.

One final mission remains by Atlantis in July.

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WORLD

May 18 - 31, 2011

IMF chief arrested; charged over attempted rape, sex assault

IMF chief Dominique StraussKahn, a likely candidate for French President in 2012, was arrested on Sunday and charged with attempted rape and sexual assault on a hotel

maid in New York, after being pulled out from a Parisbound airplane, minutes before it was to take off.

62-yearold StraussKahn, Managing Director of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund since 2007, was taken off an Air France plane’s first-class cabin at the John F Kennedy International Airport and apprehende d by detectives of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The IMF chief will plead not guilty to all charges, his lawyer William Taylor said.

The New York Police Department arrested Kahn at 2:15 am Sunday “on

charges of criminal sexual act, attempted rape, and an unlawful imprisonment in connection with a sexual assault on a 32-year chambermaid in the luxury suite of a Midtown Manhattan hotel yesterday” about 1 pm, Deputy Commissioner Paul J Browne, the department’s chief spokesman, said.

Browne said that it was about 1 pm local time yesterday when the maid entered Strauss-Kahn’s USD 3,000-anight suite of Sofitel New York hotel, believing it was unoccupied.

The IMF chief was in the shower when the 32-year-old maid entered his room at the hotel on West 44th Street in Manhattan yesterday.

As she was in the foyer, “he came out of the bathroom, fully naked, and attempted to sexually assault her,” Browne was quoted as saying by NYT. “He grabs her, according to her account, and pulls her into the bedroom and onto the bed,” Browne said, adding he locked the door to the suite.

“She fights him off, and he then drags her down the hallway to the bathroom, where he sexually assaults her a second time,” he said.

MSNBC television reported that in the bathroom, the IMF chief forced the maid to perform oral sex on him and tried to remove her underwear.

At some point during the assault, the woman broke free and “fled, reported it to other hotel personnel,

who called 911. When the police arrived, he was not there,” Browne said, adding Strauss-Kahn appeared to have left in a hurry.

Investigators found his cellphone in the room, which he had left behind, and one law enforcement official said that investigation uncovered forensic evidence that would contain his DNA. The maid was taken by police to hospital and was being treated for minor injuries.

A spokesman for the hotel said its staff is cooperating with the investigations.

Strauss-Kahn had earlier won praise for his handling of the global financial crisis as the IMF head.

Strauss-Kahn, who was widely expected to stand in the 2012 French presidential elections as a Socialist candidate against incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, was in 2008 also embroiled in a controversy after accusations surfaced of his sexual relationship with one of his subordinates, a Hungarian economist, in the IMF’s Africa Department.

Strauss-Kahn, had served as France’s Minister of Economy and Finance from 1997 to 1999.

In France’s 2007 election, StraussKahn lost the Socialist Party nomination to Segolene Royal, who in turn was defeated by Sarkozy, leader of the right-wing Union for a Popular Movement.

Sexual exploitation of children on the rise in Mauritius, UN rights expert warns Mauritian children are increasingly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, due to a combination of poverty, family dysfunction, social taboos, alcohol and drugs, an independent United Nations human rights expert has warned.

Wrapping up an 11-day visit to the Indian Ocean country, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography said the number of reported cases of sexual abuse, maltreatment and neglect in Mauritius continues to rise, despite the efforts of authorities

and others to combat the problem.

“The phenomenon of girls sexually exploited in prostitution, either casual or permanent, is equally worrying, as is the growing number of teenage mothers,” said Najat Maalla M’jid in a statement issued in Port Louis, the capital.

“But the true scale of the sale and sexual exploitation remains difficult to determine because of the taboo surrounding sexuality and the absence of a centralized information system.”

Ms. Maalla M’jid said a number of factors had led to the rising vulner-

ability of children, including poverty, family dysfunction and alcohol and drug use. She also cited increasing consumerism, the persistent demands of the market for commercial sex, access to new technologies and parental migration for economic reasons.

A lack of sex education programmes also means children are not informed about the risks inherent in sexual activity at a young age, the statement noted.

But the Special Rapporteur welcomed the Mauritian Government’s ratification of the Additional Protocol

to the Convention of the Rights of the Child on the scale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, which took place during her visit.

