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New Zealand Woman Poisoned In Paradise

from the restaurants dishing up the daily catches or from the locals. "I imagine if you went up to the chefs and asked if the fish was ciguatera-free, they're not going to admit to it because they would lose too much business." More than 100,000 Kiwis travel to Fiji each year. Ms Austrin, who has shed 20kg in weight, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and travel agents needed to warn people heading for holidays in tropical areas to be wary of ciguatera poisoning. "If I could have, I would have sued my travel agent. I have friends who went to Rarotonga and there is no way they are going to be eating fish and that's because of me." Robin Slaughter of the National Poisons Centre in Dunedin said a 2010 article in the New Zealand Medical Journal noted an increasing number of travellers returning home with the symptoms, which many local doctors may not be familiar with. The New Zealand Doctor magazine said that in major endemic areas, including Australia, the Caribbean and the South Pacific Islands, the incidence of ciguatera poisoning is about 50,000 cases a year. Areport by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Foodborne disease in New Zealand, showed just two cases of ciguatera poisoning last year and no more than two outbreaks in any of the previous nine years. But a 2007 NZ Food Safety Authority report said many travellers might not even know they had the illness and poisoning was likely to be unreported by a factor of 10 to 50. Ms Austrin has spent more than half a year in hospitals but said because the illness was not commonly known in New Zealand; doctors were battling to deal with it. "Every doctor I had had to Google it to find out how to do treatment. I'm the first case they have come across. That is why I want to get it out there. "There is nothing they can do for the toxin. All they can do is treating the symptoms." Ms Austrin is due to be admitted to Waikato Hospital soon for a neurological assessment. She plans to marry her fianc on their Whakatane farm next month.
Amanda Austrin, pictured in Tauranga Hospital, still vomits every day - 18 months after her holida Deadly toxin in fish eaten while on holiday in Fiji has landed Kiwi in hospital for months and unable to eat except through a tube. A New Zealand woman has spent more than 30 weeks in hospital and cannot eat properly after she was poisoned while eating fish during a dream holiday in Fiji. Amanda Austrin has a severe case of ciguatera poisoning - a rare illness with no cure or antidote - after eating the fish with friends in July last year. The odorless and tasteless toxin, found in predator fish in tropical and subtropical waters, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, weakness, reversal of the normal sense of hot and cold, high blood pressure, paralysis, and in rare cases coma and death. Most sufferers get over their illness within weeks or even a few days but Ms Austrin is among the very rare cases in which symptoms have lasted more than a year. The Whakatane 41-year-old suffers from hot and cold reversals, meaning her shower temperature has to be very hot to provide any comfort for her when she bathes. She still vomits every day - 18 months after her Fiji visit - and now has an extensive list of foods she cannot eat via a machine that feeds her for several hours of every day. She wants to warn those considering holidays in the tropics to take caution when eating fish. "Just don't eat it," she said. "There were no warnings whatsoever in Fiji
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Fiji-based American embassy is warning all green card lottery entrants to be wary of emails claiming to be sent from the US Department of State informing them that they have won the visa lottery or requesting the payment of any fees. The embassy in a statement said they never inform lottery winners by email, but through an Entrant Status Check which can only be done online at www.dvlottery.state.gov and requires entrants input the unique confirmation code given at the time of entrance into lottery. The Department of State also reiterated
US Embassy Warns On Green Card Scam
it will never request money to be paid online in relation to any stage of the Diversity Visa Lottery and for winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery saying application fees are only collected at the U.S. Embassy in Suva on the day of the interview. The fraudulent emails appear legitimate, often containing personal identifiable information, such as entrant names or phone numbers, or using U.S. government logos and if this type of email is received, please do not send money to any unknown source, the statement said.
Cement Production Resumes

The shortage in supply of cement currently faced in the country should normalize by next week. This is the assurance from the general manager of South Pacifics only cement producer, Mosese Waqavakatoga. Mr Waqavakatoga confirmed the mill in Lami had started running after having to stop early last month following the mill motor breaking down. He said cement production has now started and at the same time 8000 tonnes of imported cement from New Zealand arrived as well. Fiji Industries Limited is a subsidiary of Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL). FHL group acting chief executive, Nouzab Fareed, said they are working towards making up for the shortage being experienced. This year, we will not close production during Christmas, whereby every year, we close for two weeks, he said. We will slowly go back into 24-hour production to meet the demand. And if anything, Fiji Industries Limited has learnt its lesson from this encounter and Mr Fareed said they are reviewing their contingency plans. We should now start using a second mill, so that if something goes wrong with one, then we still have the other one to meet the demand, he said. Fiji Industries Limited has invited experienced engineers from Holcim New Zealand, a shareholder, to review the engineering. A few people whose houses are under construction have already expressed concerns about the shortage in cement supplies.
EDUCATION, in its ability to create employment opportunities for women and girls, has the potential to help create a prosperous economic future. Westpac Banking Corporation's general manager Adrian Hughes made the comments at the unveiling of the Westpac Women's Education Grant on Monday. The grant offers financial assistance to girls and women in primary schools, high schools, tertiary institutions and those women wishing to "go back to school" which is the theme of this year's grant program. Being its third round, Westpac has offered six grants in Fiji and 45 across the Pacific. "While we have some way to go to create true gender equity in this country, we hope that by giving these girls and women a financial boost, we'll at least give them a better chance to learn and strive for an opportunity to gain meaningful employment," said Mr Hughes. "According to figures released from AusAID, a staggering $US47billion ($F82.4bn) is lost in the Asia-Pacific region each year due to women's limited access to the job market."
Bank Funds Education For Pacific Women
Ban On Turtle Fishing

THE Fisheries Department has warned districts in Macuata Province that the slaying of turtles this festive season is illegal. Speaking at the recent Macuata Provincial Council meeting, Labasa fisheries officer Epeli Tawake said there would be many functions happening in villages which could see the killing of turtles as part of traditional fete. Mr Tawake said villagers who intend to kill turtles for any occasion should apply in writing to village heads who would write an accompanying witness letter to the provincial office that the turtle killing was for the said purpose. "The letter will then be forwarded to the provincial office for their confirmation that the letter is from the said village head before it is forwarded to the Fisheries Department office," said Mr Tawake. "We will forward the letter to either the permanent secretary or the minister for the department for their final endorsement." "Many a times we hear of people slaying turtles anyhow and there is a need to stop this as our stock of turtles are diminishing at a rapid rate," he said. Mr Tawake said the Fisheries Department would closely monitor all functions held in villages this festive season.
A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Shaoxing municipality in China and the Suva City Council will help increase exports in Fiji. Speaking at the council chambers on Tuesday, Suva's special administrator Chandu Umaria said the MOU signing would create the exchange of culture and create more investment in Fiji. Mr Umaria said the Shaoxing municipality had started importing fish and dalo. He said this would also create employment for locals to work in the
Agreement Signed To Help Exports
Mr Hughes said keeping women and girls in school could change this statistic for the better by placing them on a path to meaningful employment. He said women held only five per cent of parliamentary seats in the Pacific. "Yet according to AusAID, with every one per cent increase in the female parliamentary representation, the economy grows by 0.16 per cent." He said winners were chosen based on the strong response for the essay question "If there's one opportunity you could provide for women in your country, what that would be? One of the recipients Simran Ali said she felt relieved after getting the award. "I was nervous at first because some of my friends said everyone would write about education," she said. "Competition is very high but in the end I got it and I am happy." Ms Ali's focus was on educating women and that it would help them learn about their rights and how to stand up for themselves in unfair and unjust situations. "Being educated lessens the marginalization of women in today's society," she said.
dalo farms. "This will help our country's economy as a lot of investors have already started coming to Fiji," he said. Mr Umaria said the two main sectors they were looking at were agriculture and tourism. He said sister city relationships were important for all municipalities. "Sister city relationships are built on cultural understanding and peace through citizen diplomacy," he said. Mr Umaria said meaningful sister city links would be an asset for any community and its nation.
Lawyers Want Acquittal

LAWYERS for four Asian nationals charged with human trafficking requested the assessors to find their clients not guilty and acquit them. They asked the assessors to note that the court did not have enough evidence in relation to the charges their clients were facing. The accused are Thailand national Phanat Laojindamanee, Hong Kong national Lum Bing and two Chinese men Zhang Yong and Jason Zong. They are alleged to have been involved in trafficking three Thai women who arrived in the country on September 7 and were later taken from their room at the Peninsula International Hotel by Immigration officials on September 11. The court heard the women arrived with Mr Laojindamanee and Mr Bing. It is alleged the women were to work as masseuses. It is also alleged the women were expected to offer sexual services in exchange for money. The women, Mr Laojindamanee and Mr Bing were allegedly received by Zhang Yong at Nadi from where Mr Yong transported them to Suva in a hired van. It was while they were allegedly visiting massage parlors in Suva that the group was joined by Jason Zong.
Salary Staff Sent On Leave

Six civil servants working at the salaries section under Fijis Ministry of Finance are under investigation for ignorance of procedures and processes. Finance Permanent Secretary Filimone Waqabaca said the six have been sent on leave pending investigation. Once the report of the investigation by our Internal Audit and Good Governance Unit is completed, further steps will then be determined, said Waqabaca. The salaries section at the Ministry of Finance is responsible for monitoring salaries and wages for Govt.
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3 Year Fixed
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Mortuary services rendered by the SFD will refurbish the existing facility CWM Hospital will only be free for the and introduce a modernized facility Please change: first two days, according to new price with improved services. This will 5 year Fixed the autopsy structure announced by Fijis Ministry include rate @ 3.09% room, replacing of Health. the autopsy @ 2.65%, appropriate 5 year Variable rate tables andPrimeFollowing the signing of a MOU with embalming facility with new 0.35% Suva Funeral Directories (SFD) who fwd the PDF after also provide necessary Pls instruments and changes. agreed to lease the morgue facilities training for embalming to the Ministry (the old wing morgue and the container of Health staff. r fixed rate @ 3.09% located at the Suva The agreement according to the morgue) both Insured only- Condition all Call For Details Hospital, members r Variable rate @ 2.65%, of the public will minister also stipulated thatapplyfacilities be paying more from January 1, 2013. and equipment will be handed over to e-0.35 (please deletesaid the increase in fees the health ministry once the contract The ministry the s- regular to ensure commercial viability and expires. is conventional gage-- & ensure 5 years services by SFD. sustainability of the The current fee structure at the morgue itten) The contract was awarded for two is as follows:years subject to renewal based on Free for the first 3 days performance, said Health Minister Dr $30.00 per day for the 4th and 5th day Conditions$50.00 perCallon theDetails Apply day for 6th day onwards Neil Sharma. He said part of the agreement was for New fee structure as of January 1, 2013 the contractor to provide a 24 hour is as followsservice every day and to employ three Free for the first 2 days existing morgue staff of the ministry. $30.00 plus vat on the 3rd and 4th day On the same terms and agreement, Regular Conventional Mortgage 5th day onwards. $70.00 plus vat on the
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Fiji's New Currency Designs VariableUnveiled major historical change that Mortgage Fijis 2012 Flora and Fauna series of Another
banknotes and coins depicting our unique biodiversity and heritage, which would be issued from January 2nd, 2013, were officially unveiled by His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Officiating at the historic occasion, His Excellency said that today not only marked an important milestone for the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) towards the evolution of Fiji's currency system, but also for the nation as well. Ratu Epeli said the design and technical changes made by the RBF are significant, bold and on par with anything at the international level. The designs have been deliberately selected by a team of eminent Fijians to firmly remind us our beautiful national heritage that can all be too easily lost, if we fail to protect and treasure them. While our endemic flora and fauna may be treasures of natural beauty and pride, there is an underlying need to forever preserve, protect and promote them to the world, Ratu Epeli said. The President also commended the RBF for taking a step in the right direction by incorporating some of Fiji's unique flora and fauna onto our banknotes and coins. This is indeed high recognition, as currency is another form of a nation's identity. The more appealing and relevant the designs on our currency are to our national heritage, the more our currency portrays our nation. Let us, therefore, take pride in our money by appreciating the designs embedded in them. They are there to promote our uniqueness and our national heritage to the world, Ratu Epeli added.
(conditions apply)
would feature in the new flora and fauna series is the removal of the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is now time to move forward as we strive to create our own identity synonymous to what Fiji is all about, its people, its resources and its national heritage. The new 2013 series of banknotes and coins feature designs of our local endemic flora and fauna, some of which are believed to be extinct, given that they have not been sighted for many years. The designs will continue the tradition of promoting our uniqueness as a nation to the world, Ratu Epeli highlighted. The design subjects range from the birds of Kadavu to the high misted forests of Taveuni, to a truly unique insect, to iconic flowers, and to marine species found in highland streams and in our oceans. The selection of these themes has been done meticulously to help educate us all of our national heritage and for all of us to act now to protect them for the future generations of Fijians. Meanwhile, the Governor of the RBF, Mr Barry Whiteside said the new banknotes and coins are the biggest currency design changes the Reserve Bank has undertaken in recent times. Our first truly Fijian currency was introduced 78 years ago in January, 1934 emulating the pounds, shillings and pence system of our British colonial period. It took us 35 years to realise that a decimal system was much easier on the brain and it was in January 1969 that we made the change over to the present decimal system or dollars and cents, Mr Whiteside said. Usually as custodians of Fijis
currency, the Reserve Bank will undertake a review every ten years or sooner if there is a need. Changing the designs of security features and security features on our currency is a complex exercise - one that requires a lot of research and planning, the Governor said. Mr Whiteside highlighted that after the issuance of the new flora and fauna series in a months time, the old notes
and coins would still be in circulation. The old currency would be phased out gradually by the end of December next year. It would take a bit of time to replace the older ones, he said. The RBF has a contract with De La Rue Currency of United Kingdom for the printing of the new banknotes while the Royal Canadian Mint of Canada is responsible for the minting of the coins.
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Comments on spending, taxing and incentives

Rather than seeking to span the breadth of the 2013 Budget content, this article extracts the key substance and provides a critical analysis. 1. Tourism ($23.5m) Tourism is now Fijis foremost industry in terms of employment and foreign exchange earnings. There has been almost a 100 per cent rise (in nominal terms) in allocation for Fijis tourism industry during the last decade. In real terms, this represents almost an 80 per cent rise. While this sounds good on paper, the Government should question the marginal benefits of additional funding. The argument regarding the multiplier effect of tourism is not good enough in this case. An independent study examining the costs and benefits of more funding would be the way to go. 2. Elections Office ($11m) The allocation of $11 million to the Elections Office to prepare for the 2014 parliamentary elections signals a positive development. This provides certainty, to a large extent, that elections will be held in 2014 as promised. It should thus provide the environment for the foundation required to create confidence and faith in the future direction of our political system. 3. Sugar Industry ($15m) Once regarded as the backbone of the Fijian economy; the industry was on the verge of collapse only a few years ago. The turnaround, with support from the government, has been notable. The budgetary expenditure for the sugar industry includes implementation of a quality cane payment system. While this would be probably one of the most innovative and long overdue measures to be implemented in the industry during the last decade, more systemic problems still plaque the industry. In particular, the current property rights in relation to ownership and usage of land has been one of the major factors for the downfall of the industry. Unless supply side constraints are resolved, there is not much hope for the industry. Government support through subsidies may revitalise the industry in the short term, but it may still find it difficult to survive in the long term if it does not lift overall productivity and competitiveness. 4. Investment incentives The decision to implement tax free zone from Korovou to Tavua for the agricultural sector is a welcome move. This should provide the incentives for new investment. Nonetheless, supply side constraints relating to land ownership and leasing that have crippled the agricultural sector may impede new investment decisions. The argument is not new and has been discussed before. The institutional structure of property rights relating to land needs major reforms if it is to respond to the needs of a modern Fijian economy. 5. Fiji Roads Authority ($422m) Quality of government spending is always a concern. Provision of $422 million for infrastructure is beyond doubt a quality spending. Infrastructure in Fiji has been falling apart and this injection should provide the much needed funds required to repair and improve roads and ageing bridges. No previous government in Fiji since independence has ever allocated more $400 million (in real terms) for any reform or government department. This is indicative of the extent of the current problem in infrastructure. Fijis economic prosperity depends heavily, apart from other fundamental factors, on the efficiency and effectiveness of its transportation infrastructure. Spending in infrastructure development should thus provide positive externalities by making travelling to and from work and transporting goods more efficiently and thereby providing productivity gains. 6. Health ($167m) An increase of $15 million (compared to fiscal year 2012) to the Ministry of Health is absolute justifiable. This is an important government department that provides a vital service in any country. Any increase towards health should create positive spill over. Nonetheless, Fijis health system will require more funding over the years to bring it to a higher standard. This cannot be achieved overnight and will need sustained higher levels of spending in the future. 7. Education ($268m) Education is another important component of any nations budgetary expenditure. Allocation for Ministry of Education takes care of primary, secondary and tertiary education. The budgetary allocation for Ministry of Education plays a critical role in Fijis human capital development, which is one of the fundamental factors of long term economic growth. The Government has also assigned funding to further develop preschool education. While long overdue, this should boost the ability of those entering the primary school and give them a head start. Fiji is blessed with a good primary and secondary education system. However, efforts should be made to compare how our students perform in international assessments compared to other countries. 8. Fiji Police Force ($92m) Rule of law and order is necessary to provide confidence in the workings of an economic system. There has been legitimate concern about the recent rise in crime, particularly violent robberies, and prison breakouts. It not only creates fear amongst the public but provides bad publicity for Continued On Page 7
Why 2013 Budget works
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THE Japanese government has given $381,000 to assist in the reconstruction of the Naviyago Bridge in Lautoka and to provide a mini-excavator to the Nadi Town Council. The projects will be implemented through Japan's Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program. Japanese Ambassador Eiichi Oshima said the reconstruction of the bridge was expected to provide relief to about 1000 villagers. "At least three people have already drowned in the river this year," he said. Mr Oshima said it would also improve safety as people no longer needed to take long detour to get to their workplaces and schools, nor risk their lives by swimming across the river. He said the embassy decided to provide
Japan Donates $381,000 To Assist Flood-Prone Areas
Why 2013 Budget Works

Continued From Page 6 tourists and foreign investors. With tourism one of the most important industries and a nation in dire need of foreign investment for job creation, a well-equipped and efficient police force and a competent judiciary should be of utmost priority to the government. Thus the government has got its priority right by increasing the budget for Fiji Police Force compared to 2012. 9. Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection ($32.3m) Poverty is one of the most important problems facing Fiji today. While there has been significant reduction in poverty around the world in the last decade, poverty has actually increased in Fiji. Increases in funding for poverty alleviation, particularly welfare payments to the absolute poor (maximum of $150 per month), only shows the failure of previous governments policies to reduce poverty. The Government should ensure strong economic growth is achieved to make a significant dent on poverty and improve living standards. This will, at least in the long run, take care of the welfare role that has come to be expected of the government. Any welfare programme should be temporary as a culture of entitlement is usually politically difficult to break. 10. Taxes Personal tax threshold has been increased to $16,000. On paper it looks like this should provide relief to households that fall into $15,600 to $16,000. However, one also needs to look at how many in this bracket actually paid any tax at the time tax returns are finalised. By not charging taxes to people whose tax were deducted but refunded at the end of the year, this is not providing any real benefit to those households. Some better incentives include tax benefits have to foreign firms that relocate headquarters to Fiji and 18.5 per cent corporate tax rate to newly listed companies on South Pacific Stock Exchange with 40 per cent local shareholding. In a small economy such as Fiji, the obligation to pay corporate taxes falls on shareholders is unlikely and that the ultimate burden of corporate tax falls mainly on labour. Corporate taxes thus results in lower investment in the economy and a smaller capital stock. This in turn leads to lower labour productivity of labour and, therefore, lower wages.
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the Nadi Town Council with a miniexcavator through consultations with the council for immediate assistance. Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki said the reconstruction work would be contracted to the Works Ministry. He said the estimated timeline for the project was three months. He said the reconstruction of the bridge would bring back normality and relief to the lives of the people. "Close to 1000 people from the different communities in the area will use the bridge," said Commander Cawaki. Nadi Town Council's chief executive officer Nemia Tagi said the miniexcavator would assist the council in its drainage and cleaning works to minimize the impacts of flooding.
Rate Increase To Affect Shipping
The largest shipping line in the world, Maersk Line has announced rate increase to refrigerated container (reefer). The significant freight rate rise will be felt worldwide and Fiji by January 1, 2013. The increase will be added to the freight component of the cost of shipping a container, and will be US$750 (F$1327) per 20 foot reefer and US$1500 (F$2654) per 40 foot reefer container. Maersk Line carry significant volumes of Fiji exports; frozen fish to Asia, Europe, the United States, as well as dalo and manufactured foodstuff to Australia and New Zealand and other Pacific Islands. The line is also a large player in the importation of refrigerated foodstuff, meat, fruits and vegetables to Fiji. Maersk Line's Fiji agent, Barbara Wong-Nasara of Shipping Services Fiji Limited said that falling freight rates prior to the global financial crisis in 2009, combined with the increased operational costs has meant that freight rates have eroded to an extent whereby many shipping lines are barely containing the cost of moving refrigerated cargo worldwide. "Maersk Line has conducted quite a few studies that show the demand for protein packed foods like meats and seafood has increased exponentially worldwide, and people increasingly
expect to see imported foreign food at their local supermarket and think nothing of the logistic cost of actually getting it there. Maersk Line recognises this and have put billions of dollars worth of investment into research, development and production of thousands of refrigerated containers each year, far more than any other shipping line in the market. "However, the returns on investments have been far from satisfactory". Maersk Line envisages that if this action is not taken now, there will be an acute worldwide shortage of reefer containers within the next five years. "We are very cognizant of the fact that this is a big call and we expect to sustain some loss in market share, but this is a strategic move from a global perspective that is necessary" said Jeffrey Lin Chief Operating Officer of Shipping Services. When asked how other shipping lines will react to this, Mr Lin said, "That is entirely their call. "We can't do too much about that but I dare say that they are also facing similar issues and it would not surprise me in the least that they are also reviewing revenue and cost structures." Maersk Line via their Fiji agent Shipping Services operates two services that serve Suva and Lautoka ports.
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Law To Protect Women, Children

