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Op Ed 14

Women 18

Diplomacy 21

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION Vol.4 No.13 July 16-22, 2011 60 Cents

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Hindutva antidote to corruption: Subramanian Swamy

Los Angeles: Just like in the movies

'Social Network' business for Bollywood

'Murdoch may lose his media empire'

National Community, Page 7

Travel, Page 15

Ultimate Bollywood, Page 17

International, Page 22

MUMBAI TERRORIZED AGAIN CCTV footage may point to suspects Mumbai: A day after the blasts in three Bombay spots, investigators zeroed in on the footage from CCTVs in those areas. They have identified at least three suspects from footage from a camera near the Khau Galli at Opera House. It showed them moving around in the area for an hour. The three walked about separately and gave no indication of knowing each other but were seen using mobile phones, said an investigator.

This has left security agencies puzzled as their information was that Indian Mujahideen (IM), the prime suspects, had stopped using mobile phones.

Security agencies have been aware of the presence of some IM operatives in Mumbai for the last one

month, the investigator said.

“We know they have spoken to their families and their presence has been registered.” The family members have not been questioned as the intelligence agencies do not want to alert the suspected IM operatives that they

are under surveillance.

Security agencies were also trying to identify the motive for Wednesday’s blasts. They could have been in retaliation for the arrest of 10 IM operatives from Madhya Pradesh and one from Vadodara last Continued on page 4...

PM wants perpetrators caught as terror plot remains mystery

A score of people were killed and many more injured in the three bomb blasts in crowded Mumbai spots at evening rush hour Wednesday.

Mumbai: A day after a terror strike rocked Seventeen people were killed and 130 othMumbai, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ers injured in synchronized blasts that said the perpetrators must be “pursued rocked India’s financial capital, striking the relentlessly” as investigators scrambled for congested areas of Dadar, Zaveri Bazar and clues on a rain-soaked Thursday and a Opera House within minutes of each other Continued on page 4... weary metropolis picked up the pieces.

India plays cautious, says US Lawmakers honor Archarya Lokesh Muni New York: U.S. Reps. Joseph Crowley, Carolyn talks with Pakistan on Maloney and Gregory Meeks spoke at a forum on the New Delhi: Despite the Mumbai blasts, India said Thursday the foreign minister-level talks with Pakistan will take place later this month as it tactfully kept silent on whether the terror strikes were a tactic to derail the revived peace process between the two neighbors.

"There is no change in the scheduled visits of (United States) Secretary of State Clinton or the foreign minister of Pakistan," External

Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters in New Delhi.

India also scrupulously avoided making any insinuation about the involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the attacks, indicating a resolve to continue the re-engagement process it started with Pakistan in the teeth of much domestic opposition.

New Delhi is treading cautiously, Continued on page 4...

global non-violence movement sponsored by USIN Celebrations. Former New York Governor David Paterson, Bill Scarborough & David Weprin, members of the New York State Assembly, and Uma Sengupta, Democratic District Leader for the 25th Assembly District also attended.

Congresswoman Maloney thanked Uma Sengupta and Roger Sen Gupta of USIN Celebrations for organizing the event and said, “Promoting global peace and harmony is a vital goal – and a central part of that effort is promoting peace and harmony in our own homes and Continued on page 4...

Congressman Joseph Crowley speaking at the event organized by USIN Celebrations to honor Lokesh Muni (right).

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July 16-22, 2011

Condemnation for Bombay blasts Terror struck Mumbai again on Wednesday evening when three near simultaneous blasts ripped through crowded areas in the city. Here are some of the important messages from world leaders and Indian American associations expressing outrage at the violent acts, condolence for the victims and support for India.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the serial bomb blasts that rocked India's financial hub of Mumbai, killing at least 21 people and injuring over 100.

"The Secretary General (Ban) condemns the attacks that have killed and injured many in Mumbai," said a statement from his office. "No cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate violence against civilians. The Secretary General expresses his solidarity with the Government and people of India, and extends his sincere condolences to the fami-

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lies of the victims," it added.

The members of the UN Security Council also reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

They reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

President Obama I strongly condemn the outrageous attacks in Mumbai, and my thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and those who have lost loved ones.

The U.S. government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizens. India is a close friend and partner of the

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From other Indian American associations

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton We condemn these despicable acts of violence designed to provoke fear and division. Those who perpetrated them must know they cannot succeed. The Indian people have suffered from acts of terrorism before, and we have seen them respond with courage and resilience. We are continuing to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of American citizens. Our

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hearts are with the victims and their families, and we have reached out to the Indian Government to express our condolence and offer support.

“I will be traveling to India next week as planned. I believe it is more important than ever that we stand with India, deepen our partnership, and reaffirm our commitment to the shared struggle against terrorism.”

Indian National Overseas Congress, USA he Indian National Overseas Congress, USA (INOC) strongly condemns the simultaneous bomb blasts in Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar West in Mumbai that has left at least 21 people dead and scores injured. 'These are heartless acts of terrorism that need to be dealt firmly,' said George Abraham, SecretaryGeneral of the INOC. There can be no justification for these cowardly acts. We urge the State and Central Governments to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, he added.

'Terrorism and extremism in all forms and manifestations need to be eradicated,’ said

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Dr. Surinder Malhotra, President of INOC. This attack in Mumbai is also an attack on the pluralistic fabric of India and is apparently meant to disrupt the progress that the country is making in the global arena. These anti-national elements will never succeed in their nefarious designs', he added.

Shudh Prakash Singh, Vice-President of the INOC requested the people in India to stay calm and maintain order and not to play into the hands of these terrorists who would like to see the political stability and the economic growth India is currently enjoying thwarted. 'Our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and those who are injured', he added.

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin As physicians who are taught and trained to preserve life, it is unthinkable to see the actions of those who have been trained to destroy innocent lives,” said newly elected AAPI president Dr. Sunita Kanumury. “We grieve for those lost to this senseless violence and express our sincerest condolences to their families.

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“We condemn in the strongest terms possible these attacks and call on the U.S. government to assist the Indian government in this investigation. If the suspects are traced back to Pakistan, it is time for our government to take the appropriate actions to ensure we cut off the source of terrorism emanating from Pakistan once and for all.”

United States. The American people will stand with the Indian people in times of trial and we will offer support to India’s efforts to bring the perpetrators of these terrible crimes to justice.

During my trip to Mumbai, I saw firsthand the strength and resilience of the Indian people and I have no doubt that the India will overcome these deplorable terrorist attacks.”

ndian American Conservative Council (IACC) chairman Dino Teppara said, "Our State Department and intelligence services should assist our ally India in this time of need. If the training and planning for this latest attack came from Pakistan, it is time for America to issue an ultimatum to Pakistan--either cease ties to terrorism or face the consequences."

The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) chairman Sanjay Puri said, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of the Mumbai serial blasts and hope that the perpetrators are swiftly

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apprehended. We also salute the resilience of Indians in the face of such repeatedly attacks on Indian soil."

The Non Resident Indians for Secular & Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI) said, “We ask the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra to investigate the crime, arrest these cold blooded murderers and punish them to the fullest intent of the law.”

Atlanta-based US Hindu Alliance appealed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to immediately designate the Indian Mujahideen as a "foreign terrorist organization".

The Indian American Muslim Council he Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Three blasts in Dadar, Zaveri Bazar and Opera House, all densely populated areas of Mumbai, have been confirmed as terror attacks during rush hour in the metropolitan city. IAMC calls upon people of all faiths to come together to condemn this horrific violence against civil society, and cooperate with law enforcement in bringing to justice the culprits of this evil act.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the survivors in this difficult hour", said Shaheen Khateeb, President, IAMC. "This cold-blooded killing of innocent people, appears to be aimed at

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stoking sectarian tensions in a city known for its cosmopolitan outlook", added Mr. Khateeb.

IAMC calls upon the Home Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the blasts, and ensure that the culprits as well as those that inspired them are exposed and brought to justice. IAMC also calls upon everyone to refrain from a rush to judgment until the results of the investigation are known.

Several bomb blasts in recent years, led to innocent youth from a specific community being thrown into prison, and still struggling to secure justice, even after the real masterminds confessed. Once the culprits of the Mumbai blasts are identified based on evidence, IAMC calls for their prosecution to the full extent of the law.

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India plays cautious Story Continued from page 1 refraining from making any hasty conclusions about who could be behind Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Mumbai.

“I do agree that the Indo-Pak talks will be held July 26. We are not ruling out any angle.

We will probe every angle,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in Mumbai to queries whether the blasts were an attempt to derail the India-Pakistan talks.

“India has made it clear time and again, an atmosphere free of violence is a necessity for talking the bilateral ties forward. That is the general position,” he said, adding that India was living in the “most troubled neighborhood” as Pakistan and Afghanistan are the "epicenter" of terrorism.

Both Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have condemned the blasts in Mumbai.

Early this week, Pakistan's foreign office said Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is widely tipped to be the next foreign minister, will be coming to New

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Delhi for the talks.

The blasts also took place a few days before Clinton comes to India Monday for the second India-US strategic dialogue July 19-20.

After restarting their peace process in February this year, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan held talks in Islamabad last month and agreed on some cross-Kashmir and nuclear confidence-building measures to bridge post-26/11 trust deficit.

Archarya Lokesh Muni Story Continued from page 1 communities. Unfortunately, assault and domestic violence are life-threatening, pervasive crimes that affect millions across this coun-

try regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, or religion. I have been advocating on behalf of women and children victims of abuse here in the US and across the world. The federal government has taken great strides toward providing essential services to these victims and made significant progress towards breaking the cycle of violence in so many homes throughout our country. I will continue to fight to keep these essential programs and funding in place.”

Gov. Paterson said, "In a lifetime spent in public service one of my main focuses was to try and close the disparity gap for women and minority owned businesses. We were able to achieve this goal because we recognized that an all inclusive philosophy was not only critical for New York State's financial recovery but, more importantly, the very basis of our responsibility to fight for fairness and equality for all."

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer said, "Stopping violence, whether in our city's streets or conflict zones around the world, requires smart, ongoing dialogue. There are many esteemed guests at this forum representing a wealth of experience and back-

grounds. Our diversity is our strength, and we must make full use of it to turn words into action."

Acharya Lokesh Muni was the Guest of Honor--he was also honored by a NYC City Council proclamation. A brilliant speaker and successful writer, now for two decades he has been at the forefront of the crusade to spread the global message of non-violence throughout the USA, Europe, and Asia.

The event host USIN Celebrations (www.usincelebrations.org) is a community organization co-founded by Uma Sengupta and Roger Sen Gupta. It provides educational services, supports the arts and creates awareness for and about the South Asian American Community.

Several of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s top civic leaders as well as cultural, diplomatic and political figures were in attendance at the event. They included NJ Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, Chairman of The Global Partnerships Forum Amir Dossal, Bawa Jain, Renee Lobo and attorney Ravi Batra.

PM wants perpetrators Story Continued from page 1 Wednesday evening — but a day after, there was no breakthrough on who was behind it.

Manmohan Singh, who visited the metropolis Thursday evening with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and visited some of the injured in J.J. Hospital, condemned the “barbaric” bomb blasts, promising “the government will do everything in its power to prevent such attacks in future”.

He said the government was coordinating “efforts and resources to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators… (who) have sought to subvert”.

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Rakesh Maria vowed that they would “ensure no matter wherever the accused are, we will identify them and bring them to book”.

Officials refused to name any particular group suspected to be behind the blasts for which there has so far been no claim of responsibility. But they said they were looking at “all angles” to identify the perpetrators.

Resigned, outraged or simply stoic, Mumbaikars rallied around to battle the crisis, 31 months after the Nov 26-29, 2008 terror assault, India’s worst. They waited outside

morgues to claim the bodies of their kin, lined up at hospitals or packed into trains and buses to go about their daily work.

“I am a Mumbaikar and we shall not be scared by these terror attacks. Like me, lakhs of co-commuters are in the trains, buses and roads. It actually helps give strength to each other,” Archana Shukla said as she went to work. In Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai’s most popular address for jewelry that Wednesday saw its third terror strike, merchants were shocked. But they firmly said they were staying put.

Various agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG), the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Mumbai Police, are now involved in the probe.

As the investigators were searching for clues, the only thing that was sure was union Home Secretary R.K. Singh saying the ammonium nitrate-based IEDs were “not crude” but indicated “some level of sophistication”.

A top doctor at one of the hospitals where the bodies of the dead were taken for a postmortem examination said an electric circuit, that may have triggered the blast, was found on one of them, leading to speculation that it may

have been a suicide bomber at work.

Sources said traces of ammonium nitrate, also confirmed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, and fuel had been found in the explosives.

“Ammonium nitrate was used with a timer.

The fact that they all took place within minutes of each other — eight-to-10 minutes — shows that it was a coordinated terror attack,” Chidambaram said.

Hours after visiting the terror sites, Chidambaram said 131 people had been taken to 13 hospitals with injuries. He said one severed head was also found at the site that could take the death toll to 18.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he admitted there was no prior intelligence input.

Quick to seize the initiative, BJP leader L.K. Advani pointed the needle of suspicion towards Pakistan. “It is a policy failure, not intelligence failure. There have been repeated attacks on Mumbai,” Advani told reporters during his trip to the city.

Advani quoted reports of a probable link between the blast and the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and said even if it were behind the attack it was being sustained by Pakistan.

CCTV footage Story Continued from page 1 month or a diversionary tactic to draw investigators away, the officer said.

IM is a home grown radical Muslim group which has hit Indian cities before and has been linked in the past to Pakistan's banned Lashkare-Taiba.

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July 16-22, 2011

Indian diamond traders sign a historic pact with Diamond Dealers Club of NY New York, NY: The Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDC) and the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association of New York (IDCA) has entered into an agreement that allows members of each organization to become members of the other.

The DDC has been the world’s premier diamond exchange since 1931 and has over 1,800 Members.

The IDCA, founded in 1984, represents 200 Indian-American businesses in the gem and jewelry industry.

The DDC leadership included Mr. Moshe Mosbacher, President, and Mr. Louis J. Rohde, Director of Member Services.

Sushil Goyal, President and Ash

Sushil Goyal, President, IDCA (right) with Moshe Mosbacher, President, DDC Chalisa, Office Manager, represented the IDCA. “This is our vision for the New

DDC,” said Mosbacher. “The Indian community has been tremendously successful in our industry. For too long, that has made non-Indian businesses feel challenged. We want to change that. All communities in our industry should cooperate as a single family. Unity will strengthen and improve all our opportunities – and not only for us, but for the generations who follow us.”

“We’re very enthusiastic about this new partnership,” said Goyal.

“Our members have long been asking for the kind of benefits that our two organizations are now putting together. We feel that our collective strength will help us negotiate ever more streamlined costs and better returns for our industry.”

Rutgers Professor led supercomputing team wins top prize New Jersey: Manish Parashar, professor of electrical and Mcomputer engineering at Rutgers University was part of a team that recently demonstrated a better way to solve research problems or industrial tasks.

Taking up a real-world problem, the group, which included experts from IBM and the University of Texas at Austin, created a massive virtual supercomputer cloud capable of solving the toughest computing tasks, according to a July 6 article in Rutgers Today. The team won first place at an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) competition held in May, known as the IEEE SCALE 2011 Challenge.

The challenge was to demonstrate scalable computing which would allow a machine to be ramped up if more supercomputing power was needed and then draw down that power as the task got less complicated. "We demonstrated how to build ‘federated clouds,' " Parashar told Rutgers Today.

A "federated cloud" is used to describe the mixing of multiple computing resources and control- ling the input of resources up or down according to need.

"Our goal is to make these federated, high-performance computing clouds more useful to industry," he is quoted as saying.

Parashar runs the Center for Autonomic Computing (CAC) which is funded by the National Science Foundation.

The project that he worked on with other experts was how to extract as much oil as possible from an oil field, using the processing power of their "federated cloud" to build a graphic representation of the properties of the rocks in an oil field.

The graph showed where there could be higher or lower oil flow.

Indian American leaders support de Blasio as next NYC Mayor New York, NY: Bill de Blasio, New York City public advocate and the secondhighest elected official of New York City celebrated his 50th birthday in the company of a select group of IndianAmerican leaders, professionals and business tycoons at Devi restaurant in Manhattan.

Those present included Dr. Navin Mehta, Sudhir Vaishnav of Sahara Television Network, Eric Kumar, Shudh Jasuja, National Vice President of INOC, Phuman Singh, President Punjab wing New York, to name a few.

“Mr. de Blasio is a dynamic leader. He is a friend of India and the Indian Americans”, said Dr. Mehta in his opening remarks, “He will be our next Mayor of New York City and he has proved himself with his great contribution to the City of New York that he deserves to be in the Mayor's office next.”

Mr. de Blasio , who served as campaign manager of Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign, delved upon India-US relationship and commented that both countries are natural allies.

Indian community members with Bill de Blasio Mr. de Blasio has a track record of confronting the New York City administration in favor of helping and protecting the interests of common man.

He was inaugurated as the Public Advocate one and a half year ago. Bill de Blasio defeated Republican Alex Zablocki with a margin of 77% votes in the general election held in November 2009.

He was endorsed by the New York Times in the primary of Public Advocate, a position as important as this in the city government.

Jagannath Rath yatra organized by the Mahatma Gandhi center at the Wayne Hindu Temple had almost 500 devotees across the city and nearby towns actively participating.Seen here devotees at the Wayne temple. (inset) Idols of deities.

US Hindus to donate blood on 9/11 anniversary Washington, DC: Hindus in the US plan to donate blood to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this year. The Hindu Mandirs Executive Conference (HMEC), an apex body of about 600 temples in the US, has appealed to the Hindus who form majority of the approximately three million Indian-Americans in the US to join the effort. The initiative is expected to benefit patients of Asian descent who require a closer blood match than that provided by ABO positive/negative blood typing.The HMEC, which is coordinating the initiative with agencies such as the

American Red Cross, said it is extremely important to increase the number of available blood donors from the Asian communities.

This is for the first time that such an event will be held at temples across North America, the organisers said. Just five percent of the total eligible population in the US gives blood, however less than one percent of the Asian community donates blood, HMEC said in a statement Friday. The HMEC, an initiative of Vishwa Hindu Parishad America, seeks to promote the Hindu religion in North America.

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'Indo-US relations continue Major exhibition on Vishnu to deepen' at Brooklyn Museum Washington, DC: Indian ambassador to the US Meera Shankar talked to Yashwant Raj as US secretary of state Hillary Clinton goes to India for the annual strategic dialogue on July 18.

On the current of state of bilateral relations: We continue to deepen our relationship with the US across a very broad spectrum — political, strategic and economic. The visit of secretary Clinton to India for the strategic dialogue will be an opportunity to review the considerable progress that we have made since President Obama’s historic visit last November, explore new initiatives and chart out the course for the future and also exchange views on the situation in our neighborhood and beyond.

