Voice of Asia Dec 26 2014 by VoiceOf Asia

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FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

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NASA’s Dr Kamlesh Richard Rahul Verma sworn in as Lulla receives “They US Ambassador to India serve with Honor” Award

ASHINGTON: (20 Dec 2014 ) Richard Rahul Verma, who quietly played a key role in the Congressional passage of the civil nuclear deal and a strong advocate of deepening Indo-US ties, has been sworn in as the US Ambassador to New Delhi, becoming the ﬁrst ever Indian-American to hold the post.

he organization serving Asian Paciﬁc Americans known as OCA-Greater Houston recently celebrated 35 years of leadership and empowerment at a gala organized at Ocean Palace in Houston Texas. Cecil Fong, a retired Shell executive, the President of OCA for 2014 led the celebrations and organized the “THEY SERVE WITH HONOR” awards ceremony. The Event was Co-chaired by Rogene Gee Calvert and Elizabeth Hwong. This award is presented to Asian American professionals from diverse professional careers and commercial, industrial and public sectors. NASA’s Dr Kamlesh Lulla was presented with “They Serve with Honor” award for his outstanding life time contributions to our nation’s space program and his long involvement in the Asian American and Indian American communities. Dr Lulla is an internationally acclaimed space scientist, author, motivational speaker and a

46-year-old was sworn in by Secretary of State John Kerry at the State department here.

Dr Kamlesh Lulla leader in the federal government for enhancing the diversity and inclusion in our nation’s workforce. Dr. Lulla has been a long resident of Houston and is proud of his Indian heritage and roots.

Verma is scheduled to arrive in India ahead of Kerry’s visit to Delhi next month. US President Barack Obama will arrive in late January to attend the Republic Day Parade on January 26 as the Chief Guest. He was conﬁrmed by the Senate by a voice vote last week. Verma, who quietly played an important role in the Congressional passage of civil nuclear deal with India, had advocated for strong Indo-US ties when in the ad-

10 Accused Of Scamming More Than $1m In New York City Travel Agency Scheme

EW YORK (WABC) Friday, December 12, 2014 -- Ten people have been arrested in what prosecutors call a commercial travel scam in which the suspects used stolen credit cards to purchase airline tickets for customers of online travel agencies. Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced the indictments Friday, saying the suspects were able to steal more than $1 million in total from approximately 200 victims. The majority of the tickets were ultimately canceled by the airlines or unusable by travelers, which many of them only discovered upon arriving at the airport for their trips, leaving them stranded or unable to travel. In some cases, Vance said travelers were prevented from attending weddings or visiting sick family members. The defendants are each charged with varying counts of second-degree grand larceny, ﬁrst-degree identity theft and scheme to defraud, among others. “During the holiday season, when so many people are traveling to visit their families at great personal expense, it is especially important to be on high alert for scam artists and cybercriminals,” Vance said. “This alleged scheme left a pregnant woman stranded during a multi-part trip, forced relatives to miss a family wedding abroad, and made it impossible for a son to visit his cancerstricken father in India. I encourage

individuals to report this type of fraud by calling my Cybercrime and Identity Theft Hotline at 212-335-9600.” According to the indictment and statements made on the record in court, between June 2012 and November 2014, the suspects are accused of operating a business involving multiple incorporated travel agencies, including Bombay Travel and Tours, Raj Travel, Gandhi Travel, Patel Travel and Maha Guru Travel, and several bank accounts that were fraudulently opened in the name of the aforementioned travel agencies using falsiﬁed passports and licenses. Prosecutors say the suspects also placed advertisements in predominately Indian-American publications throughout the U.S. and purported to offer competitively priced tickets to and from popular destinations in India. Travelers seeking assistance with arrangements were instructed to provide names, passport numbers and ﬂight information, and deposit payment checks directly into bank accounts controlled by the defendants. However, in lieu of using customers’ checks to pay for tickets, the defendants pocketed the money and instead used stolen credit card information to buy the tickets that were later sent to their customers. When travelers arrived at the airport for their scheduled trips, many were informed that their tickets had been canceled or that they would not be able to travel using the illegally purchased tickets, for which they had al-

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Richard Rahul Verma (Photo: AFP) ministration and recently started “India 2020” project at Centre for American Progress -- a top American-think tank. He will replace Nancy Powell, who resigned in March after a damaging row over the treatment of diplomat Devyani Khobragade over visa fraud charges. The US Embassy in New Delhi is currently headed by a charge d’affaires,

with non-governmental organizations, especially on matters relating to the affairs of South Asia and India, including political-military relations,” according to his proﬁle on the State Department website. His knowledge and ability to set the agenda will enable him to strengthen bilateral relations with India, a pivotal nation of critical global importance to the US, it said.

ready paid thousands of dollars. The suspects are identiﬁed as: --Sadaqat Ali, 48, of the Bronx --Sumit Chawla, 42, of Pakistan --Zubair Dar, 49, of Queens --Sarfraz Kahn, 51, of Queens --Shah Nawaz Kiani, 29, of Pakistan --Muhammad Asif, 32, of Pakistan --Chaudhary Muhammad Arif, 56, of Brooklyn --Rana Muhammad Tariq, 32, of Brooklyn --John Doe, of Queens --Manjeet Singh, 40, of Queen. Courtesy: WABC

Merry Christmas to all! �r�� u� a� V�i�� A�i�!