VANUAKULA Village in Tavua has implemented a new law to provide greater protection to women and children. This was revealed during a visit to the village by Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Minister Dr Jiko Luveni. She said people needed to break the culture of silence and report cases of domestic violence. "Many times a lot of cases of domestic violence are not recorded," she said. Dr Luveni said violence not only left emotional scars but was an economic cost for the nation. Vanuakula Soqosoqo Vakamarama president Tarusila Uqeuqe said rural women were victims of violence because of poverty and cultural barriers. Mrs Uqeuqe said no violence had been recorded in the village since the implementation of the new village law. "Everybody, particularly men, are now giving more attention to their families and women and youths are given opportunities to speak on village development issues," she said. Mrs Uqeuqe said women were the victims of violence and they suffered in silence. "This is no longer acceptable in Vanuakula and stopping violence is now everybody's business." Village headman Solomone Fagu said anyone found breaking the law would be dealt with by the gate keeping committee. "Last year we had a number of domestic violence cases and this year with the help from police and the ministry, the villagers participated in workshops on the Domestic Violence Decree and Crimes Decree," said Mr Fagu. He said a gate keeping committee had been formed to ensure the new law was respected and honoured.
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BUYING a house has now been made affordable for middle and low income earners with Housing Authority's new project at the Wainibuku subdivision. HA signed a contract with BW Holdings Limited, a locally-owned family company based in Suva, for the development of 261 residential lots at the subdivision along the NasinuNausori corridor. "The Wainibuku project will produce a mix of lots with 70 per cent being targeted at middle and low income families," Dwain Qalovaki, Housing Authority's spokesman revealed. "The Wainibuku project is the second mixed development in the country after Tacirua East Stage 2 that is aimed at creating home ownership for every Fijian regardless of gender, social and financial status. "It is also in line with our government's vision of creating affordable, decent and quality housing for Fijians by the year 2020." The new subdivision, which is located on 41 acres of crown lease land, will be developed in three phases. Mr Qalovaki confirmed the first 100 lots are expected to be completed by July, 2013 with a further 90 lots by October in the same year. The remaining 71 lots are expected to be completed by March, 2014 a timeline the contractor and Housing Authority would work towards achieving. The Wainibuku mixed development project will also have one lot redesigned for religious purposes and one commercial lot. "The lots will range from 400 to 1000 square meters and is expected to begin selling at approximately $20,000 depending on the size and location." According to Housing Authority's demand survey, there was genuine demand for housing at the subdivision with 2000 citizens noting their interest to own a lot in this area. "As Fijians purchase any of these lots next year, they will be able to utilize the VAT refund scheme that was announced as part of the 2013 National Budget," Mr Qalovaki said. "Once a citizen purchases the lot and builds a house to the value of $120,000 with the purpose of living in it, they will be able to claim a VAT refund of a maximum of approximately $15,600. "This is money they can use to either reduce their home loan account, invest in their children's education, place a down-payment on a car or put it toward savings. "The trickle on effect of the VAT refund is that it encourages people to build a house, stimulates the construction sector by creating employment and provides a monetary refund that can be used to reduce their home loan accounts or investments." The subdivision at Wainibuku is expected to be handed over to BW Holdings Limited next week for development works to begin. HA chief executive officer Alipate Naiorosui said the tender was advertised and subsequently awarded to BW Holdings based on their timeframe submitted for the completion of works, the financial position of the firm and the underlying factor being affordability for low and middle income families. "We are pleased to be awarded this project and we are happy that Housing Authority and the government are investing in projects of this quota which allows local contractors to bid for. We want to thank Housing Authority for running numerous projects and also providing solutions to squatters which is in line with current government policies," BW Holdings director Ugesh Narayan said.
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Fiji News
Governments Poverty Benefit Scheme administered by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation will assist 13,000 households in 2013. The Ministrys permanent secretary Mr Govind Sami said the new Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS) will replace the Family Assistance Program. Under the new program, payment will be made to households where a maximum of 4 persons reside in that household. Through the Poverty Benefit Scheme we will be able to target 13,000 household who have been found to be falling in poor category as per the household expenditure survey report. The maximum payment would be $150, which will inclusive of the $30 food voucher. It should provide coverage to about 10 percent of the population, Mr Sami said. He said the Ministry has developed a new application form for social welfare which has already been pre- tested. The new form will be rolled out from January next year and all the current files under the Family Assistance program will be recertified to verify that these clients qualify under the Poverty Benefit Scheme.
13,000 Households To Benefit From Poverty Scheme
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To ensure a smooth roll out, Mr Sami said the Ministry officers have been given IT equipment and a work plan to ensure all files are recertified. The first payments under this new benefit scheme will be made in April next year. New applications can be lodged from beginning of 2013 at the all social welfare offices, he said. Mr Sami said that assistance will be provided to the clients for maximum of 3 years and upon approval the head of the household have to sign a declaration that able bodied individuals in the family will be given skills training and graduated from welfare system. Payments will be to the head of household and all payments will be done electronically. Within the period of assistance, the able bodied family members will be required to look for meaningful employment or engage in income generating projects. Ministry will provide the training, Mr Sami. He said the second program is Care and Protection Program (C&P) and will be provided to the following categories: Single Mothers, Deserted Spouse, Widows, Prisoner Dependents, Foster parents/guardians.
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Captain Cook Cruises Spreads Tourism Dollar

The tourism dollar is being spread further as the countrys two main cruiseship companies, Blue Lagoon and Captain Cook, open up new cruises to new islands. Port Denarau-based Captain Cook has now announced its latest expansion, an 11-night cruise to parts of the Lau group previously off the tourism track. It comes after rivals Blue Lagoon successfully pioneered trips to the Vanuabalavu islands in northern Lau aboard its luxury flagship Mystique Princess. Captain Cooks new Discovery Cruise by its 3125-tonne flagship MV Reef Endeavour will visit a series of islands in the northern and central Lau group, lying between Fiji and Tonga. Managing director of Captain Cook Cruises, Jackie Charlton, said: Captain Cook Cruises is so excited to be able to offer the first-ever cruise around the Lau Group of Islands. We have worked really hard, using local knowledge and advice, to put together a fantastic 11-night itinerary that will not only show off everything Lau has to offer, but that will allow passengers to experience a remote and unspoilt part of Fiji. Places to visit The cruise will visit some of the Lau groups untouched hidden beauties. This includes the breath-taking island of Kabara, well known for its wood turning and Tongan heritage, the untouched white beaches of Totoya Island, Wailagilala, Laus largest Island Vanuabalavu, most beautiful Fulaga and the uninhabited island of Vuaqava. On the way to and from the Lau group, the cruise will stop in at Yanuca Island and Savusavu Bay. On the return voyage it will call at Kadavu, famous for its wildlife and underwater world. Passengers will also get to relax and enjoy the spectacular views as they cruise through Vanuabalavus Bay of Islands, renowned for its beauty, pristine waters and spectacular scenery and the central Lau Group, passing Islands such as Lakeba, Oneata, Komo, Namuka-i-Lau and Yagasa. Activities and entertainment Activities offered on the trip include kayaking, mountain bike riding, fishing, visiting Fijian and Tonganinfluenced villages and exploring the flora and fauna, snorkeling and diving in the clear blue ocean water off picturesque islands. This is apart from the on board facilities available including the ships swimming pool, spas, pool bar, sun deck, sauna, cocktail bar, day spa and library. The 11-night cruise starts from $6345 per adult twin share, sole occupancy from $7930, children 5-17 years sharing with adults from $1350 and children under four years from $2210 which includes a nanny service.
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Business Owners Warned On Corrupt Practices

Business owners and investors are warned not to bribe those in public offices. Fiji Independent Against Corruption Commission (FICAC) spokeswoman Cegu Babana said public officers should stop putting their private gains before the welfare of citizens and economic development of their respective provinces. Dont be either at the receiving or at the bribing end, said Babana. Babana said Fijians see corruption as something that permeates their lives, like air pollution, but they need to think much more carefully about it. We know people will be tempted to give in to corruption for extra money to spend on Christmas or to satisfy their Christmas urges, hence the timely reminder to think twice before you do anything that is catastrophic to your career and your life ultimately, she said. She said those that are engaged in corrupt activities will always leave a footprint and in time, the law will catch up with them. She also said people need to change their mindset, and live and manage within their means.
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Fiji News
Gruesome Death Of A Mother

TWO young children are without a mother and the family is still in shock over the alleged stabbing of a woman whose brother suffered a similar fate in 2006. Police confirmed that Nancy Pillay, 29, was allegedly stabbed to death with a kitchen knife while on a fishing boat last Sunday night. Fiji Police Force spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said a 45-year-old Lautoka fisherman was taken in for questioning and was in police custody. She said the fatal stabbing happened about 9pm. "A 31-year-old heard a noise from the boat cabin and when he checked to see what was happening, he saw the accused allegedly stabbing the deceased with a kitchen knife," she said. The fisherman was in the boat with the deceased as well as two other fishermen, aged 31 and 50 years of age. "The accused attempted to escape from the scene but the 31-year-old man managed to pull him back in the boat," said Ms Naisoro. "The matter was reported to police when they returned to the Fisheries Wharf in Lautoka." "When police arrived at the scene the body of the deceased was found inside the cabin of the boat. "The suspect was arrested and is currently in police custody as investigations continue," said Ms Naisoro. The reporter visited the late Ms Pillay's family home in Field 40, Lautoka and spoke with her sister-in-law, Amelia Tawake. "This is the second time such an incident has happened in our family," she said. "Nancy's older brother was also murdered in Suva in 2006. "Nancy is the only girl in her family and now my husband is the only sibling left in the family. "The most painful part about the death of Nancy is that she has left behind her two children." Mrs Tawake said they last talked to the deceased on Sunday morning. "Nancy told us that she would be going fishing and will return the next day to buy school stationery for her two children. The two kids have been raised by their mother and their grandmother" "We were shocked when the police officers came home on Sunday to relay the news. "Nancy was a kind-hearted woman who always cared for everyone and she will be greatly missed," said Ms Tawake.
More Students For Asia Training

The Public Service Commission will be sending more students to be trained in Asia in 2013. This has been confirmed by the Commissions permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand. Mr Chand stated that there will be substantial increases in the number of in-service and pre-service students destined for training institutions in countries such as the Peoples Republic of China, India, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Indonesia in 2013. This increase is attributed to Fijis Look North Policy and the growing attractiveness of training in Asia. The recent increase in awards granted by these countries to Fiji has been the major contributing factor to Fijis close engagement with Asian countries, in the education and training sector. At this point in time, Fiji has more than 200 (two hundred) trainees, on long-term study programs, in China, India, Malaysia, Japan and Korea and Indonesia. We expect this number to increase to more than 250 in 2013, Mr Chand said. Furthermore, the number of short-term training programs supported by Asian Development Partners has shown a marked increase in the recent past. This year, over 500 training programs were on offer to Fiji residents to study in Asian institutions and agencies. Mr Chand further stated, that in the coming year, all aspiring Governmentsponsored students have been advised to secure placements in universities in Asian countries. It is anticipated that more than 20 students will be awarded new PSC Overseas Scholarship awards, in 2013, and all these students will be studying in reputable Universities in Asia. Mr Chand said that training in Asia is now more attractive given the affordability, the improved quality of training, accessibility and Fijis growing bilateral relationship with these countries. He confirmed that there is likely to be a 25% increase in the number of trainees going for preservice and in-service courses in Asia in 2013.

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Fiji News
11
Fijis Biometric Voter Registration Canteen Business Boosts Remote Surpasses Half A Million Rural Community
More than half a million voters in Fiji have registered to vote in the upcoming 2014 elections, using a biometric thumbprint registry system. The Attorney-General and Minister Responsible for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this marks another significant achievement in Fijis Electronic Voter Registration (EVR). We are happy and proud that the Fijian people have shown such a strong commitment to this process, Sayed Khaiyum said. The impressive turnout is a clean indication that Fijians are keen to participate in true parliamentary democracy for the first time in Fijis history. With some registration teams from the outer islands still to report their figures, the current tally for the second round of EVR which ran from November 10 to December 7 stands at 17,295. This is in addition to the 487,293 who registered during the first round of registration from July to September. The Fijian Elections Office has employed a biometric voter registration system designed by CODE Inc, a Canadian company. Through the incorporation of biometric safeguards, such as a thumbprint scan, the Republic of Fiji is confident this technology will help to ensure a clean voter list and would eliminate voter fraud during the 2014 elections. After the first round of registration, 1,441 fraudulent or duplicate entries were found and removed from the registry and the Republic suggests the same process of de-duping and cleansing the voter registry will take place leading up to the 2014 elections. As reported previously in BiometricUpdate.com, 380 kits were initially purchased from CODE Inc., for US$3.9 million. Located in the interior of Tailevu North, Nasau village has now been given a new means of income-generation to economically empower rural women who mostly depend on fishing and farming for their day to day living. This has been possible following a recent ministerial visit by Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni. The community had requested for funding to start a canteen project and within weeks, the ministry responded with $2000 to help them start the first canteen project for Nasau Womens Group. With much joy, the president of Nasau Soqosoqo Vakamarama, Salaneita Leba thanked the government for fulfilling their requests. We have 200 people living in this village and women are important as we not only fish and farm we have to prepare food for our families, she said. And because we live far from mainland, we find it difficult to buy basic food items from the Korovou town. Thus my womens group decided to have a canteen project for the village. Items sold in the canteen includes biscuits, canned fish, cooking oil, flour, sugar, rice, salt, tea, dhal, washing powders, bathing soap and even school stationeries. Plans for savings Mrs Leba said the money collected would be saved into the women groups savings account and it would be allocated for educational needs of the children. We are confident that through the savings, one day we will be able to start fish pond project to earn more income, she said. Motivation Sharing his views on this project, village spokesman, Epi Donumaibulu, said the project had motivated the women to work hard to become financially independent. This is first womens project in this village and it has been possible through the frequent visit by the government officials to assist us in every way possible to improve our village life, Mr Donumaibulu said. The Minister, during her second visit to Nasau village last week reiterated: Economic empowerment of rural women is an important component in poverty alleviation. Government will continue to reach out to the rural communities, listen to their plight and help them to improve their livelihoods.
Fiji Hosts Civil Aviation Talks

Fiji is hosting yet another international conference, this time of 22 Asia Pacific countries who are members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). They are discussing changes to navigation protocols to reduce aircraft congestion and noise, conserve fuel, protect the environment and allow airlines to maintain reliable all-weather services to even the most challenging airports. Opening the conference in Nadi, the Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said that the rapid growth of the aviation industry in recent years had presented the industry with new challenges that need to be addressed. Solutions have to be identified and developed now in a holistic manner if greater efficiency is to be achieved. Everyone now acknowledges the need to solve the congestion of airways and aerodromes, he said. The Attorney-General said the ICAO had developed a new navigation protocol called Performance Based Navigation (PBN) that would revolutionize the existing system and make it safer and more efficient. Most of the Pacific Island States continue to use conventional groundbased navigation aids as primary means of navigation. These groundbased systems have served the aviation community well since their inception. However, they do not permit the flexibility of point-to-point operations available with PBN to meet the challenges of the future, he added. He said the conference will assist the Pacific Island States to develop PBN plans and identity gaps in their implementation. Speaking afterwards, the AttorneyGeneral said that Fiji was positioning itself as an important regional hub in civil aviation. As part of the Bainimarama Government's policy of encouraging and implementing international compliance requirements, such as HACCP and ISO, we are also committed to adopting best international practice and standards in the aviation industry. A healthy civil aviation industry is crucial to Fijis prosperity and development and has flow-on benefits for the tourism industry."
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Tropical Depression Expected To Turn Into Tropical Cyclone

The Nadi Weather office said the tropical depression situated to the far North of Fiji is expected to turn into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 24 to 48 hours. Director Alipate Waqaicelua said there are still indications that this system may move towards Fiji in an intensified form by late Friday. Waqaicelua added that if the system moves towards Fiji, the effects will be felt from this Sunday so people need to be well prepared and ready. The system is currently heading towards Samoa and at 11am Wednesday it was located 650km East-North-East of Labasa.
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Fiji News
Republics Of Mozambique And Fiji PM Calls For Greater Justice For Establish Diplomatic Relations Women
The Republic of Mozambique and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations at a ceremony at the Mozambique Mission to the United Nations in New York. The Republic of Mozambique permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Antonio Gumende and his Fiji counterpart, Ambassador Peter Thomson, signed a joint communiqu establishing diplomatic relations between the two developing nations. The communiqu expresses the desire of the Republics of Fiji and Mozambique to establish their diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and in conformity with the United Nations Charter and international law. Following the formalisation ceremonies, Ambassadors Gumende and Thomson held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries. Ambassador Thomson reported on the steady progress of the Fiji Roadmap towards the achievement of sustainable democracy in 2014. Undertaking to work together closely at the United Nations, the ambassadors discussed the cooperative opportunities available to Mozambique and Fiji through the International Sugar Organisation, the International Seabed Authority, the ACP, the Commonwealth, and the Group of 77. The Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, has stressed the significance of his Governments efforts to modernize Fijis laws to provide greater justice for women. Speaking at the opening of the 14th annual Attorney-Generals conference at Natadola, he said the Government wanted to end the entrenched privilege of men in Fiji who resist equal rights for women. The Prime Minister cited a raft of laws that his Government has introduced to promote and protect womens rights. We have ensured gender equality through new laws. For example, the removal of archaic rules requiring corroboration in rape trials; recognizing the property rights of those living in de facto relationships; stopping the marriage of our female children; and the introduction of a new legal regime that addresses the abhorrent practice of domestic violence, he said. The Prime Minister said the Governments Domestic Violence Decree had given women greater protection from domestic violence. The law clarifies the responsibilities of the police and allows for restraining orders and other measures to protect women from abusive partners. The Prime Minister told the conference violence against women not only had an impact on the victim and her family, including children. It also has wider implications. For example, if a woman has been subjected to physical violence in her home, she cannot be expected to come into work the next day and contribute productively, he said. The Prime Minister noted the views of some critics who have argued recently that increased reports of domestic violence demonstrate a failure on the part of authorities to protect women. I would contend that (these) reports could have increased because now more women are reporting abuse because they feel protected and supported by the new laws, he said. Speaking afterwards, the Prime Minister said improving the lot of women was one of the Governments key priorities. We all need to accept that women in Fiji play just as important a role as men in national life and the countrys development. But its not enough just to change the law. We also need to change our attitudes and our values to empower women, he said.
All Fiji and non Fiji citizens have been urged to pay the correct tax and duty and lodge their returns at the right time. Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority chief executive Jitoko Tikolevu said if discrepancy is ascertained and taxpayers are found liable for taxes to be paid then penalties will be imposed in line with the level and nature of omission. Tikolevu said most common offences committed by exporters, importers and customs agents include undervaluation of goods to avoid payment of duties, abuse of concessions, importations of prohibited goods; incorrect tariff classification; incorrect years of manufacture and double invoicing and breach of warehouse procedures. He said FRCA has taken the step to raise awareness on corruption this year by implementing initiatives to curb
Pay Correct Taxes And On Time, FRCA Urges
corruption externally and internally. He also said recently FRCA implemented the whistle blower policy and it refers to any employee, member of Management or Board of Directors of FRCA or external stakeholder, who discloses any serious concerns or report any serious wrong within FRCA rather than ignoring the problem and blowing the whistle outside. A whistle blower that provides information or documents to the authority contributing significantly to the success of the investigation and prosecution by the authority shall be entitled to at least 10% of the tax revenue recovered as a monetary or non-monetary reward, he said. Tikolevu also highlighted they will ensure that a whistle blower could make any disclosure without fear of victimisation or discrimination.
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Colgate Palmolive (Fiji) is the latest private entity teaming up with the Ministry of Health to address health awareness in the country, in particular oral health care. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement to cement this partnership and the work that will be carried out between both parties which includes funding from Colgate for Fijis National Oral Health Survey 2011. The survey was completed this year and it is anticipated that the results will be published soon and will show the general status of the teeth and oral
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health of our people. The results will also guide the Ministry of Health, through new policies and strategies, on the kinds of service delivery needed in Fiji. At the signing of the agreement, Colgate Palmolive (Fiji) general manager Mr Nick Ryan pointed out that the company was pleased to work with the Fijian government by contributing to this survey. Mr Ryan said that the partnership would build the Ministrys vision of making efficient oral health services and facilities more accessible in the country.
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Fiji News
13
Medical Group Teams Up For Cardiac Surgery

The Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Sahyadri Hospitals Pacific Limited will undertake interventional cardiac angiograms, stenting and open heart surgery between March 25th and April 5th, 2013. The teams will be headed and supported by Dr Vijay Kapaida and his Australian team for interventional cardiac catheterization studies before determining which cases will require surgery. Patients needing open cardiac surgery need to register, through their clinics, general practitioners and medical insurance companies with Ministry of Health personnel Manjula Wati and Vutaeli Bolaqace. The medical group conducted the second wave of advanced Orthopaedic Surgery where 50 patients were screened and 8 cases of knee and Hip Surgery were successfully undertaken. Six (6) patients have been discharged to home care and the remaining two (2) allowed to go home. Meanwhile Fijis Roving Ambassador to the Pacific Mrs Litia Mawi will also work with regional neighbours to consider Fiji as an option for heart surgery in future.
Ex-Miss India Fiji Earns MBBS Degree
Miss Fiji Named 2nd Runner Up
Miss Fiji Drue Slatter was named the 2nd runner up of the 2012 Miss South Pacific Pageant (MSPP) in American Samoa. The 19-year-old Journalism student of the University of the South Pacific and the reigning Miss Hibiscus was the youngest contestant in the pageant . Miss Samoa was crowned Miss South Pacific 2012 while Miss Cook Islands was named the first runner up. Miss PNG finished off as the 3rd runner up. Delegates from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji,
Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Hawaiian Islands, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the Cook Islands were represented in the pageant and Miss South Pacific 2011, Alisi Rabukawaqa of Fiji crowned the new winner. Special awards: Best Traditional Dress- Miss Samoa Best Sarong- Miss PNG Miss Internet- Miss American Samoa Miss Personality- Miss Hawaii Miss Photogenic- Miss Samoa National Tourism Award- Miss PNG Best Talent- Miss Samoa
Nafiza Shabnam Nisha Miss India Fiji 2011, Nafiza Shabnam Nisha graduated from Fiji National University's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), becoming the first doctor in her family. The 24-year-old who is also a part of Models Fiji said if not for guidance of God, love from her parents, support from her siblings and her boyfriend she would not have made it through the six years of hard work she endured. The Rakiraki lady told the media that becoming a doctor was her dream and she felt proud of being able to accomplish it. Nisha was among 53 students who graduated with MBBS. They now await confirmation on their postings in January 2013.
Fiji Film To Be Released In January

THE first Bollywood movie entirely shot in Fiji will be released worldwide on January 4 next year. The official trailer of the psychological thriller Table No 21 directed by Aditya Datt, featuring model turned actress Tena Desae with Rajeev Khandelwal and Paresh Rawal is out. In an interview, Fiji Films chief executive officer Florence Swamy said the trailer was really amazing and the locations in Fiji had been showcased at its best. "The movie will showcase to the rest of the world that Fiji is not only a tourist destination but a production destination as well," Mrs Swamy said. She said with the release of the film soon, it clearly showed that the financial schemes and government rebates on film production were working. Mrs Swamy said they were working closely with the production house and other stakeholders to hold special screenings of the film in the country. The movie will also feature about 1000 locals. Table No 21 is a story based on the lead actor and actress coming to Fiji where they played a mind game. The movie is a twisted tale about a couple the lead actor and actress out on a lavish holiday to Fiji and how they end up on the Table No 21 sitting across a mysterious man where they are asked questions and if they lied, they die. The theme song of the film 'If You Lie, You Die' has been choreographed by Remo D'Souza. The film will be released by Eros International.
9 Months Jail Term

A husband has been jailed for nine months by the High Court in Lautoka after he punched and stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife at their home. The court heard the couple had been married for 16 years, have eight children who are all under the age of 12 had returned home from work and decided to consume alcohol but later in the evening the mans wife got ready to go to town for clubbing and further entertainment. The man got angry, punched her and she fell on the ground and grabbed him but she was later pulled to the kitchen and was stabbed. The man was then issued with a restraining order but his wife pleaded with the court that she was unable to manage their eight children without his financial support and the man was then bailed in order to help his family. In sentencing him Justice Sitambarampillai Thurairaja said he considered his early guilty plea, he is a first offender, his period in remand and his subsequent conduct of maintaining the wife and children without residing with them. The mans nine months imprisonment term has been suspended for two years and he has 30 days to appeal.
14
Fiji News
Fiji Constitution Commission Findings Leaked

