Gorani keep old customs alive

A distinctive culture faces new challenges to their cherished way of life.

Photos and text by Nikola Barbutov for Southeast European Times in Belgrade – 28/02/11

Divided twice over the past one hundred years, the Gorani community now straddles three countries.

The massive slopes of Mount Sar Planina stretch along the southern part of Kosovo. The part of the mountain called Gora is inhabited by a people of the same name -- the Gorani. Some say they settled there more than 700 years ago.

The Gorani have their own language, albeit only in spoken form. They have their own unique tradition and culture. Their traditional woven costumes are detailed works of art, yet demand is dwindling as times change. Today there are only between 6,000 and 8,000 of them, whereas in the early 1990s their community was three times that big.

"I have no one to teach," sighs Vernesa Hajradini, 53, who has spent 35 years behind a loom. Something like that cannot be learned overnight: a

Ireland’s new government taking shape as vote count continues

Ireland's opposition parties have made big gains in a general election focussed on the country's economic woes, but the shape of the next government is hanging in the balance as counting continues for a second day on Sunday.

The Fine Gael party was leading the pack as voters angry about Ireland's battered economy ended the 80-year dominance of Fianna Fail.

“This was a democratic revolution at the ballot box,” Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told supporters Saturday night.

By midday Sunday, 60 seats had been won by Fine Gael, 32 by Labour, 14 by Fianna Fail, 13 by Sinn Fein and 14 by smaller parties and independents. It takes 83 seats for a majority in the Dail, the lower house of the parliament.

Ireland's complicated proportional

Ireland's voters toss out government

Ireland’s main opposition parties are on course to form a coalition with a record majority after voters, incensed at the country’s financial plight, shunned the government and its rescue deal with Europe.

An exit poll for state broadcaster RTE signalled that Fianna Fail would be crushed in the biggest collapse in support for any Irish party since independence from Britain in 1921.

The humiliation of having to go cap in hand to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund last year was the killer blow for the ruling party and will make for uncomfortable reading in Lisbon, seen as next in line for a bailout.

“This is a meltdown for Fianna Fail,” said David Farrell, professor of politics at University College Dublin.

Early tallies suggested the former giant

North Korea’s Traffic Police Girls as Style Icons

Op-Ed Commentary: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Feb. 25 – North Korea may have a few things, but one of the more implausible – unless you happen to be a raving Leninist – is fashion style. Yet that is just what Pyongyang's traffic police girls have become. Having traveled to Pyongyang numerous times on business (China Briefing even produced a North Korea special investment issue in pre-George Bush days, available here), the charabanc journey from Pyongyang's Sunan Airport to downtown Pyongyang is remarkable for one thing – a distinct lack of traffic. Yet towards the city center, empty highways are policed by attractive, crisply-uniformed

Test Drive Unlimited 2 to get free DLC

Atari will release a new batch of free DLC for Test Drive Unlimited 2 to apologise for the bugs.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 will get a new batch of free DLC as an apology for the on-going problems with the full game, Atari and developer Eden have announced.

A new patch is now also being rolled out for Test Drive Unlimited 2, correcting issues such as saved game corruption and online stability, supposedly.

In an open letter to the TDU2 community, Atari and Eden have announced that it will make the new 'Exploration

Ancelotti sets sights on United

After Chelsea's win against FC Copenhagen, Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti has told his players: "Now go and beat Manchester United".

The Blues moved to within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night and eased the mounting pressure on manager Ancelotti with a 2-0 victory in their last-16 first leg at a frozen Parken Stadium.

The result kept alive their one remaining hope of silverware this season following a miserable few months that have seen last year's double winners all but surrender their Barclays Premier League title and crash out of the FA Cup.

It got better for Chelsea

Raonic out of Acapulco tournament

Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic has pulled out of an ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico with a right shoulder injury, according to a Twitter update from Tennis Canada.

The 20-year-old from Thornhill, Ont. will miss play this week after visiting doctors in Acapulco about the shoulder. He is coming off a 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 loss in the final of an ATP 500 tournament in Memphis to American Andy Roddick in dramatic fashion.

Raonic’s place in the Acapulco draw was taken by Daniel Muñoz de la Nava.

The hard-serving Canadian had won the previous weekend in San Jose, Calif., and

Region ramps up joint efforts against trafficking

Selling newborns is the latest twist in Balkan-style organised crime.

