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Let Greece crisis not spill over to emerging economies: Manmohan at G20
Cannes: With non-member Greece throwing the G20 Summit here into a tailspin, India Thursday called for urgent steps to resolve the Eurozone crisis and said emerging economies cannot be made to suffer its spillover effects. India also made a strong plea for tackling the issue of illicit money stashed away in tax havens abroad, calling it a serious problem that takes away developmental funds of poor and emerging economies. The announcement of a referendum by the government of Greece has upset the calculations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the sum-
Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Aamer and Salman Butt pleas, are so serious that only a sentence of imprisonment will suffice," Cooke told the convicted quartet here today. Butt, who apparently corrupted his teammates, was called the "orchestrator" of the scam that was revealed after a sting operation on Majeed by the now-defunct tabloid 'The News of the World' in August Continued on page 4...
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a group photo with G20 leaders including President Obama in Cannes, France, Thursday. mit, referring to the decision by Athens to go to the people regarding its bailout package, which was later withdrawn. Although the Eurozone countries have the principal responsibility for dealing with these prob Continued on page 4...
Saleem Iqbal, President and CEO of the Habib American Bank, highlighting their attractive interest rates at the Richmond Hill branch opening. the word go, said Mr Iqbal. To cater to the composition of the target client base, the Richmond Hill branch has on its staff of five those who speak more than one language including Punjabi and the one spoken by the Guyanese. The branch manager is Mr Raj Persaud. Besides Richmond Hill, the other six branches of Habib American Bank are in Manhattan, Jackson Heights (Queens), Hicksville (Long Island), Edison (New Jersey), and Los Angeles and Artesia in California. Habib is proud of its catchline Your Local Bank with International Experience. It has an International Banking Facility (IBF) that provides correspondent services to international banks. A member of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), it specializes in Financial Institution Services, International Trade Finance, Asset Based Lending, Commercial and Residential Mortgages and Consumer Banking Services. Their Consumer Banking Products includes HAB eBanking, Habib Access Debit Card, Visa Credit Card & 24 Hour Telephone Banking. The banks professed mission is to provide a broad range of commercial and personal banking products and services to a diverse community of globally oriented customers. Its customers are assured that the bank will consistently deliver exceptional customer service in every aspect of our business dealings resulting in profitable long-term relationships. The Richmond Hill branch of the bank is conveniently located at 11217/19 Liberty Avenue in Queens, NY. The branch can be contacted at Ph: 718 659 9000. The banks website is www.habibamericanbank.com.
(from left) Rizwan Qureshi, Chief Compliance Officer of the bank, Saleem Iqbal, and board member Arvid Nelson with the branch staff including branch manager Raj Persaud (extreme right).
Habib American Bank senior officials and staff members along with guests posing for a picture outside the Richmond Hill branch on Liberty Avenue after its inauguration.
Three prominent Rotarians of Indian origin -- Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee (second from right), Past District Governor Ravishankar Bhooplapur (extreme Right) and Rotary Club Hicksville-South Charter President Kamelsh C. Mehta -- along with Mrs Binota Banerjee called on Ambassador Nirupama Rao at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC Nov 1.
AIA-NY President Ranju Batra took part in the traditional lamp lighting ceremony at the Diwali celebration called by NYC Comptroller John Liu at Surrogate's Courthouse, Chambers Street in Manhattan on Nov 2.
Community leader H.R. Shah with Edison Mayor Ricigliano (left) and Senator Buono, both Democrats. a model for economic success, to make schools safer for children. She also sponsored consumer prosaid Senator Buono. Buono served in the state Assem- tection measures restricting telebly from 1994 to 2001. She marketing by creating the most worked on legislation for anti-ha- stringent "Do Not Call" database rassment and bullying prevention legislation in the nation.
Honorees Jaswinder Johal (2nd from left) and Deepak Bhardwaj (2nd from right) of Apna Bazar received the plaque from Jon Kaiman, Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead, and IALI President Gobind Munjal. Hon. Jon Kaiman, Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead, and S. Rajaram, Deputy Consul-General, representing Consul General Prabhu Dayal. Other dignitaries included Kamlesh Mehta, Director for Business and Economic Development, Nassau County, who represented County Executive Ed Mangano. The Akbar restaurant in Garden City was brightly lit to suit a Diwali event. Early in the evening, sparklers were lit. An ethnic jewelry booth in the lobby area added glitter to the occasion. President Munjal introduced Jaswinder Singh Johal and Deepak Bhardwaj of Apna Bazar, which has recently opened a big store in Hicksville. The duo were honored by Jon Kaiman who said he was proud to be a part of the celebrations. Munjal stated that with sponsors help, IALI raised $6,000 at the event. The entertainment segment had brisk and electrifying performances by dancers of the well-known Bolly Arts. Then couples descended on the dance floor in merriment. DJ Kutchas photographer took the clicked pictures of the couples. Kingfisher Airlines sponsored the top raffle prize draw with tickets for 2 for domestic travel within India. After cocktails and a sumptuous dinner, the guests departed with a box of mithai.
Maryland legislator Aruna Miller Delegate Sam Arora. Miller, born in Andhra Pradesh, is the first Indian-American
New York: Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba (XUSOM) and Walden University have announced a unique partnership agreement. Enrolled students of XUSOM seeking their MD degree will concurrently be able to earn an MBA, Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). Those entering these additional programs are eligible to apply for finan-
cial aid through Walden University and for a reduced tuition at Walden. The MD/MPH program begins on December 5, 2011. The MD/MHA and MD/MBA programs begin in early January 2012.
For more information, contact the Xavier admissions department at (516) 333-2224, or through email admissions@xusom.com. Their website is www.xusom.com.
Bolly Arts star performer "Zol" performing with one of their talented female performers.
Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Aided by Wells Fargo, APIASF awards scholarships to over 500 Asian American students
New York: More than 500 outstanding Asian Pacific American high school and college students were awarded scholarships Nov 2 at the APIASF annual benefit at the Hilton New York. Scholarships ranged from $2,500 to $8,000 individually. More than half of the awardees come from families that live at or below the poverty level, and other recipients are otherwise of low-socioeconomic status. Many of the scholars are the first in their family to attend college. Thanks to the APIASF scholarship program, my dream to attend college has become a reality, said Rakhi Agrawal, a sophomore attending Columbia. I am grateful to organizations like Wells Fargo
I, Pooja, born on Feb 21, 1987, daughter of Ms. Sripriya, residing at 7420 6th Ave, Apt.1, Brooklyn NY 11209, am changing my name from Pooja (FNU Pooja on USA Visa) to Pooja Iyer. Henceforth I shall be known as Pooja Iyer.