On whether there are likely to be any fresh initiative: We are working on several initiatives, including in the areas of civil aviation, energy and investment which will provide new avenues for cooperation.

On the role of defense purchases in the strategic relationship: Our defence relationship is an important component of overall strategic relationship. We have purchased

Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar about US $8 billion worth defence equipment from US in recent years. As Indian modernizes its armed forces, there will be more such opportunities.

On India’s apprehensions about the drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan: We both want Afghanistan to develop as a secure, stable, independent, prosperous and democratic state. Even as the US proceeds with its drawdown, it would need to be ensured that this overall objective is achieved. We hope to have a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan and also how we could work together for achieving a future of peace and stability.

‘Indian government a bunch of softies’ Washington: While expressing shock over the Mumbai bomb attacks, many Indian Americans have taken the Indian government to task for its failure to stop the repeated terror attacks on the country’s financial capital.

“Our government is a bunch of softies. They didn’t learn from the 2008 attacks. These politicians are bothered about winning elections and not interested in protecting people from terrorism.

I am afraid these attacks will keep happening,” said Chicago-based IITian and businessman Ray Mehra.

New York-based software architect Manas said, “The government does not care about these blasts

or how many people lost their lives. Ministers are only concerned about getting into power. Find those behind these terrorist acts and hang them to death.”

Ashok Singh, management consultant with Strong-Bridge LLC in Seattle, said the fresh terror attacks on Mumbai clearly indicate the lack of resolve by the Indian government to tackle terrorists head on. “People are not just the victim of terrorism but also the victim of apathy and weakness of the Indian government. I believe India has the resources to create a deterrent against the evil designs of terrorists but not sure what the government is waiting on to wake them up,” he said.

Jain saint Acharya Lokesh Muni of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, New Delhi, who is touring USA for international Peace & Harmony mission, was honored by many officials at a reception organized

by Uma Sengupta of US in Celebrations at Bombay Palace, New York.Seen in the photo are Acharya Lokesh Muni with former Governor of New York David Patterson and several dignitaries and organizers of the Peace & Interfaith Conference.

New York: ‘Vishnu: avatars reveal the multipliciHinduism’s Blue-Skinned ty of ways that one can enviSavior’ - a major exhibition sion and interact with the to focus on Vishnu, one of divine.

Hinduism’s three major The first section of the deities will be on at the exhibition introduces Vishnu Brooklyn Museum till in his primary form, with October 2. Presenting subsections dedicated to his approximately 170 paintattributes, his consorts and ings, sculptures, and ritual his legends. The second secobjects that were made in tion examines his avatars, as India between the fourth and a group and then individualtwentieth centuries, this ly. The avatars that are more exhibition serves as a brief frequently celebrated in art survey of Hindu art styles as are fully represented in the well as an examination of exhibition, with substantial the Vaishnava (Vishnu-worsubsections dedicated to shiping) tradition.

Rama and Krishna. The third Known as Hinduism’s section shows some of the gentle god, Vishnu is easily ‘Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned ways in which Vishnu has Savior’ will run through Oct 2 recognized in paintings by been worshiped, with his blue skin. While he is an interesting figure images of temples and ritual objects. The exhiin his primary form, the complexity of Vishnu's bition has been organized by the Frist Center character becomes clear when he assumes new for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tennessee, and forms, known as avatars, in order to save the curated by Joan Cummins, Lisa and Bernard earth from various dangers. Vishnu’s ten Selz Curator of Asian Art, Brooklyn Museum.

NJ’s Kean University to launch courses in Hindi and Indian culture Union, NJ: Encouraged by the success of its Summer Hindi program for the second year in a row, New Jersey’s Kean University, known for producing largest number of teachers in the state, plans to expand its language programs to include semester long courses in Hindi and Indian culture.

This was indicated by Dr. Dawood Farahi, President of the University at the Valedictory event of recently concluded STARTALK Hindi Student Program. Dr. Farahi, who along with other educational leaders of the university and prominent members of local Indian American community presented completion certificates to 18 Hindi learners. Downs Hall of Kean University was decorated with colorful flags and a variety of posters of Indian monuments, religious places, landscapes and national leaders made by students as part of class activities. About two hundred men, women and children including parents and friends of program participants attended the event. Kean STARTALK student program began on

June 20 and ended on July 9. The Valedictory event was held on the concluding day when students showcased their Hindi language skills.

Paying rich tributes to ‘one of the oldest civilization of the earth that lies south of the Himalayas’, Dr. Farahi said that it made sense to educate young Americans about the culture that offered remarkable knowledge and wisdom to the rest of the world for more than 3000 years.

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July 16-22, 2011

Dr. Swamy proposes Hindutva as antidote to corruption Eminent speakers elaborated on the need and ways to protect and promote Hinduism, even as the Hindu Temple Society of North America and Indian American Intellectuals Forum honored three at the 16th Hindu Unity Day organized at Ganesh temple auditorium on July 10.

By Parveen Chopra Flushing, NY: The Hindu Temple Society of North America and Indian American Intellectuals Forum, in cooperation with several temples and Hindu organizations celebrated 16th Annual Hindu Unity Day (Hindu Sangathan Divas) on July 10 at the Ganesh temple auditorium.

Dr Uma Mysorekar, President of The Hindu Temple Society of North America, in her welcome remarks, emphasized the importance of temples in preserving Hinduism.

The same message was elaborated upon by two subsequent speakers. Mahamandleshwar Swami Harish Chander Puri Maharaj, founder of the Shiv Shakti Peeth in New York, said in unity is strength and if you protect dharma, dharma will protect you.

The topic of speech of Kamal Kumar Swami, founder of Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samiti in Andhra Pradesh, was precisely ‘Preserve Hindu Temples to Preserve Hindu Civilization’. He reported on the sad, inert state of thousands of Hindu temples in his state, for which he blamed both the government and Hindu society. He said that if Hindu temples become active, conversions will stop.

The Keynote Speaker at the event was Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa).

Author of several books and a scholar on Hinduism, he argued that Hindus should shed apathy because these days the warfare is on the intellectual plane. Whether they are in India or in the US, Hindus have to act united to protect, defend and promote Sanatana Dharma, “which is the last bastion of spirituality, is not moralistic ethics, and in fact is the last hope for true world peace.”

On the occasion, three persons were honored--Professor Indrajit S. Saluja, Publisher and Editor of The Indian Panorama newspaper, New York; Swami Harish Chander Puri, and Ramesh Kalicharan, International Coordinator of Indo-Caribbean Council and founder of USA Pandit Parishad.

In his acceptance speech, Prof Saluja announced the forthcoming launch of a Hindi paper named ‘Hum Hindustani’ next month.

The star speaker of the evening was Dr. Subramanian Swamy, former Indian minister, President of Janata Party, and PhD economics from Harvard. His topical topic was

The Keynote Speaker, Stephen Knapp, a scholar on Hinduism, spoke on ‘The Power of a United Hindu Community’.

(from left) Arish Sahani, Swami Harish Chander Puri, Stephen Knapp , Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja, Acharya Lokesh Muni, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Sri Kamal Kumar Swami, Ramesh Kalicharan, and Narain Kataria at the 16th Hindu Unity Day celebrations.

‘Corruption is the Disease and Hindutva is Jain Muni Acharya Lokesh, founder of the Cure’. He argued for a long term plan to Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati in Delhi, who was in reach goals in place of knee-jerk reactions to town, made it a point to grace the event and proactively protect Hinduism and Bharat briefly address the audience.

Varsh (India). Giving the example of USA, The evening’s program was paced with he said the Indian community can become patriotic songs rendered by Vishal Khera and formidable if they work together shedding Dinesh Kumar Prabhakar, and dances peregos. “Not the messenger, but the message is formed by the students of Nartan Rang important”, he said.

Dance Academy.

Swamy also gave the new slogan, “No The program over, made successful mainly Hindu left behind”, meaning that everybody by their tireless work, Indian American should feel they have a place in India and in Intellectuals Forum’s Narain Kataria and the Unified Global Vedic Community. He Arish Sahani posed for pictures with the attributed democracy and secularism in India honorees and the speakers. to those inherent qualities in Hinduism.

While pointing to the pernicious effects of humongous scale of corruption in India, Swamy professed that society must value other things than money to change things around. One way to bring back values, he said, is to learn Sanskrti, which because of its vibrations, changes the system.

Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja, Publisher and Editor of The Indian Panorama, being honored at the Hindu Unity Day event.

(Photo: Mukesh Gangani/shaktifilm.com)

Jain Muni Acharya Lokesh also graced the occasion.

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, stormy petrel of Indian politics, chose for his speech, the topic ‘Corruption is the Disease and Hindutva is the Cure’.

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July 16-22, 2011

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Anant Agarwal named director of MIT’s Computer Science Lab Boston: Anant Agarwal, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, has been named the next director of the university’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

Agarwal succeeds Victor Zue, who served four years as CSAIL’s director.

Agarwal’s appointment is effective July 1.

CSAIL is MIT’s largest interdepartmental laboratory, with 900 members and more than 100 principal investigators coming from eight departments.

School of Engineering dean Ian Waitz, in a letter to the CSAIL community, looked forward to Agarwal’s “vision and enthusiasm as he takes on this important leadership

Anant Agarwal role.”

Agarwal is currently the leader of the Carbon Research Group at CSAIL, which is dedicated to researching and developing operating systems and architectures for multicore and cloud computing.

Currently, the Indian American leads Project Angstrom, a multidisciplinary research endeavor uniting scientists from top universities and industry

collaborators in an effort to develop a new multicore system and computational model for exascale computing. Agarwal is a founder and chief technology officer of Tilera Corporation, where the Tile multicore processor was created.

Additionally, he led the development of Raw, an early 16-core tiled multicore processor; Alewife, a scalable multiprocessor; and the VirtualWires project at MIT. Agarwal founded Virtual Machine Works, which was responsible for bringing VirtualWires technology to market.

Agarwal received his doctorate from Stanford University and his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras.

Raj Shah receives Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Washington, DC: USAID Administrator Raj Shah, who is the highest ranking IndianAmerican official in the Obama Administration, has received the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award from the President and the Government of India," Shah said after receiving the award from Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar at a function held at her residence.

"I am really proud to be a member of the Indian American community. Indian Americans have contributed to all walks of life in the United States and have a deep and passionate commitment to service and serving the people in India where our families came from," Shah said.

"This is a very special honor," he said.

Shah, who was in India last November with US President Barack Obama during his historic trip to Mumbai and New Delhi, said he will be back in India very soon.

He said the aid agency has launched a series of new partnership that Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced during the November visit.

"That our real peer to peer technical and sci-

USAID Administrator Raj Shah entific partnerships between the governments and the institutes and the private sector in India and their counterpart in the United States. We did that in open government. We have done that in health and human welfare and we have done that in agriculture," he said.

"In all areas we work with Indian institutions as peers, partners that are developing new technologies and are really trying to bring solutions both to people in India and to people around the world. We think that is the right way to think about our partnership," Shah said.

Hillary Clinton praises Indian-American community's role Washington, DC: Highly praising the significant role of the Indian-American community in strengthening the ties between the two countries, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the Indian Diaspora would help Washington and New Delhi to write the next chapter of relationship between the two great democracies of the world.

"Indian-American has contributed so much to the fabric of our society. We know that you are scholars and business leaders, politicians and artists, musicians, academics, physicians, lawyers and so much more and you have helped to cement the bonds between India and the US," Clinton said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is leading high powered delegation to New Delhi next week "You and I, the Diaspora com- chapter of the US-India partnermunity, would help write the next ship," she said in a video message

Indian American shot dead on way from work Indiana: An Indian American man was shot dead by unknown assailants at Indiana in the US while he was on his way back from work, his family said on Wednesday.

Deepak Sharma, 31, migrated to the US around two years ago and worked at a shopping mall. He was killed Monday while he was returning from work.

"Indiana police officers called us yesterday and gave us the news.

They said that their investigation was on and

so far nobody has been arrested," Pardeep, Deepak's younger brother, said.

"We also confirmed this from Deepak's employer," he said."I have also talked to some of his colleagues.

They suspect he was killed for money," he added.

"We have appealed to the Indian government and the Indian consulate in the US to help us in bringing back his body," said Shravan, Deepak's father from Kurukshetra.

yesterday to a conference on Indo-US relationship organized jointly by the East West Center and the India US World Affairs ahead of the second Indo-US Strategic Dialogue to be held in New Delhi next week.

Clinton is leading a high-powered US delegation for the talks in India.

"Next week, I will be in New Delhi for the second US India Strategic Dialogue where we will discuss new ways to advance our goals on a variety of important issues.

We are working together to create economic opportunities for people, to fight terrorism and violent extremism, to stop the spread of nuclear weapons," she said.

Indian teenager missing in Los Angeles Washington, DC: A 15-year-old Indian boy on a visit to Los Angeles as part of an educational tour has gone missing last week. Lovedeep Singh was last seen on the morning of June 23 and authorities are seeking the public's assistance in finding the boy. Authorities said that while the circumstances surrounding Singh's disappearance are unclear, "there is currently no evidence of foul play".

"As each day passes, our concern heightens," said Darnell Davenport, commanding officer of detectives in the Police Department's Southwest Division.

Davenport said that his department was concerned that Singh, who has a substantial amount of money in his

pocket, "befriended someone over the Internet and maybe they came and picked him up".

"He doesn't really speak English.

Where would he go? Who would he communicate with? Where would he stay every night? He is 15 years old," Davenport added.

The Los Angeles Police Department said that Singh speaks Hindi and "knows limited English," the Los Angeles Times reported.

Singh and his 10-year-old brother were part of a group of about 30 people who had arrived from India for an educational trip that was to include tourist spots in California.

It was Singh's first visit to Los Angeles and he is not familiar with the area, authorities said. Five LA

"We are addressing climate change and giving more people and nations a pathway out of poverty.

But we know the governments alone can't solve all of today's problems.

That's why we need your ideas and we need your energy and you commitment to help us meet some of the most complicated and pressing challenges of our time," said.

Clinton thanked the IndianAmerican community to help and bring the two great nations, the two great democracies even closer together and for contributing in their own ways to a brighter future for the people of the US and India.

detectives flew to San Francisco to interview members of Singh's tour group at the Indian Consulate.

Releasing details of Singh's height and weight, authorities said the teenager was carrying a red back pack and wearing a grey shirt and pants when he went missing.

Singh was taking photographs in front of a hotel across the street from the University of Southern California when he vanished.

Singh apparently remained outside when the rest of the group went into the hotel.

An hour later, when the group leaders took a head count, they discovered they were "one body short."

Police said that it was difficult to question other members of the tour group since they knew limited English.

The group later continued its trip to San Francisco and were scheduled to fly back to India on Friday.

National TheSouthAsianTimes.info

9

July 16-22, 2011

South Asian attorneys reach for the stars at 8th annual NASABA Convention California: More than four hundred attorneys of South Asian descent gathered at the 2011 North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) Convention at the JW Marriott at LA Live. The South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Southern California co-hosted the convention, which ran from June 23-26, 2011 and was themed “Reaching for the Stars.” Living up to that promise, the convention featured headliners like Rich Verma, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The latter urged attendees to fight for positive change in their communities and reminded attendees that law is about doing justice and, for the current generation of South Asian legal pioneers, the role of the first is to hold the door open for the rest.

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Rich Verma was conferred Pioneer Award The first panel of the convention was a discussion of Arizona’s immigration law, SB1070.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, the former Minuteman, explained why proponents of that and similar laws believe they are essential to protecting the US and its citizens.

Other panelists, including Anjali

Sam Pitroda’s daughter turns author Rajal Pitroda’s first book ‘Starstruck’ released in India

Bookcover of ‘Starstruck’. Rajal Pitroda (inset) New York: Technocrat Sam Pitroda’s daughter, Rajal’s first book 'Starstruck' was released by the famous film maker Shekar Kapur at an event in New Delhi.

The story revolves around Sapna, the protagonist, who is trapped between Mumbai's cultures of Bollywood and underworld. The book is inspired by Rajal's experience with Bollywood during her film marketing business in Mumbai. Sapna reveals in her journey that Mumbai is not

Bollywood but something beyond that. The book is a combination of both Bollywood masti and mystery. A small book release was also held in Gujarat by Rajal's friends.

Rajal has been one of the key figures in CII's (Confederation of Indian Industry ) efforts to market and push forward India's entertainment industry . In 2006, Rajal moved to Los Angeles and started a company to market and distribute independent feature films and documentaries. This is her first novel.

Abraham, the Public Policy Director of the Arizona ACLU, explained why they believed that not only are such laws unnecessary but also possibly unconstitutional.

Other panels featured speakers giving tips on setting up legal process outsourcing programs in corporate legal departments, explaining legal

issues relating to inbound and outbound foreign direct investment in both South Asia and the US, hanging out your own shingle and wage and hour classification of employees.

The always popular NASABA Idol mock trial event featured a fact pattern based on California’s medical marijuana law. Prosecutors and defense attorneys wrangled over legal issues and corralled witnesses, including Guru Singh, star of TV’s Outsourced. In the mock trial, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Upinder Kalra presided and issued rulings based on the lawyers’ arguments.

Speaking of judges, two United States Magistrate Judges and an Illinois State Court judge gave attendees an inside look at the judiciary and the judicial selection process.

NASABA officially kicked off two mentorship programs at the

Convention. The first, geared towards junior lawyers and law students, the second, matches midlevel attorneys (with at least five years of experience) with partners, experienced in-house counsel and judges for career coaching.

In keeping with the locale, Sonal Shah, who played the unforgettable role of Dr. Sunny Dey in the hit TV series Scrubs, hosted this year’s Gala. Rich Verma, who is now with Steptoe & Johnson LLP’s International, National and Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs and Public Policy groups, gave the keynote address.

He reminded attendees to use their positions as lawyers to make a difference in the life of someone else through community service, mentorship, advocacy and professional development. NASABA also awarded Mr. Verma its Pioneer Award.

Julia Roberts took up ‘Evil Queen’ role to work with Tarsem Singh New York: Oscar-winner Julia Roberts says she took up the role of 'Evil Queen' in the modern adaptation of 'Snow White' because she wanted to work with Indian-American filmmaker Tarsem Singh.

Roberts, who is mostly known for her rom-coms, is looking forward to the new adaptation of the famous Brothers Grimms fairytale by Tarsem, who is known for directing movies like 'The Cell', 'The Fall' and 'Immortals.'

"This really comes more out of my interest and desire to be on board with Tarsem, who I think is brilliant. His idea of cinema is just on another planet, so his take on a fairytale is super-fascinating," said Roberts in a media interview.