A draft copy of the recommendations of Fiji's Constitution Commission has been leaked. The document is to be officially handed to the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau some time before Christmas. But copies of the document are now available on several blog sites. Dr Brij Lal, an academic who coauthored Fiji's 1997 constitution, has seen the recommendations, and he says although he has some issues with some of them, the general approach is a good one. Interviewer: Bruce Hill Speaker: Dr Brij Lal, Australian National University, who co-authored Fiji's 1997 constitution LAL: My first reaction is that on the whole there are many good things in the document. It makes a number of significant recommendations which will take Fiji away in a new direction. There are some things which are obviously missing at the moment, and there are some recommendations which are problematic. I mean the things that I think are good in this is it's moving away from a system of racial representation, I think that's a good thing. The term of parliament has been reduced to four years, which is not necessarily a bad thing. One of the many significant differences from the 1997 constitution is that this document proposes to remove the multi-party cabinet provision that was there in that document. In other words under the old constitution any political party which had more than ten per cent of seats in parliament was constitutionally entitled to be invited to serve in Cabinet. Here that provision is removed on the understanding I think that power sharing will be done through the electoral system. And the second major difference of course is the electoral provisions of the consultation document. In the 1997 constitution you had the alternative vote system that's in Australia. What they're proposing here is a closed list system where the country will be divided into four electoral districts; north, south, east, west, and elections will be held accordingly from a list that political parties presents to the electorate. HILL: Doesn't that give a lot of power to party leaders though to choose who's going to be on that list? That assumes that the party system in Fiji is really well developed, and I don't know that that's the case? LAL: I think this is one of the difficulties of this, that this indeed gives too much power to party elite, party leaders, and in a sense the voter is in some sense put at a disadvantage because you won't have a single constituency member to whom you could go to have your grievances readdressed and so on. The one that is I think a bit problematic, at least on the surface, is the provision for electing the President. Now the President will in this document have the same kind of nominal role that a head of a state has in the conventional Westminster system. But as I read the document, the President will be elected by an assembly of Fiji, which will include the president, prime minister and worthies from about 100 or so organisations in the country, NGOs and so on. On paper it looks good but I think that it's problematic in the sense that it sets up a rival centre of power if you will. HILL: Well as you say this is a draft sort of recommendations, what actually happens to these recommendations? Are they going to get through completely unchanged, or will this new constituent assembly, which is being selected by the interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, possibly change it before it becomes law? LAL: Absolutely, this is what the constituent assembly will do. They'll look at the draft constitution, deliberate on it to see if it's consistent with the socalled negotiable principles. But the other thing that's really important to bear in mind is there are two or three very, very contentious issues which are not mentioned in this document at all. One is the role of the Fiji military forces, what role will they have in the future, will they revert to the barracks or will they have a more visible role in this new constitutional dispensation. The other contentious issues of course is the whole issue of immunity. HILL: Why would you ask for immunity for something, if you thought you did the right thing, why would you want to make sure that you were never prosecuted for it if you were confident your actions were right? LAL: There is this danger there and the realisation that the coup was in fact illegal. To safeguard their interests, to save their skins, they want to make absolutely sure that constitutionally and legally they are protected. I mean of course they have the force of arms on their side, but they also want the protection from law. HILL: So once they actually no longer have the force of arms and the threat of violence on their side, they want to make sure that a future democratic government doesn't immediately turn around, put them on trial for staging the coup and put them in prison? LAL: Absolutely, absolutely. HILL: Is that sort of immunity thing binding on a future government? LAL: Well I don't know because you see we don't know who will be in the future government, and whether for example if the Fiji military forces have a certain representation in parliament. It all depends where Commodore Bainimarama is. So we will just have to wait and see. But I think the idea was that if you want immunity, that is a privilege given to these people by the people of Fiji, rather than that being a matter of right. I mean before you have closure on this whole tragic saga, there has to be disclosure publicly and honestly. HILL: If these draft recommendations were to become the basis for the next constitution for Fiji, would this in the eyes of the international community return Fiji to democracy? LAL: Well that's a very, very difficult question because you see I've no doubt, I've got no doubt in my mind that the draft constitution will be a good one because of people like Professor Gai who has wide international experience and he has a reputation to safeguard. But how the document is then translated into a constitution, how best to ratify, what if the provisions of the draft are significantly altered to accommodate the demands of the military? These are questions that we would have to address at a later date. I think it is now really, the ball is in the court of Fijian citizens.
SPICES of Fiji Limited is fighting for the survival of the vanilla industry in Fiji and it has turned to government for assistance in keeping this viable export commodity alive. The company's operations manager George Hazelman said they were reaping $250,000 from vanilla exports and this could be increased ten-fold if the Department of Agriculture focused its efforts on making vanilla (dried beans) one of the country's main export commodities. "We used to export five tonnes of dried beans in the past but now it's only 200 to 300 kilograms of dried beans," Mr Hazelman said. He said this industry was dying slowly and it needed the right support for it to develop further. "There are a lot of vanilla farmers in Fiji but they just need to be supported by the department like other crops in Fiji." "This is a universal commodity because all the people in the world use vanilla. This is a high value, low volume crop." He said the department received a budget of $80,000 for the vanilla
Hope For Vanilla Industry
industry last year and this was distributed to the 14 districts in Fiji. "There are enough farmers in the country but they needed to be visited," Mr Hazelman said. He said vanilla pods were found all over some farms but were not harvested because of the lack of resources and support from the department. According to the 2013 Budget announcement, $5.6m was allocated for the department's existing programmes next year. The allocation is expected to cover the development of vanilla, coconut, cocoa, potato, ginger and rice crops. Meanwhile, Agriculture Department's extension services director, Uraia Waibuta said vanilla was under the budget for the cottage industry this year. "The vanilla is with the traditional package that has high value like masi, voivoi and other things and $100,000 was allocated for this," Mr Waibuta said. He said the aim was to encourage women to continue production in the cottage business.
University Graduate Credits Mothers Struggles

An emotional Ashneel Sharma credited his mothers hard work and struggles as he collected three bachelors degrees at the Fiji National Universitys graduation ceremony at Vodafone Arena. Sharma, 21, graduated with his Management, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations undergraduate degrees witnessed by none other than his proud mum, Harmahendra. Currently a project officer with the Housing Authority of Fiji, Sharma recalled days spent with his late dad while growing up, but said his mothers struggles all to raise and take care for him and his two older siblings left an imprint on his life. Sharmas father passed away when he was only nine in 2001 leaving his mother to raise for him and his three siblings. Being the youngest in the family, I never lacked love, care and support in everything I do, Sharma said. He said his mother never asked him for anything in return. So, its a great moment for me to honour my mothers commitments, struggles and love. Sharma also acknowledged his girlfriend who he said also had a positive influence in his life. The newly graduate is already planning to further his studies, to pursue his Postgraduate Certificate at the University of the South Pacific. I have spent two and a half years at FNU and would have loved to complete my Postgraduate studies at the university but unfortunately it is not able to cater for all courses yet, Sharma said.
Fiji News
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Cyclone Evan was as of Thursday located 80 kilometers south of Upolu Island in Samoa and is expected to hit Fiji Sunday. Nadi weather office director Alipate Waqaicelua said the category two cyclone is expected to intensify further in the next 24 hours. The cyclone is expected to make a U-turn in the Fiji group but will return and will impact Fiji on Sunday. Time will tell what intensity it will bring within 48 to 72 hours, said Waqaicelua. Waqaicelua also said they will be monitoring the weather regularly and will warn the public if there are any changes to the weather patterns but
Cyclone Evan To Hit Fiji By Sunday
everyone is urged to be well-prepared. An Air NZ spokeswoman said that there were no planned disruptions to flights from New Zealand at this stage, but this could be revised as the storm hit. Fiji is preparing for the cyclone to arrive on Sunday. Fiji police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro called out to mariners to "please take the weather advisories seriously". She said parents needed to keep a close watch on their children. The Nadi weather office was issuing warnings of heavy rain and flash-floods. "There are hidden threats which could result in tragic incidents which is why supervision during this time is vital."
Tourism Fiji Named New Zealand Tourism Office Of The Year
Thumbs Up For Fiji

THE efforts of the government in ensuring the highest standard of safety in the civil aviation sector has not gone unnoticed, according to a statement. Over the past 10 years, the government, through Airports Fiji Limited, the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, Air Pacific and other platforms, have invested millions of dollars in developing and improving safety standards. At a meeting of the Asia Pacific Performance-Based Navigation in Nadi this week, the visiting International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) head of delegation, Leonard Wicks, said Fiji had been an unsung hero in the global aviation industry. He made the comments at the meeting opened by the Attorney-General and Civil Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. "The efforts of the Fijian government and the presence of the minister emphasises Fiji's commitment and prominence to civil aviation," Mr Wicks said. "Civil aviation in Fiji has grown over the years and immense work has been carried out because Fiji has been reaping the benefits of the contribution of the aviation in its economy and population." He said Fiji was the only country in the Pacific with a robust aviation safety plan. "As a small nation Fiji has always punched above its weight," Mr Wicks addede. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the government had always put the safety of its people and visitors first and would continue to do that in the future. "Fiji has hosted a number of international events and ICAO workshops too and the government fully supports everything done towards this end," he said.
The New Zealand Tourism Fiji office has been named the National Tourism Office of the Year in the prestigious Travel Digest Travel Industry Awards 2012, announced this week. The awards acknowledge and recognise excellence in the New Zealand travel and tourism industry. Now in its fifth year, the awards are widely regarded as the highest achievement for a New Zealand travel office. Votes were cast by travel and tourism professionals from agencies, wholesalers, colleges, tour and hospitality companies and tourism organisations throughout New Zealand. Dave Pflieger, Tourism Fijis Executive Chair, says it is fantastic to have this
industry recognition. New Zealand is such an important tourism market for Fiji and for the local tourism team to be chosen above all the other tourism offices in this competitive environment is a great achievement. Tourism Fiji New Zealand Regional Director Sala Toganivalu says the team in New Zealand is honoured to receive the award. What makes this even more special is that we were chosen by our peers in the travel and tourism industry. Travel Digest is New Zealands leading monthly travel industry magazine and has been in production for 33 years. The magazine is distributed to 1,500 people and has a readership of over 6,000.
Tuvalu Envoy Presents Credentials
Australian Scholarship For Seven Fijians

SEVEN Fiji citizens who were offered the prestigious Australian Leadership Award scholarship were presented with air tickets by Acting Australian High Commissioner Glen Miles. Mr Miles said the seven recipients were identified for their potential to assume leadership roles that could influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes in Fiji and the region. He said the number of Australian scholarships provided to Fiji citizens was increasing by the year. "These scholars can be justifiably proud of winning a prestigious award that will equip them to serve as future leaders of their field in the country and region," Mr Miles said. "I congratulate them all." The first visually-impaired Australian Leadership Award recipient Sovaia Faktaufon said the scholarship would help her become one of the first visually-impaired people to enter the human resources field. Mrs Faktaufon, a teacher, said she was determined to become one of the first visually-impaired persons in a managerial position, adding she always wanted to pursue a career in human resources management and accounting. "At present the public, especially employers, have a view that people with disability can only be employed under their associations or within special needs group." "When I return with my Masters under the Australian scholarship, I will work to change this view people have of people with disabilities." The seven recipients are Sovaia Faktaufon, Adi Tiriseyani Naulivou, Robin Achari, Haemarie Taito, Miliana Ratu, Sefanaia Seru and Makereta Alifereti.
His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau received the credentials of the High Commissioner for Tuvalu to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Lutelu Faavae. In receiving the letters of credence confirming his designation as Tuvalus envoy to Fiji, President Nailatikau wished the High Commissioner to Fiji well during his term. I welcome you most warmly to the Republic of Fiji and wish you a happy and successful mission. Please convey to His Excellency the Acting Governor General, the Government and the people of Tuvalu our warmest wishes for their continued
well being, peace and prosperity. His Excellency Faavae has served in the civil service and has held the post of Permanent Secretary in several Ministries in Tuvalu which includes sports, education, culture, natural resources, foreign affairs, and communications and transport. His Excellency also holds a Master of Business Administration which he attained at the University of the South Pacific. He also attained a Professional Membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians, from Abingdon College of Further Education, in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
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Harry Potter Illusionist Visits Fiji
Fiji Establishes Links To UAE

FOREIGN Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has visited Fiji's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Robin Nair, and his staff at the newly-established Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Ratu Inoke discussed the progress in the core functions of the embassy since its opening on September 2 this year. He also reminded embassy staff of the immense potential that UAE and the other Gulf countries present to Fiji which the embassy should be able to harness. "I call on you to be proactive in your engagement with both the public and private sectors of the countries that the embassy is accredited to," he said. Ratu Inoke told the staff they should always be cognizant that they all work for Fiji first and that the outcomes should be relevant to the country's needs. Mr Nair briefed Ratu Inoke on key areas the mission has been working on. These include the potential for movement of workers from Fiji to the UAE to work in sectors such as security, tourism, retail, health services industry and seafaring. Mr Nair also advised the minister that the embassy had started processing a request for about 100 workers in the security-related industry and for a pilot project in sourcing hospitality workers from Fiji.
One of the worlds leading theatre illusionist, Paul Kieve, who was a magic consultant and the only real life magician to perform magic in any of the Harry Porter films, is in the country. Kieve arrived into the country to work with a Fijian/New Zealand theatre company, The Conch, on a theatrical production called Masi which will be held over three days beginning at 7pm Friday at USPs ICT Centre. The renowned illusionist has worked on many productions with The Royal National Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company and on opera productions at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Paris Bastille Opera House, Hamburg State Opera and Norwegian national opera. Two and a half years ago, Kieve came to Fiji with Nina Nawalowalo (director of MASI) to conduct extensive research on Fijian culture, especially the link between Fijis history and masi. The play features actors, traditional
Fijian dancers and singers from Kabu Ni Vanua, live Masi making on stage and breathtaking trickery and illusion, Masi recounts the love story of a Fijian high chief, Ratu Noa Nawalowalo and Mary Tancock the daughter of Cambridge-educated public schoolmasters who met by chance over a chess game in 1950s Wellington. Nawalowalo said that she was personally attached to this play as it was a tale about her parents and how people are only left with memories after the death of a loved one. MASI is accompanied by black and white images of the couple falling in love and subsequent marriage. Meanwhile, Kieve adds that his work as an illusionist and magical special effects designer will bring the play to life and give Fijians a magical love story of their own culture. Kieve holds two Guinness Book World records for his work in magic theatre design.
Tropik Wood To Invest $14Million In 7 Years
CWMH Mortuary To Increase Capacity

The CWM Hospital mortuary will increase its capacity holding by 12 in an effort to address the insufficient space problem after refurbishment which begins from January 1st. Currently the mortuary holds 36 bodies and according to the Suva Funeral Directories, when renovations begin the public are to expect disruption to mortuary services. Director Dewan Prasad highlighted as part of creating a modern mortuary service, new equipment will be used, and new services will be introduced like a professional embalming service. The refurbishment is estimated to cost over $200,000.
Tropik Wood Limited a Government Commercial Company revealed that they are planning to inject $14million into its replanting programme. This was made known at a commemoration ceremony marking the companys achievement of planting 3500 hectares of pine. Attended by the Attorney General and Minister for Public Enterprises Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the companys Executive chairman Faiz Khan told staff and the media that this was also the first time that the company was able to carry out its replanting programme from its own pockets. This is the first time that we have actually planted 3500 hectares of pine without a handout from government which used to happen in the past, he said. This was done at a cost of $2million and we want to continue the same for the next seven years to be able to have the pine industry sustainable.
However for this to happen, Tropik Wood will also need to ensure that their accounts balance in order to be able to achieve this. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum saluted the company and its hard working staff for their efforts in turning the company around and added that Government remains committed to seeing the industry develop again. The planting that you (staff) did today is not going to be harvested in the next few years but its for the future generation this is also the scope of the Bainimarama Government, he said. The Bainimarama Government is also in the same mindset to invest in the future and reforms have taken place which we are not going to see next week but in the next few years. Government fully supports the company and is adamant that the company would be able to continue to make profits and at the same time ensure sustainability.

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Chai Time
Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) Be on the lookout for romantic signals in unlikely places this week; you might meet an extra-special someone in such places as the elevator to the dentists office or in line at a department store while waiting to make an exchange. Especially when it comes to matters where you are better informed than your associates, do not let others do your thinking for you. Trust your knowledge. Your fortunate astrological number for this week is 780. Your financial outlook for week is poor. Your compatible sign for week is Libra. Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) The morning aspects recommend cementing ties of affection and dealing with people whose good opinions you desire. Your health is first-rate, and work is accomplished in record fashion. The aspects rise to make romantic developments more fascinating. It wont be luck that brings about the possibilities for personal gain this week; compensation will be likely only when you make a worthy contribution towards those ends. Your fortunate astrological number is 079. Your financial outlook is very good. Your compatible sign is Gemini. Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) A disagreement between lovers may express itself now in small, petty ways. Dont let your temper start to boil because of such trivialities. A business trip begun now should turn out well, but be prepared for delays created by less responsible people Even though youre likely to chalk up many accomplishments week, you could still do better if you are more industrious and less vocal. Keep your mind on the tasks at hand. Your fortunate astrological number is 134. Your financial outlook is excellent. Your compatible sign is Leo.
Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) The aspects are exciting for accomplishing a great deal of work this week. Gardening, painting, and paperhanging chores, clean-ups, furniture refinishing, and reupholstering are favored. Your health is fine, with much stamina and energy available to serve your purposes. Although you wont have any problems this week recognizing your opportunities and what they could mean to you, nevertheless you may fall short on taking maximum advantage of them. Your fortunate astrological number is 070. Your financial outlook is excellent. Your compatible sign is Leo Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) Love may have made you absentminded this week, and the reservations for a special event or show that you were supposed to handle may have never been made. A phone call from a work associate in the early evenings may be a request for a lift to work next day. Be ready and willing to make some concession or compromises this week and you should be able to amicably work out an agreement with another that is important to your cause. Your fortunate astrological number is 476. Your financial outlook is very good. Your compatible sign is Aries. Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) You may hear some loud and enthusiastic cheers for new stocks or bonds, but remember these might not be necessary if the investment is as hot as proclaimed. Co-workers may request your assistance during lunchtime shopping. A musical event is likely to be exciting now. Advancement and/or an increase in earnings where your work or career is concerned are possible this week if you properly handle something propitious that develops for you. Your fortunate astrological number is 576.
Your financial outlook is weak. Your compatible sign is Aries. Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) With the Moon leaving your solar eighth house of other peoples money and investments, you might want to be extra-cautious and on the alert for missing the boat or making mistakes regarding these matters, especially during the mornings hours. Marital harmony is high at bedtime. What makes you so popular with your peers this week will be your humor and charm. This could prove true especially with members of the opposite gender. Your fortunate astrological number is 504. Your financial outlook is very good. Your compatible sign is Sagittarius. Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Be cautious in all you do. People, especially family members, may be uptight. Business questions may stump you this morning. Strangers make romantic overtures during the afternoons and early evenings. The days ahead could hold many chances to further your personal interests, but your best opportunity might come through some type of inside information relayed to you by a reliable source. Your fortunate astrological number is 737. Your financial outlook is good. Your compatible sign is Leo. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Guard your credit by keeping up payments and obligations. You can awaken tired, but a good breakfast is uplifting. Your spouse or an older loved one may set the pace for a busy week, which can be annoying prior to noon. Shopping is tedious, the atmosphere crowded. Talk out your problems today with an intimate you can trust. The more candid you can be the better chances youll have of finding solutions to your dilemmas. Your fortunate astrological number is 613. Your financial outlook is very good. Your compatible sign is Virgo.
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) This week can prove to be very interesting if its not too active. The planets have lined up to create a fixed cross by Sign in your horoscope. They tell of relationship happenings and problem solving on your part. Stay cool and detached and try not to boss anyone around. Although you can walk with crowds this week and feel at ease, your best communications will take place in small groups with whom you can enjoy more intimacy. Your fortunate astrological number is 079. Your financial outlook is poor. Your compatible sign is Libra. Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Work associates may be cooperative in the mornings. and then extremely uncooperative after lunch. Plan your work accordingly. It wont be easy to avoid a lovers spat this evening, especially if there has been a recent stress on expenses for entertainment. Use your head this week and youll stand a good chance of turning a profit which youll enjoy, but your real pride of achievement will come more from the fact that you figured out how to do so. Your fortunate astrological number is 309. Your financial outlook is very good. Your compatible sign is Scorpio. Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Easier conditions prevail in all emotional matters, including marriage, this week. Persons in entertainment, advertising, sales, and public relations get a big boost. Your health shows benefits of a recently introduced preventive- medicine routine. Your words will carry more weight than you may realize this week and the influence youll have on others could be considerable. Two admirers may carry out your suggestions to the letter. Your fortunate astrological number is 873. Your financial outlook is excellent. Your compatible sign is Sagittarius.
Barbequed Garlic Chicken

Shortbread Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp icing sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch or rice flour 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients:
3 lb roasting chicken 3 teaspoon garlic, chopped 2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoon black peppercorns 1 cup fresh coriander, chopped 2 tablespoon lime juice 1 tomatoes 1 scallions
chicken over glowing coals, turning about every 5 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink and the skin is crisp. Garnish with tomatoes and curls of scallions. Serve with a salad of cucumber, scallions and tomatoes, seasoned with lime and salt.
Ingredients
Directions:
Cut chicken in half lengthwise, and remove bones, if desired. Crush the garlic with salt into a smooth puree. Coarsely crush the peppercorns with a mortar and pedestal or blender. Combine in a flat dish with the coriander, and lime juice. Rub the mixture well into the chicken on all sides, cover and refrigerate overnight or at least one hour. BBQ
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat butter until light and fluffy. Sift in icing sugar and beat again until fluffy, scraping
Directions
down sides of the bowl often. Sift in cornstarch or rice flour and blend in. Sift in all purpose flour and salt and mix until dough comes together (it will be soft). Stir in vanilla. Spoon large teaspoonfuls of cookie dough (or use a small ice cream scoop) onto an un-greased cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between cookies and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until bottoms brown lightly. Remove from cookie sheet to cool.
World News
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Foreign Investment Worries Indian Small Retailers

in a move tipped to transform India's $US450 billion retail market. Mohan Khandelwal, who runs a family-owned store, in Delhi, has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia shops like his are under threat. "Business will be hit, but I hope it is not going to be bad," he said. "The small customers will still stay with me. People who want to buy in bulk will go to the supermarkets. "I might retain some clientele who buy in small quantities." Independent retailer dominate India's retail market, making up 93 per cent of the market, and giving the country the highest shop density in the world. The new laws to allow foreign investment into retail has caused a major uproar with protests and mass rallies. Praveen Khandelwal from the Confederation of All India Traders, a trade group that represents 50 million local businesses, says global giants such as Wal-Mart are not welcome in India, because their enormous resources will put local retailers out of business. "We have living examples of the US, Australia, New Zealand and so many other countries where these big retailers are operating their business activities," he said. "Because they have vast resources, deep pockets, there will be an uneven and unhealthy level playing field, where our 'mom-and-pop' shops and kirana stores will not be in a position to compete with them, resulting in the closure of their shops." Not all are convinced that betterorganised foreign supermarkets will wipe out smaller retailers. M K Venu, an economic analyst who has studied the retail sector in detail, feels they will survive and perhaps even thrive alongside supermarkets. "I think these fears are unfounded because most of these big stores...will be outside the city limits," he said. "In the last six years a lot of Indian business has set up big retail units and they have not affected the 'mom and pop' shops, which have consistently grown in the cities. "They have grown their businesses even while the Indian businesses have spread their multi-brand chain."
India's small shopkeepers have been angered by a government decision which would allow big operators such as Wal-Mart to enter the country. Parliament last week voted to allow Foreign Direct Investment in India's growing retail sector, with multi-brand
retailers allowed to take a 50 per cent stake, and single-brand retailers 100 per cent. The move enables global retail firms such as Wal-Mart Stores, Tesco and Carrefour to set up shop with a local partner and sell directly to consumers,
HSBC 'To Pay $1.9BN' In US Money Laundering Settlement