Manmohab at G-20 Story Continued from page 1
Joe Kirk, Greater New York Area Regional President, Wells Fargo; Michelle Scales, Director of Diverse Growth Segments, Wells Fargo; Nancy Wong, Asian Segment Manager, Wells Fargo; Jacinta Titialli Abbott, Board Chair, APIASF; Neil Horikoshi, President and Executive Director, APIASF. that make the APIASF scholarship of an additional $25,000, has donatprogram possible and encourage ed more than $1.5 million since deserving students like myself to 2003. realize our fullest potential. In addition to funding, this year Wells Fargo & Company has Wells Fargo has donated human donated more than $300,000 in capital to APIASF as well. 34 of our scholarship funding in 2011 to team members spent more than 300 South Asian and Chinese American hours of their personal time reading high school students in need. Wells over some 900 scholarship applicaFargo is a founding member of API- tions, said Nancy Wong, Asian ASF, and with Wednesdays pledge Segment Manager at Wells Fargo.
lems, the dangers from spillovers from the Eurozone to the rest of the world are a matter of concern for all of us, the prime minister added. According to Manmohan Singh, the growth rate in India had already decelerated and was expected to be around 8 percent, combined with inflation where the annual increase in food prices has topped 12 percent. Manmohan Singh, who has attended all the six G20 Summits thus far, also sought to draw the attention of the leaders to the serious problem of tax evasion and illicit flows that have
seen the migration of tax bases in developing countries abroad. G20 countries should take the lead in agreeing to automatic exchange of tax related information with each other, irrespective of artificial distinctions such as past or present, for tax evasion or fraud, in the spirit of our London Summit that the era of bank secrecy is over. Besides India and France, the G20 comprises Brazil, the US and Canada, Argentina, Australia, China, South Korea, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, and the European Union. Greece is not a G20 member, but was invited to the G20 Summit.
Spot fixing Story Continued from page 1 last year. "It's clear you were the orchestrator of these matters. You had to be to make sure these two bowlers were bowling at the time of the fix," the judge stated. Butt and Asif were found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments by a jury on Tuesday, while Majeed and Aamer pleaded guilty at a pre-trial in September. The cricketers, however, might have to serve just half of their sentences as they can be released on license if their West Coast Correspondent: Pooja Jain, pj@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
behavior is good. "Now, when people look back at a surprising event in a game or a surprising result or ever in the future there are surprising results, followers of the game who have paid to watch cricket or who have watched cricket on TV will wonder whether there has been a fix or what they have watched was natural," the judge said. The sentencing ends a year of high drama which has left Pakistan cricket embarrassed. The saga began in August last year when shocking footage of Majeed claiming that he could fix a Test match for $ 1 million came to light. He claimed to have Butt, Asif and Aamer on his payroll. Art and Design: Vladimir Tomovski Bhagwati Multimedia, Rahul Sahota, Web Editor: B.B.Chopra
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IIT-Mumbai, Amity University submit bids for engineering campuses in New York
New York: The Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai and Noida-based Amity University are among 15 institutions worldwide that have submitted bids to the city of New York to set up a science and engineering campus here under a plan by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to drive local economic growth and create jobs. The city received seven proposals from a total of 17 institutions. The winner of the 'Applied Sciences NYC' initiative to be announced in January will get incentives like free city land and as much as USD 100 million in capital for the project. IIT Mumbai is part of a consortium that includes New York University, University of Toronto, UK's University of Warwick, City University of New York and Carnegie Mellon.The consortium is proposing to set up a centre for urban science and research in downtown Brooklyn for more than 500 graduate students. Amity University has submitted a proposal to set up a campus in Governor's Island near here. The other institutes that responded to the Applied Sciences 'Request for Proposals' include Steiner Studios, Columbia University, Cornell University, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, New York Genome Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Rockefeller University, SUNY Stony Brook and Stanford University. "Universities are always a major magnet for talent - and the world's most dynamic companies always gravitate to places where they can find the best and the brightest," Bloomberg said. "Along with everything we are doing to diversify and strengthen our economy, a new applied sciences campus has the potential to be a real economic game changer that will create jobs immediately, and for generations," he added.
BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar was in NY for a UN meet India is rising as a crucial component of Asian security and stability. America can provide us cutting edge technology and we can provide services and skilled man power. It is mutually advan-
The weekly Hindi school in NJ run by Hindi USA turned into a camp for the drive. Amit Gupta (inset) Ashok Ojha/SATimes together to save his life. Gupta', who launched an ecommerce company at Edison, NJ: A weekly Hindi school a young age, was recently diagnosed in Edison, NJ, run by Hindi USA, with leukemia, a critical disease for turned into a camp for bone marrow which the only hope for cure is a drive as friends and relatives of marrow/blood cell transplant. As a young entrepreneur Amit Gupta got member of tech communities in
Thousands attended the Diwali festivities and the street fair. Jersey City NJ: A sea of humanity converged in the narrow lanes of Newark Avenue in Jersey City, NJ on Oct 15 to celebrate Diwali with musical entertainment and a fashion show competition, showing solidarity with local merchants and city officials. More than 5,000 colorfully-dressed Indian Americans braved chilly winds to dance, dine and celebrate the festival at the street-style Diwali Mela, hosted by the Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce, which comprises more than 200 businesses on India Square. The chambers Diwali celebration, now in its third year, has become the most anticipated event of the year on India Square. Musical group Saaz aur Awaaz entertained the crowds until 2 in the morning with their trademark raas garba. The organizers setup free healthcare booths, childrens rides along with about 15 stalls of sponsors. The festivities started with childrens performance, a fashion show, after which the musical group took
A dance troupe presents bhangra at the Diwali fair. (Photo courtesy: Mohammad Jaffer/SnapsIndia) over. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy was joined by Councilwomen Nidia Lopez of Jersey Citys Ward C, which includes heavily-populated Indian American neighborhoods, former councilman Steve Lipsky and other elected officials, at the street fair. Lopez said the celebrations allowed local residents to engage in a full understanding of Diwali festivities as a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment of friendship and goodwill, and a celebration that sought to honor the simple joys of life. Ours is the only free-admission street-style Diwali mela in the state, said Suresh Patel, chairman of the Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce. The idea was to give locals a taste of our culture and traditions and take the Indian American residents on a memory lane in the ways they were used to celebrating Diwali in India.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, center right, celebrating with Bhavesh (Bobby) Patel, center left, secretary of Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce and Commissioner (Traffic), at the chambers Diwali festivities on Oct 14. Earlier on Oct 14, the cavernous Assembly Hall in Jersey Citys historic City Hall stood witness to the festival of lights as mayor Healy officially kicked off Diwali celebrations. Mayor Healy was joined by members of Citys Municipal Council and the Division of Cultural Affairs and the Indian American community to light the ceremonial candle-lamp, symbolizing victory of good over evil. The kickoff was sponsored by Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce. Jersey City is one of the most diverse communities in the state, as well as the nation, and we are proud to honor and recognize our rich diversity, said Mayor Healy while kicking off the celebrations
Yash Paul Soi receiving the award from Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo tion of democracy in their homeland. Soi was one of four individuals from overseas honored for their service to Guyana. The others were Pandit Ramlall, Ramesh Kalicharran, both settled in New York, and scientist Dr. Suresh Narine of Toronto.
GSNY Sr. Wing celebrates Sardar Patel and Gandhijis birth anniversaries
Nagesh Parthasarathi Post Graduate Diploma (Industrial Management) from Bangalore University in India. He is married to Geeta Parthasarathi. They have two daughters.
