Indian Weekender 10 February 2017 by Indian Weekender

ROFLWITH SUNIL GROVER

10 FEB2017 Vol. 8 • Issue 45

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

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INDIAN STUDENTS

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INDIAN STUDENT DEPORTATION 2

10 February 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Students tell their stories ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

students and in our conversation, we found out that the students were accused of committing two types of fraud.

ndian students facing deportation in New Zealand are fighting their last fight for justice. The deportation appeal made by nine students stuck in the false document scam was declined last week after Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse decided not to intervene in the matter. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Assistant General Manager Peter Devoy has confirmed that two out of the nine students have already left the country voluntarily, while the remaining seven are still in a sanctuary at Auckland Unitarian Church in Grey Lynn. While one of the members of Migrant Workers Association NZ (MWANZ) Sunny Seghal said that none of the students have left, all the nine students were still at the church (confirmed on Thursday, February 8 at 6 p.m.). The students, which include a woman with her two-yearold daughter, are hoping that Prime Minister Bill English cancels their deportation notice, thussaving their future from being tainted, even if they have to go back home. Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont who was representing around 20 students had requested Mr Woodhouse to cancel the deportation orders more than six months ago. The request was submitted after it was found that education agents based in India had submitted false documents on behalf of the students.

Fake financial support

“

Nine Indian students have taken refuge at Auckalnd Unitarian Church after their apeal to immigration was declined last week

The issue

The Indian community in New Zealand has so far had mixed reactions on the issue of deportation and the visa scam. While some have shown support and compassion to the students, others have concluded that it is not possible that the students were not aware of the fraud...

Mr McClymont said he received an e-mail on February 2, stating the minister would not intervene

and that the student’s applications were declined.

he Indian community in New Zealand has so far had mixed reactions on the issue of deportation and the visa scam. While some have shown support and compassion to the students, others have concluded that it is not possible that the students were not aware of the fraud. And while the Christian community has come forward to help, the students are disheartened by the lack of support from the Indian community who seem to follow the stereotype that if an Indian is being blamed, he/she must have done wrong. Indian Weekender spoke to four

n one case, the documents to show financial support for the student visa application was false. The supporter/sponsor was supporting more than one application at the same time. Moreover, the students do not know the supporter. Asha Rani, who hails from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, has been issued the Deportation Liability Notice (DLN) on the basis of this fraud, however, she says that she had no idea about any such document, as her agent submitted her application and all the documents to the immigration.

Fake loan disbursement letter

n another case, the loan disbursement letter submitted with the student visa application was fake. Immigration verified with the respective banks about the loans and found out that those loans were never issued. Students from the state of Andra Pradesh in India, who have been caught in this scam, have been issued a DLN on the grounds of this fraud. In their conversation with Indian Weekender, these students revealed more.

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Asha Rani

Asha Rani with her two-year-old daughter Khwahish

sha came to New Zealand on August 15, 2015, to study a oneyear business diploma from ICNZ college. She was in her classroom on May 20, 2016, when two immigration officer came to hand her the Deportation Liability Notice. “I [was] surprised. We came here after following all the legal and genuine procedures. We had no idea about what [the] agent has done. We were told [by immigration] that the person who has shown funds for us had also shown the same funds for someone else as well,” Mrs Rani said. She says that her husband’s family was financially secure to support her education and living expenses in New Zealand and did not need financial assistance from anyone else. “I had presented by husband’s and my father-in-law’s funds as required by the immigration. But

the documents my agent had sent to the immigration showed that I had got support from a lady, and she was supporting two visa applications at the same time. “I had no idea that the agent has done any such thing. I only got to know about this when Immigration New Zealand told me after issuing a DLN. And I don’t even know who that lady is.” Mrs Rani processed her student visa application through Rovil Garg of Fine Step Study Consultants in Kurukshetra, Haryana. She said that she trusted him when he showed them his past work and assured that he has a 100% success rate for student visas. He also told her that he does not work with people who want to use wrong ways to get their visas. “We had heard that he is a popular agent and has been working for so long in this industry. He wouldn’t do anything wrong. And we had told him clearly that we will pay you whatever your fee is, but don’t do anything that is illegal.” Mrs Rani said that she contacted Mr Garg after she got the DLN and he told her that he could help her go to Australia and also that she can stay in New Zealand for three months and appeal against the notice. But after the initial conversation, he stopped answering her calls. When Mrs Rani came to New Zealand, her daughter, Khwahish, was only two months old. Her husband Vikram Salaria joined her with their daughter after seven months. Now she is afraid that the deportation will not only have a bad effect on her and her husband’s

future but also for her daughter. She feels that immigration is trying to put the blame on students while ignoring the mistakes and ignorance shown on their part. “What did immigration check in the 27 days they had before issuing me a visa? They had enough time to check whether there is any false information in my application. But they issued me a visa. Then, later on, they gave a visa to my husband and my baby. They could have checked it even then. “I got this deportation notice in May. After nine months, they [immigration] suddenly found out that there was a false information in my application. What did they do in the time they had to verify the information provided in my application?” Mrs Rani says that the time she spent in New Zealand has been the worst experience of her life. She paid $20,000 towards her college fee alone. For justice, she wants that the deportation notice revoked. “If going back is the only way, we want the deportation notice to be cancelled. We are facing this situation for no fault of our own. Still, we are ready to go back but not with the deportation label that will ruin our future. “I spent a lot of money—for my studies, my living expense, tickets, my husband’s visa, my daughter’s visa, their tickets, but what did I get in return? I didn’t even get some respect. We are now being sent back with a label that we are frauds?” She said that she hasn’t been able to tell her situation to her parents, as her mother is suffering from a heart

Mohammad Salman (left) and Manoj N. shared their story

disease and has recently undergone a surgery. She said that their situation would make it difficult even for her family back home.

Manoj N., Mohammad Salman, and Sunil Chinta

anoj hails from Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh. He is being deported for submitting a false loan letter, which he did not know about and was never made aware of. It was only after he received the DLN that he found out that a loan letter was submitted with his application. “Immigration did not contact me when I applied for the student visa. They never established a direct contact with me. They had three months after I submitted my application to check all the facts, document, and information. But they did not find it then but only after seven months of me coming to this country,” Mr Manoj said. He added that apart from his and his father’s name, all information in the loan letter was incorrect.

“It has a property address that I don’t even know of. They (the agent) just copy pasted our names on a sample letter and submitted the document to immigration. And it is the same company that is operating with different names in the entire state. All the students who came from Andra Pradesh are the victims of this scam,” he said. Mr Salman’s case is also the same. He studied Business Management Level 7 at NZIS and paid $17,000 towards the course fee. He has

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now completed his study and wants that what immigration had committed to them when they applied for the visa: one year of job search visa. “They should fulfil their promises. It is our right. We have paid for this,” Salman said. Sunil Chinta’s situation is no different. He argued that if they would have taken the loan or produced the false loan letter, they would have paid their college fee from the loan account. “I never had an account in Andhra Bank, and I paid my fee from my account. I have proof for that. Why would I do that? If I were planning a fraud, I would have paid it from the loan account and not from the personal account,” Mr Chinta said.

Solution

NZ has confirmed that six of the seven students still in New Zealand have been awarded the qualifications they came for. The students want justice from INZ and the government and are requesting them to revoke the deportation notice. They want the immigration to allow them to gain work experience by issuing them the post-study work visa. But if going back is the only solution, they want to leave with dignity and not get deported, which would prohibit them from coming back to New Zealand for the next five years. “I won’t lie sitting here in the [church]. Settling here permanently was never our goal. We just wanted to study and work her for a few years and go back to our country. But this situation has left us in an appalling condition. New Zealand has been the worst experience for us,” Mrs Rani said. The students said that had the INZ been able to perform their job well and identify the fraud before issuing them a visa, they would not be in this situation. “We were unaware of the fraud but if the immigration could have found it before issuing us visa, we wouldn’t have to prove our innocence now. The ignorance and mistake was done on their part in the first place and we are ones bearing the brunt of it now,” said Mr Chinta.

had spoken to him on that day. “When I asked him why are you not supporting students, he told me come to his office to talk. We even wanted to go, but a couple of days later, we saw that he was in India with the (then) Prime Minister John Key. He had already left.” Mr Sehgal said that they did not go to him later.

Deportation and voluntary departure

NZ’s Assistant General Manager Mr Devoy told Indian Weekender that 191 Indian students had been served deportation orders since May 2016 for a range of reasons, including the provision of fraudulent or misleading information. Of the 191 students, 125 have left New Zealand (either voluntarily or via deportation). “There are opportunities for people who are liable for deportation to appeal and to leave voluntarily and without penalty,” Mr Devoy said. “Those who do not leave voluntarily and before the expiry of their visa are prohibited from applying to enter New Zealand for five years without special permission. “People who are deported must also repay deportation and flight costs before they will be allowed to apply to enter New Zealand again without special permission. Overstaying and deportation information is recorded electronically.” While there is no law in New Zealand to stop police from entering the church, they will have to use force at a religious place to carry out the deportation of the students. Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Association NZ (MWANZ) is appealing community members to donate pre-prepared meals for the students who have been staying at the church. “As a last attempt for mercy from the Immigration Minister and the Prime Minister, 10 international Indian students including one mother with a two-yearold child have taken refuge at Auckland Unitarian Church since Monday, February 6.

“We request you all to visit the students to provide moral support. Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1a Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn. “The Church has been kind and generous to provide shelter for the students. However, the students need pre-prepared meals daily. The supporting organisations have called for community help with gifts of prepared meals. “If you are able to help the students please contact team members of Migrant Workers Association—Anu Kaloti 0212065640 or Sunny Sehgal 02102945924,” a community appeal from MWANZ said.

What our leaders are doing

he students have been furious that none of the Indian MPs have come forward, if not to help them but at least listen to t heir grievances. We asked National MP Kanwaljit Bakshi why he never tried to meet or speak to the students. He told Indian Weekender that he had offered assistance to the students but they never came to him. “When these students were protesting at the Auckland Diwali Festival at Aotea Square last year, I approached one of the leaders of the protest and told him that I was happy to meet with them. I invited them to come to my office in Papatoetoe so we could meet and discuss their situation but they never took me up on that offer, and I have not heard from them since.” He said that he would be happy to talk to the students and they can visit him in his office on any Friday. When we spoke to Sunny Sehgal, one of the organisers of the protest, he said that Mr Bakshi

Indian Weekender also spoke to the Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli, who said that Indian government would assist Indian citizens in the times of crisis and help them get back to India while the case with these students is different. “The Indian Government comes to the assistance of Indian citizens in times of crisis and helps them reach their homeland. In this case, the students are saying they don’t want to return to India and wish to stay in a foreign land. Under these circumstances, the Indian High Commission’s ability to help is limited,” he said. Mr Kohli said that despite this, he is taking full interest in this issue and is in touch with INZ on a daily basis. “The overall welfare of our students is a priority matter for us. We take up all issues concerning their welfare including deportations and closing down of some institutions with every concerned authority. And they have responded to us in a constructive spirit. “As far as deportations are concerned, they [INZ] decided to apply the law and allow the students to use its full course including appeals. We now need to respect the law of this land. Indians have a rich reputation as law-abiding people, and we need to preserve that reputation. “We, of course, would have been happier if the outcome had been in favour of the students. There are lessons to be learnt from this by all stakeholders including the students, and we hope these lessons will lead to a better system for everyone,” Mr Kohli said.

Kiwis defy Trump’s Muslim ban ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

ore than 1,500 Kiwis rallied at Aotea Centre at 6 p.m. on February 7 expressing their solidarity against the recent Muslim travel ban in the United States. People from all cultural and religious background stood strong protesting US President Donald Trump’s Islamophobic immigration policy. The protest ‘No Ban No Wall’ organised by university students on ‘Aotearoa Against Muslim Ban’ Facebook page gained momentum rapidly and became a hot topic of discussion online as thousands signed up for the mass gathering. On January 27, President Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry To The United States’, which prohibits travellers, except US citizens, travelling on passports from Iran, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen to enter the US for a period of 90 days. There is also a 120-day ban on all refugees and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. Inevitably, following Mr Trump’s order, protests erupted across the US, especially outside airports and in other places such as London and Canada, to overturn the ban on Muslims and refugees and to release those detained.

Different community organisations such as Pacific Panther Network, Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand, Racial Equity Aotearoa, Shakti Youth Ambassador Network, Syrian Solidarity New Zealand, Migrant from Mexico, and Church in Progress MCC came forward to support and contribute to the protest at Aotea Centre. “We are really glad to see [the] immense support from the Jewish community here. Their presence amongst us shows that we are not alone,” a protester at Aotea Centre said. “Globally, there is an increase in Islamophobia that marginalises and advocates violence against Muslim communities. Singling out Muslims

and people from specific Muslimmajority countries is a scary step towards fascism,” Fahad Hussain , a university student and one of the organisers of the protest, said. The gathering held placards that read ‘Jews against Islamophobia’, ‘#Resist’, ‘Shelter more Refugees, Punch more Nazis’, ‘Your Silence equals more Violence’, ‘Stand against Islamophobia’, and Maori saying ‘Aha Te Mea Nui O Te Ao’

and ‘He Tangata’ that means ‘What is the most important thing in the world?’ and ‘It is the people’. “These border policies are racist, Islamophobic, and unacceptable. They continue a pattern of white supremacist immigration exclusion in colonial settler countries [such as] the United States. Bill English refusing to call it for what it is— racist—is a dangerously weak response and doesn’t represent the people of Aotearoa” Mehwish, one of the organisers of the protest said. The police formed a human barricade blocking a small group of Mr Trump supporters from interacting with the protesters at the gathering. While a Trump supporter jeered anti-immigration slogans and mocked the crowd, a female protester got into an argument with a protester before the police intervened. “I find the travel ban too silly, and it is time for the people of New Zealand to stand up and say we do not support this. We welcome people from everywhere, and we want diversity, and it is our strength,” Rosemary Penwarden, a Kiwi protester at the event, said. “We should not see the executive orders in isolation. Deportations and Immigration restrictions have been in place for years. Rather than seeing Trump as an exception to the rule, we need to question the political and systematic racism that

treats minorities, people of colour and immigrants as the ‘dangerous others,’” Nisha, another organiser of the rally, said. Farida Sultana, a Muslim feminist; Fatumata Bah, a university student and a former refugee; TeRata Hikairo, a Maori Muslim, educator and community advocate; Ahmed Bashir, a Sudanese-Kiwi and a student of international relations and a former refugee were among the many who addressed the crowd and raised voice against the travel ban. About 60,000 travellers were affected by the ban and had their visas cancelled. On February 5, James Robart, a US Federal Judge in Seattle, put a temporary suspension on Mr Trump’s executive order, as the order was causing “immediate and irreparable injury” and may be ruled unconstitutional, the media reported. The ruling meant that officials had to stop enforcing the travel ban and the banned travellers could enter the country. However, protesters are not looking at a mere temporary suspension. “The immigration ban is ‘temporarily’ lifted, and this does not mean an end to fascism, racism, and centuries of oppression and dehumanisation of people of colour and indigenous nations,” Aotearoa Against Muslim Ban said on their Facebook page.