HSBC is to pay US authorities $1.9bn (1.2bn) in a settlement over moneylaundering, say reports, the largest ever in such a case. The UK-based bank was alleged to have helped launder money belonging to drug cartels and states under US sanctions. Earlier this year HSBC admitted having poor money laundering controls following a US Senate investigation. Last month announced it had set aside $1.5bn to cover the costs of any settlement or fines. The deal could be announced as early as Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reports. It follows the announcement of a similar but much smaller settlement with UK-based Standard Chartered bank, which will pay $300m in fines for violating US sanction rules. The cases are seen as part of a crackdown on money laundering and sanctions violations being led by federal government agencies and New York state authorities. The $1.9bn sum in the HSBC settlement is expected to include around $1.25bn forfeited by HSBC - the largest amount ever paid out in such a case - and a $650m civil fine. The bank will also admit charges of violating bank secrecy laws and the Trading With the Enemy Act, reports suggest. Senate criticism The settlement had been widely expected following a report by the US Senate, published earlier this year, that was heavily critical of HSBC's money laundering controls. The report suggested HSBC accounts in Mexico and the US were being used by drug barons to launder money. It cited examples including the transfer of $7bn between HSBC's Mexican and US subsidiaries between 2007 and 2008, made despite Mexico's reputation as a centre of drug smuggling. It also said HSBC regularly circumvented restrictions on dealings with Iran, North Korea, and other states under US sanctions. HSBC admitted its money laundering controls were not strong enough following the Senate report. On Tuesday the London-based multinational announced it had appointed a former US official to work as its head of financial crime compliance - a new position. Bob Werner was previously the head of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - the agency responsible for enforcing the US sanctions on countries including Iran. He will be responsible for beefing up HSBC's anti money laundering and sanctions compliance systems. It is unclear what impact the case will have on HSBC's business. The bank is the biggest in Europe by market capitalisation, and made pre-tax profits of $12.7bn for the first six months of 2012.
We Speak EnGLiSH, Hindi & pUnJaBi
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World News
New Zealand's 'Driving Dogs' Pass Their Test

restrict it to walking pace. Although he says there was a mishap ahead of the test. "The knob came off this morning and he was off down the road at about 30 kilometres an hour (19mph) and we had to chase after him," he said. Porter, a bearded collie-cross, then tried the trickier manoeuvre of steering the car around one of the racetrack's bends while a television reporter sat in the passenger seat. He was largely successful, but ran off the track onto a grass verge at one point as the reporter nervously asked trainers "can we stop now?" Clips of the motorised mutts undergoing training have attracted more than 700,000 hits on videosharing website YouTube and featured on news bulletins worldwide. US talk show host David Letterman introduced a segment on the dogs last week saying "I love this more than life itself", going on to list 10 signs your dog is a bad driver, including "insists on driving with head out the window". Hollywood actress Denise Richards, who has a brood of rescue dogs in her Los Angeles home, tweeted "this is hysterical!!!" Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) chief executive Christine Kalin said she was stunned at the global response and thrilled the shelter's message had reached such a wide audience. "Some people think that by getting a shelter dog they're somehow getting a second class citizen, we're with these dogs every day, we know how wonderful they are," she said. "This was an opportunity to show New Zealand, and as it's turned out the world, how amazing these animals are."
A pair of highly trained dogs from New Zealand have passed their doggie driving test, guiding a modified car along a race track on live television. In a project aimed at increasing pet adoptions from animal shelters, a group of cross-breed rescue dogs from Auckland were taught to drive a car steering, pedals and all - to show the potential of unwanted canines. Footage of the motorised mutts learning their skills has proved an Internet sensation, but their ultimate test came when the two best performers, Monty and Porter, were put through their paces on national television. Monty the giant schnauzer cross was first up, driving the modified Mini down the straight by himself, in what is claimed to be a world first. "It's all the dog doing it," trainer Mark Vette said.
"He's started the key, put the paw on the brake to allow it to go into gear, put it into drive, paw on the steering wheel, accelerator on, and off he goes down the track." Mr Vette, who has worked with animals on numerous film sets, admitted he had his doubts when the project was first mooted. "I must say, this has been the toughest assignment we've had," he said. "We've done 'Lord of the Rings', '(The Last) Samurai', many of the big movies but to actually get a dog in a car with no trainer and it does the whole gig itself, I tell you what, it's been a real challenge. "No one's in the car, no tricks, it's all Monty driving - he loves it." He said the car, which has handles fitted on the steering wheel and dashboardheight brake and accelerator pedals, also came with a speed limiter to
AN INDIAN college announced on Monday it had banned girls from wearing jeans, short dresses and T-shirts to crack down on sexual harassment, sparking outrage from pupils and rights campaigners. The Adarsh Women's College in Haryana state, 110 kilometres west of New Delhi, said students would be fined 100 rupees ($1.70) each time they broke the dress code. "We have imposed a ban on jeans and T-shirts because these are completely Westernised and (so) are short dresses," school head Alaka Sharma told the media. "The small dresses don't cover students and that is the reason why they have to face eve-teasing." "Eve-teasing" is a common phrase used in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to cover offences ranging from verbal abuse to sexual assault, though it is often criticised as a euphemism that hides serious crime. "Jeans and short tops invite attraction and also distract the students," Sharma said in a separate interview. Skinny jeans, T-shirts and other Western fashions have rapidly grown in popularity among young Indians,
Jeans Banned At Indian School To Curb Harassment

spreading from cities to rural states such as Haryana, though many older people disapprove of such clothes. Pupils at the Adarsh College, which teaches girls between 16 and 19, complained that they were being punished unfairly instead of being protected from harassment. "A ban on wearing jeans and T-shirts doesn't mean that there will be no crimes and boys will not pass lewd comments on you," Ritu, a college student, said. "Men who want to eve-tease can do it if a girl has donned Indian clothes also. I don't think dressing in Indian attire will bring a change." Mamata Sharma, head of the National Commission of Women, told reporters that sexual harassment in India could not be tackled by ordering girls to wear saris and other traditional styles of dress. "Our country is progressing, we have entered into 21st century and it is very disappointing to hear or see such things," she told reporters. "The government should take action against the college management or such institutions who impose diktats on girls."

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21
Judge Reserves Decision On Patel Manslaughter Case
A Supreme Court judge in Brisbane has reserved his decision after lawyers for Jayant Patel argued their client should not face further prosecution for the death of a patient. The former head of surgery at Bundaberg Hospital is accused of causing the death of 75-year-old Mervyn Morris and is due to face trial for manslaughter. Patel's legal team has applied for the case to be struck out and for it to be permanently stayed.
His lawyers say the prosecution should not be allowed to change its case to include allegations of post-operative negligence. They also say Patel would not get an impartial trial jury and that he has been put through enough after his earlier convictions for manslaughter, which were quashed by the High Court. Prosecutors say a jury should decide if Patel was guilty as charged. Justice George Fryberg has reserved his decision.
The former owner of a New South Wales go-kart business has been ordered to pay $50,000 over an incident where a woman choked to death when her religious headscarf became tangled. The 26-year-old Sydney woman died in April 2010 when her Islamic head dress became caught in the rear axle of the go-kart at Bobs Farm, near Port Stephens north of Newcastle. An investigation by the WorkCover Authority of NSW found the 63-yearold former owner of Port Stephens Go Karts had failed to ensure that proper
Go-Kart Operator Fined Over Headscarf Death
checks were done on people wearing loose clothing. The investigation also found that the then owner failed to properly guard the moving parts of the go-karts to prevent clothing from getting caught. The man was charged with a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. He pleaded guilty and the Industrial Court of NSW fined him $32,000 and ordered him to pay $18,000 in costs. The court said it took into consideration the man's contrition and remorse.
World Not Ending, Despite Maya Prediction: Vatican

The Vatican's top astronomer has some assurances to offer: The world won't be ending in about two weeks, despite predictions to the contrary. Jose Funes, the director of the Vatican Observatory, wrote in Wednesday's Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that "it's not even worth discussing" doomsday scenarios based on the Mayan calendar that are flooding the Internet ahead of the purported December 21 apocalypse. Yes, Funes wrote, the universe is expanding and if some models are correct, will at one point "break away", but not for billions of years. But he said Christians profoundly believe that "death can never have the last word. The Mayan Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 BC, marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. The Mayans wrote that the significant 13th Baktun ends December 21.
A gunman opened fire in a suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said. Witnesses described a scene of chaos and disbelief as a gunman wearing some sort of camouflage outfit and a white mask shot an initial burst of fire and then more rounds at Clackamas Town Center. Shoppers tried to find safe areas as teams of police officers began entering the mall to find the shooter. Clackamas County sheriff's Lt. James Rhodes said later that the gunman was dead, but he wouldn't say how he died or provide any details about him. Authorities were going store-to-store to secure the scene and to escort hiding shoppers outside, but Rhodes said there was no indication that there was more than one shooter. Austin Patty, 20, who works at Macy's, said he saw a man in a white mask carrying a rifle and wearing a bulletproof vest. He heard the gunman say "I am the shooter," as if announcing himself, Patty said. He then fired several shots paced seconds apart. A series of rapid-fire shots in short succession followed. Patty said he ducked to the ground, then ran. His Macy's co-worker, Pam Moore, told The Associated Press the gunman was short, with dark hair, dressed in camouflage. He had body armor and a rifle. "I heard about 20 shots and everyone hit the ground," Moore said. "That's when we all just ran." Shaun Wik, 20, from Fairview, said he was Christmas shopping with his girlfriend and opened a fortune cookie at the food court. Inside was written "live for today, remember yesterday, think of tomorrow." As he read it, he heard three shots. He heard a man he believes was the gunman shout, "Get down!" but Wik and his girlfriend ran. He heard seven or eight more shots. He didn't turn around. "If I had looked back, I might not be standing here," Wik said. "I might have been one of the ones who got hit."
Three Dead In Portland Mall Shooting
Kira Rowland told KGW-TV that she was shopping at the Macy's department store with her infant son when the shots started. "All of a sudden you hear two shots, which sounded like balloons popping," Rowland told the station. "Everybody got on the ground. I grabbed the baby from the stroller and got on the ground." Rowland said she heard people screaming and crying. "I put the baby back in the stroller and ran like hell," Rowland said. "It was awful. It was shots after shots after shots like a massacre. "It was just awful." Holli Bautista, 28, said she was shopping in the Macy's for a Christmas dress for her daughter when she heard two or three pops that sounded like firecrackers. "I heard people running and screaming and saying 'Get out, there's somebody shooting,"' she told the AP. "It was a scene of chaos." She said hundreds of shoppers and mall employees started running, and she and dozens of other people were trying to escape through an exit in the department store. Bautista said the Macy's opens into the food court area, where it was reported the shootings took place. Bautista said it sounded like the shots were coming from that direction. Tiffany Turgetto and her husband of Gladstone had exited Macy's through the first floor when they heard the gunshots coming from the second floor of the mall. "People in front of us people were dropping, finding covering," she told the AP. "People were yelling, screaming and gasping, yelling to get out. The lady next to us, she threw a chair and started running. We couldn't run because the chair was there." Turgetto and her husband and other people were able to quickly leave through a Barnes & Noble bookstore before the police arrived and locked down the mall. "I had left my phone at home. I was telling people to call 911. Surprisingly, people are around me, no one was calling 911. I think people were in shock."
22
World News
Obamadon Lizard Named After Smiling President
'Indian Nurse Left Note, But Family Seeks Full Facts'
Researchers at Yale University in the US have named a newly discovered prehistoric lizard Obamadon gracilis, in honour of US President Barack Obama's toothy grin. They got the name by combining the Latin "Obamadon" for "Obama's teeth" and "gracilis," which means slender. "The lizard has these very tall, straight teeth and Obama has these tall, straight incisors and a great smile," Yale paleontologist Nick Longrich said. The small, insect-eating lizard was first discovered in eastern Montana in 1974 but a recent re-examination showed the fossil had been wrongly classified as a Leptochamops denticulatus and was, in fact, a new species, researchers said. Along with many dinosaurs, the lizard died out about 65 million years ago when a giant asteroid struck earth, scientists say. Mr Longrich said he waited until after the recent US election to name the dinosaur. "It would look like we were kicking him when he's down if he lost and we named this extinct lizard after him," he
said. 'Romneydon' was never under consideration and 'Clintondon' didn't sound good, he added. Mr Obama is not the first politician whose name has been used to help classify living organisms. Megalonyxx jeffersonii, an extinct species of plant-eating ground sloth, was named in honour of President Thomas Jefferson, an amateur paleontologist who studied the mammal. In 2005, entomologists named three species of North American slimemould beetles Agathidium Bushi, Agathidium Cheneyi and Agathidium Rumsfeldi after the then-president, vice president and secretary of defence. And last month scientists named five new species of fish found in the eastern US rivers after Mr Obama, Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore. Obamadon gracilis was one of nine newly discovered species reported on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Britain's Ministry of Defence says a Sikh soldier has become the first guardsman to parade outside Buckingham Palace while wearing his traditional turban. Fifty family members were on hand, Tuesday, as Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar took part in the changing of the guard at the London home of Queen Elizabeth II.
Sikh Soldier Wears Turban On Palace Guard Duty
Bhullar, a 25-year-old soldier with the Scots Guards regiment, was quoted by Britain's Press Association as saying: "Conducting public duties while being a practicing Sikh and wearing my turban is a great honour for me." Other Sikhs have taken part in guarding the queen's palace, but they wore traditional bearskin hats rather than turbans.
The Indian-origin nurse, who apparently took her life after being duped by a prank call from two Australian radio hosts, had left a note for her family members, but they still believe there are "unexplained" circumstances behind her death, Labour MP Keith Vaz has said. "What the family needs are the full facts. There are unexplained circumstances. The family want to know everything," Vaz said, without revealing content of the note. "The hospital needs to be more proactive, a full inquiry is needed and the family needs to be included in that," he added. Saldanha, 46, died after a suspected suicide last Friday after she was fooled by the radio hosts, who made a hoax call to the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, central London. She was the senior nurse on duty when the phone call was made. Although the Marylebone hospital authorities have said they will conduct internal probe into the matter, the family says this is not enough, and demands answers from them over the circumstances that led to her death. Vaz, who is representing the family, met the hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur to demand a full probe into her death. "What the family needs are full facts. What the chairman of the hospital said to me was that there are inquiries going on in the hospital. That is not sufficient for the family. There are unexplained circumstances. The family want to know everything. All the facts, fully and clearly," Vaz said. "They were in the dark about the hoax call. They hadn't watched the news or seen anything about it," he said, seeking support for victim's family. Bosses at the Australian radio station 2Day FM, whose presenters made the call, were under pressure to come forward and explain why they gave the
go-ahead for the prank. Southern Cross Austereo, the company which owns the station, said it will donate GBP 3,20,000 to a memorial fund set up in Saldanha's name by King Edward VII Hospital, and added it has cancelled this year's Christmas party. "We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time," said Rhys Holleran, Southern Cross Austereo's chief executive. Meanwhile, a local newspaper quoting a family source has claimed that victim's husband Benedict Barboz had tried to track her down in the hours before her suspected suicide. Barboza had not heard from his wife for two days, so he called up one of her friends to check on her, the Mirror reported. Barboza called at Jacintha's Central London flat at around 9.30 PM (local time) on Thursday, a day before she was found dead, but he did not hear anything back from the friend. Jacintha would normally be in regular contact with her husband at the family home in Bristol, but she stopped phoning or taking calls after news of the prank call broke, the paper quoting the family source said. "Ben was so worried he called a friend who then knocked on the door. But he never heard back from that person. Then he finds out that his wife's been found dead the next day," the source said. The Mirror revealed that Benedict was angry with the hospital for the way it handled the aftermath of the hoax. The family said it learnt there are no switchboard staff at the hospital at certain times of the day, leading to the phone system automatically diverting calls to a senior nurse. The hospital, however, says it supported her after the hoax and did not discipline her in any way.
SLG_STICBC_PRINT.pdf 1 09/05/11 12:08 PM
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ICBC Cases
Barinder S. Sanghera B.Comm., LL.B. Amandeep S. Sanghera B.A., LL.B. Puneet P.K. Sandhar B.A. (Hons.), LL.B.
After my accident I had constant neck and back pains. I felt sad most of the time and became very anxious about
CM
MY
the future. ICBC said I was overreacting and offered $17,000. My case settled for $400,000 at mediation. MR. S. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The damage to my car was only $700. ICBC said I could not have been injured: but I was. My lawyer finalized my claim for $28,000 plus expenses. MISS M. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
CY
CMY
ICBC offered me $32,000 to finish my case. I was off work for 6 monthsand saw a specialist because of my jaw injury. I couldnt mop the floor or clean our bathroom without help from my children. I received $200,000 through my lawyers efforts. Mrs. S ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The damage to my vehicle was about $1,700. ICBC said this was a Low Velocity Impact (LVI) and refused to pay me for my injuries and physio costs. My lawyer obtained more than $45,000 for me. Mrs. B ___________________________________________________________________________________________ A car hit me as I walked across the street. ICBC blamed me because of the color of my clothing. My lawyer worked hard and obtained necessary evidence. My case settled for over $300,000. MRS.C. *Past cases are not necessarily indicative of future results and amounts recovered may vary according to the facts in each case.
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Tayden On this special day, we wish you all the very best, all the joy you can ever have and may you be blessed abundantly today, tomorrow and the days to come! May you have a fantastic birthday and many more to come... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Best wishes from your best friend TOBI, Mom, Dad, Damian, Kailan, Nana, Nani, Mausi, Aaji, Kaka, Coco and all the family & friends
THINKING OF BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN?

