Voice of Asia Dec 12 2014

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Vol. 27 No. 50 Friday, December 12, 2014 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Pratham Holiday Luncheon Raises $158,000, Empowers Women Entrepreneurship With Beauty Training Program

by Shobana Muratee

P

ratham Houston’s annual Holiday Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 5th, dedicated to enriching the girl child through education and empowering women, broke the jinx of a dismal year for children globally by reaching out to 4.7 million children through its ‘Read India’ program. The Luncheon, held at the Jr. League of Houston, raised over $158,000 for Pratham’s Beauty Entrepreneurship Program.

2014 has been a ‘devastating’ year for children, the UN reported with 15 million caught in wars (in Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Ukraine.).

However, a phenomenal shift in attention to young girls was witnessed this year brought about by a school girl activist Malala Yousafzai who received the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for a girl’s right to education. Pratham’s visionary founders and leaders have been on a similar mission since 1995 when it was founded to ensure every child is in school and learning well in India.

Welcoming the 270 supporters of Pratham, Dr. Marie Goradia passionately spoke of Parham’s programs and how they were making a difference in a child’s life. In India, 64% of adolescence girls drop out of school because they have to support their families. “If you give an opportunity to a girl, they will move mountains,” she said, explaining how Pratham was achieving this through living examples. During 20132014, 4,200 girls, who had to dropped out were given a ‘second chance’ by proving educational support. Pratham

Vijay Goradia, Founderand Chairman, Pratham-USA, with Keynote Speaker Ingrid Vanderveldt, CEO-Founder, Empowering q Billion Women by 2020 and Dr. Marie Goradia, President, Pratham Houston at the Luncheon on Dec. 5th. also gave industry specific, vocational training to 7,100 youth during the year.

Particularly successful is the Pratham “Beauty Training Program” launched in 2011 and is enabling self –reliance while promoting entrepreneurship and self-confidence among women.

women providing them with a complimentary make-up session from Saks Fifth Avenue, sampled new fragrances from Dolce and Gabbana, and a choice of holiday shopping ideas with handbags and jewelry from local boutique vendors.

Asha Dhume and Annu Naik cochaired the event that was well attended and efficiently emceed by Sapna Singh.

The event catered the delicate side of

Guests learned more about Pratham’s innovative programs through a video that depicted its award-winning educational and vocational programs. Guest

A model displays one of Chloe Dao designs at the event.

Malala, Satyarthi receive Nobel Peace Prize

O

slo, Norway | AFP | 12/10/2014 - Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai became the youngest ever Nobel laureate Wednesday when she received the Peace Prize in Oslo, sharing it with Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi.

“A young girl and a somewhat older man, one from Pakistan and one from India, one Muslim, the other Hindu; both symbols of what the world needs: more unity. Fraternity between the nations!” said Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

Malala, 17, who was given the prestigious award in Oslo City Hall, became a global icon after she was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban in October 2012 for insisting that girls had a right to an education.

Satyarthi, 60, was recognised by the Nobel committee for a 35-year battle to free thousands of children from virtual slave labour.

Malala was 15 when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head as she travelled on a school bus in response to her campaign for girls’ education.

Although she almost died, she recovered after being flown for extensive sur-

L-R: Celebrity fashion designer, Chloe Dao,(front) Marie Goradia, Asha Dhume, Annu Naik, Back row: R-L: Ingrid Vanderveldt, Leena Shah and Sapna Singh.

Nobel Peace Prize laureates Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai’s pairing carries the extra symbolism of linking neighbouring countries that have been in conflict for decades, December 10, 2014 in Oslo ©Cornelius Poppe (NTB Scanpix/AFP)

gery in Birmingham, central England.

She has been based in the city with her family ever since, continuing both her education and activism.

Satyarthi’s organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Movement to Save Childhood) prides itself on liberating

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were sporting placards the read “Give Girls a Chance, Empower Women, and Unleash their Potential.”

Keynote Speaker, Ingrid Vanderveldt, Chairman and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women by 2020 reiterated the need for empowering women with a short video of some of the highly accomplished women. Vanderveldt shared a personal story of challenges that highlighted the importance of building a young girl’s confidence, which parallels Pratham’s efforts to empower women through the Beauty Entrepreneurship Program.

proof more than 80,000 children from bonded labour in factories and workshops across India and has networks of activists in more than 100 countries.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) there are about 168 million child labourers around the world.

The elegant event concluded with a spectacular fashion show by Project Runway winner Chloe Dao who dazzled the crowd with her sophisticated line. The eloquent emcee Sapna Singh thanked everyone for their support and reminded guests to save the date for another wonderful event – the 20th anniversary Pratham Houston gala on April 25, 2015.

To learn more about Pratham’s programs, please visit www.prathamusa. org. (With inputs from Meenu Mangal).

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

OPEN LETTER

Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Print & Media Marketing: Marketing: Production: Office Manager:

Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Jacob David Susan Pothanikat AR Vadlamani Priyan Mathew

Columnists: Legal: Richard M. Alderman Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Medical: Kesavan Shan, MD Research: Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Health Insurance: Sudhir Mathuria Astrology: Hardik Vyas

VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Editor: Online & Newsletter : Shobana Muratee All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher.

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Shri. Narendra Modi 8th Dec 2014 Hon’ble Prime Minister Govt. of India, 7, Race Course, New Delhi Sub: Cause of Hindus in Russia and ISKCON temple in Moscow.

Respected Prime Minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India soon. Your meeting with him shall strengthen Indo – Russia Friendship and Understanding.

India & Russia shall immensely benefit from this visit.

During your recent US and Australia visits, you had presented a copy of Bhagvad Gita to US President Barak Obama & other head of states. You won millions of heads & hearts universally. We all appreciate your love and highest esteem for Bhagvad Gita. You are a true Karamyogi practicing its tenets.

Only yesterday at Red FortDelhi, thousands of Indians assembled for Bhagvad Gita Prerna Utsav to celebrate 5151 years of Bhagvad Gita. The program was attended by Ambassadors / High Commissioners and diplomats from more than 25 nations. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj eulogized your speech delivered in September during your visit to New York and UN General Assembly. The program was organized by Swami Gayanand.

It was attended by Baba Ram Dev, Ashok Singhal, Indresh Kumar, Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni, Sant Ramesh Bhai Ojha, Shankracharya Divyanand Tirath Maharaj along with Chief Minister Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijay Varghese, Haryana Minister Ram Bilash Sharma, Union Minister Dr. Mahesh Chandra and noted surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan etc.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering arati at ISKCON, the only Hindu temple in Moscow . Photo dated November 2001. hani, BJP then Vice President Late Bal Apte, BJP Gen. Sec. (Org) Ram Lal, BJP Women’s wing leader Smriti Z. Irani and myself as OFBJP Convenor had petitioned the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev against the ban. Later on the ban was lifted and then BJP President Nitin Gadkari in a letter dated 18th Jan 2012 thanked the Russian Ambassador Mr. Alexander Kadakin on the issue. (All copies enclosed for your reference).

Also it is worth recalling that ISKCON was registered in Russia in 1990. It opened over 100 Krishna temples and translated Bhagvad Gita into more than 20 languages of USSR. Distributed nearly 10 million copies of Bhagvad Gita in Russia.

Introduced hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens to the spiritual philosophy of India and to yoga, ayurveda and cuisine. It also promoted business and studies to the thousands of Indians settled in Russia.

The first Krishna temple was built in Russia in 1990. It was later on demolished by Moscow authority in 2004 and gave a new piece of land for Krishna temple at Dynamo. Then in 2005 Moscow withdrew the permission. Then in 2006 the Russians pledged Govt. of Delhi to give land for Krishna temple and in 2007 gave land at Vereskino.

It is worth mentioning that you had offered Arti at the ISKCON Hindu Temple at Moscow in Nov 2011.

But in Dec 2011, Russian state prosecutor sought ban on Bhagvad Gita in Russia. By 2012 devotees finalized the new temple design at Vereskino in Russia by spending $2 million. The then Ambassador of India Ajay Malhotra laid the corner stone for the new Krishna temple in Russia.

But in 2013 temporary temple at Dynamo was demolished by authorities and Moscow also withdrew the land and canceled

Soma Balasubramanian

We may recall that Bhagvad Gita was banned in Russia in year 2011. Later on BJP had taken up the issue with the Russian govt. On 21st Dec 2011, OFBJP had organized a protest meeting with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi. Senior BJP Leader Late Kedarnath Sa-

the temple projects. Till today Krishna devotees rent a place and struggle with no justice in sight. Today in Russia there is no Hindu Krishna temple, no land and no prospects.

The Moscow authorities have violated their own commitments, ignored appeals by Indian Embassy to preserve the only Hindu temple in Moscow and repeatedly cheated the Hindu community & followers of Krishna out of their place of worship in Russia.

We request you with folded hands, that in your meeting with the Hon’ble President of Russia, please do take up the cause of Hindus in Russia led

by ISKCON devotees.

With warm regards, VIJAY JOLLY (BJP Sewyamsevak , New Delhi)

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Helping poor kids a ‘passion’ says Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi

F

or Indian campaigner Kailash Satyarthi, who Wednesday receives his award as co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, giving poor children a better chance in life has been his “passion” since as a youngster he saw a boy cleaning shoes instead of going to school.

Satyarthi, a soft-spoken, trim 60-year-old, has for decades been at the forefront of the drive against child labour in India, home to the largest number of working children in the world, according to the charity ChildLine.

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“There are children who are sold and bought like animals,” said Satyarthi, an admirer of the pacifist teachings of Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi.

“There are children who are born and live in situations of conflict and terror.”

He paid effusive tribute to his peace prize co-winner Malala Yousafzai, praising her as “the bravest child we can think of”.

The married father of two, who lives modestly in New Delhi, told AFP in a recent interview he believes child labour will be wiped out in his lifetime.

“This prize is important for the millions and millions who are denied a childhood,” Satyarthi said in Oslo on the eve of the prize-giving.