She also visited centres and programmes dedicated to the protection of children from violence and sexual abuse on both the island of Mauritius and the island of Rodrigues.

During the visit Ms. Maalla M’jid met with senior Government officials, the country’s ombudsperson for children, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners as well.

Asia-Pacific developing nations to drive global economy in 2011 – UN report

A new regional report by the United Nations finds that developing countries in Asia and the Pacific will continue driving the global economy in 2011, while warning that high food and fuel prices as well as volatile capital inflows pose fresh challenges.

The annual flagship report by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) projects a strong economic growth rate of 7.3 per cent after last year’s 8.8 per cent.

At the same time, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2011 says the regional outlook for this year is subject to downside risks, notably from the return of high food and fuel prices, sluggish recovery in

rich nations and a deluge of volatile capital inflows.

The after-effects of natural disasters will pose risks, although the regional economic impact of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March will be less severe than initially expected.

“The Asia-Pacific region emerged from the global financial crisis as a growth driver and anchor of stability of the global economy,” said the Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Noeleen Heyzer.

She added that the immediate challenge is to address rising food prices that are threatening to seriously undermine efforts aimed at reducing poverty.

The report estimates that rising food and oil prices could lead to 42 million additional people in poverty, joining the 19 million already affected in 2010 – with negative repercussions for achieving the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in some countries in the region.

ESCAP urges the Group of 20 (G20) major economies to act decisively to moderate the volatility of oil and food prices, including through regulating commodity markets to reduce speculation, and negotiating a benchmark “fair” price of oil with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

It also urges protecting poor

and vulnerable households through strengthening of public food distribution systems, food vouchers, school feeding programmes and other targeted subsidies. Priority must also be given to enhancing support for agriculture.

Noting that the region has over 950 million people living on less than $1.25 a day, ESCAP cites the need to improve quality job opportunities, expand social security programmes and promote agriculture and rural development. Bridging the region’s huge infrastructure gaps using its equally huge savings can boost jobs and incomes, it adds.

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HEALTH / FITNESS

May 18 - 31, 2011

May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

NC)—Many of us take our abilities to communicate for granted. Yet the quality of our capacity to speak, hear and be heard is so much more vital

to our lives than most people realize. There are millions of Canadian families living with these challenges every day. The Canadian Association of Speech– Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), represents more than 5,700 communication professionals and dedicates the month of May to raising public awareness of the professions and many issues surrounding commu-

nication disorders. Speech–language pathologists, audiologists and supportive personnel are trained professionals who work with people of all ages dealing with issues related to speech, language, hearing, balance, swallowing and other related disorders. Whether working with an autistic child, or a person recovering from a stroke, their goal is to help clients “speak well, hear well, live well” and achieve a better quality of life. May month promotes and celebrates both the professions and the contributions made by speech–language pathologists, audiologists and

supportive personnel to the health of our country. Watch for exciting events in your community such as hearing screenings, speech clinics and other activities listed on the calendar at www. caslpa.ca/english/events/may.asp. More information is also available online at www.speechandhearing.ca. You can also keep up to date on related issues, interesting articles and resources on social networks. With Twitter follow @ CASLPA at www.twitter.com/CASLPA. With Facebook, fan CASLPA at http:// tinyurl.com/caslpaonfacebook.

Don’t let arthritis come between you and your garden A restless night

(NC)—Spring is a time of renewal.

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians mark this rite of passage every year by raking, pruning and planting to make their gardens beautiful. Yet for the more than four million Canadians living with arthritis, the bending, stretching and lifting that gardening entails can seem daunting. Gardening is actually an excellent form of exercise that helps maintain strength and mobility without putting additional stress on your joints. The Arthritis Society offers the following tips for smart, safe gardening: • Always be sure to stretch and warm up before working in the garden.

This will help reduce stiffness and decrease your risk of injury.

• Use raised flower beds that allow you to stand

or sit comfortably while you work.

• Search for garden products that have been designed to be used by people with arthritis. Tools bearing an “arthritis friendly” logo have received a passing grade by an independent third–party research organization.

• Use tools that have long handles to avoid bending or stooping. Handles should be as long as your own height.

