NEWSNOW
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 newsnow.mu
Thousands get
swine flu jab
TEST RESULTS AWAITED IN THIRD DEATH – Pages 2-3
PAY-DAY
MASSACRE
FOR THE
MILITIA
BAGHDAD: A suicide
bomber attacked govern-
ment-backed Sunni militia
yesterday as they lined up
to be paid on Baghdad’s
southwestern outskirts,
killing more than 40 and
wounding 41, Iraqi securi-
ty sources said.
The blast outside an
Iraqi military base in the
Sunni district of
Radwaniya occurred as
political deadlock contin-
ued in the war-damaged
country following a March
election that produced no
outright winner and as yet
no new government.
Sunni Islamist insur-
gents linked to al Qaeda
have sought to exploit the
political vacuum created
by a failure of Sunni,
Shi’ite and Kurdish fac-
tions to agree on a coali-
tion government, and have
carried out a series of
attacks since the vote.
In yesterday’s blast, the
suicide bomber blew him-
self up among “Sahwa”
militiamen, Sunni fighters
who once allied with al
Qaeda but turned on the
militant group in 2006/07,
helping U.S. forces turn
the tide in the war.
Police put the number
of dead at 39, but the
Interior Ministry source
said 43 had died.
Conflicting death tolls
are common after a major
explosion.
World Cup star marries
Dutch World Cup star and Inter Milan player Wesley Sneijder and
his wife Yolanthe kiss after their wedding ceremony at a church in
Castelnuovo Berardenga, about 15km from Siena in Italy.
Issue No. 260
Mubarak at
centre of
peace drive
CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met
Palestinian and Israeli leaders and the U.S. peace envoy
last night with a return to direct talks on the agenda, but a
breakthrough still seemed distant.
Egypt has long played a mediating role in Middle East
politics, but it is unusual for Cairo to host different leaders
on the same day. Shuttle diplomacy has been the preferred
way of operating.
None of the visitors saw the others, instead having back-
to-back talks with Mubarak, who was flanked by his for-
eign minister and top intelligence officer.
U.S. envoy George Mitchell, who has shuttled between
the main players since a four-month window for indirect
talks was agreed in May, held an hour-long meeting, then
hurriedly left the presidency without briefing reporters.
Minutes after Mitchell’s convoy of tinted-window white
cars rolled out, a convoy of black cars rolled in, escorting
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom Mitchell
met on Saturday in Ramallah.
Half an hour later Abbas was gone, again without speak-
ing to reporters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu arrived soon after Abbas’ departure.
The Egyptian state news agency MENA reported that
Mubarak’s talks with all three men focused on “efforts to
create the conditions necessary to advance the peace
process and achieve a two-state solution”. It did not elabo-
rate.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told
reporters after the meetings that direct talks were not pos-
sible yet, but there was still time. “We are still hopeful that
we can bridge this gap. The gap between the needs for
security for Israel and the borders for the Palestinians,” he
said.
“They (the Israelis) claim that they are determined to
offer the Palestinians a good deal,” he said, adding that
Egypt was encouraging the United States to keep pushing
for face-to-face talks.
In a statement after the talks, Netanyahu said: “President
Mubarak represents the aspiration for widening the cycle
of peace and preserving the stability and security of the
peoples of the region. I again found in him a key partner in
achieving those important goals.”
THE PEACE TERMS – PAGE 10

SECOND H1N1 DEATH CONFIRMED
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Thousands rush
for swine flu jab
By Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo
and Nitesh Boodhoo
More than 4,000 people were vacci-
nated against the flu virus A (H1N1)
at the Swami Vivekananda
International Convention Centre in
Pailles over the weekend.
The free flu jabs were given during the
third annual Health Exhibition organised by
the Heart Foundation and the Ministry of
Health and Quality of Life. Thousands of
Mauritians visited the event.
Health authorities have now confirmed
the deaths of two people, a man and a
woman both aged 51, due to the flu virus A
(H1N1), or swine flu.
There is as yet no confirmation of a third
death due to the virus, that of a young man
of 24 who passed away at the weekend.
Addressing a press conference last week
and later replying to a Private Notice
Question (PNQ) in Parliament, the Minister
of Health and Quality of Life Maya
Hanoomanjee deplored that only 5,613 peo-
ple had come forward to be vaccinated
against A (H1N1).
She also revealed that the number of vac-
cines available is 171,387 doses.
Speaking to NEWSNOW yesterday, Dr
Ahaad Abdool, Director of Health Services,
appealed to all those who have not yet been
vaccinated to do so. The jabs are available
in all Area Health Centres.
“A specific timetable has been devised
and displayed in all health centres.
Members of the public are invited to take
notice and take advantage of this free serv-
ice.”
MauritiusNow
One of thousands of Mauritians who received a free anti-flu
vaccination at the weekend.
Dr Abdool discounted the criticisims lev-
elled against the ministry that it was too
slow to communicate the cause of death to
members of families concerned.
“People seem to forget that we are bound
by practical issues. We cannot just approach
a family and blurt out the cause of death. We
need confirmation. And that comes from the
virology lab. The analysis takes time. ”
He was also concerned that despite the
aggressive information campaign, people
are still reluctant to get the vaccination. “It
is only when they hear about the death of
somebody that they react,” he says.
He also stressed that health authorities
have now eliminated the consent form.
Speaking about the strategy adopted to
treat the virus, Dr Abdool said the manage-
ment of the flu virus A (H1N1) was now in
its treatment phase.
Page 2
Last year, when imported or very
few local cases were present, the
ministry had used a containment
strategy to limit the spread of the
virus.
That strategy consisted of three
steps – screening all passengers
arriving at the airport from high-risk
or endemic countries for H1N1
using a thermal scanner and checking
for visual signs of influenza at the
ports of entry, isolation of patients
after public health inspectors tracked
down any suspected cases in the
hotel or residence to ensure the peo-
ple were not infected, and lastly the
used of prophylaxis treatment of con-
tact.
“The containment strategy is nor-
mally used when the virus is intro-
duced from infected cases and gradu-
ally spreads widely in the communi-
ty,” the doctor explained.
In accordance with the existing
preparedness plan and the recom-
mendations of World Health
Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of
Health has stopped the screening of
incoming passengers because the
virus is already present in the community.
Now that the containment phase is over,
the ministry has shifted to the treatment
phase, which consists of treating all sus-
pected cases as being confirmed ones.
“We have an established protocol that we
apply. It is up to the treating doctor to assess
the patient and put him or her on immediate
treatment,” said Dr Abdool. Patients with a
medical history of diabetes, asthma and
Thousands
bronchial problems are given special treat-
ment.
at health
exhibition
The Salon de la Santé
(health exhibition) at the
Swami Vivekananda
International Convention
Centre in Pailles was a big
success at the weekend.
Thousands of Mauritians
attended the third edition of
this two-day event organ-
ised by the Heart
Foundation in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health
and Quality of Life.
About 100 exhibitors,
including private clinics,
pharmacies and other pro-
fessionals from the medical
sector were present.
The Apollo Bramwell
Hosiptal (ABH) was offering
a 10% discount on several
tests and free allergy testing
to members of the public.
The main attraction though
was free vaccinations
against the A (H1N1) flu
virus by the Ministry of
Health.

MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Woman, 51,
is second
death here
Minister of Health and Quality of Life Maya
Hanoomanjee confirmed the death of woman aged
51 on July 13 from the A (H1N1) virus. She was the
second victim after the death of a 51-year-old man
on July 10.
“The patient received AH1N1 treatment the day
she was admitted to the hospital, even before the
analysis was obtained,” said Mrs Hanoomanjee. She
added that every similar case is given A (H1N1)
treatment immediately.
The ministry has a very well-established protocol
for any patients showing influenza-like illness, said
the minister.
She declared that both deaths due to A (H1N1)
virus occurred because the patients were already suf-
fering from other chronic diseases.
According to a study of the World Health
Organisation on the second wave of the pandemic,
the A (H1N1) strain has not mutated, adding that the
treatment methods of the illness will remain
unchanged. She said that the protection methods will
also remain the same.
The 51-year-old woman was admitted at the
Accident and Emergency Unit of the Victoria
Hospital on July 10. She was coughing, had difficul-
ty breathing, and had fever and cramp.
After the diagnosis, the doctor found that the
patient was diabetic. Minister Hanoomanjee claimed
that even the patient was not aware that she had dia-
RESEARCH BREAKTHROUGH...
betes.
The woman was instantly placed on Oseltamivir
‘Universal’ flu
vaccine said
to be on way
A two-step flu vaccine using DNA to “prime” the
immune system and then a traditional seasonal
influenza vaccine may be able to protect against all
strains of the virus – providing a long-sought “uni-
versal” flu vaccine.
A team at the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases in the United States is already
testing the new vaccine in people and says the results
of tests in mice, ferrets and monkeys suggest the
industry may finally be able to dump the cumber-
some process of making fresh flu vaccines every
year.
“This is the first step, conceptually, towards a good
shot at a universal vaccine,” NIAID Director Dr.
Anthony Fauci said.
Every year, the influenza strains that are circulat-
ing mutate a little bit and at any given time several
very different strains are infecting people. In some
years a new mutant pops up – such as the new H1N1
swine flu strain that appeared in March 2009 to spark
a pandemic.
Vaccine-makers have to change their formulations
every year to match the current strains. To make mat-
ters worse, virtually all flu vaccines are made using
decades-old technology based on chicken eggs that is
both slow and prone to contamination.
So the goal is to come up with a universal influen-
za vaccine that could protect people from all flu
strains for decades or even for life.
NIAID’s Dr. Gary Nabel said his lab has taken a
big step towards this goal. Their method, described
and antibiotics treatment, but her condition contin-
ued to deteriorate. She was transferred to the
Intensive Care Unit under specialist supervision.
The condition of the patient further deteriorated
and she was put on artificial respiration on July 11.
She died on July 13 at 2.30pm.
The laboratory analysis which was obtained on the
same day showed that the cause of death was due to
critical pulmonary infection.
Speaking about the protocol of the Ministry of
Health and Quality of Life, the minister announced
that Flu Clinics are operating in all regional hospi-
tals.
This protocol has been worked out by consultants
of all regional hospitals, adding that the vaccination
of children would be fast-tracked.
She said that it is impossible to differentiate
between symptoms of seasonal flu and A (H1N1).
“All patients who are showing symptoms of light
fever and running nose without any complications
are given normal flu treatment whereas all patients
who are being admitted to the hospital or come from
high-risk areas are being given Tamiflu treatment
immediately.”
Dr Ahaad Abdool, Director of Health Services,
declared that since we are in the second wave of
AH1N1 virus, there is no need for isolation.
The virus is already in the environment and the
only preventive measure against contamination are
vaccination.
in the journal Science, starts with a piece of DNA
based on the hemagglutinin protein – a mushroom-
shaped structure on the outside of the virus that gives
flu strains the “H” in their names.
The DNA directs the body to make antibodies
against a part of the flu virus that is normally hidden
– on the “stem” of the hemagglutinin protein. This
part is conserved, meaning it does not change from
flu strain to flu strain.
Vaccinated mice and ferrets produced antibodies
that protected them against flu strains from 1934
through 2007.
“We are excited by these results,” Nabel said. “The
prime-boost approach opens a new door to vaccina-
tions for influenza that would be similar to vaccina-
tion against such diseases as hepatitis, where we vac-
cinate early in life and then boost immunity through
occasional, additional inoculations in adulthood.”
The vaccine, which uses DNA from Netherlands-
based Crucell NV, “looks pretty safe,” Fauci said.
“They are already well into, at least a full year into,
a Phase 1 trial.”
Such trials are meant to see if a new drug or vac-
cine is safe in people. A larger, Phase 2 trial could
start next year, Fauci said.
Seasonal influenza kills 250,000 to 500,000 people
a year globally. Pandemics often kill more and while
H1N1 has not been especially deadly, it has killed far
more children, young adults and pregnant women
than seasonal flu usually does.
Man in court
Page 3
after machete
death attack
By Mayessen Nagapa-Chetty
Sandeep “Kevin” Ramsamy, 29, will appear at the District Court of Grand
Port today provisionally charged with murder after he allegedly hacked to
death his uncle, Kisnah Ramsamy, 34, on Saturday.
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Plaine Magnien arrested
Sandeep Ramsamy at his home in Trois Boutiques where he voluntarily
handed over a machete.
Kisnah Ramsamy was registered as a habitual criminal (HC).
According to our information, the suspect has already confessed to the
crime.
In his statement, he told investigators that the attack occurred around
5.30pm. “I was watching television when I heard noises outside in the
yard. I went out and saw my uncle insulting my mother,” he said.
He also stated that he saw his uncle fondling his mother in the yard. He
pushed his uncle away from his mother and an argument broke out.
Kisnah Ramsamy backed out of the argument and told his nephew: “I’ll
be back.” Minutes later, the victim allegedly came back to the yard with a
machete in his hand.
A second argument broke out.
According to the suspect’s statement, his uncle swung the machete
towards him but he managed to dodge the blow. The machete then fell to
the ground and Kevin grabbed it.
He allegedly said that he hit his uncle on the wrists and ankles which
forced him on the ground. He added that he acted “in fury”.
Once on the ground, he hit his uncle twice on the neck and on the head.
Called to the crime scene, officers of the regular police and those of the
CID discovered the dead body of Kisnah Ramsamy.
Six suspects held
The body was taken to Jawarlall Nehru Hospital where an autopsy was
performed by Police Medical Officers (PMO) Dr Maxwell Monvoisin and
Dr S. Saïb. The report revealed that the victim suffered 34 stab wounds to
his body.
for T-shirt thefts
By Mayessen Nagapa-Chetty
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Curepipe arrested six sus-
pects at the weekend who will appear at the District Court today on swin-
dling, robbery and other related charges.
The police operations followed a statement given by a top manager of
the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile (CMT) at the end of last week
where he stated that four boxes full of T-shirts, valued at Rs500,000, had
been stolen.
Sergeant Hureeram and his team from the CID Curepipe swooped on a
house in Pailles and discovered boxes full of T-shirts. Six suspects, three
of whom were CMT employees, were arrested.
The three employees are Suresh Lalljee, a security officer living in
Mahebourg, Siddick Koheeallee, also from Mahebourg, and Vishal
Chengadu, a driver, living in Phœnix.
The other three suspects are Vicky Dohansing, Pushkar Sookah, both
residing in Surinam, and S. Ramsamy, from Pailles.
Investigators believe that some of the employees managed to smuggle
out boxes of T-shirts with the help of at least one security officer.
From there, investigators focused their attention on Suresh Lalljee who
in turn revealed the network that led to the various arrests.
The boxes of T-shirts were taken from the CMT and delivered to
Ramsamy, who was to sell them. The CID searched his house in Pailles
which was rented for a single purpose, to stock the stolen T-shirts. There,
they discovered many boxes full of T-shirts worth several million rupees.
The investigation of the suspects today will be centered on the specific
Lottery creates two
length of time during which all the boxes were smuggled out of the CMT.
Investigators will have to determine if millions of T-shirts reached local
and international markets illegally.
Two lucky players are each Rs11,695,961 richer today after choosing the
correct combination of numbers for the weekend lottery. The winning
numbers were: 7, 10, 18, 20, 22 and 29.
The winning tickets were bought at Dawn Snack in Surinam and
Neermanee Ramen Store in Camp de Masque.
One hundred and ninety-three (193) winners who found five correct
numbers and each bagged Rs4,244.
Those who picked four numbers, and there were 6,374 of them, each
pick up Rs265. And 77, 380 weekend players each won Rs100 with three
correct numbers.
The jackpot for the next lottery will now stand at approximately Rs5
million.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 4