But for that goal to be achieved, “You, me, everyone must take a stand,” he said. “That means saying ‘no’ to products made by children.”

The award has sparked new awareness about child labour, he said, adding, “Consciousness is the beginning of change.”

Satyarthi, who freely concedes he’s an optimist, added while India has hundreds of prob-

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lems”, it also has “millions of solutions.”

The number of child workers worldwide has fallen by onethird since 2000, but still remains as high as 168 million children, according to the International Labour Organization.

The tally of child workers in India is a matter of debate, but UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, estimates around 28 million Indian children are employed.

The son of a police officer and born in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Pradesh, Satyarthi said he was inspired to help when aged six he saw a boy his age, who could not go to school because his family was too poor, cleaning shoes.

He trained as an electrical engineer at the behest of his practically minded family but could not resist his true calling.

VOICE OF ASIA 3

C OMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, December 12, 2014 • www.voiceofasiaonline.com • Page 3 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140

by Shobana Muratee n extraordinary tale of a scholar’s relentless journey of 21 years in pursuit of a mission, so herculean that even he couldn’t fathom, was finally brought to fruition - a Castilian (popularly known as Spanish) version of the great Ramayan to the Spanish- speaking population. Most of the translations that were done were from the Ramcharitmanas by the 16th-century Indian poet Tulsidas .

“Ramayan - not only to the Indian community but to the world - is very important because the world needs as reference on what is right and wrong, what is good and evil and what the ideal behavior should be of a king, husband, son, mother. Nowadays, we are inventing new roles and ways but nature is already set in its ways, and we need to know that. My spiritual master also told me that mankind needs it.

I would say the modern world needs it more than ever.”

Reynaldo Cuadros Anaya (aka Sri Ranga Puri das) successfully translated the ancient Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’ originally written by the sage Valmiki in Sanskrit to Spanish and released it at an auspicious event of Dusheera and Diwali Mela held here in Houston. His meeting with Dr. Arun Verma, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and founder of the Sri Sita Ram Foundation in Houston, was a preordained one. Dr. Verma said that he had met Sri Ranga Puri das in Washington in 2000 and has known him for 15 years now. “In India also we met on a couple of occasions,” Dr. Verma told us. “I was very interested in what he was doing. For the last two years I have been following his progress and it was my desire to launch his book in Houston on the occasion of Ramnavami or Diwali (popular Indian festivals dedicated to Lord Rama).

Finally, this year at the Ram Leela program (an annual event Dr. Verma has been successfully hosting for three years) we were able to do it,” he said, almost relieved. Sri Ranga Puri had with him the initial 50 copies of the publication (each costs $40) and was working on its mass production and distribution with Dr. Verma.

A

Spanish Ramayan – A scholar’s novel attempt to bring the epic to his people

Sri Ranga Puri das seen here with Dr. Arun Verma shows a copy of the Spanish Ramayana Born in Bolivia in an honorable Catholic family of European origin as Reynaldo Cuadros Anaya, he was considered an advantaged student at a reputed Dutch high school. During his early career in science at Saint Simon Major University led later on to a mastery degree in environmental sciences.

Even at the early age of 21 years, Reynaldo Cuadros Anaya knew exactly where his passion lay: to study the ancient cultures and religions of the ancient world, an inspiration he received while browsing through the books in his chemistry teacher’s library while he was still studying science. “I started reading these books on Chinese, Japanese and Indian cultures,” he said speaking to reporters at an informal dinner meeting in Houston. He later went to India and was fascinated by the Vedic culture and decided to pursue his studies in Indian culture. Being strongly drawn to it, he searched out for the right guidance. Initially, he was guided by disciples

of HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and then by another outstanding disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, his beloved spiritual master, Srila Bhakti Promod Puri Maharaj.

Anaya was initiated and named Sri Ranga Puri das. Now at the age of 56, Sri Ranga Pur dasi is ready to take his work to his people in Bolivia, his birth place and where his journey had begun.

Explaining why he choose Ramayana to translate, Sri Ranga Puri das said, “Rama is the ‘Maryada Purush’ (which translates to “the ideal/perfect man) so in the West, in my understanding, we need to start with Rama. Understanding Krishna could take some deep, philosophic thinking. He is the Supreme Personality of God-Head. For example, in the West some things they think cheaply, oh He (Krishna) has so many wives. So that’s why, culture wise I think Ramayana comes first and of course Indian people already got Rama-

yana at home but culture wise here we are lacking that foundation,” he said.

Sri Ranga Puri das believes that everything has to be studied in tits purest forms. “You have to understand its principals in the pure form.” He has, in course of time learnt to speak Hindi and Bengali.

An invited professor and lecturer to several universities and academic institutions, and a member of the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha (Vaishnava World Association), he is a graduate in Political Science from Columbia University, obtained Bhakti sastri and Bhakti vaibhav study degrees

by Vedic University of Florida, culminating a blend of studies in science and culture, with a Ph.D. degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology by the International School of Brussels, Belgium.

He is also diplomat, having served as ambassador of Bolivia to the Organization of the American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C., where he has been president of the Permanent Council, as well as president of the working group on indigenous people’s rights and vice president on migration issues.

His works include production of several articles and books, promoting vegetarianism, ecology and Vedic studies, including the first Spanish version of “Light of the Bhagavata” and parts of the 5th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam by Swami Prabhupada, mostly for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, serving it since 1980. He takes Prabhupada´s words: “I must admit my frailties in presenting Śrīmad-Ramayan, but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society on the strength of the following statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.11): tad-vāg-visargo janatāghaviplavo / yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api nāmāny anantasya yaśo ‘ńkitāni yac / chṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ ´On the other hand, that literature which is full with descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a transcendental creation meant to bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though irregularly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”

Sri Ranga Puri das with Dr. Renu Khator, President, UH and Dr. Suresh Khator at the Ram Leela.

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COMMUNITY The People’s Lawyer www.peopleslawyer.net

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Everyone is subject to the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act Q. I am an individual, not a car dealer. I sold my used car to someone. The buyer has now come back and threatened to sue me because I did not disclose some major problems with the car and misrepresented its condition. She says that I violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. What is this law? Does it apply to me? I am not a business.

A. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act is our state’s consumer protection law. It applies to any consumer, including most small businesses. Under this law, any seller, whether a business or an individual, can be liable if he misleads or deceives the buyer, or fails to disclose material information. A seller who acts “knowingly,” may be liable for up to three times the buyer’s damages.

The Deceptive Trade Practices Act is designed to protect consumers anytime they buy or lease goods or services. It applies to all sellers, from the largest businesses to an individual. If you misrepresented the condition of the car, or knew about serious problems with the car and didn’t tell the buyer so he would buy it, you probably have violated this law.

To use the law, the buyer must first send you written notice explaining what you did wrong and stating how much she wants for damages. My advice is to work with the buyer and try to resolve this before she files a lawsuit. If you are sued, you could owe up to three times her damages plus attorney’s fees.

Q. Can my landlord change my rent after the first month of my lease?

A. I lease is a contract and once it is agreed to and signed, both parties are bound by its terms.

That means neither party may change any of the terms without the other’s consent. The only way the landlord would have the right to raise the rent is if the lease itself provided for the rent increase. For example, the lease may allow for a rent adjustment in the event that here is an increase in utility costs.

I suggest you read your lease and see if it gives the landlord the right to adjust the rent.

If it does not, let the landlord know you will continue to abide by the terms of the lease and you expect he will as well. Tell him that unless he points you to a provision giving him the right to raise the rent, you will continue to pay the amount you agreed to.

Q. I had an irrigation company come out and do drainage work on my property. He didn’t do the job right at all, and I contacted him by phone and by email. He came out once and looked at the problem, but I never heard of him since. Could you kindly advise me on this? I have paid more than half the bill, and he has not done anywhere near half the work. Thank you for your help.

A. If the company did not do the work as agreed they have breached your contract. Additionally, if they did not perform in a “good and workmanlike manner,” they may have violated a warranty the law gives you, as well as the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The warranty of “Good and workmanlike performance” means performing as a reasonably competent person in the same business would perform.

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

136 Immigration Law Experts Confirm President’s Executive Action is Constitutional

By Emily Neumann and Rahul Reddy - Attorneys, Reddy & Neumann, P.C.

O

ver 130 scholars and teachers of immigration law transmitted a letter to Congress in which they conclude that the President’s executive actions, including the expansion of DACA and establishment of DAPA, are legal exercises of “prosecutorial discretion.” Citing federal statutes, regulations, and historical precedent, the 136 law professors stated that the programs are within the legal authority of the executive branch of the U.S. government. Several former General and Chief Counsels of INS and USCIS also wrote a letter affirming the legal analysis and conclusions of the law professors.

Prosecutorial discretion refers to the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to decide how the immigration laws should be applied. When Congress enacted the Immigration and Nationality Act, it specified that the Secretary of Homeland Security would be responsible for the administration and enforcement of laws relating to the immigration and naturalization of aliens. While Congress created the law, it recognized that the executive branch would have authority to administer and enforce it.

In deciding how to enforce laws relating to immigration, and those in practically every law enforcement context, the agencies responsible for executing those laws recognize that there are never enough resources to result in 100% enforcement. Choices must be made in determining where

to apply resources in order to achieve the highest level of compliance consistent with the overall goal of the law. Just as a police officer has discretion to refrain from issuing a traffic ticket based on various factors, in immigration enforcement, prosecutorial discretion is used to determine enforcement priorities and refrain from acting on low-priority cases.

Various sources suggest that the Department of Homeland Security budget provided for

by Congress allows for the deportation of up to about 400,000 individuals each year.

With an undocumented population of approximately 11 million, simple math would lead to the conclusion that it would take over 25 years to deport every undocumented individual. Since the Department of Homeland Security was given the authority to administer laws relating to immigration, the President has directed the Department to set priorities for which of the 11 million people should be deported first. In the meantime, those that are low on the list of priorities and who come forward to register with the government, undergo background checks, and meet certain criteria, will be offered a discretionary remedy of deferred action. In other words, the agency will temporarily refrain from enforcement for those individuals.