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Indian student dies in suspected suicide in Auckland A

¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

19-year- old Indian international student is believed to have taken her life in Auckland. Ravija Sharma’s body was found on Friday, February 3 in what is believed to be a suspected case of suicide. A family friend of Ms Sharma from Kanpur, India and currently living in Auckland informed the High Commission about the incident. Ms Sharma’s mother came to New Zealand for her daughter’s cremation as it was hard for her to take the body back to India, being a lone parent. Ms Sharma’s funeral service was conducted at a private ceremony at South Auckland Funeral Services in Otahuhu and cremation was held at Manukau Memorial Gardens on Thursday, February 9. The Indian High Commission in New Zealand has been in touch with the family and providing them with the required assistance. “We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident. Our condolences are with the family in deep grief. May her soul rest in peace,” Sanjiv Kohli, High Commissioner of India in New Zealand said. “We are trying to help the family as much as we can. We are arranging documentation and visas for the mother and making arrangements for the ashes to be taken back to India. Whatever help they need, we are there for them in this time of grief,” Mr Kohli added. Constable Deepak Kalra of the NZ Police is also providing support to the lone mother and assisting her to make arrangement for the ashes to be taken back to India, where the last rites for Ms Sharma will be performed. Ms Sharma hailed from Kanpur, India and was a single child. She was studying BA Honours at one of the most prestigious educational institute of India—Sri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi when she decided to go for a career in creative writing and

came to New Zealand four months ago to study Creative Writing at the Auckland University of Technology in Auckland. She is survived by her mother who is a professor of Physics at an institute in Meerut, India while her father passed away when she was young. “From what I know, Ravija was an introvert but exceptionally creative and extraordinary girl,” the family friend who is also helping the distressed mother, told Indian Weekender. Indian Weekender is following up the incident and will update the readers through our website www.iwk.nz and Facebook page (www.facebook. com/Indianweekender), as more details are known.

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Dairy owner shaken by aggravated robbery ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

dairy owner and his family are left stunned after three men armed with a pistol, gold club, and a blunt weapon stormed the diary in Waikato on February 7. Waingaro Road Dairy in Ngaruawahia, Waikato was attacked at around 4:30 p.m. when three men stormed into the store and stole cash and cigarettes from the counter. The sole male shopkeeper retreated to the rear of the shop upon the arrival of the robbers to keep himself and his family safe. The offenders took a large amount of tobacco and cigarettes before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. The dairy is owned by an Indian man who denied to be named or comment on the incident, as he is ‘‘too shaken’’ by the incident. The blue/green 1997 Nissan Sentra Hatchback used during the robbery was stolen from an address in Ngaruawahia earlier on the same day and was dumped outside an early childhood centre in Brownlee Avenue, approximately 600–700 metres away from the Waingaro Dairy after the robbery. The area is frequented by hundreds of people daily, including those who use the Hakarimata Summit Track steps as part of their fitness programme. The three offenders are believed to be aged in their late teens or early 20s, have skinny to medium builds, were all approximately

5’9’’–5’11” tall, wearing dark-coloured shorts, hoodies and had masks covering their faces. The police are investigating the incident and the offenders are still at large. Police are requesting assistance from members of the public who may have any information relating to the incident. Indian Weekender, in its January 13 issue, reported 10 armed robbery incidents and five burglaries during the holiday period. Dairy stores in New Zealand, which are mostly owned and run by Indians, have off lately become a target for offenders who steal petty cash and cigarettes. These dairy owners are sometimes reluctant to report the incident to the police and the media, as they fear more attacks. In a move to tackle the increasing number of crime rates in the country, Prime Minister Bill English, on February 3, announced that police numbers would be increased by 1,125, including 880 extra sworn officers on the frontline.

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ROFL with Sunil Grover aka Dr Mashoor Gulati ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

hen comedy king Sunil Grover performs live, it is bound to cause a laughter riot. Last weekend, Aucklanders witnessed the man in action. The celebrity comedian’s popularity among Indians was evident from the packed auditorium at Logan Campbell Centre in Greenlane. The show was proudly promoted by Trivision Entertainment and the man behind it Dharmend Shyam. Sunil portrayed his three popular characters—Dr Mashoor Gulati, Rinku Devi, and Guthi. A oneman show, his impeccable comic timing and unbeatable sense of humour converted even the flaws into comedy and the impromptu jokes had the audience in splits. In an exclusive interview with Indian Weekender, Sunil, who was on a maiden tour to New Zealand, said that he would like to visit the country again to spend some more time. Talking about his experience in Auckland, he said, “I feel like I am in some small town, like Bathinda, of Punjab as I have met so many Punjabis here, just near my hotel.” When asked why he chose comedy as a profession, Sunil replied, “It’s not comedy for me. I just try to portray a character that we see around us every day and people find that funny. That’s it.” Sunil is currently enjoying the success of his character Dr Mashoor Gulati from The Kapil

Sharma Show. He has also acted in a few movies and was most recently seen as a policeman in Akshay Kumar starrer Gabbar is Back. When asked whether he would be interested in serious intense roles, he said, “It doesn’t matter. I just create a caricature of a person. Whether it is serious or comedy, it doesn’t matter. At the end, it’s the director’s directive and we have deliver on that.”

Dharmend Shyam

Music for Soul— a healing music concert by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (Sri Swami ji) was held at Dorothy Winston Center on Friday, February 4. The concert received a great response from the community and devotees around the world. It was attended by more than 700 people from around New Zealand, Australia, the U.K, USA, Switzerland and Malaysia.

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

Indian students being asked to pay twice Barry Coates Green Party List MP

here are major problems in our education of foreign students. Cases of fraudulent student visas have created hardship for 190 Indian students. Most of the students have returned to India but nine Indian students and a toddler are now in sanctuary in Ponsonby church. Their appeals against deportation have so far been turned down. The Immigration Minister, David Bennett (who has recently replaced the former Minister, Michael Woodhouse), could step in and allow them to stay on compassionate grounds. They should be allowed to stay. The deportation is devastating for the students. Asha Rani, her husband and their two year old daughter would be deported. They and other students have invested much of their family money into their education, and now have deportation orders hanging over them. This is an unfair situation that should never have happened. Most of the students caught up in the fraud say they did not realise that anything was wrong with their visas until they arrived in New Zealand. The problem involved fraud by agents in India, but tertiary institutes in New Zealand were also complicit through their poor admission standards, and Immigration NZ through issuing visas. It has been recognised for many years that there needs to be proper regulation of education agents, but the government has failed to take action. This is an example of the government pushing for economic growth at any cost. The dash for growth in international education started in 2013, when the government gave

the role of testing for English language to the tertiary institutions, even though they and the agents stood to profit from lowering the standards. The numbers of Indian students, especially in the non-university tertiary sector, more than doubled, reaching 29,000 in 2015. This unregulated growth has come at the expense of students who have been defrauded and exploited in education, and then paid low wages and exploited when they have been trying to get work experience. Stephen Joyce, the former Minister for International Education, should be accountable for the failure to regulate the visas properly, instead of blaming the students. These students are being punished for the government’s failure to regulate the agents in India and the tertiary institutions in New Zealand. Because of the failure of our government, many students have lost money and have no qualifications to show for it. They should not be punished again through deportation. Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli has said it was “grossly unfair” to target students who had already started and invested heavily in their studies. The Green Party supports a compassionate approach, and Green MP Denise Roche has provided support, including letters and a meeting with the Minister to call for the deportation orders to be dropped. We support international education, but it must be properly regulated to protect the quality of education, vulnerable students, and the long term reputation of New Zealand education. This year there will be an election. Voters will have a chance to vote to change the government. The Green Party will respect the rights of foreign students, and ensure that there are proper rules on our economy for the benefit of us all. This article is co-authored by Raj Singh. He is Principal Legal Associates and a Green Party Candidate.

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SOUTH LINE

News-in-brief from South Island

Chinese New Year celebrations The city plays host to a series of events ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

s the South Island sees an influx of Chinese tourists to coincide with the celebration of the Lunar New Year—or the Chinese New Year of the Rooster— the city is hosting a plethora of events throughout the month to join the festivities. The Consulate General of China in Christchurch had already hosted a Gala Show in January at the city’s Isaac Theatre Royal, which saw performances by the Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe and Wuhan Opera and Dancing Theatre. More than 800 people attended the celebrations including 13 mayors from various South Island councils. Minister Nicky Wagner and MPs Jian Yang and Maureen Pugh were also present. The event also celebrated the completion of 10 years of sister city relationship between Christchurch and Wuhan. Later, the Christchurch City Libraries and Christchurch City Council celebrated the Lunar New Year Family Fun Day on February 4 at the Halswell Centre. Apart from performances by the Qiao Yi Lion Dance Team and Kids Tibetan group dance, the day also

File photo:Christchurch Lantern Festival 2016

witnessed a tea ceremony, Chinese Shuttecock (Jianzi), Chinese yoyo, and Year of the Rooster arts and crafts. Then on Sunday, Christchurch’s city centre witnessed

Notably, last year’s lantern festival broke record numbers in attendance for the city, with the Christchurch City Council estimating ,more than 40,000 people.

the annual Chinese New Year parade, which was organised by the Chinese Culture Association. Moving ahead, this weekend, between February 8 and

Chinese Year of the Rooster parade in Christchurch on January 5, 2017

12, the Night Noodle Market is returning to the North Hagley Park. The celebrations will wind up with the 11th Christchurch Lantern Festival to be held on the weekend of February 18. Notably, last year’s lantern festival

broke record numbers in attendance for the city, with the Christchurch City Council estimating ,more than 40,000 people. Apart from featuring beautiful lanterns and more than 75 stall holders serving Chinese food, the festival also had martial arts demonstrations. This year, the organisers promise that the event will be bigger and better.

Kiwi students visit India ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

students will spend six weeks attending a series of classroom lectures at ight business students from Ara Jaipuria Institute of Management Institute of Canterbury are in Noida and KCT Business School currently spending four to six in Coimbatore. Their trip will weeks in India. also include visits to local business These students are recipients establishments including dairies, of New Zealand’s Prime textile mills, and start-ups. These Minister’s Scholarship for This is being done scholarships Asia (PMSA), which is to help the students build on New funded by the New develop a better Zealand’s status as Zealand government understanding a top destination for and encourages of the business Indian students, creating New Zealand environment in students to study in partnerships with prestigious India, ENZ says. Indian education Asia to experience At the start institutions and between the benefits of of their trip in the future leaders of international January, ENZ both countries education. hosted the Ara “These scholarships build students at the NZ on New Zealand’s status as a High Commission in New top destination for Indian students, Delhi for an interactive session about creating partnerships with prestigious NZ’s relationship with India and the Indian education institutions and engagement opportunities available. between the future leaders of both “The session was chaired by Acting countries,” Education New Zealand’s High Commissioner Suzannah (ENZ) Regional Director John Jessep, and was also attended by Laxon said. faculty members from Jaipuria and As part of the programme, the Ara Institute,” ENZ informed.

Fiji Association completes a successful 2016 and gears up for the next

Fiji Association completes a successful 2016 ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

he Christchurch Fiji Association—an organisation formed in 2002 to initiate, promote, support, and maintain cultural, religious, and educational needs of the Fiji and Pacific migrants and their children—completed a successful 2016. “We had several religious celebrations throughout the year including Ram Navami, Krishna

Janmashtami, Diwali, Holi Faag, and Christmas celebrations. “We also did fundraising for the victims of Cyclone Winston. Our Spring Dhamaka and annual dinners were very well attended. Sports wise, we supported the Combined Soccer Club, and our very own Jalsa Under-14 United football team was a success too. “During the year, we had some sad moments as well. We lost one of our

founders Mr BS Pillai, and had to say goodbye to Mr Suresh Mudliar who served as our vice president and cultural coordinator for more than 10 years,” Vinesh Prakash, Secretary of the Association, said. The community now plans to carry on their last year’s success with many more events planned in 2017, starting with the upcoming Christchurch Global Football Festival, which will be held between February 10 and 12.

A ghazal night by CICCT ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

he recently formed Canterbury Indian Community Centre Trust (CICCT) is organising a ghazal and old Hindi melodious songs night on February 18 in Christchurch to formally let the community know the core purpose of the establishment of the trust. Rajiv Gulati from CICCT, while informing this, invited all Indian community groups to be a part of the event. As reported by the Indian

Weekender earlier, CICCT is an entity comprising people from all Christchurch-based Indian organisations, associations, trusts, and community groups, which for the first time have joined hands to pool in resources to work towards building an Indian community centre in Christchurch. The multi-purpose facility is budgeted around $1.2 million, fund raising for which will start soon, and CICCT hopes to complete the project in the next two years.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

Theatre veteran Sanjay Goradia set to perform in Auckland

New office bearers for the Nepalese Society ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

he Canterbury Nepalese Society (CNS), which was established in 2015, held its Annual General Meeting on February 6, electing a new executive member committee. While Bishnu Pokhrel was reelected as the president and Bishal Sapkota as the secretary, Dhurva Khanal and Khimananda Rijal have been given the responsibility of vice-presidentship. The event also saw various traditional Nepalese dance performances followed by delicious Nepalese food.

