Don’t say ‘flu’ or ‘subway’ online if you want to avoid Homeland Security

A freedom of information request has given some unique insight into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The list of words used by the department to monitor online activity for signs of terrorism or threats against the U.S. has been made publicly available. There are plenty of words on the list that you would expect to see there, like "Al Qaida" and "dirty bomb," but it's the inclusion of seemingly mundane terms like "bacteria" and "Mexico" that has piqued the interest of some.

A 39-page PDF document called "Analyst's Desktop Binder" that highlights all the words Homeland Security watches for in online usage is now available online for perusal. 

Department chiefs insist the list is not intended to look for general negative remarks about the government, but it serves as a tool to make them aware of potential threats against the country.

The list was requested, obtained and posted by a privacy watchdog called the Electronic Privacy Information Center, who sued in order to get access to the documents. They have described the list as 'broad, vague and ambiguous,' .

It seems the agency does agree that the list is in need of updating. Homeland Security spokesman Matthew Chandler told one blog in February that the list is now under review to ensure it can "clearly and accurately convey the parameters and intention of the program."

As Forbes highlights, another interesting insight offered in the document is just how Homeland Security monitors those keywords. The "Analyst's Desktop Binder" indicates that the list words are watched through TweetDeck, and their information is kept on a Mac Mini. There is no indication whether this has changed since the document's release.

Here's the full list of words:

Saudi woman defies religious police over nail polish

Riyadh - A YouTube video of a Saudi woman defying orders by the notorious religious police to leave a mall because she is wearing nail polish has gone viral, attracting more than a million hits in just five days.

The three and a half minute video posted on May 23 shows members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice telling the women to "get out of here (the mall)."

But she refuses to comply, saying: "I'm staying and I want to know what you're going to do about."

"It's none of your business if I wear nail polish," the unidentified woman, who is not seen on tape, is heard shouting at bearded men from the feared religious force.

"You are not in charge of me," she defiantly shouts back, referring to new constraints imposed earlier this year on the religious police banning them from harassing Saudi women over their behaviour and attire.

"The government has banned you from coming after us," she told the men, adding "you are only supposed to provide advice, and nothing more."

In January, Saudi King Abdullah appointed a moderate to head the religious police raising hopes that a more lenient force will ease draconian social constraints in the Islamic country.

Two weeks into his post, Sheikh Abdullatif Abdel Aziz al-Sheikh banned volunteers from serving in the commission which enforces the kingdom's strict Islamic rules.

And in April he went further prohibiting the religious police from "harassing people" and threatening "decisive measures against violators."

As of Monday, the video was viewed more than 1,142,000 times, with over 12,000 people posting comments online, most of them denouncing the woman's behaviour.

One posting said she had "no shame" and accused her of "prostituting" herself.

Another called her a "slut" and a "whore."

The clip earned only about 1800 "likes." The number of "dislikes" reached almost 7000.

The woman filmed the incident herself and posted it on YouTube. At one point during the video, she cautions the religious police that she has already posted the exchange online.

It is also not clear if the woman was eventually forced to leave the mall.

The religious police prevent women from driving, require them to be covered from head to foot in black, ban public entertainment, and force all commerce, from supermarkets to petrol stations, to come to a halt at prayer times, five times a day.

Alberta government to open office in Ottawa Alberta government to open office in Ottawa Alberta government to open office in Ottawa

Alberta is opening an office in Ottawa to help promote the province.
The office will help the provincial government communicate "key positions" on "priority issues" to the federal government and strengthen relationships between "key contacts."
It will also "communicate the positive work being done in the province."
“We are entering a new era where co-operation with the federal government will be of unparalleled importance,” said Premier Alison Redford.
The office should allow Alberta to get its message out more broadly and especially the "Ontario press corp," said Joe Oliver, federal minister of national resources.
The office will cost $850,000 per year, with start-up costs of $50,000 and will report to the Deputy Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations.

Gene Zwozdesky elected new speaker of Alberta legislature

EDMONTON - Provincial politicians on Wednesday elected veteran MLA Gene Zwozdesky as the 12th Speaker of the legislative assembly, Alberta’s first new Speaker in 15 years.

MLAs laughed and pounded their desks as Premier Alison Redford and Official Opposition leader Danielle Smith dragged Zwozdesky to the speaker’s chair after his win, a rare political comedy that continued the tradition of reluctance among house speakers, who were once beheaded for failing to do the bidding of the monarch.

The tradition is apt in Alberta, as Zwozdesky immediately faced questions about his commitment to impartiality.

For years, critics alleged that his predecessor retired MLA Ken Kowalski— also a Progressive Conservative MLA — was partial to the governing party.

Zwozdesky pledged that his first priority would be impartiality, and his second is to improve decorum in the legislature.