EDUCATION

Revolution in
the classroom
...AND IT STARTS AT THE VERY BEGINNING
By Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo
Training of staff is one of the major planks of the
plan to transform pre-primary education in
Mauritius.
Minister of Education and Human Resources Dr Vasant
Bunwaree said “no education sector can really adopt a
business-as-usual approach”, as he launched the National
Curriculum Framework (NCF) for the pre-primary sector
(3-5 years).
This framework has been developed within the broader
experiences.” “Opportunities have been seized to set in train a host of
The minister added: “The major policy thrusts which are
measures, including special attention to children living in
at the very heart of our education system revolve aroundpoor conditions and the provision of school infrastructure
five crucial action areas: increasing access, ensuring cur-
facilities,” said Dr Bunwaree.
riculum relevance, promoting equity, improving quality The government’s main objective is to ensure that no
and embedding efficiency.” child aged 3+ and 4+ is left behind due to financial, social
One of the prime objectives of the new framework is to
or other constraints.
ensure that all children start primary schooling on an equal
The NCF is the first of its kind for the sector and places
footing and a degree of readiness that enables each child to
Mauritius in the league of the few countries having such a
make an effective transition to primary. framework for the pre-primary sector in the African region.
Over the past five years, the percentage of children notIt has been designed to ensure that all children aged 3-5
attending pre-primary school has been reduced from aboveget the opportunity to develop their individual intellectual,

HOW THE BLUEPRINT WILL

perspective of curriculum reform started in September 15% to 6%. socio-emotional and psychomotor skills in order to build
2006, which is designed to provide quality cur- their confidence and self-esteem for learning.

HELP SHAPE YOUNG MINDS

riculum at pre-primary, primary and secondary The implementation of the NCF calls for a next
education levels. generation of training for all the supervisory officials
The implementation of the NCF calls for the and educators of the sector.
“next generation of training” for all superviso- “I have no doubt that the MIE (Mauritius Institute
ry officials and educators. of Education) will again rise up to the challenge. A
The minister has attached a high premium to The National Curriculum Framework Pre-primary completes the cycle Joint MIE/ECCEA 20 hours training programme has
capacity-building and has seen to it that staff of curriculum frameworks for pre-primary, primary and secondary been developed and a certificate of attendance will be
working in pre-primary schools receive train- education. issued to all those having completed it.
ing “fitting and appropriate” for developing The framework is directly in line with the Education and Human “I have chosen to make the education sector inno-
fully the potential of children. Resource Strategy Plan 2008-2020. vation-led and to drive the digital revolution by gear-
“It is today universally acknowledged that Six learning areas have been recommended in the NCF for the ing all efforts towards the increased use of informa-
we need to have enriched and enriching envi- holistic development of the child. These are: tion technology,” the mionister explained.
ronments to make learning at that particular age Personal, social and emotional development “The concern for equity permeates all reforms in
a stimulating and rewarding experience. Communication, language and literacy education worldwide and inclusiveness is today the
“We all recognise the pivotal role played by Expressive, creative and aesthetic development norm rather than the exception. My objective is that
pre-primary education in building the founda- Health and physical development no child is left out of the system.”
tions upon which all future learning ultimately Body and environmental awareness The new framework underscores the key role
rests,” said Dr Bunwaree. Mathematical and logical thinking played by parents, the family and the community and
According to him, not stimulating the neural The implementation of the NCF calls for a new generation of train- their relation with all other stakeholders such as min-
systems of the children poses the risk of a less- ing for all the supervisory officials and educators in the sector. istries and NGOs.
er acquisition of competences than is desirable. Work is also underway to strengthen quality assurance in pre-pri- “The family being an important pillar of children’s
“This is why I insist on the need to avail our- mary education and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources development, parents’ participation and involvement
selves of all such opportunities that will not envisions to make Mauritius a “Centre of Excellence for Early are essential for the success of early childhood edu-
simply stimulate the young minds but will also Childhood” in the region. cation,” said Dr Bunwaree.
prepare them to be keyed up to absorb rich
Berenger,
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 5

MADAGASCAR CRISIS

Boolell
push for
a solution By Sunil Gopal

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Arvin Boolell and Leader of the

Opposition Paul Bérenger share a common cause – finding a solu-
tion to the political crisis in Madagascar.
This became clear during a forum-debate entitled “Madagascar,
an urgent need for justice”, organised by the Mauritian branch of From left - Paul Berenger, Lord Mayor of Port Louis Sheikh Mukhtar Hossenbaccus,
Amnesty International at the Municipality of Port Louis. debate moderator Rita Venkatasamy, and Dr Arvin Boolell.
Both Dr Boolell and Mr Bérenger said that amnesty should be
granted to political leaders in order to pave the way for talks on the
political crisis.
They opposed the position of the president of Amnesty
Mauritius, Mr Kavi Pyneeandy, who pressed for action against
those found responsible for violations of human rights.
Dr Boolell, who was speaking on the specific theme of “how to
break from the crisis”, said that it is the earnest wish of all
Mauritians that Madagascar once again finds “its soul, conscience
and vitality” and that this country again becomes the granary of the
Indian Ocean.
“Since the beginning of the crisis, Mauritius has supported all
UK visa hike
international initiatives to help Madagascar out of the political cri-
sis. With the implementation of international sanctions,
Madagascar is finding itself in a more difficult situation.
“Pockets of poverty are now pockets of extreme poverty. The
people of Madagascar are suffering enormously,” said Dr Boolell.
And he warned that if a solution is not found to the crisis, there
is risk that the army might intervene, adding that a Malagasy solu-
‘not aimed
at students’
tion has to be found to a Malagasy problem
The minister said a conciliation commission has been set up in
Madagascar. It is composed of two groups of the civil society and
is trying to reconcile all parties concerned. A national conference

NEW POINTS-BASE SYSTEM EXPLAINED

with the elders and leaders of civil society will be held at the begin-
ning of August.
He confirmed that the SADC is fully supporting the initiative of
holding a national conference.
Electoral process
Dr Boolell said the conference should effectively promote
national reconciliation, that the electoral process should be re-acti-
vated and that amnesty should be granted to former and current
political leaders.
“Whether we want it or not, to avoid failure of the negotiations,
granting amnesty is essential,” he insisted.
Mr Bérenger, who talked on the specific theme of “human rights
and political stability”, said that Madagascar is not only a neigh-
boring country but also a country from which Mauritians originat-
ed.
He underlined that Amnesty International has published two
reports on Madagascar, in February and in June 2010. Reporters
Sans Frontières has also published a report in which the compla-
cency of the media in Madagascar was criticised.
Mr Bérenger explained that a six-member delegation of the
European Parliament and the ACP travelled to Madagascar to
enquire about the fate of imprisoned politicians and journalists but
the ruling High Transitional Authority denied there were any polit-
ical prisoners.
“As long as there is not a return to constitutional rights, the situ-
ation will remain stagnant,” said the leader of the opposition.
Mr Berenger said all politicians in Madagascar must be taken on
board to make way for talks on the political crisis.
“For Madagascar to come out of the political crisis there is a
need for amnesty of political leaders. We are conscious of what
happened during the rule of Didier Ratsiraka and Marc
Ravalomanana, but what happened during the time of Ratsiraka is
the distant past and what happened during Ravalomanana has to do
with a question of ‘corruption’ and a dispute over a plot of land,”
explained Mr Bérenger.
There is hope for the poeple of Madagascar with the setting up
of a new Electoral Commission and Mr Berenger suggested that
Mauritius could share its expertise on electoral matters.
The president of Amnesty Mauritius Kavi Pyneeandy insisted
that no amnesty should be given to those found guilty of violating
human rights. “The respect of human rights is at the heart of a solu-
tion for Madagascar,” he said.
Mr William Rasoanaivo (better known as POV), a cartoonist,
who lives in Mauritius, stated that the people of Madagascar are
really suffering. He appealed to international organisations to do
their level-best to help the country out of the crisis.
By Nitesh Boodhoo
Visa application fees for the UK have been
increased by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), but
according to Vice Consul of the UK High
Commission to Mauritius, Colette Goddard, this
is not necessarily to deter students from studying
there.
Mrs Goddard told NEWSNOW that the hike in fees is
a decision of the UKBA and not the High Commission.
The visa processing fee is now Rs10,550.
A press conference called by the High Commission was
mainly to explain the new points-based system of visa
applications to agents of overseas student recruitment
agencies in Mauritius.
Mrs Goddard said that any student wishing to study in
the UK needs to have an offer from an English institution
which is approved by the UKBA and maintenance funds
of £7,200 if studies are to be undertaken in inner London
and £5,400 if the course will be in outer London.
She said that prospective students need to present their
original academic certificates to the High Commission,
their letter of acceptance and a bank statement showing
the required funds on the student’s own account.
The student can also provide the High Commission
with his father’s or mother’s bank statement along with a
letter stating that the money will be transferred to the stu-
dent at any time if the need arises.
Mrs Goddard said that a joint bank account of the stu-
dent is also acceptable. She also mentioned that any mar-
ried student enrolled in a degree course will have the pos-
sibility to bring along his/her spouse. The spouse will be Mrs Colette Goddard.
able to work full-time and students are allowed to work
20 hours per week during school term. (IELTS) is also needed for studies in the UK.
Any prospective student will need to score 40 points to Mrs Goddard said that any student enrolled on a degree
obtain a visa. The UKBA awards 30 points for a letter of course will have the possibility to apply for a post-study
acceptance at a British institution which is on its work permit.
approved list and the remaining ten points is obtained for She added that students satisfying the conditions of the
having the required maintenance funds. UKBA are normally given a two year full-time work per-
The International English Language Proficiency Test mit after their studies are completed.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
There’s life in the
old dog yet...
OMNICANE ENGINEERS BREATHE LIFE INTO OLD POWER PLANT
The central turbine, left,
and Mr Sagbnier surveying
the pool which supplies the
waterfall which drives the
power plant.
Soodhun to chair
new Industrial
Advisory Council
By Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has
finally set up the Industrial Advisory Council
recommended by the Industrial and SME
Strategic Plan 2010-2013, which approved in
January. It is chaired by Minister Showkutally
Soodhun.
The council consists of public and private
sector representatives who will oversee the
implementation of the strategic plan.
Its main objective will be to advise on broad
policies and strategies for the development of
the industrial sector, including human resource
development, export promotion, investment,
industrial modernisation and diversification,
competitiveness and fashion and design.
The overall vision of the Strategic Plan is to
position the industrial and SME sectors as
strong, diversified, high value-added and glob-
ally competitive sectors.
The plan comprises four strategic thrusts, 14
strategies and 83 projects and programmes for
implementation over the next four years – at a
cost of Rs3.1 billion.
NEWSNOW learned that funds will be
mobilised through government budgetary pro-
visions, revenues generated by the implement-
ing agencies (Fashion and Design Institute,
Mauritius Standards Bureau, Enterprise
Mauritius and Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Authority), assistance from
Page 6
By Sunil Gopal
Omnicane engineers have breathed
new life into an old hydro-electric
plant dating back to 1958 which will
now be able to supply energy to the
operations of Britannia.
Some modifications, such as the
installation of a new control post were
made, but the power plant is already
pumping out power. The generator,
which is more than 50 years old, can
generate 95KVa of electricity.
“According to technicians from the
Central Electricity Board who tested
the performance of the hydro-electric
plant soon after it was repaired, the
generator and turbine can operate for
the next 50 years,” said Pierre
Sagnier, Project Development
Manager of Omnicane Thermal
Energy Operations.
The energy used to move the tur-
bine comes from a waterfall generated
by a pool 15 meters above the hydro-
electric power plant. The water stored
in the pool comes from three rivers in
the region of Britannia.
Omnicane intends to revive other
hydro-electric plants in Rivière des
Anguilles and Riche en Eau.
Mr Sagnier explained that the
installation of the additional machines
did not cost too much but that the use
of water to produce electricity will
represent savings on the use of fossil
fuel.
“The optimal use of renewable
energy is at the centre of all actions of
Omnicane. We are already the pio-
neers in the production of energy from
bagasse.
“We are looking at producing ener-
gy from other natural sources and are
proposing to use solar energy and
make use of a wind farm,” he added.
Omnicane is also setting up an ener-
gy museum.
development partners and the Saving Job and
Recovery Fund.
A Monitoring and Evaluation Committee
will be set up to oversee projects and pro-
grammes. The committee, reporting to the
Industrial Advisory Council, will meet on a
monthly basis.
Projects and programmes in the Strategic
Plan:
Project relating to innovative approach to
investment promotion to be implemented by
the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (Rs12
million);
22 projects relating to supply-side capabili-
ties development to be implemented by the
Fashion and Design Institute, Mauritius
Standards Bureau, MAURITAS and Enterprise
Mauritius (Rs263 million);
10 projects pertaining to export capability
development and export promotion to be
implemented by Enterprise Mauritius (Rs420
million);
45 projects and schemes relating to SME
development to be implemented by SMEDA
(about Rs2.4 billion);
Four projects relating to institutional upgrad-
ing to be implemented by the Ministry of
Industry and Commerce (Rs16 million);
Setting up a Resource Efficient and Cleaner
Production Centre to be implemented by
Enterprise Mauritius with financial assistance
from UNIDO (Rs27 million).
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Guardian
of the
Telegu
language,
culture
‘My parents inculcated in all their
children that poverty is never a
hindrance in the preservation and
propagation of your culture,
language and traditions’
By Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo
Ramanaidoo Sokappadu is the Assistant Director of
Financial Services at the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development, a board member of the
Stock Exchange of Mauritius, a short-term consult-
ant at renowned organisations like the
Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Bank, and
more.
But ask Ramanaidoo how he identifies himself and he will
tell you that, first and foremost, he is a Telugu.
A “guardian” of the Telugu language and culture, he has
written 10 booklets on the subject and is also the only Telugu
to have published two books in English and Creole about
Telugus in Mauritius.
Last year he was honoured by an international organisa-
tion, Telugu Online (TOL), as being among one of the 10 top
influential Non Resident Indians (NRI) Telugus – the only
Mauritian.
Ramanaidoo is the fourth generation immigrant whose
forefathers left India more than 200 years ago.
His greatgrandfather, Sok Chinniah, landed in Mauritius
with his family from Visakhapatnam in 1874 to work as
indentured labourer on a sugarcane plantation. When inden-
tured labour was abolished, Sokappadu’s family was one of
the few that didn’t return to India.
Education was a luxury Ramanaidoo’s parents couldn’t
afford – but they did. “We were nine children in all, six broth-
ers and three sisters. We were not poor and did not go to bed
with an empty stomach but still we had to struggle,” he says.
Born to Chandrawtee and Bapnaidoo in the village of
Chemin Grenier in the south of the island, his childhood was
spent close to his family home.
Ramanaidoo’s parents never attended school but his father
learned the Telugu language at the nearby Telugu evening
school. Like all the descendants of “coolies” from the Indian
subcontinent “struggle”, “hard work”, “devotion”, “determi-
nation” and “forcefulness” were lexicon of life at that time.
The family was poor, but all the children were sent to
school.
“My parents inculcated in all their children that poverty is
never a hindrance in the preservation and propagation of
your culture, language and traditions,” says Ramanaidoo.
Where he lived, there were only Telugu families. “We
were all members of the same family and we contented
ourselves with the presence of each other. We socialised
with no other families.
“I have known nothing else than the Telugu culture
from the day I was born.”
Page 7
NEWSNOW PEOPLE
Just imagine young
Ramanaidoo leaving the
village for the first time
in his life and heading to
Curepipe for his Higher
School Certificate
(HSC).
“It was then that I saw
a ‘kanwar” (the bamboo
structure that Hindus
Ramanaidoo’s booklets
carry on their shoulders A brief on the Telugus (English, 1987) 1992)
while going on pilgrim- (briefly describes the Telugu culture) The Telugu Language in Mauritius (an état
age to Grand Bassin) for Quick Telugu for Beginners (an English- de lieu of the Telugu language in Mauritius,
the first time. For me it Telugu reference manual in roman script, English, 1995)
was so surprising. This is 1989) The Telugus in Mauritius (covers the his-
to give you an idea how Selected Telugu Proverbs in English (1990) torical, social and political aspects, English,
secular we were. (a collection of 114 proverbs) 1997)
“At home my parents The Telugu Marriages in Mauritius Culture et Religion Telugu (Mauritian
and other elders talked (describes the various ceremonies in a Telugu Creole, 2000)
only in Telugu. At school wedding, English, 1992) Names and Surnames of the Telugus in
we interacted with other Festivals, Religious Practices and Mauritius (English, 2003)
children but then it Traditions of Telugus in Mauritius (English, An Introduction to the Telugu Calendar
stopped the moment we and Panchangamu ( English, 2007)
came back to our house.”
Ramanaidoo says that the perception that all those hailing evenings teaching Telugu, a custom that Ramanaidoo contin-
from rural areas speak Bhojpuri is wrong. “Chemin Grenier ues to this day.
is no less rural than any other village, but I don’t understand Like his late father, Ramanaidoo is among the few who is
a word of Bhojpuri. For my family, it has always been Telugu struggling hard on an individual basis to keep the torch of
and nothing else.” Andhraism burning.
His passion for the language and the culture of his forefa- He is fiercely protective of this identity and believes that
thers was deeply embedded. Every generation of the the customs and traditions that have long been forgotten or
Sokkapadu family, he says, has been devoted to preserving, ignored even among the Telugus in India are still followed
promoting and upholding the Telugu language, customs and religiously in Mauritius.
traditions. But he bristles when people mix religion and culture.
That is no mean feat considering that there are less than “Hinduism is not a religion, it is a philosophy. And Telugu
50,000 people of Telugu origin in Mauritius, a mere 4%-5% is not a religion, it is a culture. It’s just like you have the
of the total population. Tamil culture or the Chinese culture or the Indian culture.
He chose to study in India and earned himself a Bachelors Culture and religion are two different things,” he stresses.
degree in Economics from Andhra Loyola College, On three occasions (1985, 1991 and 1993), Ramanaidoo
Vijayawada, and subsequently graduated as a gold medallist Sokappadu gave evidence before Parliamentary Select
in Mathematics and Statistics from Nagarjuna University. Committees on ranking for the Certificate of Primary
Bapnaidu Sokkapadu, Ramanaidoo’s father, spent his Education. These committees were set up by the National
Assembly to look into the issue of using marks obtained in
oriental languages, including Telugu, for ranking purposes to
‘Hinduism is not a religion, have access to state secondary schools.
In 1985, Ramanaidoo also wrote the memorandum for the
it is a philosophy. And Mauritius Andhra Maha Sabha for another Parliamentary
Select Committee on the language issue at the Mauritius
Telugu is not a religion, it is Broadcasting Corporation.
He is married to Veda Juggapah, an electrical/electronic
a culture’ engineer, and the couple has a daughter named Swati, 15.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Call for debate
on audit report
By Mayessen Nagapa-Chetty
Leader of the Opposition and Mouvement
Militant Mauricien (MMM) Paul
Berenger asked for a “national debate” in
parliament on the audit report that was
released last week.
Mr Berenger said at his weekly press
conference that the debate is of the
“utmost importance as there is loss of
public funds, excessive spending, corrup-
tion, maladministration – and the list of
scandals grew considerably since 2005.”
He claimed that the government made
“massive promises” which have yet to be
fulfilled. Debates on the audit report
should have started already.
“We should have discussed the report.
If Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam is
serious about the proper management of
the country, he should present a motion
for the beginning of debates on the audit
report. Enough is enough,” said the leader
of the opposition.
Language Bills
No parliamentary questions (PQs) have
been filed for tomorrow’s sitting of the
National Assembly because of the pres-
entation, on second reading, of The
Supplementary Appropriation (2008-
2009) Bill and The Supplementary
Appropriation (2009) Bill.
Also on the agenda, the first reading of
several Bills iseeking to promote five lan-
guages – Arabic, Bhojpuri, Creole,
Mandarin and Sanskrit. Minister of Arts
and Culture Mookhesswur Choonee will
present the Blls to the House.
They will allow for the institution of
the Arabic Speaking Union, the Bhojpuri
Speaking Union, the Creole Speaking
Page 8
There is a “sentiment of disgust” reign-
ing in the country where the population
are facing “tremendous economic hard-
ships”.
Mr Berenger was critical of the Health
Minister Maya Hanoomanjee for not
revealing to the public the death of a sec-
ond person who had the A (H1N1) flu.
He also claimed that the government
did not set up “proper control” in relation
to the swine flu crisis at the airport and
the port.
The leader of the MMM said that a
series of “unacceptable and useless
arrests” were conducted by the police
over the past few weeks. He was referring
to the arrest of Jameel Peerally, the direc-
tor-producer of the movie on drugs called
“Paradis En Dey”.
“The Commissioner of Police should
rectify these mistakes,” said Mr Berenger,
referring also to the arrests of former
finance minister Rama Sithanen and jour-
nalist Ananda Rajoo.
Union, the Mandarin Speaking Union and
the Sanskrit Speaking Union.
In an explanatory memorandum,
Minister Choonee said the objectives and
functions of the unions will be to promote
the languages in their spoken and written
forms, promote friendship and under-
standing between people who speak those
languages in other parts of the world and
engage in any educational, cultural and
artistic work to further that objective.
The debates on the presidential address
on the Government Programme 2010-
2015 will continue after the vote of the
Bills.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 9