Try This Practice Test - Discover Canada
land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. b. O Canada! Our province and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. c. O Canada! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. d. O Canada! We stand on guard for thee. 7. From where does the name "Canada" come? a. From the Inuit word meaning country. b. From the French word meaning joining. c. From the Mtis word meaning rivers. d. From "kanata", the Huron-Iroquois word for village. 8. What is the government of all of Canada called? a. National assembly. b. Legislature. c. Federal. d. Council Aboriginal and European ancestry. 3. Who were the United Empire Loyalists? a. Settlers who came to Canada from the United States during and after the American Revolution. b. Aboriginal peoples. c. Mtis d. Inuit. 4. What year was Confederation? a. 1867. b. 1871. c. 1898. d. 1870 5. What does equality under the law mean? a. Being the same. b. Being like everyone else. c. Being discriminated against. d. Being treated with equal dignity and respect, and having equal rights to speak out and express ideas. 6. Give the first two lines of Canadas national anthem? a. O Canada! Our home and native
27
1. Who are the Aboriginal peoples of Canada? a. The first European settlers to arrive in Canada b. The descendents of the first Australian immigrants to Canada c. The first people to live in Canada d. The first settlers of Newfoundland 2. Who are the Mtis? a. The distinct aboriginal people of Atlantic Canada. b. A people of mixed Inuit/First Nations ancestry most of whom live on the Prairies. c. First Nations people speaking the Michif dialect. d. A distinct people of mixed
9. What is the highest military honour a Canadian can receive? a. Purple Cross. b. Badge of Courage. c. Order of Merit. d. Victoria Cross 10. What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family? a. Buying a house and a TV. b. Getting a job, taking care of ones family and working hard in keeping with ones abilities. c. Doing laundry and keeping the house clean. d. Study hard so you can earn enough money to take a vacation.
1. C 6. A
2. D 7. D
ANSWERS 3. A 4. A 8. C 9. D
5. D 10 B
We are not a government department, so we do not have the power to investigate immigration fraud. However, we will do what we can to help you report immigration fraud. We urge Canadians to report any type of immigration or refugee fraud. Although it may not be too fashionable to talk about civic duty, it is important to realize that immigration fraud affects everyone in Canada. It is the responsibility of all Canadians to report people who are in Canada illegally, who are taking a job that legal Canadians might need, who are collecting social assistance or Employment Insurance illegally, who are violating other immigration laws, etc. Law Enforcement authorities and 34 million Canadians need your help. You may be the only one who knows about the fraud. You can remain anonymous in making your report. We are providing below some instructions on how to do that. However, we urge you to make the report in personif it is possible.
REPORT TO A CANADIAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE One of the most effective ways to report fraud is to complain directly to a Canadian consulate or embassy in the country where the immigration fraud originates. Start the process by phoning the Canadian Foreign Affairs office in Ottawa : 1-800267-8376. Ask for the phone or fax number of the Canadian consulate or embassy in the country where the fraud is occurring. Then phone or fax your complaint to that office. The advantage in doing this is that embassy or consular officers are the first line of defence against immigration fraud. It is best to stop the fraud at the point of origin. Trying to deport cheaters who have arrived in Canada is much more difficult.Canadas immigration lawyers, immigration advocacy groups and ethnic groups have erected many barriers to deportation of fraudsters. ASK AN MP FOR HELP IN REPORTING FRAUD If the cheaters have arrived in Canada,
Report Fraud
the most important thing we can recommend to you is that you ask your MP to help you in your reporting. MPs are paid handsomely for their work. Dont hesitate to ask for help. Most important, dont accept excuses from some MPs or their office staff who want to avoid work. Make it clear to them that you are not asking them to investigate the case. You just want them to help you make your report and to get the attention of the Canada Border Services Agency. MPs have to get involved because the Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration officials will pay more attention to the requests of an MP than to those of average Canadians. Canadians have to be aware that a significant number of MPs are passive supporters of current immigration policies. Incredible as it may sound, those MPs think nothing is wrong with our immigration system. Needless to say, these MPs need to be jolted out of their delusions.
Other MPs are outright cheerleaders of Canadas immigration industry. These MPs are interested solely in re-election, and have put their own interests and the interests of some of their constituents ahead of the greater interests of Canada. These people have to be confronted. On the other hand, some MPs are both aware of extensive immigration fraud and are genuinely interested in doing something to stop it. But they need evidence that fraud is occurring and of the extent of the fraud in order to achieve this result. In many cases, immediate legislation is required. The evidence you and others provide will be the basis of the new laws. Phone the MPs office and ask for an appointment. Bring all the relevant information. It would be a good idea to bring someone along for moral support and as a witness. Continued Next Week
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Canada News
Canada's Immigration Minister Calls For Foreign Tradies
Lack of competition also mentioned as views sought on new code for industry Three-year contracts from cellphone companies should be banned, Canada's telecom regulator has been told in submissions to an online consultation. Hundreds of people submitted their opinions to the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission about a proposed code of conduct for the country's wireless industry. The overwhelming majority who wrote to the CRTC over the two-week online consultation period passionately voiced concerns about being "held hostage" by 36-month contracts. "Get rid of the 36 months contract!!!" said one person on the CRTC's online forum. "It first started with 12 months, then 24 months. Now the standard is 36 months, which is ridiculous!" Another person wrote: "CRTC, please get rid of the three-year contract. Canada will love you for this." Those submitting opinions and suggestions to the forum were not required to post their names. The first round of consultations, which closed this week, also heard several complaints about a lack of competition in the industry. The regulator launched the online discussion to get the views of Canadians on what should be in a new code for wireless services, including cellphones and other personal mobile devices. The CRTC said in October it would develop a national code so Canadians could have a better understanding of their rights as consumers, and so wireless companies would clearly know their responsibilities. The commission is expected to issue a draft code by the end of next month, after which a second round of online consultations will be launched. Public hearings are also set to begin in February. More than 500 people made submissions to the online forum, a small fraction of the 27.4 million wireless subscribers in Canada, which account for 78.2 per cent of households - an increase of six per cent from 2011. The vast majority of wireless users have contracts with the big three carriers - Bell, Rogers and Telus. Those three were at the centre of the most submissions about a lack of competition in Canada's wireless industry. "Where is the competition? These plans are all the same," read one submission below a chart showing wireless plans being offered by the big three. Consumers can opt for a smaller carrier but have so far appeared reluctant to move. New entrants, such as WIND, Mobilicity, Public Mobile and Vidotron, captured just four per cent of wireless subscribers and two per cent of overall revenues in 2011, according to the CRTC's latest communications monitoring report, issued in early September. All of the major telecom companies and consumer advocacy groups have voiced support for the idea of national standards for wireless devices, but they have not agreed on how those rules should work. Critics have argued that Canadian subscribers are simply paying too much for wireless services compared with other countries. "Canadian consumers continue to be saddled with higher than average costs for wireless services as compared to other OECD countries," NDP consumer critic Glenn Thibeault wrote in his own submission to the CRTC.
Public Urges CRTC To Ban 3-Year Cellphone Contracts
Canada's immigration minister has announced a plan to attract up to 3000 foreign electricians, welders, pipefitters and other trades people to address the country's labour shortage CANADA'S immigration minister ignored this class of migrant. has announced a push to attract more The new program will launch on foreign electricians, welders, pipefitters January 2, he said, with the goal of and other trades people to address an attracting up to 3000 immigrants acute labour shortage. in the first year as construction and "We are creating a new immigration resources development soars in stream to facilitate entry of skilled Canada. trades persons," Minister Jason Kenney Applicants will be required to have a said in a statement. job offer in Canada, speak French or The move "will help address serious English, have a minimum of two years labour shortages in some regions of work experience as a trades person, the country," he said, noting that the and possess a skill that is in demand in immigration system has "for too long" that country.
If you earn income that has no tax withheld or does not have enough tax withheld for more than one year, you may have to pay tax by instalments. This can happen if you earn rental, investment, or self-employment income, certain pension payments, or income from more than one job. If you pay your taxes by quarterly instalments, your next payment is due on or before December 15, 2012. If you have not done so already, why not make the switch and pay online from the comfort of your home or office? Important facts You are required to pay your income tax by instalments for 2012 if your net tax owing is more than $3,000: in 2012; and in either 2011 or 2010. For any year you lived in Quebec on December 31, you are required to pay your income tax by instalments if your net tax owing for that year is more than $1,800. There are four instalment payment due dates: March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. To determine how much you need to pay each quarter, you can view your
December 15 Quarterly Instalment Payment You Can Pay Online!
instalment reminders online using My Account. To access or sign up for My Account, go to www.cra.gc.ca/ myaccount. You can make your instalment payment online through your bank by setting up the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a payee. Paying online is quick, easy, and completely secure. To find out how you can use online banking to pay your taxes, contact your financial institution. For more information about other payment methods, go to www. cra.gc.ca/payments. Let the CRA remind you by email when your payment is due To receive an email each quarter reminding you of your payment due date, sign up for the Individuals - Quarterly instalment payment reminders electronic mailing list. Visit www.cra.gc.ca/lists. Statistics The CRA processes over 34 million payments on an annual basis. Approximately 1 million individuals are required to pay by quarterly instalment payments every year. The number of electronic T1 payments has been increasing at a rate of 3-4% per year over the last three years.
The scanner will ease the pressure since the November flood A big relief for patients needing an MRI unclear how or who will cover the scan at Surrey Memorial Hospital. cost. "The estimated monthly cost of The hospital has brought an MRI the mobile unit is about $100,000 and Scanner in from California that will we're currently in discussions with help ease the pressure put on seven the different insurance companies to MRI departments following the determine who will actually be paying November 19 flood at SMH. for it." The machine will be kept in the hospital A report on damages to the other MRI parking lot for three to five months. It machine is expected soon. should be ready for use by the middle of this month. Tasleem Juma with the Fraser Health Authority says the scanner is capable of doing all the same functions as one inside the hospital. "There will be a little bit of construction that will happen around to prepare it for patient access; things like heating, lighting, general patient safety measures." A temporary machine like this doesn't come cheap and Juma say it's still
Mobile MRI Scanner Arriving At Surrey Memorial Hospital
Canada News
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B.C.'S Grade 4 Students Among World's Top Readers
A recent study by the Migrant Integration Policy Index has ranked Canada as the third best country in the world for immigrant integration. The study, which analyzed conditions in 31 North American and European countries, saw Canada score 89/100 points to be ranked above all countries except Sweden and Portugal. One of the factors leading to Canadas favorable rankings is its high-quality, accessible education system. Education is a critical and important issue on immigrant performances. It helped move Canada up two spots in the ranking (from 2008), said a researcher from the Association for Canadian Studies. Additional factors such as a national policy of multiculturalism and
Canada Ranks High For Immigrant Integration
comprehensive English and French education programs for newcomers also helped Canada climb to the top. On a provincial level, settlement programs and teacher trainings to help newcomers were also considered significant factors. However, for some immigrants it is simply Canadas people and society that have made them feel welcome in their new home. No doubt if you compare Canada to European cities, we are living in a more open and non-discriminatory society, said new Canadian citizen Fabio Crespin. We are connected to all the local issues and the things that affect our everyday life. It is the best way to engage people, so they commit to the country and feel they belong here.
B.C.'s Grade 4 students are among the world's top readers at their grade level and had the highest average score in Canada, according to a just-released international report. In 2011, 45 countries and nine Canadian provinces took part in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), one of the world's most influential global assessments of reading literacy among young students. B.C. students performed very well in PIRLS, achieving an average score significantly above both the international and Canadian averages. B.C. was recognized as one of the top seven jurisdictions in the world. The PIRLS study provides participating countries and jurisdictions with comparative international information on how well students can read after
four years of elementary school. Grade 4 was chosen for the study because it marks the transition point at which students already have learned to read and are now using reading to learn. By Grade 4, reading skills become the main tool that enables and supports most other learning in school. To further strengthen reading skills for young learners in B.C., the Ministry of Education recently appointed Maureen Dockendorf as superintendent of reading. Dockendorf is working with every school district to improve reading skills among young students. As part of BC's Education Plan, the ministry has also dedicated an additional $10.7 million to advance early reading strategies and practices for kindergarten-to-Grade 3 students.
B.C. Cranberries Promoted As Holiday And Everyday Food
Shots Fired At Richmond Ikea

No one was hurt, and there was no damage done to property Richmond RCMP still trying to figure out who fired several shots in the parkade of the new Ikea Tuesday. Cpl Sherrdean Turley with Richmond RCMP says they are still looking for suspects "The suspects fled prior to police arrival, and the reasons this incident occurred are not yet known. At this time we're just asking that any witnesses or anyone who has any information regarding this incident to please give a phone call. Some shoppers had to walk around and duck under yellow police tape to get to their cars. Others expressed concern because the gunfire happened at such a busy time with lots of families and children around. "We've been here for a couple hours and we weren't sure the severity but now with everyone still here, it makes me wonder...hard times make people do crazy things," says Heather clinging onto her baby. "There's always innocent bystanders that may be caught in the crossfire so yes it does (worry me)," adds another shopper. "It's always a concern when you see guns going off in public," says another man. "People don't want to feel threatened coming to shop where they come to everyday. So it is concerning, absolutely. Crime escalating is something we hope isn't happening," says Melanie. No one was injured, and no property was damaged. Call the Richmond RCMP at (604) 278-1212. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
British Columbians will be learning more about the benefits of including locally grown cranberries on their holiday and daily menus, as a result of the B.C. Government's Buy Local program. The BC Cranberry Marketing Commission is receiving $15,700 to help promote the berries to both consumers and to value-added manufacturers. The Buy Local program offers
successful applicants matching funds up to $100,000 to launch or expand local food marketing campaigns. The BC Cranberry Marketing Commission is the first organization to receive Buy Local funding. Building the local market for British Columbia's foods is a key commitment of government's Agrifoods Strategy, a component of the BC Jobs Plan, to lead the agrifoods sector growth into a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017.
The City of Surrey has voted to ban smoking on hospital properties, including in open areas and parking lots. City councillors voted Monday to amend the Surrey Public Health Smoking Protection Bylaw that already prohibits smoking in several public areas in the city. The amended law will prohibit smoking at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. Currently, smokers are not allowed to light up within 7.5 metres of any building, including hospitals. But the new bylaw will extend to areas further than 7.5 metres away from the hospital buildings. City councillors believe this is a step
Surrey Votes To Ban Smoking On Hospital Property
toward protecting the health of patients and health care workers. "We've received concerns about the harmful effects of people smoking at our hospitals, and we've been working with Fraser Health to ensure we create a safe, welcoming and healthy environment at these facilities," said Councillor Mary Martin, Chair of the Community Health Programs Committee. The Fraser Health Authority supports banning smoking from hospital property, but said some patients who need to smoke will be able to do so in a designated area. The proposed amendment has been sent to the Medical Health Officer for approval.
30 www.fijitimescanada.com
Canada News
4-Year Old Girl Brain Damaged After Dental Procedure: Mother

A four-year-old Manitoba girl suffered permanent brain damage after receiving a general anesthetic at the dentists office and going into cardiac arrest. Jarilyn Roulettes mother says the little girl was given the anesthetic at a private clinic, Childrens Dental World in Winnipeg, in October because she needed extensive dental work. The dentist touched my leg and said, Oh, dont worry, you dont have to worry about it. Shes in good hands and she has a better chance of being hit by a car than anything happening, a tearful Apryl Roulette told the reporter. They put the mask on her and she started crying and I said: Its OK, when you wake up mommy will be there. And she just never woke up. Roulette said her daughter went into cardiac arrest while the dentist was still working on extracting and filling her teeth. Jarilyn was rushed to the hospital, where she remains unresponsive. Roulette says her child will never walk, talk or eat on her own again. Just the thought of knowing Im never going to hear her say Mom againI cant see her run around, Roulette said. I just want to hear her say Mom again. CTV News has learned that a general practitioner with at least one year of specialized training administered Jarilyns anesthesia. There is nothing to indicate that Childrens Dental World did not follow correct procedures. The clinic has declined to comment, saying it has obligations to keep this a private matter. Neither the Manitoba Dental Association nor the College of Physicians and Surgeons would say whether they are investigating the clinic or its staff. The Canadian Dental Association says dental surgery for cavities under general anesthesia is the most common day procedure at most pediatric hospitals in Canada. The association says more than 2,000 preschool-aged children undergo dental surgery under general anesthetic each year in Manitoba hospitals, and many more receive dental treatment in private clinics. The report did not say how many of those kids suffer complications. The report says the risk of complications resulting from an anesthetic is quite low for healthy children.
Woman Fined For Renting Garden Shed To Homeless Couple

A B.C. woman was fined $500 for renting out her garden shed to a homeless couple and their three dogs. Was it an act of goodwill or exploitation? After ignoring warnings from bylaw officers, a B.C. woman was fined $500 for renting out her garden shed to a homeless couple and their three dogs. The couple paid $200 per month to live inside the steel shed in the homeowner's backyard. City officials believe the shed is in no way a suitable place for people to live. Its steel walls provide little to no insulation against dropping temperatures, and the power cord that runs from the main house and supplies to the shed makes for a potential fire hazard. City spokesman Stephen Fleming says the homeowner is free to rent out a room in her house, but she cannot continue renting out her garden shed as a habitable place. Given the conditions of the shed, it's easy to see why officials deemed it unlivable. It has no ventilation and no running water. With two people and three dogs living in the tiny space, it's not sanitary. Despite makeshift insulation, the thin walls barely provide protection against the freezing temperatures. But given the conditions on the streets, it's easy to see why the homeless couple opted for the shed. If we had the choice between sleeping on the streets, where we'd be extremely vulnerable to not only weather but also attacks, and sleeping in the garden shed, where we could temporarily close a door to the outside world, we'd likely choose the shed as well. Nevertheless, I understand where city officials are coming from. The conditions of the shed don't meet standard living regulations, so for the homeowner to be charging the couple rent is exploitative. I doubt the homeowner would live in the shed herself, so it doesn't seem right for her to charge people to sleep in the space. Also, she is responsible for any harm that comes to them as a result of her property. And as their landlord, if a fire broke out or the roof caved in, the homeowner would be liable for any injury the couple suffered and could be sued for a lot of money. It's a tricky situation, as the woman most likely thought that offering the shed was an altruistic act. But whether it was intentional or not, the woman took advantage of her homeless occupants when she charged them money for the unsafe and uninhabitable living space. The homeless couple deserves a warm and safe place to sleep, and since the story broke, shelters have offered to take them and their dogs in. In the end, it's better for all parties if the couple moves to a safer place.
Woman Fined For Renting Garden Shed To Homeless Couple

A B.C. woman was fined $500 for renting out her garden shed to a homeless couple and their three dogs. Was it an act of goodwill or exploitation? After ignoring warnings from bylaw officers, a B.C. woman was fined $500 for renting out her garden shed to a homeless couple and their three dogs. The couple paid $200 per month to live inside the steel shed in the homeowner's backyard. City officials believe the shed is in no way a suitable place for people to live. Its steel walls provide little to no insulation against dropping temperatures, and the power cord that runs from the main house and supplies to the shed makes for a potential fire hazard. City spokesman Stephen Fleming says the homeowner is free to rent out a room in her house, but she cannot continue renting out her garden shed as a habitable place. Given the conditions of the shed, it's easy to see why officials deemed it unlivable. It has no ventilation and no running water. With two people and three dogs living in the tiny space, it's not sanitary. Despite makeshift insulation, the thin walls barely provide protection against the freezing temperatures. But given the conditions on the streets, it's easy to see why the homeless couple opted for the shed. If we had the choice between sleeping on the streets, where we'd be extremely vulnerable to not only weather but also attacks, and sleeping in the garden shed, where we could temporarily close a door to the outside world, we'd likely choose the shed as well. Nevertheless, I understand where city officials are coming from. The conditions of the shed don't meet standard living regulations, so for the homeowner to be charging the couple rent is exploitative. I doubt the homeowner would live in the shed herself, so it doesn't seem right for her to charge people to sleep in the space. Also, she is responsible for any harm that comes to them as a result of her property. And as their landlord, if a fire broke out or the roof caved in, the homeowner would be liable for any injury the couple suffered and could be sued for a lot of money. It's a tricky situation, as the woman most likely thought that offering the shed was an altruistic act. But whether it was intentional or not, the woman took advantage of her homeless occupants when she charged them money for the unsafe and uninhabitable living space. The homeless couple deserves a warm and safe place to sleep, and since the story broke, shelters have offered to take them and their dogs in. In the end, it's better for all parties if the couple moves to a safer place.
Tiny tags are causing big delays at two border crossings from Ontario into the United States. The disruption hinges on name tags the Canada Border Services Agency wants its officers to wear. "Personalized name tags reflect our commitment to service excellence and reinforce the professionalism and integrity for which CBSA officers are known," the agency said in a statement. But some members of the Customs and Immigration union disagree, seeing the IDs as a potential avenue for disgruntled travellers denied entry to seek their revenge, and are refusing to work in protest. As a result, traffic flowing into Canada from the U.S. at both the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor-Detroit and the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia-Port Huron is experiencing longer-than-usual delays. In its public statement, the CBSA said it was "surprised by the extent of the reaction" and that, "illegal actions and inappropriate behaviour on the part of our employees will be dealt with accordingly." In a Dec. 5 memo to the CIU membership, union president JeanPierre Fortin said their "health and safety concerns" with the name policy had been raised on several occasions dating back to March 2011, including
Spat Over Name Tags Causing Border Delays In Southwestern Ontario
a conference call on Nov. 27. "We also told management that they should not be surprised by a serious push-back from many of our members who fear for their safety and health and who are determined to pursue every redress option available," Fortin said. That memo advised members to take an "obey now, grieve later" approach, rather than face "unnecessary discipline from the employer." Frontline staff concerned about revealing their identity publicly, he said, "should consider removing or amending the listing of their name in public forums." The CBSA stands behind its policy, however, as it notes other frontline members of the Canadian Forces, Correctional Service Canada and United States Customs and Border Protection all wear name tags on the job. The union said it is investigating the possibility of a legal challenge, but noted the Toronto Police Association lost a similar case at the Ontario Labour Relations Board. According to the CBSA's border waittime website, commercial traffic into Canada was held up approximately 45 minutes at the Blue Water Bridge, and 30 minutes at the Ambassador bridge Wednesday morning.
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Vacationing With Grandchildren What To Pack
Coloring
A trip with your grandchildren warrants a special packing checklist. When traveling with your grandchildren, the packing list should home in on that particular sweet relationship Here are some ideas: Indestructible clothes. This is pretty obvious. Unless your grandkids are in their 20s (and in some cases, depending on their creativity, even then) your clothing must be ready to withstand mustard, ice cream, chocolate sauce, mud, spit-up, and even worse. Leave the silks at home, the suedes in the closet; reserve the dry-clean-only pants for adults-only travel. Youll have more fun with the children if they know they can jump on your lap, or you can climb on a jungle gym with them, without worrying about stains. A little gift appropriate to where youre going. A book about grizzly bears if youre going to Alaska; a makeyour-own kite kit if youre going to kite festivals; or a blow-up beach ball if youre heading to warmer climate. This does not have to be an expensive gift in fact it shouldnt be. You spend plenty on their birthdays and holiday gifts. This travel gift should be considered a non-display of wealth, but thought of as something that will add to your upcoming travel experience. Jewelry. Surprised? So was I, when I wore my gold charm bracelet on one of my first trips to see grandson Sam when he was only a year and a half old. When we were driving to one site after another, and he was confined to his car seat, he delighted in trying to put his little fingers into a tiny gold mug on the bracelet. He loved to look at the other charms and, as he jangled each one, hear stories about where I acquired them. As he got older, Sam was delighted to learn that one of my charms was my grandchild charm, with a boys head on it, and Sams name and birth date. It was yet another connection to him that he liked to see. Now 1-year-old Ruby is as charmed by my bracelet charms as
I am by her smile. Same thing with my earrings. Since she was about 6 months old she has loved to pull on my dangly earrings, and I can allow this, as I wear clip-ons when I travel with her. Old photos of their parents when they were the age of the grandchildren traveling with you. Pick out relevant pictures that show her mother, at age 3, in the same park as your grandchild is heading for now. The circle comes fully around to the little one. Foreign money for them to use, if youre going out of the country. Travel is an educational opportunity in so many ways. Your grandkids can be counting euros or figuring out how many pesos equal how many dollars even before they've left the United States. An empty notebook or journal. Get them started on writing about their trip; help them along each day with a diary of their own. Several plastic Ziploc bags for them to take back their treasures from the trip, whether its shells or rocks or feathers, for show-and-tell at school back home. Maps of where youre going. Why not make travel the way of teaching your grandchildren geography? An open mind to their newfangled electronic devices. Children today have toys and games that are unfamiliar to us. Let your grandchildren teach you something. Learn how to turn these devices on, for starters, and appreciate that the new toys, too, have educational value. A deck of cards. Whether its Old Maid, war, poker or bridge depending on their age you can bond with the youngsters over a good card game, and cards take up very little space in your luggage. A cheap throw away camera. Let your grandchildren take those photographs of the trip that he finds interesting. A sketch pad and colored pencils. Grandchildren may surprise you with their creativity in sketching pictures of their travels. Another good show-andtell project, too, for them to take home.
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Your Health
Cutting down on fat will help people lose weight, without dieting, according to new research. People taking part in trials also saw their waistlines become slimmer, and levels of bad cholesterol decrease. The results prove for the first time that weight loss can happen without trying to lose weight; simply by choosing foods lower in fat. The research was commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) Subgroup on Diet and Health following a request to update their guidelines on total fat intake. The results will be crucial in making global recommendations. The research is particularly important because being overweight or obese increases the risk of many cancers, coronary heart disease and stroke. Reductions in total fat were also associated with small but statistically significant reductions in cholesterols and blood pressure, suggesting a beneficial effect on other major cardiovascular risk factors. The systematic review included results from 33 randomized controlled trials, in North America, Europe and New Zealand, involving 73,589 men, women and children. Those taking part had varying states of health. Comparisons were made between those eating less fat than usual (intervention group) and those eating their usual amount of fat (control group). The effect on weight and waistline was measured after at least six months. The results show that eating less fat reduces body weight by 1.6kg, BMI by
Low Fat Diet Key To Staying Slim Stop Touching Your Face To Avoid Flu: Study
0.56kg/m&; and waist circumference by 0.5cm. All these effects were in trials in which weight loss was not the intended outcome, suggesting that they occur in people with normal diets. The weight loss happened quickly and was maintained over at least seven years. "The weight reduction that we found when people ate less fat was remarkably consistent; we saw it in almost every trial. Those who cut down more on fat, lost more weight," said Dr Lee Hooper from UEA's Norwich Medical School, who led the research. "We didn't consider different types of fat in this study. But cutting down on saturated fat reduces our risk of heart disease and strokes, so the healthiest way to cut down on fat is to cut down on saturated fats," said Dr Hooper. "This means having low fat milk and yogurt, cutting down on butter and cheese, and cutting the fat off meat. Most importantly have fruit instead of fatty snacks like biscuits, cake and crisps. And remember, this isn't a diet, so don't take it to extremes, but work out a way of eating that you can stick to permanently," she added. Co-author Prof Carolyn Summerbell, from Durham University, said: "A healthy diet is a way of eating that people can sustain over time. That's the trick, to find a comfortable way to eat that you can stick to for life which helps you maintain your weight. Cutting down on fat will help. "Doing exercise and being physically active is good for maintaining weight and also has other health benefits, but it's not a replacement for a healthy diet," she added. Something as innocuous as touching your face could infect you with flu, especially after your hands brush with contaminated surfaces, according to a study. "There are many opportunities in between hand-washing episodes for people to re-contaminate their hands. If a deadly respiratory virus is around, this is something to really take into account," said Wladimir Alonso, from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, who led the study. Alonso and colleagues picked 249 people to observe in public places on the Washington D.C. subway and in Florianopolis, Brazil, the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases reports.
They found that people touched common objects an average of 3.3 times per hour and their faces 3.6 times per hour. "We are therefore likely to get germs on our hands far more quickly than they are washed off," Alonso said. Alonso said that during flu outbreaks, people should be reminded to try and avoid touching their faces as well as washing their hands regularly. But he added that while it was good to boost awareness, there was no need to be in a constant state of alert because the immune system offers good protection against disease. The advice is a timely reminder as cases of both flu and the norovirus (vomiting bug) peak over the winter months.
Alzheimer's Detected 20 Years Before Symptoms
A form of Alzheimer's found in teenagers more than 20 years before symptoms even develop could pave the way for early detection, and more improved treatments for the disease, researchers say. New research has shown that nearly half of a group of 18 to 26-year-olds had a gene mutation called presenilin 1 (PSEN1) making the disease likely at a young age, as reported. Brain imaging, blood tests and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found 20 out of a group of 44 youngsters had PSEN1. Researchers at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Arizona, Boston University and the University of Antioquia found notable differences in brain structure and function between the two groups, with the PSEN1 mutation carriers experiencing greater activity in regions
of the brain called the hippocampus - involved in memory - and the parahippocampus, as well as having less grey matter in certain brain areas. Results also showed CSF of those with the mutation also had more of a protein involved in depositing amyloid plaques in the brain - a key biomarker of Alzheimer's. Symptoms normally appear at around 45 in people with the PSEN1 gene, but the scientists found evidence 20 years before onset of the disease. "These results add to evidence that Alzheimer's is characterised by a long period of changes that can be tracked, opening up a window for early intervention," the Daily Express quoted Prof Nick Fox, of University College London, as saying.
Women with higher levels of micronutrients found in many fruits and vegetables may be less likely to develop breast cancer, new study has revealed. Previous research has shown that the nutrients, called carotenoids, can inhibit tumour growth and reduce the spread of breast cancers. Carotenoids are found in carrots, spinach, kale, tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet potatoes and other vegetables. "There has been some evidence in the past that these substances are helpful in reducing the risk of cancer," Bernik, who is chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said. In the new study, researchers led by A. Heather Eliassen of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in Boston, analyzed data from thousands of women who took part in eight previous studies on
Women Who Eat Fruits And Veggies Less Likely To Develop Breast Cancer
carotenoid levels and breast cancer. They found a statistically significant association between higher levels of carotenoids and reduced breast cancer risk, especially so-called ERnegative breast cancers - tumours that aren't reliant on oestrogen to fuel their growth. The findings highlight carotenoid levels as one of the first modifiable risk factors to be identified for ER-negative breast cancers, the team said. While there is some evidence that carotenoids also inhibit the growth of ER-positive breast cancers (cancers that respond to oestrogen), it's possible that this benefit is hidden by hormonerelated associations that overpower other risk factors, the researchers added. The study found a link between carotenoid levels and breast cancer risk, but it did not prove that the nutrients prevent the disease.
Eating tomatoes a few times a week could halve the chances of suffering depression, a study claims. Researchers analysed the mental health records and diet habits of just under 1,000 men and women aged 70 or over. The results found those eating tomatoes two to six times a week were 46 percent less likely to suffer the blues than those eating them less than once a week. But other fruits and vegetables do not have the same benefits, the study
Eating Tomatoes Could Ward Off Depression
found. Up to 20 percent of people suffer depression at some point in their lives, with women affected more than men. Tomatoes are rich in antioxidant chemicals that are thought to protect against some diseases. They are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives them their deep red colour and has been linked with reducing the risk of prostate cancer and heart attacks.
This information is provided for knowledge and educational purposes only. Individuals should visit their physicians for more information on their health.
Your Health
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Home Remedies For Gout