Washington: File photo of former state department ofﬁcial Richard Rahul Verma, an Indian-American, with his wife Pinki Verma. President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Verma as the next US Ambassador to India. PTI Photo. Kathleen Stephens. Verma’s association with Obama goes back to 2008 when he worked on presidential debate preparations for the then Illinois senator. He served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under Hillary Clinton from 2009 to 2011, and was a senior counselor at law ﬁrm Steptoe & Johnson as well as the Albright Stonebridge Group.

proof

“Known as a talented leader and manager, he is recognized for his many years of experience working on high-level policy in the federal government, in the private sector and

His parents came to the US in the early 1960s. “It is a day of celebration for Indian Americans,” said Dr Sampat Shivangi, national president of Indian American Forum for Political Education. “Verma deserves this worthy appointment due to his dedication and well deserved respect he commands from President Obama and entire US Congress and the nation,” said Shivangi, one of the few Indian-Americans invited to attend the swearing in ceremony at the State Department yesterday. The event was closed for the press. Courtesy: PTI

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or conﬁrmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. - The Publisher

espite the grief and rage that followed the massacre of 148 students and their teachers by Taliban militants at an armyrun school in Peshawar last week, Pakistan persists in its duplicitous and self-defeating response to the extremism that is threatening the country. Immediately after the attack, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised that Pakistan would no longer distinguish between the “bad” Pakistani Taliban, which is seeking to bring down the Pakistani state, and other “good” Taliban groups that for years have been supported or exploited by Pakistan’s Army and intelligence service to attack India and wield inﬂuence in Afghanistan. What his words should mean is that Pakistan will no longer tolerate any extremists. But initial indications are not promising. Just two days after the massacre, for instance, a Pakistani court granted bail to a militant commander accused of orchestrating the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that killed 166 people. The suspect,

t’s as if life imitates art: A despotic foreign regime uses cyberattacks to bully a major media corporation from releasing an American ﬁlm about that despotic foreign regime.

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Pakistan’s Bafﬂing Response to Extremism Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, is a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of the “good” Taliban groups that focuses on attacking India and has links to the Pakistani Army. The decision does not mean that Mr. Lakhvi will be out of prison soon because the government can keep him in detention under a special legal provision, as it should. But it is a reminder of the absurdly slow pace of his trial, which began in 2009, and how Pakistan has failed to ensure justice for India, which it considers its chief enemy, and the victims and families of the Mumbai attacks. Experts say that even in detention Mr. Lakhvi has been given considerable freedom and has continued to direct militant operations. Pakistani authorities got tough with

Lashkar after Mumbai but have since allowed the group to re-establish itself. Its leader, Haﬁz Muhammad Saeed, lives in the city of Lahore even though the United States has offered $10 million for his arrest. And, on Friday, according to The Times’s Declan Walsh, Mr. Lakhvi’s brother-in-law gave a sermon at a mosque in Hyderabad that accused NATO of sending “terrorists disguised as Muslims” into Pakistan and then linked the Peshawar attack to India. Many Indians expressed sympathy for the victims of the Peshawar massacre — a tragedy that should have been an opportunity for the two countries to ﬁnd common cause against extremism. Instead, the granting of bail to Mr. Lakhvi drew shock and condemnation from India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, who said he has pro-

tested strongly to Islamabad. Since the massacre, the army has also intensiﬁed its bombing of militant strongholds in the lawless border near Afghanistan. While such action is necessary, it will never be enough to deal with the threat. Pakistanis cannot expect to ﬁght some extremists and enable others, especially when there is considerable cooperation among the groups. The country also needs a stronger civilian government, a credible judicial system and an end to religious schools that promote intolerance. In the aftermath of the massacre, many Pakistanis have spoken out against the militant threat. The question is whether the country can harness this outrage and grief into something positive. Source: The New York Times Dec. 22, 2014

Don’t let cyberbullies become censors

The movie is a ﬁctional comedy, but the situation is real — and no laughing matter. Indeed, the decision by movie theaters and Sony Pictures to cancel the Dec. 25 release of “The Interview” in the face of undeﬁned terrorist threats is an appalling act of cowardice that sets a frightening precedent. Recently, computer hackers widely suspected to be working on behalf of North Korea stole a bunch of emails and digitized documents from Sony as retribution for “The Interview,” a movie starring the popular comedy team of Seth Rogan and James Franco. It depicts them as bumbling journalists drafted by the CIA to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Such a release would enable “The Interview” to open in select theaters and avoid the national chains that dropped the North Korea satire last week. AP photo.

Perhaps that plot is tasteless and unfunny, although it’s hardly the first movie to lampoon the loony leader. That doesn’t justify cybertheft, nor what happened next: The hackers threatened terrorist attacks against theaters that were going to exhibit the film. Spooked by memories of the 2012 mass shooting at an opening-night screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado that killed 12 people and wounded 70, the nation’s top five theater chains (including Regal Cinemas, which operates two theaters in Volusia County) decided they would not show “The Interview.” Sony then pulled the film from release — in independent theaters, streaming online, anywhere. This despite the fact there was nothing specific about the threats, and the Department of Homeland Security declared “there is no credible intel-

ligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters within the United States.” It got worse. Three theaters announced that in place of “The Interview” they would screen the 2004 ﬁlm “Team America: World Police,” another comedy that mocked, and killed, Kim Jong-un’s father, Kim Jong-il (portrayed in marionette form). However, Paramount Pictures, which owns the movie, ordered the theaters not to show it, apparently afraid of offending the pro-Pyongyang hackers. So all it took to bring the entertainment industry to its knees was a bunch of Internet bluster. Kim Jong-un 1, Hollywood 0. Expect that score to worsen, as anyone with a gripe about a movie or TV show, book or song now has incentive to anonymously threaten its producers and distributors into censoring it.

Soma Balasubramanian

This is known as the “heckler’s veto,” and generally has been deemed by the Supreme Court as an unconstitutional reason for government to suppress free speech. Private entities, though, are free to act on what they consider their best interests. Sony et al. should rethink what theirs are. Caving to such a provocation will only invite further attacks, as rewarding bad behavior encourages more bad behavior. That will affect the quality of their products and their bottom lines. At the very least, Sony should make “The Interview” available to watch online or on DVD; viewing it should be considered an act of deﬁance. Stand up for free speech and a free society, and against cyberbullies and terrorists. Source: Our View: News Herald -Panama City (December 23, 2014).