Tarsem, who grew up in India, had recently said that Roberts will make the most lovable evil queen and the star too is waiting to see how the role turns out to be.

Julia Robets to play ‘Evil Queen’ in Snowwhite "...the sets, the story... it's incredible. His version of the Evil Queen is just going to be so fun," said Roberts, who has become a practicing Hindu after her visits to India.

India hands over $ 200,000 check for Bolivia flood relief United Nations: India has condoled the loss of lives and property suffered and expressed solidarity with the people of Bolivia in the wake of the recent floods. The Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri met

Ambassador Rafeal Archondo, C h a rg e d ’ A ff a i r e s o f t h e Permanent Mission of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and conveyed, on behalf of the Government and people of India, their solidarity with the friendly people of Bolivia.

A modest contribution of US$

200,000/- was also made by the Government of India for relief work in Bolivia. The transfer of this amount was completed when the Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri handed over the necessary documentation in New Yo r k t o A m b a s s a d o r R a f e a l Archondo.

10

Diaspora

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Goa University to have chair on Indian diaspora studies Panaji: The Human Resource development (HRD) ministry of India has decided to set up a chair on Indian diaspora studies at the Goa University, Goa’s commissioner for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) affairs Eduardo Faleiro said Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters here, Faleiro said HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has agreed to establish a chair on the diaspora community at the state university in Goa, a state which has a history of emi-

gration.

The chair on diaspora studies will deal with the questions and issues regarding the Indian diaspora (Goan diaspora included) in academic depth and in a comparative context, he said.

It will also study migration in other countries, he added.

He said a part payment has already been made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the GU towards the creation of the chair. ‘The study on

migration in all its diverse aspects is one of the most fascinating areas of research. A very large number of universities abroad have this facility,’ Faleiro said, adding that the GU is the first in India to establish a chair on the diaspora studies.

Incidentally, Goa is the second state in India after Kerala to conduct a survey on out-migration of its working population to other countries for employment, primarily in the Gulf region.

Gadkari to address OFBJP members in London New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nitin Gadkari will address the first convention of the Overseas Friends of BJP in London July 16 as well as several business meets during his six-day trip to Britain, a party statement said Sunday.

At his speech at the convention, Gadkari will focus on the fast deteriorating security scenario in South Asia with special emphasis on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India.

During his visit beginning July 15, Gadkari will be talking about India-British economic cooperation in various fields during his meeting with business leaders, an interaction with members of Indo-European Business Forum and at a luncheon by the London Chamber of Commerce.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Trade and Investment with India and the Commonwealth Business Forum have also organized a business meeting with Indian and British industrialists where Gadkari will invite Indo-British collaborations in the

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadakari BJP-ruled states in areas of mutual interest.

The BJP president will also discuss relations between the two countries at a meeting with the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group and other British leaders.

Gadkari is scheduled to address a gathering of the Telangana Development Forum, Britain, besides visiting the Southall Gurudwara and Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden.

Sops for diaspora in Kerala budget Thiruvananthapuram: The first budget presented by the Congress-led United Democratic Front has sops for the Kerala diaspora by way of a rehabilitation scheme, a legal aid cell and a 24-hour helpline. A new center will also be set up to improve the skill sets of those who want to go abroad for a job.

According to a study done by the Centre for Development Studies on the diaspora, there are more than two million Keralites working abroad, of whom around 90 percent are in the Middle-East.

The budget, presented by

Finance Minister K.M. Mani Friday, was his ninth.

‘The Norka department will come out with an elaborate program for the rehabilitation of those people who have returned from abroad on account of internal issues in some countries,’ said Mani.

According to the CDS study, the number of returnees from the Middle East has crossed one million in the last one decade.

‘For the first time, we will set up a legal aid cell for the benefit of the diaspora. There will be a round-the-clock helpline where a business center

will function to clear the doubts of those interested in investing in the state.

Through this center complaints also can be registered,’ said Mani.

Another new initiative is the setting up of an Overseas Employment Skill Testing Center.

‘This would be to improve the skill sets of those who are already employed in the Middle East and also those intending to go abroad.

A certificate that would have due recognition would be given to those who undergo the training,’ added Mani.

Punjab's runaway NRI grooms lose passports Jalandhar: NRI grooms who believe 'holiday marriages' are an easy way to make some money can think again. In just two months, the regional passport office (RPO) here has confiscated the passports of 48 men who married, allegedly got dowry, dumped their wives and attempted to flee the country.

In Punjab's Doaba area, an NRI groom is a prize catch. But many women have had a bitter experience.

There have been numerous instances of men settled abroad coming back to marry and abandoning their wives after taking away their money and valuables.

To stem this exploitation, the RPO, which functions under the Ministry of External Afairs, initiated a women's grievance cell in February.

'We have established a 'women's grievance cell' to hear complaints from women who have been duped by their NRI husbands. So far, we have confiscated 48 passports of errant husbands by invoking a legal provision of the Passport Act, 1967,' says Parneet Singh, the passport officer of the Jalandhar RPO. The complainant has to submit the marriage certificate, copy of the First Information Report (FIR) filed with the police and documents detailing husband's name, date of birth and address.

'Over 100 complaints are still under our scrutiny and we would soon take appropriate action,' the official said.

Once the complaint is received, he said, a show cause notice is issued.

If there is no response to the notice, the passport is confiscated when the NRI shows it at the airport.

'Then he cannot leave the country until the matter is resolved, either legally or through mutual consent,' he added.

'However, if he manages to flee, then we inform the Indian embassy in that country and he would be immediately deported to India, depending on the merits of the case,' Parneet Singh said.

According to the passport office officials, Section 10 (3) of the Passport Act says the issuing authority can impound the passport in the public interest after giving a show cause notice.

The Jalandhar RPO caters to Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala districts.

According to an RPO official, around 15,000 girls from Doaba region, consisting of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts, were duped by their NRI husbands during the last few years.Jalandhar has the maximum number of such cases.

The officials have also directed district marriage officers to provide details about marriages involving NRI grooms so that their wives' names can be added to the passports.

The initiative has encouraged women to come out and voice their grievances.

India largest source of skilled migrants to New Zealand Hamilton: India has emerged as the largest source country for New Zealand with a 12 percent increase in approval of applications under the skilled migrant category for the 2010-11 financial year.

Among the top source countries to New Zealand, Britain decreased by 17 percent, China decreased by 11 percent, South Africa decreased by 37 percent and the Philippines decreased by 25 percent, according to the Migration Trends Statistics (MTS) report for July 2010 to May 2011.

India's increase was due to former Indian students who transited to temporary work and then on to permanent residence, it said.

'The drop in skilled migration has seen a decrease in residence approvals from all of the main source countries, with the exception of India which increased by 12 percent,'

the MTS report stated.

The report focused on three key areas the New Zealand residence program, permanent skilled migration and temporary entry.

With regard to student visas to New Zealand, as many as 69,448 people were approved in July 2010-May 2011 - a three percent increase from the 67,453 in the previous financial year. From July 2010-May 2011, the largest source countries of students were China (23 percent), India (14 percent) and South Korea (12 percent).

Indian-origin MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi said as New Zealand was a peaceful country, it has emerged as an ideal destination for study. Its spectacular scenery and rich and diverse culture were the other factors that made it a favorite among Indians.

US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Fed mulling options to stimulate economy Washington: The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, gave a subdued account of the economy’s health Wednesday, saying that he expected the economy to grow at a moderate pace during the rest of the year, with unemployment declining “only gradually.”

The unexpected weakness is forcing the Fed to reconsider its determination early this year to refrain from new efforts to stimulate growth. While no additional actions appear imminent, Bernanke said in congressional testimony Wednesday that the Fed would be prepared to act if necessary.

He described options including an explicit commitment to maintain its stimulus efforts for a longer period, the resumption of asset purchases or steps that would encourage commercial banks to use the reserves they current keep on deposit with the central bank.

“Prudent planning requires that we evaluate the efficacy of these and other potential alternatives for deploying additional stimulus if conditions warrant,” Mr. Bernanke said. Members of the Fed’s policymaking committee discussed the

11

July 16-22, 2011

Deadlock on debt, GOP leader proposes option Washington: Amid pessimism over the prospects of a debt-limit deal between President Obama and Republicans, the Senate Republican leader proposed a “last-choice option” that piqued the administration’s interest but angered conservatives in his own party.

The leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, proposed that to prevent default, Congress in effect empower Obama to raise the

government’s borrowing limit without its prior approval of offsetting cuts in spending.

Administration officials welcomed the McConnell initiative for at least signaling that both parties’ leaders were committed to averting a potential economy-shaking government default; many Democrats in Congress saw it as a way to avoid the sort of deep cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that Republicans have sought as the

price of their votes for a debt-limit increase.

But many conservatives immediately assailed Mr. McConnell’s proposal as a panicky sell-out, much as they in recent days had attacked the House Republican leader, Speaker John A. Boehner, for privately discussing with Mr. Obama a debt-reduction deal that could raise revenues as well as cut spending — ultimately forcing Mr. Boehner to retreat.

Derek Jeter: Tendulkar of Baseball Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke possibility of additional efforts at their most recent meeting, at the end of June, but they were divided regarding the costs and benefits, according to minutes of that meeting, which the Fed released on Tuesday.

Mr. Bernanke maintained his view that a recent rise in inflation is unlikely to persist, consistent with his view that the overall health of the economy remains weak.

He said that consumers held the key to renewed growth.

New York: It was like waiting for Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th century. On July 9, the wait was over and Jeter became the first Yankee player to hit 3,000 hits in his career, the 28th in baseball history to do so, and the second player, after Wade Boggs, to achieve the feat with a home run. It happened in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the shot sent the sellout crowd of 48,000 at the

Yankee Stadium in Bronx into delirium and set off a four-minute celebration.

Jeter has played his entire career for the New York Yankees, serving as the Yankees' team captain since 2003.

His presence in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team winning champiYankees’ captain Jeter reached a career milestone of onship in 1998, 1999, 3000 hits last Saturday.

2000, and 2009.

12

India Newswire

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Manmohan forms new Team to run India rime Minister Manmohan Singh inducted eight new faces into his government, axed seven ministers and juggled some portfolios in a bid to improve the image of his Congress-led government, but most analysts dismissed the changes as cosmetic.

The much-expected exercise was, however, marred by the resignation of Congress veteran Gurudas Kamat, who said he wanted to leave the ministry for "personal reasons".

Congress sources said he was asked to leave after it became known that he was unhappy to be made the minister of state for drinking water and sanitation -- a new portfolio.

"As far as I am concerned, this is the last reshuffle before we go to the polls (in 2014)," Manmohan Singh later told reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "This exercise is as comprehensive as possible."

The prime minister added he had repeatedly asked Congress general

P

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the newly inducted ministers. secretary Rahul Gandhi to join the government "but he feels he has more to contribute to the organization".

The reshuffle, the second since January, left the 'big four' -Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs

Minister S.M. Krishna, Defense Minister A.K. Antony and Home Minister P. Chidambaram untouched.

The 78-member council of ministers includes 62 from the Congress and 16 from allies in the United Progressive Alliance

(UPA).

Of the 13 ministries that deal with India's economy, changes took place only in three - steel and mines, corporate affairs, and railways, India's biggest employer.

Among the major changes, Salman Khursheed took over the

The Cabinet Reshuffle A. CABINET MINISTERS Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo: Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Shri Beni Prasad Verma: Steel Shri Dinesh Trivedi: Railways Shri Jairam Ramesh: Rural Development B. MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) Shri Srikant Jena: Statistics and Programme Implementation and Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan: Environment and Forests Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar: Development of North Eastern Region Shri Gurudas Kamat: Drinking Water and Sanitation

C. MINISTERS OF STATE Shri Sudip Bandopadhyaya: Health and Family Welfare Shri Charan Das Mahant: Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Shri Jitendra Singh: Home Affairs Shri Milind Deora: Communications and Information Technology Shri Rajiv Shukla: Parliamentary Affairs D. CABINET MINISTERS (WITH ADDL CHARGE) Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh: Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Shri M. Veerappa Moily: Corporate Affairs Shri Anand Sharma: Commerce

and Industry; and additional charge of Textiles Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal: Parliamentary Affairs and additional charge of Water Resources Shri Salman Khursheed: Law and Justice and additional charge of Minority Affairs E. MINISTERS OF STATE Shri E. Ahamed: External Affairs and Human Resource Development Shri V.Narayanasamy: Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; and PMO Shri Harish Rawat: Agriculture and Food Processing Industries; and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukul Roy: Shipping Shri Ashwani Kumar: Planning; Science and Technology and Earth Sciences

law ministry from M. Veerappa Moily, who moved to corporate affairs; Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress heads the railways; while Jayanthi Natarajan, the only Congress woman MP from Tamil Nadu, is the new environment minister.

She replaced the hyperactive Jairam Ramesh who was elevated as a cabinet minister in the ministry of rural development.

Besides Natarajan, the other new faces are V. Kishore Chandra Deo, Sudip Bandopadhyaya, Milind Deora, Jitendra Singh, Rajiv Shuila, Paban Singh Ghatowar and Charan Das Mahant.

Among those asked to go were DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, who put in his papers earlier after being linked to the spectrum scandal, and M.S. Gill, the sports minister when India hosted the corruptionhit Commonwealth Games.

One of the seven dropped ministers, Arun Yadav, got a place in the Congress party machinery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party called the reshuffle "damp squib".

Kamat's resignation disapproved he Congress has conveyed its displeasure over party leader Gurudas Kamat resigning from the council of ministers after being assigned a new portfolio that he apparently was unhappy with.

"These things should not have happened," Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in response to queries on Kamat's resignation and signals that union ministers Srikant Jena and Vilasrao Deshmukh were also peeved over the treatment given to them.

Jena was expecting to be elevated to cabinet rank while Deshmukh's ministry has been changed twice in the past six months. Deshmukh has been

T

Gurudas Kamat moved from Rural Development Ministry to Science and Technology.

Kamat, who was Minister of State for Home before being given charge of the newly created Drinking Water and Sanitation ministry, did not attend the swearing in and resigned soon after the ceremony.

Several killed in train accidents in India New Delhi: A day after two major rail accidents, most people travelling on trains were not deterred, terming rail travel "comfortable and safe", though some attacked the government for not taking enough measures for passengers' safety.

"We have heard about the accidents, it is bad, but the fact is that these accidents do not occur every day, so I believe that the railways are safe," Kumar Rasik, who was waiting for his train to Alwar at the Old Delhi railway station, said.

"Yes, accidents occur at times, but that is unfortunate. We can’t stop travelling because of the

At least 69 people died when the Kalka Mail from Howrah met with an accident in Uttar Pradesh.

accidents," said Shah Alam, who had come to see off his relatives.

At least 69 people died while 196 others were injured when the Kalka Mail from Howrah met with an accident near Malwan station in Uttar Pradesh. The reason for the accident has not yet been established.

In another accident, at least 100 people were injured when the Guwahati-Puri Express was derailed after a suspected explosion near Ghograpara in western Assam's Nalbari district.

A rescue train from the accident site in Uttar Pradesh reached Old Delhi Railway Station Monday morning where the injured were

either given first-aid or referred to hospitals.

"We saw those who came from the accident site in Uttar Pradesh.

It is very moving, they could have been our relatives," said passenger Sheela Devi, "but the fact is that trains are the best mode to travel.

So we leave it in God's hands."

Some were more critical of the government's efforts to ensure safety of passengers.

"Of course, there is lapse in security measures that is why there are so many accidents.

Perhaps it is because there is no railway minister to take care of all this," Rajesh Kumar, a student, said.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

13

July 16-22, 2011

No intelligence on Mumbai strikes: Chidambaram Mumbai: Admitting candidly that there was no prior intelligence input on the triple blasts here a day earlier, Home Minister P. Chidambaram called it a coordinated terror attack that left 23 people dead and over 130 injured.

Cautioning against speculation over the people responsible for the strikes, 31 months after the city witnessed one of the worst acts of terrorism on Nov 26, 2008, the home minister, however, said he would not call it a failure of intelligence.

Hours after visiting the terror sites, Chidambaram said 131 people had been taken to 13 hospitals with injuries. Of these, 26 were discharged, 82 stable and 23 serious. He said one severed head was also found at the site that could take the death toll to 18.

"There was no intelligence input to central or state intel agency regarding yesterday's blast -- it was unfortunate," Chidambaram said at a press conference, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj

The security personnel inspect the debris at the Opera House, one of the three sites of the explosions, in Mumbai.

Chavan.

"I request you all, do not speculate. I advise the Maharashtra government not to

Mumbai blasts to derail India-Pak talks?

Although the motive of Mumbai attacks is not known, its timing has raised suspicions in informed strategic circles.

New Delhi: India has scrupulously avoided pointing a finger at Pakistan for the serial blasts in Mumbai, but the terror attack which occurred barely a fortnight before the meeting of foreign ministers of the two countries here has raised suspicions about whether some right-wing elements were trying to derail the revived peace process.

After cold-shouldering Pakistan's overtures for talks for over two years following the 26/11 Mumbai terror spree, India decided to revive the peace process with its estranged neighbor in February.

Since then, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan held talks in Islamabad last month and agreed on some cross-Kashmir and nuclear confidence-building measures to bridge the post-26/11 trust deficit.

The Islamabad meeting set the stage for the talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan July 26-27.

As the blasts took place barely a fortnight before Pakistan's foreign minister comes here for talks,

some analysts, speaking on condition of anonymity, speculated whether it was a handiwork of those trying to derail the peace process between the two neighbors.

In his condemnation of the attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scrupulously avoided even the vaguest insinuation about the involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the attacks. When contacted, officials of the external affairs ministry also declined to speculate.

Pakistan's president and prime minister were quick to condemn the attacks. Early this week, Pakistan's foreign office said Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is widely tipped to be the next foreign minister, will be coming to New Delhi for the talks.

Although the motive of the Wednesday attack is not known, its timing has raised suspicions in informed strategic circles whether the serial blasts were engineered by those unhappy with the latest stab at rapprochement between the two neighbors.

proceed with pre-suppositions or assumptions," the home minister said, adding that the people of Mumbai had responded "splendidly".

The home minister was also expected to brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later in the evening in New Delhi, ahead of a meeting scheduled with the full council of ministers. Officials said the prime minister may also preside over a cabinet meeting thereafter.

According to Chidambaram, the sites had been cordoned off and the state and centrallevel teams would continue to work to determine the nature of the explosives. "But it was not a remote trigger blast."

The home minister also sought to clarify that absence of intelligence inputs did not necessarily mean a a failure of the concerned agencies.

"When there is no intelligence on particular agency, it doesn't mean a failure of the agency. There was no intelligence on an imminent attack, but its not failure. In

nature of things, whoever prepared the attack, worked in a clandestine manner," he said.

"Maybe, it was a small group.