“I think the members know me well enough to know that I’ll be as fair as possible, I’ll be as firm as I need to be, but at the end of the day we should all do everything we can to help improve the decorum of this house,” Zwozdesky said.

Outside the legislature he explained that he plans to introduce a five-part “credo” that will help veteran and returning MLAs understand his expectations for decorum.

Alberta MLAs voted by secret ballot to elect Zwozdesky who defeated Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman to win the position.

Blakeman said she knew before the vote that “the fix was in” and that the Tories would use their 61-seat majority to install one of their own in the speaker’s chair.

“Clearly there were instructions from on high ... it worked out exactly the way the government wanted,” Blakeman said. “It signals very strongly that it’s business as usual.

“The irony is that this is exactly why the public wanted to give the Tories a kick in the but, was that sense of entitlement and of micromanaging absolutely everything to suit themselves. ... They’re not going to stop doing that.”

Also Wednesday, Leduc-Beaumont MLA George Rogers was elected Deputy Speaker and Mary Anne Jablonski, MLA for Red Deer North, was acclaimed as Deputy Chair of Committees.

Zwozdesky, 63, is MLA for Edmonton-Mill Creek and will be the second Edmontonian in the chair. He was first elected in 1993 and has served as minister of health, education and community development, among others.

New rules will force repeat EI users to take lower-paying jobs

Massive changes are coming to the employment insurance system that will force people to take jobs outside their fields at lower salaries.

Seasonal workers will now need to take practically any job they can get in the off-season under the new rules revealed by the Conservative government Thursday.

Seasonal workers such as fishermen who rely on EI for certain months of the year will now have just six weeks to look for a similar job that pays about the same.

After six weeks, they must take any work that’s available within an hour’s commute as long as it pays at least 70 per cent of their previous salary.

Factors like health, transportation ability and local job markets will all be taken into consideration. But if a suitable job is available and a claimant refuses to take it, they will be cut off from EI payments.

The government is cracking down on those who only pretend to search for work while collecting EI. The new rules will require claimants to document that they are looking for work, such as showing they have sent out resumes, to keep receiving payments.

Currently, EI claimants just have to report in regularly to say they are looking for work.

The changes are planned for early 2013. At that time, employers will only be able to hire temporary foreign workers if there are no Canadians available to do the job.

Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley said the changes are necessary because hundreds of thousands of Canadians remain unemployed despite a skilled labour shortage that is “hindering our ability to prosper as a country.”

According to Statistics Canada, 549,000 people received regular EI benefits in March. Human Resources staff say they expect less than one per cent of these people would be kicked off EI under the new system.

Asked whether the changes would mean fishermen have to work at McDonald’s for half the year, Finley said they would be expected to look for work like everyone else.

“This is going to impact everyone because what we want to do is make sure that the McDonald’s of the world aren’t having to bring in temporary foreign workers to do jobs that Canadians who are on EI have the skills to do,” she said.

“It’s about taking advantage of the labour and skills that we have in this country ... and it also means that money is here in Canada and not going to outside workers unless absolutely necessary.”

But other politicians saw the changes as dismantling the EI system. Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor John Morgan said the new system will disproportionately hurt Atlantic Canada, which has a higher ratio of seasonal workers.

“You have the government weakening the fiscal support network for Atlantic Canada but at the same time they continue unapologetically subsidizing the agricultural industry in Western Canada,” said Morgan.

Cape Breton-Canso Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner said the new system treats seasonal workers as repeat offenders and will make it harder for employers to hire people on a temporary basis.

“What's most frustrating is they say this is about an unprecedented crisis with a lack of skilled workers in this country, but there is zero component in this for retraining workers for today’s jobs or training students for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Cuzner.

The rules do not force people to leave their communities for work, as some had feared. Claimants will have to take jobs up to an hour away, though that limit could be higher in areas where commutes are longer.

The plan strives to make it easier for EI claimants to find work. The government is setting up a new system that will send EI claimants updated job listings twice per day, rather than the current system of three alerts every two weeks.

The government is investing $21 million over the next two years to beef up the EI system.

The EI overhaul is included as part of the 430-page omnibus budget bill. It will also give the government the power to change the regulations in the future without needing to introduce legislation.

Employment insurance pays out up to 55 per cent of a claimant’s previous salary, up to a cap of $26,000 per year.

Premier Darrell Dexter said his government needs more information about the planned rule changes to properly gauge the potential impact to Nova Scotia’s workers, particularly seasonal employees.

“It’s unclear what it will mean,” he told reporters in Halifax on Thursday. “It’s unclear because, of course, (the federal government has) never consulted with us about it.”

In Nova Scotia, Dexter said, “we have above the national average when it comes to seasonal workers,” and that part of the labour force could be “penalized” by Ottawa’s stricter measures.

He said “in many respects, this will hit hardest in rural communities.”