Members of GSNY at the event New York: The Gujarati Samaj of New Yorks Senior Wing celebrated the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi at Gujarat Samaj Community Hall on October 31. Coordinator Gopi Udeshi welcomed Chief Guest Dr. Bhupi Patel, Trustee of Gujarati Samaj , speaker Kaushik Amin, Gujarat Foundation dignitaries of other associations and seniors of Gujarati Samaj of New York. The program started with Lord Ganesh Prayer followed by bhajan Vaishanv Va Jana Toa and Raghupati Ragav Rajaram sung by Mrs. Anuradha Khanna, Bapu ki Amar Kahani by Ganshyam Joshi and tabla by Rajendra Chauhan. All the attendees of the event offered rose petals to the oil portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel and later the dignitaries spoke about the contribution of these great leaders to Indias freedom movement and formation of an independent nation.
demands of the Occupy movement. All of this was in my mind when I attended the Diwali ceremony at the White House. President George W. Bush was the first to acknowledge Diwali in the White House, but President Obama is the first to personally join in the celebration. At the ceremony, the first Hindu Chaplin from the U.S. Army welcomed us and introduced her commander in chief. With grace and bowed head, President Obama greeted a saffron clad priest, and lit a diya, a traditional lamp, much like he lights the White House Christmas tree. With his simple gesture and his presence at the event, Obama accomplished something for me personally that no individual had done on that level. By respecting my faith, he deepened my faith in our nation and our Constitution. Arriving home I told my daughter, who had done well on her exam, that the greatness of America is not only that it provides freedom to practice religion but that it celebrates all religions. Being at the White House with the President this Diwali I felt the first amendment come alive.
Concerto No. 3 and Mendelssohn's Octet. The award-winning Gallim Dance company also performed. Mark L. Epstein, President of the Board of Trustees, formally invested the new president. Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and President Emeritus, Brown University closed by offering his congratulations.
RE-ELECT
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Trilochan Singh Oberoi tight-fitting respirator mask, according to his lawyer. Oberoi, who maintains a full beard mandated by his religion, was told he would have to shave the beard off to take the test.
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US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info
GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain Gordon said, "Since his critics have not been successful in attacking his ideas, they are resorting to bitter personal attacks." The controversy took on an even sharper political tone when Cain blamed a consultant with ties to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign for leaking information over the sexual harassment allegations. The Perry campaign claimed it didn't know about the allegations until Politico first published the story Sunday.
Jon Corzine, former New Jersey governor who took over MF Global last year and much of their collateral were transferred to other brokers. As for the broader economic implications, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said they are limited. Not long ago, Wall Street was witnessing the comeback of Corzine, the ex-Goldman Sachs chief and former New Jersey senator and governor, when he took the helm of MF Global. But the recent revelation of $6.3 billion of European bond positions caused the ratings agencies to cut MF Global's debt to junk status, speeding its descent into bankruptcy.
Over 120 passengers of JetBlue flight were left stranded for seven hours on Saturday on a tarmac at Connecticuts Bradley International Airport near Hartford after the flight was diverted from Newark Airport amid snow storm.
groceries and gas. There's also lingering resentment - which has surfaced in recent weeks with the Occupy Wall Street movement - over the role that banks played in the 2008 financial meltdown. Bank of America said it reversed course after listening to customers. Anne Pace, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, declined to say whether there was a spike in account closures following the September announcement that it would start charging the fee early next year.
Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Mark Webber at Buddh International Circuit, home of the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix.
best and as double World champion Fernando Alonso remarked, the BIC can get better over the years. The facility built by a corporate that overcame massive odds, not to speak of the usual skepticism and hordes of Doubting Thomases who dot the Indian landscape, is something the country can be justifiably proud of. Of more significance is that it has paved the way for motorsport in India to move to the next level. The very fact that a clutch of
Indians racing in the two support races, even got to drive on a full-fledged Formula One track and on a Grand Prix weekend in itself was a huge plus, for they would have gained immensely by the experience. For Indian motorsport, the hard work begins now and the eyes would be on the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) to build on the resounding success of the October 28-30 weekend that will go down as a historic and
epochal moment in the country's racing history. And when Sebastian Vettel brought home his Red Bull car while completing his third career treble of Pole, Fastest Lap and Win, the country would have heaved a collective sigh of relief that the event passed off smoothly in front of an estimated global television audience of 500 million besides the capacity 1.2 lakh spectators at the venue. There may have been glitches in the lead up to the race weekend, but certainly, there was no
doubting the commitment on part of the promoters who surmounted last minute hassles and pin pricks in the form of cargo clearances, taxes and a vagabond canine. It stands to reason that the Indian Grand Prix can only get better. The dust factor that added a few creases of worry is sure to be addressed and once the facility develops over the years, there is every possibility that India will become a favorite Formula One destination. The drivers who entertained the fans over three days have all endorsed the circuit even though there are shades of Sepang International Circuit in the BIC layout, but that is an issue hardly worth a debate, for overall, the Indian Grand Prix was an unqualified success. The promoters and organizers have another year to build further on the edifice while India, and specifically New Delhi, like other Formula One venues, will ease into the world of Grand Prix racing. (The views expressed by the author are personal)
New Delhi: Taming the international financial crisis, evolving an East Asia architecture and infusing new energy into South Asian integration -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has an action-packed November as he heads to three multilateral summits, juggling different regions and agendas. Buoyed by an economic growth rate of over 8 percent, a laudable performance at a time when parts of the developed world are still reeling under recession, Manmohan Singh heads to the picturesque French Riviera town of Cannes Nov 2 for the G20 summit of major and emerging economies. On top of the table will be the volatile state of the global economy which badly needs growth in emerging markets to emerge unscathed. Manmohan Singh, an economist by training and a former finance minister, is understood to have influenced the recent eurozone bailout and his skills in navigating the global crisis will be much in demand. The G20 summit document Nov 4 is expected to reflect the long-standing demand of India for the reform of international financial institutions and a greater
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has an action-packed November as he heads to three multilateral summits, juggling different regions and agendas.
voice for emerging economies in Bretton Woods institutions. Days after returning to New Delhi, Manmohan Singh goes to the Addu Atoll in the Maldives for the 17th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Nov 9. The meet, the first SAARC summit to be held south of the equator, will see India
pitching for greater economic integration in South Asia and closer collaboration on security issues. A slew of bilateral meetings are being worked out, including one with the prime minister of Pakistan. Manmohan Singh is also poised to engage in intense diplomacy to build stronger relations with neighbouring countries, the lynchpin of the country's
foreign policy. He returns from the Maldives Nov 12. Nearly a week later, the prime minister flies off to Bali, the venue of the 18-nation East Asia Summit and India-ASEAN summit. The summit comes at a time when there is a growing unease in the region over China's assertive postures in South China Sea and its perceived aggressiveness in relation to some of East Asian countries. The US and Russia will formally participate in the Nov 18-19 East Asia Summit for the first time, raising the profile of the regional body that seeks to evolve an inclusive regional architecture. Manmohan Singh's speech at the summit will be closely watched in key world capitals amid growing expectations about India playing a larger role in promoting the security and economic dynamism of the region. Manmohan Singh is likely to meet US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit, said reliable sources. When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India early this year, she exhorted New Delhi to "think East and act East".
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
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The Khalsa Heritage Complex (KHC) at Anandpur Sahib. tion. "The visit of the prime minister has been canceled. The Sikh community had bestowed an honour on the prime minister, who is himself a Sikh, to inaugurate this great monument. But his visit has been sacrificed by petty politics," SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said in Patiala Thursday. "The prime minister should not be so weak that he is influenced by others so easily," said Makkar, sounding bitter. Punjab Congress
Arvind Kejriwal. "I am returning the dues in protest. I appeal to you to instruct the Finance Ministry to accept my resignation. Once my resignation is accepted, I retain my right to approach the court to reclaim the dues," he said in the four-page letter.