Intelligence is covered everyday and every hour," he said. "This incident comes after 31 months," he said, referring to the previous blast in the state on Nov 26, 2008.

"In between, there was one terror attack in Pune. But, in a sense, the Mumbai Police have developed a lot of capacity to deal with terror threats and successfully foiled a large number of terror threats."

Among the three blasts, all in south-tocentral Mumbai, he described the one at Dadar as a low-intensity one, and said the other two at Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House were of medium-to-high intensity.

Asked if the attacks were aimed at destabilizing activity in the city and the country as a whole, Chidambaram replied: "I don't consider it as an attack on India's commercial capital. It is deeply regrettable. But India will continue to grow and prosper."

Shaken, but Zaveri Bazar jewelers won't shift Mumbai: A third bomb blast in two decades at Zaveri Bazar Mumbai's most popular address for gems and jewelry - has left its jewelers and diamond merchants shocked and concerned about business. But they are staying put.

When asked if the merchants would like to move out, most refused. "What is the point in shifting base? Are other business locations safer," asked Raju Solanki, a gold jeweler whose 60year-old shop is barely 200 meters from the blast site.

The posh south Mumbai jewelery market Wednesday evening came under terror attack for the third time in 18 years. It was one of the three serial blasts Wednesday evening to rock Mumbai - the others having occurred in Dadar in south-central Mumbai and Opera House in south Mumbai, killing at least 17 and injuring 131.

Policemen look for clues at blast site in Zaveri bazar, in Mumbai.

Several merchants, however, expressed deep concern as businesses will be hit owing to the temporary closing down of more than 10,000 shops, including tiny diamond polishing units, post blast. "My shop is hardly half-a-

minute away from the spot of the blast and now I will have to keep it closed as the entire lane has been cordoned off," Mohanlal Seth said.

"Moreover, friends and relative are pressurizing me to shift my business elsewhere. But it is not as easy. There is no assurance of safety elsewhere either," he added. Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar was first targeted March 12, 1993, when 13 serial blasts across the city killed 257 people and injured over 700 others.

The second strike was on Aug 25, 2003 when twin blasts - one at the Gateway of India and the other at Zaveri Bazar - killed 54 people and injured another 244.

The congested Zaveri Bazar has around 50,000 small and big shops and small diamond polishing units, including bullion market, in its narrow, labyrinthine lanes spread across 10 km.

Advani in Mumbai, consoles survivors Mumbai: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani visited the sites rocked by blasts the previous evening and also met those injured in the terror attack.

A grim-faced Advani drove straight from the airport to Zaveri Bazar and Opera House, two of the three sites hit by the bombings, said party spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, who accompanied him.

Also in attendance were senior leaders like Eknath Khadse, Pandurang Phundkar, state BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar, state party general secretary Vinod Tawade and Kirit Somaiya.

Arriving a few hours after union Home Minister P.

Chidambaram, Advani went around the blast sites and interacted briefly with the locals.

He also went to the state-run GT Hospital and met some of those who were injured.

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14

Op Ed

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Rahul needs to show a broader vision

By Amulya Ganguli ince Rahul Gandhi's most notable political success was the Congress' unexpectedly good showing in Uttar Pradesh's 2009 parliamentary polls, when it won 22 of the 80 seats, it is not surprising that he is now focusing more on this state than on any other.

At one time, he presumably wanted to include Bihar among his targets for boosting the Congress' position, but the party's dismal performance in last year's assembly polls there evidently persuaded him to concentrate on Uttar Pradesh alone for the time being.

He probably believes that Uttar Pradesh presents certain advantages which Bihar doesn't. For instance, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remains the idol of the Biharis seven months after his success in the assembly elections a second time, Mayawati's charisma has apparently begun to fade.

Though still a formidable figure with a continuing hold on the Dalits, it is fairly certain that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister will not find it easy to repeat her remarkable performance of the 2007 assembly polls when her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secured an absolute majority.

The Congress' heir apparent is quite confident, therefore, of his party faring reasonably well in next year's assembly elections. Although for the moment he is campaigning on

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Being a champion of Dalits and farmers is not enough for a "national" leader like Rahul Gandhi who is being projected as the country's future prime minister. his own, it is not impossible that the Congress will enter into an alliance with its old ally in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party, to give the BSP a run for its money. If Rahul is not mentioning any such tie-up, the reason is his need to first establish himself as a politician with a firm base. And this can only hap-

pen if he succeeds in breathing life into the Congress at the grassroots level.

Rahul's intention is to put together again the Congress' old Brahmin-Muslim-Dalit alliance, which was an unbeatable combination for the party for years.

Rahul has now taken up the farmer's cause

in the wake of the Bhatta-Parasul incident, where the police clashed with farmers who were protesting the acquisition of their land.

Rahul does not appear to be interested in the social and economic aspects of the subject.

His focus is solely on siding with the farmers in their fight against big business.

What this attitude suggests is that he is more a politician eager to win an election rather than a statesman with a wide vision and innovative ideas about the country's path of development. It is too early to say whether this essentially populist stance will enable him to build a base of his own outside the left-leaning section.

It is possible he feels that, at 41, he is not old enough to project a statesman-like outlook. It is also possible that he prefers sailing close to the National Advisory Council, headed by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, which comprises not a few Leftists. But a person with a "national image", as a Congress spokesman recently said, is expected to be more vocal about subjects which are in the headlines - corruption, Telangana, subsidies, foreign investment in the retail sector, genetically modified food, and so on.

Being a champion of Dalits and farmers is not enough for a "national" leader who is being projected as the country's future prime minister.

(Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed by the author are personal)

Manmohan needs to speak now

By Barkha Dutt or those of us who still believe in the political process and the Idea of India, these are lonely times. On the one hand, sundry and smarmy interlopers have hijacked the political discourse and trivialized it with their hyperventilation.

But on the other side, the absolute surrender of robust, honest leadership by the government — and the fact that it appears to have totally lost its way — has thrown open the highway for freelancers and self-styled Robin Hood figures. The problem now is that no matter who you hitch a ride with, you end up in a place that isn’t of your choosing.

So yes, while we can — and do — cite the huge voter-turnouts in the recent assembly elections to make the point that the sweeping anti-politician sentiment is still an elitist, urban phenomenon, the bare truth is that the UPA has not done anything to restore the country’s sense of confidence. So, if you are not an Anna Hazare acolyte, and

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Manmohan Singh needs to remember that tears in a fabric can be held together by safety pins only for a short time. After a point, when the threads start coming loose, it’s sometimes best to get yourself a new set of clothes..

you are exasperated by the lethargy of this political leadership, who do you turn to?

And what do you believe in any longer?

Indeed, two years into its tenure, the UPA has begun to resemble a drowning man who is barely managing to come up for air. And the prime minister, despite his essential decency, has come to be perceived as a sad and listless caricature of himself.

When the government did accept the overwhelming criticism of being seen but never heard, it reacted in an extraordinarily tepid manner that took the shape of the prime minister meeting a handful of senior newspaper editors. Quite aside of the botchups that made their way into the official transcript released after this meeting, was this mediated and controlled interaction really the best way to reach out to the people of India?

All right, the prime minister may think that Twitter is banal and TV even worse.

But across the world, leaders have other ways of reaching out. They use State of the Nation broadcasts or regularly drop in on

their favorite radio show, or better still, work their way into a crowd, clasping the hands of their constituents in a perfect Clintonian moment of communication.

The prime minister — known to be a reflective man — must ask himself a tough question. During his first tenure as the head of this government he was willing to resign rather than see a nuclear deal he had invested his legacy in fall by the wayside. If he is unable to come out and take charge of an unraveling situation, are the reasons to preserve his legacy not far more crucial now?

Manmohan Singh needs to remember that tears in a fabric can be held together by safety pins only for long. After a point, when the threads start coming loose, it’s sometimes best to get yourself a new set of clothes. The problem with the UPA is that it doesn’t seem to want to fix anything, unless it is already broken beyond repair.

(Barkha Dutt is Group Editor, English News, NDTV barkha@ndtv.com The views expressed by the author are personal.)

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

Travel TheSouthAsianTimes.info

15

July 16-22, 2011

In their behind the scenes studio tour, Universal Studios breaks myths on how films are made, be it the way animals are trained, earthquakes are created or streets are flooded.

Just like the movies Discovering the real LA without the gloss, where Beverly Hills is a residential area with little action, boulevards are merely arterial streets and places like Rodeo Drive are shopping areas.

By Sharif D Rangnekar hen you think of Los Angeles, the immediate recall is usually Hollywood, the Oscars, Beverly Hills, Staples Center, Santa Monica Boulevard, Rodeo Drive - addresses that most of us have learnt of over the years courtesy films and soaps. An education from a distance, driven by marketing, public relations and advertising, LA is as much an education when one lands there. The greatest learning is the power of visual media and marketing that has created a make-believe life that actually lives in the figments of our imagination.

So, welcome to LA and its real world where Beverly Hills is a residential area with little action, boulevards are merely arterial streets and places like Rodeo Drive are shopping areas. Motion pictures had perhaps made many of us believe a lot more, making these places seem like destinations in themselves.

LA, therefore, is a 'normal' city not glossed up by the production techniques of any studio. People are scarce to see. The hustle and bustle attributed to large cities is missing.

Service, even at hotels such as the Beverly Hilton, is way below the mark. Yet the lifestyle is largely

Away from LA, the Getty Center, built at a cost of over $1 billion, has more value for those who appreciate art and architecture.

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The old and current venue of the Oscar ceremony, Kodak Theater may look a tad bland from the outside, but it is far more interesting from the inside. opulent and hence expensive even ple in LA that makes them the way in comparison with cities such as they are. Having been to other parts London. The obvious and immedi- of the US, I would tend to believe ate connection that one has with the this. entertainment world is left to Footprints of fame Hollywood Boulevard, the homes Still, one can't take away LA's of stars, the studios (the closest connection with the entertainment connect perhaps) and the plastic world. Its history and relevance is surgery clinics in and around the all about that and you always stand city. a chance of seeing a Hollywood Americans are largely seen as star walking down the high-end friendly people as long as you don't Rodeo Drive where members of the tread on their space and time. LA glitterati shop. somehow seems to be an exception.

That being the case, the starting The locals can be rude and curt. It's point typically is Hollywood the Mexicans and Asians who Boulevard and the stroll down the negate, to some extent, this behav- Walk of Fame. It is a landmark of ior. Friends on the East Coast state sorts and the walk-through is a bit that it's the rich lifestyle of the peo- of trivia to check your knowledge

of famous stars from the films, television and music world. Lined on the side is more significant history with the old and current venue of the Oscar ceremony. The Kodak Theater may look a tad bland from the outside, but it is far more interesting from the inside. A $15 tour gives one a sense of not just the size of the theatre but also how the stars get seated and all that makes the Academy Awards what it is when we view it on TV. And you get to see the sets of American Idol as well, as this theatre hosts the popular show.

Attached to the Kodak Theater is an open shopping place with cafes and an elevated area from where you can see the Hollywood Hills. It is a lovely site and you may be tempted to head to the hills but locals suggest otherwise. "There is nothing to see but the same letters.

Go only if you want a larger view of the alphabets," a local comments and that puts things in perspective.

A few meters from Kodak Theater is Grauman's Chinese Theater that played host to three Oscar Awards and several premieres and ceremonies related to the film business. This theatre is a

must-see given its link with history and the forecourt that displays signatures, hand and footprints of motion picture personalities. This experience is more involving than the Walk of Fame as many tourists would like to spend time measuring the feet and hands of some of the stars.

On the same street but in the other direction is the Egyptian Theater built by Grauman as well.

The theatre, which is not always open, hosted the first ever Hollywood premiere - the film was Robin Hood - in October 1922.

What a ride!

Perhaps the only parts of LA that give you an almost up-close experience of Hollywood are some of its studios, most of which are now situated outside the city. Universal Studios, close to Warner Brothers and not too far from Sony Pictures, stands out for the sheer experience given the amusement park it has created around its huge complex.

The studio breaks myths on how films are made, be it the way animals are trained, earthquakes are created or streets are flooded. And all of this is done with a real life Continued on page 25...

16

Ultimate Bollywood

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

'Murder 2', a desperately dark film he sequel to "Murder" is nothing like the first part of the frenetic franchise.

And Jacqueline Fernandez who has been built up in "Murder 2" as the next Mallika Sherawat is nothing like the overrated Mallika….Thank God for that! Fernandez exudes an unbridled sunniness even when pouting in the bare minimum. Alas, she doesn't have much to do in "Murder 2" except swathe the dark drama in a spot of sunshine.

God knows this film about the devilunleashed, surprisingly written by a woman (Shagufta Rafique) needs that little of sunshine. It is a desperately dark film.

The characters are wretchedly unhappy.

No matter which side of the moral line they are positioned they are standing screaming into the abyss that is suburban life. These people need serious help.

Director Mohit Suri who earlier took us on a jolting trip through the world of prostitution, pimps and desperate cops in "Kalyug" takes the same route again. On this occasion the journey is far more ruthless and rigorously implemented to create horror repugnance and hatred for a word that we've created for coming generations.

In the typical Mahesh Bhatt style "Murder 2" doesn't waste time in back-

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Emraan and Jacqueline in a still from the movie. projections and story build-up. He goes straight for the kill. With trenchant immediacy director Mohit Suri (back in "Kalyug" form after the misfire that was his last film "Crook") tells us the story of a psychopathic killer who kills prostitutes

Kareena says no to ‘Agneepath’ song

with the pleasure that makes your stomach churn and look anxiously towards the future about your daughter who is just stepping into the big wide world.

Who knows if the man sitting next to her in the movie theatre is a closet-nutcase

with a collection of hacksaws in his house, and not to carve up the Christmas turkey.

Prashant Narayanan as the psychopath plays the character at such an even pitch he makes your blood freeze in fear and revulsion. Here's a man who could be that ghoul who butchered all those kids in the Nethra killings and then ate them up without a burp.

The 'hero' in "Murder 2" is a burn-out suspended cop who makes money out of criminals, stays sullen and haunted throughout the film except when he goes for the kiss, and offers his girlfriend a wad of notes after making love. To buy the fridge, he says. Naturally the lady freezes.

Force of habit, we say. Hashmi has done this kind of a role repeatedly. The kissing and vigorous bedroom activities are quickly taken care of in the first 15 minutes.

Wouldn't want the lovers of the serial kisser to feel they're being cheated in favor of the serial killer.

The plot seems original. The narration is clenched and the characters driven by a desperate urge to assert themselves before death rings their doorbell.

"Murder 2" is not a pleasant film to view.

The psychopath's killings are done in graphic detail. The storytelling offers no respite from the brutality.

Sonam is Neil's 'darling' onam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh have been sharing sweet nothings off the sets of Abbas-Mustan's Players. Both the actors took to Twitter to shower compliments on each other.

"Last day of my song with @NeilNMukesh! He's a sweetheart...Even when he steps on my feet," Sonam posted, while Neil wrote: "Great day at shoot with my darling @sonamakapoor. I've troubled her loads. But she is simply amazing."

He also tweeted: "On my way

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What’s up Sonam and Neil?

for rehearsal with the gorgeous @sonamakapoor and raju khan."

"Shooting on the sets of players with the breath taking @sonamakapoor. Wish I could paste pictures! But u guys will see it soon."

As Sonam pointed out, the actors were busy shooting for a song for Players, a Hindi remake of British film ‘The Italian Job’.

The movie is a multi-starrer, and also features Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher.

Bipasha's dating Shahid?

Actor Kareena Kapoor. hough Kareena Kapoor had no problem gyrating to ‘Ye Mera Dil’ in film Don, the actor has refused to do an item number in Hrithik Roshan's ‘Agneepath’.

The fact that she has said no to good friend Karan Johar's item song in ‘Agneepath’ is hard to digest.

There are two loose ends though - Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan.

While the catfight between the actors is not unknown, Priyanka Chopra has agreed to do a cameo in Kareena's film ‘RA.One’. We wonder why Bebo can't return the favor.

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Also Bebo was linked to Hrithik while shooting for ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ and the actor had resolved never to work with him again.

Her refusal to sizzle in the Agneepath item number can be attributed to her past resolve also.

“It was a tough call for Kareena.

She certainly didn’t want to refuse KJo who is a very close friend.

But she did,” a source said.

But thankfully Karan Johar is not offended. “Karan is a thorough professional. He understands the intricacies of Bollywood.

He has taken it very sportingly,” said the source.

ohn-Bipasha have apparently moved towards greener pastures post breakup. While Shahid Kapoor is the latest man in Bipasha's life, John Abraham has started dating an investment banker.

Bipasha Basu has been raving about a mystery man in her life. It has now emerged that it's Shahid Kapoor.

"Obviously they are only just getting to know each other, so Bips doesn't want to jinx it by talking openly about Shahid," discloses a source to a daily.

They were introduced by Shahid's trainer, Abbas and fitness is a bonding factor between the two. Wonder what will happen to the bongshell's love for non-veg?

John Abraham on the other hand is spending a lot of time with a banker Priya Marwah.

They met through common friends and are hanging out a lot.

A source close to the actor tells a daily, "He's defi-

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Shahid and Bipasha: Moving on… nitely spending a lot of time with Priya. They met through a common friend who happens to be Priya's best friend. They hit it off instantly and decided to keep in touch."

Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info

17

July 16-22, 2011

'Social Network' business for Bollywood hey chat, tweet and share pictures, but behind the social networking of Bollywood celebrities lies a lot of business. Filmmakers and actors are taking to websites like Facebook and Twitter to take the pulse of viewers and involve them in projects.

From directors Prakash Jha, Mahesh Bhatt and Shirish Kunder to even megastar Amitabh Bachchan - all have tried to use the social networking medium to take suggestions for titles, posters and marketing plans from viewers.

Onir went a step ahead by inviting crowds to fund his project "I Am".

"The interaction with the audience through social networking mediums has helped, but to get them involved even deeper, I think it is a wonderful vehicle to tell people...'I made this film for you. Now can you guide me where I am going wrong before I actually put it out in theatres’? I think it is quite masterly to involve the people...it's democratically correct!" Amitabh said. When Prakash Jha and Mahesh Bhatt were in a dilemma while choosing the posters for their respective films "Aarakshan" and "Murder 2", they resorted

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Behind the social networking of actors lies a lot of business. to networking sites to take the final word from viewers.

"Social networking is becoming very attractive for filmmakers like me. We

Salman Khan ignores Ranbir

Sonakshi gains weight, loses role

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he days of the "specialized" Hindi film villain, who was portrayed as the epitome of evil, is over ever since storytelling underwent a major change in the last decade, says the Bad Man of Bollywood Gulshan Grover. Now films have no clear black and white demarcations.