Furthermore, in the Immigration and Nationality Act, Congress provided that the Secretary of Homeland Security had the power to autho-

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I suggest you send a written notice to the irrigation company letting them know they have not properly completed the repairs and that you expect they will promptly return. If they do not, consider a claim in Justice Court for breach of contract and a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. To use this, you must first send written notice stating what you believe they did wrong and how much money you want in damages. [Your damages would be any unearned payment plus any additional costs of getting someone else to finish the project] You then need to wait 60 days before filing suit to give him a chance to settle.

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rize employment for aliens.

In reliance on this power, the Department of Homeland Security previously promulgated regulations listing the various categories of aliens who can apply for and receive employment authorization. Based on this authority, the President has directed the Department to allow for those given deferred action to receive employment authorization as well.

While the statute provides the basis for the executive actions taken by the President, critics suggest that the large number of individuals who could ultimately benefit signals that the plan is overreaching. Although past Presidents have used the same authority to provide immigration benefits to various groups, those were much smaller in scale. In opposition to the executive actions of the President, the House Judiciary Committee recently held a hearing in which 3 of the 4 witnesses testified that they believe that the President has exceeded his authority and violated the Constitution. As the President’s plan to provide temporary relief to some is slowly implemented, permanent reform through Congress would be the best way to settle the debate on the reach of his executive authority.

Emily Neumann and Rahul Reddy are partners in Reddy & Neumann, P.C. in Houston and Dallas. Since 1997, the firm has focused exclusively on immigration law, representing both employers and immigrants.

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VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

Hindus of Greater Houston: On to Wider Agenda and Broader Leadership

From top left Richa Dixit , Vinod Mantri, Partha Krishnaswamy, Swapan Dhairyawan Sanjay Jain , Atul Kothari, Anshuman Desai.

Front Row: Vijay Pallod, Girish Naik, Venugopal Menon, Dev Mahajan Tupil Narasimhan and Sharad Amin

Dr. Venugopal Menon ith well over a hundred thousand and steadily growing population, Hindus are distinctly the third largest religious community in the Greater Houston area. The last four decades witnessed the creation of several temples and organizations catering to the spiritual, social and philosophic needs of the faith, engaging various sections of the community. Since Hindu faith has not been formulated on any regimented guidelines and had functioned serving selective groups with discrete interests, most of these organizations have remained independent yet open to all.

About twenty five years ago some of the wise and visionary stalwarts in the community made an attempt to bring all the Hindus under one umbrella, celebrating Janmashtami, the birth of

W

God Krishna, the universal Hindu deity, revered by all sections of the faith. The brilliant concept got established and got expanded, creating a feeling of unity and camaraderie between the several factions of Hindus in Houston.

Over 2 years ago, Hindus of Greater Houston committee formed an Advisory Board, consisting of primarily, heads of temples/ organizations with the objectives of functioning as a link to the several units, incorporating the interests of every group, enhancing their efficiency and minimizing possible duplication.

The need and urgency of such unity was felt essential for several reasons: to create harmony among all the Hindus to approach and handle situations of common interests in a collective fashion, to raise the younger generation as belonging to

one faith beyond the barriers of language, states, customs and factions and to establish an awareness in the mainstream about Hindu religion on equal footing as a major, recognizable, global religion with about a billion followers and flourishing since antiquity. Hindus of Greater Houston adopted the following renewed mission statement: • to uphold the lofty ideals of ‘Sanatan Dharma’ (Eternal Consciousness), • to respect the divinity in all humans, • to promote Hindu solidarity, • to inspire Hindus of the splendor of our convictions, • to propagate understanding and dispel misinformation about our faith, • to provide guidance and to function as an umbrella organization protect-

ing the needs of all the Hindus in the greater Houston area and beyond, and • to coexist with camaraderie and compassion with factions of other faiths.

In order to fulfill the mission and goals noted above, HGH committee decided to

Indian n o t s Hou

expand to include five new members with established, impeccable credentials of commitment in the community, thus complementing the present, already proven, competent group of leaders. The following are the members of HGH Board: Sharad Amin, Vijay Pal-

lod, Partha Krishnaswamy, Thara Narasimhan, Richa Dixit, Vinod Mantri, Dharminder Dargan, Sanjay Jajoo, Radha Dixit, Bhagwan Bhutada, Girish Naik, Swapan Dhairyawan, Sanjay Jain, Atul Kothari, Tupil Narasimhan, and Anshuman Desai.

Fellowship presents

Hamara Desi Christmas

2014

December 20th @ 6:00 PM OLD STAFFORD CIVIC CENTER 1415 Constitution Ave., Stafford, TX 77477 Chief Guest: Rep. Rick Miller

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Contact: 832-275-8810 | 832-419-0967 Hamara Desi Christmas Painting Competion!

Theme: Christmas | E-mail submissions: Nov 15 - Dec 15, 2014 Winners will be announced during the program on December 20th.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

‘Maritime’ Life at the Stafford Centre Gitesh Desai appointed

by Somdatta Gangopadhyay

I

t was an evening for sailors, a moment for those who had spent a lion’s share of their lives in the water. The Samunder Club of Houston saw an ever-energetic throng of crowds as it celebrated its 100 years at the Stafford Centre on December 6th,2014.

‘Our Samunder Club of Houston stands amidst the exciting environment of USA’s Oil and Gas industry.’, said Ramsunder Ramamurthy, President, Samunder Club of Houston.

Keynote speaker Dr. Beheruz N.Sethna, President Emeritus and Regents’ Professor at The University of West Georgia enlightened the audience with his powerful speech. Having served as President from August 1994 through June 2013, at the time of his retirement, Dr.Sethna was the longest serving University President in the great state of Georgia.

‘The vast majority of credit for my life’s trajectory is due to my parents. They nurtured me, taught me, disciplined me, and made huge sacrifices for the sake of my education.’, said Sethna, a graduate from the prestigious IIT Bombay. Along with his wife Dr. Madhavi Sethna, he was also invited on stage and honored with a memento. Voted one of Georgia’s ‘100 Most Influential Georgians’ in six different years, Dr.Sethna was the Guest of Honor. Both Dr.Sethna and his wife being IIM-Ahmedabad and then Columbia University alumni value education, as Dr.Madhavi said, ‘Education does not end even after an MBA from Indian Institute of Management. There is so much to know and so much to learn.’

Dr.Sethna, when asked about the importance of cultural exchange in the field of business, said, ‘If you mean the benefit of having different cultures in a business organization, then I would say that the diversity different people from different cultures brings is invaluable. For example, if it is an organization that depends for its survival and growth on cus-

Mayor Parker’s General Appeals Board

tomers, then the diversity of the employees is a necessary asset, because they can tell management how to relate to different cultures that exist in the marketplace. Further, when you realize that the “marketplace” is now the entire world, such diversity of culture and therefore of perspective, is vital for the very survival of the business, and certainly for its growth. Thus, such cultural diversity is not just a nice thing to have and do, but it becomes a strategic asset to the company/business.’

Siya Anand Nair, a 10 years old girl showcased her talent as she gave a fabulous performance to some Bollywood numbers. She did a dance performance which again added cheers in the air. This was followed by a song performance in which Capt.Jeet Kar-Keka Kar, the husband-wife duo sang some evergreen Bollywood numbers like Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein (On a Rainy Evening) and so on. Crowds cheered and also clapped their

HOUSTON - On Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Houston City Council voted unanimously to confirm Mayor Annise Parker’s appointment of Gitesh Desai to the General Appeals Board, for a term to expire January 2, 2017.

“I’m looking forward to this position. It matches my background and my experience and education.” Desai said after his appointment was approved.

Council Member Oliver Pennington thanked Desai for volunteering to serve on the board.

“We need people like you who will agree to apply your expertise for the benefit of the city,” said Pennington.

Dr. Sethna (in the middle) with wife Dr. Madhavi Sethna and Ramsunder Ramamurthy, (rt) President, Samunder Club of Houston.

The board comprises of total ten members and its general powers and duty are to interpret the provisions of the Building Code in appeals of decisions by the Building Official, to settle possible jurisdictional disputes between Plumbing, Electrical and Air Conditioning Appeals Boards, to determine the suitability of alternative types of ani to begin with, there was a host of mouth watering foods like brinjal curry, paratha, pulao and other snack items as well. A variety of drinks including wine, and other soft drinks could quench the thirst of many. The evening also had the prospective President Joseph Lobo along with his wife Margaret Lobo on stage as they were commemorated.

A minute of silence was also observed in honor of Lobo’s mom’s demise in India which took place just at the moment.

Members of the Samunder Club of Houston hands and some even swayed as the singers created the musical moment. Simran Jetar appeared on stage next as she tuned her legs to some popular

Bollywood numbers. A cancer survivor and a senior in Taylor High School, Jetar says, ‘There is no bridge too far, no mountain too high. The human

spirit can conquer all.’

As no event can be successful without delicious food, guests also could relish the yummy food served at the buffet. Biry-

‘As President of Samunder Club, my resolution is to raise the image of the Indian seafarer in Houston to make them a force to reckon with in the maritime industry, to support Indian seafarers and their families who transfer to Houston , to organize seminars and career fairs in schools and universities in which our

Gitesh Desai construction other than those relating to Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical and to make recommendations to the Mayor for amendments to the City of Houston Building Code.

Desai is a licensed professional engineer employed by Wood Group Mustang and has been involved in community affairs for many years. He is a past president of the Indian American Political Action Committee of Greater Houston and currently serves on its Board.

Samunder Members can share their experience and technical expertise and encourage youngsters to select a maritime career.’, said Lobo.