Food inflation, at 12.21 % for the week ended October 22, climbed to a nine-month high. New Delhi: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday expressed grave concern over rising food inflation, even as he attributed the latest spike in prices to increased demand during the festive season. Food inflation, at 12.21 % for the week ended October 22, climbed to a nine-month high. "Food inflation is still going high. It is dangerously above double-digit figure," Mukherjee said. The finance minister, however, said the recent spike in prices of food items was due to increased demand during the ongoing festive season. "This (high food inflation) is the effect of festive season demand. November onwards, the trend for remaining four months (of the fiscal) would be available," he said. Mukherjee also termed the price situation as a matter of "grave concern" as food inflation has been in double digits for three consecutive weeks. According to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the surge in food prices has been mainly due to expensive vegetables, pulses, fruits and milk, putting more burden on the common man. While food prices are going up, there has been some decline in non-food primary articles, Mukherjee said. Inflation in nonfood articles, including fibers, oil seeds and minerals, was at 6.43 % in the reporting week as against 7.67 % a week earlier. On a weekly basis, inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 12.08 %, compared to 11.75 % in the previous week.
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Bhupen Hazarika. He showed some improvement after a few weeks but his health deteriorated last month after he developed pneumonia and underwent a minor surgery. Saha had played his songs on his mobile on the maestro's 85th birthday also on September 8 when Hazarika had cut a cake.
Amar Singh.
SUN NOV 06 SAT NOV 12 SUN NOV 13 SAT NOV 05 T V SUN NOV 20 06
Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort, 300 East Lapotac Blvd. Enoch Alberta Canada T7X 3Y3 Marriott Courtyard, Seattle Bellevue/Downtown, 14615 NE 29 Place, Bellevue WA 98007-3694
02.00 PM 02.00 PM
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DMK MP Kanimozhi.
Social activist Anna Hazare. Hazare has threatened to launch another hunger strike if the Lokpal bill is not passed in the winter session of Parliament beginning later this month.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi with PM Manmohan Singh. Washington: India's Congress party president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh figured among Forbes' list of world's 70 most powerful people in 2011 as US Barack Obama regained his position at the top. Obama bumped Chinese President Hu Jintao from the No. 1 spot on the magazine's annual rankings to the third place with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin taking the second position. Gandhi, 64, described as "India's most powerful politician (who) has twice refused to serve as prime minister, delegating that job to Manmohan Singh" dropped two notches from her ninth position last year to be ranked the 11th most powerful person and 7th powerful woman. Manmohan Singh, 79, "the incorruptible Cambridge- and Oxford-educated economist (is) widely respected as the man behind India's economic reforms, which have led to the subcontinent's blistering growth over the last decade," too dropped a notch to be rated the 19th most powerful. Other Indians on the list included Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani ranked 35th, India's top billionaire ArcelorMittal Chairman Lakshmi Mittal in the 47th spot and Wipro chairman Azim Premji at the 61st spot. D-Company leader Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, "organized crime figure (is) suspected of involvement in both the 1993 and 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai" was ranked 57th, a notch behind Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence chief, Ahmed Shuja Pasha, while Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was ranked 34th. Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, 76, living in exile in India was ranked 51st, a notch behind former US President Bill Clinton.
Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. dismissed the bail application of Yeddyurappa, against whom it had issued summons in two private complaints regarding alleged irregularities in denotification of government land for pecuniary gains. Facing arrest, Yeddyurappa had surrendered before the Lokyukta court, where advocate Sirajin Basha had filed the complaints. Yeddyurappa, his two sons-- B Y Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha member and B Y Vijendra and son-inlaw R N Sohan Kumar have also moved applications seeking anticipatory bail in three other private complaints in which they have been named as accused by Basha.
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Children play various games in Childrens Diwali Celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Clifton, NJ
Annakut aarti being performed by invited guests at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Philadelphia, PA
Pujya Mangalnidhi Swami sanctifies the account books on Diwali day at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Philadelphia, PA
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta, GA glowing with colorful lights on Diwali night.
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Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany is showered with champagne by second place winner McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button of Britain at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain powers during the Indian Grand Prix final in Greater Noida. New Delhi: Former Formula One World champion Jackie Stewart says India now must focus on producing a bunch of world-class drivers after the resounding success of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. The "Flying Scotsman" also feels that it is time F1 had a female driver on the grid. World champion in 1969, 1971, 1973, Stewart says India should be proud of what it had achieved and the Grand Prix
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan and his wife arrive to attend the Formula 1 party .
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ady Gaga was clad in uncharacteristically demure attire when she performed at the Formula One after-party. However, her feminine touch was lost thanks to the microphone she held, it looked suspiciously phallic. She had suggested that her outfit would be a "hybrid of my vision and the Indian vision." One used to shock with her ensembles, it seemed hardly believable. But she did manage to cover up. The 25-year-old wore a cream-colored Tarun Tahiliani outfit Swarovski crystals. She redesigned the original creation and made it into a wrap dress.
The rock band Metallica performing in Bangalore. Their F1 show in Gurgaon was canceled due to organizers' fraud.
Actor Imran Khan and his wife Avantika at the Formula 1 party. was a special guest of the McLaren team. He was shown on TV feed giving his trademark exaggerated expressions when Ferrari's Felipe Massa and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton ran into each other. The cricket quotient at the circuit was enhanced by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and opening batsman Virender Sehwag, who arrived in a Bentley and was almost mobbed by the security staff manning the circuit gates. In fact, the security supervisor had to shout at them to get them back to their job of checking vehicles!
pits broke out, people screamed themselves hoarse and the three guitarists ran across the stage exhorting the crowd into increasing levels of intensity. They needed to calm the crowd down and no song does it better than Nothing Else Matters, the Metallica anthem for any fan. Enter Sandman was the next song before the band made a show of leaving the stage. We werent having any of it and they knew we wouldnt let them off that easy. They came back with a tribute to Diamondheads Am I Evil?, before polishing the show off with Battery and Seek and Destroy. Hetfield with his I-knowwe-are-so-cool peacock strut, Ulrich and his manic energy as he thumped his
drum kit for all its worth and Hammett with his intoxicating guitar work will never get out of my head. But it was Trujillo who was the revelation. Most Metallica videos have little visuals of the longhaired bassist. He was stage presence personified in Bangalore. Part prowling panther, part retarded jack rabbit, he spun, he growled and he made the bass do magic. The producer in charge of the online edit, thats the guy who decided whats shown on the concert screens, was a maverick and the visuals changed by the second, showcasing Metallica in all forms and they played a huge part in getting the crowd all charged up.