"The typical villains have physically disappeared from the scripts. As the industry is changing and more of comedy and drama films are coming up, there are very few such roles left," Gulshan told.

"Actors who are not doing well as

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ctor Ranbir Kapoor, who did an item number for Salman Khan's first home production Chillar Party was ignored for its premiere.

Sources said the Dabangg Khan made it clear that Ranbir was not required at the ‘Chillar Party’ premiere held recently.

They said Ranbir was on the guest list prepared by the co-producers of the film, but Salman, who himself handled the invites, decided to do without him.

Incidentally, when Ranbir shot the item song for the film, Salman was nowhere in the picture.

He came on board as a co-producer only after the film was complete.

According to insiders, the song shot on Ranbir was meant to be the highlight of the film, but those who have seen the film revealed that it came right after the end credit rolled. It is learnt that Salman Khan did not want to take any help to promote the

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Weight and watch Sonakshi. onakshi Sinha is no longer a part of Kamal Hassan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’, and hushed whispers are doing the rounds, about how the issue with Sonakshi came not from dates, but her weight. Apparently her character in the film has a number of action sequences and therefore needs to be lean and fit.

Sonakshi is rumored to have weight problems, and apparently puts on weight if she doesn’t stick

released a two-and-a-half-minute trailer of 'Aarakshan' online and thousands of people saw it and gave their feedback. These activities create a following, which translates

into audience for the film. It is revolutionary - overnight you are everywhere," Jha said. Beyond the marketing and publicity, Facebook and Twitter helped Onir raise a third of the funds for his Rs.3 crore movie "I Am".

"Who should be the heroine opposite Shreyas Talpade in 'Joker'? Who should be the lyricist for 'Joker'? Who should be the music director for 'Joker'?" are some of the questions Kunder posted while finalizing the team for the movie.

Even the small screen is looking at the virtual world to reach out to audiences and involve them through digital initiatives like online polls and games.

"It's a basic rule of marketing - to co-create with consumers. If they don't know enough about a film or a show, there's a possibility they won't watch it," Nikhil Madhok, senior director (Marketing and Communications) of Imagine TV, said.

"Also, with a certain amount of feedback, one can customize according to the majority of the viewers' tastes and rope in their interest. There's no better sense of gratification for viewers than to be involved in something themselves."

to a strict diet and workout regime.

A source told a daily, "The makers gave her a couple of months to get lean. She had to do outfit trials and also begin physical training.

However, she was unable to look the part even after that."

The movie was supposed to start shooting by the end of June, and Sonakshi cited delays as her reason for quitting the film. However, buzz has it that the real reason was her weight problems.

Specialized villains will end with me: Grover The Bad Man of Bollywood.

Salman cold shouldering Ranbir. film.

He wanted to do it his way and he felt that Ranbir's song did not add anything to the film.

However, rather than removing the song from the film, he made

it a tail-ender.

Has it anything to do with Salman-Katrina-Ranbir triangle?

Could it be that Salman carries a grudge against Ranbir because of Katrina?

heroes are moving on to doing negative characters and filmmakers are happy. But I don't think there is anything wrong in this. I would say specialized villains will end with me," he added. The actor started his Bollywood career in 1980 with "Hum Paanch". Some of his best remembered negative roles were in "Sohni Mahiwal", "Ram Lakhan", "Shola Aur Shabnam" and "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi". He has also been a part of Hollywood movies like "Jungle Book 2" and "Panic". Gulshan was named the 'Bad Man' of Bollywood due to the negative character he portrays on

screen. The other well-known villains of his time are Kader Khan, who later became a character actor, Ranjeet, Shakti Kapoor, Amjad Khan and Kiran Kumar, who too became a character actor. And Gulshan is happy with the evil tag.

"I have created this tag for myself and I am happy with it. I take pride in being called one," he said. "But I am an actor. Whenever I have been given other opportunities I have been equally accepted," said the 55-year-old who will now be seen in a positive role as a Rajasthani dhaba owner in ‘I Am Kalam’.

18

Women

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

From Kamathipura to meet Clinton: A Nepali woman's long march Kathmandu: When Hillary Clinton hugged Charimaya Tamang, the 34-year-old Nepali woman had reason to be proud. While all the other nine heroes feted by the US secretary of state were lawyers and officials, she was a former victim of Mumbai's notorious Kamathipura red light area who was being honored for battling trafficking.

It was a long march to recognition and triumph by the woman who was sold to an Indian brothel owner at the age of 16 and tried to kill herself during her 22-month life of hell in Kamathipura.

'I tried to hang myself,' said Charimaya, who is back in Kathmandu after last month's Washington trip. 'But the shawl I had used frayed and I was left alive. I thought god must have saved me for a purpose.'

When a raid by Indian cops in 1996 led to Charimaya's release from the brothel along with nearly 200 other trafficked victims from Nepal, she realized during her seven-month stay in a transit home in India what her mission was going to be.

Charimaya Tamang (center) with members of Shakti Samuha The home was worse than The death and other sufferprison and the victims were ings made Charimaya, Sunita treated as criminals and and 14 more survivors like untouchables by the warden. them decide to stay together The government of Nepal when they finally returned to ignored the Indian authori- Kathmandu on the initiative ties' call to take the girls back of three Nepali NGOs and home, a delay that cost lives. form Shakti Samuha, the 'I will never forget the 14- only organization in Nepal year-old who had contracted by, for and of trafficked vicAIDS,' says Sunita Danuwar, tims. another Kamathipura surToday, Shakti Samuha runs vivor who too was sent to the two safe homes for survivors same transit home. in Kathmandu and one for 'When it was clear she was girls in Pokhara. very ill, we begged the warIt is also lobbying in 10 of den to send her to hospital Nepal's districts most vulnerbut she refused, saying we able to trafficking to form were no saints and deserved survivors' peer groups. Of the what we got. The girl died founding members, two died soon after that.' of HIV/AIDS.

Himachal women on mission to uproot cannabis Shimla: It’s 6 in the morning and Rekha Devi is sharpening her sickle in her house in Tissa village in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. She then joins a group of 20 women that sets out for the nearby forests, sickles in hand, on a special mission – drug control.

‘We’re going to cut the wild growth of cannabis and opium in the nearby forests,’ says Rekha Devi.

With traditional folk songs on their lips, the women daily trudge miles of rugged, inhospitable Himalayan terrain before they start physically removing illegally-grown drugs.

They have been employed by their village panchayat under the central government’s rural jobs guarantee scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), for the purpose.

‘Hiring villagers, especially women, under MNREGA in certain areas that are infamous for cannabis cultivation has been a great success,’ Chamba Superintendent of Police

Madhu Sudan said.

The job card holders have been deployed to clear cannabis from forests while police personnel are being used to destroy organized plantations, he said.

Police officials say cannabis and opium fields are grown illegally in vast tracts of Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Chamba districts, leading to a serious problem of drug cultivation, trafficking and its use.

It was then that officials got the idea of using locals to curb the cultivation of the drug plants.

Shimla Superintendent of Police Sonal Agnihotri said a campaign would be launched in the district from July 17 by involving the panchayats against cannabis plantation.

‘We have identified 689 bighas in Theog and Chopal areas that is under cannabis cultivation where the drive would be launched by involving the locals,’ he said, adding police would only have a ‘supervisory role.’

Women in India love to travel for work: Survey New Delhi: More women than men prefer to travel for work in India while tools like Skype and video-conferencing are taking a toll on outbound business travel from the country, a survey by a leading online travel and tourism site has revealed.

The study said 'seeing new places on company expense' was one of the biggest travel perks for business travelers.

Unveiling the trends of a business travel survey by TripAdvisor.in Thursday, officials of the global travel portal said 'more women prefer work-related travel compared to men.'

The young too enjoy traveling for work, TripAdvisor officials said. The survey was carried in the first six months of 2011 among respondents in the government, the public sectors, private companies, multinational companies as well as among the selfemployed.

The survey revealed that 'employees increasingly across organizations seem to

Seeing new places on company expense is biggest travel perk be looking at technology as a viable alternative to reduce business-related travel, with government officials more inclined to seek recourse to technology to communicate than travel physically'.

The survey cited that 'bulk of the women surveyed (84 percent) believed technology has reduced their work travel needs compared to men, who are traditionally considered to be more tech-savvy'.

According to the survey, 'when women are away on

business trips, unattended work back in office tops the woman's mind compared to men, whose biggest concern is their family'. Compared to men, women are likely to extend their business trips to make time for personal holidays, the survey said.

Women were also likely to create a business trip that was not really required to wrap up personal work in another city, compared to men, the study said.

The study revealed that women also took longer routes to build their airlines miles compared to men. 'For newbies (young women) in the age group of 22-25, time away from the family was the least important factor,' the survey said.

More than half the people surveyed admitted that 'a break from routine and visiting new places with company money was one of the exciting perks of business travel, along with earning hotel award points and frequent flyer miles', the survey said.

Mills and Boon ‘cause marital breakdown, unwanted pregnancies’ London: Romantic novels like Mills and Boons are a danger to relationships and sexual health, a British medical journal has said.

They are also a cause of marital b r e a k d o w n , a d u l t e r o u s a ff a i r s a n d unwanted pregnancies, the Daily Telegraph reported Thursday quoting the journal.

An article in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care said that women struggle to distinguish between romantic fiction and real life.

Susan Quilliam, a relationship psychologist and author of the article, said a ‘huge number’ of problems dealt with in family planning clinics have their roots in romance novels.

Women who read romance novels can ‘suspend rationality’ in favor of romanticism, Quilliam said, including ‘not using protection with a new man because she wants to be swept up by the moment as a heroine would’ or being persuaded to give up contraception a few months into a relationship.

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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July 16-22, 2011

What is wrong with Indian polity, and how to fix it

By Manu Doshi uring the days of struggle for independence Pandit Nehru had been set at the heart of every Indian, It was, however noticed after he took over the administration that he was more of a dreamer than a realist. His concept of socialistic pattern of society was utopian, and the realm of control and regulations that he introduced stifled the economic growth of the country.

The situation got worse when Indira Gandhi and her colleagues started using the controls for personal ends.

The corruption that she gave vent to has been continually growing like cancer. It has crossed all bounds and we are now witnessing the politicians unashamedly accumulating property by indulging in large scale corruption.

But corruption is not the only ailment of the country. The policy initiated by Nehru and perpetuated by the followers has given rise to various other ills that have been deeply affecting the social fabric. Unless the engine is put in reverse gear, we are going to face the devastation.

These are some suggestions that can help in preventing it.

D

1. Introduction of Presidential System: We have the Parliamentary system of government that was adopted because of our association with the British rule. It was, however, overlooked that the system needs vigilant public opinion and presence of two strong parties that can take over the administration. These conditions did not exist in India.

The problems arising from the absence of two capable parties did not come to the notice so long as there was one party strong enough to continue at the helm. The weakness of the system became evident after the fall of Congress party from the hegemony. Not only has it given rise to instability of administration, it has also led to the mismanagement and large scale corruption. Maintaining majority at any cost has turned out to be the main job of the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers. Whenever they find that the majority is at stake, they have to go in for purchasing the required number of heads. Everyone knows the level of corruption indulged during the vote of confidence session of the parliament.

Corruption is a cancer that cannot be rooted out so long as there are chances for getting corrupted. The only way to control it is to reduce the opportunities. Our Parliamentary system has been conducive to its growth. In order to avoid it we need to adopt the Presidential system under which the administration can be

Influenced by the Soviet model Jawaharlal Nehru led the country towards economic development by wielding the State authority and created a maze of controls regulating every aspect of life. carried on by the President at the Center and Governors at the State levels elected to govern for four or five years irrespective of the majority.

2. Scrapping controls and regulations: Another aspect that gives rise to corruption is the regime of controls and regulations. Influenced by the Soviet model Nehru was enthused to lead the country towards economic development by wielding the State authority. He ignored the fact that Soviet Union had failed to achieve any measurable degree of economic growth even while exercising total authority over the life of people. In a bid to metamorphose the country Nehru created a maze of controls regulating every aspect of life. He failed to see that Government machinery is ill-suited to exercise the controls in public interest.

The result is the large scale corruption prevailing in implementing the controls. The Commonwealth Games and 2G Spectrum scams provide the recent examples thereof.

With the onset of liberalization some controls have been removed and the rigors of some have been modified. What is, however, required is to do away with the controls to the extent possible.

3. Financial: The concept of preparing an annual budget was evolved with the intention to adjust expenditure to the level of revenue.

If it was necessary to spend more than the estimated revenue, the budget would propose the measures for raising more revenue. If, however, the shortfall is negligible, it could be left as uncovered deficit. That concept has been set aside and we are witnessing the deficits to the extent of trillions. Such deficits are bound to lead to inflation. Expansion of currency without adequate backing results in effective devaluation of rupee, which becomes evident in the form of rise in prices.

Though other factors like high prices of crude oil may play their part from time to time, deficit financing has been the main cause for continuing rise in prices. The biggest culprit for our budget deficit happens to be the Planning Commission. If the amount planned for a head is spent even without achieving tangible result, the plan is considered as having fulfilled the target; while effecting economy on a plan head is treated as the shortfall of the plan, without growth. Since it has ceased to serve its purpose, it is time to scrap it and put the deficit financing to the end.

4. English as official language: English language now enjoys international status. Its importance can hardly be exaggerated when millions of Indians have been living abroad. Its importance for scientific studies also is indisputable. No wonder that many families have been sending their children to English medium schools. Time for treating English as a foreign element has long been past.

Adoption of regional languages as the medium of State administration has given rise to all sorts of fissiparous tendencies. That needs to be put an end to in the interest of unity in the country. Moreover, it will help in forging the sense of unity that was witnessed during the British rule.

5. Common civil code: Though our constitution forbids discrimination on the ground of race, religion, etc., we happen to have a Hindu Civil Code. Nehru had come out with the Hindu Code bill because he was not willing to hurt the sentiments of conventional Muslims. Hindus have long been feeling unhappy on account of the Civil Code being restricted to them and have been clamoring for a Civil Code applicable to all. The Supreme Court also has directed the Government to approach it with a Common Civil Code. The

administration has, however, ignored it in order to avert displeasing Muslim voters.

In case, the leadership is too sensitive to Muslim sentiments, it can come out with a Common Civil Code together with the provision for an Islamic Code to be adopted by Muslims as an option.

6. Community-based Reservation: The reservations based on backwardness have created a rift within the society. There was justification for reservation in favor of scheduled castes, because they were kept backward by the society. No other community was so debarred; they have remained backward on their own. They can surely be encouraged to come forward by providing incentives in the form of scholarships etc., but reservations for them in administration or educational institutions can in no way be justified. The Government is not the employment exchange. Its machinery is expected to function in the interest of people. Integrity and efficiency are the essential requisites for it. Its employment policy should be based on those criteria. Providing reservation therein leads to inefficiency and loss of integrity.

Reservations in educational institutions are leading to sub-standard outcomes. How could it be safe to have doctors with lower caliber to treat the patients? It is hazardous.

Similarly an engineer with sub-standard caliber cannot be expected to undertake reliable work. Indira Gandhi had favored the policy of reservation in order to pursue her parochial ends. It is now time to reconsider it in the overall interest of the country.

7. Population control: We have been facing the population explosion. The population has grown almost fourfold since the independence. The measures taken so far have failed in restricting the growth,

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

because majority of the people refrain from adopting birth control methods. The growth in population sets at naught the progress in every other field. We should therefore be willing to adopt an effective policy for containing the population.

Our people are very sensitive to payment of taxes and would like to avoid the same. In order to take advantage of that sensitivity it is necessary to introduce a tax on getting more than two children. Every couple producing the third child should be subject to pay the tax at the rate of Rs.1000 (subject to revision from time to time) per month for 10 years starting from the birth of the third child. The liability to pay the tax for that period should continue irrespective of the child’s lifetime. Otherwise there would be a tendency to put it to death. Moreover, during the said period of 10 years if the couple produces another child, not only would they have to pay the tax on both the children, it should also be subjected to a surcharge at the rate of 25 % of the tax payable otherwise.

These provisions would induce the people to adopt birth control in their own interest. It is obvious that most people will fail to pay the tax and it would not be possible to put all such offenders in jail. It should therefore be provided within the Act that those failing to pay the child tax will be subject to mandatory sterilization.

Mansukhlal (Manu) Doshi retired in 1976 as Asstt.

Commissioner of Industries, Gujarat. Now settled in the US, he has published many books related to Jainism.

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Subcontinent

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Afghan president's brother killed Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's half-brother has been assassinated by a bodyguard at his home in Kandahar with the Taliban promptly claiming responsibility for it.

"My brother Ahmad Wali Karzai was killed. The Afghan people have suffered a lot. Every Afghan family has suffered. I hope one day these sufferings end," Hamid Karzai was quoted as saying in news reports.

The Kandahar provincial council chief was shot dead at a gathering at his residence and the killing is expected to give a jolt to NATO's effort.

Ahmad Wali Karzai, born in 1961, suffered bullet wounds to his head and chest, said Kandahar Hospital chief Mohammad Dawood Farhad. The

Ahmad Wali Karzai, half brother of president Hamid Karzai.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said one of Ahmad Wali Karzai's bodyguards who worked for Taliban gunned down the president's brother. The attacker was Ahmed Wali Karzai's head of security Sardar Mohammed who was imme-

diately killed.

Considered by many to be a warlord, Ahmad Wali Karzai had the staunch support of his elder brother Hamid Karzai.

The assassination took place amid US President Barack Obama's announced plans to withdraw 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan this year.

SAARC MPs' conference call for peace The conference had delegates from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.

New Delhi: The fifth conference of SAARC MPs concluded in New Delhi recently amid calls for peace and rule of law in the South Asian region.

On the last day of the four-day conference, the participants who included speakers and parliamentarians from the eight South Asian countries deliberated on "Consolidating Democracy: Strengthening Trust between Parliament and the People" and "Sustainable Development in (the) SAARC Countries: The Way Forward".

In her concluding remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who presided over the conference, said there was consensus on a host of issues in the summit.

"It was an educative experience for the speakers and parliamentarians from all the SAARC countries to come together and exchange views on topical subjects of com-

mon concern for the South Asian region," she said.

She stressed that it was the "onerous responsibility of parliaments and parliamentarians to strengthen the roots of democracy in the region".

"MPs must work together to strengthen democratic values of protection of individual rights, rule of law, justice and to meet the aspirations of the people," she emphasized.

In her vote of thanks, Fehmida Mirza, the speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, congratulated her Indian counterpart on the successful conclusion of the conference. The conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh July 9. It had delegates from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.

Sri Lanka rejects war crimes video Colombo: Sri Lanka's military said it had original footage that exposed the "malicious intentions" behind a British documentary on alleged war crimes committed by government troops.