Nepal New Zealand Friendship Society of Canterbury (NNZFSC)

eanwhile, another Nepalese community group in Christchurch, the Nepal New

¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

K Newly Elected Committee of the Canterbury Nepalese Societ - from right_ Dhurva Khanal, Binodh Kandel, Deepak Pandey, Kamal Aryal, Arjun Paudel, Khimananda Rijal, Bishnu Pokhrel, and Ambika Basnet Shrestha

Zealand Friendship Society Inc. (NNZFS), which was established in 2002, organised a cricket tournament—NNZFSC Panthi Cup Cricket—between various Nepalese cricket teams in Christchurch on January 15.

Apart from trophies for the winning team, the man-of-the-match winners also received free passes to the organisation’s first-ever Nepali Yuwa Saanjh being organised on February 25. NNZFSC is hosting the event in collaboration with the Gorkhali Football Club.

Get the latest buzz @

www.iwk.co.nz

ing of Gujarati comedy and a theatre veteran, Sanjay Goradia, is coming to Auckland for his play Joke Samrat, on March 3. The actor is known for his ribtickling comedy plays such as Aa Namo Bahu Nade Chey and Chup Raho Khush Raho and has also appeared in a few Bollywood films such as multistarrer Ishq, Aamir Khan’s Mann, Sanjay Dutt’s Safari, and Sanjay Dutt’s Khoobsoorat. Directed by Vinod Sarvaiya, the play revolves around a middle-aged man Jayanti Goragandhi (played by Sanjay), who amid a chaotic life, suddenly decides to go on a journey of entertaining people to relieve them of their stress by becoming a ‘joker’. Although people appreciate his sense of humour and his art, his own family looks down upon him, and his children feel ashamed of their father. Tension ensues in the house and his biggest challenge: will he be able to convince his family and make them laugh? The play delves into family issues and delivers it with a pinch of humour. Joke Samrat guarantees an evening of unlimited drama, fun, and laughter for its audience. An actor, producer, and a director, Sanjay’s comic timings and effortless acting have made him the uncrowned king of Gujarati comedy. His idea of delivering a social message using laughter as a medium has caught the attention of theatre lovers internationally.

ABOUT V3 EVENTS NZ V3 Events NZ is an Aucklandbased event organising firm that delivers Indian plays and shows to the multi-lingual Indian audience in the city. “Our motto is to avail an evening, which is different from other same routine evenings, where they can be with their family and spend some quality time together,” Prem Upadhyay, Managing Director of V3 Events NZ, said. V3 Events organised several events in 2016 with Bollywood veteran Rohini Hattangadi’s Baa Tane Hu Kya Rakhu play being one of the many successful shows. The curtain rises on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Dorothy Winstone Centre, Newton. The show is almost sold out with only a few tickets available. Tickets can be bought from eventfinda.co.nz and from selected grocery stores across Auckland.

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Battleground Mt Albert: meet NZPP’s Vin Tomar ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

n continuation from our Mt Albert by-election feature from last week, this week we spoke to Vin Tomar of New Zealand People’s Party, the newest party in New Zealand’s political scene. Mr Tomar is NZPP’s candidate for Mt Albert by-election due to be held on February 25. Here are the excerpts from the interview. IWK: What are the issues of people Mt Albert? Mr Tomar: I have been living in this area for many years now. Being a resident, I am aware of many issues first hand. During my campaign, I have been door knocking and meeting people from the area every day. People have different problems based on their priorities. Some of the common ones are law and order situation, housing, family support and immigration issues. The communities deserve to be safe and live peacefully. Unfortunately, the number of robberies, violent attacks being reported has gone up. Police must be more visible and proactive in maintaining. I see myself taking up the issue and ensuring that the number of police on the street is increased as this will deter crimes and people will feel more secure. New Zealand needs to have tougher law and order to reduce crime rates. Housing is another such issue which is a complicated and multidimensional issue. Being an immigrant, I have gone through the problems that any new immigrant

“

Immigration is also one of the most common issues, especially for Asian migrant families. The government needs to reopen parent’s category and sibling visas...

faces in terms of housing. The government needs to help the lowincome people to buy houses. It also needs to work out with the local council to build new houses. Families’ welfares are being cut/stopped. The government needs to support those

families who are struggling to meet their day to day needs. Immigration is also one of the most common issues, especially for Asian migrant families. The government needs to reopen parent’s category and sibling visas. It is important to have emotional well-being for any new or old migrant to live in a new country. This would allow families to reunite with their families. If the government wants to control the numbers of people coming to NZ, there are many other categories apart from family. I know this because I am a licensed New Zealand Immigration adviser and will put a new immigration bill in the parliament once I win on February 25. IWK: What solutions are you proposing to the Mt Albert people to tackle public transport and traffic issues? Mr Tomar: Immediate action for addressing traffic issues will be to have shared use of roads and footpaths while we look for long terms solutions. We need to have more frequencies of buses and trains.

IWK: Mt Albert by-election is expected to be a clear win for Labour, considering Mt Albert has elected only Labour candidates since it was first contested in 1946. What do you have to say about that? Mr Tomar: It has been more than six weeks that I have been doing door knocking in the Mt Albert electorate. The response I have been getting is very positive. Considering what Labour party MPs are doing, when

they are resigning from parliament for their personal career goals, people are looking for a change, and they know that it would cost about two million dollars from tax payers’ pocket for having two byelections (Mt Roskill and Mt Albert) just because of Labour party. So let’s see what comes out on February 25 under democracy. IWK: Why should people vote for you? Mr Tomar: Like I said earlier, people of Mt Albert need a different vision and approach to make things better. I am not a career politician but just an immigrant who has been living in Mt Albert. This is my home, and I know things can be improved. All it takes to make things better is an understanding of the area and willingness to take action. My aim during the campaigning is to let people know that I am one of them

and want to work for them. My message to the Mt Albert people is that I live in Mt Albert, I am here to serve my community 24x7, so give me a chance to serve you before the general election to show what I can do as MP. IWK: There is a significant number of Kiwi-Indians living in Mt Albert. What message would you like to give to them? Mr Tomar: Not just to the KiwiIndians but also to my brothers and sisters from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, I want to say that I am one of you. I understand the problems that you face on a day-today basis. I want you to select me to represent you so that I can take the help of the system to improve our lives. I speak your language, eat the same food and am from a similar culture. So please give me a chance to serve you.

Rishi Deepak’s Foreign

Flame set to release in May ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

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iwi-Indian actor Rishi Deepak’s next film Foreign Flame is ready to be released in New Zealand. Shot in Australia, the film stars Rishi Deepak in the lead, Sonam Saby, Shana Mooyman, and Murli Parishe as his co-stars. The film revolves around a young man Pranav, who migrates to Australia from India for a better life and instantly gets hooked to the urban lifestyle. All goes well until one day his wife gets killed and he is arrested on account of being the prime suspect. The film is produced by PN Productions and Jaga Creations. and directed by Jaga Peddi. Foreign Flame is Peddi’s debut feature film. He has previously directed many successful short films. “Jaga Peddi is a fantastic director to work with. He has a very strong vision, he guides and tells you what he wants out of the character,” Rishi said. The project came to me in 2015, and it got finalised last year, and the shoot started in August 2016. Every month, I travelled to Australia for seven days [to] shoot [the] film and completed the film this way,” he added. The story of the film is inspired by true events and is set to hit the theatres in May 2017 in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. The film has four songs and has been shot in Melbourne, Sydney, and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Rishi is a renowned face in the Kiwi entertainment industry. He started as a TV anchor and has hit films Urban Turban, Feeling Lucky, and Mr Singh wants PR to his name. In September 2016, Rishi was also invited to judge India’s popular dance show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa in Sydney.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

NZ expresses concern over High Commission of India moves to new location US withdrawal from TPP N H ¡¡ IWK BUREAU

ew Zealand Prime Minister Bill English on Tuesday, February 7, expressed concerns over US’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its immigration policy, the media reported. English and US President Donald Trump held a 15-minute telephone conversation on Monday night in which they discussed bilateral relations and US presence in the region, Efe news reported. “There has been real concern that pulling out of TPP may signal some ongoing withdrawal of US interests. We don’t want to see that happen,” English told Radio New Zealand. The Prime Minister said he also hoped that China and the US will resolve their differing There views on trade and the has been South China Sea real concern through diplomacy. that pulling out of “There was nothing TPP may signal some I heard yesterday ongoing withdrawal of (Monday) that gave US interests. We don’t The Prime Minister of New Zealand Bill English speaks during a me any more cause for want to see that news conference at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty concern,” he said. happen Organization (NATO), in Brussels, Belgium, January 12 However, English told Trump he disagreed with these days,” the prime allotted time following a heated his immigration policy and the minister said, adding that he did conversation on a refugee deal controversial ban on the entry of not “scold” the President. “I’m not between Australia and the US. citizens and refugees from seven there to scold him, although a lot The agreement, signed by former Muslim-majority countries, a policy of people might like us to do that,” President Barack Obama, establishes he said he would not implement in English said. the relocation in the US of some New Zealand. The call came a week after Trump 1,250 refugees detained in Australian “It was a sensible, polite discussion had a telephone conversation with detention facilities in the Pacific, about the pressures that are on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm which was described by Trump as a the borders of most countries Turnbull, which ended before the “dumb deal”.

igh Commission of India will be relocating to its new premises from Friday, February 24 to Monday, February 27. During this period, passport, visa, OCI and other services will not be available. All services shall resume on Tuesday, February 28. The new address of the High Commission (HC) would be Level 2 Ranchhod Tower, 102-112 Labton Quay, Wellington. The new premises can also be accessed from 39, The Terrace, Wellington. HC Attache Arijit Laha told Indian Weekender that they are moving premises as their lease with the current building has ended. “As the workflow at the HC has increased, it was requirement for us to move to a bigger place. The new location is in the heart of the city and is more accessible with bus stand just outside the building. We will be at the new location until the construction for HC’s new premise at Pipitea Street is completed,” Mr Laha said.

After February 24, application submitted through courier or in person must be sent to: High Commission of India Ranchhod Tower, Level 2 102-112 lambton Quay PO Box 4045 Wellington 6011

All telephone, fax numbers and emails will remain the same.

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CELEBRATION OF LOVE Look your best on Valentine’s Day

ith Valentine’s Day approaching, you can look your best following simple tips such as eliminating stress from your daily routine, exercising, and drinking water. Here are some expert tips to make you achieve that perfect look this Valentine’s Day:

Good nutrition

• It is important to include good quality protein in your daily dietary intake. You should have high biological value protein such as milk, yoghurt, eggs, meat, chicken, fish and beans in each meal to accomplish the protein needs of your body.

Exercise: • Exercise produces endorphins (the hormones that make you feel good) and subsequently, helps reduce your stress levels. Stress reduction and endorphins help decrease cortisol and other skin problems and also reduces hormones that occur naturally when you are under stress. • Exercises such as plank is one of the best for core conditioning. Its benefits include toned belly, reduced back pain, flexibility, and improved balance and posture. • Side crunches remove belly fat and helps in shaping your body in two weeks. You will definitely feel a change in your body and feel more muscular and energetic. • Running or jogging helps prevent hypertension or heart diseases, strengthens the immune system, stabilises the blood sugar level, and improves mental fitness.

Eliminate stress: • Stress is a key contributor to poor health and it could be a reason for blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomach, and poor posture. Try to release it by spending time exercising and meditating. Exercising helps to release the love hormone oxytocin and serotonin. • Water has multiple benefits of transferring the nutrients and removing toxins. It is the most essential component of nutrition. Keep the skin hydrated and it will appear more plump and less wrinkled. • Good sleep is important, as it relaxes the system. A sound sleep helps in releasing serotonin. It decreases mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Fats • A diet that is rich in essential fatty acids, also known as healthy fats, is important, as your body needs them and can’t produce them on their own. You can get these essential fats only from the food you consume. • Include them in your daily routine diet. Take one serving of fish (such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and oyster) in your meal twice a week. Flaxseed, walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds are also packed with omega 3 fatty acids.

Love is in the air W

ith Valentine’s Day approaching, couples are ready to celebrate their special day. Our readers share their Valentines memories and their plans with us.

Likith Poovanna and Kavya Ganapathy

Parth Dalal and Bindi Desai Dalal

“We met first time at a fashion show event and we walked together on the ramp as a couple. We started dating each other after seven years of friendship. February 14 is not only Valentine’s Day for us but that is the day when we got engaged and started our journey of love together. “That is why it has always been a special day for us, and we never miss the opportunity to celebrate in a special way. We have been celebrating Valentine’s for last three years by taking some time off from work to spend quality time together. In 2014, we got engaged on Valentine’s Day, and celebrated 2015’s Valentine’s in Maldives. Last year, we celebrated it in Rotorua, and this year, we have planned to celebrate this day on an overnight cruise. We always believed in fairy tales and we are blessed that we are living one such tale.”

“Thinking about Valentine’s Day makes me anxious and excited at the same time. Because my life totally changed when I went to India for vacation in December 2016. I was initially a bit hesitant about the concept of arrange marriage until I met this girl—Kavya Ganapathy. I was totally blown away by her beauty. “The more I got to know her, the more I fell for her. I felt I was living my dream and in the blink of an eye, we were engaged. Destiny made me meet her and I am indeed happy, proud, and lucky about it. “Valentine’s Day has given me this opportunity to depict my love towards her. I am seriously hoping my surprise reaches her office with her favourites—red velvet cake, temptation rum and raisins chocolate, red heart-shaped balloons, a beautiful bouquet, a hand-written love letter, and a romantic novel—The Fault In Our Stars. “If given a chance, I don’t want to put an end to the gifts but there is still a long way to go. And yes, I will cherish a lot of memories in future with her.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

Due diligence required in student deportation case

Kanwaljit Bakshi National List MP

s many of you will be aware from your own experience, when applying for a visa you are required to make a declaration that all the information you have supplied in support of your application is true and correct. New Zealand has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and the Government makes no apologies for holding people to account if they have obtained their student visa fraudulently or haven’t followed the rules. International education is an important industry to New Zealand, with more than 100,000 students coming to New Zealand every year to study and the Indian market is a big part of that. On the whole, Indian students make an incredibly valuable and contribution to the community. The majority of students come here to study, complete their qualification, and then go home again, satisfied with their experience. However, for those who have taken a shortcut in their application by submitting fraudulent information, this behaviour does catch up with them and there are consequences for it. That is the situation we seeing with the nine Indian students who are taking sanctuary in an Auckland church. I strongly encourage those nine students to leave New Zealand voluntarily. This is the best option for them. The longer they remain here, the worse it is going to be for them. If they leave

voluntarily, there will be no financial barrier to them returning to New Zealand. However, if Immigration NZ deports them, they will be required to pay back the costs associated with deportation before ever having a chance of returning to New Zealand. It’s unfortunate that some dodgy offshore agents sell the international education experience as an east pathway for residence for student. That is not the case and it’s certainly not a commitment made by the New Zealand Government. Unfortunately, this can result in disappointment when students are then required to leave at the conclusion of their study. I understand that most of them have, in fact, completed the qualification they came to New Zealand to get, and it that is the premise on which they came to New Zealand in the first place, now that they have completed it, they should leave. Our community has a great reputation in New Zealand and we contribute a lot, both economically and culturally. But this sort of behaviour by a small minority reflects badly on all of us.