In a statement, Dexter said: “These changes should have been done as part of a plan to strengthen the Canadian economy in these uncertain times, and a plan to enable more people to qualify for the jobs that are becoming available. Instead, the provinces and territories are left scrambling to figure out what all of this will mean for their people and their communities."

EI BREAKDOWN

When someone applies for Employment Insurance they will be filed into one of three categories. The more you have worked in recent years, the more time you will have before you are forced to leave your field or take a steep pay cut

Frequent Claimants (17 per cent of all claims):This category includes anyone who has filed three or more EI claims in the past five years. Seasonal workers would fall into this category. Right away they will have to take any work that is a “similar occupation” of their old job and pays at least 80 per cent of their previous earnings. After six weeks on EI, the claimant will have to take any job they are able to do at 70 per cent of their previous pay.

Occasional Claimants (58 per cent of all claims):This category includes people who don't go on EI enough to be considered frequent claimants, but also haven't worked steadily enough to be long-tenured workers. For the first six weeks of receiving EI they will only have to take a job in their same occupation that pays at least 90 per cent of their previous earnings. After six weeks they will have to take a job in any similar occupation that pays 80 per cent of previous workings. After 18 weeks they will have to take any work at 70 per cent of previous earnings.

Long-tenured Workers (25 per cent of claimants):To reach this category with the most security, one must work for seven of the past 10 years, while paying at least 30 per cent of maximum EI premiums, and have received no more than 35 weeks of EI over the past five years. Long-tenured workers will have 18 weeks to find a job in their existing occupation that pays at least 90 per cent of previous earnings. After 18 weeks they must move to a similar occupation that pays 80 per cent of previous earnings.

Israelis plead not guilty to immigration breaches

Two Israeli nationals have pleaded not guilty to immigration charges stemming from a sweep of illegal workers in the Halifax area in December.

Immigration lawyer Lee Cohen entered the pleas Monday when he appeared in Halifax provincial court on behalf of Iftach Jacob, 23, and Nissan Shitrit, 22.

Both men are charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with working in Canada without authorization.

Jacob also faces charges of employing foreign nationals without authorization and failing to adhere to the conditions of a visitor permit.

The two men are living in the Toronto area while they’re out on bail.

Cohen and Crown attorney Tim McLaughlin told the court that they aren’t sure how many days will be needed for trial. They hope to have that figured out by April 27, when they’re scheduled to be back before Judge Bill Digby.

The Canada Border Services Agency arrested 11 people in December after a series of raids on a Halifax home and kiosks at three local shopping malls.

The agency said all but one of those arrested were young adults from Israel who were visiting Canada and did not appear to have work permits. They were all involved in selling a product called Heat in a Click, a gel-like heating pad.

Eight people pleaded guilty right away to working in the country without authorization and were fined $1,000 each. One person was released without being charged.

7 symptoms men shouldn’t ignore

An annoyance or a sign of something serious? Experts say these symptoms should warrant a trip to the doctor.

Some people will do anything to avoid it seeing their doctors — including dismissing seemingly minor health complaints. We all know symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain require immediate medical attention, but sometimes the symptoms we overlook can signal something serious too.

Here are seven symptoms men shouldn’t ignore, according to experts.

Erectile dysfunction

We know it’s embarrassing to talk about — despite quirky commercials about little blue pills. ED (also known as impotence) affects many men as they get older. Not only can it impact a man’s self-image and sex life, this condition can warn of other diseases that have subtle symptoms.

For example, ED — a pattern of not being able to get or keep an erection — can be caused by health issues that affect the nerves, brain and blood vessels. It could be a symptom of diabetes or pre-diabetes, or be caused by a hardening of the arteries (a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart to disease). High blood pressure, kidney failure, stress, smoking and alcohol abuse can all be culprits.

The symptoms of ED can be treated, but experts warn men to talk to their doctor to make sure the cause gets some attention too.

Changes in the penis, testicles or scrotum

It’s advice men as well as women should heed: know your body. Any changes “down there” like lumps, swelling, a feeling of heaviness or a change in size of the testicles could be a warning sign of testicular cancer. Likewise, a lump on the penis, sores, discharge or bleeding could warn of penile cancer.

Sores, a rash, redness, itching and oozing could be symptoms of sexually transmitted illnesses. Though usually not serious, men should have these symptoms checked out before the conditions get worse and they pass it along to their partners.

Urinary problems

Experts say most men experience some changes to their bathroom habits as they age, but it’s time to see a doctor when things become uncomfortable or interfere with daily activities. Problems with the prostate can cause symptoms like:

- a frequent need to urinate, especially at night

- a weak or interrupted urine stream

- an inability to urinate

- difficulty starting or stopping a urine stream.

These symptoms don’t automatically mean prostate cancer — they could also be a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  Some of these symptoms can also be caused by medications, infections or inflammation — but that’s up to a doctor to determine.