• Pad the handles of your hand tools with foam to enlarge the grip.

• Wear a carpenter’s apron with large pockets for carrying frequently used tools.

• Make sure your tools are sharp and well oiled. It will make them easier to use.

• Switch tasks often and take lots of breaks.

• Plan rest areas in your garden– benches, chairs, etc.–or use a rolling stool that you can move easily.

• If kneeling, use kneepads or a foam kneeling pad.

More tips for living well with arthritis can be found online at www.arthritis.ca.

Tips for protecting your child’s health in the first three months (NC)—For new parents, heading home from the hospital with a newborn can bring a flood of emotions. With the excitement of starting the next stage of their lives as a family, comes the frightening realization that for the little one’s health and safety, the parents’ must become more knowledgeable about many aspects of baby care. Amongst all the issues to keep in mind during this critical time, here are three basic tips parents should consider when it comes to protecting their child’s health in the first three months of life.

1. Feeding Your Baby The first thing new moms have to ensure is that they keep their baby adequately nourished. It is recommended that healthy, term infants are breastfeed exclusively for at least the first six months. Breast milk helps babies fight infections as it contains antibodies which protect against illnesses such as stomach bugs (gastroenteritis), cold viruses, urinary infections and ear infections. Breast milk also has long–chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are

essential for helping your baby’s brain develop. If breastfeeding is not an option, parents may opt for an iron–fortified cow’s milk–based infant formula for the first 9 to 12 months, which may come in liquid or powder form.

2. Immunization Despite many misconceptions, immunizations are among the safest tools of modern medicine and have resulted in the near–eradication of many major infectious diseases. The first set of vaccinations is given to babies at their two month check–up and they protect against the following diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal disease.

Although it’s not currently covered by provincial governments, parents should consider getting their kids vaccinated against rotavirus, as recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Rotavirus is a serious illness that impacts nearly every Canadian child by age

five. Symptoms include severe fever, vomiting, and diarrhea that can result in hospitalization and/or treatment with intravenous fluids. The rotavirus vaccine is administered in an easy–to– drink liquid and can be given in as little as two doses. It should be given after six weeks of age and completed before eight months of age.

3. Safer Sleeping Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a seemingly healthy baby under one year of age and usually occurs during sleep. While SIDS is a frightening concern for new parents, simple steps can be taken to help reduce SIDS risk. Namely, ensure babies sleep on their back and avoid having loose bedding, bumper pads, pillows, or other materials around that may increase the chance of suffocation while sleeping, and also minimize exposure to second hand smoke.

For more information on these issues, speak with your pediatrician or family physician.

could mean a restless day

(NC)—As many more Canadians are leading a busy lifestyle, it is becoming increasingly important to recharge with a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep may affect an individual’s energy, concentration, short-term memory, interest levels and overall physical appearance.

Dr. Douglas Bradley, director of the Centre for Sleep Health and Research at the Toronto General Hospital’s Sleep Country Canada Sleep Medicine Labs, believes that both the quality and length of sleep can make a difference in how we function each day. He offers the following tips to try at home for people struggling to fall asleep: • Have the right mattress. Your mattress plays a significant role in a good night’s sleep. It has to be comfortable. Many people don’t realize how much their mattress can affect their sleep quality.

• Ensure proper lighting. Darkness helps you fall and stay asleep.

Block out all external light from your bedroom.

• Improve your sleeping space.

Make sure you have enough room to stretch, turn, and move around freely.

If your partner’s movement disturbs you, consider getting a bigger mattress or one that eliminates motion transfer.

• Avoid watching television in the bedroom as this can often keep you or your bedmate up too late.

• Limit caffeine and alcohol. Try to avoid coffee, caffeinated teas, and alcoholic beverages before bed. Drink water instead.

• Exercise, exercise, exercise.

Make exercise part of your daily routine. But, aerobic activity completed two to three hours before bedtime makes falling asleep more difficult, so aim to exercise in the morning or afternoon.

• Keep regular sleep hours. Wake up and go to bed at the same time everyday – even on weekends. This will help you get regulate your sleep and get the same amount each night.

