The statements, opinions, or views in the articles may not necessarily reflect that of the Goan Voice Canada.

India, Indians permeate everywhere
http://overseasindian.in/2009/jan/news/20091201-061013.shtml
By: Fakir Hassen

I am now convinced that India, Indians and all things Indian permeate almost every corner of the globe, influencing everyone and everything.

Statements by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi at the inaugural session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2009 in Chennai reaffirmed to me earlier thoughts as I paged through Sawubona, the in-flight magazine of South African Airways, on a nine-hour flight from Johannesburg to Mumbai. I was en route Chennai to attend the latest edition of the annual meet that brings together persons from the Indian diaspora - this time 1,500 of them.

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What Explains the Stunning Success of Slumdog Millionaire?
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?
26 January 2009 - George Abraham
Khaleej Times Online - News - OPINION

It is not the poverty in Mumbai or the realism of the rags-to-riches story. It is not about the venality so brazenly on display in the movie. It is not about the 665m “public defecators” whose everyday lives are accurately portrayed in Slumdog 
Millionaire. And, finally, it is not 
about the obvious paradox in the film’s title.

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Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address
By The Associated Press
Tue Jan 20, 5:04 pm ET

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, as delivered.

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

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Between The Earth And Sky
A. SRIVATHSAN
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?

Goan architect Dean D’Cruz creates a riot of colour, bends steel bars to make unfathomable shapes and uses materials sumptuously in his designs.

My preference has been projects that adhere to or wish to explore the green ideas

Photos: Dinesh Mehta
Free spirit: D’Cruz can get adventurous with forms and structures.

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Finger length may predict financial success
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/print-477154.html
January 14,2009 Print
Source: AP

The length of a man's ring finger may predict his success as a financial trader. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England report that men with longer ring fingers, compared to their index fingers, tended to be more successful in the frantic high-frequency trading in the London financial district.

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Victor Rangel Ribeiro Conducts The Goa State Strings Orchestra

Pictures From MONTE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009
By Joel D’Souza

See Clip on youtube: http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=DIWNhDh2rPU&feature=channel_page

TEGSA's WHIST DRIVE - GAMES NITE - 1st Event 2009

T’was on a cold Sunday afternoon, the 25th of January, but that did’nt deter the 110 enthusiastic TEGSA Seniors, who put on a brave front and headed towards the Commander Hall, for their first Games session in 2009.

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America's Youngest Indian CEO
January 16, 2009
PTI Article.

At 39 years, Francisco D'Souza, the India-origin chief executive of software firm Cognizant Technology Solutions, is one of the youngest CEOs in America, running an American public company that is worth at least $5.7 billion. The latest among a slew of honours for this young business honcho is a mention in business magazine Forbes' updated list of '21 youngest CEOs at USA's biggest companies.' 'Francisco D'Souza, 39, heads what is now the largest public company run by a 40-or-under CEO, though his $5.7-billion Cognizant Technology Solutions is dwarfed by the $16.9-billion Yahoo!.' Forbes said. 'D'Souza has been an officer at Cognizant for 11 years now, chief executive since 2007, and chief operating officer since 2003, when he was a mere 33.'

All the chief executives named in the list are in the age group of 34 to 40 years. 'They are the youngest people running the biggest companies in America. As they have gotten this far already, keep an eye on them in the future,' Forbes said in an accompanying report. D'Souza took over from Lakshmi Narayanan, who became vice-chairman of the board. At the time, D'Souza was also inducted into the board.

In an interview he gave before he became CEO, he shared his views on how businesses become and remain profitable. "Cognizant choose the customer-centric, relationship-driven model right from our founding and we have built upon it. The outcome of this model is that we service a limited number of customers and provide increasing value as we grow those relationships. The fact that we serve our customers deeply is reflected in the ratio of relationship managers and client partner to be higher than our sales professionals," he said

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Body of UK Goan boy found in canal
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, JAN 27

A schoolboy’s body found in Fobney Lock, in Whitley, near Reading, is believed to be that of a missing UK Goan boy Jonathan Marques. His family were inconsolable yesterday after a team of divers from the Thames Valley Police Specialist Search and Recovery Team found the body, nearly three weeks after the boy went missing.

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Goans richer than other Indians
17 Jan 2009, 0723 hrs IST, TNN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3992025,prtpage-1.cms  

PANAJI: Goans have more wealth than their counterparts in other states. This was discovered by the National Family Health Survey 3, which reveals that the state handsomely meets the three essential requirements of roti, kapda aur makaan. The report states that over 55% of Goan households are in the highest wealth quintile (a fifth of a given amount). Only 23% of Goa's households are in the three lowest wealth quintiles as compared to about 60% in the rest of the country. In Goa only 3% of the households fall in the lowest wealth quintile, of which 1% are in urban areas and 5% in rural areas.