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Ra. One released to packed houses across the country on Diwali day and has already created history by taking over the mantle of the biggest domestic earner so far.
music rights for Rs.8 crore and ancillary rights for Rs.10 crore even before the film had hit the screens. "As always, my heart doesn't crunch numbers and heroes don't count zeros...but it's nice to know how 'Ra.One' is flying," he further tweeted. Made at a budget of Rs.150 crore, the film, described as best in terms of technology, opened across more than 4,000 plus screens worldwide - 3,100 plus screens in India and 904 prints internationally, including 3D and has become the biggest Hindi grosser in southern market too. "Ra. One released to packed houses across the country on Diwali day and has already created
history by taking over the mantle of the biggest domestic earner so far. The film continues to be on its record breaking spree with several new achievements since its release. It has touched the highest individual collection in circuits such as Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan," Nandu Ahuja, senior vice president, distribution, Eros International Media Ltd said in a statement. Eros plans to take the film to non-traditional markets "RA.One" is scheduled for theatrical release in the first quarter of 2012 across several territories including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia , Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine, Brazil, Spain, Italy and Greece .
ctor Vivek Oberoi is all set to strip in his forthcoming movie, the sequel to 'Ek Chalis Ki Last Local'. The film, directed by Khanduri, is yet to be titled. The makers insist that Vivek will be bearing all in this motion picture, although they will sit and decide how much to show only later when they sit at the editing table.We believe that the stripping is extremely important to the script just like Neil Nitin Mukesh's was to 'Jail', and John's was to 'Dostana'. It's no wonder that Vivek Oberoi has been working out hard, and eating right, to get those abs and butt to look awesome!
Actors Sonakshi and Salman in a still from the movie Dabangg. would be a dream come true for the damsel. It's heard that Salman Khan is miffed with this statement of hers. However, with both of them coming together in 'Kick' and 'Dabangg 2', Sonakshi will have enough time to explain her point of view and sort out this mess.
Vivek Oberoi has been working out hard, and eating right, to get those abs and butt to look awesome.
Review
ake away all the awkwardness of the comic relief by Johnny Lever and a plot that moves through three segments without transitional smoothness... and you have a film that's tender, sweet and gentle. "Tell Me O Kkhuda" (TMOK) is a bit of a smileinvoking ode to parenthood. Tanya (Esha Deol, in an authorbacked, tailor-made, custom-built role), happily ensconced in her life of parents (benign Farouq Shaikh-Deepti Naval), best friend (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and sweet-heart (Arjan Bajwa) discovers she is an adopted child. Thus begins her genealogical journey. The drama unfolds with the least fuss or ostentation. To the narrative's credit, it dithers not from its picaresque aspirations. Esha goes through three different emotional and geographical locations in pursuit of papa-dearest. Of these, the Turkish sojourn
Actor Esha Deol goes through three different emotional and geographical locations in pursuit of her father in the movie.
Actor and producer Suniil Sadarangani's new short film addresses the Indian Diaspora experience in an alien culture. pm. The film is based on a true story that Suniil experienced at a bus stop in Los Angeles. The film addresses the Indian Diaspora experience in an alien culture. Based on true events, the film is the meeting of two people from diametrically opposite cultures, background, and demographics. Although they seem to be as different on the surface, they discover through this brief encounter at a bus stop, that they have more in common than they thought.
with Rishi Kapoor and the beautiful Turkish actress is the most crisply edited and packaged. The Rajasthani sojourn with Vinod Khanna as a haveli-bound zamindar, meanders all over the place, subsuming issues such as female foeticide. Here the narrative makes ample space for a camel race which adds spectacle to the emotion without really saying much about
the characters or their need to reach into the recesses of their heart. No doubt this film is meant to showcase Esha's evolved status as an actress. The girl has eloquent eyes and an expressive face which knows how to hold an emotion. Esha is a graceful portrait of a girl in pursuit of something echoing happiness.
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Kardashian
Vidya took the liberty of asking Amitabh Bachchan to dance with her on The Dirty Picture song and the veteran actor complied. stretched out his hand and they danced till they could not control their laughter," added the eyewitness. The impromptu dance sequence did not turn out the way Pony Verma had choreographed it in the Ekta Kapoor film. "Bachchan started dancing in his own style. And Vidya had to match his steps," said the eyewitness.
eality TV star Kim Kardashian explained she got "caught up with the hoopla" surrounding her relationship with Kris Humphries "and rushed into something too soon" in an emotional message posted on her website a day after she filed for divorce from the basketball player. Titled "A Message To My Fans," the 31-yearold wrote that she "married for love" and blasted speculation that her nuptials were for the benefit of her TV shows. "First and foremost, I married for love. I can't believe I even have to defend this," she wrote. "I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show!
Actor Kim Kardashian. "I got caught up with the hoopla and the filming of the TV show that when I probably should have ended my relationship, I didn't know how to and didn't want to disappoint a lot of people," she added.
It was reported that Bhandarkar had been asked by T-Series head Bhushan Kumar to remake Aashiqui that starred Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal.
that Bhandarkar had been asked by T-Series head Bhushan Kumar to remake Aashiqui that starred Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal. The other buzz was about Fashion 2, for which he is rumored to have approached Madhuri Dixit, who is back from the US to Mumbai for good. Meanwhile, work on his most ambitious project, Heroine, starts November-end. Heroine principal photography to commence from end Nov! Bhandarkar further tweeted.
Music composer A.R. Rahman has already managed to enthrall audiences with his songs for Imtiaz Alis film Rockstar.
he country may look upon double Oscar and Grammy winning artiste, AR Rahman as the real music maestro, but the celebrated composer feels that India cant produce a true rockstar. I think in India, we dont have a true rockstar. Culturally, we are a family-bound society and rockstars are known to do all sorts of odd things, says Rahman. The composer, who has already managed to enthrall audiences with his compositions for Imtiaz Alis film Rockstar confesses that hes impressed with the films lead actor, Ranbir Kapoors perseverance. Ranbir is a great learner. He used to sit in one corner of the studio to figure out the tempo of the soundtrack just to understand what the music would be like. I havent seen such commitment among other actors, adds Rahman. A musical saga, Rockstar cap-
tures the life of a Delhi boy played by Ranbir, who realizes the pain is the real impetus to be a great musician. And though Rahman is rarely known for praising actors, Bollywoods current poster boy has won the composer over with his dedication to get into the skin of the character. Talking about the actors transformation to a real rockstar, Rahman says, Ranbir actually learnt the guitar chords in the song that he is playing on screen. Most actors just move their hands up and along to enact a strumming sequence, but Ranbir actually practices and plays the right notes in the film. It was reported that Ranbir started learning to play the guitar before he started shooting the film. The actor is also said to have visited Rahmans studio in Chennai occasionally, while the recording of the film was on.
In the movie, Puneet plays the role of the real LAPD cop, who is suspended after he refuses to get rid of his turban post the 9/11 attacks. the Sikh protagonist, more than tioned. Finally, Gulzar Chahal, a 400 people from Chandigarh, resident of Patiala, was chosen to Amritsar and Patiala were audi- play the role of Ranveer Singh.