About a third of our life is spent sleeping. Take the time to ensure you have the right conditions for a restful night’s sleep.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

May 18 - 31, 2011

Food Recall Statistics Food Court Best–Practices Four tips to choose wisely

(NC)—The Canadian Food Insepction Agency (CFIA) works with manufactuers, importers, distributers, and partners in food safety so unsafe food products are removed from store shelves and Canadians are notified.

Consumers play an important role in the food safety system by reporting their concerns to the CFIA. The information received from consumers can help to stop the sale of unsafe products through a food recall. On average, 2,000 reports concerning food safety are received each year. In 2009–2010, 1916 reports were received.

Consumer reports can trigger a food safety investigation. Other mechanisms include • Reports of illnesses by public health officials,

• Company–initiated concerns, • CFIA inspection activities, • Te s t i n g and sampling programs, and • Rep o r t s from international partner organizations such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Approximately 3000 food safety investigations are conducted each year.

Food safety investigations determine whether a food safety hazard exists, assess the nature and extent of the issue, and take appropriate action to eliminate or minimize potential risks to consumers. In 2009–2010, 2904 food safety investigations were conducted.

A recall is an action taken by a manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer to remove unsafe food products from the market. On average, the CFIA manages 230 food recalls each year.

More information is available online at www.inspection.gc.ca.

(NC)—Healthy eating is possible when on the go–even in a shopping centre’s busy food court. Here are some easy tips to keep in mind when navigating the fast–food landscape that ensure you’re making inspired, healthy–living choices.

1. Follow the rainbow–choose vegetables: Find a restaurant that makes vegetables and fruits a priority and proudly displays its ingredients.

Consider building your own meal with a range of nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables and cheeses. And if you’ve settled on a salad, don’t forget to top it with vinaigrette or another low–fat dressing–creamy salad dressings are loaded in calories.

2. But choose your vegetables wisely: Although many Chinese entrees are made with vegetables and chicken, they are often doused in heavy oils and sauces that are loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calo-

ries. For example, according to a recent study, a plate of General Tso’s chicken can contain about 40 percent more sodium than the average adult needs for an entire day.

3. Avoid deep–fried foods: Don’t be fooled by their intoxicating scent; the mouth–watering aroma of French fries and fried chicken may draw you in, but they contain acrylamide, a chemical that forms when foods are cooked at high temperatures and which could carry health risks. Health Canada recommends limiting your intake of fried foods. Instead, opt for items that are grilled or steamed.

4. Wrap it up: Awhole wheat pita topped with grilled chicken, vegetables and salad is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins and protein. Extreme Pita (http://www.extremepita. com) offers a wide selection of great tasting and healthy pitas. Its new menu, which debuted across Canada in April, includes options that meet the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s strict Health Check requirements. And an added bonus–you don’t have to look very far to see the nutritional content –it’s displayed on the menu.

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SPORTS

Australia regains Azlan Shah Cup Dragflicker Christopher Ciriello scored a golden goal from a penalty corner as World champions Australia clinched their sixth Azlan Shah Cup hockey title beating Pakistan in Ipoh on Sunday.

Ciriello’s drag-flick in the 13th minute of extra period went into the roof of the goal post to give Australia a 3-2 victory over Pakistan in the summit clash.

The two teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation period, with Australian goals coming from Ciriello (11th minute) and Glenn Turner (44th) and Pakistan scoring through Sohail Abbas (31st) and Rehan Butt (62nd).

Australia have now won the Azlan Shah Cup six times, overtaking India’s record of five titles.

The Azlan Shah Cup was the only title Australia did not win in 2010, when they became the first team to win the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games in one year.

Australia last won the title here in 2007, while three-time champions Pakistan last climbed atop the podium in 2003.

Australia today took an early lead when Ciriello sent a drag-flick along the ground into the right corner of the post even before Pakistan could get a good look at the rival goal.

Stung by the reverse, Pakistan went into the overdrive, spelling danger to the rival citadel on two occasions in open play and forcing two penalty corners.

The second penalty corner produced the equaliser for Pakistan when Waseem Ahmed squared the ball, just as an Australian runner charged out, and ace shooter Sohail Abbas sent a reflex drag-flick into the net.