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FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, December 26, 2014 • www.voiceofasiaonline.com • Page 3 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140

The month of Karthigai (vrischikam) HOLIDAY PET SAFETY rekindles the light of hope in the devotees at MTS ries. The stories involve the origin of the pooja, the beneﬁts of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the pooja. Sri Sathyanarayana katha (narrative) are extracted from Skandha Purana, Reva kAnda. It was Suta Maharshi who narrated these stories, to the Rishis in Neimishaaranya. Innumerable families left the temple after sharing the prasadam with full satisfaction. Ekadasha Rudra Japam and homam ( Dec 7) The month of Karthigai is also considered auspicious for the worship of Shiva. Maha Sathyanarayana Pooja - performed by the community ( photo credit Mankombu Sriram) by Chittoor .K. Ramachandran This week’s events of distinctive religious importance continued to lead the devotees of Sri Meenakshi Temple to the state of bliss. These notable events attracted hundreds of devotees to the temple. Ayyappa Pooja (Nov29- Dec 7): As the special Ayyappa Pooja during the season of Mandalam continues, numerous Ayyappa devotees who have taken the vow to observe vrutham ﬁlled the sannidhi in the evening hours . The priest, Sri Parameswaran’s unique style of tantric rituals and the energetic chenda players invigorate every evenings throughout the season. Karthikai deepam ( Dec 5) : As the full moon rose in the east in conjunction with the constellation Karthikai (Pleiades) (which appears as a group of six stars in the shape of a pendant ) , rows of earthen oil lamps were lighted up in the temple premises. It was a gorgeous scene against the background of the surrounding darkness. Karthikai deepam is an annual Hindu social tradition ( somewhat similar to Diwali) especially in the Southern regions of India to pay respect to Sri Subrahmanya (Sri Karthikeya, Murugar, Shanmukha). According to the legend, the six stars represent the six celestial women (Karthigai pengal) who reared the six babies originated from the sparks of Lord Shiva. The babies were then fused as one baby by Sri Parvathy (thus Subrahmanya got the name Shanmukha). Lighting

up the lamp in each household on this day of Karthikai is also considered as a way to welcome and extol the Lord as our protector against all evil elements of the world. At dusk, a grand worship at Murugar sannidhi of MTS was performed which was attended by a large crowd of devotees. Maha Sathyanarayana Pooja (Dec 6) Worshipping Sriman Narayana (Sri Venkateswara) in Sathyanarayana pooja in an easily understandable format is a time honored tradition created for the families in several regions of India. Sri Meenakshi Temple conducts Sathyanarayana pooja at regular intervals throughout the year or on special request for those who have the desire to continue their family tradition. In addition, annually, MTS organizes this pooja for the welfare of the community at large. Maha Sathyanarayana Pooja was an event organized to accommodate the participation of large number of people. Considering its magnitude such an event could be conducted only once in a year. It was attended by an overwhelming number of families. The priests Sri Pawankumar Sribhashyam and Sri Sriman Narayana Charylu , both trained in Vaikhanasa Agama Shastra conducted the ritual to the full satisfaction of all the participants. Their familiarity and experience in the pooja vidhi in Vaishnava sampradayam could be noticed in every aspect of the event. The unique characteristic of this pooja is reading and listening to the set sto-

Ancient Acharyas like Adi Sankara, Bhatta Bhaskara, Vishnu Suri -to name a few - have written elaborate comments on Sri Rudram. This remarkable Vedic homage to Sri Rudra (Sri Shiva) appears in the 4th KAnDa , within the seven KAnDas of Yajurveda samhitha. The signiﬁcance of Sri Rudram has been mentioned by the Hindu seers who emphatically encourage perseverance in prayers throughout our lives as a solution to counteract all the ill effects we may face. Based on its importance, reciting Sri Rudram is commonly applied in many rituals since each mantra in it has deep spiritual signiﬁcance. Among the sources of learning , Vedas are considered supreme; in the Vedas, Sri Rudram is the supreme; and the most important Panchakshari mantra ( Namashivaya) is located at the center of Sri Rudram which is the core essence describing the eternal truth ( paramatma swaroopam). Scholars honor Rudra Adhyaya ( reading Sri Rudram) as one of the primary instruments for attaining liberation from mundane cycle of rebirths. Ekadasha Rudram chanting that was followed by homam (havan) conducted at the sannidhi of Sri Sundareswarar (Sri Shiva) at MTS was a blissful experience. Many trained individuals from Sringeri Vidya Bharathi foundation of Greater Houston joined the priests Sri Manicka Bhattar, Sri Kalyana Sundaram and Sri R.K. E. Parameswaran in the recitation in proper phonetic intonation (swaram) that was maintained throughout the 4 hour long ritual. All the events listed above were coordinated by ROC of MTS.

olidays are wonderful, and safety must be a priority including for our pets. Between Christmas and New Years, the possibility of pet illness or injury increases. Decorations, candles, dangling glass ornaments as well as all the electrical cords, frequent visitors, and doors opening and closing at irregular times all add up to possible hazards for our pets. Human food such as cookies, pies, candy, and turkey can cause upset stomachs for our pets and some foods are even toxic for them. Items like chocolate and grapes should never be fed to pets. If you want to give your pet a holiday surprise, give him one of his favorite doggie chew bones or kitty treats. Make sure your holiday guests know the rules or you could be spending the night with a sick pet. If you’re sure ‘Uncle Sid” is going to slip Fido just ‘a little something’, put Fido in the bedroom or laundry room; off limits to well-intentioned but misguided guests. As with any other time of the year, make sure your dogs and cats are wearing current identiﬁcation. A rabies or license tag, personal identiﬁcation tag with a phone number, a microchip, or even just writing your phone number in permanent ink on his collar can help return him to you if he escapes from the house or is lost. A little planning can keep everyone safe around the holidays. HOLIDAY PET HAZARDS 

Lily - any kind



Azalea

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Oleander

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Sago Palm



Castor Bean



Poinsettia



Chocolate



Grapes

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Macadamia nuts



Potpourri



Batteries

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Decorations of any kind especially tinsel



Electrical wires

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Turkey or chicken bones

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Alcoholic beverages

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VOICE OF ASIA 4

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Asia Society Texas Presents

The People’s Lawyer www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Social host usually is not responsible for drunk driver Q. Like many people, I am hosting a holiday party. I am concerned about a guest leaving drunk and driving. I always do all I can to prevent that from happening. In the past, I have even taken keys away from someone who was obviously not in any condition to drive. I was curious, however, could I be liable if one of my guests left drunk and had an accident after my party?