THE ECONOMY

Importance
of family
business
scrutinised
By Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo

Mr Vijay Appanah, founder in 1997 of the Mascareignes

Academy of Law, Economics and Management (MALEM), the
first private sector tertiary education provider in Mauritius,
wants to set up an Institute of Family Business which will offer
courses leading to an MBA.
Mr Appanah is currently attending the World Summit of the
International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) in Beijing,
China, where he will present a paper on the Family Business in the
Mauritius context.
He is also writing his thesis entitled “Towards the building of strong
family business dynamism in an emerging economy like Mauritius” for his
Doctor in Business Leadership at the Graduate School of Leadership of
the University of South Africa.
Pointing to the theme of his thesis, Mr. Appanah said that he wanted to
prospect whether there might be another model for Mauritius to achieve
sustainable continuous socio-economic growth while simultaneously try-
ing to strengthen the country’s development base.
The rationale behind this initiative, he explained, is the need to recog-
nise and encourage a distinct entity for family-owned business in any
economy when a sudden financial recession brings the world to its knees.
“To summarise it all, one cannot help referring to the following state-
ment made by an ordinary, small investor, who bought Lehman Brothers’
shares in Hong Kong: ‘If Lehman Brothers was still a family business, it
would not have collapsed’.”
According to Mr Appanah, research and ness like the International Family Enterprise adversities than its counterparts in FDI or they have more moral values in the long-term
findings on Family Owned Business (FB) Research Academy (IFERA), Family SME enterprises. preservation of wealth than the pure stock
have been “rather timid” over the years and Business Network (FBN), Family Business “Moreover nearly 40%-50% of the Fortune exchange shareholder or ‘greedy business
yet almost all businesses in the world started Institute (FBI), Family Business Consulting 500 companies are family businesses.” executives’.
with a family. Group International, Family Business Through his thesis, Mr. Appanah wants to “International family business can grow
“The research has been scarce because the Journal, several universities and PhD prove that family businesses are a stronger into multinational conglomerates as well, but
Family Owned Businesses were themselves research scholars, family business is recog- base for development for any country. without losing their root value, businesses
more conservative in portraying themselves nised as contributing nearly 40%-50% of the “For an economy that wants to build a like the Tatas, Ambanis (India) or Renault or
and did not attract the government or media GNP of an economy. strong base of its socio-economic strength, Du Pont (France) or Ford (U.S.),” said Mr.
interest that multinational organisations or “They provide more employment opportu- continuous and steady growth of its family Appanah.
SMEs generated.” nities for the population than FDI and SME business sector must be very strong and fully There are, according to him, many reasons
The result of this loss of interest to recog- organisations combined. Family business is a recognised at both national and international why Mauritius needs to identify the extent
nise family businesses as major contributors role model of value, long-term growth and levels. of its family businesses.
to any economy has, according to Mr. steadiness rather than quick-return volatility, “Nationwide, family business can be firm The latter’s contribution to the island’s
Appanah, been due to the fact that after the and therefore more resilient to business as a rock in moments of adversities because GNP growth, support to employment,
first generation, family businesses wealth-creating capacity and, above
had dwindled to 40% of the initial all, its possibility of creating a new
level, to 20% in the third generation ‘Family business is a role model of business model that can help
and to only 5% in the fourth genera- Mauritius to stay ahead of recession at
tion. all times.
value, long-term growth and
“Siblings have neglected their own The strategy, said Mr Appanah, is to
steadiness rather than quick-return
parent family business for work in volatility, and therefore more resilient gear research work and develop an
other non-family business sector, interest in the need to grant a separate
even though their own family busi-
to business adversities than its
identity to family business in
ness was still surviving and prosper- Mauritius.
counterparts in FDI or SME
ing. They ran the risk of being slavish enterprises’ “The type of management educa-
to outside culture.” tion required to cure family business
The question he is researching for of its associated ills, such as nepo-
an answer is why the decision to tism, succession and sibling prob-
“abandon” family business. lems, valuable use and management
“To get freedom from family influ- of non-family business staff members,
ence? More advantages outside? family council and family trust devel-
Negative assumption about family opment should be identified.”
business or just a disregard for such Family business, he believes, is def-
business by the government, media initely another way of democratising
and the business sector, in favour of the economy.
the more glamorous FDI multination- “It’s true that, historically, only a
als and more numerous SME coun- few ethnically originating family
terparts? groups may be holding the major cap-
“All these questions have to be ital and business opportunities of the
addressed,” explained Mr. Appanah. economy in Mauritius, but it does not
Today, under the impulse of inter- mean other family business cannot
national organisations of family busi- grow big and prosperous as well.”
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 InternationalNow Page 10

THIRD PARTY SHOULD GUARD NEW STATE: PALESTINIAN LEADER

RAMALLAH, West Bank the land is the 1967 borders and that there be,
in the Palestinian land, a third party. If they

Abbas Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

said Israel must agree to the idea of a
third party guarding the borders of a
future Palestinian state before direct
peace talks can begin.
In an interview published over the week-
end, Abbas said Israel must also agree in prin-
ciple to an equitable land swap that would
agree to that, this is what we would consider
the progress that we want and that would make
us go to direct negotiations,” he said.
The Palestinians aim to establish their state
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East
Jerusalem as their capital, a demand rejected
by Israeli leaders, who see all of Jerusalem as
the eternal capital of the Jewish state. Abbas
has repeatedly stated his rejection of any

wants compensate the Palestinians for West Bank

land absorbed by Jewish settlements in any
peace deal. The remarks were the clearest
statement yet of what Abbas wants from
Israel before he agrees to move to face-to-
face negotiations that Washington wants the
sides to begin.
Abbas met U.S. Middle peace envoy
George Mitchell on Saturday in Ramallah.
Israeli security role on the frontiers of the
Palestinian state. But he has accepted the idea
that NATO could play a role on the borders –
a compromise to ease Israeli concerns that the
Palestinians would arm themselves heavily if
they controlled their frontiers.
Israel, however, wants to maintain a pres-
ence in the Jordan valley along the West
Bank’s eastern border with neighbouring

security Mitchell, who met Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, is mediating
indirect peace talks under way for two
months. The talks are about halfway through
their agreed four-month lifetime. They are set
to conclude in September, around the same
time as a partial freeze that Netanyahu
ordered last November on Israeli settlement
building on occupied West Bank territory.
Jordan. Ahead of direct talks, Abbas said,
Israel must also agree to the idea of a fair land
swap referring to a scenario where some
Israeli land bordering the West Bank would be
annexed to a future Palestinian state in com-
pensation for major Jewish West Bank settle-
ment blocs that would become part of Israel.
“We said that the borders must be on the
foundation of 1967 with agreement on an

before Israel says the current “proximity talks” are

wasting time. Netanyahu says he is ready to
begin direct talks with Abbas right away. But
the Palestinian President is wary of talking to
an Israeli leader he believes is not willing to
make an offer the Palestinians could accept.
Speaking to the Jordanian newspaper al-
Ghad, Abbas said he wanted Israel to agree “in
equitable swap,” he added. Palestinian offi-
cials have said they could accept such a swap,
but the area involved should not exceed 2 %
of the West Bank.
Netanyahu, who met U.S. President Barack
Obama last week, has promised “concrete
steps” to encourage Abbas to move to direct
talks. He has said he is willing to deal with
the issue of settlements right away once

dialogue
principle” to the idea that a third party take on
a security role in a future Palestinian state to be direct talks begin. Obama has urged the par-
founded on land occupied by Israel in a 1967 ties to begin direct talks. U.S. State

“
war. “Now, what is required from Israel is for it
to say that these ideas are, in principle, accept-
able,” he said. “That means: do they accept that
Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said last
week that “we have a strong belief at some
point in time, direct negotiations will be
renewed”.