Finally the guests had an opportunity to shake their legs at a dance session which soon took place. Sameesha Raghuwanshi was the youngest ‘dancer’ at the party. Being only 3 months old she had to take the support of her parents in order to keep up to the tunes. ‘Dancers’ were ‘granted’ a break as Susana Collins and Jeff De Loach, Luna Tango Productions unveiled a Tango performance.

The dance session however resumed soon after the Tango performance. After a non-stop dance party, it was time to retire. As the night rolled down, guests gradually started bidding farewell to each other along with sweet memories and chocolate boxes.

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

India Culture Center elects Indians to Celebrate 7th Hamara its 2015 Board of Directors Desi Christmas - A Free Event

L to R sitting. Nisha Mirani, Sapna Shah, Jasmeeta Singh,Falguni Gandhi, Nirmala Patel L to R Standing... Raj Bhalla, Sam Merchant, Harshad Patel, Girish Pandya, Charlie Patel, Girish Naik, Rajiv Bhavsar, Hemant Patel, Saundarya Sohoni, Ajit Patel

A nativity depiction by children.

A

re you wondering why Old Stafford Civic Center is going to be packed on December 20th? You guessed it right! It is the 7th annual Hamara Desi Christmas Celebration! As always it is going to be a soldout FREE event and every attendee will be left with a bit of Christmas joy in their hearts.

ICC’s newly elected Board of Directors, Trustees and representatives of partnering organizations.

H

OUSTON - The India Culture Center (ICC) held its Board of Directors election on December 7th, 2014 here at the India House. The Election Committee comprised of Jawahar Malhotra, Girish Pandya and Sam Merchant.

The elections were unanimous for the 7 positions and

New racial profiling guidelines flawed, misleading: US Sikhs WASHINGTON: Sikhs Americans have rejected new racial profiling guidelines of the US government alleging that the rules are flawed and misleading.

Although the new guidance explicitly recognises that discriminatory profiling is “unfair” and “ineffective”, and that biased practices “promote mistrust of law enforcement, and perpetuate negative and harmful stereotypes” - it still allows discriminatory profiling by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), alleged Sikh Coalition, a Sikh rights group.

Both CBP and TSA are components of the US Department of Homeland Security, the largest law enforcement agency in the federal government.

“This guidance is like a used car with new paint. The car looks better, but once you look underneath the hood, you realise it’s unsafe to drive,” said Rajdeep Singh, director of Law and Policy at the Sikh Coalition.

The new guidance also does not apply to state and local law enforcement activities and will not address gaps in trust at the grassroots level between police and the communities they serve, the Sikh Coalition said.

“This is one step forward, 10 steps back. The new guidance recognises that profiling is wrong but then gives CBP a green light to profile ethnic and religious minorities at the border, and continues to give TSA carte blanche authority to profile travellers based on stereotypes,” Singh said.

Since the inception of TSA, the Sikh Coalition has led efforts to promote accountability at the agency, in particular by repeatedly demanding an independent audit of TSA screening practices to prevent discriminatory profiling.

In response to persistent complaints of profiling from turbaned Sikhs at American airports, the Sikh Coalition in April 2012 launched a free smartphone app called FlyRights, which allows travellers of any background to file official complaints with the TSA. In the last year alone, the Sikh Coalition secured re-training of TSA personnel after the agency mistreated three turbaned Sikh travellers.

the following individuals were elected for the 2 year term: Jasmeeta Singh, Col Raj Bhalla, Charlie Patel, Harshad Patel, Nirmala Patel, Sapna Shah & Saundarya Sohoni.

President Charlie Patel in his remarks to the General Body was appreciative of the community support, donors, spon-

sors, vendors & the media support.

He highlighted the year long partnering events which ICC was involved during 2014.

The next Signature event of ICC is India Fair- Celebration of India’s Republic Day which will be celebrated on Saturday January 31st 2015.

This event is hosted by the Houston Indian Fellowship (HIF), a group of Indians from across the metropolitan Houston area. HIF strives to bring Christmas cheer to people from different faiths and regions of India. HIF also conducts winter cricket championships, painting competitions for the children in the community and provides free health care to the needy through Red Oaks Hospital.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘Unity Through Good

News’. The celebration includes traditional and nontraditional programs ranging from skits, dances, songs and this year’s chief guest will be Texas Representative, Rick Miller! The admission for the event is FREE followed by free dinner catered by the acclaimed Annam Indian Cuisine. Santa Claus is also planning on making a quick stop at the Celebration!

Deepak Israel, a member of HIF, proudly stated, “This event is growing every year as more and more Indians hear about it! We are going to fill the Old Stafford Civic Center to maximum occupancy this year!” The excitement is definitely contagious as Reuben Joseph the lead coordinator of HIF said, “Seeing the joy of Christmas on the faces of the audience gives me great satisfaction as that is the whole

idea behind this celebration!”

The sponsors for this event were Red Oaks Hospital, Sagemont Church, Annam Indian Cuisine, Vonage, MetLife, HIF, and other individuals.

University of Houston students along with other families will be helping behind the scenes.

Houston Indian Fellowship would also like to invite anyone interested in performing or helping at the 7th annual Hamara Desi Christmas event to please contact Dr. Robello Samuel at 832-275-8810 or Deepak Israel at 832-4190967 or Reuben Joseph 713480-0473.

Hamara Desi Christmas is the ONLY Desi Christmas celebration in the Houston area, so make sure you come out for an evening of fun and entertainment!

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

VOICE OF ASIA 11

LIFESTYLE

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 27 No. 50 Friday, December 12, 2014 Section 2 Page 11

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140

Victoria’s Secret ‘Angels’ strut Obesity clips up to 8 years off your life, says study in London for first time

P

ARIS, France | AFP | 12/5/2014 - Obesity and extreme obesity can reduce life expectancy by up to eight years and deprive people of as much as 19 years of good health, according to a study published on Friday.

in the journal Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

The research -- a mathematical model based on US health data -should be a useful tool for doctors advising patients who are worryingly overweight, its authors said.

Between 0.8 and 5.9 years of life were lost for obese people, with a BMI of 30 to 34.9.

The biggest area of concern is for people who become obese while they are young.

“The pattern is clear,” said Steven Grover, a professor of epidemiology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

“The more an individual weighs and the younger their age, the greater the effect on their health. “(...) They have many years ahead of them, during which the increased health risks associated with obesity can negatively impact their lives.”

US singer Taylor Swift performs during the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Earl’s Court exhibition centre in London (AFP Photo/Leon Neal)

by Jessica BERTHEREAU

L

ONDON - Top models wearing gold wings and diamondencrusted bras strutted the London catwalk on Tuesday in the first Victoria’s Secret annual lingerie show to be held in the British capital.

The event was billed as the US company’s most expensive ever with a price tag of $20 million (16 million euros), and featured some of the world’s best-paid models including Brazil’s Adriana Lima.

Only the second time the show has been held outside the United States since 1995, the event began on a glamourous note with the so-called “Victoria’s Secret Angels” dressed in white and sporting gold wings.

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran took to the stage to perform his hit “Thinking Out Loud” as models walked the catwalk in colourful outfits inspired by exotic destinations.

US superstars Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande also performed in the show in London -- a city chosen over Paris because of its “convergence” between fashion and music, according to marketing director Ed Razek.

“The show is seen in 192 countries, the show is seen by 500 million people. That is completely unique in the

industry. No one does what we do,” Razek said.

Wearing long dark tresses and capes, Lima and fellow Brazilian Alessandra Ambrosio exhibited “Fantasy Bras” created by jeweller Mouawad, each studded with 16,000 precious stones including diamonds, rubies and sapphires valued at $2 million.

Swift, dressed in a pink and black negligee, performed her single “Blank Space” in part of the show inspired by dreams and decorated with pearlescent balloons.

A change in ambiance arrived in the fourth section of the show, which was hosted by Grande and was dedicated to the brand’s more casual PINK line aimed at students, with models dressed in leopard prints and bright colours.

Irish musician Hozier then performed his hit debut “Take Me to Church” as models dressed in pale green and pink with transparent fairy wings strutted in a magical setting of white trees and autumn leaves.

Swift then returned to the stage to bring the show to a close with a black and white themed performance as the Angels modelled garter belts and stockings sets.

Among the 47 “Angels” chosen to represent the brand were Candice

Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, Doutzen Kroes and Karlie Kloss -- the latter appeared wearing 18-carat gold wings.

Created in 1977 and with 1,000 stores in the United States, Victoria’s Secret is the market leader there and made $6.68 billion from sales last year.

It has been on the British market since 2005 and has a flagship store on London’s New Bond Street, one of 15 outlets in the country.

The flashy brand is not to everyone’s taste, however.

Three British students led a successful social media campaign that forced the company earlier this month to change its adverts featuring models wearing its new “Body” bras under the slogan: “The Perfect ‘Body’.”

The ad now reads: “A Body for Every Body.”

But Razek dismissed the controversy as “absurd” as he said the company had never intended to present “an example of the one and only perfect body in the world”.

Describing the models as “healthy” and “confident”, Razek said that those who performed in the show were “genuinely nice women” who defied stereotypes.

Grover’s team used data from a big US project, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which monitored thousands of people over years, to analyse the risk of early death and ill health a m o n g adults of d i ff e rent body weight.

Individuals who were in the overweight category -- who had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 -were estimated to lose between zero and three years of expected life.

The extremely obese, with a BMI of 35 or more, lost between 0.9 and 8.4 years of life expectancy.

The greatest loss in expected lifespan was found among those aged 20-39.

On the other hand, the loss was smaller and sometimes negligible among those who were only overweight.

“Healthy life-years” lost to diabetes and cardiovascular problems ranged from 0.5 years to 19.1.

The biggest loss was among women who were extremely obese in the 20-39 age bracket.

The least loss was among men who were overweight and aged between 60 and 79.

The data came from a subset of

T h e y compared overweight and obese p e o p l e against people of normal weight in terms of life expectancy.