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Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Kashmiri diaspora alliance stages protest rally for probe into mass graves
Toronto: World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance (WKDA) held a protest rally on Bloor Street in front of the Indian Consulate in Toronto, Canada. The protesters demanded a comprehensive investigation into the issue of mass graves that have been found in Kashmir in a similar manner that were held in Shibrinetza by the international community. Farooq Papa, who heads the World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance, an organization that is actively propagating the Kashmir issue globally on diplomatic front, said that it is appalling to observe that the findings of these graves have not raised any eyebrows in the power echelons of the United Nations and western countries, who do not waste any time when such atrocities are being committed in areas and territories where western governments have vested interests in raising the issue of human rights. Condemnation and bringing the perpetrators of crimes against humanity to justice must not be country-specific. The garb of democracy must not be taken as a shield of impunity by countries who run democratically. The international court of justice should not be used only for authoritative regimes, the international court of justice must also oversee that democratic countries functionality, vis-a-vis the universal human right adherence and obligation under international law. Towing of such policies that belie the values of decla-
Members of WKDA at the protest rally ration of human rights and fundamental rights adopted 63 years ago by the United Nations is going to create discord rather than beneficial understanding. Habib Yousaf Zai, the spokesman for WKDA, later talking to local media in Toronto emphasized that for Canada, human rights is an important part of foreign policy and its relations with other countries. We cannot be mere spectators to the abuses that are being committed on Kashmiris, he said. He said that the WKDA will write to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take up the issue of mass graves in Kashmir in the forthcoming G20 meeting in November 2011, and allow foreign forensic experts to investigate these crimes against humanity.
Indian Ambassador to China S Jaishankar with Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan (right) at the Indian Embassy Diwali event in Beijing. Khan took a rare step of participating in the celebrations along with wife Zohra after S Jaishankar reportedly visited Pakistani embassy to pay his condolences over the recent demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto, mother in law of Asif Ali Zardari.
Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Blair in May 2011 in Astana London: Former British Prime and is the biggest employer in Minister Tony Blair met Indian- Kazakhstan. He employs 50,000 origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal people there and is reportedly and struck a deal worth eight mil- close to Kazakh President lion pounds (USD 13 million) to Nursultan Nazarbayev. clean up the image of corruptionMittal's LNM steel company is, plagued Kazakhstan, a media however, not British. It was registered in the Dutch Antilles and report said Sunday. Steel magnate Mittal -- who has has less than one percent of its donated more than four million 100,000-plus workforce in pounds to Labor -- sat next to Britain. A spokesman for Mittal Blair at a meeting of "powerful" has declined to comment. Mittal's employees in international businessmen in Kazakh capital Astana in May, the Kazakhstan have accused him of Daily Mail said. "slave labor" conditions after a Mittal is Britain's richest man series of coal mining accidents with a fortune of more than 20 between 2004 and 2007 which led billion pounds (USD 32 billion) to 91 deaths.
Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, along with Caitlin Wiesen, Country Director, UNDP, at the launch of UNDP report on Global Human Development Report 2011 Sustainability and Equity : A Better Future for all , in India.
Under the sanctions, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Khan has any interest is blocked and Americans are prohibited from engaging in business with him. The Haqqani Network, it said, is a Taliban-affiliated group of militants that operates from North Waziristan Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It has been at the forefront of insurgent activity in Afghanistan, responsible for many high-profile attacks, the statement said.
Tens of thousands of civilians died in the final phase of Sri Lanka's civil war - most of them killed in shelling by government forces, according to a UN panel. have been highly critical of the LLRC, saying that it was "flawed at every level" and was no substitute for an independent war crimes probe as demanded by many, including the US and the European Union. London-based Amnesty International in September cited eyewitness testimony and information from aid workers suggesting that at least 10,000 civilians were killed in the final military drive that crushed Tamil separatists in May 2009. An April report by a panel commissioned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted "credible allegations" of war crimes committed by both sides -- Colombo denied the allegations, maintaining that troops did not kill a single civilian.
The seven-point agreement, endorsed by Maoist supremo Prachanda himself, breaks the ice after five long years of negotiations.
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Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Federal Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh with Google India officials at the launch of a website service for Indian SMBs in New Delhi. small and medium businesses but only about 4,00,000 have a website. This initiative is designed to bridge the information gap that exists online due to the lack of presence of local Indian businesses on the internet, it said. The program has already been launched in other countries.
India-Pakistan trade was logged at $2.5 billion in 2010-11 and the two countries are targeting to double this in the next five years. Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan has granted the "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) status to India, reciprocating a 15-year-old gesture. India Inc said the decision will push up trade sharply. India had given Pakistan the MFN status in 1996 but Islamabad did not respond positively. Ties between the two countries deteriorated after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 for which Pakistan was blamed. Wednesday's decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. It said the move would help expand bilateral trade relations, Xinhua reported. Hailing the decision, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said the MFN status would have an exponential effect on growth of bilateral trade. "It is a big moment which will not only double bilateral trade immediately but also put back life into the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)," Rajiv Kumar, secretary general of FICCI, said. "Now trade which was being conducted via Dubai can take place openly. This would immediately reflect in the books," Kumar added. India-Pakistan trade was logged at $2.5 billion in 2010-11 and the two countries are targeting to double this in the next five years. When a country grants a foreign territory the MFN status, it signifies that import barriers would be lowered and import quotas raised for goods originating from that country. Pakistan would now loosen import restrictions from India. At present, Islamabad allows import of only 1,946 items from New Delhi. India does not permit trade in 850 items with Pakistan. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) claimed that Pakistan's decision would send trade soaring and reach a volume of $8 billion in less than five years. "The MFN status will substantially reduce illegal and third country trade with the potential of raising official bilateral trade to $8 billion in less than five years," said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII.
The trouble started when 64 pilots were selected to undergo Boeing 787 training in the US which starts in a few days. Mumbai : Efforts are on to stave discussions with the Indian Pilots off mass resignations and a strike Guild (IPG) today (Wednesday). by a section of Air India pilots on All efforts and good offices are training to fly the soon-to-be being used to stave off this showinducted Boeing 787 Dreamliner, down as it is not good for the pilots an official said. and the company," an Air India "We will hold another round of official said. Talks have been held
The Bombay Stock Exchange. and force banks to take concrete steps against such defaulters.
International TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Assange's whistle-blowing website rocked several governments across the world with the publication of thousands of diplomatic and other official communication.
An Israeli defense official said military tested a "rocket propulsion system" in an exercise planned long ago. Jerusalem: Israel successfully test-fired a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and striking Iran, fanning a public debate over whether the country's leaders are planning a military attack on Tehran's atomic facilities. While Israeli leaders have long warned that a military strike was an option, the most intensive round of public discourse on the subject was ignited over the weekend by a report in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper that said PM Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Ehud Barak favor an attack. That was followed by a report in the Haaretz daily that Netanyahu is now lobbying Cabinet members for an attack, despite the complexity of the operation and the high likelihood it would draw a deadly retaliation from Iran. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity said Netanyahu does not yet have a majority. An Israeli defense official said military tested a "rocket propulsion system" in an exercise planned long ago. Further information about the test was censored by the military. Foreign reports , however, said the military testfired a long-range Jericho missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and striking Iran. Israel considers Iran its most dangerous threat. It cites Tehran's nuclear program , its ballistic missile development , references to Israel's destruction and is also wary of Iran's support for antiIsrael militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran denies the allegations saying its nuclear program is meant to produce energy for the country. It has blamed Israel for disruptions in its nuclear program, including the mysterious assassinations of a string of Iranian nuclear scientists and a computer virus that wiped out some of Iran's nuclear centrifuges. Israel has said that it hopes economic sanctions will persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program. Their diplomats have been lobbying the international community for tougher sanctions.