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10 February | www.iwk.co.nz

India to assist 20 schools in Fiji Border

security

he government of India has provided an assistance of $2.7 million for the renovation of 20 schools under the ‘Adopt a School’ programme. The identified 20 schools were damaged during the category five Tropical Cyclone Winston, which struck on February 20, 2016. India is providing this assistance in response to the request made by Government to help rebuild schools that have been severely damaged by Cyclone Winston. As conveyed by the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, National Archives, 16 schools from the Western Division and four from the Central Division would be renovated. Last week the High Commissioner of India to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal, handed over a cheque of $2.7m to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

High Commissioner of India to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal (left), handing over the cheque of $2.7 million to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

Mr Bainimarama appreciated the assistance given towards the ‘Adopt

a School’ programme and thanked the Prime Minister of India, people

and government of India for their kind assistance.

Lal tops in Aussie computer science research award

19-year-old Fijian has wowed participants at Australia’s premier event for Computer Science researchers by outwitting PhD students in his research paper. Shahil Lal received the Best Student Paper during the Australasian Computing Education Conference in Melbourne, Australia, on January 31. The engineering student was competing against the likes of those studying PhD who were from Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. Mr Lal’s research paper was titled ‘Performance and Consistency in Learning to Programme’. “I love inventing and creating things,” the former Mahatma Ghandi Memorial School student said. “I’m hoping to create something that will help make Fiji or maybe even the world a better place to live in, just like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. “I am so humbled with this award and I didn’t expect to win it because I am young, competing with PhD students – those who had more experience than me.

other hand “increases my chance of employability”. And with a schedule and workload for a student as such, Mr Lal says time management is key. After his studies, he hopes to come home and contribute to new developments and more broadly to the economy. “I am planning to publish another paper,” he said. Mr Lal was also said to be the youngest person in Fiji to have his work appear on Google Scholar.

Role model

Australasian Computing Education Conference Best Student Paper recipient, Shahil Lal

“Honestly I didn’t expect to win it amongst such highly distinguished academics.” Mr Lal is currently pursuing a five-year double degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney. He is now in his second year. Mr Lal’s winning research paper

was possible through the assistance of his supervisor and fellow co-author Alireza Ahadi of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The research paper focused on analysing student performances in an introductory programming course. Mr Lal said his passion for physics and innovation led him to take up engineering while commerce on the

Fiji celebrates Waitangi Day

Wellness walk to address NCDs

From left: SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka, National Federation Party leader and Opposition Member of Parliament Biman Prasad, and the Fiji Times publisher Hank Arts during the Waitangi Day celebration at the New Zealand High Commission Residence at Ratu Sukuna Road (Photo: Vilimoni Vaganalau)

very year on February 6, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty

first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand. The day was first officially

He thanked his parents and sister for their endless support towards his passion especially his father who has been the reason he strives for the best. His father is Pradeep Lal, the Vodafone Fiji chief executive officer/ managing director. “My father came from a very poor family but through hard work and dedication, he managed to become successful. “I look up to him,” he said. He advised youths that success can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

hirty per cent of Fiji's 330 islands are inhabited and susceptible to arms smuggling into the country, said Defence and National Security Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. This was revealed in Parliament after a question by Opposition parliamentarian Viliame Gavoka on security measures to prevent this transnational crime. Ratu Inoke said the country's law enforcement agencies had limited physical presence in sufferance ports, maritime islands and marinas, restricting human intervention. He said the ensuing National Security Strategy was in its consultation phase and was envisaged to realign and harness all security mechanisms and stakeholders of Government by June this year. He also told Parliament that at the country's main ports of entries, in particular Nadi International Airport had X-ray machines and K-9 units manned by Customs and police 24 hours a day and seven days a week. "Fiji's membership with Interpol enhances the border law agencies Interpol 24/7, a prompt international platform system that enables the rapid sharing of required data," Ratu Inoke said. “He said the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) also assisted the ministry in its software program, the automated information system (AIS), that monitored all vessels that possessed transponders. Ratu Inoke said the ministry, through the National Security Strategy, worked towards strengthening the community partnership already in place by the collaboration of all border security agencies to actively ensure a whole government approach and effective involvement.

commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974. The day was celebrated in Suva on Monday, February 6.

rganisers of the Colour Explosion Fiji are again preparing for another Non Ccommunicable Diseases (NCD) awareness campaign in Lautoka. The fun walk dubbed Rang-DeViti and translated as Let's Colour Fiji, aims to put a spotlight on the seven different NCDs that have been a major cause of deaths in the country. This year organisers of the event are again putting together the Ministry of Health-supported fivekilometre wellness walk that has attracted thousands of participants since 2015. The group stated that through the event it hoped to inspire and motivate members of the community to take better care of their health through better dietary habits including performing regular exercises. The event has also garnered the support of Government and the Lautoka City Council when it began two years ago.

"Both years allowed The Colour Explosion to generate money from this event to purchase and donate to the Ministry of Health's Wellness Outreach Program at Lautoka Hospital once again," the group said. "This year entry is free to attract as many participants as possible to assist us in empowering and educating the nation on NCDs. "The venue has been moved to the Carnival grounds at Churchill Park, Lautoka. "Colour Explosion white T-shirts are available for sale at $15 each. "Corporate support has been wonderful and would be grateful for further support by cash or kind in helping make this event even better." Colour Explosion was formed in 2014 by a group of professionals and community workers, who identified an important need to educate, empower and highlight NCDs. The wellness walk will be held on February 18 at the Churchill Park Carnival Grounds at 7am.

FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

PM vows to keep momentum on climate fight B ainimarama devoted to putting together dedicated Fijian Secretariat to make preparations, liaise with UNFCCC Secretariat. The Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, vowed in Parliament that he would work closely with the ‘big players’ in keeping the momentum rolling in the fight against climate change. In his capacity as COP23 president, he intends to work with China, India, the European Union, Japan, Canada, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. Mr Bainimarama said he would also work closely with the region, global non-government organisations (NGOs), the civil society and the private sector.

COP23 presidency “My brief as incoming COP President is to represent the interests of the entire world; to be impartial and achieve consensus between all parties on the best way forward. “But it is only natural that as Fijians, we have a special interest in the needs of Small Island Developing States in our own region and beyond,” he said. Mr Bainimarama said in the lead-up to the main COP gathering in Bonn, Germany in November, they intended to hold a Climate Champions meeting in Suva. He said it would bring Pacific leaders, NGOs, civil societies and representatives of the private sector together to discuss a common agenda for COP. “And then in October, a month before Bonn, we will host a pre-COP gathering in Denarau of many of the major players to hone our approach

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa (Photo: DEPTFO News)

to the main event itself. “As the year progresses, we will be making a special effort to engage the Fijian people, and especially our young people and our artists, in the COP process.”

the logo will appear. “Whether it is the COP23 Fiji website, our social media platforms, backdrops or flags,” Mr Bainimarama said. He said the prize for the winning entry was a trip for two anywhere on COP logo entry competition the Fiji Airways Network. “And that engagement has already “So my message to everyone is begun, with the advertisement on to get those entries in as soon as Saturday calling for ideas for the possible. Because it could be your COP logo, that will brand our idea that produces the final logo that effort,” Mr Bainimarama said. will be seen around the world. Global He also urged every Fijian to exposure for a global event,” he said. consider lodging an entry by the Mr Bainimarama said he was closing date of February 24. devoted to putting together “It doesn’t have to be the a dedicated Fijian But final product, just an idea Secretariat to make it is only that can go into the mix. preparations here natural that as Because we will need in Fiji and to Fijians, we have a to refine any concept liaise with the special interest in the we receive using United Nations needs of Small Island graphic professionals F r a m e work Developing States in to incorporate it into all Convention on our own region and the platforms on which Climate Change beyond

(UNFCCC) Secretariat in Bonn. “We have already allocated office space for this purpose in Suvavou House. “Our UN friends have stressed that this is a team effort in which Fiji will work closely with them and the German government to make COP23 an unqualified success. “And we have hired the same expert team of consultants that assisted Morocco with its successful hosting of COP22,” he said. Mr Bainimarama said they had already started raising the necessary funds in the form of donations from an array of nations and foundations. “These funds will be deposited into a trustfund here in Fiji that we are establishing with an Act of Parliament. The Bill setting up the fund will be tabled this week. “The whole world wants Fiji to succeed in this effort and will provide the necessary resources to make it happen. “There will be no need to increase the overall expenditure whatsoever in the Parliament approved 2016/2017 Budget,” he said.

Climate envoys Mr Bainimarama said the Chief Negotiator for COP23 would be Ambassador Nazhat ShameemKhan, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “Ambassador ShameemKhan is an standout candidate to lead these very complex and challenging negotiations because of her distinguished legal career and outstanding professional and personal qualities,” he said. Mr Bainimarama said our Climate Champion is the Minister for Agriculture and Natural Disaster

Management, Inia Seruiratu, who knows the impact of climate change on ordinary Fijians better than most. “Minister Seruiratu is one of the Government’s best performers and has already demonstrated his effectiveness as a climate advocate at Marrakesh and in other high level talks in Europe,” he said. Mr Bainimarama said our designated Climate Ambassador was Ambassador Deo Saran, our envoy in Brussels. “As I have said before, the duties of an incoming COP President will require a range of international engagements. Not only for me but for our Climate Champion, the chief negotiator and other members of the team. But as we have said, our domestic agenda will not suffer.”

Continue our growth “We intend to continue the longest running period of economic growth in Fiji’s history into its seventh year,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen our education and health systems and continue to extend basic services like electricity and water to every citizen. We will continue to improve our road network, footpaths and install streetlights in urban and rural areas. And if anything, our presidency of COP23 will open up all sorts of opportunities for new investments, both in the private and public sectors in Fiji.” Mr Bainimarama said part of their plan was to attract new and cutting edge technology in several important areas so they could be trialed here for eventual use in other countries, including our island region. “We also intend to attract finance for climate adaptation through the private sector,” he said.

NASA plane lands at Nadi International Airport

n a first for Fiji, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) DC-8 Airborne Science Laboratory aircraft landed at the Nadi International Airport on Saturday, February 4. The aircraft from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre in Palmdale, California, is used to collect data for experiments in support of projects serving the world’s scientific community. The flight arrived at the Nadi International Airport from Kona, Hawaii on Saturday evening with 27 scientists and 17 crew members who are on an Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom). It will leave Fiji this morning for Christchurch in New Zealand. ATom will study the impact of human-produced air pollution on greenhouse gases and on chemically reactive gases in the atmosphere. It was an extraordinary experience for Nadi Muslim School science teacher Dinesh Gosai to tour the fully equipped flying science laboratory. Mr Gosai through the United States Embassy in Fiji got an opportunity which he utilised to also speak to the scientists about allowing students to visit the aircraft on their next trip to Fiji. “It was an amazing experience and this depicts how evolved science and technology are now,” Mr Gosai said.

Michael Prather, an atmospheric scientist said the science team would use ATom’s collected data on the air’s chemical signatures to understand where pollutants originate, and where and how quickly these climate gases reacted chemically and eventually disappear from the atmosphere. Data gathered with the aircraft at flight altitude and by remote sensing were used for studies in archaeology, ecology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, volcanology, atmospheric chemistry, cryospheric science, soil science and biology. There Mr Prather said they chose are around to land in Fiji because it was 20 different a good spot to land and instruments on the had good support. plane and there are “Plane really couldn’t actually 26 different teams do without having a good on the plane and many place to land and this is one of them have 10 or 20 Scientists and crew of DC-8 NASA aircraft with Nadi Muslim College science teacher Dinesh Goasi of the good places to land,” instruments of their (second from right), and US Embassy Suva Regional Environmental Officer Mark Mineo (right), at Nadi he said. own for the work International Airport (Photo: Arishma Devi-Narayan) The -72 version of the fourthey do engine first-generation jetliner Moes engages with are actually 26 different teams on the “Upon my talks with the scientists, was acquired in 1985 by NASA the pilots, scientists back at plane and many of them have 10 or we are looking forward to their and highly modified to support NASA and others as well,” he said. 20 instruments of their own for the next visit in the country in the next its airborne science mission. The work they do,” Mr Moes said. fall when we will be likely taking a Campaign ATom aircraft will return to Fiji in March. few students of ours to tour inside “We measure the air at the altitudes The suite of 20 instruments the aircraft.” along up and down the ocean also Interesting fact on board will measure airborne have remote sensing.” Mission Director, Timothy Moes The passengers onboard DC-8 particles called aerosols and more said the aircraft was being flown The aircraft flies at a height of do not use the front lavatory of the than 200 gases in each sampled around by NASA since 1985 and it 1524 metres (5000 feet). aircraft because it would be sensored air patch, documenting their was one of NASA’s biggest uploads. “It has its own communication by the equipment and interrupt the locations and allowing scientists to “There are around 20 different system on board from where Mr radar equipment. determine interactions. instruments on the plane and there

READERS SPEAK

What was your first job in NZ? How easy or difficult it was to get it?