Modi’s India: Imagining a Global Power 22 January 2015, 7:00pm at 1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, In May 2014, the world’s largest democracy elected Narendra Modi as the 15th Prime Minister of India. The election of Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) signaled change and incited hopes for a revived economy. Since his election, Modi’s administration has focused heavily on domestic economic reform and increased foreign investment— on India’s terms. Photo Credit: (dilip_bagdi2005/ﬂickr) he seeks to position India as a global power.

A. First, let me emphasize how important it is that you do everything you can to prevent this from happening, and congratulate you on your conduct in the past. We all know drinking and driving do not mix. Having said that, however, Texas law generally does not make you responsible if one of your guests leaves drunk and has an accident. Unlike bars and restaurants, social hosts do not have the responsibility to prevent an intoxicated party guest from driving drunk. Q. I have a tenant on a month-to-month lease. The lease begins on the ﬁrst of every month. Last month, the tenant gave me notice on the 3rd that he was leaving on the 15th. He paid rent pro-rated through the 15th. Does he owe me rent for the remainder of the month? A. First, as you recognize, the tenant or landlord may terminate a month-to-month tenancy, by giving at least one month’s notice. The lease may be terminated on the later of one month after the day on which the notice is given or the date given in the notice for termination. In your case, the tenant gave more than one month’s notice that he was terminating the lease on the 15th. Under the law, if a tenant terminates the lease on a day that does not correspond to the beginning or end of a rent paying period, the tenant is liable for rent only up to the date of the termination. In other words, your tenant has paid all the rent for which he is responsible.

About Anish Goel

Anish Goel Anish Goel, Senior Fellow for South Asian Affairs at the New America Foundation, will discuss Modi’s pragmatism as

Get your week’s events from our community

Q. My mother recently passed away. We have some furniture she bought for us. The creditor now wants us to make the remaining payments. Do we have to pay?

calendar Online www.voiceofasiaonline.com

A. When a person dies, his or her estate is responsible for their debts. This means the creditor should collect from your mother’s estate. If there is no money in the estate to pay the bills, the relatives or heirs are not responsible for the debts of the estate. In your case, however, the store may have a “security interest” in the furniture and would have the right to take it back if the payments were not made. This means that although you may not have a legal obligation to pay, you could lose the furniture if you did not. I suggest you speak with the furniture company and ask them why they believe you are responsible for your mother’s debt. Then review the documents to see if the store is correct.

K. V. Doraiswamy Bhattar 281-489-0464 or 281-948-8368

kvdoraiswamy@yahoo.com • kvdoraiswamy60@gmail.com

Q. I want to sue someone in justice court, but I have been told collecting can be difficult. Would it be better for me to get a lawyer and sue in a real court where it is more likely I will get my money? A. As you know, justice court has replaced small claims court as the place to file a lawsuit under simpler rules and without the assistance of an attorney. It is true that getting your money after winning in justice court is sometimes difficult. The problem of collecting after you win, however, is not unique to justice court. Justice court is just as “real” as any other court. A judgment in justice court is enforced exactly the same way as a judgment from any other court. Filing your claim in another court will not increase your chance of collecting. To see more about what you can do to enforce a judgment, visit the debt collection section on my website below.

Anish Goel is the Senior South Asia Fellow at the New America Foundation and one of the nation’s foremost experts on South Asia. From 2008 to 2011, Goel served as the National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for South Asia where he provided non-partisan guidance on developing and implementing White House

policy for both President Bush and Obama. Prior to joining NSC, Goel served as the chief science and technology ofﬁcer for South Asia where he led government efforts on the USIndia civil nuclear cooperation initiative as well as strategic support to Secretaries of State and other senior ofﬁcials. Goel has a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in chemical engineering and a B.S.E. in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan.

More than 30 years of experience as Priest in major temples including Sri Meenakshi Temple Pearland, TX. Can speak 5 languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English) Rituals Performed: Sreemantham, Punyahavachanam, Namakaranam, Annaprashanam, Vidyarambham, Choulam, Upanayanam, Wedding, Sathya narayana puja, and all kind of Homas (Havans) and more. I can drive to your place.

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VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Sugar Land Finalizes Plans for New Year’s Eve Party SUGAR LAND, TX – Say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015 at the City of Sugar Land’s New Year’s Eve on the Square celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Sugar Land Town Square. To ensure that visitors of all ages have a chance to celebrate, the evening will be divided into two segments. The children’s celebration beginning at 7 p.m. will feature music and entertainment on the main stage, a street magic show, LED balloon artists and other great street performers roaming City Walk Drive. The children’s celebration closes at 9 pm with a spectacular ﬁreworks show. Then at 10 p.m., the party resumes with a traditional

New Year’s Eve celebration, including alcohol available for purchase by responsible adults until 1 a.m. A brand new, neverbefore-seen 3D video projection mapping show coupled with ﬁreworks is scheduled for this year’s midnight presentation. Eight foot tall metal dinosaurs will roam along City Walk, while elaborate cirque jugglers and ﬁre breathers will also entertain the crowd throughout the evening. This is a free event with parking available at both the Texas and Lone Star Garages. There will be additional parking at Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd., with a free shuttle service to Town

Square from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sugar Creek Baptist Church is sponsoring this year’s Get Home Safely program. Anyone who identiﬁes themself as a designated driver will receive free soft drinks and water throughout the evening from any beverage station at the event. Taxi services will be available starting at 11 p.m. Taxis can either be pre-booked or booked that night by visiting the City of Sugar Land information kiosk. All taxi fares and charges will be the responsibility of the passengers. For more event information, visit the city’s website at www. sugarlandtx.gov/nye or call 281-275-2700.