They also calculated A women walks down the street on October 19, 2006 in Chithe number cago, Illinois. AFP. of years of good health that each 4,000 people in the 2003-2010 US individual could -- statistically -- ex- survey, all of them white, for whom pect. more details about their health and This was defined as being free of cardiovascular disease or diabetes -two diseases that are closely linked with excessive weight.

The estimates applied to people aged between 20 and 79.

The outcome was dramatic, according to the paper, which appears

blood sugar were known.

The warning should be treated as conservative, as the study only factored in two obesity-related diseases, said the study.

Cancer, respiratory disease, liver and kidney disease have also been linked to chronic overweight.

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VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

Smelling sweet: the Bulgar- Rowling unveils Christmas ian deodorant that you eat gift for Harry Potter fans British author J. K. Rowling will publish new Harry Potter material every day from December 12 to 23 on her website Pottermore.com as a gift to fans.

The author made the announcement on Facebook on Monday, saying the stories will be available each day from 1300 GMT for fans who solve an online riddle.

The new material will include “shiny gold Galleons and even a new potion or two”, the author said, and the riddles will be written in rhyme.

Ventsislav Peychev, owner of Bulgaria’s small Alpi candy factory, poses at the factory in the town of Asenovgrad, southwest Bulgaria, on November 4, 2014

by Diana SIMEONOVA Asenovgrad, Bulgarie | AFP | Saturday 12/6/2014 - There are sprays, roll-ons and sticks.

Now one Bulgarian candymaker is offering a new kind of deodorant: in the form of delicious sweets.

“It’s an old saying that true beauty comes from inside....

Why not from a candy?” Ventsislav Peychev, owner of Bulgaria’s small Alpi candy factory owner, told AFP. He claims his Deo Perfume Candy can neutralise body odour and replace it with a lingering sweet scent for up to six hours, depending on a person’s size and how many sweets they have gobbled up.

The sweets -- which look like typical bonbons and are available in hard, chewy and even sugar-free versions -- are based on research by Japanese scientists who found that a major component of rose oil, geraniol, was not broken down by the body but excreted through the skin.

Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest country, is a major producer of rose oil.

“Geraniol is an antipode of garlic.... It also comes out through the pores but instead of leaving a bad smell, it perfumes the body,” said Peychev.

Awarded a bronze medal at the Geneva Exhibition of Inventions in 2011, and a technical innovation award at the

SIAL food exhibition in Paris this past October, the deodorant candy, selling for $5.98 (4.81 euros) a pack on amazon. com, is already on sale in the United States, Asia and several European counties.

Although the concept is not new, Peychev’s product is the only one on the market now after a Japanese manufacturer stopped making its Otoko Kaoru chewing gum based on the same idea.

- Does it work? Each piece of Peychev’s candy contains three milligrammes of geraniol-rich rose or lavender essential oil, which apparently men prefer.

“This quantity is enough for the smell to last for six hours depending on the body mass of the consumer, an average of 65 kilos. Heavier people should eat more candies -- two, three, four,” said Dimitar Hadzhikinov, a professor at the Plovdiv University of Food Technology who helped Alpi develop the candy.

The effect is quicker with the soft and sugar-free candies, which dissolve more easily in the mouth. And since all the ingredients are natural, there’s no need to feel bad about eating a few more than necessary, according to Hadzhikinov.

An AFP correspondent who stuffed herself with the bonbons said she did smell even more sweetly than usual afterwards, although not one exactly

of roses. A whiff also remained long after the taste of the candies had gone.

Whether the candy -- priced at about two leva (one euro, $1.30) for a packet of 20 on the Bulgarian market -- will find a large audience remains to be seen.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in a new report that most of its 34 member countries had seen a growing widening in the inequality gap.

“In most OECD countries, the gap between rich and poor is at its highest level since 30 years,” the report said.

“Today, the richest 10 percent of the population in the OECD area earn 9.5 times the income of the poorest 10 percent; in the 1980s this ratio stood at 7:1 and has been rising continuously ever since.”

The OECD counts both developed and developing countries as members, including nations from the European Union as well as the United States, Turkey, Mexico and Japan.

China, Brazil and India are not members.

In the couple of decades leading up to the global economic crisis, average household income grew for all OECD countries by about 1.6 percent annually.

“However, in three quarters of OECD countries household incomes of the top 10 percent grew faster than those of the poorest 10 percent, resulting in widening income inequality,” the report said.

During the recent post-crisis

years, average household income stagnated or fell in most member countries, it said.

The gap between the rich and poor varies widely across OECD member states and is often narrower in many Continental European nations and the Nordic countries, according to the report.

But the average income ratio between the richest 10 percent and the poorest 10 percent skyrockets in other member states.

It “reaches around 10 to 1 in Italy, Japan, Korea, Portugal and the United Kingdom, between 13 and 16 to 1 in Greece, Israel, Turkey and the United States, and between 27 and 30 to 1 in Mexico and Chile.”

The report argues that expanding income inequality has negatively affected the economies of member countries, estimating that it has knocked more than 10 percentage points off growth in Mexico and New Zealand.

“In the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and Norway, the growth rate would have been more than one fifth higher had income disparities not widened,” it said.

At the same time, according to the OECD’s calculations, greater equality helped boost GDP per capita in Spain, France and Ireland prior to the economic crisis.

The report called for antipoverty programmes along with increased access to highquality education, training and

“Harry Potter” author J.K Rowling attends the world premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” in London on July 7, 2011 (AFP Photo/Carl Court) Harry Potter has been one of the greatest ever publishing successes, with more than 450

million copies sold around the world and the films raking in $7.0 billion (5.7 billion euros) at the box office.

Kerala tourism bosses hope to halt booze ban after delay order

George Preti, a chemist with the Monell Chemical Senses’ Center in Philadelphia, told AFP it was difficult to judge if such products worked as their makers “seldom, if ever, present any analytical or clinical data to support their claims of deodorancy.”

No previous edible or chewable deodorant product appears to have succeeded in getting much of a hold on the market, he added.

But this will not stop Peychev, who views functional foods not only as a business but a passion.

The lively 55-year-old former engineer previously developed an energy candy with caffeine and guarana, a cooling sweet with vitamins and calcium, and a slimming one with a soluble dietary fibre called inulin.

His company Alpi, in the southern town of Asenovgrad, now employs about 40 workers and churned out 500 tons of sweets last year, with a turnover of two million euros.

Financially at least, things are smelling sweet

Inequality worst in decades in range of countries: OECD Paris, France | AFP | -The gap between the rich and poor in a range of countries has reached its widest in 30 years and the trend has harmed growth, the OECD said Tuesday.

The fictional boy wizard has made a few appearances this year in similar publications by the author but there are no known plans for a new book to follow after the seventh and last volume published in 2007.

healthcare.

“The paper also finds no evidence that redistributive policies, such as taxes and social benefits, harm economic growth, provided these policies are well designed, targeted and implemented,” the OECD said in a statement announcing the report.

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A British tourist drinks a beer at a seafront restaurant in the resort town of Kovalam, in southern Kerala state on September 9, 2014 (AFP Photo/)

by Rachel O’BRIEN

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ochin, Inde | AFP | Kerala tourism bosses said Thursday they were hopeful of overturning an alcohol ban that would seriously damage the industry in the southern Indian state after the country’s top court issued an 11th-hour stay order.

The Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to postpone its plans to introduce almost complete prohibition from Friday following a legal challenge from hoteliers, who feared the move would drive away tourists seeking some booze with their beach holiday.

The court stopped the move until the end of the month to allow the High Court in Kerala time to hear petitions from bar owners who say the move is discriminatory and threatens their businesses.

Justice Anil R Dave questioned the policy, which would mean 700 bars losing their licences straight away, although shops selling liquor would be phased out over 10 years and five-star hotels exempt from the ban except on Sundays.

“If you want to stop it, stop the whole thing in one go like Gujarat. Gujarat is much safer,” the judge said, referring to the western state which has long been dry.

G. Sudhiesh Kumar, president of the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association and

one of the leading petitioners, welcomed the judge’s ruling and expressed hope the lower court would overturn the ban.

“The ball is now in the Honourable High Court of Kerala.

We presume that they will make an acceptable and judicious judgement in the interests of tourism,” he said.

The view was echoed by Anish Kumar, the Kerala-based president of the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India.

“They asked why only five stars. I think there should be a favourable decision,” said Kumar, who also runs a tour operator.

“Let’s hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” added Kumar, chief executive of the Hotel Sea Face in Kovalam, which has already started getting cancellations from repeat European customers due to the looming ban.

Kerala is not a major party destination, with tourists drawn more to its natural beauty and laid-back charm. Nevertheless, foreign visitors said the prospect of not being able to relax with an evening drink during their trip was offputting.

With its sweeping coastline, riverboats and emerald tea plantations, Kerala has become a leading tourist draw in India, promoting itself as ‘God’s Own Country’.

“For me it’s about the hot weather, I just love to have a beer when it’s hot,” said Sandy McConnell, a Tasmanian midwife in her fifties on a month’s tour of Kerala with friends.

But behind the paradisiacal slogan, the state has a damaging drinking problem among its 34 million population, leading the government to opt abruptly for almost complete prohibition -- alarming the tourism industry.

“When you’ve been trekking around it’s really relaxing.”

- ‘Discriminatory’ policy Harris Beeran, lawyer for the Kerala Bar Owners’ Association, told NDTV news network that Thursday’s ruling was “a big relief”.

“It was actually a policy which is discriminatory in nature, that was the observation of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Kerala is rum and brandy-loving, with the highest consumption levels in India owing to its relatively high living standards, while the region also has a long tradition of home-brewing.

Under the state’s plan, government-run liquor stores, where men queue up for their daily fix, will be phased out at a rate of ten percent a year for the next decade.

That would leave a big hole in the state coffers. Alcohol taxes and fees generated more than $1 billion in the 2012-13 financial year

Internet overload? No, survey says

ashington, United States | AFP | Monday 12/8/2014Most people are happy with the Internet as a source of ondemand information, with only a small percentage hit by “information overload,” a survey of US users showed Monday.