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Commercialisation of State worries Goan Bishop in Pakistan
22 Jan 2009, 0029 hrs IST,
Paul Fernandes, TNN
From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4013893,prtpage-1.cms

PANAJI: It was a quiet homecoming to his mother's house' in Ucassaim after eight years for the Bishop of Faisalabad Diocese in Pakistan. But the street near his ancestral house is already abuzz. "He celebrated mass for aged persons today," a senior citizen said, pointing to the bishop's house.

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HOMES BACK FINALLY?

NON-RESIDENT Indians (NRIs) from Goa will soon be able to get back possession of their homes or buildings from tenants,
From Goanet http://ca.mg3.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.rand=c24mn3a8at2hh

A large number of Goans settled abroad, who've rented out their ancestral homes, have been left stranded, unable to get the tenants evicted. VITHALDAS HEGDE in the Weekend tracks the progress on the legislation aimed at making it easier to get homes back for these non-resident Goans and finds out that it could be enacted very soon.

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Future generations should not be deprived of a quality life:
says NRI affairs Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro
24 Jan 2009,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4024101,prtpage-1.cms

PANAJI: Commissioner for NRI affairs Eduardo Faleiro has said that the principle of sustainable development requires a long term and cautious approach to development so that future generations are not deprived of a quality life. Faleiro was speaking at a seminar organised by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in association with the International Goan Organization of Toronto, on sustainable tourism development' at the Surendrababu Timblo hall, Panaji, on Friday.

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'Goa fishing jetty used to illegally land Pakistan nationals'
Thursday, 22 January , 2009, 19:58
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14843108&?vsv=TopHP1

Panaji: In a sensational disclosure, the Chairman of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has alleged fishermen working out of a jetty located within the port premises often illegally ferried Pakistani nationals from international merchant ships to the Goan shores and vice versa.

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Schools of Controversy
From a state which had a wide choice of rural-and-urban schools, we are now creating an artificial scarcity in Goa. Thanks to the ill-conceived, opportunistic (from varied angles) and badly motivated approach, primary education in Goa is being segregated on class lines. While the few, pricey English-medium primary schools are being avidly sought, a wide range of (mostly Church-run) schools are seeing better-off students leave them. Instead of studying in their own villages, young kids are forced to go to urban and semi-ruban areas. [Frederick Noronha, Herald]

'Registering "kudds' as trusts important'
Registering Goan clubs or 'kudds' as they are popularly known, as charitable trusts under the Societies Registration ACt 1860 in Mumbai, is a first step towards safeguarding the existence of these unique and more than 150-year-old institutions, speakers told stakeholders at meetings in Navelim and Mapusa on January 25. "This has to be done on priority basis so that steps to constitute a federation of registered clubs, which will help us fight for our rights collectively, can then be taken," Jose D'Costa, a member of the newly formed group tentatively called Federation of Goan Clubs in Mumbai, said. [TOI]

Real food for new Goa
Today the rice is rarely red, and a return by Goa's growers to the 22 varieties which existed even 40 years ago will be a tonic for moribund comunidades and farmers who have become enslaved to industrially planned agricultural systems. The pallid white and cream rice that populate our paddy fields are crippled by limitations of the robust red rices, full of character and flavour, which the Konkan was long known for. But even so, rice in Goa forms part of a cycle of crop-biomass-soil protein-energy which has been interrupted for too long. As this rabi harvest came to a close, fields all over Goa were being fired and every evening, the air was thick and blue with smoke. [Rahul Goswami, GT]

COASTAL STATES NEED MORE AID: ANTONY
VASCO: Union Defence Minister AK Antony, on January 21, said the need to beef up coastal security would prompt the Centre to extend more support to governments of coastal states. Speaking with journalists after commissioning of an advanced offshore patrol vessel for the Coast Guard, at Goa Shipyard, Vasco, Antony also clarified that according to the Indian Coast Guard, an agency responsible for maritime security in Indian territorial waters, has just 30% of its actual requirements such as vessels/ships, aircrafts and manpower.. to man the country's 7,516-km coastline. [GT]

Arpora, Nagoa locals oppose farmhouses, massage parlours
Residents of Arpora-Nagoa-Baga have opposed farmhouses and massage parlours in the village. At a recent gram sabha, residents rejected outright the regularisation of the farmhouse in the village, when Panchayat secretary said they were in receipt of a court order directing the panchayat to regularise the farmhouse. [H]