Blood where there shouldn’t be blood

The presence of blood is seldom a good sign — especially when it comes to bodily functions. For example, blood in urine — when the urine has a pink or brown tint — could be caused by a urinary tract infection, inflammation in the urinary tract, kidney stone, an enlarged prostate or cancers of the prostate, bladder or kidney. Experts estimate that roughly one in ten men will experience blood in their urine — or hematuria, in medical terms — during his lifetime. Sometimes no cause is ever found, and sometimes the discolouration could be due to medications like blood thinners.

What about blood in the stool? Bright red blood is most commonly caused by annoying conditions like hemorrhoids and diverticulitis, but experts warn that dark red, maroon, black or tarry stools mean the blood has been in your gut for a while — and could be a sign of ulcers or colon cancer.

Coughing up blood can be caused by conditions from blood clots to infections (including tuberculosis and pneumonia.)  When in doubt, any sign of blood shouldn’t be ignored.

Pain

Think aches and pains are just a part of getting older? Not so, say doctors. Persistent pain can be a warning sign of many conditions including arthritis, a damaged nerve, kidney disease, gallbladder disease and even cancer. Pain during intercourse could also be a sign of prostate cancer, say experts.

Acute pain — like a red, swollen and painful joint — also deserves a check-up. It could be caused by an injury, or a chronic condition like gout or bursitis (both of which are more common in men than women). Infections can also attack joints and cause permanent damage or spread if left untreated. 

In short, any pain should warrant a trip to the doctor. Chances are the cause isn’t serious, but a doctor can suggest treatment options that tackle the pain and treat the underlying cause.

Persistent thirst

We’re often told to drink plenty of water, but constantly being thirsty isn’t so healthy. Of course, hours of exercise, a salty or spicy meal or medications can cause the problem, but excessive thirst could be an early sign of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes — conditions that may not have any other symptoms.

Another cause: fluid could be leaving the blood stream and building up in tissues, leaving the body wanting more. This swelling (or edema) can be the result of heart, liver, or kidney failure or a severe infection or burn. Dry mouth can also be associated with thirst, and can have many causes from medication side effects to autoimmune disorders.

Regardless, experts warn that unusual thirst should be checked out, especially when other symptoms like dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea and changes in urinary habits go with it.

Depression

Depression is more common among women than men, so why is it on this list? Some experts warn men are less likely than women to get help due to societal pressures, and they might even experience symptoms differently. They might become aggressive, bury themselves in work or turn to drug or alcohol abuse to cope with their feelings. Unfortunately, men are also three times more likely than women to kill themselves. Suicide is one of the top causes of death in men in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.

It may sound stereotypical, but experts warn that depression may be harder to spot in men because of the stigma against showing weakness, crying or expressing emotion. Symptoms of depression in both sexes can include prolonged feelings of sadness, guilt or grief, loss of interest in activities, social withdrawal, thoughts of suicide, fatigue, changes in appetite and loss of interest in sex.

Depression can be treated with medication, therapy and lifestyle changes, but it’s just as important for men to get help as women. (See the Canadian Mental Health Association website for more information.)

This list is just a few of the symptoms worth paying attention — and we know the causes can sound intimidating. However, experts say most of the time these symptoms have benign and treatable causes. The message is to be aware, but not to panic. Your doctor will likely want to review your symptoms and medical history, do an exam and run some tests. The key is to get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible — and some conditions simply shouldn’t have to wait.

Australian tycoon 'is world's richest woman'

Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has eclipsed Wal-Mart heiress Christy Walton to become the world's wealthiest woman, according to an annual index by Business Review Weekly.

A preview of the respected BRW Rich 200 list, published Wednesday, put the mining tycoon's personal fortune at Aus$29.17 billion (US$28.48 billion), a figure that sees her outstrip Walton for the first time.

In March, Forbes placed Walton and her family's net worth at US$25.3 billion, while Rinehart's fortune stood at US$18 billion.

BRW rich list editor Andrew Heathcote said mining magnate Rinehart had almost tripled her wealth in 12 months as commodity prices rose and she pulled off two deals in iron ore and coal.

"The Aus$18.87 billion increase in her wealth is unparalleled. It is a product of foreign investment in new projects, increased production and a recovery in the iron ore price over the past six months," said Heathcote.

Rinehart, 58, heiress to an iron ore prospecting empire built in Australia's resources-rich west, is a controversial figure who stridently campaigned against new mining taxes and recently bought up big in the media sector.

She is also locked in a series of lawsuits, including an acrimonious row with her own children over a family trust where she has been accused of threatening to financially ruin them.

Heathcote said Rinehart was on track to overtake Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim -- worth US$69 billion -- as the world's richest person as demand ramps up for Australia's natural resources.