By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 21/02/11

Significant sums have been seized during various joint operations. [Albanian State Police]

Trafficking took on a new dimension late last month when Greek and Bulgarian authorities, acting on a tip, broke up a crime ring that bought and sold newborn babies. Baby boys fetched a higher price than girls, and skin color was a further factor.

The babies' mothers, usually impoverished, got a fraction of what the trafficking gang did, along with immeasurable amounts of remorse.

Authorities trumpeted the joint nature of the investigation that spanned several months, and the co-ordinated arrests of 11 suspects in both Greece and Bulgaria. It was the latest in a series of high-profile trans-border operations against organised crime.

With successive police operations making headlines, authorities across the region appear to be making headway against smuggling and trafficking rings. Is strengthened rule of law finally becoming a reality?

The EU has been using the promise of accession as an incentive to convince governments to join forces. Criminals recognise no boundaries, authorities agree, so efforts

Orphan Seena's release date set

Seena Akhlaqi Sheikhdost's parents were killed in the Christmas Island boat tragedy. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: The Daily Telegraph

Eleven survivors of the Christmas Island shipwreck in December will be released from detention this week.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said on Thursday that an Iranian boy orphaned by the tragedy and some of his surviving relatives would soon be released into the community.

Nine-year-old Seena is one of three children among the 11 detainees to be let out of Christmas Island's immigration detention facility following the accident which killed up to 50 people on December 15.

Human rights lawyer George Newhouse released a statement on behalf of Seena's Sydney-based family on Sunday.

Iran releases two German journalists held for months

Iran on Saturday freed two German journalists arrested four months ago after they interviewed the son of an Iranian woman condemned to death by stoning for adultery.

An Iranian court on Saturday threw out their 20-month prison sentence, commuting it to a fine of $50,000 each and clearing the way for their release.

The Germans – a reporter and a photographer for the mass-circulation tabloid Bild am Sonntag – got caught up in one of the many confrontations between Iran and the West, this one over the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The mother of two has been convicted of

Canadian Gov’t Hit by China-based Hackers

Feb. 18 –  Stockwell Day, president of Canada’s Treasury Board, said on Thursday that hackers – maybe from China – attacked computers in government departments responsible for overseeing the county’s budget and fiscal policy, leaving officials disconnected from the Internet for nearly two months.

"Every indication we have at this point is that our sensors and our cyber-protection systems got the alerts out in time, that the information doors were slammed shut," Day said.

The motives remain unclear, but analysts have noted that such attacks tend to go after any information of financial significance. Documentation on funding for every federal program and proposals for new ones pass through the Treasury Board. Unreleased information on the budget could potentially give the hackers an advantage on predicting market movements.

"It was a

What’s in your soft drink? Safety of ‘caramel colour’ questioned

Between the potassium benzoate and maltodextrin that fill up the ingredient list on cans of cola, at least the “caramel colour” rings of safety and familiarity, right?

The mind conjures up images of sugar heating up in a saucepan and changing from white to a rich brown shade. Commercially, that's not what happens.

Behind the innocuous name are some serious health concerns, the Centre for Science in the Public Interest says. The group wants the FDA in the U.S. to ban the substance because two of its popular formulations (used in Coca-Cola and Pepsi) are made with ammonia or sulfites.

US Embassy wants thorough investigation of Tirana protest

TIRANA, Albania -- US Ambassador to Tirana Alexander Arvizu said on Monday (February 14th) that the investigation into the January 21st violent protest should be thorough and include everyone -- organisers, protesters and those who shot at protesters. Four people died and seven were wounded during the opposition rally that turned violent outside the government building in Tirana. (VoA, Ora News, Balkan Web - 14/02/11)

Source: SETimes.com

Latinamerican countries call on Japan to cease “scientific whaling”

They demand respect for the Southern Whale Sanctuary Zoom Image

Given the beginning of a new “scientific whaling” season in Antarctic waters the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay made public a release stating “their strongest rejection to the announced ‘scientific whaling’ hunting of almost a thousand whales included some in the threatened species category, planned for the Southern Whale Sanctuary”.