Australia were in front again nine minutes into the second half as Turner capitalised on the space Pakistan’s defence gave him inside the scoring

zone.

Picking up a diagonal pass in the circle, Turner turned around and beat the hapless goalkeeper with a firm drive.

Going all out in the hunt for goal to draw level for the second time, Pakistan saw Umar Butta failing to trap Fareed Ahmed’s cross from left in the 50th minute.

The pressure produced result in the 62nd minute when Butt lunged for-

ward to flick the ball in after the defenders failed to trap a long-range shot cleanly.

With scores level on 2-2, the match went into extra time, where Australia forced three penalty corners and got the title-winning goal when Ciriello’s rasping shot hit the cross-piece and went in.

India lose 1-2 to South Korea, end sixth in Azlan Shah The Indian hockey team’s campaign in the Azlan Shah Cup ended on a disappointing note as they finished sixth after going down 1-2 to South Korea in their classification match in Ipoh on Sunday.

Two penalty corner flicks by Nam Hyun-Woo left the Indian defence stunned, giving the Koreans a 2-0 lead at the interval.

India tried to come back into the contest and reduced the lead on a second-half field goal from Vikram Pillay, but the disjointed lineup of strikers failed to capitalise on the chances India managed to create.

India and South Korea were joint champions in 2010 when the final was disrupted by heavy rain.

The Indians had earlier won the title outright in 2009 in the seven-team competition.

The defensive woes continued throughout the tournament, but on Sunday the team did not betray their nerves so much.

However, trailing by two goals at the interval proved too much for the erratic strikers to make up.

South Korea took the lead in the eighth minute on their first penalty corner as Nam placed the ball in the corner to the right of the goalkeeper, who was stunned by the shot and did not even move as the flick went past him.

Indian striker Shivendra Singh missed a sitter in the 12th minute when he could not trap a pass from the goalline.

India’s first penalty corner four minutes later also did not make an impact.

The Koreans went ahead by two goals on their second penalty corner as Nam sent the ball soaring into the net, this time to the left of the custodian.

The Koreans posed a danger to the Indian goal again in the 30th minute on a counter attack, but defender Diwakar made a diving clearance from under You Hyo-Sik’s stick before he could move into the circle.

India wasted another penalty corner early in the second session before Pillay capitalised on Gurbaz Singh’s cross from right.

India’s best chance to equalise came in the 43rd minute when Gurwinder Singh Chandi had the ball in the goalmouth and squared it for Shivendra, who did not stay in the clear position but went behind the goalkeeper. The ball went to his right.

India pressed hard in the last 15 minutes and the Koreans had some trouble keeping them at bay, but the story on mis-passing continued.

May 18 - 31, 2011

Gebrselassie wins his 4th Great Manchester Run

Ethiopian long-distance great Haile Gebrselassie won the Great Manchester Run for the fourth time, pulling clear of Chris Thompson of Britain to ease to victory in the 10-kilometer race on Sunday.

Gebrselassie, the marathon worldrecord holder who won the event in 2005, ‘09 and ‘10, posted a time of 28 minutes, 10 seconds in wet and windy conditions in the northern English city.

“I am so happy to come back here again and again,” said Gebrselassie, who ran eight seconds slower than his winning time 12 months ago. “It’s wonderful.”

Thompson kept pace with Gebrselassie for 7km, even coming up to the shoulder of the 38-year-old two-time Olympic 10,000-meter champion at one point, before fading and finishing second in 28-21. Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine came third, four seconds further behind.

“I didn’t expect that from this boy,” Gebrselassie said of Thompson. “He ran so great.”

Britain’s Helen Clitheroe, the 3,000meter champion at the European indoors this year, smashed her personal best by 30 seconds to win the women’s race in 31-45.

Clitheroe led from the start to cross the line ahead of France’s Christelle Daunay, who was 14 seconds behind.

Kenya’s Grace Momanyi, the Commonwealth 10,000-meter champion, was third in 32.05.

Maradona opens stadium in Grozny

A whole bunch of football celebrities, including arguably the best footballer in history, Diego Maradona, ar-

rived in Grozny on May 11 for the opening ceremony of a brand new stadium in the Chechen capital.