Sugar Land Town Square during Christmas. Photo: www.sugarlandtx.gov

Founders’ Day Celebration at Sri Meenkashi Temple committee members, Dr. KR. Thiyagarajan, Dr. Venugopal Menon, Dr. Bala Ayer, Dr. A.P. Raghuthaman, Padma Anantha for her husband Anantha and Dr. S.G. Appan for his late father Subramanian were brought

on stage along with several past chairmen , Board and council members and honored. The evening ended with a delicious dinner. The founders were very pleased that the current leadership did not forget the sac-

riﬁces made by so many over the years and complemented the efforts of the current Board especially the chairman P. Vaduganathan, Secretary Srikanth and Treasurer Padma Golla for arranging this nice evening.

Temple leadership from past to present

ri Meenkashi Temple celebrated Founders’ day as a formal dinner event on Saturday, December 13th, 2014. The evening was dedicated by the current Board to honor all those who have worked hard in the Board and advisory council since 1979.

This year was special because of a special skit and musical program called “Melodies and Memories”. The temple chairman Dr. P. Vaduganathan who wrote the skit , had acted as a Swamy Vaduganantha and narrated the 35 year story of Sri Meenakshi temple to a few

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villagers in India as to how this ﬁrst Shakthi temple in USA serves as a model to many temples. As the story evolved Mala Gopal, the cultural coordinator had choreographed songs and dances to portray each stage of the temple. As part of the program several steering

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VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Poll laws violated: Sant Singh USAID Administrator Raj Shah, highest ranked Indian-American in Chatwal sentenced 3 years Obama Administration, to quit in Feb probation, $500,000 fine

EW YORK: Rejecting the prosecution’s demand for a jail term, a federal judge here has sentenced prominent Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal to three years probation and a $500,000 ﬁne on charges of illegally donating thousands of dollars to political campaigns. 70-year-old Chatwal’s lawyers asked the court to weigh his age and “lifetime of contribution” to others and the impact the imprisonment would have on his family and community in sentencing him. In court papers, they had requested that a sentence of probation with substantial community service be imposed on Chatwal to enable him to make amends by continuing to serve others and take care of his sons, Vivek and Vikram, who depend on him to an “exceptional degree” due to their medical disabilities. US District Judge Israel Leo Glasser of Eastern District of New York federal court termed the letters of support for Chatwal, from current and former employees, members of the business community and charitable organisations, as “unusual”, saying it is “quite impressive” that about 272 people and organisations have written about Chatwal’s philanthropy initiatives and a lifetime of helping others in need. Chatwal, a major fundraiser for likely 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, had pleaded guilty in April this year to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by making more than $180,000 in campaign donations to three candidates through straw donors and to witness tampering. Prosecutors had asked the judge to impose a 12-18 months sentence on Chatwal that would

US Senate confirms Indian-American Priyavadan Mehta as a federal judge WASHINGTON: Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta has been confirmed by the US Senate as a federal judge in the District of Columbia, becoming the first Asian Pacific American to occupy this important position. His nomination was cleared late in the night by a voice vote along with over a dozen pending judicial nominations. Nominated by President Barack Obama in July this year, Mehta has been a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder since 2010, where he represents clients in civil and criminal matters before state and federal courts. Mehta is a graduate of Georgetown University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and the University of Virginia School of Law, Order of the Coif. He clerked for Judge Susan Graber, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. After clerking, Mehta worked at Zuckerman Spaeder as an associate for three years, and then worked for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia for five years. He represented indigent criminal defendants in trials, appeals and administrative proceedings. He later rejoined Zuckerman Spaeder, where he has represented companies and individuals in a broad range of federal criminal matters, including bribery, political corruption, mail and wire fraud, export control and sanctions violations, and environmental crimes. Mehta also has represented plaintiffs and defendants in federal civil matters, including antitrust and a Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action. In a pro bono capacity, he has devoted more than 450 hours since 2010 to post-conviction proceedings for an individual convicted of murder. He is also vice president of the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project. Mehta was born in India and moved with his family to the US at the age of one.

Sant Singh Chatwal, a major fundraiser for likely 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, pleaded guilty in April this year for violating election laws. serve as a “deterrent” to others. Chatwal, accompanied by his wife and son Vikram along with several friends and family members, repeatedly apologised to the judge and said he has no excuse for his behaviour. “I stand here with a heavy heart. I apologise for what I did to my family. I have let them down terribly,” Chatwal said, reading out from a statement before the judge announced the verdict yesterday. Chatwal said he had been humbled by the experience and cannot apologise enough for his conduct, expressing his gratefulness for the chance to be able to admit his guilt. “I love this country. I’m so sorry that I broke its laws. I was wrong to try to get around the campaign laws and interfere with the investigation,” he said.

After the sentencing hearing, Chatwal told PTI that he is very happy with the verdict. “The judicial system in this country is very fair,” he said adding that he has been working to strengthen the Indo-US relations and people to people contact and will continue to do so. Glasser imposed a sentence of probation of three years and the $500,000 ﬁne and said Chatwal should continue doing the community service that his friends and family have detailed in the letters of support to the court. Chatwal had also agreed to forfeit $1 million to the US and had been free on a $750,000 bail. Glasser rejected the government’s claim that Chatwal “led a double life” and was ready to break the law as he was “intoxicated” with proximity to people with power.