The Buenos Aires Group, whose members belong to the International

Court orders arrest of Turkish officers in Sledgehammer case

ANKARA, Turkey -- A court in Silivri on Friday (February 11th) ruled that 133 retired and serving military officers must be jailed pending the outcome of a trial against them over their alleged involvement in a plot to oust the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2003. Arrest warrants were issued for another 29 officers. The trial against 196 soldiers, including serving generals and former heads of the navy and air force, began at the end of 2010 after an operation revealed the alleged coup plans. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 14th. (Hurriyet,

Kvitova upsets Clijsters in Paris final

Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters lost to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Open Gaz de France on Sunday.

Clijsters still will unseat Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark as the top-ranked player when the new rankings are released Monday.

“I think in the past matches where I beat her, she showed some of the best tennis but it wasn't quite consistent,” said Clijsters, who won their two previous meetings. “Today she was very consistent in her level, so she deserved to win because she was better.”

The Belgian slammed an ace to save a

Novelist Today with Kishwar Desai

JOURNALIST and TV producer Kishwar Desai can now lay claim to being an award-winning novelist after scooping a top literary prize with her debut novel 'Witness The Night' last month. Her book, which exposes female infanticide in India, landed the prestigious Costa First Novel award. Here she speaks to Zeenat Moosa about 'Witness The Night'

 

Congratulations on winning the Costa First Novel Prize. How does it feel?

It feels wonderful. I never imagined this would happen to me with my first book. I am really grateful to the judges for finding my book worthy enough of such a prestigious prize!

 

You have a wealth of experience in media, as a journalist, TV producer and TV presenter. What made you start writing?

I had worked in TV for over 20 years and in the last few years I found that I was disappointed at how celebrity-oriented the shows had become. I was also concerned that everything seemed to be becoming a little superficial at that time. So I thought it was time to get back to writing - I used to write a lot, as a schoolgirl-and fulfil a childhood dream of becoming an ‘author’. 

 

We probably know you best as the wife of Lord Desai. Tell us briefly more about the real Kishwar Desai - your background, your life.

I was born in Ambala (now in Haryana) and grew up in different towns scattered all over North India: in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi --and even Kashmir as my father was in the police and posted in all these places.  I changed more than ten schools - but it was fun because I would make a lot of new friends, every year. After school I joined college in Delhi, to study Economics Honours in Lady Shri Ram College. But I was interested in media --and so after college I became a journalist in Chandigarh with the Indian Express - and then I got

India Second in Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index

Feb. 11 – The rise of India as a serious player in global manufacturing is gathering pace as Deloitte's Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, compiled in conjunction with the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, ranks the country second only to China. The Index is based on the responses of more than 400 chief executive officers and senior manufacturing executives worldwide to a survey conducted in late 2009 and early 2010. The Index also draws on select interviews with key manufacturing decision makers.

The report indicates that access to talented workers capable of supporting innovation is the key factor driving global competitiveness at

South America/Arab countries business summit in Peru next April

The February meeting was suspended because of events in Egypt Zoom Image

“We hope to bring together over 500 business people from Middle East and South America”, said Patricia Teullet General Manager for ComexPeru, a lobby of companies linked to export industries.

The business meeting originally was to be held next week previous to the ASPA summit (13/16 February) suspended by the Arab League because of the political situation in Egypt, which forced a reprogramming of the event.

President's Address To Businessmen Omits Small Business Owners

President Obama is making moves to mend the White House's rocky relationship with business leaders. In a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday he promised to get rid of unnecessary regulations and simplify the tax code. Samll business owners Andy Shallal, of Washington, DC's Busboys and Poets and Eatonville Restaurants, and Renee Amoore, founder and president of the Amoore Group share their perspective on how small businesses have been faring in the current economic climate and how President Obama can step in to help.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Grant offer for Asian sports clubs

WARBURTONS is looking for sports clubs in the Asian community to apply for funding to help keep kids active.

Sports clubs have until Monday, February 14th, to apply for up to £500 which is for any group in need of equipment to help keep youngsters fit and healthy.

It comes as the Government plans to cut millions from the Schools Sports Partnership this summer, which will see a decrease in sporting opportunities available to children.

Mike Ewing, Midlands Area Commercial Manager, said: “We’re deeply passionate about keeping young people healthy and want to help any groups, specifically those in the Asian Community keep kids active, whether it’s new sports equipment or simply some loaves and rolls to keep them

Diaby hopes to emulate Vieira

Abou Diaby hopes to follow the example of Patrick Vieira in inspiring France to major honours.