Football stars of the past came to attend the opening ceremony and play a friendly game against a team of Russian politicians and sportsmen.

The match was preceded by a concert, involving such stars as C. C. Catch and Toto Cutugno, and a 25-minute spectacular laser show.

Chechen President Ramazn Kadyrov officially opened the arena and addressed the crowd, saying: “We are happy that cuttingedge facilities like this stadium are being built in Chechnya. The republic is

reviving, we are on the right path.”

All those who came to the stadium also received free t-shirts with a portrait of the Chechen president and the caption: “Russia – 2018 World Champions!”

Kadyrov promised that Chechnya will raise soccer stars to contribute to Russia’s success at the 2018 World Cup, which Russia is hosting.

In the friendly, the Team of Stars was led by Diego Maradona and featured Allen Bogosian, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Luis Figo, Manuel Amoros, Roberto Ayala, Robbie Fowler, Enzo Francescoli, Steve McManaman, Jean-Pierre Papin, Christian Vieri, Ivan Zamorano and Fabien Barthez.

Meanwhile, the home side was captained by the Russian president’s envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District,

Aleksandr Khloponin, who was substituted out after five minutes of play.

The new facility is named after the first president of the Chechen Republic, Ahmad Kadyrov, father of the incumbent head, Ramzan Kadyrov. Ahmad Kadyrov was assassinated by Chechen separatists in Grozny seven years ago.

With a capacity of 30,000, the sports arena will become the largest of the most up-to-date and technically designed venues in southern Russia.

Apart from the main arena, the sports center will also have a training field with a natural pitch, a 1,000-seat grandstand and a training field with an artificial pitch. It is also planned to build a sports palace seating 5,000, swimming pools for 500 people, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball grounds as well as halls for boxing and wrestling.

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SPORTS

Mary Kom strikes gold in Asian Cup

Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom (48kg) clinched her first gold medal of the year by finishing on top in the Asian Cup Women’s Boxing tournament in Haikou, China.

The mother-of-two from Manipur claimed the gold after beating Asian champion Kim Myong Sim of North Korea 4-3 in the final.

Playing her first tournament since her bronze medal at the 2010 Guangzhou

Asian Games, Mary Kom had made a place in the last two of her weight division after drubbing Kate Appari of Philippines.

In the title clash she had to work hard as her North Korean opponent put up a stiff challenge.

In the end though, it was the skill and agility of the world champion that came through as she went on to clinch the yellow metal, the Indian Boxing Federation said in a statement.

However, the other Indian in fray, Pavitra (57kg) had to face defeat in the finals as she lost 6-11 to Tossamalee Thonalan of Thailand.

Earlier in the tournament Neetu (60kg), Kavita Goyat (75kg), Laxmi Padiya (81kg) and Kavita Chahal (+81kg) earned bronze medals for their performance.

May 18 - 31, 2011

Phelps flounders again in Charlotte M i c h a e l Phelps has plenty of work to do before the swimm i n g Wo r l d Championships in Shang hai in July, as a sixth-place finish in the 200m free at the Charlotte Ultra Swim showed last week.

Phelps, swimming in lane one after notching just the seventh-fastest qualifying time, finished 1.34 seconds behind race winner Dominik Meichtry of Switzerland.

Phelps, whose 14 Olympic gold medals include the eight he won in a dazzling Beijing Olympics campaign, has yet to regain the dominance he lost in the wake of that unprecedent-

ed performance.

He admitted he was just relieved to be in the 200m free final, after watching Ricky Berens and Ryan Lochte storm through the heats.

Phelps has been saying since last year that he is paying the price for lax training. At the Michigan Grand Prix last month he was stunned by a fourth-place finish in the 200m fly -an event in which he hadn’t lost since 2002.

Phelps apparently isn’t the only one feeling the strain, as his longtime coach Bob Bowman said he’d taken himself off to Australia for three weeks last month -- putting some space between himself and his superstar swimmer who is also now a business partner.

“I felt my attitude was bad about everything and I wasn’t helping him (Phelps) or myself or anybody else,” Bowman said. “I’m just trying to start fresh.”