The Boeing 767 of Polish LOT airlines stands at Warsaw airport, Poland. Warsaw: A Boeing airliner carrying 231 people from the US landed on its belly in Warsaw after its landing gear failed to open, triggering sparks and small fires. No one was hurt, but passengers described feeling severe stress as they prayed for a safe landing. The pilots of the Polish LOT airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, discovered there was a problem before touching ground. They circled the 767 above the airport for about one hour before descending without lowering the wheels, said Przemyslaw Przybylski, a spokesman for the Warsaw airport. The plane, escorted by two F-16 fighter jets, landed with nearly empty fuel tanks after dumping fuel in preparation for the emergency landing, LOT spokesman Leszek Chorzewski said. "I was praying for the pilot not to lose control because we started to make circles over the airport. It was terrible," passenger Teresa Kowalik told reporters at the airport. "We owe everything to the pilot. He really did a great job." A fire brigade laid out special flame retardant foam for the plane to land on. On landing, sparks flew from the engine and small fires erupted under the plane but were immediately put out by firefighters. The passengers evacuated the plane using an emergency slide. The pilot told passengers four hours into the flight that the plane faced technical problems said a passenger who only gave her first name, Malgorzata. "The pilot addressed us a number of times and said we should follow instructions. Later, a flight attendant said there might be a fire, and at that point people began to get nervous and uncertain," she said.
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Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Sports agent Mazhar Majeed. London: Sports agent Mazhar Majeed has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat at the Pakistan match-fixing trial and conspiracy to making corrupt payments, the Press Association reported. Majeed, 36, now faces sentencing along with three Pakistani cricketers, former captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. The sports agent pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing in September but the judge has only just lifted reporting restrictions. Butt, 27, and Asif, 28, were found guilty on Tuesday of taking bribes to fix part of a Test match against England at Lord's in August 2010. Aamer, 19, admitted his part in the scam before the trial at Southwark Crown Court started. Butt and Asif are facing up to seven years in jail or large fines. The trio have already been banned from playing by the International Cricket Council for a minimum of five years.
THE DISGRACED TRIO: Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. Majeed declined to name others involved in the scam despite his guilty plea. He told Cooke that he did not instigate the fixes but that the players approached him. A murky picture of widespread dishonesty emerged as allegations and counter allegations flew between the players and Majeed during their statements, prompting Cooke to declare his belief that fixing was so common within the Pakistan squad that it was regarded as the norm.
Former IPL chief Lalit Modi. channel. Modi refused to speak further saying "I would rather not talk about it. It's a very complicated matter. It's to do with my security."
LT. Col. (Hon) MS Dhoni, Maj (Hon) Dr Deepak Rao and LT Col (Hon) Abhinav Bindra at a felicitation function in New Delhi. Bindra won the only individual Olympic gold medal for India at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Along with the two sportsmen,
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Shahnama (The Book of Kings), Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (9351020). Illustrated manuscript, folio.From the 1330s, Iran, Tabriz. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper through intricately interlaced, complex geometric forms that are most familiar to us in textiles, woodwork, and tile work. The collection comprises more than 12,000 works of art drawn from an area that extends from Spain in the west to India in the east. Some 1,200 works of art in all media will be on view at any time, representing all major regions and artistic styles, from the seventh century onward As part of the reinstallation of the galleries, a team of conservators and scientists has engaged in an extensive program of conservation of the major objects within the collection, from the Museums remarkable collection of manuscripts to fragile glass objects and rare and precious carpets. Highlights of the Museums collection include: the sumptuously ornamented Damascus Room, built in 1707, and one of the finest examples of
Tughra (Imperial Cipher) of Sultan Sleyman the Magnificent (r. 15201566), ca. 1555; Ottoman, Turkey (Istanbul). Ink, opaque watercolors, and gold on paper. Syrian homes of the wealthy during the Ottoman period; some of the finest classical carpets in existence from the 16th and 17th centuries; notable early and medieval Qur ans; pages from the sumptuous copy of the Shahnama, or Book of Kings, created for Shah Tahmasp (151476) of Iran, and outstanding royal miniatures from the courts of the Arab World, Ottoman Turkey, Persia, and Mughal India, including paintings from the imperial Shah Jahan Album,;
Brazier of Sultan al-Malik alMuzaffar Shams al-Din Yusuf ibn 'Uma. Second half 13th century Egypt. and architectural elements including a 14th-century mihrab, or prayer niche, from Isfahan decorated with glazed ceramic tiles, which would have served in a Muslim house of worship to indicate the direction to Mecca.
Davis Album, an Album leaf from 18th century India. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper.
ichelle Obama, Beyonce Knowles, Eva Longoria and Lady Gaga. With a client list as formidable as that, it's little wonder that New York-based Indian designer Naeem Khan says that he loves crafting glamorous clothes for powerful women. "I'm fortunate that my collection is worn by royalty, important social figures, movie and rock stars across the world," Naeem says "My biggest and most exciting moment was when Michelle Obama wore my dress for the first state dinner for our prime minister," added the 53-year-old. Describing fashion as a serious business, he said: "There is a lot of thought process required when you design for celebrities, especially for heads of state." "Clothes make a statement. You have to keep many factors in mind - age, body, event, weather, color, comfort and how much power to put into the dress as you don't want to overpower the personality with the dress," said Khan who launched his collection Naeem Khan in 2003.
NY-based Indian designer Naeem Khan Associating with A-listers is a common practice amongst designers and Khan says such collaborations help in making a name for the brand. Recently, Khan dressed pop icon Lady Gaga and says he loved it. "I am ever so grateful she acknowledged me. I love Lady Gaga. Fashion should be fun and Lady Gaga is doing just that. She thinks out of the norm and we must respect that, Khan said. Gaga made her first formal public appearance in India in Khan's dress, a one-shoulder gown teamed with neckpiece and earrings. "My dress made her look so regal, sophisticated and certainly got the attention of the fashion world," he said.
Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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What we think of as mindfulness is a multi-faceted mental practice that encompasses several mechanisms: attention regulation, body awareness, emotion regulation, and sense of self. University and Harvard Together, these compoMedical School, suggests nents help us attend to and the goal is to "unveil the deal with the mental and conceptual and mechanistic physiological effects of complexity of mindfulness, stress in ways that are nonproviding the `big picture judgmental. by arranging many findAlthough these compoings like the pieces of a nents are theoretically dismosaic". tinct, they are closely interHolzel and co-authors twined. Improvement in point out that what we attention regulation, for think of as mindfulness is example, may directly not actually a single skill, facilitate our awareness of but rather a multi-faceted our physiological state. mental practice that Body awareness, in turn, encompasses several mech- helps us to recognize the anisms. emotions we are experiencThey specifically identify ing. Effective mindfulness four key components of meditation requires trainmindfulness that may ing and practice and it has account for its effects: distinct measurable effects attention regulation, body on our subjective experiawareness, emotion regula- ences, our behavior, and tion, and sense of self. our brain function.