ASHINGTON: (18 Dec, 2014 ) - Raj Shah, the highest ranking Indian-American in the Obama Administration, has decided to quit as Administrator of the country’s global development agency after serving for nearly six years. “It was with mixed emotions that I informed President Barack Obama and Secretary of State (John) Kerry that I will step down as Administrator in midFebruary 2015,” Shah, 41, said in a statement yesterday. Thanking Shah, who headed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), President Obama said in a statement: “Shah has been at the centre of my administration’s efforts to advance our global development agenda as the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).” “To be sure, his tasks have never been easy - responding to natural disasters, epidemics, and famine, to name just a few examples,” he said yesterday. “But Shah, the son of proud Indian immigrants, has embodied America’s ﬁnest values by proactively advancing our development priorities, including ending global poverty, championing food security, promoting health and nutrition, expanding access to energy sources, and supporting political and economic reform in closed societies,” Obama said. Joining Obama in praising Shah, Kerry said: “Shah has been an outstanding Administrator, a creative innovator, and a dynamic leader.” “After ﬁve years, he absolutely deserves this transition, and he leaves USAID after making a

“It was with mixed emotions that I informed President Barack Obama and Secretary Kerry that I will step down as Administrator in mid-February 2015,” Shah said. dramatic mark -- transforming this institution into one that’s more entrepreneurial, more modern, and more nimble, while promoting resilient democracies and battling extreme poverty across the globe,” he said. Vice President Joe Biden described Shah as one of the most effective administrators of USAID. Shah “has shown through ﬁve years as one of the most effective USAID Administrators in our nation’s history,” Biden said in a statement. Shah had joined the Obama administration in 2009. In a statement, Shah said Obama’s call to end extreme poverty -- made in two State of the Union addresses -- re-energized USAID and elevated its work in the national security agenda. “In the years since, we have seized upon this challenge, advancing a new model of development that harnesses the power

of business and innovation to achieve this goal. “With this new model, we have delivered meaningful results -- from fighting hunger, to educating girls, to tackling climate change, to fighting for civil society and democratic values,” he said. “We are better positioned than at any other time in our 53-year history to solve the greatest challenges facing humanity,” he said. House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer said under Shah’s leadership, USAID staff and volunteers have been making a huge difference around the world, bringing food, water, education, and hope to millions of people in need. US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power said, Shah has spent the last five years working tirelessly to help improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world. (PTI).

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Holiday Waste Collection and Tree Recycling The heart truth —

UGAR LAND, TX ¬–Solid waste collection will not occur on Christmas or New Year’s Day. The holidays will result in Thursday and Friday service days being moved forward to Friday and Saturday, respectively. For residents with Thursday service, the collection day will be Friday. Residents with normal Friday service will be collected Saturday. Live Christmas trees can be placed curbside on assigned green waste days. All green waste, including Christmas trees, is recycled and made into mulch. Trees should be free of ornaments and ﬂocking. Christmas trees should not be disposed of in City parks. Bulky waste service is normally provided once per month for items too large to ﬁt in garbage carts. Bulky waste does not include construction, demolition or hazardous wastes. Bulky waste will be collected after Christmas from Dec. 26-30 and again after New Year’s Day from Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 5-6. The date of the extra bulk waste collection day will depend on each neighborhood’s regular bulk waste day as outlined below. Guidelines for bulky waste

free heart health screenings at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

collection follow: • Set bulky items out by 7 a.m. on the collection day but no earlier than 6 p.m. the prior evening.

• Bulky items should be placed at the curb at least 4 feet from other objects. • Do not place bulky waste items in garbage carts.

They should be placed directly on the curb. For more information, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/solidwaste

HPD Ofﬁcers Play Secret Santa in Holiday Trafﬁc Stops

roups of Houston police officers from patrol stations across the city are actually making some motorists smile during traffic stops. During the holiday season, some HPD officers are spreading holiday cheer as they distribute $100 bills to 100 unsuspecting motorists pulled over for a violation such as a broken tail light or an expired inspection sticker. Instead of writing a citation,

the officers will present a $100 bill to the driver. That was the case earlier today as officers from Midwest and Northeast Patrol Stations broke the surprising news to drivers. See some of their reactions on the HPD YouTube channel at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=VYTwo Ex1XCc&feature=youtu.be Several local media outlets followed officers around city neighborhoods today. The HPD video is available for use or

broadcast by any media outlet. A Secret Santa donated $10,000 to the HPD to help those most in need during this Christmas season. The plan is to distribute the private donation to motorists in Houston until all the money is in the hands of citizens in our various communities. The Houston Police Department wishes all those we serve and protect a blessed, safe and joyous holiday season!

Toussaint Smith, M.D.

UGAR LAND — (December 22, 2014) — Think of your heart as your body’s delivery system. It pumps out the good stuff— oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood—to every inch of you via a network of arteries. But heart disease throws a wrench into things. “The most common form, coronary heart disease, is the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women in most countries,” said Dr. Toussaint Smith, board-certified cardiologist with Methodist Sugar Land Cardiology Associates. Coronary artery disease starts with artery damage caused by smoking, high blood pressure or a number of other factors. The damage triggers the buildup of plaque, which narrows the arteries and limits blood flow to the heart. If the heart can’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, it struggles to function properly. Worse yet, plaque can break loose and form a clot, causing a heart attack when blood supply is cut off. The best way to beat coronary artery disease? Never get it in the first place. You can do that by managing risk factors: Reduce high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, quit smoking, lost weight if overweight or obese, and lead an active lifestyle. “The combination of living healthier, knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and taking medication if you need to is the formula for prevention,” Dr. Smith said. Heart Basics. The pulmonary artery carries blood out to the lungs, where it is oxygenated. The pulmonary veins transport the oxygen-rich blood back to the heart. The aorta then distributes this oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Once depleted of oxygen, blood returns to the heart and the process restarts.