Gout can be treated at home with some simple household remedies. Most of these remedies are very effective in treating all types of gout. The following are some of the most effective remedies:* Cherries are very good in treating people with gout. Cherries are rich in vitamin C, which can help in eliminating the gouty deposits. A person with gout must consume about ten to fifteen cherries in a day to get relief from recurrent attacks of gout. Cherry juice is also very beneficial. Drinking a whole glass of cherry juice at least once a day proves to be very beneficial. * Apples are also very good for the treatment of gout. A person with gout complaints must eat at least one apple per day for obtaining relief. * If you have gout in your toes, then the following remedy can be used to seek relief. Take one-third cup of ground ginger in a bath tub and soak your affected foot in it for 30 minutes. This will cause you to sweat and uric acid will be eliminated. After this, make sure that you bathe thoroughly or ginger may cause skin irritation after the body dries. * Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in a glassful of water. Drink this juice thrice a day in morning, noon and night at regular intervals. Lemon is also a very rich source of vitamin C, which helps in dissolving the gouty deposits. * Drink 6-8 ounces glasses of fluid a day. This will not only reduce gout attacks a day but also wash out the urate crystals from the system and prevent you from developing kidney stones. * Take two teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar with two teaspoons of honey (twice a day). Within a few hours the pain will be minimized. * Bananas serve a good remedy for curing gout. Consume 3-4 bananas a day. Bananas are rich in minerals like phosphorus which can chemically react with the uric acid deposits and eliminate them from the system. * Increase the intake of citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, green pepper and leafy green vegetables which have high content of vitamin C. They reduce inflammation produced in gouts. * Simple water can also help to a great extent in curing gout. Drink excess of water that is eight to ten glasses per day as they will cause the toxic uric acid to flow away and this will reduce its level. * Soak the feet in Epsom salt if the pain is concentrated in big toe. Add two cups of Epsom salt in warm water; soak the feet in it and keep it till the water starts losing its heat. * Black cherry really works wonders with gout pains. Drink concentrated juice of black cherry at regular intervals throughout the day. This will relieve you from the pain. * Increase the amount of strawberries in your diet. Strawberries are rich sources of vitamin C. However, the strawberries must be fresh, and several of them must be eaten per day. * If you want a quick remedy for your gout pains, then a very convenient way is to apply ice on the affected regions. This will reduce the pains immediately, but this remedy is only temporary. You will need some other remedy to remove the deposits from the internal system. * Boil one tea-spoon of pepper in one cup of vinegar and one cup of water, dab this mixture onto the painful joint and leave it for 2-3 hours. * Eat several cloves of raw garlic daily. Mince the garlic and add it to black cherry juice for better effects. This remedy works very well if you have the garlic cherry paste in the early morning. Avoiding Gout There are some simple measures one can take to avoid the onset of gout. The following is a list of those preventive methods:(i) Most important of all preventions for gout is to keep the weight under check. This keeps your digestive system working fine and ensures proper expulsion of the waste products from the body. (ii) If you have an obesity problem, then you must work severely at bringing the weight down to a manageable level. This can be done through exercise and maintaining physical fitness. (iii) Eat a proper balanced diet and do not consume the excess of any one kind of food. Include several fresh fruits in your diet. Hot foods must be avoided. Avoid lean meats and organ meats. Restrict your intake of poultry and fish. (iv) Keep all the vital parts of your internal body clean. This is because toxic depositions anywhere in the body could be an influential factor in causing deposits of gout to occur in the joints. The main parts you must focus on are dental hygiene, proper and clean digestive system, kidneys and liver. (v) Avoid alcohol and smoking, as they can precipitate the conditions of gouts. Beer and distilled spirits are very harmful for gout, and their seriousness increases much more if the person indulges in binge drinking of these drinks. (vi) Do not keep your joints fixed in one position for a long period of time. Maintain some amount of movement in them all the time.
Women suffering from sleep apnea have a higher risk of brain damage than men with the disorder, according to a new study. For this study, the researchers looked at patients who were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). They compared the nerve fibers in these patients' brains -- known as white matter -- to fibers of individuals without sleep problems and focused on unearthing the difference in brain damage between men and women with sleep apnea. "While there are a great many brain studies done on sleep apnea and the impact on one's health, they have typically focused on men or combined groups of men and women, but we know that obstructive sleep apnea affects women very differently than men," said chief investigator Paul Macey, assistant professor at the UCLA School of Nursing. "This study revealed that, in fact, women are more affected by sleep apnea than are men and that women with obstructive sleep apnea have more severe brain damage than men
Sleep Apnea May Cause More Brain Damage In Women
suffering from a similar condition." In particular, the study found that women were impacted in the cingulum bundle and the anterior cingulate cortex, areas in the front of the brain involved in decision-making and mood regulation. The women with sleep apnea also showed higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, the researchers said. "This tells us that doctors should consider that the sleep disorder may be more problematic and therefore need earlier treatment in women than men," Macey said. With this finding as a foundation, Macey said that the next step is for researchers to "untangle the timing of the brain changes" and find out if treating sleep apnea can help the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. Each time, the oxygen level in the blood drops, eventually resulting in damage to many cells in the body. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes, depression and other serious health problems.
A Harris Health System ear specialist is concerned about the popularity of personal music devices like iPods and other MP3 players and their lack of sound-limiting controls. These devices, when combined with attached ear buds and headphones, can generate sound levels up to 115 decibels, well above the highest level of 85 decibels recommended by most hearing experts. "Unfortunately, children who suffer noise-induced hearing loss from these devices are risking permanent damage that will affect them as adults and for their entire lives," said Dr. Sancak Yuksel, otorhinolaryngologist, Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, and assistant professor, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Hearing loss occurs when the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged. Sudden or prolonged damage can lead to permanent hearing loss or complete deafness. "Aside from the intensity of the sound or a noise, my concern is how long the person is exposed to that sound or
Music Devices Can Lead To Permanent Hearing Loss
noise," Yuksel said. While everyone is susceptible to hearing loss, Yuksel worries that children risk more long-term issues when they don't fully complete their speech and learning development. He estimates 15 percent of children under age 18 suffer some sort of noiseinduced hearing loss. "Basically, everyone should avoid noises that are too loud, too close or last too long," he stated. People who attend a rock concert for longer than an hour at a sustained 115-decibel level can suffer damage to the inner ear. The result could be a temporary threshold shift (a brief loss of hearing) or tinnitus (a ringing in the ears). Most individuals tend to recover from these conditions; however, those with prolonged damage could suffer permanent hearing loss or ear ringing. Yuksel suggests using ear plugs to minimize the effects of loud sounds. Some ear plugs can reduce sound by 20-30 decibels, while more expensive headphones can reduce sound even more.
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Shatrughan Sinha Keen On Acting With Big B
Mumbai: Akshay Kumar is certainly following in the footsteps of his dear friend and contemporary Salman Khan. The hunk of an actor has been creating waves at the Box Office since the beginning of the year. And with his latest, Khiladi 786 Akshay has proved that he has his niche set of audiences, who are ever ready to watch him sizzle on the silver screen. Khiladi 786, which has been directed by Ashish R Mohan, has opened to a fantastic response at the Indian Box Office on its opening day. Eros International has reported that the movie has collected over Rs 10 crores net at the Box Office on its first day.
Akshay Kumars Khiladi 786 Rakes In The Moolah At The Box Office
Noted trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, #Khiladi786 collected approx Rs 34.30 cr nett in its opening weekend. Breakup:- Fri 10.40 cr, Sat 11.15 cr, Sun 12.75 cr(sic). The film which was released in 2,700 screens on December 7, has recorded a fantastic footfall in both single screen theatres as well as in the multiplexes in the morning and the matinee shows across the country. Khiladi 786 has got thumbs up from viewers across the country, and now a positive word of mouth is expected to take its collection higher over the weekend. Trade experts say that it is likely to find its place among the one hundred crore movie club.
Mumbai: Shatrughan Sinha, fondly known as Shotgun, is keen on doing a film with Amitabh Bachchan. The two are said to have discussed various possibilities of coming together, and a project is now being designed for them. "We haven`t worked together since `Shaan` and `Kaala Patthar`. It would be really nice to work with him again. He`s a good actor and a fine human being," said Shatrughan. "After my heart surgery, (one of) my first social outing was to his 70th birthday party. I told him I wouldn`t have stepped out to such a crowded gathering for anyone else. I broke my golden health rule for a golden human being," he added. The veteran actor-turned-politician is very impressed by Akshay Kumar. "He has been very inspiring in his
good-health talk. He came here and very humbly told me how important it is to eat sleep and exercise well. I am now on to a different routine altogether. I wake up very early in the morning, go for a long walk. "I`ll be resuming my yoga very soon. Late nights are completely out. Not that I partied late anyway," said the 67-year-old, who underwent surgery earlier this year. As soon as Shatrughan is back to completely normalcy, he will start a film with Akshay. "It`s a subject that he has been desirous of doing with me for a long time. Akshay came and told me, `Sir, ab to meri baat maan lijiye (Agree to me now at least)`. I`ve agreed. But he has laid down a pre-condition. Akshay says our shooting shifts would be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. I am game," he said.
New Delhi: Till now, it was only Bollywood heroines who resorted to cosmetic and aesthetic medical procedures to make themselves look better on the big screen. But now it seems that the trend is changing and even the male actors have joined in. A tabloid reports that Shahid Kapoor has recently gone under the knife to get his nose look sharper which explains why he had been keeping away from the shutterbugs in the last couple of months. It was his desire to have a more chiseled nose for his next movie Phate Poster Nikla Hero and so he opted for rhinoplasty and took spoke time off for a speedy recovery. But apparently, Shasha is not the only actor to have given to the desire to get better looks. Reportedly, there are many actors in the know who dont
Shahid Kapoor Goes Under The Knife For A Sharper Nose
Asin: 'I Don't Worry About Box Office Failure

Asin has revealed that she is not preoccupied with success or failure. The South Indian actress said that she is not affected by such things as the film industry changes from week to week. "I don't really worry about it because I know success and failure are part of this profession," she told Bollywood reporter Sunny Malik. "There is nothing permanent here." Asin has been part of a number of 100 crore films including Ghajini, Ready, Housefull 2 and Bol Bachchan. "I have been in the film industry for quite a few years, not just Hindi films, and in the part of my career when I was doing South Indian movies I have also mostly experienced success," she said. "It has been quite similar with recordbreaking films in the South as well." She added: "I have been around to see what happens, how equations change, how people change and how the graph changes Friday to Friday - with every new release. I don't take success too much to my head and similarly I won't take failure to my heart." Asin can be seen opposite Akshay Kumar in Khiladi 786, which released on Friday.
mind going under the knife to have a younger and smarter appearance in the cut throat world of Bollywood. And we agree that there is no big deal in doing that.
Asin
Asin
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Dilip Kumar At 90: Wife Saira Remembers 46 Years Of Love
New Delhi: A few months ago an ecstatic Bollywood actor Fardeen Khan announced that he and his wife Natasha Madhvani were expecting twins and he even shifted base to London just to keep his wife and unborn babies safe from the Dengue scare prevalent during those days. However, despite the number of precautions the couple took, tragedy has struck their blissful life as Natasha had a miscarriage recently and thus lost her unborn twin babies. The sad news
Fardeen Khans Wife Natasha Has A Miscarriage; Loses Twin Babies
was announced by a saddened Fardeen who wrote on Twitter: As delighted as we were to announce Natasha`s pregnancy I am equally saddened to say she had a late miscarriage. He even went about writing, As the saying goes - What doesn`t kill you can only make u stronger. Life is Life is Life. And then finally he wrote, Most importantly Natasha is in good health and can have try again. This half-pint I married is a warrior in every sense.
Dilip Kumar with Wife Saira Banu

Mumbai: "He never allowed her to hold his hand in public but 46 years of marriage have changed many things," says Saira Banu lovingly of husbandactor-legend Dilip Kumar who turns 90 Tuesday. The celebrations for the landmark birthday will be quiet given the death of some of their closest friends this year. "This year was a sorrowful year. We lost many dear friends from the industry. So it will be a small celebration at our place with only close friends," Saira, 68, told IANS in an exclusive conversation. The family is grieving the death of friends and associates like Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, former union minister N.K.P. Salve, filmmaker Yash Chopra, and actors Rajesh Khanna and Dara Singh, among others. The Saira Banu-Dilip Kumar story is what Bollywood films are made of - 46 years of togetherness and getting better with time. "I fell in love with Dilip saheb when I was 12 years old. Beyond my own romance (with him), I can`t see anything. In real life, he is very loving, very polished and a sophisticated man," Saira told IANS. They have a 22-year age gap, and have stood like strong pillars of support for each other through thick and thin. "Since the day Dilip saheb proposed to me, it`s been great... He is the strongest person in my life. He never allowed me to hold his hand in public, but 46 years of our marriage has changed many things. Now we only live for each other," added the one-time screen scorcher, who still steals romantic moments like an occasional dinner with her husband. For his milestone birthday, she wishes him a good, healthy and long life. "I want him to be healthy and happy forever. He is the best person in this world. Dilip saheb is the golden man that god has created. My effort is to keep him and his family happy. "He is my sartaaj... as you all say, he is my `pati parmeshwar`. I am a traditional woman by heart and Dilip saheb is supreme to me," she said. Dilip Kumar, a.k.a. Mohammed Yusuf Khan, started his memorable Bollywood journey with the 1944 release Jwar Bhata. Thereafter, he went on to give classics like Madhumati, Shaheed, Devdas, Andaz, Amar, MughalE-Azam, Ram Aur Shyam, Karma and Saudagar. He was crowned the Tragedy King of Bollywood for playing a doomed lover in films like Andaaz, Baabul, Mela, Deedar, and Jogan. His last film was Quila in 1998. The icon that he is, celebrations for his 90th birthday are being planned the world over, says his wife, but he wants it to be a sober affair in Mumbai. His birthday will be celebrated in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan`s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where he was born before he migrated to India by the Cultural Heritage Council (CHC) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "In Pakistan, where he used to live, now that place belongs to someone else. But obviously, the people there are very happy and will have a celebration there. "Not only there, even in London and many other places, people love him and will have a celebration for him. As far as Dilip saheb is concerned, we will have a small get-together with our close family members," said Saira.
Fardeen Khan With Wife Natasha
We Are Professional On The Sets: Arbaaz Khan

With Arbaaz Khan directing the film and Salman Khan acting in it, Dabangg 2 seems to be a family film. But the atmosphere on the sets is completely professional, says the director. It is comfortable. When you work with your family members, it becomes a very homely atmosphere. But in spite of this, we work professionally, he told IANS in an interaction. On the set, Salman Khan is a big star and I am a debutant director. He expects me to be at my best and I, as a first time director, expect him to give me all his expertise. We agree on many things and disagree on many. We debate, which is sometimes a discussion and sometimes an argument, he added. Dabangg 2 is the sequel to the 2010 blockbuster film Dabangg. Salman and Arbaazs father Salim Khan is looking into the distribution of the film, which releases Dec 21. But does having a star like Salman and a franchise like Dabangg make Arbaaz confident of good collections? Collections take care of themselves if you make a good film. If you make a good film, collections will happen. You cant keep thinking of that and make the filmI dont know how everyone else make films, but I cant, he said. Salman Khan is a big star and he has a big fan following. A lot of people want to watch him. But with that it is also your duty to make a good film. Its not like you can take everything for granted and say that its Salman Khan and Dabangg and people will come to watch the film, he said. We have put in sincere and honest efforts to make a good filmso if these things add to his fan following, it will be greatthis is our effort, he added. Arbaaz says he would like to work with other actors and directors as well. I am just into my career right now. This is my second film as a producer and I am directing it as well. I will be working with a lot of other actors as well. As long as we are doing great work in the family is wonderful, but I would like to work outside, he said. IANS
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When back in 2008, Rohit Shettys Sunday pulled off an ingenious spoof on Bollywoods quintessential pseudoversatile-genius, people might have had a genuine laugh or two. Little did they know that while Arshad Warsi was caustically speaking about his partner, Irrfan Khans acting prowess as the music director who produces his own film, directs it on his own, provides music to it and acts in it; Himesh Reshammiya might actually have been eavesdropping. And perhaps the result of that overheard conversation is this gigantic pain in the neck called Khiladi 786. Manshukh Desai (Himesh Reshammiya need I say more?!) is a wedding planner, an aide in his fathers business. Just that all he can do is break up marriages with his incompetence or some gaffe or the other. So when one such wedding falls apart, Desai is kicked out of his home. Hitting the streets with a bottle of desi liquor and trying to re-enact a Devdas might be anybodys forte but Himeshs the man makes sure of that with his forced acting. Enter Indu Tendulkar (Asin), the girl who nobody wants to enter wedlock with: reason shes TTs (Mithun Chakraborty) sister. Tantiya Tukaram Tendulkars abbreviated name is enough to leave people in tatters. An underworld don, this man can just not be imprisoned. And then theres the Khiladi. The Punjab-da-puttar Bahattar Singh 72 Singh as hes better known as (Inane? You bet.) Akshay Kumar in garish, loud kurtas knocking off the teeth and smashing the noses of every other bad guy in the village. One might go to the extent of mistaking him for the Robin Hood in uniform. Yes, he plays a cop here as well seemingly so. From 71 to 75, all the males in the Singh family have their names firmly perched on a number. Khiladi Bhaiya hits people,
Khiladi 786 Review: Akshay Kumar's Return As 'Khiladi' Marred By Bad Script!
loots trucks, keeps a considerable amount of the booty to himself and distributes the rest among the people. Mansukh decides to get Indu and Bahattar hitched, and looks upon it as the wedding that would prove him as a man in front of his father. However, there are cock-and-bull stories to be concocted on the way and brash, rowdy people to be gotten rid of. Oh and theres Indus gunda boyfriend too to be taken care of. Somewhere along the way, Khiladi Bhaiyas philanthropy gets buried under layers of hallucinations involving him romancing Indu in some foreign land or singing sad songs, also in some foreign land. The Punjab da Puttar is careful about his imaginations: there are red Ferraris and exotic locales involved, always. Himesh Reshammiyas story zigzags through concealment of identities, servants trying to bring their employers empire down, and a wedding planner hoping that his endeavour doesnt go in vain. But honestly, he could just have not bothered to go ahead with this waste of talent, money, and whatnot. That Akshay Kumar as an actor is an exceptionally talented one has been proved time and again given the man has a decent story to perform in. Not this one, though. The genre of action is the Khiladis forte, goes without saying; however, when it remains in the realm of the real. One single man taking on more than 200 goons and flattening them single-handedly come on, havent we had too much of that already? When Akshay Kumar isnt beating people up or thinking about Asin, which by the way hardly happens, he isnt bad. Asins Marathi mulgi act is overshadowed by her tomboyish side; but when faced by solid patriarchy in the form of her brother, she hardly has anything to do. Her acting is good, but not one
that deserves a standing ovation. Mithun plays off the stereotypical elder-brother-worried-about-sisterswedding well. As far as Himesh Reshammiyas talent (hes the producer, storywriter, music director, singer and actor in the film) is considered we might need to do an entire thesis on why does this man try and burn a little of his fingers everywhere! The old adage Jack of all trades, master of none might be able to do some justice to the fellow hopefully.
The music of the film, by Himesh (yet again!) ranges from un-listenable to cringe-inducing songs. Numbers like Hookah Bar, Fire Brigade and the like absurd as they might appear are catchy, and will definitely do a good job of staying on the music charts for some time. The other songs will hopefully be forgotten the way so many others are; and cheers to that! Watch the film if you swear by Akshay Kumar. If you dont, youd be illadvised to go into the theatres.
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Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar Passes Away In San Diego

Pandit Ravi Shankar, the most known contemporary Indian musician, passed away in San Diego city of United States on Tuesday evening. The sitar maestro, aged 92, had been under treatment for last one week. He was hospitalised last Thursday after he complained of breathing difficulties. For nearly three decades, ever since his first tour of the United States and Europe in the 1956-57 season, Ravi Shankar has served as India's unofficial ambassador for music. The music doyen was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1999. He also received three Grammy Awards and was competing against his daughter Anoushka Shankar, also a sitar player, for another Grammy in 2013.
Manishas Ovarian Cancer Surgery Successful

Few days back, we received a shocking news that Manisha Koirala is suffering from ovarian cancer and she was admitted to Mumbai Jaslok hospital. After few tests and initial treatment, Manisha was taken to the US for more advanced treatment and surgery. With Gods grace, Manisha had a successful ovarian cancer surgery in New York on Monday. "Manisha underwent a surgery on Monday at around 9 am. I got a message from her family members and they said it was a successful surgery," Subroto Ghosh, Manisha's manager said. "Manisha's mother, father and her brother are by her side. One of her close friends is also there with her," he added. Manisha showed immense strength and positive attitude and she fought with the disease very bravely. Before the operation was conducted, she clicked a photo with her mother which she uploaded on net. She tweeted, I have had a beautiful life so far and I know, whatever will happen will all be good. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayersI am writing this as a request please no sadness, I have told my closest friends and family too. This is part of life, the actress had tweeted on learning about her diagnoses. Manisha thanked all her fans, relatives, friends for their prayers. She quoted few lines of Rabindranath Tagores poem and tweeted, Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it. Rabindranath Tagore Manisha who gave many hits in her career recently returned to the silver screen with Bhoot Returns. She was in the news for her troubled marriage and divorce case. We wish Manisha a speedy recovery!
Vidya Balan's Mehendi Ceremony