Washington: Long branded as a bunch of edgy, angst-ridden underachievers, members of Generation X are actually leading quite active, enriching and happy lives, so says a new study. They are active in their communities, mainly satisfied with their jobs, and able to balance work, family, and leisure, said study author and political scientist Jon Miller from the University of Michigan (UM). Miller directs the Longitudinal Study of American Youth at the UM Institute for Social Research which includes responses from approximately 4,000 Gen Xers born between 1961 and 1981. The 84 million Americans in this generation between the age of 30 and 50 are the parents of todays school-aged children, Miller said, according to a Michigan statement. And over the next two or three decades, members of Generation X will lead the nation in the White House and Congress. So its important to understand their values, history, current challenges and future goals, he added. Two-thirds of Generation X
Negative stereotypes of Generation X (born between 196181) persist as in this illustration in New York Times alongside the article Gen X Has a Midlife Crisis adults are married and 71 percent have children at home. Three-quarters of the parents of elementary school children say they help their children with homework, with 43 percent providing five or more hours of homework help each week. Thirty percent of Generation X adults are active members of professional, business or union organisations, and one in three is an active member of a church or religious organization. Ninety-five percent talk on the phone at least once a week with friends or family, and 29 percent say they do so at least once a day. In sociologist Robert Putnams influential book Bowling Alone, he argued that Americans were increasingly isolated socially, Miller said. But this data indicates that Generation X members are not bowling alone. Although they may be less likely to join communitybased luncheon clubs, they have extensive social, occupational and community networks. They are active participants in parent-teacher organizations, local youth sports clubs, book clubs and other community organizations, Miller added.
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Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info
reedom of speech. It's not something I take for granted. I grew up in Zambia during an era when you could say anything you wanted about the country's president, as long as you had already started the engine of your getaway plane. That's what I love about countries like America and Canada -- freedom of speech has no bounds, as long as you don't scream "Fire!" in a crowded theater, threaten the president or profess your undying love for Osama bin Laden. Okay, so it does have bounds, but you get the point. I don't remember the last time a journalist or author had to run away from an angry mob. It's just not the way things are done, as I learned several years ago when I tried to assemble a mob to chase Ann Coulter. India allows a great amount of free speech, compared to many other countries. But just ask fans of Savita Bhabhi how free they are to enjoy her sexcapades. The cartoon seductress has been banned in India, perhaps to the delight of many a wife, who remembers the good old days when her husband got his thrills out of Asterix. As S. Mitra Kalita
writes in the WSJ, Savita joins The Da Vinci Code, The Polyester Prince, and Royal Magazine as "examples of India's hindrance of free speech." You might never have heard of Royal Magazine, but it's an example of the squelching of free speech in India that seems more commonpreemptive and driven by fear. Editor in chief Ronak Vyas wrote to me and said, "I have been publishing an online magazine that features nudity and had my share of problems in India. To be honest I feel like you can get away with anything as long as you don't offend a particu-
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
by Mahendra Shah
Tech Life
place on the Fortune 500 list. The Beijing-based company was set up in April 2010 to develop a high-end smartphone and received $41 million in funding from employees and external investors including Morningside and IDG, according to
Astrology
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When people who see us meditating notice a change in us, they are also inspired to experience the same change. They see that meditation makes us calmer and more balanced. They see that we are able to deal with the challenges of life in a much more even manner. .
sweet honey within. When people who see us meditating notice a change in us, they are also inspired to experience the same change. They see that meditation makes us calmer and more balanced. They see that we are able to deal with the challenges of life in a much more even manner. They see that even though everyone goes through the challenges of financial problems, health problems, relationship difficulties, and other challenges, we sail through them much more easily than most people. This makes people wonder what secret we hold that helps us face lifes struggles with more fortitude. Finally, when they see how blissful and intoxicated we are without the use of unnatural means such as drugs and alcohol, they too want such happiness. Just like the princess who saw the joy that people had when they tasted the sweetness of honey and how they wanted to share that delicious taste with others, people will see the joy we experience from meditation and they will want to enjoy that as well. I am reminded of a verse by Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj which says: Who has said that you must drink in secret? This is divine Wine that you must share with others. While drinking this Nectar, forget the sorrows of life and the pains of the world. And hum songs of beauty and love. We can appreciate what a blessing it is to have a Master and to receive the spiritual teachings from him. This is a valuable gift that actually is sent to us by God through the Masters. God wants each of us to have the gift. If we are lucky enough to receive such a gift from a Master, we should treasure it and put it to use. We should make the best use of the gift by spending time in meditation. Let us enjoy the divine honey of the Light and Sound within. Let us then travel on the divine nectar back to the Lord. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.
e find many are selfish. Selfishness is rampant in all spheres of life. Why is it sensational when it is reported in the news that someone did something giving and selfless? It is such a rare quality that it often makes front page news. We hear of people who do not have a lot of money but give generously to others. We find people donating their time to help others. We read of people who donate a kidney to save someone elses life. Some people help the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden. These selfless acts have an effect because most people tend to think first of themselves. If people see we are giving and caring, they admire us. They see that we have a big heart. They see the joy we get from giving. They too want to partake of such joy. When they ask us how we can be so giving, we can point to our life of meditation in which we see that we are all part of one family of God. They will learn
and alcohol. This leads to people getting hurt and those perpetrating the crimes going to prison. In some cases drugs and alcohol lead to disease and death. When people see that we are happy and blissful without drugs and alcohol, they ask us how we can feel so good. We can then explain that meditation gives us a natural state of intoxication. We can explain how the sweet nectar of the divine Wine within provides more intoxication than any intoxication which outer drugs and alcohol can give us. We can talk about how we get this divine bliss within that lasts twentyfour hours. There is no hang-over. There are no side effects. We do not pass out or get sick. We do not have to steal from anyone to get this bliss. We do not have to cause car accidents or commit crimes. Rather than lowering our consciousness through drugs and alcohol, we are raising our consciousness to spiritual heights and even attaining Godconsciousness. The joy people see we have in our lives will inspire them to also want to partake of that
By looking into the eyes of the Master, we can read volumes more than what is contained in books.We discover the tale of eternitythe story of the love of our soul and God.
Sant Darshan Singh Ji describes in this verse what transpires when one looks into the eyes of the Master: As the beauty of the Beloveds eye caught the light of mine, It became ever more ravishing and irresistible. And another verse is: When the flame flashes from the goblet, a ray of light will burst forth, But when my eyes meet the eyes of the Cupbearer, day will dawn. By looking into the eyes of the
Master, we can read volumes more than what is contained in books. In the Masters eyes we find the story of love. We encounter the love of God pouring forth from them. We discover the tale of eternitythe story of the love of our soul and God.Our souls personal love story began when God wanted to love and separated souls from God. As Sant Darshan Singh Ji used to say, God was all alone. God was lonely and wanted to have some lovers to love God. Thus, God separated small drops of God, which are known as souls. These souls were sent down to inhabit the various regions God created. In this game created by God, souls were supposed to return directly to God after one lifetime. But the intricacies of Gods play became so complex that the souls ended up being trapped for lifetime upon lifetime in the various worlds. They
became caught in the cycle of births and deaths. In this grand play, souls have been environed by the sheaths corresponding to each plane. In the causal plane, they wear a causal body and have a causal mind. In the astral plane, they are covered by an astral body and an astral mind, and in the physical plane, they have a physical body and a physical mind. The soul has identified itself with the body and mind, and has forgotten itself and its Creator, its true Beloved. It has been led away by the temptations and enticements of the lower worlds of creation. God was eager for the souls to return to God, for God created them to love and to be loved by God. But the purpose for which they were made is only fulfilled when they turn to, love, and receive Gods love in its fullness. (To be continued)