Now, what is required from Israel is for it

to say that these ideas are, in principle,
acceptable,” he said. “That means: do
they accept that the land is the 1967
borders and that there be, in the
Palestinian land, a third party.
“

 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a a religious event to mark the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven in Ramallah.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Mexico blast kills 4
 Federal policemen and explosive experts work at the site of a car bomb attack in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
By Julian Cardona
CIUDAD JUAREZ
A Mexican drug cartel is
responsible for a cell phone-
detonated car bomb that killed
four people in a city on the
U.S. border, state security
forces said over the weekend.
In the first attack of its kind in
Mexico’s drug war, the explosion
tore through a major intersection in
Ciudad Juarez across the border
from El Paso, Texas, late on
Thursday, damaging nearby build-
ings and sending flames into the air.
Federal police blamed La Linea, the
armed wing of the powerful Juarez
cartel, for the attack and Mexico’s
Security Ministry said it was retali-
ation for the arrest this week of a
Juarez cartel member.
“There were 10 kilos of explo-
sives activated from a distance by a
cell phone,” said Enrique Torres, an
Army spokesman in Ciudad Juarez,
a manufacturing centre that has
become one of the world’s deadliest
cities over the past two-and-a-half
years. TV images showed the wreck
of a car with just one front wheel
intact and two federal police vehi-
cles charred and on fire after the
blast in the city’s downtown area.
The Army said C4 plastic explo-
sive was used in the attack, which
killed a policeman, a doctor, a res-
cue worker and an unidentified
man. Ciudad Juarez mayor Jose
Reyes Ferriz said drug gangs set up
 President Felipe Calderon
is battling surging violence
across Mexico after
launching a crackdown on
drug gangs in 2006.
an elaborate trap in which a wound-
ed man dressed as a city police offi-
cer was dumped on the street as
bait. The assailants then called
emergency services to lure federal
police to the scene and detonated
the bomb as they arrived, the
mayor told a news conference.
Twelve people, including two
civilians, died in shootouts between
the Army and drug gangs in Nuevo
Laredo across from Texas on Friday
underscoring the challenges facing
Mexico’s new Interior minister,Jose
Francisco Blake, appointed by
President Felipe Calderon this
week. Two rival drug gangs – the
local Juarez cartel and the Sinaloa
cartel, led by Joaquin “Shorty”
Guzman – have been fighting an
all-out war in Ciudad Juarez for
control of the drug trade, which has
killed nearly 6,000 people there in
the past three-and-a-half years.
Assailants have decapitated peo-
ple and gunned down rivals in day-
light attacks. But the car bomb was
a clear escalation of the violence, a
U.S. law enforcement source told
Reuters. “What you are seeing now
is a whole new level of violence.
It’s a vehicle-born improvised
explosive device,” said the source,
who is following the investigation
closely and did not want to be
named. “This has raised the bar to a
level of violence that Mexico has
not seen yet. It is reminiscent of
Colombia. ... What we are seeing
now is what the military is running
into in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Graffiti scrawled on a wall near
the blast said the attack was the
work of the Juarez cartel and
warned that “what occurred...
would continue to happen to
authorities that carry on supporting
Shorty”. Mexican authorities
arrested Jesus Armando Acosta
Guerrero, accused of being a senior
member of the Juarez cartel, on
Thursday in Ciudad Juarez.
Page 11
Firms are scaling
down operations
MEXICO CITY: Surging drug violence is forcing more than half of for-
eign firms to scale back or consider scaling back operations in Mexico,
according to a survey.
The study, released last week by International SOS, which provides
healthcare, medical assistance and security services around the world,
polled executives at more than 300 international firms conducting busi-
ness in Mexico. International SOS, founded in 1985 in Asia, said 33.6%
of executives in Mexico had already reduced their operations. An addi-
tional 18% said their firms were considering doing so.
“The key finding in the survey is that companies that do business in
Mexico have found it... to be a little bit more challenging because of the
growing violence in Mexico,” Alex Puig, International SOS director of
security for the Americas said in a telephone interview.
“The real finding within that is that they are actually paying a lot
more attention than they were before to managing the risk of their trav-
elers into Mexico,” he added.
Drug killings have spiraled across Mexico since Mexican President
Felipe Calderon launched his military-backed drug war on taking office
in December 2006. The war is provoking escalating violence and civil-
ian deaths are increasing.
More than 26,000 people have been killed over the past three-and-a-
half years worrying Washington, scaring off tourists and forcing U.S.
companies to freeze investment in factories in drug war cities like
Ciudad Juarez and Monterrey near Texas. Thirty-six per cent of firms
surveyed said that their organisations had experienced “criminal activi-
ty or attempted criminal activity” in Mexico in the last 12 months.
Signs of failing confidence in Calderon’s ability to provide adequate
security for foreign investors recently emerged in Monterrey, the once-
safe industrial powerhouse in northern Mexico, where rival drug gangs
have killed 300 people this year. A quarter of more than 100 assembly-
for-export factories, or maquiladoras, in and around Monterrey have
frozen investment this year as killings, extortions and abductions have
surged, the city’s maquiladora association said last week.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
WOMAN BISHOP LET ACCUSED PASTOR STAY IN TOUCH WITH TEENS
Sex abuse
claims one
more scalp
BERLIN
A German Lutheran bishop resigned last week
following a report she had allowed a pastor
accused of sexual abuse of teenagers in her dio-
cese continued contact with youngsters.
In an echo of scandals hitting the Catholic church,
Spiegel news magazine reported that bishop Maria
Jepsen, 65, heard in 1999 that the pastor had abused
teenagers in his care, but let him stay in contact with
youngsters until 2000.
At a news conference, Jepsen, who became the
world’s first female Lutheran bishop in 1992, did not
say when she first heard the allegations, but said she
felt her credibility was now in question.
“I no longer feel I am in a position to spread the good
word as I promised at ordination and when I was made
bishop,” she said.
It was the first such case to hit the German
Evangelical Church, which groups Lutheran and
Protestant congregations with membership of an esti-
mated 24 million people.
Jespen’s church in Hamburg said it only found out
about the case in March this year and immediately took
disciplinary action while the public prosecutor’s office
said it began legal investigations in May this year into
seven abuse allegations in the diocese.
Germany set up a series of round tables in March
this year to look into abuse cases in the Roman
Catholic church but also Protestant churches and both
Dutch priest
suspended
for saying
Orange mass
AMSTERDAM: A Dutch priest
has been suspended for dedicat-
ing a Mass to the Dutch national
soccer team – while wearing an
orange cloak – ahead of the World
Cup final against Spain.
Priest Paul Vlaar from the town
of Obdam prayed for team spirit
for the national team while wor-
shippers, also dressed in orange
clothes, were singing soccer songs
in the church. It was decorated
with orange flags. The Haarlem-
Amsterdam diocese said in a state-
ment on Friday that Vlaar “failed
to do justice to the holiness of the
celebration of the Eucharist”.
 Dutch fans arrive at the
Soccer City stadium
before final soccer match
between Netherlands and
Page 12
religious and secular schools.
The Catholic church has been hardest hit by abuse
cases so far, around the world and in Germany. A bish-
op from Augsburg in pope Benedict’s native Bavaria
had to quit over accusations of beating schoolchildren
and the head of the Catholic German Bishops’
Conference, Robert Zollitsch, is under investigation
for letting a priest accused of child abuse in the 1960s
be reappointed to a parish job decades later.
Last month, a messy dispute has broken out in
Germany’s Catholic Church after a bishop accused of
abusing minors said his superiors had tricked pope
Benedict into retiring him and he might ask the Vatican
to be reinstated. Bishop Walter Mixa, who quit in April
after admitting he had slapped children decades ago,
said fellow bishops conspired to force him to tender his
resignation and used a flimsy allegation of sexual
abuse as a “trump card” to get Benedict to accept it.
But the German Catholic Church alleged Mixa was
an alcoholic and made sexual advances to young
priests, according to a leaked report quoted by German
newspapers. The newspapers Sueddeutsche Zeitung
and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the report to  Maria Jepsen, bishop
the Vatican concerned Mixa. The two newspapers
of the North Elbian
Evangelical Lutheran
quoted the report as saying Mixa, who has said he
wants to be reinstated, drank excessively and citing a
young priest as saying the bishop had sexually Church, announces her
approached him during a holiday. resignation during a
An editorial in the Frankfurter Allgemeine said the news conference in
Mixa case highlighted serious leadership failures in the
German Church.
Hamburg, Germany.
Women priests,
paedophilia ‘not
equal crimes’
VATICAN CITY: The Vatican has denied accusations that it viewed the
ordination of women as priests and the sexual abuse of minors by cler-
ics as equally criminal. On Thursday, the Vatican issued a document
making sweeping revisions to its laws on sexual abuse, extending the
period in which charges can be filed against priests in church courts and
broadening the use of fast-track procedures to defrock them.
But while it dealt mostly with paedophilia, it also codified the
“attempted ordination of a woman” to the priesthood as one of the
most serious crimes against Church law. The inclusion of both issues
in the same document caused a stir among some groups around the
world, particularly those favouring a female priesthood.
“The Vatican’s decision to list women’s ordination in the same cat-
egory as paedophiles and rapists is appalling...,” Erin Saiz Hanna,
executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference said. She
called the decision “mediaeval at best”. But Monsignor Charles
Scicluna, an official in the Vatican’s doctrinal department, said there
was no attempt to make women’s ordination and paedophilia compa-
rable crimes under canon (Church) law. “This is not putting every-
thing into one basket,” Scicluna, the Vatican’s internal prosecutor for
handling sexual abuse cases, told Reuters in a telephone interview.
“They are in the same document, but this does not put them on the
same level or assign them the same gravity,” said Scicluna, who
helped formulate the revisions. The document was an attempt to
update norms concerning “three sets of canonical crimes that are dis-
tinct”, and whose jurisdiction is reserved to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal department, he said.
While sexual abuse was a “crime against morality”, the attempt to
ordain a woman was a “crime against a sacrament”, he said referring
to Holy Orders (the priesthood). “This should not be interpreted as
considering all these crimes to be equal,” he said.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 13

There will INDIA IS SELECTIVE IN APPROACH: PAKISTAN

not be an
Afghan
Fallujah,
says ISAF
KANDAHAR: The fight to
remove the Taliban from
Kandahar strongholds will not
repeat the destruction of Iraq’s
Fallujah in 2004, the commander
of U.S. and NATO forces in south
Afghanistan said in an interview.
It will be the locals who bring
down the Taliban, Major General
Nick Carter said as Canadian
troops in the city ceded control to a
U.S. commander in the build-up to
an anti-insurgent offensive to be
unleashed within weeks. “It is not a
Fallujah waiting to happen,” he told
Reuters in an interview referring to
the Iraqi city, where U.S. troops
engaged in vicious street combat
while rooting out insurgents in
2004 levelling much of its centre.  Indian minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna (left) and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi turn
Some U.S. commanders have away from each other after their joint news conference in Islamabad.
expressed fears the Taliban will
drop weapons and go underground
in Kandahar when coalition sol-
diers move from current “shaping”
operations sealing the city from
outlying districts and shift to a
clearing of the centre. The Taliban
would likely seed the city with
bombs and leave behind fighters
with the aim of causing as many
Talks stalemate
By Kamran Haider & Krittivas Mukherjee “Well, I am not going to score debating points including its core dispute with India over the
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI
casualties as possible, including over Foreign minister Qureshi,” Krishna said after Himalayan region of Kashmir, the cause of two
among civilians, then blaming returning from Islamabad. “I would like to con- of their three wars. Kashmir is divided between
coalition troops, one senior U.S. centrate on the serious issues, and the fact of the the two countries.
strategist said on background. Pakistan said has that India’s “selective”
approach to issues has led to what analysts say is matter is that we did discuss many issues which On Friday, India reimposed a curfew in parts
But Carter, a Briton, said while are of great concern to both of us, both countries, of Kashmir, where India is fighting a two-
there would potentially be some a stalemate in talks aimed to build trust shattered
by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. and we think we have made some headway.” decade-old separatist insurgency. Huge anti-
Taliban cells left behind in the Security remains India’s top concern after the India protests have swept the region over the
city, improved intelligence, safety Pakistan Foreign minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi and his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna attack on Mumbai by Pakistani militants, which past month.
and police on the streets should killed 166 people. After Thursday’s talks, While the latest round of talks may have not
lead local people to reveal hidden met in Islamabad last week and agreed on more
talks, but failed to announce any concrete meas- Krishna repeated New Delhi's call for Islamabad done much to clear the air of mistrust, the two
insurgent lairs. “Ultimately, this to speed up efforts to bring the perpetrators to countries are likely to keep alive dialogue
insurgency is in the minds of peo- ures that might soothe tensions between the
nuclear-armed neighbours. Then, at a joint news justice. India blames Pakistan-based Lashkar-e- because India would want to boost the credibili-
ple. The population is looking for Taiba (LeT) militants for the attacks, and in ty of Pakistan’s civilian government in the face
a more stable and secure environ- conference immediately after the talks the two
openly sparred underscoring the air of mistrust remarks published in an Indian newspaper on of military hawks.
ment,” Carter said as fresh U.S. Wednesday, Indian Home secretary G.K. Pillai Also, both sides have been under pressure
forces continued to flood into the between the rivals who have fought three wars
since independence from Britain in 1947. accused Pakistan’s main spy agency the Inter- from the United States to reduce tensions
southern province, which former Services Intelligence (ISI) of orchestrating the because their rivalry is often played out in
commanding officer General “I could see from yesterday’s talks that they
want to be selective. When they say all issues assault on India’s financial centre. Afghanistan and complicates efforts to bring
Stanley McChrystal called a India has linked the relaunching of peace talks peace there.
“bleeding ulcer”. are on the table then they cannot, they should
not, be selective,” Qureshi told reporters after between the two South Asian rivals with “I don’t see this as a temporary setback
“I think it will lead to a set of cir- Pakistan’s action against the perpetrators of the because here we are looking at a lengthy, com-
cumstances where we are able to attending a ceremony for new diplomats in
Islamabad. “Progress in talks can only be possi- attack. But Qureshi warned against India’s atti- plex process,” said Siddharth Varadarajan,
get after these cells on a targeted tude. “If we give heed to those issues which they strategic affairs editor of the Hindu newspaper.
basis. The population will push the ble if we move forward on all issues in tandem.”
But Krishna played down the differences pos- consider important and those issues in which “Part of such a process will mean having a
insurgency out of the city,” Carter Pakistan is interested are neglected, then things more dense calendar of meetings, and they will
said. Around 150,000 foreign sibly in keeping with an India trying to move
away from a decades-old obsession with cannot move forward,” he said. proceed on the deliverables like cross-border
troops and Afghan security forces “They have to sit with an open mind and we trade and Sir Creek,” he said referring to a mar-
will take part in the U.S.-planned Pakistan, seduced more by its growing role in
the global economy and concerns with other have to move forward with an open heart.” itime border dispute in the area of the Sir Creek
“surge” against the Taliban.