Some 72 percent of those surveyed said they liked having the Internet’s resources at their fingertips, and 26 percent felt overwhelmed by the amount of data online.

“We have asked this ‘information overload’ question since the beginning of our research in 2000 and have consistently found the same thing: Ameri-

cans like lots of information choices and don’t feel particularly oppressed by the growing flows of material into their lives,” said Lee Rainie, Internet project director at the Pew Research Center.

“Even through all the tech change in the past generation, people say they are coping fine and relish the new options they have to get and share the information that matters to them.”

The Pew survey shows that 87 percent of adults who access the Internet said it has improved their ability to learn new things.

Some three-fourths of those surveyed said they are better

informed about national and international news and pop culture because of the Internet.

And 67 percent said they are better informed about friends and 60 percent know more about their family from online tools.

More than seven in 10 Internet users say digital technologies have improved their ability to share their ideas and creations with others, up from 55 percent in 2006, the report said.

This comes with two thirds of those online using social networking sites.

The survey found 77 per-

cent of adult Internet users say today’s students are better informed because of online access, and just eight percent said it has made them less wellinformed.

Surprisingly, the respondents under age 30 were less convinced of the Internet’s value: 19 percent in that age group said the Internet has had little impact on students, compared with nine percent of those older than 30.

The report is based on an online survey conducted September 12-18 among a sample of 1,066 adult Internet users. The margin of error is estimated at 3.3 percentage points.

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 14

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Mickey & math: Disney unveils learning apps

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

Tel: 713-774-5140

2014 devastating year for children: UN

Screen shot of the official website for Mickey’s Magical Math World app

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OS ANGELES - Disney unveiled a portfolio of learning apps for young children on Thursday, harnessing the appeal of iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy to subjects like math, science, creative arts and languages.

The entertainment giant said its “Disney Imagicademy” aims to expose three to eightyear-old children to core educational concepts via a curriculum developed in conjunction with academic and education experts.

The company said more than 30 app-based experiences, including five which would be

rolled out on December 11, would form the integrated program along with books and other physical products.

“Disney Consumer Products is transforming the future of our industry by integrating storytelling, play -- and now learning -- to create deeper, more engaging experiences for kids and families,” said Bob Chapek, president of Disney Consumer Products.

“With Disney Imagicademy, we are taking the next step and offering parents a learning product unique in the marketplace today.”

The product launch begins with Mickey’s Magical Math

World, an iPad-exclusive app that features five math-focused activities -- Mickey’s Super Rocket Shapes, Donald’s Number Launcher, Minnie’s Robot Count-Along, Daisy’s Bedtime Countdown and Goofy’s Silly Sorting.

Each app aims to hone early math skills such as counting forward and backward, sorting and classifying, skip counting, number and shapes recognition, reason and logic.

The second range of digital apps is Mickey’s Magical Arts World, focused on creative arts, available on the Apple App Store for download in January

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Nearly 400,000 children in Gaza are suffering from psychosocial distress as a result of the 50-day armed conflict in 2014. Photo: UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi UNITED NATIONS, | AFP |- 2014 has been a devastating year for children with up to 15 million swept up in wars in the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Ukraine, the UN children’s agency said Monday.

“Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such unspeakable brutality,” UNICEF director Anthony Lake said.

“Children have been killed while studying in the classroom and while sleeping in their beds; they have been orphaned, kidnapped, tortured, recruited, raped and even sold as slaves.”

“This has been a devastating year for millions of children,” he said.

Globally, 230 million children currently live in countries and areas engulfed in violent

conflict, according to UNICEF. The wars in Syria and Iraq, which have seen the rise of the Islamic State group, have left children in the clutches of increasingly brutal and extreme violence, the agency said.

been engulfed in a year-long war, 235,000 children under five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while 750,000 have been displaced and more than 320,000 are living as refugees.

More than 7.3 million children are affected by the war in Syria and 2.7 million in Iraq.

South Sudan armed forces and groups have recruited around 12,000 child soldiers this year, according to UNICEF.

In Gaza, 54,000 children remain homeless from the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas militants that ended in August.

Of the more than 2,000 dead from the fighting, 538 were children.

The world’s worst outbreak of Ebola has left thousands of children orphaned while some 5 million are out of school in the three hardest-hit countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Up to 10,000 children have been recruited by armed groups in the Central African Republic over the past year and more than 430 children have been killed and maimed -- three times as many as last year.

“The sheer number of crises in 2014 meant that many were quickly forgotten or captured little attention,” UNICEF said citing ongoing violence in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen

In South Sudan, which has

VOICE OF ASIA 15

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Friday, December 12, 2014

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Rajinikanth: Romancing Sonakshi Sin- Salman Khan parties with ha In Lingaa Was Challenging Paris Hilton at private bash

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UMBAI: After expressing keen interest in working on a Bollywood film with Hrithik Roshan, socialiteturned-DJ Paris Hilton flew down to Mumbai to play for a private party on Monday night.

Also present at the party was Salman Khan, Mika Singh and DJ Alvaro. After meeting and spending time with the ‘Kick’ star, Paris took to Twitter to share a picture from the party.

She posted,” #GoodTimes in India with my friend @BeingSalmanKhan.”

Mika Singh also shared a few moments from the private party on the social networking site.

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan voted sexiest Asian in United Kingdom

Rajinikanth and Sonakshi Sinha

S

uperstar Rajinikanth Monday said romancing Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha in his forthcoming multilingual action movie Lingaa was a challenge.

Rajinikanth said he didn’t feel so nervous even the first time he faced the camera as much as he did when he was asked to shoot duet songs with Bollywood actress Sonakshi.

“The worst punishment god can give actors like me who are in their 60s is to sing du-

Paris Hilton with Salman Khan

ets. I found shooting duets with Sonakshi more challenging than doing stunts atop a moving train in the film,” Rajinikanth told reporters here at the curtain-raiser of the film’s Telugu version. “Even in my first film, I didn’t feel so nervous as much as I did when I had to romance her. I’ve known Sonakshi as a baby, and she has grown up together with my daughters,” he said. Rajinikanth heaped praises on makeup artist Bhanu and cinematog-

rapher Rathnavelu for making him look “young and beautiful” on screen. Rajinikanth appreciated the director for completing a project of this scale in less than six months. Lingaa, directed by K.S. Ravi Kumar, is slated for release Friday.

The superstar also reiterated that they didn’t steal anyone’s script to make Lingaa, and that it was originally written by S. Ponkumaran. The film will release in three languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

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Lt: Pakistan’s singer Ali Zafar slipped to third place. Rt: Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan. DC photo

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ONDON: Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan has been voted the world’s sexiest Asian man for the third time in four years.

The 40-year-old actor reclaimed the crown, which he lost last year, in the 11th edition of the ‘50 Sexiest Asian Men In The World’ list produced annually by Britain’s weekly newspaper ‘Eastern Eye’.

Television actor Kushal Tandon was the surprise runner up in this year’s list and last year’s winner Ali Zafar slipped to third place on the ratings released here on Wednesday.

TV actor Vivian D’Sena, who made it into the top 10 for the first time, was fourth in a record-breaking year that saw more than 10 million votes cast in all.

“Thank you ‘Eastern Eye’. I am humbled by the desirable tag. I believe sexy is less to do with the physical and more to do with the mental perspective on life, others and yourself,” Hrithik said.

“Do good, never please, know your worth, walk your path, have a sense of humour, be the giver, be self-sufficient and contribute with power to all around. Sexy is as sexy does. Create your own sexy!”

‘Eastern Eye’ showbiz editor Asjad Nazir, founder of the list and chair of the judging panel, believes Hrithik is on his way to become India’s first global cinematic superstar.

“The reason why Hrithik is regularly voted top is that he ticks all the boxes. He is a talented actor, is the best dancer in Bollywood, has arguably the best physique and has the kind of humility that connects him to the everyday individual,” Nazir said.

The win rounded off a roller-coaster year for the actor that saw him star in one of the year’s biggest hits ‘Bang Bang’ and his amicable divorce from wife Sussanne Khan.

Actor Fawad Khan was in seventh position. Others stars in the top 10 include Shahid Kapoor (5), Barun Sobti (6), Ranbir Kapoor (8) and Salman Khan (10).

Indian TV stars dominated the

2014 list including actor Ashish Sharma (14) who followed up his stunning win on reality TV show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7’ by being the highest placed newcomer. Other TV stars in the list included Gurmeet Choudhary (11), Karan Singh Grover (12), Karan Tacker (16), Kunwar Amar (17), Harshad Arora (19), Gautam Rode (20), Rithvik Dhanjani (21) and Aham Sharma (27).

Virat Kohli (38) is the only sportsman in the list again.

Other notable names in the list include Shah Rukh Khan (13), Sidharth Malhotra (15), Arjun Kapoor (18), Ranveer Singh (22), singer Arjun (31), Atif Aslam (40) and Suriya (50).

The 2014 full list will be published in Eastern Eye this Friday. (PTI).

Delhi rape: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma demand swift conviction to stop crime against women

D

isturbed by the recent rape Delhi cab rape case, Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma, who are currently busy promoting their upcoming film ‘PK’, said swift conviction is the only way one can see a dip in incidents of crime against women.

“Right now as the way things are, the rate of rate of conviction is low and the process of justice takes very long. In the case of

crime against women and children, conviction should be certain and swift. And at the same time we should also work on the mindset of people. On how we think,” Aamir said.

Anushka too echoed the same sentiment. “It is sad that even after 2 years of Nirbhaya incident happening, another such incident has happened. Conviction rate should be fast so that people begin to fear,” Anushka said.

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Malaria deaths halved since 2000 but Ebola risks gains: WHO

by Alice RITCHIE

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eneva, Switzerland | AFP | Monday 12/8/2014 - The number of people dying from malaria has almost halved since 2000, although progress in west Africa risks being reversed by the Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

The UN agency also warned of continuing gaps in access to mosquito nets and anti-malaria treatments, as well as worrying signs of resistance to insecticides and drugs.