"A $100 billion fortune is not out of the question for Rinehart if the resources boom continues unabated," said Heathcote.

"There is a real possibility that Rinehart will become not just the richest woman in the world but the richest person in the world."

The full BRW list of Australia's richest people, the upper rungs of which are usually dominated by mining tycoons, will be unveiled on Thursday.

Alberta MLAs' salary to be fully taxed

Alberta MLA's returning to the legislature Wednesday will be paying income tax on their entire salary.

A report written by retired Supreme Court Justice John Major recommended the province retain the tax-free portion of their salary.

But the government is rejecting that.

People feel politicians should pay taxes like everyone else, said government house leader Dave Hancock.

"The public has seemed to be fairly unanimous in the view that they would just as soon we had a salary and pay tax on the whole salary," he said.

Major called the tax-free amount the most misunderstood and contentious of all his recommendations.

Without the allowance the province will make up the difference in salary from its own budget and then lose the $2 million in taxes to Revenue Canada.

Major insisted keeping the tax-free allowance shouldn't make MLA pay any less transparent.

But Hancock said paying more tax to the federal government is "a small price to pay for transparency."

MLAs will get a base salary of $134,000, with no additional money for sitting on committees.

Premier Alison Redford has already rejected Major's suggestion that the premier's salary jump from just over $200,000 a year to $335,000 within the next two years.

All other recommendations will go before a committee of the legislature for approval.

Canada ahead of other G7 nations on youth unemployment

Student protesters in Quebec, rejoice: things aren't nearly as bad as they seem.

According to a Statistics Canada study-- the first of its kind in the country -- 13.3 per cent, or 904,000, of the 6.8 million Canadians between the ages of 15 and 29 weren't in school nor at work last year.

While the unemployment figure may seem high, it's the second-lowest percentage out of all the  G-7 countries just behind Germany (11.6 per cent).

In terms of the labour force, Canada had 391,000 youth looking for work. Most of those not in the labour force said that they didn't want a job (82 per cent).

Another good news story for Canada is our long-term youth unemployment rate.  According to Kathrerine Marshall, an analyst with StatsCan, only 55,000 young people had been looking for work for more than six months.

"These long-term unemployed represented 1 per cent of all youth and 14 per cent of unemployed youth," told Marshall.

"This was the lowest proportion of long-term unemployed young people among the G7 nations."

Despite the relatively rosy numbers, however, critics charge that federal and provincial governments have ignored  youth unemployment trends and have instead focused on an all-ages approach.

"The government ... would say they're giving (more money) to laid off people. They would say that we're addressing the problem. But my argument is that youth unemployment is the worst, and what's the government doing to address that?" Nancy Schaefer, president of the Toronto-based Youth Employment Services (YES) told  last year.

"I don't think the youth of [Ontario] are being well-served under this model."

Other, like Ken Lewenza of the Canadian Autoworkers' union (CAW)  believe its time for a national jobs summit to develop a national strategy.

"Young people are not able to find jobs in this economy and the federal government must do more to ensure our youth secure decent full time jobs," Lewenza said in a statement earlier this month.

"The federal government must show a lot more leadership on the stubborn issue of youth unemployment in Canada."

Percentage of students who don't go to school or work in the G7 countries:

Germany: 11.6 per cent

Canada: 13.3 per cent

France: 15.6 per cent

United Kingdom: 15.6 per cent

United States: 16.9 per cent

Italy: 21.2 per cent

13 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 29 out of school and unemployed: StatsCan

TORONTO - Canada's youth are more likely to be working or seeking an education than many of their counterparts in other G7 nations, the country's leading statistical agency suggested Wednesday.

A new study from Statistics Canada analyzed the working and educational paths of people aged 15 to 29 in a bid to assess youth engagement with the labour force.

The study found that 13 per cent of the 6.8 million Canadians in the age bracket were not in education, employment or training — a measurement known as NEET.

That score, which has remained almost flat for the past two decades, is the second lowest among G7 nations, according to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Only Germany boasts a lower NEET rating of 11.6 per cent, while Italy registered the highest rating of 21.2 per cent.

Study author Katherine Marshall said the NEET indicator has been an effective way of measuring youth engagement in Europe since the 1990s, but is relatively new to North American analysts.

Large numbers of youth who are neither pursuing an education nor working can signal broader systemic issues that prevent youth from fully participating in society as they age, she said, adding Canada's score paints a fairly rosy picture.

"The Canadian NEET youth population is really quite diverse and is not entirely negative even though NEET in general has a negative connotation," Marshall said in a telephone interview.

Many of those who do not pursue educational or employment opportunities are addressing other priorities such as raising a family, Marshall said, adding 57 per cent of NEET youth said they were not actively trying to enter the labour force.

Of that group, between 65 and 70 per cent were females over 20, the study said.