NEWSLINE
security issues like China. Pakistan wants discussions on other issues, estuary.

18 dead in Review terror Fidel Castro U.S. spy for

convoy attack tag: Court appears again Cuba gets life
PARACHINAR, Pakistan: Suspected mili-
tants in a Pakistani tribal region on the
Afghan border ambushed a convoy of vehi-
cles being escorted by security forces over
the weekend killing 18 people, including
two women, witnesses said.
Militants opened fire on civilian vehicles
in the convoy as it headed to the main
northwestern city of Peshawar from
Parachinar, the main town of the Pashtun-
dominated Kurram region where, the Army
has killed nearly 100 militants in operations
in the past few months.
“Militants attacked the last two vehicles
in the convoy with automatic weapons near
Char Khel village killing 18 people,” said
Jamshed Tori, who was also wounded in
the attack.
WASHINGTON: The State Department
must review its designation of the People’s
Mujahedin Organisation of Iran, or PMOI,
as a foreign terrorist organisation, a U.S.
appeals court has ruled.
In a 22-page decision, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia said
the State Department failed to give the
group a fair chance to overturn the listing.
It remanded the matter to the department.
PMOI filed a petition on July 15, 2008,
saying it should no longer be listed as a ter-
rorist group. On January 12, 2009, in the
final days of the Bush administration, the
State Department rejected the request after
examining material submitted by PMOI and
the U.S. intelligence community, including
classified information.
HAVANA: Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel
Castro took his warning of an impending
nuclear war to Cuba’s Foreign Ministry
over the weekend, where he explained the
reasons for his dire prediction in his fifth
public appearance in 10 days.
Castro’s sudden re-emergence after four
years in seclusion for health reasons has
raised questions about his intentions, but his
message has been consistent – a devastating
war is at hand if the United States and Israel
try to enforce international sanctions against
Iran for its nuclear activities. He also has
predicted the United States will attack North
Korea. “The United States finds itself now
in an unsolvable dilemma (in the Middle
East). It cannot get out nor can it stay,”
Castro told 115 ambassadors.
WASHINGTON: A retired U.S. State
Department official has got life in prison
and his wife a sentence of more than six
years for spying for Havana for three
decades because they shared the Cuban
revolution’s ideals.
Walter Kendall Myers, 73, who had
access to State Department classified infor-
mation, and his wife, Gwendolyn, 72, who
worked at a bank, were sentenced under a
plea deal in which they admitted spying for
the Communist-led government. The hus-
band told the judge the couple acted not for
money but because of their beliefs.
“Our overriding objective was to help the
Cuban people defend their revolution,” he
said. “We share the ideals and dreams of
the Cuban revolution.”
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
BOMBER FREED ON ʻCOMPASSIONATE GROUNDSʼ
 Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of the1988 Lockerbie airline bombing, sits in a
wheelchair in his room at a hospital in Tripoli.
First black
Tory peer
charged in
expenses
scandal
LONDON: Conservative peer
John Taylor has been accused of
dishonestly claiming £11,000
pound of parliamentary expenses,
the latest politician to face crimi-
nal proceedings in a scandal that
shocked Britain.
Lord Taylor, faces six charges
under the theft act for false
accounting, prosecutors said. He
will appear in court on Aug. 13.
Disclosure last year of taxpayer-
funded claims submitted by politi-
cians provoked public anger at a
time of economic retrenchment.
Director of Public Prosecutions
Keir Starmer said Taylor had dis-
honestly submitted claims for
overnight subsistence and car
mileage on six occasions in 2006
and 2007, falsely stating that he
lived outside London when he was
actually resident in the capital.
“Having thoroughly reviewed the
eighth file of evidence we have
received from the Metropolitan
Police in relation to parliamentary
expenses, we concluded that there
is sufficient evidence and it is in
the public interest to bring crimi-
nal charges against Lord Taylor,”
said Starmer.
“In total, the charges allege a
sum in excess of £11,000 was dis-
honestly claimed over this period,”
Starmer said. The Conservative
party said Taylor had resigned the
party’s whip. Taylor, 57, became
the Conservatives’ first black peer
in 1996 after unsuccessfully stand-
ing for the party in Cheltenham in
the 1992 general election.
Scotland
denies BP
lobbying
By Tim Castle
LONDON
The Scottish government has denied it
had any contact with oil firm BP before
its decision last year to release the
Libyan man convicted of the 1988
Lockerbie airline bombing.
It said it had transferred Libyan intelligence
officer Abdel Basset al-Megrahi to Tripoli
purely on compassionate grounds because of
his ill health. “We had absolutely no represen-
tations from BP,” a spokesman for the
Scottish administration said last week.
“Mr Megrahi... was sent home to die
according to the due process of Scots law,
based on the medical report of the Scottish
Prison Service director of health and care, and
the recommendations of the Parole Board and
prison governor.”
Scotland has its own legal powers within
the British political system.
The United States Senate Foreign Relations
Committee said on Thursday it would ask BP
officials to testify after the UK-based oil giant
said it had lobbied the British government in
2007 over a prisoner transfer agreement with
Libya. U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton
discussed the issue with British Foreign secre-
tary William Hague, who raised the idea of
Britain explaining the circumstances leading
to the release to the U.S. lawmakers, the State
Department said. State Department
spokesman P.J. Crowley said Clinton agreed
that this might be appropriate.
Megrahi was the only person convicted of
the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people,
most of them Americans.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a
special Scottish court sitting in The
Netherlands in 2001.
Scotland released Megrahi in August after
being advised he was suffering terminal
prostate cancer and had as little as three months
to live. He returned to Tripoli and is still alive.
The British government in London has always
maintained Megrahi’s release was an issue for
Scotland in which it could not and did not inter-
fere. British ambassador to Washington Nigel
Sheinwald told the Senate committee in a letter
on Thursday: “Whilst we disagreed with the
decision to release him, we have to respect the
independence of the process.”
BP has also said it was not involved in any
discussions regarding Megrahi’s release.
British Prime Minister David Cameron and
U.S. President Barack Obama are to meet on
Tuesday at the White House, where the lead-
ers are expected to discuss BP following its oil
spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
A spokesman for Cameron said it was not
known whether the specific issue of
Megrahi’s release would be raised
Page 14
NEWSLINE
Riots break out
in French city
PARIS: Rioters burned cars, attacked a tramway
and shot at police in the French city of Grenoble
over the weekend in protest against the death of
a local man fleeing police after allegedly hold-
ing up the city’s casino.
The violence began around midnight on Friday
and lasted through the night in the poor suburban
neighbourhood of Villeneuve, home to the alleged
robber. Police said they intervened after local resi-
dents stopped a tramway by setting a fire on the
rails. Some 30 cars were burned and police said
they were shot at once and returned fire.
Iran scientist
was informant
WASHINGTON: The Iranian nuclear scientist
who says he was abducted a year ago by U.S.
agents was an informant for the CIA inside Iran
for several years, The New York Times reported
last week citing U.S. officials.
Shahram Amiri returned to Tehran early
Thursday saying he was pressured to lie about
Iran’s nuclear programme. Washington denied
kidnapping Amiri and insisted he had lived freely
in the United States.
Officials said the scientist described to U.S.
intelligence officers details of how a university in
Tehran became the covert headquarters for Iran’s
nuclear efforts, the newspaper reported.
U.S. fundraiser
gets 12 years
NEW YORK: Hassan Nemazee, an Iranian-
American businessman who raised money for
the political campaigns of Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton, has been sentenced to 12 years
in prison for defrauding Bank of America Corp,
Citigroup Inc and HSBC Holdings Plc out of
$292 million.
U.S. District judge Sidney Stein imposed the
sentence following Nemazee’s March 18 guilty
plea in Manhattan federal court to charges of
bank fraud and wire fraud over loan transac-
tions with the three major banks.
Nemazee said he needed the money to pay
debts arising from his dealings in hedge funds
and properties.
Golden face for
Nobel laureate
PRETORIA: Nobel literature laureate and anti-
apartheid activist Nadine Gordimer has had her
face immortalised in gold, an honour previously
bestowed on outstanding statesmen like Nelson
Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
The 87-year-old author has documented South
African society since she was nine and on
Thursday had her face minted into special gold
collector coins.
“I am overwhelmed (by) the honour; it has to
do with my work, the centre of my life and the
centre of my life in South Africa,” the diminutive
Gordimer said.
Champagne in
Baltic wreck
HELSINKI: A group of divers exploring a
shipwreck in the Baltic Sea have found bottles
containing what is thought to be the oldest
drinkable champagne in the world, made in the
late 18th century.
“I picked up one champagne bottle just so we
could find the age of the wreck because we did-
n’t find any name or any details that would have
told us the name of the ship,” diver Christian
Ekstrom from Aland told Reuters. Ekstrom and
his Swedish diving colleagues tasted the con-
tents. “It was fantastic... it had a very sweet
taste, you could taste oak and it had a very
strong tobacco smell,” he said.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 15

PAUL GETS POLITICAL AND

CHOOSES A PRESIDENT
 Two-year-old octopus Paul, the
so-called “octopus oracle”, was one of the
hits of the World Cup, making startling
predictions about the results and finally
predicting that Spain would win the trophy.
Now one of Russiaʼs most popular
newspapers said last week it had man-
aged to get Paul to forecast who will be
Russiaʼs next President.
But shhhhhh...Komsomolskaya Pravda
said the results of Paulʼs prediction for the
2012 presidential election have been
sealed until election year.
The paper said one of its reporters
approached Paul, who lives at the Sea
Life attraction in the German city of
Oberhausen and put two sheets of paper
with the names of Russiam Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry
Medvedev in front of the soothsaying
invertebrate, which pointed to one of the
names with a tentacle.
Since Medvedev replaced Putin as
over the cabinet, it has been unclear who
is the number one decision-maker in a
country with a tradition of strong,
individual rulers.
A recent poll conducted by Russiaʼs
Levada-Centre shows that 76% of
respondents believe Putin is the countryʼs
most influential person while 67% see
Medvedev as top leader. Both politicians
at some point said they were considering
running for president
in 2012.
In April, Medvedev said they would
decide together who is going to run. Putin
said in June they would talk about it
closer to the election date.
His Russian presidential pick has been
conducted in a fashion rather different to
his World Cup prognostications, where he
predicted football matches by picking food
from two different transparent containers
lowered into his tank, each adorned with
the flag of one of the matchesʼ
competitors.

More than
President in 2008, with the latter taking

5,000
arrested
Aussie ballot to for soccer
gambling
in Asia
be a cliffhanger
CANBERRA
PARIS: More than 5,000 people
have been arrested in a swoop on
illegal gambling on World Cup
soccer across Asia and police
have seized nearly $10 million,
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called for an elec- Interpol has said.
tion for August 21 with the tightly-fought poll to be decided The global police cooperation
over policies on economic management, climate and border pro- agency said raids on nearly 800
tection. illegal gambling dens between
Australia’s first female Prime Minister was appointed three weeks ago June 11 and July 11 targeted
by the ruling Labour party as the government faced electoral defeat. Since illicit betting linked to organised
then Gillard has resurrected support, putting Labour narrowly ahead in crime in Malaysia, Singapore,
opinion polls. But conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott needs to Thailand and China.
win only nine seats to form a government with four independents, or 13 “As well as having clear con-
seats to take office outright. nections to organised crime
“Today, I seek a mandate from the Australian people to move Australia gangs, illegal soccer gambling is
forward,” Gillard told a news conference. “Moving forward means mov- also linked with corruption,
ing forward with budget surpluses and a stronger economy,” said Gillard, money laundering and prostitu-
who toppled leader Kevin Rudd in a party coup on June 24. tion,” said Jean-Michel
Financial markets are not expected to react much to the election given Louboutin, executive director of
there is little to choose on core economic policy. “The main concern for police services. The coordinated
financial markets is an inconclusive election result like a hung parlia- police operation, codenamed
ment,” said Craig James, chief economist at CommSec. SOGA III, was not about match-
Online betting sites made Labour a clear favourite although some ana- fixing, a spokeswoman for
lysts tipped it to be a tight race. Gillard said her re-election platform would Interpol said.
focus on creating jobs, boosting education, improving health care, fighting Illegal gambling dens, includ-
climate change and strengthening border protection. ing some in Hong Kong and casi-
Australia’s robust economy will be key to the 2010 election. Despite no haven Macau – both former
Labour steering the economy through the global financial crisis and avoid- colonial enclaves which are now
ing recession last year, opinion polls show voters view the opposition as bet- parts of China – had taken more
ter economic managers. Both the government and opposition have vowed to than $155 million in bets. Police
return to a budget surplus. Yet, voters will be given stark choices: also seized cars, bank cards, com-
 Gillard plans a 30% mining tax raising A$10.5 billion ($9.12 billion) puters and mobile phones during
from 2012. Abbott plans to dump it. the raids, which were coordinated
 Gillard believes a carbon price to fight climate change is inevitable by Interpol’s headquarters in
with a emissions trading scheme possibly brought in after 2012-13. Lyon and its Bangkok liaison
Abbott does not. office. “The results we have seen
 Gillard has proposed a possible East Timor regional asylum process- are impressive, not only in the
ing centre to stop boatpeople arriving in Australia although she said in an number of arrests and seizures
interview with Sky TV there was “no quick fix”. Abbott plans to reopen made across the region in just one
Pacific island detention camps. month, but in terms of the police
“Under Labour, we will be moving forward to more debt, more taxes, cooperation which made this pos-
more spending and more boats – that’s why Labuor needs to move out for sible,” Louboutin said.
our country to move on,” Abbott told a news conference in Brisbane. The three SOGA operations
Abbott also saw jobs as a focus for the election saying conservative par- carried out so far have led to
ties would abandon a policy of tough labour laws, conceding it lost them nearly 7,000 arrests, the seizure
power in 2007. of over $26 million in cash and
Labour has lost Green voter support in the past year over its failure to the closure of illegal gambling
dens that handled more than $2
introduce a carbon trading scheme to tackle climate change, and needs to  Australiaʼs Prime Minister Julia Gillard addresses a billion worth of bets.
news conference in Canberra.
woo them back to hold government.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 16