Global mortality rates fell by 47 percent between 2000 and 2013 and by 53 percent in children under the age of five, the WHO said in its annual report on the disease.

In sub-Saharan Africa, where 90 percent of all malaria deaths occur, the mortality rate was down 54 percent -- 58 percent in under fives, the equivalent of about 3.9 million children’s deaths averted.

“These are truly unprecedented results and phenomenal news in terms of global health,” said Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO’s global malaria programme.

Despite a 43-percent increase in the population in the region, the number of infections at any one time fell 26 percent between 2000 and 2013.

Meanwhile 13 of the 97 malarial countries reported no cases of the disease last year, including Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka, which recorded their first ever zero result.

Alonso attributed the progress in large part to increasing financial and political commitment, as well as improvements

in diagnosing and therefore treating cases.

However, despite a threefold increase in investment since 2005, malaria programmes are still underfunded -- $2.7 billion (2.2 billion euros) in 2013 against a $5.1 billion international target.

And as a result, major gaps remain.

Access to insecticide-treated bed nets has improved significantly, but 278 million people at risk in sub-Saharan Africa still live in households without one.

The report also said 15 million of the region’s 35 million pregnant women receive no preventative treatment.

And 437,000 African children under the age of five still died from the disease in 2013, out of a total of 584,000 deaths across the world.

“We can win the fight against malaria. We have the right tools and our defences are working,” said WHO director-general Margaret Chan.

“But we still need to get those tools to a lot more people if we are to make these gains sustainable.”

- Ebola threatens gains The fragility of the gains is evident in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, where the Ebola outbreak has halted malaria programmes in some areas and put huge strain on health services.

“The collapse of health systems has affected all core malaria interventions and is threatening to reverse recent gains,” Chan warned.

Health workers across the world are increasingly using

simple tests to diagnose malaria on the spot. But these have been suspended in Ebola affected areas because of concerns about spreading the virus.

Many people with malaria are also staying away from clinics, and if “they are not getting treated, you can be sure that mortality is going to increase”, said Richard Cibulskis, lead author of the malaria report.

A total of 20,000 people died from malaria across the three hardest hit countries in 2013.

More than 6,300 people have died from Ebola in the region in the past year.

The study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, a journal of the American Medical Association, also found that the more severe the pre-eclampsia, the higher the likelihood of autism.

Aside from the direct consequences, the resurgence of malaria could also harm the fight against Ebola because the two have similar symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose the deadly virus, experts warn.

UNICEF last week launched a campaign to provide antimalarial drugs to 2.4 million people in Sierra Leone, while global aid agency Doctors Without Borders is conducting a smaller scale effort in Liberia.

Another issue threatening progress is the rise of insecticide resistance, which has been reported in 49 countries since 2010 -- 39 of which reported resistance to two or more insecticide classes.

The WHO raised particular concern about the development of resistance to a commonly used drug, artemisinin, in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

“Emerging drug- and insecticide-resistance continues to pose a major threat, and if left unaddressed, could trigger an upsurge in deaths,” Chan said.

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• Sclerotherapy— A doctor injects a solution into the veins that scars and closes them. In a few weeks, the veins should fade away, but additional treatments may be required. This procedure may be used for small or medium-size varicose veins.

• Laser treatment— Very strong bursts of light are sent through the skin to the veins, making them slowly fade and disappear. This is usually only effective for small veins.

SUGAR LAND—(December 2, 2014) — Varicose veins can be unsightly and may cause discomfort or pain. In some cases, they can even lead to serious health problems. Understanding more about varicose veins can help you decide how to better deal with them. Ulises Baltazar, M.D., board-certified vascular surgeon with Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates, answers some commonly asked questions.

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Q: How common are they?

• Catheter-assisted procedures— A doctor threads a tiny tube called a catheter into a vein, then uses either radiofrequency or laser energy (heat) at the tip of the catheter to close off and seal the vein as the catheter is removed. This treatment is effective for large varicose veins.

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They are more common among older people, people who are overweight or obese, those who sit or stand for long periods, and women.

• Ambulatory phlebectomy— This is another surgical procedure that involves removing veins through small incisions, but only the parts of the leg that will be pricked are numbed with anesthesia.

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• Vein stripping— A long vein is surgically removed through small incisions; general anesthesia is often required. This procedure is usually reserved for very large veins.

A: They are enlarged veins that may be blue, red or fleshcolored and occur most often in the legs. They may appear twisted and bulging and may be raised above the surface of the skin.

Q: What causes them?

A: Varicose veins may be caused by weak, damaged, deformed or missing valves in the veins. Your leg muscles push blood back to the heart against gravity. Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing forward to return it to your heart. But if the valves aren’t working properly, blood can leak back into the veins and pool there. When backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they can become varicose.

A: You should seek treatment if varicose veins cause pain or aching; a vein is red, swollen, very tender or warm to the touch; the skin on your calf and ankle becomes thick and changes color, or has sores; a varicose vein begins to bleed; or your symptoms interfere with your daily activities.

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A: Varicose veins are treated in the following ways: • Self-care— Getting regular exercise that uses the legs; eating a low-salt, high-fiber diet; maintaining a healthy weight; and elevating your legs when resting may help ease pain and keep varicose veins from getting worse.

• Compression stockings— Over-the-counter or prescription-strength compression

‘Significant’ link between pre-eclampsia, autism: study Miami, United States | AFP | Monday 12/8/2014 Children born to women who suffered a high-blood pressure condition called pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are twice as likely to have autism or other developmental delays, US researchers said Monday.

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The research involved more than 1,000 children aged two to three in northern California. All of their mothers had confirmed diagnoses of pre-eclampsia, and scientists compared data about those developing normally to those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental delays.

“We found significant associations between pre-eclampsia and ASD that increased with severity,” said senior author Cheryl Walker, assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Davis.

“We also observed a significant association between severe pre-eclampsia and developmental delay.”

Autism spectrum disorder affects as many as one in 88 children in the United States.

The exact causes of the developmental disorder are unknown, with research pointing to genes, the environmental, or both.

Autism leads to difficulties in social, emotional and communication skills, and has no known cure.

Some past research has suggested that pre-eclampsia -which causes high blood pressure late in pregnancy and high levels of protein in the urine, as well as seizures in severe cases -- could be linked to autism, perhaps by depriving the fetus of nutrients and oxygen.

“While single studies cannot establish causality, the cumulative evidence supports efforts to reduce pre-eclampsia and diminish severity, to improve neonatal outcomes,” Walker said.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Have You Enrolled In Obama Care Yet?

By Galen Institute count, more than 42 significant changes already have been made to Obama Care: at least 24 that President Obama has made unilaterally, 16 that Congress has passed and the president has signed and 2 by the Supreme Court.

CHANGES BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION 1. Medicare Advantage patch: The administration ordered an advance draw on funds from a Medicare bonus program in order to provide extra payments to Medicare Advantage plans, in an effort to temporarily forestall cuts in benefits and therefore delay early exodus of MA plans from the program. (April 19, 2011) 2. Employee reporting: The administration, contrary to the Obamacare legislation, instituted a one-year delay of the requirement that employers must report to their employees on their W-2 forms the full cost of their employer-provided health insurance. (January 1, 2012) 3. Subsidies may flow through federal exchanges: The IRS issued a rule that allows premium assistance tax credits to be available in federal exchanges although the law only specified that they would be available “through an Exchange established by the State under Section 1311.” (May 23, 2012) 4. Closing the high-risk pool: The administration decided to halt enrollment in transitional federal high-risk pools created by the law, blocking coverage for an estimated 40,000 new applicants, citing a lack of funds. The administration had money from a fund under Secretary Sebelius’s control to extend the pools, but instead used the money to pay for advertising for Obamacare enrollment and other purposes. (February 15, 2013) 5. Doubling allowed deductibles: Because some group health plans use more than one benefits administrator, plans are allowed to apply separate patient cost-sharing limits to different services, such as doctor/hospital and prescription drugs, allowing maximum outof-pocket costs to be twice as high as the law intended. (February 20, 2013) 6. Small businesses on hold: The administration has said that the federal exchanges for small businesses will not be ready by the 2014 statutory deadline, and instead delayed until

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com 2015 the provision of SHOP (Small-Employer Health Option Program) that requires the exchanges to offer a choice of qualified health plans. (March 11, 2013) 7. Delaying a low-income plan: The administration delayed implementation of the Basic Health Program until 2015. It would have provided more-affordable health coverage for certain low-income individuals not eligible for Medicaid. (March 22, 2013) 8. Employer-mandate delay: By an administrative action that’s contrary to statutory language in the ACA, the reporting requirements for employers were delayed by one year.

(July 2, 2013) 9. Self-attestation: Because of the difficulty of verifying income after the employerreporting requirement was delayed, the administration decided it would allow “selfattestation” of income by applicants for health insurance in the exchanges. This was later partially retracted after congressional and public outcry over the likelihood of fraud.

(July 15, 2013) 10. Delaying the online SHOP exchange: The administration first delayed for a month and later for a year until November 2014 the launch of the online insurance marketplace for small businesses.

The exchange was originally scheduled to launch on October 1, 2013. (September 26, 2013) (November 27, 2013) To Be Continued…

Have you enrolled for Obama-Care yet? Call Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900 to-day, to promptly enroll in Obama Care.

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Cyberattacks to worsen in 2015: McAfee researchers

by Rob Lever

security and industrial control systems. But it sees health care as an especially worrisome sector.

W

ASHINGTON, AFP - A series of spectacular cyberattacks drew headlines this year, and the situation will only worsen in 2015 as hackers use more advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, security researchers said Tuesday.

McAfee Labs’ 2015 Threats Predictions report sees increased cyber-warfare and espionage, along with new strategies from hackers to hide their tracks and steal sensitive data.