Vidya Balans mehendi ceremony was not different from her sangeet as only close friends and family members attended the ceremony. Vidyas mehendi ceremony was held at her Khar residence in Mumbai on Wednesday. Vidya looked gorgeous in designer Sabyasachis cult work. She wore the sari in Bengali style with floral ornaments. She posed for the camera deliberately and showing off her mehendi. Again no celebrity face was seen at the actresss mehendi ceremony except her most favorite and veteran actress Rekha. Rekha wore a green and red order silk saree and as usual kept her hair open with minimal jewelry. She looked absolutely stunning. Vidya is a big fan of Rekha and she expressed her liking for the actress in various occasion. Vidya's parents Saraswathy and P R Balan, and her elder sister Priya were spotted at the event. Vidya Balan and Siddharth Roy Kapur will enter into matrimony on December 14th. They will have both Punjabi and South Indian style wedding. The couple will have temple wedding at the Sri Subramania Temple in Chembur on Friday morning. After the wedding, a grand reception will be held in Mumbai for the industry friends. Post the wedding, Vidya and Siddharth will go for Caribbean honeymoon and the duo has taken a small break from work to enjoy their married life. Siddharth wore an traditional off-white kurta-churidaar and while Vidya Balan was seen in a bright and multi-coloured silk sari in their sangeet ceremony.
Kya Huaa Tera Vaada Why Did Ekta Kapoor Kill Off Pawan Shankar Aka Pradeep Singh?
The show has taken a 10-year leap, the children have grown up, Anushka Sarkar is in jail, Pradeep Singh is dead, and Mona Singh has not aged a day clearly modern mommies have been using hair color to cover all their greys and botox to hide their wrinkles Kya Huaa Tera Vaada has made some drastic changes to its storyline. While we appreciate the drift, something has left us rather confused. The initial rumours we heard was that Mouli Ganguly (Anushka Sarkar) would be quitting the show, but when the time came, Ekta Kapoor killed Pawan Shankar (Pradeep Singh) instead Why? Weve been asking the same question ourselves. Apparently, Pradeeps death was crucial to the story, the leap and Anushkas revenge. However, we think the real reason is that Pawan got really fed up of being tossed around from one woman to the other. Valid wethinks! Ever since the show began, Pradeep has been flitting to and fro from Mona Singh to Anushka and back more often than one could believe. Guess he really had had enough. But knowing Ekta Kapoor, we wont be too shocked if Pradeep re-enters the show in tow with a third woman all together. Now wouldnt that be funny? Imagine if Pradeep does enter the show again, will the women go back to playing tug-of-war over him or will Mona and Anushka unite to take out the other woman. With no men in their lives, its bound to get a little lonely, no?
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Travel
Yasawa Islands Vacation and Travel Guide
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Vacationing In Fiji
The Yasawa Islands are an archipelago of about 20 volcanic islands located in western Fiji. The island group has a total area of approximately 135 sq km (52 sq mi) with peaks of up to 600 meters (1968 ft) in height. Its main islands are Yasawa, Waya, Naviti and Nacula. These islands are popular for their beautiful white-sand beaches, warm and clear blue waters, interesting caves, extensive fringing reefs, reef lagoons and the wide diversity of marine life. Because of the ideal underwater environment, the islands are excellent for water activities, including diving, snorkeling, sailing and fishing, although the rolling hills and amazing scenery make the Yasawa Islands ideal for land activities, such as hiking and sightseeing, as well. You can also stay at several private and luxurious resorts, where you can participate in a variety of activities. Yasawa Island Yasawa Island lies at the top of the Yasawa group and is the largest of the islands. It is known for its gorgeous sandy beaches and secluded bays. The island is excellent for scuba diving and snorkeling because of its wide variety of corals and other marine life, although other activities you can also participate in include canoeing and fish and turtle feeding. You can stay at Yasawas island resort, which consists of scenic luxury bures. Chartering is the only way you can get to the island, although you can travel from Yasawa by plane with the resorts own airstrip. For a unique and fun experience, you can also take a trip to the Sawa-i-Lau caves on Sawa-i-Lau Island, located off the southern tip of Yasawa. What makes a trip to these caves even more interesting is that you have to swim through a submerged entrance in order to reach the inner caves. On top of that, the caves are famous for being one of the locations that the filming of the 1980 movie, The Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields, took place in. Waya Island On the island of Waya, you can see rolling hills and lovely beach scenery. Because of its hilly terrain, the island is great for hiking, and one of its resorts, the Bayside Resort, offers a walking track that leads to both the east and west coast of Waya. Here, you can enjoy spectacular views of mountains, steep ridges and deep clear blue bays. Naviti Island Naviti Island is located to the southwest of Nanuya Lai Lai. It consists of rolling hills, a beautiful beach that is great for swimming and several lovely resorts. You can enjoy a scenic hike by walking the track overlooking the Botaira Beach Resort, or you can go on snorkeling trips in the islands Manta Ray Lagoon. Nacula Island Nacula is located at the tip of Tavewa Island and is the third largest of the Yasawa Islands, with peaks of over 200
meters (656 ft) in height. Within the grassy hills, you can trek on walking tracks that lead to several remote beaches on the southern coast, and you can stay at a choice of three beach resorts located near Naisisili Village. There are also lagoons found on the estates of these resorts that are great for swimming and snorkeling. Lomaiviti Islands The Lomaiviti island group lies to the east of Viti Levu and is made up of several main and smaller islands that cover a total area of 411 sq km (158.7 sq. mi). The largest of these islands are Ovalau, Koro and Gau. You can explore the Lomaivitis while hiking in lush tropical rainforests, snorkeling and scuba diving amongst their beautiful reefs and do a variety of cultural tours that include visits to Fijian villages. Other attractions consist of numerous restaurants, coffee bars, museums and different other historical sights. There are also various private luxury resorts that you can stay at while vacationing on these beautiful secluded islands. Ovalau Ovalau is the main island and is also the location of the local government of the Lomaivitis. Here, you can see villages, rainforests and waterfalls, plus it is quite easy to explore the island by bus or bicycle. In Levuka, which is the main town on Ovalau, you will find that the architecture still reflects the colonial era of Fiji. You can visit museums, churches and monuments and visit great colonial-style budget hotels, including Fijis first hotel that was built in the mid-1800s. Behind Levuka, there are gorgeous mountain ranges and hiking trails that lead into the rainforest and to waterfalls and swimming pools. Between Ovalau and Suva, the capital city on Viti Levu, there is a small luxury resort on Toberua Island where you can find mangrove channels nearby that are excellent for exploring several beautiful, small nature reserve islands with large booby (sea bird) colonies. There is another resort located a few miles off the coast of Ovalau on Wakaya Island, which is one of the original exclusive Fijian resorts and is a more expensive accommodation option. It boasts a private airstrip and a private 9-hole golf course, plus you
can experience fantastic snorkeling and diving off of its beautiful beach as well. Koro Located northeast of Ovalau is the volcanic island of Koro. Amongst its lush tropical rainforests, you can hike along trails and see beautiful waterfalls. Several traditional Fijian villages can be found on the island as well, including the largest, Nasau, which is located 5 km (3 mi) north of the airstrip. In the area, you can find a hospital, post office and cooperative store, as well as government headquarters. However, there is currently no accommodation on the island, so the only way you would be able to stay overnight is by receiving an invitation from a local. The women of the Koro villages are renowned for their lovely woven handicrafts, particularly fans and mats. Gau The island of Gau is located south of Koro and is the largest of the Lomaiviti group. Here, you can see sights such as dense rainforests, rolling hills and white sandy beaches. The largest village on the island is Qarani, which boasts the safest anchorage for yachts and is the location of the islands only doctor. The village is also home to the world famous rugby player, Waisale Serevi. Taveuni Island Taveuni, also known as the Garden Island of Fiji, is renowned for its lush tropical rainforests, pristine sandy beaches, scenic coastline and wide variety of wildlife. There are also numerous areas that are excellent for scuba diving. Taveuni covers a total land area of 435 sq km (169 sq mi) and is 42 km (26 mi) long and about 11 km (6 mi) wide. Mt. Uluigalau is the islands highest peak at approximately 1240 meters (4068 ft) high, followed by the Des Voeux Peak at approximately 1200 meters (3937 ft). There are many interesting and gorgeous sights to see on Taveuni, including Bouma National Park, Rainbow Reef and the rare tagimaucia flower. The island is also excellent for bird watching, as it is home to a wide variety of birdlife, such as the rare kula lorikeet, red-breasted musk parrot and orange dove. A few of the areas worth visiting in Taveuni are Somosomo,
Bouma and the island of Qamea. Somosomo Somosomo is the largest populated town on Taveuni and is renowned for its spectacular diving sites. You can find these within the Somosomo Strait, which lies between Taveuni and Vanua Levu. One site worth exploring is the Rainbow Reef, which is filled with an amazing array of colorful corals and a wide variety of marine life. Another dive site in the area is the Great White Wall, which is covered in stunning lavender-tinged white corals that give off a slight luminescent glow. Both sites were named in the Top 10 Dive Locations in the World by U.S. Divers Magazine. Bouma In the town of Bouma, you can find the gorgeous Bouma National Park. There are four attractions in this park, including the Lavena Coastal Walk, Vidawa Rainforest Hike, Tavoro Waterfalls and Waitabu Marine Park. Within this national park, you can explore tropical rainforests and gardens and see and even swim under amazing waterfalls. While on the Lavena Coastal Walk, you will be able to explore Lake Tagimaucia, where you can see the rare tagimaucia flower. You can also go on an excellent snorkeling tour in the protected Waitabu Marine Park, where you can see a large variety of marine life. Qamea Island The beautiful Qamea Island is home to lush tropical rainforests, pristine whitesand beaches, spectacular mountain range scenery and traditional Fijian villages. It is well-known for its private luxurious island spa resort consisting of beachfront bures and villas. Kadavu is a mountainous island with beautiful beaches, waterfalls, rainforests and a great variety of birdlife. Encompassing 411 square kilometers (158.6 square miles), it is Fijis fourth largest island. Kadavu still has 75 percent of its original rainforest cover. The islands tallest mountain is Nabukelevu, also known as Mount Washington, which is 822 meters (2,697 feet) high. It is a dormant volcano which last erupted just 2,000 years ago. Bird watching in Kadavu Bird-watching enthusiasts will be in heaven on Kadavu. Birds that can only be seen here include the Kadavu honeyeater, the velvet fruit dove, the Kadavu fantail and the crimson shining parrot. The red and green Kadavu musk parrot can easily be seen and heard as well. Few islands in the Pacific have so much endemic biodiversity left as
Continued Next Week


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If only for the sheer fun of barreling down the road in a turbocharged V-6 SUV, the Ford Explorer Sport brings welcome fun to the Explorer nameplate for 2013. The new Sport trim level adds the third and most powerful engine to the Explorer lineup, which helps it hustle past other three-row SUVs even the few that still offer V-8s. It returns respectable EPA gas mileage and improves on lesser Explorers' mediocre handling. The Sport does for the Explorer what hot sauce does for wings. Though its range of efficient engines is unmatched among SUVs, lingering issues diminish the 2013 Ford Explorer's appeal. Those shortcomings had the SUV in a tie for last place in our $37,000 SUV Shootout last year (see the results), and while this year's updates address some of them, they ignore others. The Explorer seats six or seven, depending on seating configuration, and comes in base, XLT, Limited and Sport trims. Compare them here. Besides the addition of the Sport, the 2013 Explorer also gets some updates to its optional MyFord Touch system; stack up the 2013 and 2012 Explorer here. The Sport comes with standard all-wheel drive while the others offer front- or all-wheel drive. Engines include a turbo four-cylinder, a normally aspirated V-6 and a turbo V-6; Ford markets both turbos under the EcoBoost moniker. We've tested all three. From Slowpoke to Speeding Ticket The Explorer's 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder a $995 option on front-drive trims boasts an impressive EPA-estimated 20/28/23 mpg city/highway/combined, but the tradeoff comes in poky acceleration in most situations. We drove the 2.0-liter Explorer near Ford's Romeo, Mich., proving grounds last year, and with three adult occupants on hilly roads it needed most of its reserves plus frenzied, how-'bout-now downshifts to keep up speed. The same engine hustles the smaller Ford Edge well enough, but the Explorer is nearly 500 pounds heavier, and it lumbers. Plan your passing accordingly. By contrast, the Explorer's 290-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 tacks on extra speed with little drama. It's similar to other V-6 competitors, if less gutsy than the surprisingly quick Toyota Highlander. EPA combined mileage in the V-6 Explorer runs 20 mpg with front-wheel drive and 19 mpg with all-wheel drive. That's competitive, though Nissan's redesigned Pathfinder beats Ford by 2 mpg. The all-wheel-drive Explorer Sport blasts past all comers thanks to its 365hp, turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It's a performance bargain: No midsize SUV near the Sport's sub-$42,000 price packs this sort of acceleration and that includes the V-8 Dodge Durango. The Explorer Sport pulls strongly all the way up to 70 or 80 mph, with decisive shifts even on two-gear kickdowns
Autos
2013 Ford Explorer

from its six-speed automatic. Ride quality in non-Sport Explorers beats the choppy Highlander and the firm Honda Pilot, with decent isolation over ruts and expansion joints. The Explorer Sport retains most of that character, though it lets a few more hints of pavement disruption creep into the cabin. The Sport adds chassis reinforcements and a sport-tuned suspension with a rear stabilizer bar. The Sport has 20-inch wheels and P255/50R20 tires, which are optional on lesser trims. A $995 option unique to the Sport is high-performance P265/45ZR20 summer tires; our test car had them. Throw it all together and the Sport sharpens the Explorer's handling a great deal. Gone are the pervasive body roll and sloppy steering though all Explorers get new steering hardware, so it's possible the latter improvement comes across the board. The Sport attacks switchback turns with flat, planted composure and engaging steering feedback; its larger disc brakes deliver confident, linear stopping. Take to the dirt or snow and every allwheel-drive Explorer includes a Terrain Management System that optimizes drivetrain and stability-system settings for sand, snow or mud via a dashboard knob. Unaddressed Problems No question: The Explorer Sport is tremendous fun. The Explorer overall, however, has problems. Headlining them are Ford's touch-sensitive MyFord Touch controls optional on the XLT and standard with the Limited and Sport which remain near-impossible to use while keeping your eyes on the road. The controls in this system respond faster than they used to, thanks to an update for 2013 (see the details here), but MyFord Touch's dashboard screen is still relatively slow. Cabin materials are good, with lowgloss materials and padding where it matters up front. Rear passengers get cheaper textures, and all positions suffer poor forward visibility due to short windows, a high belt line and thick A-pillars. The first and second rows have upright seating positions with good thigh support, but legroom is modest in both. I could have used another inch of front-seat travel for my 5-foot-11 frame, but adding more travel range would have made the second row untenable for all but children. Third-row room is tight the norm in this class, though the Dodge Durango and Ford's own Flex buck the trend and the Explorer remains among a shrinking number of SUVs that don't offer sliding second-row seats for walk-in access to the third row. (The Pilot, Highlander, Pathfinder and Chevrolet Traverse all do.) Getting to the way-back seats requires a yesteryear process of flipping and tumbling the second row. Swapping the three-position second-row bench for optional captain's chairs adds a narrow pass-through to the third row, at least. The captain's chairs recline and adjust forward and backward, allowing third-row passengers to negotiate more legroom from their second-row cohorts. The 60/40-split bench seat has a bizarre setup, however: Both sides recline, but only the 40-percent portion slides forward and back. Cargo room behind the third row measures an impressive 21 cubic feet. Fold down the second and third rows and maximum volume totals 80.7 cubic feet. That's in line with the Pathfinder, but on the small side in this group. The Pilot and Highlander have 87 and 95.4 cubic feet, respectively, and the Traverse boasts a near-minivan-level 116.3 cubic feet. Safety Shines, Reliability Stinks With top crash-test scores across the board, the Explorer has the distinction of being a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and having a five-out-of-five-stars rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The latter designation has become rarer ever since NHTSA upgraded its testing procedures a few years ago. Seven standard airbags include a new front-passenger knee airbag for 2013 (curiously, the driver doesn't get one) plus the federally required antilock brakes and electronic stability system. A blind spot warning system, forward collision warning and Ford's inflatable second-row seat belts (read about them here) are optional. Click here to see a full list of safety features or here to see our evaluation of child-seat provisions. If safety for the current Explorer is exemplary, reliability has been abysmal, though much of the Explorer's poor reliability rating comes from its glitchprone MyFord Touch system. Like many recent Ford owners, we've seen the system freeze, reboot and generally go haywire in our press cars. Upgrades for 2013 aimed to fix the glitches, and as of this writing the results haven't yet factored into recent reliability figures. The system in our 2013 Explorer incurred no major disruptions but we've already experienced MyFord Touch freezes in other 2013 Fords (read more here). Not good. The base, front-wheel-drive Explorer starts just under $30,000 competitive with its peers and comes standard with a power driver's seat, steeringwheel audio controls and manual air conditioning for the front and rear cabin. Among the options are MyFord Touch, Ford's Sync voice-recognition system, navigation, dual-zone front automatic climate control, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and a dual-panel moonroof. On the Explorer base, XLT and Limited, all-wheel drive runs $2,000; it's standard on the Sport. The sub-$42,000 Sport runs just $595 more than an allwheel-drive Limited, which has a few more standard features and high-tech options, like an auto-parking system (read more here). Load up a Limited or Sport with all the factory options and the price tops $52,000. Explorer in the Market Have the Explorer's issues really dampened its appeal? Perhaps not so much. Through October, Explorer sales have trounced the competition. Sales are up 21 percent despite the current-generation Explorer having been around since late 2010. The new, screaming Sport should only add to Ford's lead. By all means, shop the Explorer and open up the Sport on an empty road if you can. But mind the shortfalls and take a hard look at the competition, too.

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Lifestyle
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Tips For Planning A Healthy Diet

eating is to develop a diet that you can maintain for life, not just a few weeks or months, or until you've hit your ideal weight. So try to think of moderation in terms of balance. Despite what certain fad diets would have you believe, we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body. For most of us, moderation or balance means eating less than we do now. More specifically, it means eating far less of the unhealthy stuff (unrefined sugar, saturated fat, for example) and more of the healthy (such as fresh fruit and vegetables). But it doesn't mean eliminating the foods you love. Eating bacon for breakfast once a week, for example, could be considered moderation if you follow it with a healthy lunch and dinnerbut not if you follow it with a box of donuts and a sausage pizza. If you eat 100 calories of chocolate one afternoon, balance it out by deducting 100 calories from your evening meal. If you're still hungry, fill up with an extra serving of fresh vegetables. Try not to think of certain foods as off-limits. When you ban certain foods or food groups, it is natural to want those foods more, and then feel like a failure if you give in to temptation. If you are drawn towards sweet, salty, or unhealthy foods, start by reducing portion sizes and not eating them as often. Later you may find yourself craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences. Think smaller portions. Serving sizes have ballooned recently, particularly in restaurants. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don't order supersized anything. At home, use smaller plates, think about serving sizes in realistic terms, and start small. If you don't feel satisfied at the end of a meal, try adding more leafy green vegetables or rounding off the meal with fresh fruit. Visual cues can help with portion sizes your serving of meat, fish, or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards, a slice of bread should be the size of a CD case, and half a cup of mashed potato, rice, or pasta is about the size of a traditional light bulb. Healthy eating tip 3: It's not just what you eat, it's how you eat Healthy eating is about more than the food on your plateit is also about how you think about food. Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids. Eat with others whenever possible. Eating with other people has numerous social and emotional benefits particularly for childrenand allows you to model healthy eating habits. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless overeating. Take time to chew your food and enjoy mealtimes. Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of our food. Reconnect with the joy of eating. Listen to your body. Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating small, healthy meals throughout the day (rather than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up and your metabolism going. Avoid eating at night. Try to eat dinner earlier in the day and then fast for 14-16 hours until breakfast the next morning. Early studies suggest that this simple dietary adjustmenteating only when youre most active and giving your digestive system a long break each daymay help to regulate weight. After-dinner snacks tend to be high in fat and calories so are best avoided, anyway.
Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, its about feeling great, having more energy, stabilizing your mood, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a tasty, healthy diet Healthy eating tip 1: Set yourself up for success To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think. Simplify. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories or measuring portion sizes, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness. This way it should be easier to make healthy choices. Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients. Gradually, your diet will become healthier and more delicious. Start slow and make changes to your eating habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isnt realistic or smart. Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of different color vegetables) to your diet once a day or switching from butter to olive oil when cooking. As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your
diet. Every change you make to improve your diet matters. You dont have to be perfect and you dont have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet. The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy, and reduce the risk of cancer and disease. Dont let your missteps derail youevery healthy food choice you make counts. Think of water and exercise as food groups in your diet. Water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many people go through life dehydrated causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. Its common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices. Exercise. Find something active that you like to do and add it to your day, just like you would add healthy greens, blueberries, or salmon. The benefits of lifelong exercise are abundant and regular exercise may even motivate you to make healthy food choices a habit. Healthy eating tip 2: Moderation is Key
People often think of healthy eating as an all or nothing proposition, but a key foundation for any healthy diet is moderation. But what is moderation? How much is a moderate amount? That really depends on you and your overall eating habits. The goal of healthy

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For Women
in my bag all the time. Just apply to the pimple and it will greatly reduce the size and redness in no time.
Ways To Get Rid Of A Pimple
3. Toothpaste This trick is as old as they get, but just make sure you use white toothpaste and not the blue, swirly kind because it wont work as well. Usually the toothpaste on the pimple trick works best when you apply it at night and sleep on ititll dry it right out!
2. Ice, Ice, Baby Pimplesthey come at the best of times, dont you think so? Usually when you have a big event coming up, or youre sleeping over at your mans and you wake up with some rather unflattering red bumps. In either case, pimples are a nuisance and we need to put a stop to them NOW! Can you tell Im enraged? I woke up this morning to a nice surprise on my face, but, thankfully I have my tools ready! Here are 5 ways to get rid of a pesky pimplestat! 1. Benzyol PeroxideThis is my best friend! I carry this little tube of miracles
One of my favorite products in the world is Mario Badescus Drying Cream because it works miracles. Not only is this cream a lifesaver when it comes to minimizing pimples in record time, but it also works amazingly as a pimple concealer. So you can wear it underneath your foundation, making it almost non-existant, while it is doing its job of drying out the pimple genius! 5. Tea Bag
4. Drying Cream
Ok, so Ive been watching Glee too much, but ice is actually a great way to reduce those massive surprise pimples. Just put some ice in a bag and hold it against the pimple for about 10 minutes. This is actually called freezing a pimple..take that!
Tea bags are another excellent way to reduce the size and redness of a pimple. Just boil some water, dip a tea bag in it (green tea works best), let it steep, and apply the tea bag to the pimple.
Domestic Violence and Abuse