2010 IS STILL WARMER THAN 1998, THE EARLIER RECORD-HOLDER

Heat
wave
scalds
world
By Alina Selyukh
WASHINGTON

The world is enduring the hottest year on record, according to a

U.S. national weather analysis causing droughts worldwide and
a concern for U.S. farmers counting on another bumper year.
For the first six months of the year, 2010 has been warmer than the
first half of 1998, the previous record holder, by 0.03 degree
Fahrenheit, said Jay Lawrimore, chief of climate analysis at the feder-
al National Climatic Data Center. Period of a El Nino weather pattern
is being blamed for the hot temperatures globally.
“We had an El Nino episode in the early part of the year that’s now
faded, but that has contributed to the warmth not only in equatorial
Pacific but also contributed to anomalously warm global temperatures
as well,” Lawrimore said. Abnormally warm temperatures have been
registered in large parts of Canada, Africa, tropical oceans and parts of
the Middle East.
Northern Thailand is struggling through the worst drought in 20
years while Israel is in the middle of the longest and most severe
drought since 1920s. In Britain, this year has been the driest since 1929.
Also, Arctic sea ice has melted to its thinnest state in June.
However, as cooler temperatures may set in later this year, it remains
to be seen whether 2010 will overtake 2005 as the hottest year overall.
“This year the fact that the El Nino episode has ended and is likely to
transition into La Nina, which has a cooling influence on the global aver-
age temperature, it’s possible that we will not end up with the warmest
year as a whole.” The record-warm weather globally hasn’t translated
into the same in the United States, where June was only eighth hottest to
date. “For the U.S., January to June, this is only slightly warmer than
average,” Lawrimore said.
What may tip the scale is the
development of La Nina, possibly
coming in July and August,
according to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
Although La Nina means cooling
globally, the transition commonly
brings hotter and drier weather to
the farming belt of the U.S.
Midwest region.
“It’s going to be pretty warm
across eastern Nebraska, Iowa,
western portions of Missouri,
mid to upper 90s (F),” said
Donald Keeney, senior agricul-
ture meteorologist with CROP-
CAST Ag Services. The hot
temperatures may especially
hurt corn pollination while dry
weather could affect soy bean
crops, Keeney said. But meteor-
ologist with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Eric
Luebehusen said the impact of
La Nina is usually delayed for
the United States meaning good
news for corn farmers. “Most
crops are already reproductive,”  (Clockwise from top) A boy jumps into a fountain in the centre of
he said. “So if you can last
Budapest, Hungary. Tourists cool down themselves in a fountain at
will pass the really dangerous the central Pragueʼs Wenceslas Square. A tourist cools off on the
through the next few weeks, you

point where you may sustain steps of the Lincoln Memorial during a sweltering heatwave in
yield losses due to heat.” Washington.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 17

LINDSAY LOHANʼS NEW ATTORNEY SAYS ACTRESS WILL GO TO JAIL

LOS ANGELES

Lindsay Lohan’s new attorney, celebrity lawyer Robert

Shapiro, has said the troubled actress will got to jail as recent-
ly ordered by the judge overseeing her probation.
Earlier this month, California Superior Court judge Marsha Revel
ordered Lohan to begin serving a 90-day jail sentence on July 20 for vio-
lating the terms of her probation on drunk driving charges because
Lohan had missed alcohol education classes.
Since then, Lohan’s previous attorney Shawn Chapman Holley
Ready for
resigned and media reports surfaced last week that Lohan hired Shapiro,
but may be trying to avoid jail. When Holley resigned, she issued a
statement calling the jail sentence “harsh and unfair”. A spokeswoman
for Holley confirmed the lawyer had left Lohan’s case, but she did not
have any details on a reason why or who had replaced Holley.
“The reality is that miss Lohan, like most defendants, had to balance
work commitments and court
requirements,” Holley said. “To
slammer
be punished so severely for doing
so... is harsh and unfair.”
Holley also addressed pictures
taken of Lohan inside the court-
room at the hearing in front of
judge Revel in which cameras
photographed an expletive painted
on Lohan’s fingernails. The words
have caused the media to speculate
about any message Lohan may
have been trying to send to the
judge, prosecutors, the media or
others. Shapiro said in a statement,
“I have agreed to represent miss
Lohan on the condition she comply
with the terms of probation, includ-
ing a requirement of jail imposed
by judge Marsha Revel.”
“Miss Lohan is suffering from
a disease that I am all too famil-
iar with. Hopefully, I can be of
assistance to miss Lohan and
judge Revel in implementing a
treatment approach recommend-
ed by medical professionals for
miss Lohan’s long term recovery
and sobriety,” the statement said.
Shapiro is a well-known Los
Angeles attorney who has repre-
sented many Hollywood stars
over the years, and he was part of
the “dream team” of attorneys
who represented football player
O.J. Simpson in his trial for the
murder of his wife. Shapiro’s son
Brent died in 2005 due to a com-
bination of drinking alcohol and
taking the drug ecstasy. Since
then, Shapiro has been dedicated
himself to helping others over-
come their own addiction prob-
lems. His family started the Brent
Shapiro Foundation as well as the
Pickford Lofts sober living facili-
ty in Los Angeles that Lohan was
said to have checked into earlier
this week.

Gibson spars with ‘ex’ again

LOS ANGELES: Lawyers for Mel
Gibson and his estranged girl-
friend squared off in court last
week in a bitter custody dispute
over their baby daughter after a
week of damaging, ranting phone
calls leaked to an online web site.
The now infamous tapes, which
appear to feature Gibson cursing
and threatening former girlfriend
Oksana Grigorieva, have been
handed over to police investigat-
ing allegations of domestic abuse
by the Oscar-winning movie star.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s
spokesman told media that record-
ings were handed over during a
closed-door session of the family
court. A representative for Gibson
has neither confirmed nor denied
the tapes’ existence or content,
and on Thursday again declined to
comment on the matter citing liti-
gation between the two.
Grigorieva, 40, a Russian-born
model and singer, was said to be
trying to wrest shared custody of
her nine-month-old daughter away
from Gibson,54. Celebrity news
website TMZ.com cited unnamed
sources as telling it that the family
law judge left visitation as it is for
now. The tapes, which some
reports claim may have been
altered, are seen as crucial evi-
dence in a case in which
Grigorieva has claimed Gibson
abused her. Celebrity website
RadarOnline has released a fifth
recording in which a panting
Gibson again delivers a string of
expletives at Grigorieva.
Neither Gibson nor Grigorieva
were believed to be at the hearing.
TMZ.com said Gibson’s former
wife of 28 years Robyn has made
a sworn statement saying the actor
never engaged in any physical
abuse of any kind towards her or
their seven children.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 BusinessNow Page 18

BILL TO AVOID ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS GOES TO OBAMA

U.S. public
unfamiliar
with bank
reform:Poll
WASHINGTON: A big majority
of Americans are unfamiliar
with the sweeping overhaul of
U.S. financial rules that was
approved in Congress last week,
according to an Ipsos Public
Affairs online poll.
The poll found 38% of
Americans had never heard of
the overhaul and 33% had heard
of it but knew almost nothing
about the legislation.
Another 18% said they knew
“a little bit” about the measure,
which would lead to the broadest
overhaul of financial rules since
the Great Depression.
The Ipsos poll found 3% were
very familiar with the legislation,
and 8% were somewhat familiar.
Of those who knew about the
overhaul, about one-third said
they did not know enough to say
what sort of impact it would have
on the economy, spending,
investments and financial stabili-
ty. Other polls have shown that
voters’ views of the reform fall
largely along party lines suggest-
ing that financial regulation is
unlikely to be a major issue at the
midterm elections in November.

Wall Street rules

clear Congress
By Andy Sullivan & Kevin Drawbaugh Representatives approved the legislation last
Regulators, who billions in taxpayer dollars to prop up Wall

WASHINGTON
The U.S. Congress has approved the
broadest overhaul of financial rules
scrambled to contain
month. Financial markets showed little reac- Street while Main Street struggled amid a
tion on Thursday as investors had already deep recession.
the damage from failing
factored in the bill’s impact. The legislation has also won Democrats
firms like Lehman
Although Obama originally had hoped for few friends on Wall Street as wealthy donors
bipartisan support for reform, only three have started to steer more campaign contri-

Brothers in the last

since the Great Depression and sent it Republican senators voted in favour of the butions to Republicans.

crisis, will have new

to President Barack Obama to sign
into law.
By a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed a
sweeping measure that tightens regulations
across the financial industry in an effort to
bill joining 55 Democrats and two Under the 2,300-page bill, mortgage bro-
Independents. One Democrat opposed it. kers, student lenders and other financial
authority to dismantle
With Republicans poised for big gains in firms will have to answer to a new consumer-
the November congressional elections, protection authority though auto dealers will
troubled firms if they
Democrats are eager to show voters that they escape scrutiny.

threaten the broader

have tamed an industry that dragged the Regulators, who scrambled to contain the
avoid a repeat of the 2007-2009 financial cri- economy into its deepest recession in 70 damage from failing firms like Lehman

sis. Wall Street had fought bitterly to derail
the legislation, which leaves few corners of
the financial industry untouched.
It establishes new consumer protections,
gives regulators greater power to dismantle
troubled firms, and limits a range of risky
trading activities in a way that would curb
bank profits.
“Unless your business model depends on
cutting corners or bilking your customers,
you have nothing to fear from this reform,”
Obama said. He is expected to sign the bill
into law next week.
The Senate vote caps more than a year of
legislative effort after Obama proposed
reforms in June 2009. The House of
years. “I regret I can’t give you your job
back, restore that foreclosed home, put retire-
ment monies back in your account,” said
Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd, one
of the bill’s chief authors. “What I can do is
to see to it that we never, ever again go
through what this nation has been through.”
JPMorgan Chase & Co, the second-largest
U.S. bank, said the bill would not compromise
its business model but might hurt profitability.
“We’ll have some effect on revenues and mar-
gins and volumes,” its chief executive, Jamie
Dimon, said on a conference call. As the
largest U.S. derivatives dealer, JPMorgan
could have the most to lose from the bill,
economy.
over-the-counter derivatives and force banks
to end trading for their own profits.
Along with the health-care overhaul,
Democrats can now point out that they have
passed two far-reaching reform efforts that
will likely shape American society for gener-
ations. It is not clear whether that will
impress voters.
And even as Democrats hope the regulato-
ry crackdown will help them win support in
the November elections, many voters remain
Brothers in the last crisis, will have new
authority to dismantle troubled firms if they
threaten the broader economy.
A council of regulators will monitor big-
picture risks to the financial system and
many large banks will have to set aside more
capital to help them ride out tough times.
Large private-equity and hedge funds will
face more scrutiny from federal regulators,
and credit-rating agencies could potentially
see their entire business model upended.
Much of the $615 trillion over-the-counter
derivatives market will be routed through
more accountable and transparent channels,
and banks will have to spin off the riskiest of

“Unless your business model depends on cutting corners or

which aims to curb lucrative trading in risky angry at lawmakers for spending hundreds of their swaps clearing desk operations.