Editorial Young dream shattered

veryone is talking about the Indian students who are facing deportation after their appeal to the Immigration Minister was declined last week. There have been two opinions on this case—students knew about the fraud and are now playing the victim or they are actually the victims. Although it is difficult to know which one is true, there’s one thing that is clear—Immigration New Zealand (INZ) could not verify the facts and information provided in their application when the students first applied for a visa. In response to Indian Weekender’s query last year about the same, INZ responded that “the very nature of fraud is to try to avoid detection. Fraudsters are cunning in their tactics and increasingly sophisticated in their techniques.” INZ said that they had put new procedures in place since the fraud was discovered. The deportation notice issued to the students says that INZ enquired with their respective banks whose loan reimbursement letter was provided with the visa application and found out that the letter was fake. So does that mean that in a normal procedure, INZ does not cross-check it with the bank whether a loan has been issued or not? When Indian Weekender spoke to the students, they said that they clearly remember checking each and every document in their visa file and making sure that all the information provided was correct and true. And knowing that INZ will be verifying and checking all the documents in detail, why would they take a risk of producing and submitting a fake loan disbursement letter that might result in refusal of their visa? But opposite to the common perception, not all the documents were checked properly by the immigration. It seems like that the authorities are saying that students made a mistake and irrespective of the fact that INZ was unable to detect it, the students need to be punished. But the fact is had the INZ checked the documents properly, this situation would not have arisen at all. When Indian Weekender spoke to the students, they said that they clearly remember checking each and every document in their visa file and making sure that all the information provided is correct and true. And knowing that all the documents will be verified and scanned in detail, why would they take a risk of producing and submitting a fake loan disbursement letter that might result in refusal of their visa? But opposite to the common perception, not all the documents were checked properly. It seems like that the immigration is saying is that you made a mistake and irrespective of the fact that we were unable to detect it, you need to be punished. Had they checked the documents properly, this situation would not have arisen at all. Students spent about $16,000 to $20,000 towards the course fee alone. Why would anyone who’s spending this much money, would take a chance that would lead to rejection of their application? If INZ didn’t have adequate ways to detect the fraud, which was apparently made by the immigration agents in India, why should students suffer because of INZ’s incompetency? INZ needs to compromise on this situation because ignorance was shown from both the sides. It is not justified that only one side is punished. If the students need to go back, the deportation notice should be revoked and they should be asked to leave voluntarily. A deportation notice would close many doors of opportunities for these students who came to New Zealand for a bright future. Now there’s only hope that this kind of situation could be avoided in the future to ensure no more students suffer in a foreign land and have to go back to their country with their dreams shattered.

Siddharth Badam A full-time job hunt has never been easy, be it any country. Looking at too many rejections does make you feel bad, but the key point is the way you handle such rejections. I learnt a few things and changed the way of approaching the employers. After struggling for a couple of months, I was able to secure a full-time position role as an ICT Sales Specialist with one of the biggest Australian ISP in Auckland.

Kariappa Maletira Karumbaiah I moved to Auckland in 2014 to do my masters at The University of Auckland (UoA). It was easy to know about the job opportunity because University regularly updates their career website and send notifications about available Jobs on and off campus. Since my previous experience and skills met the job requirement, I got the job.

Kawanmeet Kaur My first job was in Mc Donald’s. I started working there in 2010 and I really enjoyed my job. It was not difficult for me at all to find that job. That job helped me pay all my University fees. I worked there for 6 years and it was a good learning experience for me.

Iqbal Singh My first job in New Zealand was a crew member in Mc Donald’s. Initially it was hard for me to work specially making burgers and fries in the kitchen. Later on, I got used to it. Finding that job wasn’t very difficult for me. Now I believe every walk of life can’t be a perfect start but hard work makes the future better and comfortable for sure.

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 45 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-6366306 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Distribution: 022 3251630 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

“G o o d t hings h appe n in your life whe n you sur round yourse lf w i t h posi t i ve pe ople .”

— Roy Bennett

OPINION/EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

Hints o f new world order must await Tillerson-Lavrov meeting ¡¡ SAEED NAQVI

undits in Washington are beginning to hope for continuity in US foreign policy under Donald Trump. For their optimism, they are falling back on hints from the new administration. Look, they say, Israel is being warned to curb settlement construction; Russians must withdraw from Crimea; Iran is on notice: no more missile tests. If this, indeed, were true then the skirmishes between the intelligence community and the Trump campaign which continued well into the President’s inauguration would appear to have been settled in favour of the agencies, the Deep State, with the media in tow. If the Washington Pundits are anywhere near the truth, it may please them to know they are in company. Syrian President Bashar al Assad declared a week ago that he expected “no change in US policy towards Middle East”. What then does one make of the allegation which Trump repeated at least since August 2016: “Obama and Hillary founded ISIS?” This reporter has written several stories

since 2012 about US ambassador in Damascus, Robert Stephen Ford, a great favourite of Hillary Clinton, playing an overt role in the Syrian insurgency. Some of it was eyewitness account. More recently, Trump has reiterated that he hopes for friendlier relations with Putin. He looked forward to greater cooperation with Moscow in managing the chaos in West Asia. Is there a contradiction between this line and the new US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, warning Moscow on Crimea? These are significant signals but they will be fitted into coordinated policy only after the new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, finds his feet in the State Department. Until then even National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn’s tough statement on Iran must be seen as premature. It may point to some turf fights that will keep the White House abuzz for some time. Serious games will begin when Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Tillerson hold their first meeting. If there is to be anything resembling goodwill between Washington and Moscow, Lavrov will have to acquaint

Tillerson with a great deal of what Moscow has been doing recently. Libya, for instance. Moscow has been coordinating policy with Egypt to control a country with more than one power centre. On December 20, Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran met in Moscow to discuss Syria. The US was managing its transition during this period. The meeting was followed by a joint air campaign by Russia and Turkey against the Islamic State. The summit in Moscow was preceded by the dramatic killing of the Russian ambassador in the Turkish capital Ankara. Maronite Christian leader Michael Aoun’s election as President of Lebanon would not have been possible without Hezbullah’s help. For this development too the credit goes to Syria, Iran and Russia. Yemen will be a test for the Trump administration. Will he continue to support Saudi Arabia’s disastrous war in the Arab world’s poorest country? Who knows, in the interest of American prosperity, he may like to encourage Saudis to spend their last penny buying US arms. An important meeting, which caught New Delhi on the wrong

foot, was the Russia-China-Pakistan conclave in Moscow focused on the future of Afghanistan. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s subsequent visit to Moscow covered this development. He must supervise a new regional strategy before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to St. Petersburg in early June. The Moscow meeting on Afghanistan places a huge question mark on US expenditure in blood and treasure in that country over the past 12 years. Taliban, whom the US has been fighting all these years, are now to be enlisted in the war against the Islamic State and various offshoots of Al Qaeda Russian Caucasus and Xinjiang are menaced by this, expanding variants of Islamist militancy. Taliban are a regional force spread on two sides of the Durand line. This must be a source of worry for Islamabad. The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has cancelled military exercises with the US. He has held out a hand to Moscow and Beijing. This is just some of the agenda Tillerson has to prepare himself for. To begin with, he will have to digest the implications of a ban on seven

Muslim-dominated countries to travel to the US. Iran being listed among Muslim countries to whom the ban applies makes no sense unless Trump or those around him are keen to pick a fight with Tehran to please Riyadh and Jerusalem. No act of terrorism in the genre of suicide bombing has yet been traced to Tehran. Nor does Hezbullah’s unwavering support to the Palestinian cause make it a militant menace. In this devilry, it has Iran’s total backing. During the campaign, and since, Trump has maintained that he will seek Russian support in “bombing the shit out of Islamic terrorism”. Moscow and Iran are with him on that page, indelicate language 17 notwithstanding. The contradiction with the Deep State will arise when, in the course of hammering Islamic terrorism, the White House does not make allowance for militants who were trained and harboured as a Western asset. That will require case-bycase bargaining. Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs. The views expressed are personal.

UP polls: Key lies in Modi regaining the Muslim vote ¡¡ AMULYA GANGULI

major reason why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is believed to be finding it difficult to cross the finishing line with ease in the ensuing UP assembly elections is its loss of the Muslim vote since 2014, when it had secured more support from the community than ever before. Winning over the community is essential in a state where the Muslims make up 19.3 per cent of the population. Their vote is now expected to be shared mainly by the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Congress combine and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with the tilt favouring the former because its chances are perceived to be better. The BJP will rue this shift of preference because it had the support of a sizable section of the Muslims in the parliamentary polls. According to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 10 per cent of the Muslims in Uttar Pradesh voted for the BJP three years ago, evidently because they were impressed by Narendra Modi’s pitch for development. It is also noteworthy that a large number of Yadavs, who form the SP’s core base of support, and Jatavs, who constitute the BSP’s vote bank, also leaned towards the BJP. It was obviously Modi’s promise of “achhey din” (good days) which acted as an incentive. But the increase in the Muslim preference for the BJP was of greater significance because of the traditionally fraught relations between the minorities and the saffron brotherhood.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Sufi Forum in New Delhi. Credit: PTI

However, a CSDS researcher noted that the backing of the Muslims for the BJP in 2014 was the highest in the Lok Sabha’s electoral history. Of the 87 parliamentary seats in the country with a high concentration of Muslims, the BJP won 45. These included all but one of the 27 seats in Uttar Pradesh, demonstrating how the members of the community had turned away from their earlier favourites, the SP and the BSP, in favour of the BJP. It is obvious that if Modi had been able to retain this block of support, his party would have had a fairly easy run in the forthcoming assembly elections. Considering that he still enjoys the faith of large sections of the people,

mainly of the middle class, in his promise to accelerate development, there is no reason to doubt that the Muslims, too, would back him now as in 2014. If they have drifted away, however, the fault lies with the Prime Minister’s failure to check the hardliners in the BJP much earlier. He has now succeeded in largely silencing the “ghar wapsi” and “love jehad” brigades, but his action against them has come too late in the day to reassure the Muslims. Had he cracked down on them immediately after his Lok Sabha victory, the BJP might not only have been able to hold on to those Muslims who had reposed their new-found faith in the party but also attracted others from the community.

This accretion would have been possible even if the economy had not taken off with the speed that was earlier expected. But the moment was lost because the Yogi Adityanaths and the Sakshi Maharajs interpreted the BJP’s majority in the Lok Sabha as a sign for pushing their Hindu nationalist agenda. Yet, as a former pracharak (preacher), Modi would have known the central tenets of their antiminority mindset. If he took his time in acting against them, as he had done in the post2002 period in Gujarat, the reason perhaps was that he was not sure of how far he could go against the vested communal interests in the party and the parivar at the national level.

There were undoubtedly ideological reasons as well. After all, when even Atal Bihari Vajpayee avoided a head-on confrontation with the hardliners, calling them pagal (mad) in private, as the then attorneygeneral Soli Sorabjee said, Modi’s hesitation was understandable. But his reluctance to be more proactive in this respect is now proving to be his worst electoral disadvantage. This drawback became clear as early as in 2015 when the BJP was decimated in the Delhi assembly elections although it had won all the seven parliamentary seats in the national capital a year before. Since then, the BJP has suffered a series of defeats in assembly elections in Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, putting into shade its excellent showing in virtually all the contests in 2014. The gainers have been the “secular” parties because the Muslims remain convinced that the BJP hasn’t changed from its Jana Sangh days, notwithstanding the protestations of Modi and other senior leaders. This failure on the BJP’s part has enabled even the down-and-out Congress to claw its way back into reckoning, which would not have been possible if Modi had been able to retain the momentum of 2014 when he was seen as non-sectarian. The opportunity which he had, therefore, to mould the BJP in his own forward-looking image has seemingly been lost. However, Uttar Pradesh is his last chance. If a hung assembly shows that the BJP can at least come close to the half-way mark, it will mean that the party can still find its way back if it is prepared to crack down on the saffron hawks. Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal.

INDIA

10 February| www.iwk.co.nz

Lok Sabha passes bill on demonetisation

he Lok Sabha on Tuesday, February 7, passed the bill to ban old bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and provides for punishment for holding such currency notes. The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017, seeks to replace the ordinance on demonetisation promulgated by the government in December 2016. Replying to the debate on the bill which was passed after amendments by the opposition were negatived, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the decision on demonetisation was

not easy. He said the government had been holding consultations with the Reserve Bank of India from February last year. Jaitley said there was rush for currency in the initial days after the November 8 demonetisation announcement and then the situation eased. Taking a dig at opposition parties, he said they appeared to be troubled by the decision but not people of India. Earlier, moving the bill Jaitley said once a currency ceases to be legal tender, it cannot be allowed to operate.

“Holding the currency beyond the permissible limit, will become an offence,” Jaitley said. The bill, like the ordinance, provides that the specified bank notes, which have ceased to be legal tender, shall “cease to be liability of Reserve Bank of India”. Brought as a money bill, the Rajya Sabha will not have any major role in its passage. A financial memorandum with the bill said it involves decision having impact on the “contingent liabilities of the central government and thus on the consolidated fund of India”.

Demonetisation, a right

decision at right time: Modi P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, February 7, strongly defended his government’s decision to ban high value currency notes, saying it was the right step taken at the right time to rid the Indian economy of tax evasion and black money. Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha in reply to motion of thanks to the President’s address, mocked at the opposition protests against the November 8, 2016, decision of spiking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes that led to a huge currency crunch in the country. He likened the decision with surgery conducted on the human body. “When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. For demonetisation, good economy was needed and this was a proper time. Our economy was doing well and our (demonetisation) decision was taken at the right time,” Modi said. “The move was calculative. The decision was taken after Diwali when trade (across the country) was high,” he said, adding the move was like the Swachh Bharat mission to clean the economy of ill-gotten wealth accumulated by evading tax. “Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India (of corruption and black money),” Modi said. He said he was aware of political risks but “I am not concerned about the elections”.

It prohibits the holding, transferring or receiving of the ‘specified bank notes’ after December 31, 2016. “On and from the appointed day, no person shall, knowingly or unknowingly or voluntarily hold, transfer or receive any specified bank notes,” the bill said. As per the bill, an individual cannot hold more than 10 of the demonetised currency notes irrespective of value, and for the purpose of study or research, not more than 25 notes can be held. For violation of these provisions, as

EU programme for climate, energy to expand to India

T Modi mocked at the oppositions protest against the November 8, 2016, decision of spiking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes that led to a huge currency crunch in the country.