Major General Ubaya Medawela said the "unaltered" video suggested that what the documentary had presented as soldiers executing Tamil rebel prisoners actually showed rebels dressed in army fatigues.

The footage in the documentary, aired last month by Britain's Channel 4, had an audio track with the soldiers speaking in the language of Sri Lanka's Sinhala majority.

Medawela said the video the military had analyzed had a Tamil soundtrack, suggesting the killers were rebels.

"The unaltered video received by the defense ministry provides ample evidence to prove the malicious intentions behind the doctored documentary of Channel 4," Medawela said. The "original" version Medawela referred to was broadcast Monday by a progovernment Sri Lankan television channel.

Sri Lanka has persistently denied that there were any war crimes committed by its troops while battling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, who were crushed in an

Sri Lanka has persistently denied that there were any war crimes committed by its troops while battling the Tiger rebels. offensive that ended in May 2009. It has also accused Channel 4 and Western nations of leading a campaign to discredit its human rights record by producing reports of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In an email to the BBC, Channel 4 spokesperson Marion Bentley insisted that all the footage used in its documentary, entitled "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" had been found to be authentic. She said it had been independently verified by experts in forensic pathology and video analysis and had twice been subjected to months of tests by audio-visual experts commissioned by the United Nations.

CIA's fake vaccination drive for Osama DNA London: The CIA carried out a fake vaccination programme in Pakistan's Abbottabad city to get DNA from Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's family, it was reported here.

Osama was gunned down May 2 by US commandos who undertook a daring raid deep inside Pakistan. Guardian reported that the CIA organized the fake vaccination program in the town as it believed Osama was hiding there.

It recruited a senior Pakistani doctor to carry out the vaccine drive in Abbottabad. As part of the elaborate effort, the "project" was initiated in a poorer part of town to make it look more authentic, officials said.

Pakistan's spy agency, InterServices Intelligence, has arrested the doctor, Shakil Afridi, for cooperating with American intelligence agents.

CIA hatched the plan after American intelligence officers were able to track down an Al Qaeda courier, Abu Ahmad alKuwaiti, to Osama's high-walled Abbottabad compound.

The idea was that DNA from any of Osama's children living in the compound could be compared with a sample from his sister who died in Boston in 2010.

It would have been evidence

CIA hatched the plan after American intelligence officers were able to track down an Al Qaeda courier, Abu Ahmad al-Kuwaiti, to Osama's high-walled Abbottabad compound.

that the family was present.

Afridi, the health official in charge of Khyber, went to Abbottabad in March.

The media report said that the doctor bypassed the management of the Abbottabad health services and paid hefty sums to low-ranking local government health workers who participated without any knowledge about the operation.

Posters were put up and in March health workers administered hepatitis B vaccine in a poor neighborhood on the edge of Abbottabad called Nawa Sher.

Instead of giving the second

dose in that area, the nurses moved to Bilal Town where Osama lived.

"The whole thing was totally irregular," a Pakistani official was quoted as saying. A nurse called Bakhto entered the Osama compound to administer the vaccines.

Sources said that the doctor waited outside and instructed her to take in a handbag that was fitted with an electronic device.

It is, however, not known whether the CIA got any Osama DNA. One source suggested the operation did not succeed.

The CIA has refused to comment on it.

Diplomacy TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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July 16-22, 2011

Pak-US rift deepens over aid suspension akistan's top army commanders appeared to reject U.S. military assistance for the ongoing fight against militants of the Taliban and al Qaeda in the country's region along the Afghan border, a gesture which will likely add to the existing strain in ties with Washington.

The commanders met for the first time with Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Pakistan's army chief of staff, since the Obama administration announced cutting up to $800 million in planned military assistance for the nation.

The proposed cuts apparently include $300 million dedicated to fund Pakistan's ongoing fight against militants in the border

P

The proposed cuts include $300 million dedicated to fund Pak's ongoing fight against militants in the border region.

India welcomes US aid suspension to Pak

region. Known as coalition support funds, the money has been dedicated since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks as a way to reimburse Pakistan for the costs it incurred on operations against Islamic militants.

U.S. officials have said the decision reported during the weekend was prompted by Pakistan ordering U.S. military trainers to leave the country following the May 2 raid by U.S. Navy SEALs that killed Osama bin Laden in the northern city of Abbottabad.

Pakistan protested Washington's decision to inform the country only after the operation was carried out.

Recently, the Pakistan army issued a statement following the

meeting at the army's general headquarters in Rawalpindi, a suburb of the capital city of Islamabad.

"The Forum (of the army's commanders) reiterated the resolve to fight the menace of terrorism in our own national interest using our own resources," the statement read.

A Pakistan government official, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, said, "There is a resolve that we simply don't need U.S. aid, which comes with strings. The U.S. decision to scale back military assistance is just not acceptable. We will carry on our fight ourselves, without begging the U.S. for money."

ISI chief leaves for Washington Islamabad: Pakistan's spy agency chief, Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha, left for Washington, more than two months after Osama bin Laden's killing hit ties with the US. Media reports here said that Gen. Pasha would stay in the US for just a day and discuss issues related to intelligence information sharing and war on terror.

It will be the first visit by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief to Washington after US commandos stealthily flew into the Pakistani city of Abbottabad on May 2 and gunned down the elusive Al Qaeda chief in his hideout.

The killing severely strained ties between the US and Pakistan. For the first time, Pakistani military and intelligence agencies came under widespread criticism

ISI chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha. domestically for failing to prevent what was viewed as blatant US intrusion.

About $800 million in military aid and equipment - over a third of the more than $2 billion US security aid to Pakistan - could be suspended or canceled.

The Dawn said Gen. Pasha's visit follows top US military official Gen. James Mattis's meetings with Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman Gen. Khalid Shameem Wynne in Rawalpindi.

Pak aid suspension may hit US? Federal External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

New Delhi: India has welcomed the US decision to suspend abut $800 million in military aid to Pakistan, but also underlined its commitment to normalize relations with the neighboring country with which it resumed a dialogue only a few months ago.

"With reference to the special circumstances between India and Pakistan and how India has consistently taken the view that it is not desirable that this region had to be heavily armed by the US which will upset the equilibrium in the region itself, to that extent, India welcomes this step," External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters.

The decision is seen here as a vindication of India's stand as it has has consistently voiced apprehensions that the aid given by the US and other Western powers to Pakistan has been used by the latter to bolster its

military infrastructure targeted at New Delhi.

The aid being withheld accounts for more than a third of the $2 billion in annual security assistance given by the US to Pakistan. It includes about $300 million to cover the costs of deploying more than 100,000 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan border as well as training assistance and military hardware, the New York Times reported.

In the same breath, India, however, underscored its commitment to normalize ties with Pakistan that plummeted to a low after the Nov 26-29, 2008 terror attack in Mumbai perpetrated by 10 Pakistani nationals.

"Simultaneously the U.S. must take note of the fact that we are working in a very committed manner to normalize our relations with Pakistan to reduce trust deficit, and efforts are on," he said.

Washington: Two major American newspapers have warned the Obama administration about the risks involved in suspending $800 million in US aid to the Pakistani military, saying the move could backfire.

"We worry that the cutoff in aid was based less on a calculation of its effect on Pakistan than on the desire to publicly protest the country's truculence, partly in an effort to mollify congressional critics," The Los Angeles Times said.

"Ideally, the suspension of aid will be short-lived while the relationship is mended. Pakistan can and should assist in that process, rather than falling back into the rote antiAmericanism and obstructionism that led to the Obama administration's decision to suspend aid in the first place," said the editorial: Punishing Pakistan may punish the U.S. Too. "In confirming the suspension, White House Chief of Staff William Daley called the U.S.-Pakistani relationship "complicated." "That's an understatement. We hope that the decision to suspend aid won't com-

plicate it further," the Times said, while justifying Washington's frustration with Pakistan.

"As long as the war in Afghanistan continues, the U.S. needs to move weapons and troops through Pakistan, and it needs useful intelligence about militant groups," it said.

"The criticisms from the United States have aggravated the anger in Pakistan, particularly in the military, over the killing of Osama bin Laden

in an operation that was conducted without the knowledge of Pakistani officials. The suggestion that it could not be trusted to keep a secret outraged the military, as did the fact that U.S. commandos stormed Bin Laden's hideout without permission."

In its editorial, The Washington Post has called the policy of publicly confronting the Pakistani leadership on the aid issue as a "risky course."

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International

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Egyptians call for military chief's ouster Cairo: Thousands of Egyptians rallied for the downfall of Egypt's military leader, as anger mounts over the army's handling of a transition from the country's former autocratic regime.

Five months after a popular uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak, activists fear their revolution is in jeopardy and accuse the ruling military council of keeping an absolute grip on power that blocks the path to democracy.

Protesters have been camping out in Cairo's Tahrir Square, in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and in the canal city of Suez since mass nationwide rallies on Friday to demand political change.

"The people want the fall of the Field Marshall," chanted demonstrators in Cairo, in reference to Hussein Tantawi, Mubarak's longtime defense minister who now heads the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

"Down, down with the Field Marshall,"

Egyptians chant for the downfall of Egypts military leader at a rally in Cairo. thousands chanted in Suez where the army erected barbed wire and formed a wall to

Qaeda’s cyber jihad on Facebook

block any attempt to reach the strategic Suez Canal.

Tahrir Square was bubbling with energy tonight, with speakers on podiums and a concert planned, amid tight security overseen by the demonstrators.

The army, which was hailed as heroes at the start of the January 25 uprising for not shooting protesters, has come under fire for using Mubarak-era tactics to stifle dissent and maintain an unchallenged hold on power.

But the council insisted it will not cede control over the transition. "The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces stresses that it will not renounce its role in managing the affairs of the country during this critical time in Egypt's history," SCAF member Mohsen al-Fangary said in a speech broadcast on state television.

The protests -- dubbed the revolution's "second wave" -- have put Prime Minister Essam Sharaf under increasing pressure amid accusations he is too weak to face the military junta.

Gaddafi threatens to attack Europe Moscow: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has threatened Europe with retaliation for a NATO-led military campaign, saying he will send hundreds of soldiers to launch attacks there.

"Hundreds of Libyans will martyr in Europe," Gaddafi Friday told a multi-thousand-strong crowd in Sabha, some 500 miles south of capital Tripoli in a speech shown on national television, adding NATO will regret

The Libyan leader pledges to use the ‘eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth’ principle.

"when the war moves to Europe".

The threat came as insurgents suffered casualties Friday after a massive attack by NATO aircraft.

Gaddafi pledged to use the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" principle, adding that he and his supporters were ready to "become martyrs and fight until the end."

Libya has been rocked by fighting between pro- and antiGaddafi forces since mid-February.

'Murdoch may lose his media empire'

The extremists have launched crack units to target key computer systems.

Britain: Al-Qaeda plotting a devastating "cyber jihad" against Britain and the West, it was revealed recently. Terrorists have even tried to "invade" Facebook in their campaign of electronic warfare.

The extremists have launched crack units to target key computer systems. And Google Earth and Street View are being used to help plan atrocities.

The warnings came as UK Home Secretary Theresa May unveiled the Government's new counter-terrorism strategy. Senior security officials say cyber-terrorism will become an ever growing threat. One source said: "At the moment incidents are few and far between but it's a taste of things to come."

A 123-page counter-terror blueprint reveals that a special unit the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigades for Electronic Jihad - attacked com-

puters last year. The document said: "Since the death of Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda has called not only for acts of lone or individual terrorism but also for cyber jihad." Hate preachers are making increased use of the internet.

Experts estimate there are thousands of terrorist-related websites.

The report adds: "A few dozen are highly influential and frequented by terrorists.

"Use of social networking sites and video sharing is now commonplace. There have been a number of attempts by terrorist and extremist groups to 'invade' Facebook." Twitter is used to flag up extremist articles and websites.

May said: "Terrorists are increasingly using online technology, including Google Earth and Street View, for attack planning.

Terrorists also use hi-tech encrypted mobile phones and texts to avoid detection.

London: News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch may not remain in charge of the media conglomerate for too long, his biographer said amid mounting outrage over the hacking scandal involving his now defunct British tabloid, the News of the World.

The tabloid, besides hacking phones of a number of celebrities, even deleted some messages from a 13-year-old murder victim's voicemail giving her parents false hope that she was still alive. This fuelled outrage and led to advertisers withdrawing ads forcing the 168-year-old tabloid's closure on Sunday. " I w o u l d s a y, a m a t t e r o f months down the road this company may not be controlled by someone named Murdoch,'' Michael Wolff, described as a man who has known Murdoch better than most, told a current affairs program. "People named Murdoch are suffering a hemorrhaging of credibility.'' He said Murdoch's son and heir apparent, James Murdoch, is also "utterly discredited".

Wolff, American magazine Vanity Fair's contributing editor, has interviewed Murdoch, 80, and his family for 50 hours for

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch. his biography. Recriminations in the scandal continued as former PM Gordon Brown accused Murdoch of hiring "known criminals" to probe his private affairs when they were running stories about his finances and his son's illness. He accused Murdoch's best-selling tabloid, The Sun, of unlawfully accessing his son Fraser's medical records.

He said he was in tears when he was told that this paper had details of Fraser's condition — cystic fibrosis. "Sarah (his wife)

and I were incredibly upset about it," he said in an interview.

Earlier in the day, a British police chief who investigated the scandal said his voicemails were probably spied on, but denied a suggestion that this intimidated him into dropping t h e i n q u i r y. T h e H o u s e o f Commons will debate an opposition motion on the scandal and PM David Cameron's misjudgment in employing former NOTW editor as his communications director.

Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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July 16-22, 2011

Murdoch withdraws Boeing 787 to join Air India bid for BSkyB fleet by year-end London: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp announced it was dropping its planned bid to take full ownership of BSkyB, the largest pay-television broadcaster in Britain with over 10 million subscribers, a media report said.

The announcement came as the House of Commons prepared to vote for a motion calling on Murdoch to drop his plans, BBC reported. All three major parties said they supported the motion.

Murdoch's decision comes after days of reports on phone hacking by the News of the World, owned

by News Corp subsidiary News International.

"We believed that the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation would benefit both companies, but it has become clear that it is too difficult to progress in this climate," News Corp chairman Chase Carey said in a statement.

"News Corporation remains a committed long-term shareholder

Rupert Murdoch. in BSkyB. We are proud of the success it has achieved and out contribution to it," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament those who had committed the phone hacking offences must be prosecuted.

The News of the World tabloid is accused of hacking into phones of crime victims, celebrities and politicians. Police identified 4,000 possible targets, leading to owner Rupert Murdoch ordering its closure.

New Delhi: National carrier Air India will welcome passengers on its first state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner when the aircraft joins its fleet by the year-end -- with warm and welcoming interiors coupled with comfortable seating and entertainment systems.

"The aircraft will have beautifully designed and decorated interiors with warm colours which will welcome our passengers," Air India general manager engineering and quality B.S. Baliga said on board the 787 aircraft.

According to Baliga, the Air India's 787 will be equipped with best in-class seats for its 256 passengers. "We have contracted the world's best seat manufacturers for our business and executive class seats, including Contour Aerospace Limited and Weber Aircraft," he said.

While Contour Aerospace Limited will equip the 18 business class seats, Weber would provide the remaining 238 seats for the executive class section.

Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega deal for 68 aircraft from Boeing. Of these, 50 were for its own fleet and 18 for its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express that flies on short-haul international routes.

The Indian flag carrier will only be the second airline in the world to get the 787 which is currently

Infosys upbeat on growth Mysore (Karnataka): Indian IT bellwether Infosys Ltd is upbeat on sustaining double-digit growth this fiscal (2011-12) too but unsure of the IT spend by its clients due to uncertainty, inflation and sovereign debt crisis in Europe, a top company official said.

"Though growth has returned and IT budgets are the same, the concern is over when the spending would happen, especially discretionary spending as there is delay in decision-making due to uncertainty, inflation and sovereign debt crisis in Europe," Infosys chief executive S. Gopalakrishnan told reporters here.

Hoping that the world would overcome the present economic crisis brewing from the $150 billion Greek sovereign debt crisis and defaults in Spain, Portugal and Ireland to an extent, the company's co-chairman-designate hinted at delays in decision-making by clients due to volatile environment.

"Since the world economy revived after the collapse of the $600 billion Lehman Brothers in September 2008 and the IT indus-

With North America accounting for 64 percent of its revenue, Europe is Infosy’s second largest export region. try withered the global recession, there is confidence in overcoming the twin crisis of inflation and sovereign debt, which have impacted the GDP growth rate of Europe," Gopalakrishnan asserted.

With North America accounting for 64 percent of its revenue, Europe is the company's second largest export region at 21 percent for its software services and products, while rest of the world

accounts for 12 percent and India 2.6 percent.

"At the same time, we are making significant investments in technology and people to take advantage of the emerging opportunities from cloud computing and regulations being put in the financial sector worldwide to prevent a repeat of the sovereign risk being witnessed by some of the European countries," Gopalakrishan noted.

Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega deal for 68 aircraft from Boeing. considered to be one of the most anticipated and state-of-the-art airplanes in the world.

The Boeing 787 aircraft is made of composite materials. Its newly-developed engine and advanced flight technologies make it highly fuel-efficient. The plane can fly up to 16,000 km non-stop. Air India would be the first carrier in the world whose Boeing 787 aircraft will be fitted with a General Electric engine which saves up to 15 percent on fuel consumption.

Courts okay Nortel patent sales Toronto: Bankruptcy courts in Canada and the US gave their approval to the $4.5 billion sale of Nortel's 6,000 patents to a sixmember consortium comprising Apple and Microsoft.

Apart from Apple and Microsoft, the consortium includes Research In Motion (RIM), Ericsson, Sony and EMC. Since Nortel had filed for bankruptcy protection in Canada and the US in 2009, the final approval of bankruptcy courts in the two countries was mandatory for the sale Nortel assets.

The portfolio of 6,000 patents and patent applications relating to cutting-edge, next-generation wireless technology went for far more than three times its expected value before the June 30 auction.

"It's been record-breaking both in term of this case and in the patent industry generally,'' Nortel attorney

Lisa Schweitzer said at a joint hearing by the US Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington (Delaware) and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.

Google, which was eager to buy the patents, had opened the bid for the patents with an offer of $1.05 billion. It went neck and neck with Apple till the $2-billion mark. After that point, Apple roped in RIM, Microsoft and others to snatch the patents from Google with their $4.5 billion bid.

24

Sports

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

‘Dhoni's decision for draw surprising’ New Delhi: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to settle for an early draw in the third Test against West Indies has sparked a debate on whether the World's No.1 Test team lacks the "killer instinct".