• Aortic stenosis. When it comes to the arteries, the aorta is the main work horse. This main artery is responsible for carrying most of the blood to the body. In a condition called aortic stenosis, calcium deposits can build up in the aortic valve, causing it to narrow and limit blood flow. • Atrial fibrillation. In people with atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers beat erratically, causing an irregular pulse. When left untreated, it can double the risk of a heartrelated death and dramatically increase the chance of having a stroke. • Heart failure. In some cases, the heart struggles to pump enough blood to the body. Heart failure is measured by ejection fraction (EF), the percentage of blood pushed out with each heartbeat. An EF under 40 may indicate heart failure. • Cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the heart muscle to become enlarged or stiff. Both blood flow and maintaining a regular heartbeat become tough tasks. The condition can be inherited, or it can surface because of another medical condition, such as high blood pressure. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Toussaint Smith or another cardiologist at Methodist Sugar Land Cardiology Associates, simply go to houstonmethodist.org/online-scheduling or call 281.491.6808. FREE HEART HEALTH SCREENINGS Join us on Thursday, February 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center to learn your 10-year risk for heart disease and receive cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. Screenings are by appointment only, followed by an opportunity to speak to our specialists. Registration required. Register online at houstonmethodist.org/ events or call 281.274.7500.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

‘Anti-women’ citizenship Eminent filmmaker and bill sparks fury in Nepal Dadasaheb Phalke Award

winner K Balachander dies

Nepalese activists pose with placards ahead of a march demanding equal citizenship rights for men and women, in Kathmandu, on November 15, 2014 (AFP Photo/Prakash Mathema). KATHMANDU, Nepal | AFP by Paavan MATHEMA Nepalese single mother Deepti Gurung has spent years trying and failing to register her two teenage daughters as citizens of their country. Although her children were both born in Nepal, the 40-yearold has struggled to secure their legal right to citizenship in the absence of their father, who left when they were small. For now at least the law is on her side. But Nepal’s parliament is proposing to bar all single parents from passing on their citizenship to their children in a new national constitution, sparking outrage among rights activists. “It is like being a refugee in your own country,” said Gurung. “All they do is interrogate, torture and harass women, demanding the father’s documents... when a father applies for his children’s citizenship, no questions are asked.” Activists say the move could leave a million people stateless and will disproportionately affect women, who account for the vast majority of single parents in Nepal. The draft bill says both parents must be Nepalese for their child to acquire citizenship, which is needed to get anything from a driving licence to a bank account. It will overturn a 2006 act that says children are eligible for citizenship as long as one parent is Nepalese. The Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), a Nepalese pressure group, says

the move will impact a million children, with more than 90 percent of those affected living with single mothers. “On paper the law looks restrictive to both men and women,” said Subin Mulmi of the FWLD. “But conservative bureaucrats have room to exploit the clauses to discriminate against single mothers.” The bill provides for exceptions in some cases where the child’s father is unknown, such as rape, but Mulmi said the burden of proof would still rest with mothers. And even though women have been allowed to confer citizenship on their children since 2006, only a handful have managed to do so. Arjun Kumar Sah was born in Nepal to a Nepalese mother and an Indian father, making him theoretically eligible for citizenship. But the 25-year-old is still waiting for his papers and in the meantime has had to turn down work because of his status. “I was born here, I grew up here, I am a Nepali...(but) I am still waiting for papers that prove it,” said Sah, who is from Nepal’s historically marginalised Madhesi ethnic minority. - ‘Am I not equal?’ Despite a Maoist insurgency that overthrew the monarchy, Nepal’s political establishment remains dominated by highcaste Hindu men -- and many believe they want to keep it that way. “The political forces in power right now are not supportive of change and inclusiveness, they

want to maintain the old statusquo,” said Dipendra Jha, a lawyer working on Sah’s case. Nepal’s parliament is due to vote next year on the longawaited constitution, which was intended to draw a line under centuries of inequality. Lawmakers were tasked with drafting the charter after a decade-long insurgency ignited by deep-rooted social, political and economic inequalities. But activists say the current draft -- which also makes it easier for Nepalese man to confer citizenship on his foreign spouse than a Nepalese woman -- will only entrench existing prejudices. “This bill is the result of the ﬂawed patriarchal attitude ingrained in our society,” said lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokharel, who sat on the constitution drafting committee but opposes the citizenship changes. Campaigners have fought back with demonstrations in the capital and an online petition on the social action website, Change.org, which has secured more than 1,500 signatures in over a week. Meanwhile, single mothers like Gurung say they are furious at the prospect of the bill becoming law and forever closing the door on her right to confer citizenship. “Sometimes it feels like women are not even human here...like we do not have any identity,” she said. “I gave birth to my children, I raised them...why can I not pass them my citizenship? Am I not an equal citizen of this country?”

A multi-lingual ﬁlmmaker, Balachander debuted with his Tamil ﬁlm ‘Neerkumizhi’ (by adapting his play of the same title) in 1965.