People who fall into this category generally do not give analysts pause, Marshall said, adding long-term unemployment trends are the more telling indicators of youth labour engagement.

In that respect, Marshall said Canada is faring extremely well. Only 55,000 young people _ or one per cent of the country's entire youth population _ said they had been seeking work for more than six months, giving Canada the lowest rate of long-term unemployed youth in the G7.

Men in their 20s have the hardest time finding work, the survey said, adding they account for 200,000 of the 391,000 NEET youth who are seeking a job.

Odds of landing a position increased greatly for those with post-secondary education, Marshall said. The likelihood of finding work jumped by two-thirds for those with a university degree.

"The higher the level of education, the more likely you are to be employed," she said.

This finding was echoed in a new study from BMO Bank of Montreal, which found 70 per cent of businesses specifically look for a university background when hiring.

Education remains a fairly high priority for Canada's non-NEET youth, Marshall said, adding the remaining 87 per cent of the country's youth are equally divided between those who are working and those who are in school.

Kuly Ral of RDB passes away

Kuly Ral of RDB passes away
Kuly Ral from Brit-Asian bhangra group RDB (Rhythm Dhol Bass), passed away on Wednesday, May 23. The suspected reason of his death is told to be cancer.
Kuly played a large role in driving RDB to conquer both the UK and the Indian bhangra industry. The hip-hop bhangra band that collaborated with international artist Snoop Dogg and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, will sorely miss the charismatic singer who
was an inspiration to many British Asian musicians.
Kuly’s death is a huge blow to the Punjabi music industry and has affected celebrities and fans alike. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar tweeted: “Just heard about Kuly from RDB`s sudden demise. Still reeling from the shock of the news. RIP.” Svee Kaur Bains,
an RDB fan from Vancouver, said: “So sad and what a tragic end. I hope it draws attention to the illness. May God rest his soul and help his family. 2012 has lost too many music greats!”
Kuly’s death comes in the wake of recent plans by RDB to open a studio in India. The band had earlier expressed its desire to be more involved in making music for Bollywood. Band member Surj said: “Bollywood market has always opened its doors for different
kinds of music and our band’s sound was adored. I must say Bollywood is one of the biggest markets for our kind of music. Our music goes out to places where we would not expect it to reach.”
The Punjabi DJ production team that brought together brothers Kuly, Manj, and Surj, travelled extensively to bring their music to the world. The brothers were best known for blending western genres with traditional Punjabi beats and vocals and were behind
such popular chartbusters as Shera Di Kaum Punjabi from ‘Speedy Singhs’,
Yamla Pagla Deewana, and Aloo Chaat. Their latest
Bollywood song, Sadi Gali from the film ‘Tanu weds Manu’, was an instant hit amongst the
Indian youth and continues to be played in nightclubs around the country.

Mariela Castro Daughter of Cuban leader Raul Castro to visit U.S.

HAVANA, May 16 - Cuban President Raul Castro’s daughter is scheduled to visit California next week to speak at a conference of experts on Latin America during a rare U.S. trip by a member of Cuba’s ruling family.

Sexologist Mariela Castro, 50, will discuss Cuba’s policies on sexual issues on May 24 at a Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference in San Francisco, an association spokesman said on Wednesday.

Mariela Castro heads the communist island nation’s National Center for Sex Education and is an outspoken advocate for gay rights.

Her father Raul Castro, 80, took over as president four years ago from his ailing older brother Fidel Castro, who ruled the island for 49 years after taking power in a 1959 revolution.

A U.S. State Department spokesman in Washington refused to confirm during a briefing whether Mariela Castro had been granted a visa to visit the country, which has been Cuba’s ideological foe for more than half a century.

The spokesman for LASA, an international group based at the University of Pittsburgh for people who study Latin America, said she was registered to attend the conference, scheduled for the speech and likely has a visa.

In Washington, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, an anti-Castro Cuban exile, said in a statement he was _Sdisappointed by the decision to give Mariela Castro a visa and questioned whether the government had the authority to do so.

“_SMs. Castro is a vociferous advocate of the (Castro) regime and opponent of democracy, who has defended the regime’s brutal repression of democracy activists,” the New Jersey Democrat said.

“Neither the United States Government nor the Latin American Studies Association should be in the business of providing a totalitarian regime, like the one in Cuba, with a platform from which to espouse its twisted rhetoric,” Menendez added.

Menendez said a U.S. presidential proclamation prohibited travel visas for members of Cuba’s government or its Communist Party. A State Department spokesman told Reuters in an email the same proclamation _Sprovided authority for granting exceptions.

Neither Mariela Castro nor anyone with knowledge of her visa situation could be reached for comment.

Her uncle Fidel Castro, 85, has been to the United States several times. It is not known that either she or her father have visited the United States, located just 90 miles (145 km) across the Florida Straits from Cuba.