Vintage Camera makes owner proud
Mr Olencio Coutinho, who runs the Hollywood Studio in Panjim, is not an old, artifact collect in the true sense of the term. It is an ancient Bellow Plate camera that has fortuitously come down to the photographer from his family. Lovingly preserved, this vintage camera now occupies place of pride at home, while being proudly displayed only on special occasions. Says Mr Coutinho, “For sure, this camera is at least 100 years old.” [Shoma Patnaik, NT]

RP 2021: Villagers want government to listen to them
Raising a legal issue regarding the enforcement of the Regional Plan 2021 after it is finalised, a speaker at a people's assembly to share experiences about the ongoing planning process, questioned whether the town and country planning department will honour the villagers blueprint for the future. Fr Bismarque Dias of St Estevam asked, "Will the resolutions of the gram sabha on planning (questionnaires) be binding on government and have legal sanctity or is it a mere consultative process?" [TOI]

India-Canada to begin free trade pact talks
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/print-483146.html
January 21,2009 Print
Source: PTI

New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) With an aim to enhance the bilateral trade of about 3.23 billion dollar, India and Canada will explore the possibilities of a market opening Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The two countries have agreed to start exploratory talks towards CEPA.

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Canada's n-industry sees deals worth billions with India
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200901241251.htm

Toronto (IANS): The Canadian nuclear industry has welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India to resume nuclear trade between the two countries after three decades, saying it could result in deals worth billions of dollars.  The MoU was signed by the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and India's Larson & Toubro earlier this week during the visit of Canadian international trade minister Stockwell Day to India.

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India’s President calls for strong international action against terrorism
January 25th, 2009 - 9:10 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news

Pratibha Patil- New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Sunday said India was located in a region that harboured the epicentre of terrorism, and appealed to the international community to take decisive and united action against the scourge.”As a responsible nation, the conduct of our foreign relations since Independence has been to promote peace and development. We are, however, located in a region which harbours the epicentre of terrorism,” the president said in her address to the nation Sunday on the eve of Republic Day.

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India knocking on Canada's door
'We're ready to do business' message loud and clear to B.C.
Lena Sin, The Province
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/money/story.html?id=2bee89b3-6996
Monday, January 26, 2009

Ashok Das, India's consul general to Vancouver, says B.C. should think of collaboration with India on infrastructure projects and clean technologies.

CREDIT: Jon Murray, The Province Ashok Das, India's consul general to Vancouver, says B.C. should think of collaboration with India on infrastructure projects and clean technologies.

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US drone attacks kill 14 in Waziristan(Pakistan):
First Obama-era strikes in tribal areas
http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/24/top1.htm
From The Dawn (Karachi)

MIRAMSHAH / WANA, Jan 23: Missiles fired by suspected US drones killed at least 14 people, including some Arabs, in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan on Friday. (AP news agency quoted security officials as saying that 18 people had been killed and at least five foreign militants were among them).

The attacks came three days after US President Barack Obama took office and a day after he had appointed a veteran diplomat as his special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/22/c9532.html?view=print

TORONTO, Jan. 22 /CNW/ - This time of year is not always easy for Canadians. It's cold and dark, the Christmas decorations are down, the credit card bills are piling up, and some of us may be feeling anxious or depressed. Canadians facing job losses because of the economic downturn may be particularly vulnerable to mental health problems.

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Canada celebrates Family Literacy Day

TORONTO, Jan. 26 /CNW/ - Families and communities across Canada will be participating in literacy-related events on and around January 27 for Family Literacy Day, Education ministers Kelly Lamrock and Shirley Bond announced today on behalf of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC).

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Canadians Experiencing Early Morning Sugar Shock

Study Shows Average Canadian Consumes Half their Recommended Daily Sugar Intake at Breakfast

TORONTO, Jan. 26 /CNW/ - Canadians consume, on average, more than six teaspoons of added sugar in the morning, which is half the World Health Organization's daily maximum estimate of 12 teaspoons a day(1). The results come from a national survey commissioned by SPLENDA(R) Brand Sweetener that looked into Canadians' morning eating habits and the potential impact on their overall health and well-being.

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Vitamin D for people over 50: Background
From Health Canada -
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/context/evid-fond/vita_d-eng.php"

1. Issue
   The amount of vitamin D provided by the food intake pattern recommended in the revised Food Guide does not meet the Adequate Intake (AI) established by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies for individuals over 50 years of age. Meeting the Adequate Intake for those 51 years and over through food sources alone is almost impossible without recommending unrealistic daily amounts of some foods. Thus, Health Canada recommends that in addition to following Canada's Food Guide, all adults over the age of 50 should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (400 IU).

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