“When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. For demonetisation, good economy was needed and this was a proper time. Our economy was doing well and our (demonetisation) decision was taken at the right time” – Prime Minister Narendra Modi “I am concerned about my country,” he said, urging the opposition “to join the mainstream and contribute in the development of the country.” Modi took a dig at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his tomtommed “earthquake” exposure on the Prime Minister’s alleged involvement in corruption. “We were ready for discussion, but instead of discussion the opposition was more concerned about giving

TV bytes,” he said, referring to the Winter Session that was completely washed out in opposition protests against demonetisation. Hailing his decision of forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks, Modi said: “The Supreme Court quoted on March 26, 2014 that since 1947 nobody thought of bringing back black money from foreign countries.”

per Section 5 of the bill, a fine will be imposed which can be of Rs 10,000 or five times the amount of the old currency notes held - whichever of the two is higher. Those individuals who were outside India during November 9 to December 31, or any other class of persons specified by the central government, can make a declaration which will be verified by the Reserve Bank of India. If the RBI is satisfied with the reason cited it may credit the value of the old bank notes in the individual’s “Know Your Customer compliant bank account”.

he EU-led Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, with over 7,000 member cities from all over the world, will be expanding to India starting from 2017, a statement said. This network of cities is one of the largest, with 7,100 member cities from all over the world, and most effective network for climate action with 23 per cent reduction of Green House Gas emissions by the signatories' cities. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy brings together the EU-led Covenants of Mayors and the UN Compact of Mayors initiatives for the largest and first-of-its-kind coalition of cities committed to fighting climate change, a European Union statement said. The Covenant of Mayors Regional office for India will add to the already existing regional Covenant Offices in Europe, Mediterranean and SubSaharan Africa, as well as the further Regional Covenants offices which will be opening for Latin America and the Caribbean, East/SouthEast Asia and Japan, through the International Urban Cooperation

Programme (IUC), recently launched by the European Union. India's mega-cities (Delhi ; Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad), and major cities are witnessing the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world. With fast growing suburbs and high population density, cities face challenges to enable residential and commercial development, adequate infrastructure services and sufficient connectivity. Furthermore, around 17.4 per cent of households in urban India live in a slum (2011 Census). The European Union-funded International Urban Cooperation Programme aims at strengthening the EU-India policy dialogue on sustainable urban development and climate actions through cooperation between European and Indian cities. The IUC programme will coordinate and cooperate with other cities networks (C40, UCLG, ICLEI) and relevant Government led initiatives currently operating in the country, such as the AMRUT Mission as well as the 100 Smart Cities Mission, it said.

‘India cooperated to use sanctions for n-deal with Iran’

reducing economic relations with ndia cooperated with multilateral Iran in 2010, when India’s central efforts to use UN-mandated bank ceased using a Tehran-based sanctions to achieve a nuclear regional body, the Asian Clearing agreement with Iran, a US Congress Union, to handle transactions think tank said in a report. with Iran. The independent Congressional In January 2012, according to the Research Service (CRS) said in its report, Iran agreed to accept India’s latest report on Monday that during currency rupee to settle 45 per cent 2010-2016, India’s private sector of its oil sales to India, which Iran described Iran as a “controversial mostly used to buy Indian wheat, market” – a term used by pharmaceuticals, rice, sugar, many international firms India soybeans, auto parts, and to describe markets that and Iran are other products. entail reputational and considering using financial risks. “India reduced its Turkey’s Halkbank imports of Iranian to transfer to Iran The CRS is a public oil substantially after $6.5 billion for oil policy research arm 2011 – by the time of purchased by India of the United States the JPA (interim nuclear during 2012Congress and it makes deal), Iran was only 2016 reports on issues of interest supplying about 6 per cent for lawmakers for them to of India’s oil imports, down from make informed decisions. It works over 16 per cent in 2008. on a non-partisan basis. India incurred significant costs to It also said that “India began

Kudankulam power plant in India

retrofit refineries that were handling Iranian crude. However, since the JCPOA, oil imports apparently have increased to close to 2011 levels,” according to the report. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is an international agreement

on Iran’s nuclear programme between Tehran, the P5+1. “Indian firms ended or slowed work on investments in Iranian oil and gas fields – work that is likely to resume now that sanctions have been lifted,” the report said. India and Iran are considering

using Turkey’s Halkbank to transfer to Iran $6.5 billion for oil purchased by India during 2012-2016, it said. In 2015, India and Iran agreed that India would help develop Iran’s Chahbahar port that would enable India to trade with Afghanistan unimpeded by Pakistan. “With sanctions on Iran now lifted, that project no longer entails risk to Indian firms involved. In May 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Iran and signed an agreement to invest $500 million to develop the port and related infrastructure.” The report came as the Donald Trump administration last week sanctioned dozens of Iranian-linked entities in a move that senior US officials said marked the beginning of an escalating campaign to confront Tehran in the Middle East and restrain its military capabilities.

INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

India to launch record

104 satellites next week

ndia will create history by launching a record 104 satellites, including 101 foreign ones, into the earth’s lower orbit, on February 15 from Andhra Pradesh, an official said on Monday, February 6. “We have tentatively decided to launch the satellites at one go around 9 a.m. into the sun-synchronous orbit, about 500 km above the earth,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official said. Of the total earth-observation satellites, three are Indian, 88 are from the US and the rest from Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. “A 320-tonne rocket – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C37) – will launch the satellites with a combined weight of 1,500 kg, including the 650 kg Cartosat-2D and two nano-satellites (INS-1A and INS-1B) weighing 15 kg each,” the official said. The combined weight of 100 foreign micro or smaller satellites will be 820 kg. Though the Indian space agency had launched 20 satellites in one shot on June 22, 2016, the launch of 104 satellites will surpass the 37 satellites launch record set by a Russian rocket on June 19, 2014 and 29 satellites launched by NASA on November 19, 2013. “The countdown will begin 48 hours before the lift off after the launch authorization board gives final clearance for the mission keeping in view the weather conditions and other preparedness at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre,” said another official. The launch of over 100 spacecraft together will be a major achievement for India as such an attempt was not made before by any of the dozen space-faring nations. The constellation of 88 small

NEWS in BRIEF

Delhi government to build 6,178 flats for poor

he Delhi government on Monday, February 6, approved a pilot project to build 6,178 flats for people in the slums. These will be built at a cost of Rs 866 crore at Lajpat Nagar, Bhalaswa, Dev Nagar, Mongolpuri and Ambedkar Nagar by upgrading the existing slums on Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) land. This was decided at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A proposal to construct 582 houses for economically weaker sections at Sangam Park for Rs 83 crore was also approved. The department also cleared the construction four new homeless shelters in the city to accommodate 72 families and 1,200 homeless people. “These shelters will be constructed under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) at Dwarka, Geeta Colony, Rohini and Nangloi,” an official statement said. A Supreme Court appointed committee under Justice Kailash Gambhir had asked DUSIB to ensured adequate facilities for the homeless in Delhi and to improve their living condition.

Tata Sons’ shareholders vote to remove Mistry as a Director

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

satellites, weighing 5 kg each, of the mission for maximum return US earth observation firm Planet on investment. will be separated from the rocket “By launching 104 satellites in different directions to together, we are trying to By avoid them colliding maximize our workhorse launching when being deployed in rocket’s capability and 104 satellites the orbit. optimally utilise it for together, we are “The satellites maximum return on trying to maximize will be in the same our workhorse rocket’s investment,” Kumar orbit with distance capability and optimally said on January 11. between them utilise it for maximum As an advanced return on increasing due to their remote sensing satellite, investment relative velocities,” said Cartosat-2D has a single the second official. panchromatic camera At an altitude of 500 km, the to beam scene-specific spot spacecraft will take about 90 minutes imageries of more than one meter to complete one polar orbit over spatial resolution and a swath of 10 the earth. km for cartographic applications. “The satellites will be injected The two Inertial Navigational into the sun synchronous orbit at System (INS-IA & INS-1B) use different slots at different angles and a computer, motion sensors and at different times,” added the official. rotation sensors (gyroscopes) to calculate the position, orientation ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran and velocity (direction and speed) Kumar earlier said the space agency of a moving object without would maximize its rocket capability external references. to launch more satellites in a single

India not fulfilling responsibilities under Indus Waters Treaty: Aziz

ndia has not been fulfilling its responsibilities under the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said on Monday, February 6, airing Islamabad’s concerns over construction of new dams by New Delhi. In his written reply in the National Assembly, Aziz said Pakistan has expressed concerns over construction of new dams by India. Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took up the issue with World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva in Islamabad, and contended that India’s new dam building on Indus river’s tributaies was sheer violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. “India’s construction of Ratle and Kishenganga dams on western rivers is a violation of the treaty,” he contended. Sharif said that since the World Bank was a signatory to the treaty, it should play its due role to help resolve the issue, expressing his hope that the World Bank will set a court of arbitration in this regard. Pakistan and India share the waters

ndustrial conglomerate Tata Group’s holding company Tata Sons said that a majority of its shareholders have voted to remove Cyrus Mistry as a Director on its Board during an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). “The shareholders of Tata Sons, at the extraordinary general meeting held today, passed, with the requisite majority, a resolution to remove Cyrus P. Mistry as a Director of Tata Sons,” the company said in a statement. Tata Sons’ Board had ousted Mistry on October 24, 2016, as its Chairman and appointed Ratan Tata as Interim Chairman. However, Mistry still remained as a Director on the Board of the holding arm of the $100 billion-plus group. Tata Trusts hold 66 per cent stake in the holding company of the Tata Group, with Mistry’s family holding over 18 per cent interest. The development comes after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on last Friday had dismissed Mistry’s plea for an injunction against Monday’s EGM. The petition for injunction against the EGM was moved by Mistry’s investment companies – Cyrus Investment and Sterling Investment Corp. – on last Thursday

Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Golden House’ to release in September

fter Arundhati Roy, it is now author Salman Rushdie’s turn to return to the literary world this year with his new book The Golden House, slated to be released in September, said Penguin Random House. The forthcoming from Salman Rushdie is a breathtaking new novel on a sprawling canvas. A modern-day thriller, it follows a mysteriously wealthy family from Bombay (now Mumbai) that is desperately seeking to forget the tragedy they left behind as they feverishly reinvent themselves in New York City. Copiously detailed, sumptuously inventive, brimming with all the razzle-dazzle that imbues his fiction with the lush ambience of a fable. “The Golden House is about where we were before 26/11, where we are today and how we got here. Here is a book that asks us – in a post-truth world – if facts and authenticity are necessarily the same thing, while never ceasing to be both resonant and entertaining,” the publishing house said. The book will be published in India by Penguin Random House which acquired the subcontinent rights from the Wylie Agency. Salman Rushdie had earlier won the Booker Prize in 1981 and Best of the Booker Prize in 2008 for his book Midnight’s Children. Some of his other critically acclaimed and bestseller are The Satanic Verses, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, The Moor’s Last Sigh and his recent Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights.

Modi government not doing enough for poor: Opposition

O The treaty gave the three "eastern rivers" of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej to India for use of water without restriction. The three "western rivers" of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum were allocated to Pakistan.

of Indus River Basin which has been a major source of contention between the two states since Independence. In order to resolve the disputes, both countries signed IWT in 1960 with the help of World Bank, which has survived over five decades of hostilities between the two states. However, due to the recent upsurge

in the Kashmir Valley, water has once again become a divisive issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “blood and water cannot flow together” and the threat of unilateral abrogation of the treaty has resulted into a new wave of hydro politics around Pakistan and brought the Indus Water Treaty under stress.

pposition parties on Monday, February 6, criticised the Narendra Modi government for allegedly ignoring the poor and weaker sections of the society, saying its promise of inclusive development was hollow. Resuming the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the presidential address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha before the budget session, which began on January 31, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said the address had “nothing new in it”. He said the Prime Minister is a busy person and “should be informed about ground realities”. “I myself have worked with a prime minister and I know he is a busy man. He is to be informed properly about whatever is happening in the country,” he said. Shukla said that farmers, labourers and other weaker sections of the society were suffering under Modi’s rule. Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) also slammed the government for its demonetisation move, saying lakhs of farmers had suffered because of it. He demanded that the government must inform the nation how much unaccounted money was recovered by the move. He said social disparity was a cause of concern and it must be addressed “before it’s too late”. “Unless and until poor, farmers, SCs, STs and other backward classes are given their dues, the country cannot progress”, he said. “Demonetisation has violated basic human rights of the citizens, he said. He also said the Modi government was against the interests of the SCs, STs and poor.

INDIA ABROAD

10 February | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian-origin artist wins Indian-American writer in Wellcome Genesis Prize 2017 Book Prize list B P ritain-based Indian-origin artist and human rights activist Anish Kapoor has been honoured with the 2017 Genesis Prize given by the Genesis Prize Foundation. The prize was awarded by the Genesis Prize Foundation, the Government of Israel and the Jewish Agency on February 5. Kapoor has decided to use the $1 million award money to help refugees and try to expand the Jewish community's engagement in a global effort to support the Syrian refugees, according to a statement issued by Genesis Prize Foundation. His His famous work message is Turning the World Upside clear, powerful, Down sculpture has and inspiring. I am been placed at the confident that Anish will Israel Museum use the Genesis Prize to in Jerusalem. build on the good work and Some of his his voice and energy will other works which help to focus more people gained worldwide on the need to alleviate attention are Cloud the suffering of Anish Kapoor Gate placed in Chicago's refugees Millennium Park and Orbit against indifference his in London. whole life. Born in Mumbai to a Baghdadi “His message is clear, powerful, Jewish mother and Indian father, and inspiring. I am confident that Kapoor moved to Israel at the age of Anish will use the Genesis Prize to 16 and is based in Britain since 1970 build on the good work and his voice He has also been a public advocate and energy will help to focus more and fought for the betterment of people on the need to alleviate the the refugees. Natan Sharansky, Head suffering of refugees." of Genesis Prize selection committee, The Israeli Embassy in the said: "Anish Kapoor has campaigned national capital also congratulated

Kapoor upon receiving the 2017 Genesis Prize. "I congratulate Kapoor for winning the prestigious Genesis Prize of 2017. Kapoor's contribution to the world – both artistic and humanitarian – is deservedly celebrated," Israel Ambassador Daniel Carmon said. Established in 2012, the annual Genesis Prize has been dubbed by Time Magazine as the Jewish Nobel.