The match was poised for a thrilling finish with India, chasing 180, needing 86 runs to win in 15 overs with seven wickets in hand. Dhoni, unmindful of the huge crowd in the stands at Roseau which was hosting its maiden Test, decided to play safe and agreed to shake hands with West Indies captain Darren Sammy to secure a 1-0 series victory.

Former players said they were surprised with Dhoni's decision. They also felt the wicket was not as bad as reasoned by the Indian captain.

"I was very surprised. I still thought with Dhoni and Virat Kohli to come, they could have given it a bit more push.

I was surprised that they closed up shop as early as they did," former West Indies

fast bowler Ian Bishop told ESPNCricinfo. "(V.V.S) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid were still there. They could have continued just working the ball around with 45 overs an over and then see how they went for 6-7 overs and if they needed to make a little bit more charge." "(For) the best teams in the world across (the) board, it is not just a matter of closing out a job but closing it out with a sense of killer instinct.

Dhoni's decision was in complete contrast to his bold declaration in the second Test in Barbados. "I thought there was room to go when I consider that Dhoni declared and set the West Indies 281 in Barbados in 83 overs. If he gambled then, he probably had the spirit to do here (Roseau)," said Bishop.

"But the other thing is that in Barbados he did not know what to expect while in Dominica he was trying to close out the series. He had to just settle for a draw so

maybe that perspective opened up for him."

"I don't think the pitch was giving that many problems," Bishop added.

Former India player Arun Lal criticized India's approach right from the start of the chase. "It's just the new ball that you had to negotiate and 180 runs in 47 overs is gettable. They had to get 3.8 runs an over to win a series 2-0. It was never before achieved by any Indian team. It was a very achievable target.

They have missed a trick in the book and I am extremely disappointed, in fact disturbed," Lal was quoted as saying by a television channel.

About coach Duncan Fletcher defending Dhoni, Manjerakar said: "The coach has to defend his team. He highlighted all the cricketing issues. Fair enough, but those cricketing issues and the conditions that you talked about, it would have convinced me had it been Australia, South Africa or England for that matter."

The match was poised for a thrilling finish with India needing 86 runs to win in 15 overs with seven wickets in hand. But MS Dhoni (with the trophy) decided to go for a draw. India won the Test series 1-0.

India series Ashes for us: Strauss New law soon to curb doping: Maken New Delhi: India's Sports Minister Ajay Maken said the government was planning to table a new law in the monsoon session of the Parliament to curb the doping menace.

Maken said the government has taken serious note of eight athletes flunking dope tests recently and wants all the sports federation to adhere to World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) norms.

"We are going to the cabinet in

this regard and wish to bring a specific law on doping in the Monsoon Session of parliament," said Maken on the sidelines of the World Population Day function at Vigyan Bhavan. "We also want that the WADA norms be applicable to all sports. In case the norms or international sports bodies are different from those of WADA, or are in conflict, then the norms of international sports bodies would be applicable," he said.

London: England Test captain Andrew Strauss considers the upcoming series against India as tough as the historic Ashes but is banking on home advantage to upstage the world's number one side. "This series against India is certainly up there with the Ashes. I think the one thing we have in our advantage over the Ashes is home advantage," said Strauss ahead of the series starting July 21 at the Lord's.

"We expect to beat any side at home – and so you should – because it is a substantial advantage. But you only have to look at what India have done in the last two years to know they will be incredibly confident," he added.

Tough it might be but Strauss said the prospect of facing the

England Test captain Andrew Strauss.

world's top side is also great motivation to do well.

"They have a lot of good players and are heavily motivated to win. We will have to be at our best if we want to compete with them. We're under no illusions on that, but that excites us.

"In international cricket, you always need challenges like this.

I think we're better equipped than in 2007. We've had a lot of success recently and we're a more competent unit. We've been progressing every series we've played over the last couple of years," he said.

"Over the next four Test matches we're more than capable of winning. That motivation of playing against the best side in the world is just what we need at the moment," Strauss added.

Sachin wants to enjoy England tour

Sachin Tendulkar needs one more century to make a record 100 Test tons.

London: A billion-plus fans in India would be expecting a record 100th ton when Sachin Tendulkar walks out to bat against England in the first cricket Test at Lord's but that is the last thing on the batting maestro's mind as he simply wants to enjoy during the tour.

Sachin, who is on a vacation here with his family, insists that enjoying the game is the key to success. "I am not thinking of records," Sachin was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

"I am just thinking of enjoying this tour. The secret to any performance is not in chasing

records. I think about, 'What is the best way to enjoy the game, and how can I enhance that enjoyment factor?'

"If I enhance the enjoyment then, naturally, the standard of play becomes higher. To me, that is more important. If I am playing well, things can happen. I don't need to go around chasing them. It is a process. You construct a solid foundation and build on it."

Besides spending time with family, Tendulkar has been training here for the four-Test series while his team mates are set to join him soon from the West

Indies.

Tendulkar said that being in England enables him to balance life by doing thing he will not be able to do in India due to the crazy fan-following.

"When I spend time in England, it is different. I get to do certain things that I wouldn't be able to do in India: to go into the park with my children, to do whatever they want to do, whether it be a game of soccer or cricket. I enjoy the best of both. The idea is to balance life in India with life away from India, to get the best of both and to be a happy man."

Campaign TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

July 16-22, 2011

Legislator Judy Bosworth is not just blowing smoke

By Robert Golomb rticulate though affably informal, Judi Bosworth, a Democrat who is serving her second term as Nassau County Legislator in the 10th District, which includes all of Great Neck, the lion’s share of Manhasset, North Hills, New Hyde Park and parts of Herricks, seemed to me in the beginning phase of an interview in her second floor office in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola, to be a difficult person for any one other than the most partisan opponents that elected officials of both parties inevitably encounter to dislike. Yet, when I told her that, a half smile came to her face, and she told me that I was wrong. “I have taken some strong positions on legislation, which while having wide public support, have met with resistance.”

She wasn’t kidding, as I was to learn soon. Or, to put it more to the point, she wasn’t just blowing smoke. For Bosworth working in tandem with her colleague Legislator Judy Jacobs (DWoodbury) has pushed anti-smoking legislation in Nassau County that goes beyond the New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act [CIAA]. This in itself says a great deal given that CIAA, passed in 2003 with the stated goal of protecting the public from the hazards of secondhand smoke, is viewed by legal and environmental experts to be among America’s strictest antioutdoor smoking law.

But to Bosworth CIAA was not comprehensive enough. Acting under a CIAA provision that local

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Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth (sitting extreme right) with Legislator Judy Jacobs (middle) and anti-smoking advocates/experts. jurisdictions possess the right to “adopt and enforce local laws regulating smoking”, Bosworth, in conjunction with her legislator ally Jacobs, in March co-sponsored a bill in the Nassau County Legislature that would prohibit smoking in all motor vehicles containing one or more passengers under the age of 18. Enter those more than just a few people who have become angry with Bosworth.

“I have received many phone calls, mail and e-mails from people in support of this legislation, but I also have heard from those who strongly oppose it… many of these residents have expressed their concerns about government intruding

Just like the movies Story Continued from page 15 experience that leaves one amazed and yet feeling silly about just how innocent cinemagoers are fooled.

Consider the following. You are sitting in a coach in a subway and then are rocked by an earthquake which results in the roof caving in and an oil tanker coming at you! Imagine the world spinning around you in a dully-lit passage. Try and visualize what it may be like to see an action scene on water right in front of you. Think of what your heart goes through when an inanimate Dracula comes to life in a dark alley just as you are about to pass by.

These are just some of the experiences that the studio gives you, other than a short 4-D experience of Shrek. And the huge wooden sets bring London to LA and places the streets of France and New York minutes from each other. A $69 ticket for the day is worth it.

Star gazing What would complete an LA trip is to see the stars - at least one if not more. The two 'easiest' ways to spot them is to spend time at Rodeo Drive or at the night clubs in and around the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Boulevard area. To keep the public at a dis-

into their private lives, but my priority remains protecting the health of our children”.

Still, the fact that this legislation has not been voted upon in the county legislature more than four months after Bosworth and Jacobs first introduced it appears little to do with any critical missives and a great deal to do with the resistance the bill has received from its mainly Republican skeptics, if not opponents, most notably Nassau County Legislature’s Presiding Officer Peter J. Schmitt (R-Massapequa), who has been quoted as stating, “This legislation is presently being considered statewide, and we will wait for Albany’s determination

You may be tempted to head to the Hollywood Hills to look closely at the famous sign, but locals suggest otherwise, “Go only if you want a larger view of the alphabets H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D." tance, however, stars are known to slip into Rodeo Drive without the layers of cosmetics and the positive impact of Photoshop-type technology that makes the 'real' them unrecognizable. For those who can't discern between the real and the unreal look of a star, the night clubs are a better option.

Staying at the Beverly Hilton gave me a sense of how the rich and famous live. An extremely quiet lifestyle, the opulence lies in the architecture of the large homes with intri-

before we enact a local version which may be costly and difficult to enforce.”

Careful not to criticize Schmitt with whom she said she enjoys a positive working relationship, Bosworth responded, “I am not questioning Presiding Officer Schmitt’s motives… I am simply trying to get him to stop stalling the bill in the legislature and put it on the calendar for a vote.”

I noted to Bosworth that Schmitt might be prudent to be concerned about the cost, enforceability and scope of locally enacted anti-smoking legislation that has now mushroomed to include the village of Great Neck, which recently passed a highly controversial law prohibiting smoking on sidewalks within the proximity of businesses, the town of Brookhaven, which outlawed smoking in parks and recreation areas, the town of Huntington which prohibits smoking in playgrounds, and on the Eastern portion of Long Island, the economically tourist driven town of Southampton, which has made smoking at the beach unlawful.

Bosworth is also concerned about such matters, but she maintains that the County has the right and the responsibility to enact this legislation. “The law is on our side… The [New York] Clean Air Act supports the rights of local jurisdictions to pass laws that regulate smoking to protect the health of its citizens...

Science is on our side… All scientific studies on the effects of second hand smoke have proven beyond any question that second hand smoke can be harmful in the enclosed environment of an automobile to the developing lungs of

cate landscaping, and the unrealistically priced bars and restaurants (night spots usually close at 2 am) where service more than often recognizes your profile. The prices have more to do with the location than the quality of food or drinks.

Still you don't mind that as locals claim that celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Christina Aguilera, Nicolas Cage and David Beckham continue to live in and around Beverly Hills and could drop in at some of these night spots around there and the next door Santa Monica Boulevard. If the wait for these stars is in vain, there are guided tours of their homes and some tourist operators pack in Hollywood crime scenes as well for around $35-40 for a two-hour trip! Sadly, the need for privacy of such stars has meant the creation of high boundary walls and gates. One needs to be in a helicopter to see the grounds and bungalows they live or lived in, or be part of the paparazzi.

La-la land This is where the chapter normally ends for those who connect LA with Hollywood and its accessories. As a result, tourists often miss on the 'more' that the city has to offer. LA's Farmers Market, the Getty Center and the

Judy Bosworth has pushed anti-smoking legislation in Nassau County that goes beyond the New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act [CIAA]. our children.”

Referring specifically to an Environmental Protection Agency study that estimated that in America 62,000 nonsmokers die every year as a consequence of their exposure to second hand smoke and that also, specific to her proposed legislation, every year 300,000 children suffer secondhand smoke related respiratory infections, Bosworth reiterated her vow to “continue to advocate for this bill that would protect the lives and health of our children”.

Round one of this Nassau County legislative battle was fought more than four months ago. It seems to have ended in a draw. We will see what happens in round two.

Robert Golomb is currently an adjunct professor of graduate education, writing and school administration. Before his retirement he had served ten years as an English teacher and subsequently twenty years as an assistant principal in NYC intermediate schools. He writes on a range of educational, political, cultural and international topics. He can be contacted by email: MrBob347@aol.com

street art shows that come up on the weekends, are all worth a visit.

The Getty Center has more value for those who appreciate art and architecture. The museum's permanent collection includes pre20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts. What may attract many is the Vincent Van Gogh painting, Irises. The Center, situated on a 110-acre site in the Santa Monica mountain area, quickly disconnects you from the city of LA. The campus takes up around 24 acres of this space and is not just green but architecturally pleasing - a show piece by Richard Meier. Opened in 1997, the structures including the landscaping is said to have cost over $1.2 billion.

LA, in a way, is a short-stay city. A visit of three or four days is more than sufficient. It is a good place to make an entry into the US and then drive down the coast to see beach towns and cities. Given its geographical location, it is possible to venture out on a three-day trip covering Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Barstow for under $300. In short, there is more to do outside LA than within. And if you think there is more to LA, the more enjoyable option is cinema and the telly!

26

Health

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

How to make that backache vanish sedentary lifestyle, bad posture, stress and overdependence on technology could leave you with a constant backache. But experts say sometimes the problem can be easily sorted out with the right diagnosis and a little care.

Experts point out that the problem of lower back pain is fairly common. About 80 percent experience pain at some point in life.

"The major culprits of back pain, especially in young adults, is stressful and long working hours stretching up to 12 hours and more, lack of proper physical activity, bad habits such as reading while lying down, slouching in front of the TV, etc, coupled with weight issues," B.K. Dhaon, head of the department of orthopedics at Sharda Hospital, said.

What comes as a surprise is that fitnessconscious youngsters, who are regulars at gyms, also suffer from it. In such cases, bad sitting posture is often to be blamed, says Amit Kumar Mishra, an orthopedic surgeon.

"Abnormal sitting posture is the main culprit in youngsters who are otherwise fit and fine. These people have everything, including a healthy diet and nutrition, but the back is overstressed due to a non-compliant pos-

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ture for long durations," he added.

Some example of bad posture are slouching or bending forward while working on the computer or reading in a lying position.

But there are some medical reasons too for constant backaches.

"Acute back strain, sprain due to injury, lifting of heavy weights. In old age, osteoporosis and fracture due to lack of calcium in the body can also lead to backache," said Dhaon. "Back pain also occurs during and after pregnancy. This is because of two reasons: there is extra weight and hence extra pressure on the lower back and due to the

hormonal changes during this time, the ligaments of the lower spine get relaxed and become more prone to pain," he added.

Under normal circumstances, Rajesh Verma, consultant orthopedic at Artemis Health Institute, says one can keep the problem away by taking care of his or her sitting postures.

"Sit with your back straight and your shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair. Bend your knees at a right angle. Do not sit with your knees crossed. Keep your knees even with or slightly higher than your hips," he said.

"Keep your feet flat on the floor. Try to avoid sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes. At work, adjust your chair height and work station so you can sit up close to your work. Rest your elbows and arms on your chair or desk, keeping your shoulders relaxed," he added.

A healthy diet and better lifestyle can help as well.

"It is important to get up and become active if one has a sedentary lifestyle. Also, maintaining a healthy weight is required.

Paying attention to how much calories you take and burn and making a habit of choos-

Health is a political subject: Amartya Sen obel laureate economist Amartya Sen Saturday said health is a political issue and inequality a prime reason behind bad public health.

“Health is indeed a political subject. If you ask for better public policy… and better public policies come from the government, then that of course is a matter of politics,” said Sen while addressing a seminar in Kolkata.

“We have to think of it as a political issue and connect the responsibility of the government on one side and the responsibilities of the people to exert whatever influence we can exert on the politics of quality making,” he said.

For a country which is anticipating nine percent growth rate, there would be many newly rich people who want better health facilities, Sen said.

“And all rich people want better treatment. If they have money, its good but it also is a reason of tremendous wide as it increases the inequality unless you do something for those who are left behind,” he said.

“Inequality is not only dilution of health benefit. It

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Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen also reduces heath benefits. Inequality itself is a big contributor to bad heath,” said Sen.

Smartphones to detect cataract

esearchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working on an inexpensive way to use smartphones to detect early-stage cataracts, the clouding of the eye's lens that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Cataracts are the number one cause of preventable blindness in India.

Developed by Media Lab Camera Culture group director Ramesh Raskar and colleagues, the Catra system is made of off-the-shelf components. Users have

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to peer through an eyepiece that slides onto a smartphone or other smart devices such as an iPod Touch, and view lines displayed on the screen.

When the lines appear cloudy, the user has to press a button to get the device to scan the lens of the eye to create a map of the areas that appear cloudy because of proteins clumping together.

Catra produces a diagnosis of cataracts in minutes by identifying the position, size, shape and density of the clouds. It's been tested on 22 people. The system even identified one case of cataract that had not been picked up in an eye test at a ophthalmology clinic a few months ago.

Catra is expected to give a boost to early cataract diagnosis in developing countries where few people have access to the expensive slit lamps and clinicians used to diagnose the disorder. Earlier detection of cataracts gets better results after surgery.

The research follows Raskar's group’s work on NETRA, a smartphone eye test for prescriptions that is low-cost and quick.

ing healthier foods coupled with regular exercise help in maintaining a healthy back," said Dhaon.

Experts also suggest it is important not to ignore back pain and identify the exact reason behind it at the right time.

"Back pain should not be taken lightly when the following red flag signs are present - night pain, radiating pain down to the legs, numbness, sensory deficit or weakness," said Mishra.

"The problem of sciatica which is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve is very common and is often misdiagnosed. Hence getting to the root of your backache is a prerequisite for speedy recovery," he added.

Dhaon also suggests if the back pain persists for a week or more, it is time to consult a doctor who can help you in identifying whether your backache is due to an irritated nerve, muscle injury, a slip disc, some other underlying disease or bad posture.

Yoga and meditation on a daily basis also help to relieve the problem. Asanas like shavasana and naukaasana too can help, says Verma. Reports suggest that psycho-social factors such as stress, anxiety, depression and mental stress also cause back pain.

High-protein diet reduces hunger in obese ietary prot e i n reduces hunger and increases fullness in overweight men during weight loss programs, a study says.

Diets 'containing 18 to 35 percent of daily calorie intake from dietary protein, are associated with reductions in hunger and increased fullness throughout the day and into the evening hours,' said Heather Leidy, study author and professor in nutrition at the University of Missouri.

'In our study, the two groups ate either 25 or 14 percent of calories from protein, while the total calories and percent of calories from fat stayed the same between the higher-protein and normal-protein diet patterns,' the journal Obesity quoted Leidy as saying.

Leidy and associates also conducted an eating frequency substudy in which a group of participants on both normal-and higherprotein diets consumed either three or six meals per day.

The researchers found that eating frequency had no effect on appetite and satiety on the normalprotein diet, according to a Missouri statement.

However, subjects on the higher-protein diet who ate three meals per day experienced greater

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evening and late-night fullness than those who ate six meals per day.

This study supports previous research that demonstrates higherprotein diets, including egg breakfasts, are associated with decreased calorie consumption.

One of the studies demonstrated that overweight dieters who ate eggs for breakfast lost 65 percent more weight and felt more energetic than those who ate a bagel breakfast of equal calories and volume. Protein also plays important in muscle maintenance and the prevention of sarcopenia, that is age-related muscle loss.