“Cyber espionage attacks will continue to increase in frequency,” the report said.

A series of spectacular cyberattacks drew headlines this year, and the situation will only worsen in 2015 as hackers use more advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, security researchers say.

McAfee said small nations and terror groups will become even more active and will “attack by launching crippling distributed denial of service attacks or using malware that wipes the master boot record to destroy their enemies’ networks.”

“In this way, criminals are beginning to look and act more like sophisticated nation-state cyberespionage actors, who watch and wait to gather intelligence,” the report said.

The report also said hackers are looking to target more connected devices, including com-

puters in the farming, manufacturing, and health care sectors.

“The number and variety of devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) family is growing exponentially. In the consumer space, they are now seen in appliances, automobiles, home automation, and even light bulbs,” McAfee said.

- Health care hacks McAfee said it is already seeing hackers targeting devices such as webcams with weak

Amazon allows some buyers to ‘make an offer’

The “make an offer” system to be implemented intially for some 150,000 items could allow Amazon to compete with retail rival eBay, but would not be an auction format.

Amazon said in a statement it would start using this model for sports and entertainment collectibles and fine art, and would “expand to hundreds of thousands of items from sellers in 2015.”

Microsoft’s Paul Allen gives $100 million to disease research

It noted that health care data “is even more valuable than credit card data” on hacker black markets.

nals will use better methods to remain hidden on a victim’s network, to carry out long-term theft of data without being detected, the researchers said.

SAN FRANCISCO, AFP | Amazon said Tuesday it would allow online haggling between buyers and sellers for some items sold by third parties using the US online retail giant.

Tel: 713-774-5140

“With the increasing proliferation of healthcare IoT devices and their use in hospitals, the threat of the loss of information contained on those devices becomes increasingly likely,” the report said.

“Long-term players will become stealthier information gatherers, while newcomers will look for ways to steal money and disrupt their adversaries.”

At the same time, cybercrimi-

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

McAfee says other threats will also grow, including “ransomware,” which locks down data and forces the victim to pay a ransom to retrieve it, and attacks on mobile phone operating systems.

In the retail sector, digital payments may cut the risk of creditcard skimmers, but hackers may be able to exploit wireless systems such as Bluetooth and near field communications (NFC) used for mobile payments.

“With consumers now sending payment information over a protocol with known vulnerabilities, it is highly likely that attacks on this infrastructure will emerge in 2015,” the report said.

The report comes in the wake of news about large-scale cyberattacks that have been linked to Russia or China, and a major infiltration of Sony Pictures which stole massive amounts of data.

“The new ‘make an offer’ experience is a game-changer for Amazon customers looking for great prices on one-of-a-kind items, and for sellers looking to communicate and negotiate directly with customers in an online marketplace environment just like they do normally in their own physical store or gallery,” said Peter Faricy , vice president for Amazon Marketplace, the unit which handles third-party sales.

‘Make an offer’ delivers that functionality and makes customers feel confident they are getting an item they want at the lowest price possible.”

“All negotiations are 1:1 and private between individual customers and sellers,” the Amazon statement said.

“The year 2014 will be remembered as the year of shaken trust,” said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president at Intelowned McAfee.

“In a recent survey of our sellers, nearly half of the respondents told us that the ability to negotiate prices with customers would be important to drive more sales on Amazon.

“A seller is able to accept a customer’s offer at any time.

The intention is to lower prices, and a customer negotiating with a seller will never pay more than the listed price.”

“Restoring trust in 2015 will require stronger industry collaboration, new standards for a new threat landscape, and new security postures that shrink time-to-detection.”

Amazon noted that the new format would not be a true auction with multiple bids as used by eBay.

In retail, Home Depot and others have reported data breaches affecting millions of customers.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen (Getty/AFP/ File)

W

ASHINGTON, AFP - Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen on Monday announced he was giving $100 million to create a disease research institute in Seattle, Washington.

The Allen Institute for Cell Science aims to speed up global research by focusing on cells and creating predictive models of how they react when faced with disease.

“Cells are the fundamental units of life, with every disease we know of affecting particular types of cells,” said Allen.

“Scientists have learned a great deal about many of the 50 trillion cells in our bodies over the last decades, but creating a comprehensive, predictive model of the cell will require a different approach.”

He said the Allen Institute for Cell Science would focus on “large-scale” integration of technology “to provide an exceptional resource for the entire scientific community.”

He added that the goal is to “bring forward the treatment

of different diseases.”

The key questions driving the institute are how information that is encoded in the genes makes its way into cells, and what goes wrong in disease.

To answer these question, the institute will produce a “visual database and animated models of cell parts in action” to aid a “multidisciplinary, team science-driven approach.”

The executive director of the institute will be Rick Horwitz, a longtime director of the National Institutes of Health’s Cell Migration Consortium.

“Generating an integrated view of the cell with predictive power is an enormous task, and the Allen Institute for Cell Science will have the advantage of housing its large-scale efforts all under one roof,” said Horwitz.

“We plan to engage the global cell science community in developing and executing our projects,” added Horwitz.

“And by openly sharing our data, reagents, databases and models, we will leverage and empower research by our colleagues around the world.”

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, December 12, 2014

Your Horoscope for the Week of December 12, 2014

by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

The bright expectations that may turn out not to be enough true information. Like Always, relatively small matter that you would normally pass off as “things happen”. But this one will send you to the edge. One cause may be a recent, rather impractical move on the part of your mate or partner. Though you may be tempted to pick up the phone and tell them off, you are likely to be far too busy to start World War III. Save your venting for a quieter time, when you could let the state of your checkbook tell the story.

Need to value the instinctive powers that you possess. Sharing your enlightenment with younger people will help you to progress. Lead yourself by your extreme sensitivity to whatever environment you find yourself in. As you pick up the vibes, be sure to separate what’s real from what is simply your imagination. What is definitely true, is that your mate is eager to see you and should be in an excellent frame of mind. Give him or her your best, too. Don’t harp on small things. Isn’t it great to feel totally at ease?

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Your insights are almost ‘scary’ this week, when they are powerful and when they are ‘useful’ and could save time, money and a lot of ‘grief/work’ for yourself and/or others.

The strategic alliance with someone who may figure big in your future success. It may be a new romantic relationship, or perhaps it is business progress that is at issue. Whatever your situation, put some feeling into the encounter to show that this is not just another meeting.

Be sure to follow up, whether the issue is personal or professional.

Use the time to refresh and rejuvenate your positive energy. You will be able to get success by magnetism of your personality. Alone it could be a force to be reckoned with, however you’ll be sharp in the job arena. A long hoped for raise could come through, or at least an acknowledgement by a boss or other higher-up that you are worth more. You are also in a mood to improvise. Your spur-of-the-moment creations really fill the bill. You’ll feel like celebrating.

Open your wallet and treat yourself to something sumptuous.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June An opportunity may be ‘handed’ to you but possibly some kind of failure to ‘act on it’ right away, could cause a small setback. A big project at work could keep you working after hours and your mate may not be too pleased at a break in the normal schedule.

Perhaps they may not be as adaptable as you are. Smooth things out, try not to talk about money concerns, if possible. Better days are ahead. You are sharp as a tack, but try not to be too sharp.

Watch what you say to co-workers, because you may offend someone.

Experience the fact all roads you take this week will lead you to a sort of spiritual awakening. It will be clear to you, however, that the usefulness or viability of what you give up, has gone. You’ll be in the mood for romance, with someone new, someone old, or with that very special person who is always there for you. No tears or regrets, just be glad that whatever it was is now over. Because you are in overdrive, an emotional explosion could be a decisive and constructive action on a long-term work project that you are now determined to bring to a head and complete.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Changes may be afoot on the home scene. Do your best to stay on an even course, plan to spend some time unwinding. In this situation, the best way to nurture yourself is to nurture others. You will be able to speak tenderly. Sharp words should not be exchanged. Someone, possibly an older relative, could express discontent with how they perceive you are handling your affairs, it’s not polite, but you may be inclined to say, “It’s none of your business”.

You will realize that you are very important to others plans. Whether you are preparing fine dining or simple comfort food, your past experience give you that little edge on your competition. Feel confident about your public or professional image. Though your ambition may be keen, others could be in the same frame of mind as you. If an obvious power play on someone’s part disturbs you, act as if it has nothing to do with you. It doesn’t, really.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb

Your positive energy will help you to meet tight deadlines. Make the atmosphere more pleasant for entertaining family and friends. You could experience a special emotional fulfillment from cooperation on the job. Your optimism is justified as some projects involving property bring great financial success. Be sure you don’t put a rotten apple in the barrel, however, just because you don’t know your own power. Screen other investors carefully and put a high value on your own abilities.

Good communications will continue to lead you in the discussions. You will be getting geared up to plunge into a new project. You could quickly get all the background information you need. If it isn’t work that occupies you, it may be a hunt for bargains in the house and property market. You may have a dream place in mind, but you are not going to find it without putting in some long hours of research. You may be a bit anxious about the thought of a big move, remembering past experiences.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish once you get started. It’s not easy to put anything over on you, but someone may try to do just that. It may come in the form of a secret about someone close to you. You could be a little bit gullible now, don’t necessarily believe what you hear. After all, who knows them better than you do?

You may decide to have less to do with the person who tried put something over on you. You’ll be able to grin and bear it, whatever it turns out to be. At times, you may feel like it’s all work and no rewards. The glitch that occurs may have to do with future plans for travel or just plain having fun.

QR

All eyes will be on your recent accomplishments. Take advantage of this opportunity to blow your own horn a little. You are full of ideas, not to mention vim and vigor. You may surprise everyone by becoming a bit of a chatterbox. Try to confine what you say to the work at hand. Not everyone has to know your personal business. You may be called on to supervise some people. If you are not used to being the boss, you could learn much through this experience. One cardinal rule is not to expect of anyone else what you would not expect of yourself. It is a point in your favor if you don’t exaggerate your accomplishments.

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