If you suspect that someone you know is being abused, speak up! If youre hesitatingtelling yourself that its none of your business, you might be wrong, or the person might not want to talk about itkeep in mind that expressing your concern will let the person know that you care and may even save his or her life. Do's and Don'ts Do: Ask if something is wrong. Express concern. Listen and validate. Offer help. Support his or her decisions. Dont: Wait for him or her to come to you. Judge or blame. Pressure him or her. Give advice. Place conditions on your support. Talk to the person in private and let him or her know that youre concerned. Point out the things youve noticed that make you worried. Tell the person that youre there, whenever he or she feels ready to talk. Reassure the person that youll keep whatever is said between the two of you, and let him or her know that youll help in any way you can. Remember, abusers are very good at controlling and manipulating their victims. People who have been emotionally abused or battered are depressed, drained, scared, ashamed, and confused. They need help to get out, yet theyve often been isolated from their family and friends. By picking up on the warning signs and offering support, you can help them escape an abusive situation and begin healing. Speak up if you suspect domestic violence or abuse Next step and torn. One moment, you may Getting out of an abusive relationship. desperately want to get away, and the Do you want to leave an abusive next, you may want to hang on to the situation, but stay out of fear of what relationship. Maybe you even blame your partner might do? While leaving yourself for the abuse or feel weak isnt easy, there are things you can do and embarrassed because youve stuck to protect yourself. Youre not alone, around in spite of it. Dont be trapped and help is available. by confusion, guilt, or self-blame. The Getting out of an abusive or violent only thing that matters is your safety. relationship isnt easy. Maybe youre If you are being abused, remember: still hoping that things will change You are not to blame for being or youre afraid of what your partner battered or mistreated. will do if he discovers youre trying You are not the cause of your to leave. Whatever your reasons, you partners abusive behavior. probably feel trapped and helpless. You deserve to be treated with But help is available. There are many respect. resources available for abused and You deserve a safe and happy life. battered women, including crisis Your children deserve a safe and hotlines, shelterseven job training, happy life. legal services, and childcare. You You are not alone. There are people deserve to live free of fear. Start by waiting to help. reaching out. Help for abused and battered Protecting Yourself and Escaping women: Making the decision to leave from Domestic Violence As you face the decision to either end Getting out of an abusive relationship the abusive relationship or try to save If you need immediate assistance, it, keep the following things in mind: call 911 or your local emergency If youre hoping your abusive service. partner will change... The abuse Why doesnt she just leave? Its the will probably happen again. question many people ask when Abusers have deep emotional and they learn that a woman is being psychological problems. While battered and abused. But if you are change is not impossible, it isnt in an abusive relationship, you know quick or easy. And change can only that its not that simple. Ending happen once your abuser takes full an important relationship is never responsibility for his behavior, easy. Its even harder when youve seeks professional treatment, and been isolated from your family and stops blaming you, his unhappy friends, psychologically beaten down, childhood, stress, work, his financially controlled, and physically drinking, or his temper. threatened. If you believe you can help your If youre trying to decide whether abuser... Its only natural that you to stay or leave, you may be feeling want to help your partner. You may confused, uncertain, frightened, think youre the only one who understands him or that its your responsibility to fix his problems. But the truth is that by staying and accepting repeated abuse, youre reinforcing and enabling the abusive behavior. Instead of helping your abuser, youre perpetuating the problem. If your partner has promised to stop the abuse... When facing consequences, abusers often plead for another chance, beg for forgiveness, and promise to change. They may even mean what they say in the moment, but their true goal is to stay in control and keep you from leaving. But most of the time, they quickly return to their abusive behavior once theyve been forgiven and theyre no longer worried that youll leave. If your partner is in counseling or a program for batterers... Even if your partner is in counseling, there is no guarantee that hell change. Many abusers who go through counseling continue to be violent, abusive, and controlling. If your partner has stopped minimizing the problem or making excuses, thats a good sign. But you still need to make your decision based on who he is now, not the man you hope he will become. If youre worried about what will happen if you leave... You may be afraid of what your abusive partner will do, where youll go, or how youll support yourself or your children. But dont let fear of the unknown keep you in a dangerous, unhealthy situation.
Continued Next Week
43
Hotel Room Tests Uncover High Levels Of Contamination

OH no, Canada! The largest-ever survey of Canadian hotel cleanliness claims to have revealed the shocking truth about the state of the country's accommodation. Potentially dangerous levels of bacteria were allegedly found during an investigation by CBC Marketplace, which tested thousands of spots inside hotel rooms at a wide range of hotels in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. Investigators warned the high level of filth and contamination discovered creates potentially hazardous conditions for guests. More than 800 "high-touch" spots were tested in 54 rooms at six hotel chains, including budget hotels EconoLodge and Super 8, mid-range hotels Best Western and Holiday Inn and the luxurious Fairmont and Sheraton. Scientific analysis found high levels of contamination creating potentially hazardous conditions for guests. Guelph University microbiologist Keith Warriner conducted the tests for Marketplace and found alarming results. I wasnt expecting [bacteria] to be so prolific, he said. I was really surprised at the lack of sanitation. [Maids] make it look nice, but [theyre] not making it sanitary, which is totally different." Top 3 hot spots Warriner tested common "hot spots" in hotel rooms using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measuring device that determines microbial contamination on surfaces. A scan of any surface gauges the level of contamination with a simple numerical value, employing a scale used in similar tests in schools and offices. An ATP level under 300 is considered a "pass," while anything between 300 and 999 is in considered to be in the "caution zone." An ATP level over 1,000 is deemed a fail. Marketplaces test found that bed comforters, bathroom faucets and TV remotes were the top three dirtiest spots in hotel rooms. Comforters were the most consistently contaminated spot, rating a "fail" in 23 out of 51 tests, or nearly half of the tests. The highest contamination count for a comforter was found at a Super 8 hotel in Montreal with a 26,124 ATP level. Though doctors recommend proper hand washing to protect yourself from illness, faucets in hotel rooms were quite dirty themselves, with 16 fails out of 54, or a failure rate of 30 per cent. The Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre had the highest contamination count for a faucet with an 11, 374 ATP level. Over 70 per cent of remote controls tested were rated a caution or fail. The highest contamination count for a remote came from the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, with a 22,292 ATP level. Other major hot spots included bed throws, bathroom sinks, toilet bases and telephones. Dangers of contamination Bacteria is common in homes but hotels pose a greater threat because the germs come from thousands of strangers, said Warriner. "In a hotel, you've absolutely got no sort of notion of a history," he said. Warriner was shocked at the high levels of contamination revealed in the tests. "I was absolutely amazed to see how high those [ATP] counts were, he said. They were beyond the sort of limits that you would accept even as a moderately sanitized surface. Those ATP counts, both in the comforters, and all around the hotel to be honest, were very alarming. He says comforters in particular can pose a threat to guests. When we step into a bed, we're exposing our bodies to it, he said. And we're there for a long time." This poor comforter is getting exposed to all these different people, depositing their microbes down, and you're just acquiring theirs. So it's a significant transfer route. Intimate exposure to highly contaminated areas like in a bed or on a toilet seat, is particularly dangerous, he warned, as it could lead in rare cases to myriad illnesses including urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases. 'Looks are deceiving' Warriner also used an ultraviolet light to search for stains otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Used in rooms that otherwise appeared clean, he discovered stains he said could be either from urine or beer, a coffeemaker covered in so much organic material that it appeared not to have been cleaned at all and a pillow with so much bacteria it has its own life story. There's every chance that [guests] do get sick, he said. It's just that they don't realize it's the hotel bed they were sleeping on. It just goes to illustrate that looks are deceiving, he added. Quality doesnt count Warriner was also surprised that highend hotels were no cleaner than budget ones. Budget hotel Super 8 had among the cleanest bathrooms in the study, Warriner said. The top-end hotels, they all really performed equally as bad," he said. A Montreal Best Western had among the overall best results, whereas some of the dirtiest bathroom surfaces were found in Fairmont rooms. If you're going to pay the extra money for a top-end hotel, don't expect to have better sanitation, he added. Why so dirty? Overburdened hotel staff is the main reason that many rooms are so filthy, says longtime hotel housekeeper Brigida Ruiz. Ruiz, who has worked at the Toronto Sheraton Centre for 21 years, says housekeepers have an extensive task list for cleaning each room, but rarely have enough time to complete it. Canadas hotel union tries to enforce a cap 15 to 16 rooms cleaned per shift, giving staff approximately 30 minutes per room. Ruiz says that isnt enough. At that rate, Ruiz says she can't complete her list of required tasks. I wouldn't finish the 16 rooms perfectly because there's so many steps that you need to follow, said Ruiz in reference to the required task list. If they want it to be spotless, that will take so much time. She said many housekeepers work unpaid overtime to reach their daily targets, but many still use timesaving shortcuts like not dusting or vacuuming. The way to ensure well-cleaned rooms is for management to relax its demands, she says. My argument is that I say, You have to give us less rooms, she said. That's not going to happen. In response to the Marketplace tests, Starwood Hotels, which owns the Fairmont chain, replied with a statement saying it is "taking [Marketplace's] findings very seriously" and pledged to order extensive re-training and review of its cleaning policies. Holiday Inn parent company International Hotels Group also replied with an email saying, in part, "the health, safety and comfort of guests at all IHG hotels are important to us" and that it would investigate any reports of non-complian
Why Parents Get Gray Hair!

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whispered, "Hello?" "Is your Daddy home?" he asked. "Yes," whispered the small voice. "May I talk with him?" To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, "No." Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?" "Yes," came the answer. "May I talk with her?" Again, the small voice whispered, "No." Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked the child, "Is anybody else there?" "Yes" whispered the child, "a policeman." Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked "May I speak with the policeman?" "No, he's busy," whispered the child. "Busy doing what?" asked the boss. "Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the firemen," came the whispered answer. Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?" "A hello-copper" answered the whispering voice. "What is going on there?" asked the boss, now alarmed. In an awed whispering voice, the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper." Alarmed, concerned, and more than just a little frustrated, the boss asked, "What are they searching for?" Still whispering, the young voice replied, along with a muffled giggle " Me. "
13629 - 108 Avenue, Surrey BC V3T 2K4 778- 395-0903 Now Accepting Membership Applications For Details Phone Kash Dosangh 604.430.1358 or Surendra Prasad 604.572.8817
19 years of age or older, a descendant of a Citizen of Fiji F-C-A-S-B Gathering Schedule
Fiji Canada Association
Subhas Chandra 604.433.4298 N. Tezram 604.540.7009
Dec. 9th & Dec. 23rd 1pm- 6pm

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44
Places of Worship
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10am to 3pm 10am to 1pm, 5pm to 8pm 10am to 1pm, 5pm to 9pm 1pm to 7pm 10am to 1pm, 5pm to 8pm 10am to 1pm, 5pm to 9pm 10am to 1pm
SUBRAMANIYA SWAMY TEMPLE OF BC

8840 No. 5 Road, Richmond, BC 604.274.7906
TEMPLE HOURS
SANATAN DHARM CULTURAL SOCIETY

SHIV MANDIR 5600 DORSET STREET, BURNABY BC PH: 604 -254 -2624
HOURS OF OPER ATION Monday 5:30pm9:00pm Tuesday 7:00pm9:00pm Sunday 10:00am12 noon
Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam Educational and Cultural Society, BC, Canada (EST. 1982 Incorporated S176969)
For Pooja Booking Contact: Aiyaar Shivachariyar Sada Shiva
604.274.7906
COLEBROOK UNITED CHURCH

5441 - 125A St, Surrey B.c.
Affiliated with Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
GOOD NEWS ASSEMBLY FOR JESUS

SERvIcE TImE
SRI VENKATESHWARA MAHA VISHNU TEMPLE

Temple hours Monday to Sunday Daily Aarthi Ramayan Katha
9326 - 116th Street, Delta, BC

Morning 8:00am10:00am Evening 6:00pm8:00pm 7:00pm Friday 6:00pm10:00pm pooja/special prayer sessions/Temple/hall PT. Shiu Madri 604.582.4899 PUJARI Soma Sundaran 604.363.7180 maathar sangam Activities & Volunteers Shakuntala Naidu 604.576.4529
Treasurer: Muniappa Naidu 604.576.4529
1pm Sundays
(Hindi & English)
James Kumar 604-581-3191 (res) 604-599-9518 (work) cecil Labon 604-572-4854
president: H.C. Gopal 604.290.1114
secretary: Ganesh Murti 604.315.3166
Hindi Punjabi Fraserview GosPel CHaPel

sunday service 10:30 am12:00 noon 6:30PM - 7:30PM Service in Hindustani & Punjabi Sunday School for Children
14630-107a avenue surrey bC v3r 1v1 Serving the community since 1972
If youre looking for a place to belong or have been searching for answers to lifes questions or healing, come to our services or contact us. Allow us to introduce you to Jesus Christ and help you come into a full relationship with him.
abhishek pentecostal assembly

Sunday School/Worship Service: 1pm 11601-82nd Ave, Delta BC (604) 590-8836 samuel_k@telus.net www.abhiskhekassembly.com Services are in Hindi and English Senior Pastor Rev. Samuel Krishna
Pastor Santosh Raj 604-582-2650 chital06@hotmail.com
ASIAN cHRIST cHURcH OF cANADA

Rev. Emmanuel Cheema 778-241-9066 asianchristchurch@yahoo.ca
Sunday Service @ 5.30 p.m. (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi & English)
We pray for sickness, demon possessed & family problems. We have testimonies, come and see Gods great work.
You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5: 11)
15964 88th Ave. Surrey, B.C. V4N IH5
FIJI SENIORS SOcIETY OF cANADA

Social Gatherings at 1pm - Last Sunday of each month at SHRI vENKATESHWARA mAHA vISHNU TEmPLE 9326 - 116th Street, Delta, Bc
Bhan mati Raj 604-581-9859 chand Lakhan 604-5880361 Bhan Pratap 604-839-5106 James Kumar 604-599-9518 Satya Nand 604-590-5303 Thakur Kuar Singh 604-587-5439
HINDI CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

#4-6468 King George Blvd, Surrey BC
Sunday Service @ 2:00PM

Uplifting Worship | Prayer for healing | music (cD) Available
Shailendra (Shal) Singh 604-596-7353 or 604-323-6506 | hindichristianfellowship@yahoo.ca
GLOBAL FIJIAN ASSEMBLIES

Pastor Isimeli Lesi Korobasaga
Every Sunday 25Pm @ Peoples Full Gospel
14455 - 104th Ave., Surrey, Bc Phone: 604.592.9001 Cell: 778.938.2734 Email: lesi1968@yahoo.ca
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED Come and experience a time of Prayer and Bible based answers to lifes difficult questions.
We will meet on the first Monday each month - 6-8 pm
NAYA JEEWAN cHURcH

38868 - 128th Street, Surrey Bc
Please contact Murti at 604.599.4552
Service Sundays 2:00pm Bible Study (Hindi & English) Wednesdays 7:30pm
Prayer, counselling & visitations Available
HOSANNA TABERNACLE
6075 Inverness Street, Vancouver Sunday Services in Hindi/English 2:00pm Pastor Silas Naidu 604 352 1232 silas.naidu@gmail.com
467 E 11th Avenue, Vancouver BC V5T 2C8 Phone: 604-874-0175 shreemahalakshmi@gmail.com www.shreemahalakshmitemple.ca
Pastor Eileen Reddy 604.543-8339
F I JIAN METHODIST UNI T E D C H U R C H
ARYA SAMAJ SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

(Registered under the Society Act Of BC. Registered Charity # 891336349)
Ph: 604.593.5663 Pastor Sakaraia & Rev. Ema Karoi
12371 96 Avenue Surrey BC Sunday Service @ 6:00PM
Shree Mahalakshmi Temple
Join for Hawan, Pravachan and Satsangh followed by Preetibhoj Every Sunday 10:00 a.m.12:00 noon Yoga, Pranayam & Meditation classes every Wednesday 7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m. Contact Shobha Rae 604.874.9856 Hindi Classes Sunday 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Contact Madhu Varsney 604.222.1444 Hall rental also availabale. Contact Kushwakant Singh 604.328.5454
Madhu Varsney, President 604.222.1444, Jack Sundar, Secretary 604.541.9359 Kushwaha Kant Singh, Treasurer 604.328.5454
Arya Samaj Centre, 6884 Jubilee Ave., Burnaby, B.C.
Date 16 Sunday 23 Sunday 27 Thursday 29 Saturday
Programs in December 2012

Time 9:30 am 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:00pm
Program Shree Lakshmi Vinayaka Japa Gita Jayanti, Vaikunth Ekadashi Shree Mahalashmi Japa Hanuman Japa
45
TImes
TImes sporTs Georges St-Pierre Vs. Nick Diaz: UFC Offers March
Georges has been off for a year. [Silva is] a tough fight for him to come back to. He asked personally for the [Diaz] fight. There has been bad blood between St-Pierre (23-2) and Diaz (26-8-1) for some time. After defeating B.J. Penn at UFC 137, in his post-fight interview, Diaz challenged St-Pierre, who was sitting in the stands. However, shortly thereafter, St-Pierre would miss extended time after tearing his ACL. Meanwhile, Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his loss to Condit at UFC 143. He is serving a one-year suspension and is set to become eligible to fight again in Febuary. In short, though the rivalry was and is real, no one was able to do much about it until now. On paper, St-Pierre will have a strength and wrestling advantage in the matchup. Diaz, however, is a consummate scrapper with an
If it's not a done deal yet, it's pretty darn close. The UFC has approached welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and rival Nick Diaz about a fight date in March, when the UFC will return to Montreal. According to a report from MMAFighting's Ariel Helwani, UFC President Dana White said he proposed the date to both camps, adding that Diaz has yet to sign the contract, though he is expecting that will happen soon. Following his win over Carlos Condit at UFC 154, St-Pierre asked to fight Diaz. The news came as a surprise to many fans and pundits, who expected Johny Hendricks to receive the next title shot. White previously told Helwani: Georges St-Pierre has been a phenomenal champion, just a great guy to deal with for us," White said previously. He doesn't ask for things. So if he wants to fight Nick Diaz, and Nick Diaz wants to fight him, then that's probably the fight we'll make.
Date In Montreal
intimidating, stalk-you-down boxing style backed by excellent jiu-jitsu. His trash talk before and during fights often
rattles opponents. The March event in Montreal is expected to be UFC 158.
No Change To Stadium Charges: Sports Council
Students Waiting For Visa

Five students who have secured overseas contracts with West Tigers and Penrith Panthers are training under the watchful eyes of Fiji National Rugby League development officers as they await their visa application. They are Mateo Qolisese, Emori Tuisese, Venioni Uluvula, Jeffrey Vatudua and Nasinu Secondary School rugby league winger Sakeo Raloa while Queen Victoria School forward Erevonu Kamikamica has joined the Parramatta Eels. Raloa signed a three-year contract with the Panthers Under-20 side and will be assessed in next years NRL Toyota Cup competition. FNRL Development officer Sale Tubuna said all the players have lodged their visa application with the Australia High Commission and are now waiting for the outcome. They have signed their contracts with the individual clubs and while waiting for their visas to be approved we are training them before they leave. They are all doing well and hoping for a positive outcome, for Raloa if he progresses well in the U20 he might make the cut in the senior team, Tubuna said. Raloa played alongside Wests Tigers sensational winger Marika Koroibete during the 2010 Fiji Secondary School Under-18 Rugby League tour to Australia where they won all their games.
Fijis Sports Council has announced there will not be an increase in hiring charges when the new-look National Stadium is completed in March, 2013. FSC chairman, Peter Mazey said this is possible thanks to sponsorship from ANZ Bank who have committed $850,000 over the next three years in exchange for the naming rights to the newly renovated sports complex. The sponsorship was formalised with
both parties signing on the dotted line at the Suva stadium corporate booth. With this sponsorship Fiji Sports Council is pleased to announce that there will not be an increase in charges so the sports people and the general public can make use of the facility. It was ANZ Bank who granted us loan the initial loan for this re-development of the Stadium, that was $15 million and now they have further extended it to $20 million, Mazey said.
Smith ITC Request Turned Down By NZ Club

Apisai Smiths International Transfer Certificate request to move to Navua has been declined by his New Zealand club, Mangere United for disciplinary reasons. Mangere Utd secretary Gyanandra Kumar said Vakatalesaus transfer was denied because he violated contractual obligation. Smith will face disciplinary action for participating in last months Pacific Cup tournament in Auckland which Kumar said was an unsanctioned one. Smith featured for Labasa Fiji in the Pacific Cup tourney without approval and missed out on a club game which was held the same weekend. Mangere United will definitely release Smith because we appreciate his service to our club and are thankful to him. We are not going to jeopardize his soccer career in any way and have re-considered releasing him, Kumar said. In view of his soccer career the club may consider releasing him subject to payment of NZD$3,275 (equivalent to $4848.44 in Fijian dollars) to be paid before his ITC will be granted.

604.909.4088
TImes
Paul Henderson, Dave King, Mark Messier All Honoured By Hockey Canada
Paul Henderson, Dave King and Mark Messier were named to the Order of Hockey in Canada on Wednesday. The 2013 class will be honoured by Hockey Canada in April at a ceremony in Ottawa during the 2013 IIHF women's world hockey championship. The Order of Hockey in Canada program annually honours a select number of individuals whose "role or service in the game is recognized as extraordinary" in this country. Henderson, 69, is best known for scoring the winning goal in Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series to give Canada the victory over the Soviet Union. He recorded 477 points (236-241) in 707 career NHL games with Detroit, Toronto and Atlanta and had 283 points (140-143) in 360 career WHA games with Toronto and Birmingham. King, 64, has coached Canadian teams at the Winter Olympics, world hockey championships and world junior championships. He also has North American coaching experience at the NHL, WHL and university levels and international coaching experience in Germany, Sweden and Russia. Messier, 49, is a six-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Hart Trophy winner and 15-time all-star. He is second on the NHL's all-time list with 1,887 points (694-1,193) in 1,756 games over 25 seasons. Messier also played for Canada at the world hockey championship, World Cup of Hockey and at three Canada Cups. The class of 2012 was inducted last spring. Honorees included Jean Beliveau, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Gordon Renwick.
TImes sporTs
THEY went in determined to win and win they did. "Losing was not an option," a jubilant coach Hector Smith revealed after the Fiji men's team stunned favourites Australia Country 3-1 at the National Hockey Centre in Laucala. That's what he had told his men going into this crucial Oceania Pacific Cup and FIH World League fixture. "The coaching side of things was done and it was on them (the players) keeping their mental toughness," Smith revealed. Adrian Smith, Leevan Dutta and skipper Hector Smith Jr were the heroes netting the goals in the penalty strokes victory after both teams were locked 1-all at full-time with Terrence Corrie scoring for Fiji. Fiji now plays Samoa and Vanuatu and is guaranteed a spot in the finals where they could come up against the Australians again depending on the result of the Australia Country-New Zealand Maori match.
"I was very happy with the character (of the players) and their will to go all the way and win," Smith Sr said. However, he wants his side to improve on their discipline. "We had three sending offs, something we have to avoid going into our other games." Goalkeeper Richard Eyre was the hero, saving two Australian attempts. Fiji also won over Papua New Guinea and the New Zealand Maori. The Kiwis were also beaten on penalty strokes (54) as the new IHF rules states that if both sides come to a draw at full-time; a penalty shootout will take place. Both the Fiji men's and women's teams look set for the finals. The FIH World League medal play-offs will be held on Friday and the OPC on Saturday. "We will just stick to our policy, get the technical side of things right and make sure we play each game with the same hunger and will to win regardless of the opposition," Smith said. The winning teams in both sections will
Fiji In Final
Team Canada's Paul Henderson (left) shoots on Team USSR's Vladislav Tretiak while Gannady Tsygankov defends during the 1972 Summit tournament in Toronto on Sept. 4, 1972.
get to play in World League Round Two in India and Fiji looks in good stead to join Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chile, Egypt, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine and the US (men's) and Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia, Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine and Uruguay (women's) in round two of the competition.
Tuesday's results: New Zealand Maori 16 Vanuatu 0 (w); New Zealand 7 Papua New Guinea 2 (m); Australia Country 12 Samoa 0 (w); Fiji 3 Australia Country 1 (men's penalty strokes). Wednesday's draws: 8am, NZ MaoriAustralian Country (m); 10, SamoaNZ Maori (w); 12, PNG-Samoa (m); 2, Australia Country-Fiji (w); 4, FijiVanuatu (m); 6, PNG-Vanuatu (w).
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