Unbeatable Djokovic stuns Nadal in Rome

Novak Djokovic took his unbeaten start to 2011 to 37 matches as he stunned world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 to win the Rome Masters on Sunday.

Sunday was the fourth time in a row the Serbian has beaten Nadal in a Masters final this season and the second successive week he has

done so on clay after winning in Madrid.

Djokovic has won all seven tournaments he’s played this year, including the Australian Open, and must surely now be considered the favourite going into the French Open which starts next Sunday.

The world number two, who

lost all of his eight previous matches on clay against the Spaniard before his Madrid triumph, is also homing in on Nadal’s top ranking.

He played some wonderful tennis on Sunday.

It was only Nadal’s second ever defeat in Rome.

Brampton – A Global Leader In Community Safety Brampton has been designated as an International Safe Community by the World Health Organization since 2007. We have hundreds of programs to support children’s and youth safety, fire safety, crime reduction, road and workplace safety, emergency preparedness and seniors’ safety.

Our city has a growing network of citizens, schools, businesses, public agencies, service clubs, emergency services and police working together to educate and engage people of all ages in safety. We invite you to be part of this incredible community partnership.

For a start, join us at our annual golf tournament, then ask us to tell you more about our programs and people, and how we can help you keep your home, your family and your business safe from crime and injury.

Thanks to our 2010 Sponsors for their generosity last year.

Wednesday,

June 1, 2011 LionHead Golf & Country Club hosted by: Gael Miles, John Sanderson and Sandra Hames

Tournament Hosts Gael Miles, Regional Councillor, Wards 7 & 8; John Sanderson, Regional Councillor, Wards 3 & 4; and, Sandra Hames, Regional Councillor, Wards 7 & 8.

From Left to Right:

In Support of Community Safety Programs bramptonsafecity.ca

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ENTERTAINMENT

May 18 - 31, 2011

Lisa Ray will feature as Kabir Bedi’s daughter in play titled Taj Indo-Canadian actor Lisa Ray is ready for her first acting assignment after being treated for multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of white blood cells that affects the bone marrow.

She will be acting in a play called Taj, alongside Kabir Bedi, in which she will be playing Jahan Ara, the daughter of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and the latter will be essaying the role of Shah Jahan.

Kabir Bedi had earlier played the role of Shah Jahan in Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal.

Ray, who was announced cancer free in April last year, after following radical stem cell therapy treatment, expressed her happiness about returning to acting.

Taj will be staged in Toronto on 10 June, 2011.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Heroine’ Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be playing the lead role in National Award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar’s upcoming film ‘Heroine’.

A formal announcement of the movie, a joint production of Bhandarkar and UTV was made at the Cannes Film Festival.

The movie is being touted as a hard-hitting and realistic take on a heroine’s life.

Earlier, Kareena Kapoor was approached for the role but after several meetings and discussions on the script, the actress politely turned down the offer for reasons best known to her, the source said.

Naomi Campbell organised catwalk for Japan quake victims at Cannes

In a bid to help the Japanese earthquake victims, Naomi staged a Fashion For Relief show at Cannes Monday.

“I just felt shock. I didn`t believe what I was watching,” the Telegraph quoted Campbell, who was horrified by the images of the disaster, as saying.

“The Japanese people are so strong and proud and resilient, and for this to happen to them is so terrible,” she said.

“I have been there many times

- not since the earthquake, but I do hope to go soon. Japan has been a very important factor in my career and I love the country,” she added.

“The destruction caused by the earthquake is completely heartbreaking, it``s so hard to even begin to comprehend the tragic loss the people of Japan are coping with,” she said.

“I felt very passionate to try and help in whatever way possible, to do our part and to support Japan at this time. I hope that the money raised from Fashion For Relief in Cannes

will support those who need it most,” she added.

The event was followed by an auction, which included artworks

by Tracey Emin and Dennis Hopper, and a customised Lotus Évora. It was staged in collaboration with Vogue Italia and all funds raised will go to the Japanese Red Cross.

Campbell founded ‘Fashion for Relief ’ in 2005 with a show in aid of Hurricane Katrina victims. So far it has raised 4.5 million pounds.