bilking your customers, you have nothing to fear from this reform.”
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
BOTTOM LINE
Doha is
ʻpreparingʼ
for deal
BERLIN: Participants in the Doha
world trade talks are preparing for a
final deal, but there is no point set-
ting an artificial deadline, the head
of the World Trade Organisation
has told a German daily.
The Doha talks, launched in late
2001, aim to break down barriers to
global commerce, but are dead-
locked largely over differences
between the United States and the
big emerging economies of China,
Brazil and India. G20 leaders
dropped their reference to 2010 as a
target date for completion of the
talks and set no new date.
World Trade Organisation direc-
tor general Pascal Lamy was opti-
mistic, however, telling
Handelsblatt, “Participants are
preparing for the end game of the
Apache is
world trade talks. There is no point
setting artificial deadlines.”
eyeing BP
assets
NEW YORK: Oil and gas producer
Apache Corp is seeking $6 billion
to $7 billion financing to purchase
up to $10 billion in assets from BP
Plc in a deal that could be
announced next week, CNBC
reported last week.
The deal could include major BP
assets in Alaska, and the oil major
was inquiring with its partners
about their rights of first refusal to
buy those assets, CNBC reported.
BP has said it could sell $10 bil-
lion in assets to raise funds to help
cover its liabilities from the gush-
ing Macondo well, which ruptured
in April and continues to spread oil
in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP had leased the Transocean
Ltd-owned rig, which exploded in
the Gulf of Mexico on April 20,
causing a catastrophic oil spill.
Earlier this week, a source familiar
Buffettʼs
with the situation told Reuters that
BP was in talks with Apache.
warning on
economy
WASHINGTON: U.S. President
Barack Obama heard a sobering
message from Warren Buffett when
he asked for the investment guru’s
views about the economic recovery,
according to an interview Obama
gave NBC News last week.
“I’ll tell you exactly what Warren
Buffett said. He said, ‘We went
through a wrenching recession. And
so we have not fully recovered.
We’re about 40-50% back. But
we’ve still got a long way to go’,”
Obama told NBC during a visit to
Holland, Michigan, to promote his
job creation policies.
Obama chatted with Buffett in the
Oval office on Wednesday as he
sought ideas on how to translate
higher U.S. growth into stronger
hiring. Buffett, who built an esti-
mated $47 billion fortune, warned
Obama the recession created a huge
overhang of excess capacity in the
economy that would simply take
time to mop up.
 Apple CEO Steve Jobs answers questions during a
press conference at Apple headquarters in Cupertino,
California.
FREE iPHONE 4 CASES AFTER RECEPTION FLAW
By Gabriel Madway & Poornima Gupta
CUPERTINO, California
A defiant Steve Jobs has rejected any
suggestion the iPhone 4’s design was
flawed, but offered consumers free
phone cases to address reception com-
plaints that have hurt Apple Inc’s image
and shares.
At a rare, 90-minute press conference, the
Apple chief executive asserted that reception
issues were a problem shared by the entire
smartphone industry, naming specifically
rivals Research in Motion, Samsung
Electronics and HTC Corp.
Jobs maintained there were no problems
with the iPhone 4’s wraparound antenna design
and accused the media of trying to “tear down”
a company that had grown so successful.
After the June 24 launch of the iPhone 4,
some users reported drastically reduced signal
strength when they held the touch-screen
phone a certain way, in what has come to be
known as the “iPhone 4 death grip.”
Apple has lost more than $16 billion of its
market value since June 28 with at least some
of that attributed by analysts to the iPhone
snafu. Apple set the tone of Friday’s event
early leading off with a YouTube video poking
fun at the so-called “Antennagate” controversy
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKIcaejk
Weak corporate revenues hit stocks
NEW YORK: Global share prices slid over the
weekend after disappointing revenue reports
from bellwether U.S. corporations dovetailed
with subdued U.S. inflation and slumping con-
sumer confidence data, driving up the price of
Treasuries as investors sought safety.
The combination of reports undermined the
fragile confidence in the global economy. On
Wall Street, the three major indexes all fell
more than 2.5%. Crude oil prices fell for a
third straight day, and the dollar fell to a
seven-month low against the yen, a tradition-
al safe-haven investment.
General Electric Co, the largest U.S. con-
glomerate, and top U.S. financial groups
Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc all
reported declines in quarterly revenues from
the prior year. The revenues, which investors
viewed as key to providing insight into future
Defiant
Apple
chief
blasts
critics
pD4). “This has been blown so out of propor-
tion, it’s incredible,” Jobs, 55, told reporters
and analysts in an auditorium at Apple’s
Silicon Valley headquarters.
“This is life in the smartphone world. Phones
aren’t perfect. Most every smartphone we test-
ed behaved like this.”
Analysts say sales of the iPhone 4 have not
been impacted by the antenna flap though
some warn about longer-term damage to a rep-
utation for quality products honed on the iPod.
Communications experts say the flap has
always been less about a presumed flaw in the
iPhone than the secretive Apple’s slow and
uneven response to it. The cost of Apple’s rem-
edy should be insignificant. One analyst esti-
mated simple cases would cost the company as
much as $45 million while an in-store repair
program would have run as much as $300 mil-
lion. Shares of Apple climbed as much as 1.4
% after Jobs offered the free case to users, but
closed 0.62% lower at $249.90 in an overall
market sell-off. Some analysts said they had
expected more from Apple to address the issue,
and thought that Jobs should have taken full
responsibility.
“Apple is held to a much higher standard.
You don’t want to compare yourself to the
competition,” said Ashok Kumar, an analyst
with Rodman & Renshaw.
Others lauded Jobs – who apologised to
users only after he was asked if he was sorry –
for offering a free fix.
performance, offset the good news of rising
profits. “The next step for earnings has to be
top line or revenues, and revenues slowed
down along with the consumer and the econ-
omy in the second quarter,” said Gail
Dudack, chief investment strategist at
Dudack Research Group in New York.
At the close, the Dow Jones industrial aver-
age fell 261.41 points, or 2.52%, at
10,097.90. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index
lost 31.60 points, or 2.88%, at 1,064.88. The
Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 70.03
points, or 3.11%, at 2,179.05.
For the week the Dow fell 0.98%, the S&P
1.24%, and the Nasdaq 0.79%. GE shares fell
4.6% to $14.55; Bank of America lost 9.2 %
to $13.98; Citigroup lost 6.3% to $3.90. The
two banks also posted profit declines.
European equities fell to a one-week closing
Page 19
Experts say covering a small gap in the
antenna with a plastic case – or duct tape – will
help boost signal strength by preventing con-
tact with a user’s fingers.
“This was a difficult thing for Steve to d ...
but he did the right thing,” said Gleacher & Co
analyst Brian Marshall. “He probably helped
consumer sentiment. They stand by their prod-
ucts.” Jobs said Apple will offer the free cases
through September 30, when the company
will reassess the situation. “Maybe, we will
continue it or maybe we will have a better
idea,” he said. If iPhone 4 users were not satis-
fied, Jobs said Apple will offer a full refund
within a month.
Jobs admitted Apple and the phone were
“not perfect” and said he first heard about
issues with the antenna 22 days ago. He called
a Bloomberg report that he had been warned
about the issue well before the June launch a
“total crock”, and dismissed a New York Times
report for “making this stuff up”.
The Apple chief said the iPhone 4 drops just
a tad more calls than its predecessor, the 3GS,
with a return rate of less than a third of the
older model. Just 0.55% of iPhone 4 users
have complained to the company’s tech sup-
port, he said. “We’re pretty happy with the
antenna design,” he said. “We’re not feeling
right now that we have a giant problem that we
need to fix.” The high-margin iPhone is
Apple’s most important product line and yields
40% of revenue.
low felled by weak bank shares. The pan-
European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares
fell 2% to 1,012.94 points. The MSCI world
equity index fell 2.06% while the Thomson
Reuters global stock index lost 2.11 %. Asian
stocks fell with Japan’s Nikkei average drop-
ping nearly 3% for its worst one-day percent-
age loss in more than a month .T.
The U.S. dollar, while under selling pres-
sure, did rise from session lows as investors
fled stocks for U.S. Treasuries. The green-
back slid 0.88 percent to 86.68 yen, off an
earlier seven-month low.
The euro touched a two-month high above
$1.30 on rising European money market
rates, but slipped back as investors bet the
rise was overdone. The euro last traded down
0.12% at $1.2922. Earlier ,it had reached a
two-month high of $1.3007.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 SportNow Page 20

Attack
lands
cup for
the All
Blacks
By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON

New Zealand produced another high-tempo, attack-minded per-

formance to secure their second successive bonus-point win in
the 2010 Tri-Nations with a 31-17 victory over South Africa at
a sold-out Westpac Stadium.
Ma’a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger and Israel Dagg all scored
tries for the All Blacks, while flyhalf Daniel Carter, who had a poor goal-
kicking performance in missing five attempts at goal, slotted two penalties
and a conversion.
Piri Weepu also added a penalty for the home side, who had beaten the
Springboks 32-12 in Auckland last week with a similar high-octane game
plan.
Danie Rossouw and Schalk Burger scored tries, while Morne Steyn
added a penalty and two conversions for the world champions, who looked
promising when they kept the ball in hand but had another poor tactical
kicking game in the swirling wind.
The All Blacks again dominated the bigger South Africans and their
aggressive defensive line turned back waves of Springboks attacks. All Blacksʼ captain Richie McCaw holds the Freedom Cup after defeating the
“What I’m pleased with is that the guys are prepared to have a go,” All Springboks in their Tri-Nations test match in Wellington.
Blacks coach Graham Henry told reporters. “We’re prepared give them an 18-10 lead before Weepu slotted a long-range
to play rugby from a long way out and attack from inside our ‘What I’m pleased with is penalty to extend the advantage.
own half and that led to a couple of tries.” The All Blacks were then forced to soak up immense pres-
The Springboks, who had Bakkies Botha sinbinned early sure on their goal-line but managed to keep the Springboks
that the guys are prepared
last week, again fell foul of the referee with Rossouw shown to have a go’ out before Dagg produced a mercurial run down the left
a yellow card by Alain Rolland in the fourth minute for kick- touchline, turning four defenders inside out to score his first
ing All Blacks’ captain Richie McCaw. test try and put the game beyond doubt.
The New Zealanders took advantage of their extra man, minute, Steyn converting to make it 13-7, before Carter Carter slotted the conversion and added a penalty before
with Nonu and Muliaina finishing off sweeping moves that missed another penalty into the swirling southerly wind in the Burger added a late consolation try for the Springboks, with
had begun inside their own half. final seconds before halftime. Steyn converting to end the scoring.
The All Blacks had to settle for a 10-0 lead while Rossouw The Springboks changed tactics in the second half as they “We didn’t get quick ball when it counted when we were
was off the field, with Carter, who had missed an early penal- battled into the wind, holding on to possession and hammer- putting good phases together near the try line,” Springboks
ty, missing both conversions though he slotted his first suc- ing away down field before Steyn added an early penalty. captain John Smit said. “There were times when ...it was

De Villiers gets
cessful penalty in the 31st minute. The All Blacks, however, struck back almost immediately, slowed down somewhere and in the Tri-Nations you have to
Rossouw made amends when he barged over in the 37th again attacking from deep and Ranger scored in the corner to be right on the button ... if you want to win.”

Boks call for consistency
South Africa were still coming to terms with new rule interpre-
tations and referees needed to be more consistent, Springboks
coach Peter de Villiers said after his side’s defeat.
“I’m frustrated at the moment,” de Villiers said of the rule
interpretations which give the attacking team the advantage at
the breakdown.
He told reporters: “The only thing a coach can ask is consis-
tency. We have played six games and have had six different
types of (interpretation of) plays on the ground.
“To me it’s a bit frustrating ... the laws are a bit different on
the ground and it calls for attention, maybe from the outside. I
would love to sit down with the right people and let them tell us
how to prepare for those kinds of incidents.
“I don’t like to prepare the guys to cheat and it seems to me
(it is) the only way going forward if you want to be on top of
those things.”
The Springboks were also hampered by their second early
yellow card in successive tests, with Danie Rossouw sin-binned
by Alain Rolland in the fourth minute. Bakkies Botha was also
sin-binned early last week in Auckland.
The All Blacks managed to take advantage of the extra man,
scoring 10 points, though the scoreline could have been much
worse if Daniel Carter had not missed three kicks at goal.
“I’m obviously surprised to get a yellow card at the start of
the test match because it does put us on the back foot,” captain
John Smit said. “We had a chance with Dan missing all those
early kicks and it made the deficit only 10 points, which is an
easy target.
“We held it in there but they just kept coming, kept getting
quick ball and kept stumping up.”
But Smit also said he had not been surprised at the All Blacks
not having someone sin-binned after they were being penalised
continuously inside their own 22 as the Springboks hammered
away at their line.
“I suppose if it was my first year of playing the All Blacks I
would be surprised, but this isn’t my first year,” he said with a
wry smile.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who was told by Rolland
that the next infringement by one of his players would result in
a yellow card, said the team had mostly got it right. “We did get
under pressure and gave away a couple of penalties,” McCaw
said. “I was probably a little guilty myself a couple of times.
“I guess if you are under pressure you have to make sure you
get the decisions right.”
two-week ban
South African wing Jean de Villiers has been sus-
pended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle during
the Springboks’ 31-17 loss.
De Villiers had been cited for an alleged lifting
tackle on All Blacks winger Rene Ranger in the
27th minute of the match.
He appeared in Wellington on Sunday before judi-
cial officer Dennis Wheelahan, who found De
Villiers guilty after he considered submissions from
the player, his representatives and video evidence,
governing body SANZAR said in a statement.
De Villiers was suspended until August 1 and will
miss the Springboks’ next Tri-Nations match against
Australia next Saturday in Brisbane.
He is the second Springboks player to be banned
in this year’s competition. Lock Bakkies Botha was
suspended for nine weeks after he admitted head
butting All Blacks’ scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan in the
32-12 loss last week at Eden Park.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
MISSION AMERICA FOR FRENCHMAN
Henry not in
U.S. to retire,
wants to win
By Julian Linden
HARRISON, New Jersey
Following in the footsteps of Pele and
David Beckham, Thierry Henry has
arrived in the United States as a soccer
missionary and scoffed at the notion
Major League Soccer is a retirement
fund for players in the twilight of their
careers.
Like his famous predecessors, the
Frenchman has become an instant poster-boy
for the sport after joining the New York Red
Bulls on a four-and-a-half season deal.
The 32-year-old French striker said this
would be his final contract as a player, but the
former World Cup winner said his motives
were clear.
“I can assure you that I came here to try to
win,” he told a news conference. “That is the
most important thing. I’m a competitor, and
I’m sure the boss will put a team out there to be
sure that we can do it.”
Henry was taken on a whirlwind trip around
New York's major television networks before
receiving his number 14 Red Bulls soccer jer-
sey at his new home ground in Harrison, New
Jersey.
Flanked by club officials and MLS commis-
sioner Don Garber, Henry arrived at a packed
news conference to the backing vocals of The
Beatles and the endorsement of his new organ-
isation.
The Red Bulls’ Swedish coach Hans Backe
said he expected great things from Henry, who
spent the past decade plying his trade with
Arsenal and Barcelona.
“I would rate him ... in the top 10 ever in the
(English) premiership as a striker,” Backe said.
“He’s very hungry to give Red Bulls their first
premiership.”
While Henry has achieved almost every
imaginable honour in the game, winning a
World Cup and European championship with
France as well medals and plaudits with his
clubs, he arrives in the United States after a
lean past 12 months.
Injuries restricted his appearances for
Barcelona and he was also relegated to the sub-
stitutes’ bench during France’s ill-fated World
Cup in South Africa where they failed to make
it past the group phase.
“I actually would like to know myself what
went wrong,” he said of France’s World Cup
display.
“We didn’t perform. As simple as that ... it
was a sad one for the fans and for the country,
but I think we should move on now.”
Henry, who also announced his retirement
from international soccer, said his decision to
move to New York was unrelated to France’s
World Cup showing and that he had been in
talks about the transfer for months.
The Red Bulls are hoping Henry will not
only help lead the team to a first MLS title but
also attract new fans, something that could be
tough given New York’s large Irish community
and Henry’s double-handball that allowed
France to qualify ahead of Ireland for this
year’s World Cup in South Africa.
“I've already talked about that,” he said.
“There’s nothing else I can say.”
Page 21
C’Wealth
Games
setback
for India
NEW DELHI: India’s sports minister
has expressed regret over a series of
pullouts from this year’s
Commonwealth Games in New Delhi,
a day after British cyclist Chris Hoy
announced his withdrawal.
“The world knows that India has
spent lavishly for organising the
Commonwealth Games,” Manohar
Singh Gill told Reuters. “The stadiums
we built match the best in the world
and far in excess of the requirement. It
is therefore sad that some of the lead-
ing sportspersons are not coming to
India.”
Quadruple Olympic gold medallist
Hoy pulled out of the October 3-14
games because of a clash with the
European championships, which carry
qualification points for the 2012
London Olympics.
His withdrawal is a further setback
to the games after the announcement
in June that triple Olympic sprint
champion Usain Bolt would skip the
event.
“We all wanted to see Bolt run in
Delhi and Hoy, being a multiple
Olympic and Commonwealth champi-
on, was also a top draw,” Gill said.
Fellow Jamaican and Olympic 100
metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser,
who tested positive in a doping test in
May, will also not attend.
“It appears that for the Olympic
Games, performance in events like
Asian Games and European champi-
onships are taken into account.
Naturally, the sportspersons don’t
attach the same importance to the
Commonwealth Games,” Gill said.
“This is a matter which I think we
will discuss in the Commonwealth
Sports Ministers meeting in Delhi on
October 4.”
Hammers
swoop
for two
strikers
LONDON: West Ham United have
signed Mexico international Pablo
Barrera and Olympique Lyon striker
Frederic Piquionne.
West Ham have paid UNAM Pumas
four million pounds ($6.14 million)
for 23-year-old pacy winger Barrera,
while Piquionne has moved for an
undisclosed fee. Barrera, who played
three times for his country at the
World Cup in South Africa, has signed
a four-year contract with manager
Avram Grant’s side.
“I am very happy to sign for West
Ham United and have been really
taken by the reception I have received
from the players and the manager,”
Barrera told the club website
(www.whufc.com).
Piquionne, 31, links up with Grant
again on a three-year contract after the
pair spent last season together at
Portsmouth, where the Frenchman
played in the FA Cup final and scored
11 goals in all competitions while on
loan at the club.
 UNITED SPREADING THE WORD GLOBALLY
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 22