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ulitzer Prize winning IndianAmerican writer Siddhartha Mukherjee’s latest book ‘The Gene’ has made it for the longlist of this years Wellcome Book Prize. Mukherjee shared the news on Twitter. Weaving science, social history and personal narrative, Mukherjee has written a history on genetics. The book animates the quest to understand human heredity and its surprising influence on our lives, personalities, identities, fate and choices. The longlist that features seven non-fiction and five fiction titles also includes Mend the Living by Maylis de Kerangal, The Golden Age by Joan London, The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, Omo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and Cure by Jo Marchant. “The challenge of judging the Wellcome Book Prize is that we have all had to read outside our own areas of expertise. That makes demands both of the judges and of the books. “This longlist is evidence of the breadth, humanity and creativity at work in the submissions for the prize and we commend each of these 12 books for your reading pleasure,” Val McDermid, Chair, Wellcome Book Prize 2017 judging panel, said. Wellcome Book Prize is an annual award with 30,000 pounds prize money that recognises new works of literature, both fiction and non-

Siddhartha Mukherjee

This longlist is evidence of the breadth, humanity and creativity at work in the submissions for the prize and we commend each of these 12 books for your reading pleasure fiction, that have a central theme engaging with some aspect of medicine, health or illness. The shortlist for the 2017 prize will be announced on March 14 and the winner on April 24.

WORLD

www.iwk.co.nz | 10 February

Trump says journalists

play down terror attacks C U S President Trump has said that the news media was playing down the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) and journalists were reluctant to report on the militant groups attacks in Europe and “have their reasons” for failing to cover them, the media reported. Trump initially did not provide examples of a news media conspiracy to underplay terrorist attacks. The White House released a list of what it said were 78 attacks from September 2014 to December 2016 that were carried out or inspired by the IS. It said that “most have not received the media attention they deserved”, the New York Times reported. The list included the major attacks in Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino (California) and Orlando (Florida) that dominated the news for weeks. Other attacks overseas, lesser known to Americans, received extensive local coverage, like a shooting in Zvornik, Bosnia, in April 2015 in which one police officer was killed and two others were wounded, the White House said. “Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland, as they did on 9/11, as they did from Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino and all across Europe,” Trump said at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. “All over Europe, it’s happening. It’s gotten to a point where it’s not even being reported, and in many cases, the very, very dishonest press

China to create over 50 mn jobs by 2020

Singapore’s Presidential election to be held in September

US President Trump

doesn’t want to report it,” he said. “They have their reasons,” Trump added, “and you understand that.” The President made similar comments about the US media during a January visit to the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, Virginia, that the news media had fabricated his feud with the intelligence community. Those remarks came only days after he likened American intelligence officials to Nazis, after several weeks in which he had denigrated their work, the New York Times said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that the President had been referring in Tampa to “several instances” in which the news media had not devoted sufficient attention

to terrorism. Trump, Spicer said, believed that journalists pay more attention to public protests than they do to terrorist attacks or plots. During his 12-minute speech on Monday, Trump promised to make “a historic financial investment in the armed forces”, in an effort to maintain peace in “our troubled, troubled times”. He also vowed to give the military the tools necessary to prevail against the Islamic State and thwart its attempts to strike America. At a luncheon with enlisted soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, Trump went around his table asking who would remain in the military, and told them their experience would improve during his presidency.

Why migraines are more common among women

F The remains of the landslide, known as the Gloria Knolls Slide and 30 times the volume of the iconic Uluru rock

NEWS in BRIEF

hina will create over 50 million new urban jobs by 2020, it was announced Monday, February 6. The government will improve employment structure and quality and keep the urban headline unemployment rate under 5 per cent by 2020, according to the employment facilitation plan for 2016-20 period released by the State Council. The plan pointed out that employment was key to affecting standards of living and supporting for economic growth and China would make pro-active employment policies, Xinhua news agency said. China will support sectors that create lots of jobs and promote entrepreneurship such as businesses related to the sharing economy. The government will help college graduates, farmers and workers affected by the country’s overcapacity cutting drive to secure jobs. Latest figures show that China created jobs for more than 13 million urban residents in 2016 and the registered unemployment rate in Chinese cities stood at 4.02 per cent at the end of 2016.

Remains of huge undersea landslide found on Great Barrier Reef

cientists have discovered the remnants of a massive undersea landslide on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, which occurred more than 300,000 years ago, a media report said on Wednesday, February 8. The remains of the landslide, known as the Gloria Knolls Slide and 30 times the volume of the iconic Uluru rock, are located 75 km off the coast of Innisfail, Efe news reported. "This is all that remains after a massive collapse of sediment of about 32 cubic km volume (off the north coast of Queensland)," said Robin Beaman, one of the researchers on the James Cook University team who took part in the discovery. The remains include large blocks, or knolls, and smaller blocks that lie scattered over an area of about 30 km and at a depth of about 1,350 metres.

"We were amazed to discover this cluster of knolls while 3D multibeam mapping the deep Great Barrier seafloor," Beaman said. "In an area of the Queensland Trough that was supposed to be relatively flat were eight knolls, appearing like hills with some over 100 metre high and three km long," he added. The lead author of the study, Angel Puga-Bernabeu, from the University of Granada in Spain, emphasised that the oldest fossil corals recovered off the top of the knoll were about 302,000 years old. Experts from the University of Sydney, the University of Edinburgh and the Australian Organization for Nuclear Science and Technology also participated in the study, which was conducted on the research ship "Southern Surveyor".

emales are more vulnerable to certain stress-related and allergic diseases such as migraines because of distinct differences found in mast cells, a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system, says a study. Mast cells are an important category of immune cells because they play a key role in stress-related health issues that are typically more common in women such as allergic disorders, auto-immune diseases, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. "Over 8,000 differentially expressed genes were found in female mast cells compared to male mast cells," said lead researcher Adam Moeser, Associate Professor at Michigan State University in the US. "While male and female mast cells have the same sets of genes on their chromosomes, with the exception of the XY sex chromosomes, the way the genes act vary immensely between the sexes," Moeser noted. A further in-depth analysis of the genes within the RNA genome – a primary building block in all forms of life – revealed an increase in activity that is linked to the production and storage of inflammatory substances, according to the study published in the journal Biology of Sex Differences. These substances can create a more aggressive response in the body and result in disease.

ingapore’s Presidential election will be held in September, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing announced on Monday. During the second reading of Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill, the minister outlined a series of amendments made to improve election procedures, Xinhua news agency reported. Chan announced the next presidential election, which has been reserved for Malay candidates, will be held in September rather than in August. The President of Singapore is directly elected by popular vote. Potential candidates for office have to fulfil stringent qualifications set out in the constitution.

Robots could replace 250,000 British public jobs soon: Report

early 250,000 jobs in Britain’s public sector could be replaced by websites and artificially intelligent “chat bots” in the near future, leading to higher efficiency in the sector, a new report said. With the advancement of technology, many jobs in the public sector could be efficiently completed by machines, replacing some 130,000 administrators in the government, 90,000 administrators in the National Health Service and 24,000 general practitioner reception jobs by 2030, Xinhua quoted the report by the London-based think tank Reform as saying on Monday. The authors believed that the move to automation in the sector could help save over four billion pounds ($4.98 billion) a year. There is also a possibility that doctors would be affected by the new trend, as machines have made significant progress in diagnosing some diseases and even carry out surgical procedures, the report pointed out. Meanwhile, public sector workers who hold strategic and cognitive roles can enhance their decision-making through data analytics, the report noted.

Morocco has 41.5m mobile users

he number of mobile subscribers in Morocco reached 41.5 million at the end of 2016, an increase of 3.6 per cent over 2015, according to the country’s national telecom regulator ANRT. The penetration rate reached 122.6 per cent, the Rabat-based agency said in a report, adding that growth in post-paid customers increased by 11.8 per cent to reach 2.98 million subscribers. The number of pre-paid subscribers reached 38.53 million. The landline users declined by 6.8 year-over-year to stand at 2.07 million users with a penetration rate of 6.12 per cent.

N Korea set to launch more satellites

orth Korea marked the first anniversary of its space rocket launch on Tuesday, February 7, and said it is ready to launch more satellites into space, a media report said. Pyongyang’s space rocket launch in February 2016 was condemned by the international community, which considered it to be a disguised test of long-range missiles, Efe news reported. “We will launch more satellites at the time and in the place decided by the Workers’ Party of Korea,” an article in the Communist regime’s official daily Rodong said. Since the beginning of 2017, Pyongyang has threatened multiple times that it plans to conduct intercontinental ballistic missile tests to counter nuclear threat from the US. In 2016, North Korea had claimed to have launched its satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, using a long-range rocket from its Sohae Space Centre, a month after it conducted its fourth nuclear test. Satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 This lead to tougher sanctions from the UN. South Korean Prime Minister and acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn said North Korea could be preparing for more provocations ahead of February 16, which marks the 75th birth anniversary of its late leader Kim Jongil, Yonhap news agency said. The celebration, known as the “Day of the Shining Star”, pays homage to the current leader Kim Jong-un’s father and is one of the most important public holidays in North Korea.

SPORTS

India beat New Zealand 4-1 in Davis cup I ndia defeated New Zealand 4-1 in Asian Oceania Group 1 Davis Cup tie on Sunday, February 5. Following the win, India will now take on Uzbekistan in the second round of the Asia-Oceania Group I in April. Ramkumar Ramanathan and Yuki Bhambri won their respective reverse singles matches to hand India a comfortable victory at the Balewadi Sports Complex. Ramanathan outplayed Tearney in straight sets 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 while Bhambri edged past Jose Statham 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to seal the spot in the second round. The first set was evenly contested but it was Ramanathan who proved superior and defeated the Kiwi 7-5. The second and third games witnessed Ramanathan at his best. He outclassed his opponent in every department of the game. In the second match, Statham put up a fight to the Indian player but eventually surrendered the first set 5-7. The 24-year-old Indian player made a good comeback in the first set, winning four games on the

10 February | www.iwk.co.nz

India's Ramkumar Ramanathan returns a shot during the Davis Cup singles tennis match against New Zealand's Finn Tearney at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on February 5, 2017

trot to come back from 2-5 down and win the set 7-5. In the second set, Statham bounced back in style with some swift court movements to beat Bhambri 6-3. In the decider, the Indian player pressurised the 29-year-old right

from the start. He played some quality game to clinch the set 6-3. Earlier, Bhambri and Ramanathan both won their men’s singles matches to give India a crucial 2-0 lead against the visitors on Friday. After that, Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan went down in the third rubber to Artem Sitak and Michael Venus.

ontinuing their dominance in the ongoing T20 cricket World Cup for the Blind, defending champions India registered their seventh win of the tournament by defeating New Zealand by nine wickets at the KIIT Stadium on Tuesday, February 7. Chasing a run target of 136, India rode on two half-centuries by captain Ajay Kumar Reddy and Sukhram Majhi. Ajay Kumar Reddy displayed extraordinary batsman skills with a score of 75 not out, including 14 boundaries off 28 balls. Odisha boy Sukhram Majhi helped him set the score with his 56 runs (11 boundaries) off 25 balls. The duo helped India successfully chase down the target in a mere nine overs. M.L.K. McCaskill took the sole wicket of Jafar Iqbal. Sukhram Majhi won the Man of the Match award.vNew Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. With his brilliant knock of 52 runs off 51 balls, B.D. Wilson helped New Zealand to score 136 in 20 overs, losing six wickets. Enthralled by the crowd and the match, Odisha Sports Secretary Vishal Dev said, “We are absolutely privileged to be hosting two wonderful teams in Odisha for the league match of the 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind. We have always believed in an Inclusive society and equal opportunities for all, which drives us to support special causes and help meet their needs.” M.J. Srikant, the strategist on board of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and member of the World Cup Organising Committee, said: “I am delighted to be in the midst of such a tremendous crowd. Spellbound to see the buzzing city of Bhubaneswar come alive in support of the match.”

Tendulkar urges fans to support women’s cricket

W Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja

Bangladesh (36th), India’s Umesh Yadav (37th) and Taijul Islam of Bangladesh (39th). In the batting table, skipper Virat Kohli is 58 points behind number-one ranked Steve Smith. Kohli will be aiming to carry his strong form into the Hyderabad Test, which will certainly help him narrow the gap with his Australian counterpart. Other high-ranking batsmen

to feature in the Test include Cheteshwar Pujara (12th), Ajinkya Rahane (15th), Shakib (22nd), Murali Vijay (27th), Tamim Iqbal (28th) and Mominul Haque (29th). In the ICC team rankings, number-one ranked India lead ninthranked Bangladesh by 58 points. The match will be Bangladesh’s first Test match on Indian soil since attaining Test status in 2000.

India are a class team, says Steve O'Keefe

ndia’s Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh defeated their Malaysian opponents to clinch the gold medal in the boy’s team event at the 18th Asian Junior Squash championship on Sunday, February 5. Senthilkumar defeated second seed Malaysia’s Ong Sai Hun 12-10, 110, 11-2 to hand India a crucial lead. In the second match, Singh prevailed over Darren Rahul 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 14-12, 11-6 in hard-fought battle to clinch the title for the country Earlier, Indian boys defeated Hong Kong 2-0 in their semi-final on Saturday.

head of the four-match Test rubber against India later this month, Australian spinner Steve OKeefe on Tuesday, February 7, termed the hosts as a "class" team with some "exceptional" batsmen. The 32-year-old left-arm spinner admitted that taming the Indian batsmen would be a "big job" but expressed confidence on his team's abilities to do "some damage" during the series, which begins with the opening match in Pune on February 23. "(India) are a class team, they're exceptional batters at home and it's going to be a big job," O'Keefe was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "They're class players – (Cheteshwar) Pujara, Lokesh Rahul, Karun Nair and Virat Kohli – so that's four of their (current) top six (in Test cricket)."