Serena Ball, nutrition consultant and advisor to the Egg Nutrition Centre, suggests pairing proteinrich eggs with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy for a complete, healthy breakfast.

Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

27

July 16-22, 2011

We all indulge in less-than-perfect behavior in private but dining politely should be second nature or should at least appear to be - if you are seeking to impress the boss or potential client.

The fine art of dining etiquette ere are some top tips to ensure social -- and business -- success at the table: * To start, your napkin should be spread out on your lap, never tucked into the neck of your shirt even if you want to protect your Salvatore Ferragamo tie. Sit up straight and make sure your elbows aren't encroaching on your neighbor's space. Do not rest your elbows on the table or lean on them when eating.

If you are served a meal that is already on the plate, wait until everyone round the table has been served before starting. When group dining, offer side dishes around the table and hold them for the person next to you. * Cutlery should be rested on the plate/bowl between bites. Never gesture with your cutlery, and don't scrape or clatter it noisily. Equally, it is bad manners to clank your utensils loudly against your teeth.

Depending on the formality of the occasion, there will be varying

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amounts of cutlery on the table. The layout should always be the same fork to the left, knives and spoons to the right. Work from the outside inwards, course by course. Pudding utensils usually sit above the place setting. * Eat at a relaxed pace and try to match your fellow diners. Keep your mouth closed and noise to a

minimum. Never smack your chops.

Talking while there is food in your mouth should be avoided at all costs - even when you have a conversational gem up your sleeve. * Don't drink your wine too fast or ask for a top-up unless you are in very familiar company. Don't overindulge - there's nothing worse than a drunken diner, particularly at

Fluffy pillows attract bugs ou may never want to use your fluffy pillows after learning that they are the perfect breeding ground for gruesome array of pests and diseases. This has been revealed by scientists who conducted a study on the hygiene quotient of pillows. According to the study by The Barts and The London NHS Trust, up to a third of the weight of your pillow could be made up of bugs, dead skin, dust mites and their feces.

The condition of pillows in hospitals is even worse as they are the ideal breeding grounds for germs and bacteria ranging from the superbugs MRSA and C. diff to flu, chicken pox and even leprosy, the scientists said.

But the problem of bugs in pillows is not confined to hospitals, said study author Dr Arthur Tucker, a clinical scientist at St Barts and the London Hospitals. While some of the bugs will only be found lurking in hospitals or in tropical climes, others will be making themselves at home in the comfort of your bed, he said. “People put a clean pillow case on and it looks and smells nice and fresh but you are wrapping up something really nasty underneath,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. Bacteria feast on these and multiply on and inside the pillows — some of which will

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never be washed, he added. The warnings came after the researchers studied the “health” of hundreds of pillows used by patients in hospitals run by Barts and the London NHS Trust.

They found high levels of “living” contamination on the outside of the pillows.

In some cases, rips and tears meant that the germs had found their way into the filling.

Some pillows were contaminated with the E. coli stomach bug. Others contained germs that can cause respiratory and urinary tract infections.

a business dinner. * Handling tricky foods?

Break bread rolls into individual bite-sized pieces. Break off a new piece for each mouthful, rather than dividing the roll into chunks in advance. Butter is placed on the edge of your side plate. Each piece, or mouthful, is individually buttered. Soup bowls should be tilted away from you and the soup spoon pushed from the front to back to catch a mouthful. Tip the soup into your mouth from the side of the spoon; don't try eating with your spoon at 90 degrees to your mouth.

Leave your spoon in the bowl, not on the side plate, when you have finished.

Squash peas onto the back of your fork rather than scooping them up from an upturned fork. Asparagus should be picked by the stem and eaten with the fingers unless it is a vegetable accompaniment to a dish, or covered in sauce.

Traditionally, spaghetti should be eaten with a fork only. Twist a small

bundle of spaghetti around your fork by twirling it clockwise against the dish. Never make slurping noises but don't worry too much about the odd stray strand hanging from your mouth, it's authentic.

To eat a whole fish on the bone, work down one side of the spine at a time, from head to tail, then lift the entire bone up and gently ease the flesh out from beneath. Small bones should be removed from the mouth with fingers and placed on the side of the plate. Cheese on a communal board should be cut with the cheese knife provided. Round cheese must be treated like a cake: cut triangular portions. Never, ever cut the nose off a triangular wedge (such as Brie), cut slivers lengthways instead. * When you have finished, place your knife and fork together - with the tines facing upwards - bottomcenter on your plate. When you leave the table, place your napkin, unfolded, beside your plate. Don't forget to compliment the chef.

Wives know it when you turn a deaf ear hile a lot of husbands may think selective hearing at home is a smart way to avoid menial household works, what they are perhaps unaware of is that usually their other half very well knows about their feigning acts.

Three-quarters of Britons believe their partner listens only to what they want to hear, claims a survey. More than half of those polled said the tactic of not acknowledging a request was the main cause of rows, over anything from money troubles to housework, Daily Express reported Tuesday.

The survey found 83 percent of the respondents suspected their partner had full control over selective hearing and could choose what they did and did not take in.

Many tested their other half by asking them to repeat what they had just said to see if they were really listening.

Seventy percent of the women admitted using this tactic as they believe their

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men folk simply pretend not to hear when asked to do chores.

Most said their partner's selective hearing increased as they turned older but only a third thought it may be a symptom of hearing loss. This could be unfair, according to Boots, which carried out the study for its Great Big Hearing Test campaign.

The study found that taking steps to correct genuine hearing loss can do wonders for a couple. Many of those surveyed said it improved their relationship, increasing their conversations with partners and reducing arguments.

28

Humor

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

Strong economy helps job seekers merica's economy is so strong and the unemployment rate so low that many companies are lowering their standards and hiring just about anyone who walks off the street and doesn't smell.

There's almost no excuse to be unemployed today, unless you're married to someone who's willing to go to work every day while you improve yourself by staying at home and watching Oprah.

If you haven't searched for a job in a long time, this is a great time to start. At some companies, the only requirements are as follows: ---All applicants must know how to speak at least three words of English: "Me need work."

---All applicants must have taken a bath sometime in the last month.

Preference will be given to applicants who can name at least one soap.

---All applicants must have fewer than 25 tattoos and five rings per body part. Each nostril counts as a separate body part.

---All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, unless they have unique abil-

A

ities, such as the ability to work cheap.

---Applicants with a criminal record will not be considered for employment, unless they swear under oath not to steal the vending machine.

---All applicants must pass a drug test or must agree to leave all drugs in their cars.

Even with such minimal requirements, employers are struggling to find good workers. The modeling industry is a prime example. If you open any newspaper and read the help wanted ads, you'll realize that America is suffering from a major shortage of models.

If this continues, Sports Illustrated may have to cancel its annual swimsuit issue. That would disappoint all those sports fans who love the excit-

ing sport of bikini-gazing.

Modeling must be a tough job, because some modeling agencies are forced to go to every little town to recruit models. And they're so desperate they're willing to hire average-looking people -- anyone who won't break their cameras.

Some agencies have lowered their standards so much that even I could be a model. Even without any major plastic surgery. (OK, maybe that's pushing it.)

This is indeed a crisis in America.

We're running out of good-looking people.

Where have they all gone? Well, without doing much research, it's clear to me that many of them have become television anchors. CNN itself has hired about 1,000 of them.

Modeling agencies cannot compete with a major news organization like CNN, where people can get lots of exposure without taking off their clothes.

Another problem is that goodlooking people often marry lessattractive people and end up diluting their appearance genes. Models like Rachel Hunter and Christie Brinkley have really hurt the modeling indus-

try. Their children will have trouble finding good modeling jobs and may have to settle for Wal-Mart fliers.

If you've always wanted to be a model, this may be a good time to try. But here's a bit of advice: Watch

out for scams. Modeling agencies are supposed to pay you and not vice versa. Especially if you're as good-looking as you think.

Leave your checkbook at home and take your brain with you. You may just need it.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons.

Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tech Life Tech addiction tearing families apart, warns expert MELBOURNE: As an increasing number of families are becoming obsessed with the use of computer and phone gadgets everyday, relations within them are getting fractured, leading to very separate lives and a total loss in communication.

The use of iPhones, iPads and BlackBerrys is fracturing families which are becoming isolated from one another as they focus on their screen, said Antony Kidman, leading psychologist and author of the new book Staying Sane In The Fast Lane.

He said technology had a profound effect on family dynamics, serving to push family members apart into their own "techno-cocoons", reports the

Daily Telegraph.

Parents are sometimes glued to their smartphones and emails throughout the evening, while children often had computers in their bedroom used to access social networking and games.

"Humans are social creatures.

There is a lot of virtual stuff going on without having any contact with people," Kidman said. He said it was important parents set rules for the use of technology in the home, including banning computers from children's bedrooms and sitting with them occasionally while they're using devices.

Mobile phones should, in most circumstances, only be introduced once children are in high school, Kidman said.

Cellphone biggest driving distraction: Study WASHINGTON: Driving distractions, primarily by cellphones and other electronic devices, are associated with up to 25 per cent of US car crashes, according to a report. The study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a nonprofit group that works to improve traffic safety, assessed research from more than 350 scientific papers published since 2000.

It showed that drivers are distracted up to half the time and that crashes caused by distractions range from minor damage to fatal injury. Cellphone use raises the risk of crashing, but texting is likely to increase crash risk more than cellphone use.

"Despite all that has been written about driver distraction, there is still a lot that we do not know," GHSA executive director Barbara Harsha said in a statement.

"Clearly, more studies need to be done addressing both the scope of the problem and how to effectively address it." Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 fatalities and about half a million injuries resulted from crashes involving a distracted driver.

Deaths due to distracted driving presented 16 per cent of traffic fatalities in 2009, a rise from 10 per cent in 2005.

"When it comes to distracted driving, one thing is clear: any activities that take extended focus away from the primary task of driving are both unsafe and unwise," Lynda Tran, spokeswoman for

the NHTSA, said in a statement.

The GHSA suggested measures for states and organizations to reduce distracted driving. The report said laws banning hand-held cellphones while driving reduced their use by roughly half since they were first implemented, but cellphone use increased subsequently. There is no conclusive evidence on whether hands-free cell phone use is less risky than hand-held use, the report said. Evidence is also lacking on whether cellphone or texting bans have reduced crashes or injuries.

The GHSA suggested a complete ban on cellphone use, handsfree or not, for novice drivers, who are the highest-risk. It also recommended a texting ban for all drivers.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have prohibited the use of all cellphones by novice drivers and 41 states and Washington, DC had prohibited texting by novice drivers. Thirty four states and the District of Columbia have enacted texting bans for all drivers.

But the report said texting bans have proven difficult to enforce.

Because the research and data on these laws' effectiveness is not definitive, the report recommends the 41 states without handheld cellphone bans hold off and monitor existing laws before enacting their own. The GHSA represents the state and territorial highway safety offices. Its members are appointed by their governors.

Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 16-22, 2011

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Stars Foretell: July 16-22, 2011 Aries: Put your energy to positive use.

You would be in the limelight during social get-togethers that you attend this week.

Travelling for some would be important to build new ties. Do not share your confidential matters with people you cannot trust, or those whom you feel would disclose your secrets. Those thinking for a change of residence can go ahead with their plans.

Taurus: This week do not sign any business/legal documents without consulting experts. Friends and relatives would do favours and you would feel very happy in their company. Family responsibilities will mount, bringing some tensions on your mind. Drive with care, especially if you happen to travel late in the night. Children will give you enough reasons to be happy. Blessings from spiritual person bring solace and mental peace.

Gemini: This week someone you deeply trust would not be telling you the whole truth. Your ability to convince others would help you solve coming problems. Your practical approach to life would win you appreciation from people who would be watching you. Good week, which would fill your life with happiness, best wishes and gifts. A distant trip or a visit to a religious place will be on the cards for some of you.

Cancer: This week do not expect others to do your work. You need to remember that god helps those who help themselves. Don’t waste your time waiting for favour and things to happen by themselves. A reunion with an old friend will brighten up your days. Old contacts will get revived at social gathering. Investment opportunities should be reviewed twice. Recognition and rewards for sportsmen and sportswomen.

Leo: This week you would benefit from your decisions. Your positive outlook would impress those around you. New proposals would be very alluring but it would not be wise to take any hasty decisions. Being extra generous with children would only lead to trouble.

Visiting guests bring gifts and presents. Avoid overeating and visit a health club regularly to stay fit. Children would need your attention.

Virgo: You could have serious problems with people who have authority, if you don’t abide by the rules. An elderly person provides you comfort and boosts your morale.

Trips, outstation travel or shopping would be exciting. Your ability to be practical in business would help. Financial gains from unexpected sources for some. Spend some extra time with your family members. Good week to revive contacts with acquaintances that you have nearly forgotten.

Libra: You will impress people with your quick wit and aggressive charms.

Those employed would be appreciated and supported by their colleagues for recent achievements. Domestic matter would require attention otherwise your family members are likely to create a mountain out of a molehill.

Avoid confrontation and arguments. Adapting to new technology will be important to keep pace with the changing times.

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Scorpio: Good week to plan your savings and make future investments. Your financial position improves boosting your confidence and morale. Travel plans if any, might get postponed or not bring in desired results.

Businessmen shall make new contacts, but should ignore those who approach for business credit. Your willingness to help others would leave you tired and exhausted, but would enhance your reputation.

Sagittarius: You need to put your concentration and maximum efforts to finish pending jobs. Avoid implementing your new concepts and plans this week. Partner in an extremely supportive and loving mood tries to banish your troubles away. Part-time projects for some would help you improve your earnings. Do not be erratic in your behaviour, especially with family members, otherwise it may mar the peace at home. Try to control your spending, and buy only if necessary.

Capricorn: This is not the week to dominate others or do things that could start some trouble. Financial gains are certain provided you do not follow your heart when it comes to making important business decisions.

Travelling would help improve business contacts. You are most likely to make some extra money from overtime or speculation. New friendship and romance for some. Evenings with friends or family members would keep you in a relaxed mood.

Aquarius: Problems on the domestic front would soon be over as you try to sort matters.

Investment in stocks would not be as lucrative as it might appear. Opportunities for new romance would come up through social gettogether. Concentrate on new projects, as these are favourable days. Seeking advice from those who care will ultimately be rewarding. Fruitful journey will be undertaken. Your interest to read will make you pick up some new books and magazines.

Pisces: Someone you live with would be annoyed if you ignore your household duties.

A lost contact may be revived later in the week while attending a social gathering. Health of an infant in the family might require some medical attention. Avoid getting trapped in disputes that do not concern you in any manner. Your financial position will improve and you will get to spend a lot on luxuries.

Before you consult... i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, don’t feel shy. It’s his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week July 16: Influenced by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are trustworthy, affectionate, creative, sensitive and an emotional individual. You have a strong attachment to people who are sincere and open in their thoughts, but you face extreme criticism because of your tendency to behave stubborn and arrogant at times. This year you would witness some significant changes at your place of work. You would be loaded with additional responsibilities and your time schedule would be shorter than ever before, leaving you with very little time for family matters. Rewards at the completion of project would be excellent. Promotions and monetary gains are most certain. New love affairs would be pleasant, exciting and promise a romantic future. The months of February, April, June and September would be highly exciting.

July 17: Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are smart, practical, honest, disciplined, methodical and authoritative person.

You are very sober, docile and caring and you love spending time especially with children, but you need to check your tendency to behave rigid, jealous and introvert at times. This year you would form several great business partnerships that would be beneficial for your career. You are likely to receive financial benefits from more than one source.

Your current employer would depend a lot on your skills and capabilities, which would ensure you lot of rewards in the long run. Unexpected financial gains can come through affairs associated with land or its product. The months of March, July, August and November will be highly significant.

July 18: Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are intelligent, energetic, confident, enthusiastic and courageous person. You make firm commitments and once you make decisions it lasts forever. You are bold and possess a sharp analytical mind, but you need to check your tendency to behave short tempered and vindictive at times. You would travel excessively because of your work this year. You would meet new and important people, who would help you gather valuable information and work on new ideas. Some of these new ideas would also improve your finances. Financial gains are certain but speculation should be avoided on all fronts. Family members, especially spouse may behave bit erratic, primarily due to health reasons. Overall this year is highly promising and ensures rewards for times to come. The months of May, June, October, and November will prove to be highly important.

July 19: Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are authoritative, confident, determined, responsible and creative person. You enjoy to lead an unusually busy life. You are fond of moving about with important people and do things, which bring you instant fame, but you need to curb your tendency to behave stubborn, spendthrift and hypocrite at times.

This year you would be attracted to new philosophies, religions, people and investments. Your openness and views would win you new friends.

With luck on your side you have strong chance of bringing pending transactions and negotiations to your benefit. Real estate transactions can also be made profitable if done with minimum risks. New

alliances are certain but some of your independent views would conflict with those of family members. The months of January, May, September and November will prove to be highly beneficial.

July 20: Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are highly imaginative, practical, emotional, honest, simple and generous person. You are very shrewd businessmen. You search out for best bargains before you invest your hard earned money, but you need to check your tendency to behave jealous and hypocrite at times. Although your employer would consider you a great asset and would be pleased with your performance but rewards would fall short of your expectations. It is likely that you would work on more than one important project and would lay the foundation stone for excellent future income. You would also invest more time and money on education or improvement of skills. Your spouse would be your best friend and the two of you would have memorable time together. The months of February, April and October will be highly eventful.

July 21 Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you are energetic, honorable, ambitious, dignified and an intelligent person. You are the one who never gets bored as you always find new and interesting things to keep yourself busy. You are full of life and you have the ability to pep up the atmosphere around you, but you need to check your tendency to behave over ambitious and dictatorial at times.

This year you would be part of an important delegation. You would hold additional responsibilities and take decisions, which would be highly crucial.

Your responsibilities would increase and it's likely you would move into a new management position.

Real estate matters would take shape. The months of February, April, July and October will be highly significant.

July 22: Dominated by number 4 and the planet Uranus, you are simple, energetic, authoritative, jovial, reliable and highly systematic person. You possess a persuasive and magnetic personality. You have a great potential to handle complicated tasks and you seldom complain, but you need to check your tendency to behave vindictive, timid and spendthrift at times.

This year brings in appreciation and rewards that you deserve. Investments in real estate during this year will prove highly rewarding. However indulging in speculation will be detrimental and should be avoided. Legal disputes, which have been bothering your mind, will settle amicably to your satisfaction. Children will be a major source of happiness and spouse will keep you happy. Health of your parents will suffer due to stress, and rise in family medical expenses will bother your mind.

The months of April, May, September and November will be highly important and eventful.

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Spiritual Awareness

July 16-22, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info