New kit
already
a fan
success
Massive pay rise on
By Steve Keating
TORONTO

the cards for Rooney

For much of the soccer world, a Manchester United jersey is
the equivalent of the little black dress, something every fan’s
wardrobe must have.
So when United began their four-game North American Tour in
Toronto against Celtic wearing the new kit, their legions of supporters
were no doubt already rushing to buy the shirt that the teams says has
already set a record for demand.
“It’s a massive business,” the club’s commercial director, Richard
Arnold, told Reuters. “A lot of work goes into that, it’s a year-round LONDON: Wayne Rooney’s with them, after establishing
activity. We are already planning what future shirt designs will look World Cup woes seemed a dis- himself in Everton’s team at
like two, three years out.” tant memory yesterday after he just 17, amounted to a
Designed by Nike and adorned with the logo of their new sponsor won a multi-million pound court restraint of trade.
Aon, the world’s largest insurance brokerage believes the four-year battle and learned of an immi- “I was shocked that a com-
sponsorship deal – which reports have valued at $120 million to $130 nent £130,000-a-week contract pany which represents some
million – can help the company build its global brand name and boost offer by Manchester United. of Britain’s biggest entertain-
business. The England striker, a forlorn ers was going down this road,
The sponsorship is viewed as one of the most prestigious in sport due figure during a dismal World which meant that private
to United’s massive popularity and a global fan base that is estimated Cup campaign for himself and financial and commercial
at 333 million worldwide. his country, expressed his matters were made public.
At $1.84 billion, Forbes magazine valued United, owned by the delight after his former agents’ But you always have to fight
Glazer family that also own the National Football League’s Tampa Bay £8.3million claim for lost earn- for what’s right in life,” said
Buccaneers, as the most valuable sports franchise in the world. ings, later modified to £4.3m, Rooney in a statement.
“We’re partnering with the number one club in the world in the num- was thrown out by a judge at Meanwhile, United boss Sir
ber one sport in the world,” Aon Chief Executive Greg Case said in a Manchester County Court. Alex Ferguson insists Rooney
telephone interview after remotely ringing the opening bell on the New More good news followed for will not suffer a World Cup
York Stock Exchange from Chicago. the 24-year-old after it emerged hangover, but admits the
“We have multiple ways we’re looking at measuring impact and I United are ready to open talks striker may regret not making
must tell you we’re already well ahead of where we thought we’d be at on a five-year deal, complete the most of his opportunity.
this point in time,” he said. “We’re seeing it in client response and with a £30,000-a-week pay rise. “I don’t expect a hang-
client interest in Aon.” United vowed to quash inter- over,” said Ferguson. “I think
The Red Devils, who arrived in Toronto just four days after the est in Rooney from Real Madrid there’ll still be a bit of disap-
World Cup final, kicked off their first North American tour since 2004 by discussing new terms with The claim was based on com- pointment in the lad. I think all
against the Scottish Premier League runners-up and wrap up their visit him after the World Cup, and mission they felt they were due the players coming back from
in Houston on July 28 when they provide the opposition for the Major chief executive David Gill hopes from multi-million pound deals the World Cup who didn’t do
League Soccer All-Star Game. to reach an agreement with his involving Rooney, and was well, who didn’t reach their
In-between, United will take on the Philadelphia Union (July 21) and agent Paul Stretford before the launched after founder member expectations, may I say, will feel
Kansas City Wizards (July 25). They will also go to Mexico and help season starts. Stretford left amid acrimony, that they’ve missed something.
Guadalajara open their new stadium on July 30 as part of a deal to sign Stretford was in court to hear and took the firm’s star client That’s because the World Cup’s
Mexican striker Javier Hernandez. Judge Brendan Hegarty QC dis- with him, in 2008. only once every four years –
The club said the games in the coming weeks are presenting a chal- miss sports management firm But the judge ruled the eight- that’s the horrible part.”
lenge to have enough jerseys available for their fans in North America, Proactive’s claim. year contract Rooney signed
where the team estimates its fan base is closing in on 10 million.

Empty seats for the first tour game

TORONTO: Empty seats proved that in some markets,
even the world’s most famous soccer club must do more
than simply show up to fill a stadium as Manchester United
kicked off their North American tour with a 3-1 win over
Celtic.
Making their first visit to Canada since 1982, the Red
Devils were greeted by an enthusiastic audience of 39,139
on a perfect summer’s evening but the number of empty
seats were no doubt an unfamiliar sight for a club use to
seeing sellouts wherever they go.
The slightly disappointing crowd might have been
expected with ticket prices for the match against their
Scottish opponents ranging from $75 to $165 and United
doing little to help promote the contest.
United manager Alex Ferguson cancelled his only pre-
match media appearance and when his squad were delayed
arriving in Toronto by bad weather, only one player was
available to the media with Scottish midfielder Darren
Fletcher fielding just five questions.
The Red Devils were also forced to share the sporting
stage at the weekend, going head-to-head with the Toronto
Indy being raced on city streets and offering free admission.
Despite the absence of players who represented their
countries at the World Cup in South Africa, the crowd was
treated to an entertaining contest with Dimitar Berbatov,
Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley scoring for United and
Georgios Samaras replying from the penalty spot for Celtic.
“I thought the atmosphere was very good,” Ferguson
said, downplaying the 10,000 empty seats. “The first game
is one you always want to get over because fitness comes
into it. The surface was quite firm and it is a pitch I would
not have taken a risk on with certain players to play 90 min-
utes.”
Toronto had rolled out the green carpet for the Red
Devils, laying down a temporary grass field on the Rogers
Centre’s concrete floor with 18 tractor-trailer loads of spe-
cially grown Kentucky bluegrass shipped in for the one off
friendly.
While the four-city tour is being billed as preparation for
the upcoming Premier League season it is also an opportu-
nity to expand sport’s biggest brand and reconnect with
their nearly 10 million North American supporters after a
six-year absence.
Attendance may not have been what organisers had
hoped, they averaged 60,000 a game in 2004, but there was
no dismissing United’s massive appeal.
Wearing their new kit in competition for the first time,
United’s legions of loyal supporters were lined up five deep
around souvenir kiosks at halftime eager to be among the
first to grab the new shirt.

MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010
Liverpool take up
Europa challenge
LONDON: New Liverpool manager Roy
Hodgson returns to the Europa League
with a third qualifying-round tie against
either Rabotnicki or Mika following the
draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon,
Switzerland.
Two months after his Fulham side
were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the
final, Hodgson’s first game at Anfield
will be the July 29 first leg, with the
return in either Armenia or Macedonia
on August 5.
Rabotnicki won the home first leg of
their second qualifying-round tie 1-0 on
Mosimane appointed new
Thursday.
Juventus will face either Shamrock
South Africa coach
JOHANNESBURG: Pitso Mosimane
has signed a four-year contract to be
South Africa’s new coach, tasked with
ensuring the 2010 World Cup hosts qual-
ify for the next edition in Brazil.
The 45-year-old replaces Brazilian
Carlos Alberto Parreira, under whom he
worked as an assistant over the last four
years.
His appointment keeps a promise the
Rovers or Israel’s Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv,
who drew their first leg 1-1 in Ireland.
The 35 third qualifying round victors
join 15 losing sides from the Champions
League third qualifying round and 24
direct entrants in the August 6 draw for
the playoffs.
The Champions League third-round
draw has also been made, with four-
times winners Ajax Amsterdam paired
with PAOK of Greece and Celtic taking
on Portuguese runners-up Braga.
Zenit St Petersburg, the 2008 UEFA
Cup winners, play Romania’s Unirea
Urziceni, while Dynamo Kiev play
Ghent.
country’s football association made to
appoint a local once the World Cup was
over.
“I feel extremely privileged to be fil-
ing Carlos Alberto Parreira’s shoes,”
Mosimane told reporters.
“I thank both the football association
and Parreira for having confidence in me
and I know I’m the right person for the
job.”
UNDER
ORDERS
Mourinho the master
of Real revolution
as players return
MADRID
Stand by your beds, here comes Jose
Mourinho. Real Madrid’s pre-season
training has started, with those among
the squad who were not called to
international duty this summer (this
being Real, they number no more
than 10) summoned to touch base
with their employers.
They may well have noticed a few differ-
ences. Starting with those beds.
The new coach, a man with a reputation
for making an impact, and no reputation
whatsoever for letting his players have an
easy ride, has already passed like a whirl-
wind through the corridors of their
Valdebebas complex.
Areas previously put in place to allow
fans to meet their heroes and ask for auto-
graphs have been closed off – no longer will
the Galacticos be revelling in their fame on
the company dollar.
And sleeping quarters have been installed
at the training ground – no more popping
home for a siesta between morning and
afternoon sessions. Mourinho’s message is
clear: there is work to be done.
But the biggest break with the past is in
personnel. In Madrid, Raul is close to roy-
alty, and the club’s leading goalscorer.
Along with another club favourite, the mid-
fielder Guti, the pair are as much a part of
Real as the famous white shirts and notori-
ous grand plans to rule the world – but it
appears their reigns are at an end.
Both players made their debuts here 16
and 15 years ago respectively, despite hav-
ing long since stopped commanding regular
first-team places. Both have survived 14
different coaches. But neither will see in the
Mourinho era.
Jose told them there was no need to turn
up for the start of training. Officially they
have been allowed time to “sort out their
futures” – and unofficially told not to come
back.
Out with the old, in with the new. The
incoming boss oversaw the returning play-
ers’ pre-season medical checks, but he also
met with Sami Khedira who was in Madrid
on Friday ahead of a euro 10m move from
Stuttgart.
The 23-year-old German World Cup star
looks like becoming the “English-style box-
to-box midfielder” that Mourinho had
admitted he wanted for Real, so closing the
door on the older and more expensive
Steven Gerrard.
Mourinho has already brought in
Argentine left-winger Angel di Maria from
Benfica for euro 25m and insisted that the
winger Pedro Leon and striker Sergio
Canales are not loaned backed to Getafe
and Racing Santander respectively, the
clubs they have just signed from, but
instead form part of a first-team squad that
Page 23
still lacks a left-back and a central defender.
The speed at which Mourinho has
rearranged the Valdebebas furniture has
stunned a club that has become used to a
very different sort of management, particu-
larly under the stewardship of president
Florentino Perez. After Perez sacked
Vicente del Bosque in 2003 he went
through five replacements in three years.
During the particularly inept 2004-05 sea-
son there were three managers in one term.
Mourinho is already laying the founda-
tions for a very different Real Madrid. His
own 12-hour days have bemused the press
photographers who are dispatched to the
training ground every day to snap his arrival
and departure. Creating a bond with the
media that will not disintegrate the first
time it is put under pressure – as happened
last season in the Spanish Cup when Real
were knocked out by Third Division
Alcorcon in November – will be high on
Mourinho’s agenda.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will
breakfast together before morning
training. They will then eat lunch
together and rest in that relaxation
area that on Mourinhoʼs request
now has eight sofa beds
But then one thing you know about
Mourinho is that he will provide journalists
with an unrivalled supply of stories.
Players will spend more time together
with whole working days at Valdebebas
replacing two-hour morning sessions or
double sessions with the chance for the
squad to go home in between.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will breakfast
together before morning training. They will
then eat lunch together and rest in that
relaxation area that on Mourinho’s request
now has eight sofa beds.
Mourinho’s Madrid will be younger and
cheaper than previous versions. The club’s
four signings all have youth and relative
value on their side.
Canales, 19, Leon, 23, Di Maria, 22, and
Khedira, 23, will not cost more than euro
50m in total. Ashley Cole’s age and price
suggest he does not fit the new profile,
although the Chelsea left-back remains one
of the best in the world in a position that
Real are yet to fill.
Real will embark on short tour of the
United States at the start of next month with
friendlies against the San Jose Earthquakes
and Los Angeles Galaxy. Bayern Munich,
Standard Liège and the Spanish side
Hercules await them when they return
ahead of the season’s kick-off at the end of
August, when the real business of overhaul-
ing Barcelona begins.
MAURITIUS Monday, July 19, 2010 Page 24

Louis Oosthuizen of
South Africa embraces
his wife Nel-Mare and
daughter Jana after
winning the British Open
yesterday.

Just amazing!
OOSTHUIZEN WINS GOLFʼS BIGGEST PRIZE
By Miles Evans
ST ANDREWS, Scotland
South African Louis Oosthuizen kept his cool to
claim a first major title with a crushing seven-stroke
victory in the British Open at the home of golf yes-
terday.
Oosthuizen, who had missed the cut in all his three previ-
ous Opens, never looked like being headed after starting the
day four clear and finished with a 71 for a 16-under total of
272.
The 27-year-old sank a short par putt at the 18th, took off
his cap to acknowledge the thunderous applause from the
crowd, hugged his caddie before embracing his wife and
young daughter Jana.
“It’s unbelievable, after the 12th hole it actually became
difficult having such a big lead, to keep calm, and I’m glad I
had those (spare) shots on 18 because I cramped a little with
the putter,” Oosthuizen told the BBC.
“It’s just amazing.”
England’s Lee Westwood emerged from the pack to finish
second with a two under 70 putting him on 279. Paul Casey,
who began the day as Oosthuizen’s closest challenger, ended
in a tie for third place on eight-under alongside Sweden’s
Henrik Stenson and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.
Oosthuizen became the sixth South African major winner
and the first to lift the Claret Jug since Ernie Els in 2002.
Tiger Woods, with the putter he ditched at the start of the
week returned to his bag, could not add to his three Claret
Jugs after an outward 37 scarred by two double bogeys saw
him sink down the field to finish on three-under in a tie for
23rd.
South Korea’s Jin Jeong made sure of the Silver Medal for
leading amateur, signing off in style with an eagle two at the
72nd hole and a share of 14th place.