The Arsenal midfielder, whose red card in the 4-4 draw with Newcastle on Saturday when his team were 4-0 up was arguably the pivotal point in the match, offers a similar presence in the centre of the field to Vieira, formerly of Arsenal but now with Manchester City.

Vieira was part of the France squad which won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 titles, and has tipped Diaby to be his successor at club and national team level. The 24-year-old is flattered by

No mummies damaged during break-ins, Egypt’s top archaeologist says

None of the mummies in Cairo’s main archaeological museum were damaged during a break-in last week but 70 other exhibits will need restoration, top Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass said on Sunday.

Media reports during Egypt’s political unrest had quoted Mr. Hawass as saying that looters damaged two mummies, but in a BBC interview on Sunday he said that this was not the case.

“They were not mummies, there were two skulls taken outside from the CT scan machine. Everything will go back to normal at Cairo Museum today,” said Mr. Hawass, head of Egypt’s antiquities authority since 2002. He was

Al Jazeera: Roadblocks in America

Frederic Lafargue for Newsweek

Egyptians gather to watch television in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

As I write, a ticker flashes across my screen reporting that our Cairo bureau has been stormed, our offices closed, and our equipment confiscated. It's another hurdle in a fast-growing list of obstacles to prevent Al Jazeera's coverage in Egypt, where we have more reporters, cameras, and citizens' feeds on the ground than any other international network.

On Thursday three of our journalists were arrested. The next morning one of our websites was hacked. All week the Egyptian government-owned satellite company Nilesat blocked our broadcast signal.

Undeterred, our teams fanned out across the country. Braving the same violent pro-government attacks waged on demonstrators, Al Jazeera journalists took their cameras to the streets of Cairo, Suez, Alexandria, and Malhalla

Gifford's husband will fly on final NASA shuttle mission

The astronaut husband of wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has made his choice. He's headed to space in April.

An official close to the space shuttle program confirmed Friday morning that astronaut Mark Kelly will be aboard Endeavour for its final flight. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information has not yet been made public.

Mr. Kelly is holding a news conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday afternoon.

He took a leave from training after his wife was shot in the head outside a Tucson, Arizona, supermarket as she met with constituents on Jan. 8. Six people were killed and 13 were injured in the rampage; a 22-year-old suspect is in

Cairo protesters spurn talks offer

Anti-government protestors rest in a truck after clashes with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak in Tahrir Square. Source: Getty Images

ANGRY protesters battling pro-regime militants for control of Cairo's Tahrir Square have insisted that President Hosni Mubarak step down, spurning a talks offer by the new premier who said he was prepared to go and meet them.

Ahmed Shafiq, who issued a public apology for violence that has raged in the square for more than 24 hours, said he was "ready to go to Tahrir Square to talk to the protesters," state news agency MENA reported.

But a coalition of activists rejected what was a break with the regime's previous insistence that it would not talk with the opposition until protesters went home, and said they would not talk with Shafiq.

Amr Salah, a coalition representative, told AFP that those who had launched the call to protest last week "will not accept any dialogue with the regime until our principal demand is met, and that is for President Hosni Mubarak to step down."

Undaunted by what they say has been

Kosovo's CEFTA ride could be bumpy

Kosovo takes charge of a key regional agreement, but political turmoil has slowed implementation at home.

By Muhamet Brajshori for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 02/02/11

Kosovo is considering a reciprocal product ban on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina within the CEFTA arrangement. [Reuters]

Kosovo took over the chairmanship of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) at the start of the year, succeeding Serbia. According to Ahmet Shala, the economy minister, Kosovo will follow the "Gymnich Model", in which no state symbols are on display during meetings.

That will allow Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate

The lost art of cooking

The secret of healthy eating is no secret at all. Just buy fresh ingredients – preferably natural and unprocessed – and cook them yourself from scratch. This is an excellent recipe for avoiding obesity. Many people believe that, if only the poor had better access to leafy greens, they’d be a whole lot better off.

There’s just one problem with this obvious cure for the obesity epidemic. We’ve forgotten how to cook.

Watch Village on a Diet, the CBC’s reality-show weight-loss-athon, and you’ll see what I mean. People’s idea of cooking is nuke-and-serve. If food doesn’t come in a box with instructions, they’re completely lost.

People “are always going to be looking for easier