India beat Malaysia 2-0 to win gold at Asian Junior Squash

India thrash New Zealand in T20 World Cup for Blind

Ashwin, Jadeja to battle for top Test bowler’s rank ndia’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be feeling the heat from teammate Ravindra Jadeja with the number one Test bowler ranking in question when they take the field against Bangladesh in the one-off cricket Test in Hyderabad from Thursday, February 9. Ashwin is the number-one ranked bowler in the International Cricket Council (ICC) player rankings for Test bowlers, but Jadeja is breathing down his neck, just eight points behind, according to an ICC statement. Now if Jadeja scores over Ashwin in the Test, he can potentially move ahead of the Chennai off-spinner, who has been in the top spot since bowling India to a comfortable 321run victory over New Zealand in Indore in October 2016. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is the third highest-ranked bowler (in 14th place) to feature in the series. He is followed by India’s Ishant Sharma (23rd), Mehedi Hasan of

NEWS in BRIEF

"But I have no doubt if we get it right for a sustained longer periods, we can do some damage," he added. O'Keefe and fellow spinner Nathan Lyon are currently brushing their skills under former Sri Lankan tweaker Rangana Herath and New Zealand legend Daniel Vettori in Australia's pre-tour training camp. "The main things you get away from those guys is challenging the batter's defence," O'Keefe said. "And if you can continually put the ball in the right area, given these conditions will spin more than what we're used to at home, that will help us. It's about building pressure and not being overawed," he added. O'Keefe also trained under former England left-armer Monty Paneswar, who was one of the architects of England's historic 2-1 win over India in 2012.

"The keys (Panesar) talked about was being adaptable," O'Keefe said. "You're going to get different wickets, albeit they will be generally slow and spinning, but at times they can play a bit differently. One might be a little bit quicker, one might bounce a bit more." "He talked about being able to adapt really quickly and on the spot and also being able to take away the batsman's scoring options in regards to boundaries." "He talked about building pressure through being a little bit defensive, which was something that was refreshing to hear," O'Keefe added. O'Keefe will have to fight for a spot in the playing XI with offspinner Lyon, and youngsters Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson during the rubber.

ishing all the participating countries in the upcoming women›s World Cup qualifiers, starting February 7, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar urged fans to wholeheartedly root for their teams. “I wish all the teams the very best for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers and would urge all of you to wholeheartedly support women’s cricket, for the sake of cricket,” the batting maestro wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC). The former India skipper said the growth of women’s cricket has acted as a catalyst for gender equality and rights. “The women cricketers have caught the fancy of cricket aficionados around the world with stellar performances and have increased their audience. They have spawned interest in young girls to play the sport and also helping generate a larger following for the game at a time when the game is seeking to expand its footprint globally and become relevant in non-cricket playing countries,” he said. “While gender bias has been the bane of many aspects of the world, the sports narrative seems to be different. It is heartening to see that cricket is making strides in helping women occupy their pride of place in the annals of cricketing history,” he added. The batting maestro also hoped that Indian stars such as pacer Jhulan Goswami and captain Mithali Raj will be at their best in the tournament. “There is our very own Jhulan Goswami, who is quick and gets that extra bit from the wicket and Mithali Raj, our seasoned campaigner from India,” he said.

India to host women’s Asia Cup basketball

ndia will host two international events in 2017: the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup and FIBA Under-16 Women’s Asian Championship, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) announced on Sunday February 5. The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup will be held from July 23 to 29 in Bengaluru while the FIBA U-16 Women’s Asian Championship will be held from October 22 to 28 in Hyderabad, a BFI statement said. Fourteen teams will take part in both events, with eight teams in Division A (which include new Oceania teams Australia and New Zealand) and six in lower Division B. This will be the first time since 2009 that India will host a major International Basketball Federation (FIBA) event. “FIBA has allotted this event to India with utmost confidence and support, based on the steady increase in on-court quality of the Indian national teams over the past two years since the new leadership of the BFI, led by President K. Govindaraj and Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma, took over,” the release said. The Men’s National Teams made it to the quarter-finals in the 28th FIBA Asia Championship in 2015 and again to the quarter-finals, bagging an all time best seventh place in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016.

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Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3768

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Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3766

3 4 8 4 8

2017-02-02

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Medium level

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9 9

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Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3763

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6 3 7

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Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3764

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Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3x3 squares contains all Medium the digits from 1 to 9. Daily Sudoku puzzle No. 3767 2017-02-04 2017-02-05 level

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1. BEE 2. MOT 3. THORA 4. COCKROACH 5. LARVA 6. TERMITE 7. COCOON 8. LADYBUG 9. BEETLE 10. MOSQUITO 11. ANTENNAE

12. WINGS 13. ABDOMEN 14. FLY 15. METAMORPHOSIS 16. ANT 17. CHRYSALIS 18. BUTTERFLY 19. APHID 20. BUG

1. President Theodore Roosevelt 2. 252 (21 spots on one die, 21×12=252) 3. Harpy 4. Thistle 5. Paddy McGuinness 6. Adrian Cronauer 7. Newcastle United, Norwich City and Aston Villa 8. Pablo Picasso (‘Nude, Green Leaves and Bust’ which sold for $106.5 million in 2010) 9. Harold I 10. MMXVII 11. Energy (of a physical system) 12. Republican 13. Tyger Drew-Honey 14. 2006

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page. E-mail us at reporter@ indianweekender.co.nz

1. Mercury 2. Saturn 3. Venus 4. Jupiter 5. Saturn 6. No 7. A star 8. Neil Armstrong 9. Mars 10. Gravity

11. No 12. An observatory 13. Hubble Space Telescope 14. The Milky Way Galaxy 15. Sputnik 16. Jupiter 17. Titan 18. Mars 19. No 20. Yes

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10 February | www.iwk.co.nz

PARENTING

Parents’ obesity may delay Childhood poverty can affect adulthood development in kids psychologically A A re your toddler’s fingers and hands movements slow? Is his/her ability to relate to and interact with others as well as problem-solving skills delayed? Blame it on your obesity, researchers say. The findings showed that apart from health-related issues, children of obese mothers were nearly 70 per cent more likely to fail tests of fine motor skill—the ability to control movement of small muscles, such as those in the fingers and hands—by age 3, when compared to children of normal-weight mothers. Children with obese fathers were 75 per cent more likely to fail measures of social competence—an indicator of how well they were able to relate to and interact with others by age 3. Those born to extremely obese couples were nearly three times more likely to fail tests of problem-solving ability by age three. “Our study is one of the few that also includes information about fathers, and our results suggest that dad’s weight also has significant influence on child development,” said lead author, Edwina Yeung, from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the US. However, it is not yet known how parental obesity might increase

Our study is one of the few that also includes information about fathers, and our results suggest that dad’s weight also has significant influence on child development children’s risk for developmental delay. Animal studies have indicated that obesity during pregnancy may

promote inflammation, which could affect the foetal brain and could also affect the expression of genes in sperm. If the link between parental obesity and developmental delays is confirmed, physicians may need to take parental weight into account when screening young children for delays and early interventional services, the researchers said. For the study, appearing in the journal Pediatrics, the team examined more than 5,000 women in US, roughly four months after giving birth.

February 10 to February 16 | By Manisha Koushik ¡¡ Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Your ability to consistently deliver quality results will attract recognition and will be beneficial in opening up new avenues soon. Do not waste an opportunity by not exploiting a contact even if it is from your past. This is also a good time to bring harmony and cooperation in your romantic affairs. Focus on investments that bring steady returns while safeguarding your principal. Unnecessary expenses need to be taken care of. Balance idealism with practicality. Lucky number: 8 / Lucky colour: Saffron

¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) Colleagues you had known in the past will help you a great deal in setting the futuristic goals for yourself. You may find yourself a bit restless at work but should tone down your approach while interacting with seniors. Delegating responsibilities will ease your workload and allow you to focus on the bigger picture. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, if things do not turn the way you planned. Give it some time and things should be better. Meditate to embark on a new spiritual journey. Lucky number: 2 / Lucky colour: Silver

¡¡ Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) It is important for you to put forth your ideas in a convincing way, for them to be accepted by the top management at work. Overburdening yourself with work will only make you neglect home duties and as a result relationships can suffer. Making a decision to forgo a committed relationship is not a very good idea at the moment. Travel plans could go through some changes. Spending time with your loved ones will help you relax and unwind. Lucky number: 7 / Lucky colour: Baby pink

¡¡ Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20) Channelling your energies on constructive projects of your interest will help you reap the maximum benefits. You may get motivated to emulate someone on the career front for improvement. Bliss on the marital front is assured, as spouse makes the effort to infuse happiness and harmony at home. This is a good time to make some tweaks in your fitness regime to gain more out of it. Opportunities for new romantic encounters will unfold if you begin to attend social events. Lucky number: 3 / Lucky colour: Lemon

¡¡ Leo (Jul 21-Aug 22)

part from physical problems, people with an impoverished lifestyle in childhood are also likely to suffer significant psychological damage during adulthood. The findings of a study showed that impoverished children had more anti-social conduct such as aggression and bullying and increased feeling of helplessness, than kids from middleincome backgrounds. Poor kids also have more chronic physiological stress and more deficits in short-term spatial memory. “What this means is, if you’re born poor, you’re on a trajectory to have more of these kinds of psychological problems,” said lead author Gary Evans, Professor and child psychologist at the Cornell University in New York, US. The reason is stress, researchers said. “With poverty, you’re exposed to lots of stress. Everybody has stress, but low-income families, low-income children, have a lot more of it,” Evans said. “And the parents are also under a lot of stress. So for kids, there is a cumulative risk exposure.” For the study, Evans tracked 341 participants over a 15-year period, and tested them at ages 9, 13, 17 and 24.

The results revealed that the adults who grew up in poverty had a diminished ability to recall the sequences, tend to be more helpless and had the tendency to give up easily as well as had a higher level of chronic physical stress throughout childhood and into adulthood. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha. com or contact at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com

¡¡ Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

¡¡ Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)

Think twice before you speak this week as there is a possibility that you may land in a troublesome situation. There is no harm in listening to what people have to say. You never know some of their ideas or advice could just click and appeal to you. Support from seniors will boost your confidence. Love life could go through some ups and downs. Kill your suspicious nature and avoid being too argumentative. Advice regarding a financial decision is a must.

Be discreet while expressing your enthusiasm at work as there are chances that your actions could be misinterpreted. You do not need to worry about the financial health on this weekend. Impulsive remarks can create tensions; while listening to your heart and following an objective approach will help resolve major differences. Fun family outings are much indicated. Be objective about the emotional issues that can have a long term impact.

Lucky number: 22 / Lucky colour: Navy blue

Lucky number: 5 / Lucky colour: Red

¡¡ Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

It is a hectic period and you will be able to accomplish more only if you delegate tasks and work in close cooperation with colleagues. Your dynamic frame of mind will help you initiate new challenging projects. Efforts in the right direction will help you achieve the desired goals. Sudden changes on the financial front could take you by surprise. Loved ones seem to plan something exciting for you. Excellent time to begin a project you have been thinking about all this while.

You are born with the art of perfection; make use of it to organise things effectively rather than trying to do everything by your own. New opportunities may seem interesting on the surface but on deeper investigation may not be worth your time. You may have to juggle your schedule to accommodate work and domestic obligations. Use your charm to settle the differences with your beloved. A family youngster is likely to add a feather to your cap.

Lucky number: 7 / Lucky colour: Orange

Lucky number: 17 / Lucky colour: Lavender

¡¡ Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23)

¡¡ Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

Keep your priorities right on the professional front. A dip in the financial graph may seem worrisome, but is likely to be a temporary phase. Singles should be cautious in their approach for new relationships. Impulsive decisions could lead to mistakes. Learn to accept other people’s point of view; they may suggest you something valuable. Have more fruits to beat the heat. You are likely to be appreciated for the efforts you put in arranging things for the upcoming family get together.

Venturing out of your comfort zone and allowing your creativity to flow relentlessly will turn the tide in your favour. It is perhaps the right time to rethink about the goals you’ve set for yourself. Absorb information that you come across to avoid rushing into decisions without a deeper insight. You may be feeling troubled because of the changing equations in relationships. Learn to handle the situations amicably. Brainstorming sessions will be productive for students.

Lucky number: 6 /Lucky colour: Bottle green

Lucky number: 11 / Lucky colour: Yellow

¡¡ Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) Clarity of thought and sharp analytical skills will help you successfully deal with several tasks at one go. You can depend on suggestions from friends to gather more information before investing your hard earned money. Those already in relationships may like to take it to the next level. Avoid imposing the work pressure on the relationships that you value the most. Romance is good and can get better provided you become supportive. Lucky number: 15 / Lucky colour: Forest green

¡¡ Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) Your ability to shoulder odd jobs in a mature way will prove advantageous as you may be entrusted with new responsibilities at work. Don’t let the momentarily tensions in your personal life interfere with your goals. Your effort in the past has not gone unnoticed and now is the time when you will be reaping rewards for it. Make sure you don’t lend or borrow money this week. Romantic relationships might be intense. Your calibre to achieve more and more will add to your sense of well-being. Lucky number: 11 / Lucky colour: Sky blue

Inviting nominations for Kiwi Indian Honours 2017 K IW

I I NDI A

The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for nominations, are as follows: 1.

He/she needs to have an undisputable recognition in his or her field of work. 2. Nominated by a nominator of repute. Further, the nominator has to be in confirmation with the nominee. 3. The nominator has to provide their full contact details. No anonymous applications will be accepted. 4. All fields of work are welcome (e.g. politics, business, sports, art, culture, or any other profession. 5. The definition of Kiwi Indian, for the purposes of this award, is defined as follows: any person of Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin, at least one of the parents of the nominee have to be Indian, by blood, thereby making the nominee of Indian lineage. 6. The nominee must have either a Permanent Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to be eligible for consideration. 7. The nominee should have no prior convictions. 8. For minors, under the age of 18, parental consent will be required. 9. The successful candidate, will be required to attend the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the jury will use its discretion. 10. The juryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision will be final and binding; and cannot be challenged.

Established 2013

The Kiwi Indian Honours recognise those individuals who have built a road to glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on; who have touched the lives of thousands and enriched the society with their being; who have brought fame and respect to New Zealand and the Kiwi-Indian community. The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2017. We also invite nominations for Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the Year and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the Year 2017. Nominate Online: visit www.iwk.nz or www.halloffame.co.nz to nominate Post your nominations: Fill this form and post it to use at the address given below.

ENTRY FORM: Form for nominating candidates for Kiwi Indian Honours 2017

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