Karan Johar is UK’s new tourism ambassador His love for London is well known and now Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has been named the goodwill ambassador of VisitBritain, UK’s national tourism agency.

The filmmaker who shot his first two films, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham in the UK, is the face of a 100 million pound programme aimed to attract visitors from all over the world to the country.

“Britain has a certain

soul that film cannot capture; you have to be there to experience it. Being a creative person, what I appreciate the most is the importance, respect, and attention given to the arts, be it West End theatre, the museums, the art galleries, or individual street performers, all have a place here,” said the filmmaker in a statement.

Asha Gill, a widely acclaimed Asian television presenter, and Alex Hua Tian, a leading 2012 Olympic candi-

date, are the other two Asian ambassadors.

Indian tourists have spent approximately 358 million pounds during their travel to Britain, registering a growth of 33% over 2009 and therefore Johar was selected to launch the programme.

“As one of our key growth markets in Asia, India was fittingly selected for the launch of our ambassador programme,” said Sandie Dawe, VisitBritain’s chief executive.

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ENTERTAINMENT

May 18 - 31, 2011

ENTERTAINMENT Salman and Katrina team up for ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are coming together for Yashraj film’s romantic thriller ‘Ek Tha Tiger’.

The movie will be directed by Kabir Khan of ‘New York fame and produced by Aditya Chopra, who has also written the story.

The screenplay and dialogues have been written by Kabir Khan and Neelesh Misra. Aseem Mishra, who has worked with Kabir on ‘New York’, will be the DOP. The music will be scored by Pritam.

The 45-year-old actor, who is working with the banner for the first time, says the project is going to be a huge challenge for everyone.

“In the past Adi and I have met a few times on various projects but somehow, when Kabir and he came to me with this

particular story, we all just knew that this was the one. It is a very ambitious project and will be a challenge for all of us, but that’s exactly what makes it such a big draw. I’m honoured to be working with Yashji, who has worked so closely with my dad in the past,” Salman said in a statement.

Yash Chopra, speaking about the project, said it was a very happy moment for him.

“Everyone knows my association with Salim saab, having worked together on ‘Deewaar’, ‘Trishul’ and ‘Kaala Patthar’.

It is a very happy moment for me and YRF to have his son Salman with us for the first time,” Chopra said.

The film starts shooting early July and is slated for a mid-2012 release.

Madhuri to star opposite Sanjay Dutt in Satte Pe Satta remake

After months of speculation on who would star opposite Sanjay Dutt in Satte Pe Satta remake, the official announcement has now been made and it’s none other than Madhuri Dixit who has bagged the coveted role.

While Sanjay Dutt will reprise the role played by Big B in the original cult classic, Madhuri will be seen in the character played by Hema Malini in the original. It may be recalled that Madhuri and Sanjay have been part of several hit films in the past such as Saajan, Khalnayak and Thanedaar. It will no doubt be interesting to see this jodi re-create magic once again on the silver screen.

Satte Pe Satta remake is being directed by Soham Shah and produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd. in association with Sanjay Dutt Productions.

Ranveer, Anushka in Goa shooting for ‘Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl’ The “Band Baaja Baaraat” couple Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma are presently in Goa shooting for director Maneesh Sharma’s next film “Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl”.

Not only the lead pair, after the phenomenal success of “Band Baaja Baaraat”, the director is working with almost the same team of crew in this film.

A source says, the couple is shooting for the film for 18 days and has boarded in a luxurious resort in South Goa. “Anushka, Ranveer are in Goa shooting for ‘Ladies vs.

Ricky Bahl’ and they are staying in the same hotel in South Goa,” said the source.

In “Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl”, Ranveer plays a conman and he finds a match in Anushka.

Actress Jiah Khan to change name?

Actress Jiah Khan is planning to change her name back to the original one, Nafisa.

The British-born Indian actress took to microblogging site Twitter to reveal her plans and wrote: “Thinking of changing my name back to my original name Nafisa...what do you guys think? Needs some more opinions.”

The 23-year-old made her Bollywood debut with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in “Nishabd” in 2007 and has done films like “Housefull” and “Ghajini”.

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May 18 - 31, 2011

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