U.S.-Cuba relations have warmed slightly since President Barack Obama took office. But progress has come almost to a halt since U.S. contractor Alan Gross was arrested in Havana in December 2009 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for setting up Internet networks under a semi-covert U.S. program aimed at toppling the Cuban government.

No plan to have defence pact with China, says Maldives Prez

Says won’t risk friendship with India while dealing with other countries

Maldives President Mohamed Waheed addresses a press conference with Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla in New Delhi on Monday.

New Delhi, May 14
Maldives President Mohamed Waheed today assured India that he would do nothing to hurt the special relationship between the two countries even as he virtually ruled out early elections in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
There was no proposal to have a defence cooperation pact between China and the Maldives, he told reporters at a press conference here, emphasising that Male would not risk its friendship with New Delhi while conducting ties with other countries.
Waheed, on his first visit abroad after assuming power in February when Mohamed Nasheed resigned as President in the wake of political unrest, said he had held fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders.
However, in what may disappoint the Indian leadership which had been nudging him to hold early polls in his country, the Maldives President said all the political parties had reservations about holding the polls before July next year.
“I am all for free and fair elections… there will be elections as early as the Constitution allows. However, all the political parties, which are part of my coalition government except that of Nasheed, are not in favour of the polls before July 2013 because they are themselves not ready for the exercise,’’ he added.
He also emphasised that India was not pushing his government to do anything that did not suit his country. “I have assured the Indian leadership that we will respect all agreements and understanding between our two countries.’’
Waheed claimed that life was returning to normal in his tiny country following the unsavoury political developments of February. Tourism was also gradually picking up.
He said he had sought financial assistance from India for various development projects in his country. Waheed also sought private sector investments from India in the Maldives, particularly in the IT sector. There was a huge market in the IT sector in the Maldives which had not been adequately tapped.
On his predecessor Nasheed’s charge that he was acting as an agent of former President M A Gayoom, Waheed pointed out that Gayoom’s party was one of the constituents of his government. “I seek advice from all political parties but it is not fair to assume that there is too much influence on the administration from the former President,’’ he added.

Waheed rules out early poll

n All political parties have reservations about holding the polls before July next year

n Life was returning to normal in his country following unsavoury political developments of February

n Seeks financial assistance from India for various developmental projects

n Also demands private sector investments from India in the Maldives, particularly in the IT sector.

Sikh Seva Foundation’s 1st Annual Food Drive Donates 10,000 Food Items

SURREY – A food drive organised by Sikh Seva Foundation with the support of local Sikh Community and Sikh Organisations for the Month of April donated over 10,000 food items weighing 8126 Pounds to BC Food Banks on Monday May 7.

“We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the community for their generous donations, the response was overwhelming. The community united to donate over 8100 pounds of food. We wantto thank everyone for taking part in 1st Annual Seva Community Food Drive, organized by the Sikh Seva Foundation in association with Food Banks BC. Your selfless service to the community is appreciated,” the organization said in a press release.

The month long food drive was held in April and food items were dropped off at Sikh Gurdwaras and schools in the Lower Mainland.

“We feel so honoured to see the community taking part in such a fundamental project. Food is energy, food is love and food gives hope to those who face challenges in providing nourishment to their families, seniors and others who cannot afford the basics. It is great to see the community stepping up their efforts this year to meet these challenges, to help others and to show how much they care about one another,” said one organizer.

“I feel this is so important. Every day I see people in need and I want to help. This is something I can do,” explains a youth volunteer. “Collecting food for others is just my small way of supporting the community. Everyone should help if they are able to. Whatever you donate, will be helpful.”

The Sikh Seva Foundation is a community driven initiative focusing on volunteering today to help give hope for tomorrow. Their goal is not to have any one person lead or direct; it is to have the entire community work to improve conditions for everyone. The purpose of Sikh Seva Foundation is to be a volunteer bank resource for a wide range of charities throughout the Lower Mainland.

The Foundation’s activities are inspired by the principles of Sikhism, including:

• Equality and fraternity of all human beings

• Selfless service to others, especially any one who is impoverished, disadvantaged or vulnerable

• Diligent and honest work

• Sharing with the community the fruits of one’s labour

• Increasing understanding and acceptance among all human beings

For more information email at info@sikhsevafoundation.com or visit their website www.sikhsevafoundation.com

Reality TV, religion give birth to top baby names

Kardashian effect strikes again as Mason is revealed to be hottest baby name for new parents (but Jacob still ranks top for 13th year straight)

WASHINGTON - Reality TV is giving birth to some of the most popular baby names. No, not Snooki. But Mason, as in Kourtney Kardashian's son, jumped 10 spots to become the second most popular name for newborn boys in 2011.

The more traditional Sophia is the new top name for girls, while Jacob is No. 1 for boys for the 13th straight year, according to the list released Monday by the Social Security Administration.

Kardashian, the reality TV star, gave birth to Mason in December 2009 following a heavily publicized pregnancy. In 2010, Mason jumped from No. 34 to No. 12. Last year, 19,393 baby boys were named Mason, an increase of nearly 4,600, by far the biggest jump for any name.

Her sense of style is coveted by many but now Kourtney Kardashian has influenced the world of parenting. 

While Jacob has been found to be the most popular name for boys for the 13th year straight, Mason has come in at second place according to a list made by the U.S. Social Security Administration.

The placing is due to the reality TV star naming her first born Mason Disick, who she gave birth to in December 2009 following a heavily publicized pregnancy.

Enlarge 

Loved: Jacob tops baby names while Mason (middle), as in the son of Kourtney Kardashian (left) and nephew to Kim (right), is the second most popular

Mason jumped 10 spots to become the second most popular name for newborn boys last year, knocking Michael out of the top five for the first time in 63 years.

Rounding out the top five: William, Jayden and Noah. Michael came in sixth, his lowest ranking since 1948.

Sophia is the new most popular baby name for girls.

Isabella, which had been the top girl's name for two years, dropped to second place in 2011, according to the list released Monday by the U.S. Social Security Administration. Emma, Olivia and Ava rounded out the top five.

The Social Security Administration provides lists of baby names dating to 1880 on its website. The top two names that year were John and Mary. 

The list, which includes top baby names by state, draws millions of people. The agency hopes that people go to the website to see the baby names and stay to learn about other services, said Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue.Top girl names tend to be more volatile - changing from year to year - while the top boy names are more stable, Astrue said. 

William, for example, has been a popular boy's name for more than 100 years, never falling out of the top 20. Mason is the exception, entering the top 100 for the first time in 1997.

On the girls' side, Sophia first cracked the top 100 in 1997. Isabella dropped off the list altogether from 1949 to 1990.

Social Security also tracks which names increase in popularity from year to year and which ones drop.

'Celebrity naming is just about the exposure, and about everybody hearing that name at the same time'

The fastest rising name for girls: Briella, which jumped 394 spots, to No. 497. 

Briella Calafiore stars in Jerseylicious, a reality TV show about battling stylists at a beauty salon in Green Brook, New Jersey. She's also in a spinoff called Glam Fairy.

Brantley was the fastest rising name for boys, jumping 416 spots to No. 320. Brantley Gilbert is a singer who had a No. 1 country hit called Country Must Be Country Wide.

Americans get baby names from a lot of places - religion, relatives and, yes, popular culture, said Laura Wattenberg, creator of the website, babynamewizard.com.

Wattenberg likened baby naming trends to 'a fossil record of our culture.'

'It shows what we're paying attention to, what we're thinking about,' she said. 

THE TOP FIVE NAMES FOR BABY GIRLS

1. Sophia
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Olivia
5. Ava

'Today, you can't walk through a supermarket without learning more than you hoped to know about the Kardashian family. That's just reality.'

But, Wattenberg said, parents aren't necessarily paying homage to celebrities. 

In many cases, they are simply using a name they might not have heard otherwise.

'Celebrity naming is just about the exposure, and about everybody hearing that name at the same time,' Wattenberg said. 'It's not about the fame, it's about the name.'

Religion continued to have a big influence on baby names, but with a twist.

'The traditional biblical names were New Testament names - John, James and Mary and Elizabeth,' Wattenberg said. 'Today, the hot names are all names from the Old testament precisely because they were neglected for so many generations.'

In addition to Jacob and Noah, Elijah at No. 13 and Joshua at No. 14 were all from the Old Testament.

Among the names that fell in popularity, Brisa dropped more spots than any other - 343 places, to No. 807. Dana, Desiree and Denise also plummeted.

THE TOP FIVE NAMES FOR BABY BOYS

1. Jacob
2. Mason
3. William
4. Jayden
5. Noah

Brett dropped more than any other name for boys, 119 spots, to No. 508. Jamarion, Shaun and Jaydon also dropped.

Social Security counts names with different spellings separately. For example, Aiden was No. 9 among boys, while Aidan was No. 107 and Aaden was No. 797. 

Among the girls, Sophia was No. 1 while Sofia was No. 19. Sophie was No. 51. Zoey was No. 29 and Zoe was No. 31.

Elvis returned to the list at No. 904, after dropping off for a year. When Elvis dropped off the in 2010, it ended a run that had started in 1955.

Astrue, a big Elvis fan, said he was all shook up when Elvis left the list.

'Congress may not listen to me,' Astrue said. 'But God bless the American people for listening to me last year when I raised concerns about Elvis dropping off.'

Were they listening to him when they named their daughters after the star of Jerseylicious?

'I don't even know what that show's about,' Astrue said.