HENNAI: Eminent filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner K Balachander died here today at a private hospital after prolonged illness. Hailed as “Iyakunar Sigaram” (Peak among directors) in Tamil film industry Balachander, 84, was hospitalised following age related ailments on December 3. He breathed his last at 7.02 pm today, Hospital authorities said. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. His other son, Kailasam died on August 15 this year. A multi-lingual filmmaker, Balachander debuted with his Tamil film ‘Neerkumizhi’ (by adapting his play of the same title) in 1965. He has directed films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi and has written, directed and produced more than 100 films. He has launched more than 65 actors, actresses and technicians in the Tamil film industry. His blockbuster movies include ‘Aval Oru Thodarkathai’, (Tamil) which was remade as ‘Anthulaney Katha’ in Telugu, ‘Maro Charitra’ (Telugu), ‘Ek Dhuje Ke Liye’ (Hindi), and ‘Thillu Mullu’ (remake of Golmaal in Hindi). He introduced several top stars including Rajinikanth (‘Aboorva Ragangal’), Kamal Haasan (‘Arangetram’), ace villain actor Prakash Raj (‘Duet’), comedian Vivek

(‘Manadhil Urudhi Vendum’) and character artist Nazar (‘Kalyana Agathigal’). He has received several accolades including Dadasaheb Phalke award (2010), Padma Shri (1987), Kalaimamani Award ( Tamil Nadu) Nandi and Golden Nandi ( Andhra Pradesh) besides many film awards like Filmfare among others. “He suffered a heart attack by 6.45 pm and he succumbed to it. His infection too had intensified. Though the fever was under control there was little that we could do given his age,” a hospital spokesperson said. Balachander also had other health issues including urinary tract infection. He had undergone a surgery recently to remove a tumour in brain, the authorities added. The veteran filmmaker, who was born on July 9, 1930 at Nannilam in the then composite Thanjavur District (now Thiruvarur), was a trendsetter in South IndianBSE 4.48 % cinema, who courageously touched unconventional and sometimes controversial themes in his movies. His ‘Apoorva Ragangal’, which saw Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan coming together, portrayed complicated inter-personal relationships and romance that transcended generations. Balachander’s ‘Sindhu Bhairavi’ was a brilliant portrayal of a yearning for intellectual companionship by the

protagonist and the intricate relationship problems that came with it. He began his life as a teacher and then became a superintendent in the Accountant General’s office here. He showed a keen interest in movies from a young age. He entered Tamil filmdom by writing dialogue for MGR’s movie ‘Dheiva Thaai.’ Even while working in the AG’s office, he staged several dramas. His successful play ‘Server Sundaram’ was later made into a Tamil film (1964) and was directed by Krishnan Panju and produced by AVM. ‘Major Chandrakanth’, ‘Mezhuguvarthi’, and ‘Navagraham’, were his other successful plays. Kavithalaya and Min Bimbangal were his production houses that made films and television shows respectively. When satellite television came to occupy a sizable entertainment space among audience in early 1990s, Balachander was quick to recognise its importance. He produced several television mega serials including ‘Rail Sneham’, and ‘Kai Alavu Manasu’, which topped the TRP charts. Recently, he acted in ‘Rettaisuzhi’ which was produced by film director Shankar. A science graduate of Annamalai University, he has been conferred honorary doctorates by several universities including the Madras University in 2007.

WeWish Wish Happy you all Happy Holidays! We Holidays to all!

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My best to you as always!

I wish everybody a Happy Holiday Season!

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Allen Owen Mayor Missouri City

Judge Jay Karahan Harris County Courts Houston, Texas

Robin Elackatt Mayor Pro Tem Missouri City

Visit us Online for more Season’s News: www.voiceofasiaonline.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM Himesh Gandhi Sugar Land City Councilman At Large Position 1

Wishing your family a Happy Holiday Season!

VOICE OF ASIA

wishes you a Merry Christmas!

VOICE OF ASIA 10

26/11 Mumbai terror attack: LeT tech chief posed as Indian businessman to buy VoIP

EW YORK - Pakistanbased LeT’s technology chief had posed as an Indian businessman while negotiating to buy a Voice-overInternet Phone service from an American company that was later used by the LeT handlers to communicate with 26/11 Mumbai attackers while concealing their actual origin. Zarrar Shah, a 30-year-old computer expert, was the technology chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and had set up an internet phone system to disguise his location during the 26/11 attacks by routing his calls through New Jersey. A detailed investigative report by the New York Times, ProPublica and the PBS series ‘Frontline’ titled ‘In 2008 Mumbai Killings, Piles of Spy Data, but an Uncompleted Puzzle,’ said that Shah, contacted the New Jersey company, “posing online as an Indian reseller of telephone services named Kharak Singh, purporting to be based in Mumbai. “His Indian persona started haggling” over the price of the VoIP that had been chosen because it would make calls between Pakistan and the terrorists in Mumbai appear as if they were originating in Austria and New Jersey, it said. “its not first time in my life i am perchasing in this VOIP business,” (sic) Shah said in shaky English, to an official with the company when he thought the asking price was too high, according to British intelligence documents quoted in the report. “i am using these services from 2 years.” Shah had set up the VoIP service through the New Jersey company, ensuring that many of his calls to the terrorists would bear the area code 201, concealing their actual origin. In November 2008 however, the company’s owner wrote to the fictitious Indian reseller Singh, complaining that no traffic was running on the digital phone network. “Dear Sir, i will send trafic by the end of this month,” (sic) Shah said in his ominous reply. In a plan to pin the blame on Indian Muslims for the attacks, Shah had typed a statement of responsibility for the attack from the Hyderabad Deccan Mujahadeen — a fake Indian organization. Early on November 26, Shah emailed a draft of the phony claim to an underling with orders to send it to the news media later, according to American and Indian counterterrorism officials. The report described Shah as a “digitally savvy operative” who had “strong ties to Pakistani intelligence and an intense hatred for India.” “As he made his plan, he searched on his laptop for weak communication security in Europe, spent time on a site designed to conceal browsing history, and searched Google News for “indian american naval exercises” — presumably so the seagoing attackers would not blunder into an overwhelming force,” it said. In mid-September, during a session, which took place in a huge “media room” in a remote camp on the border with Jammu and Kashmir, Shah and fellow plotters used Google Earth and other material to show Ajmal Kasab and nine other terrorists their targets in Mumbai, according to court testimony. Shortly before the assault in November 2008, Shah searched online for a Jewish hostel and two luxury hotels, all sites of the eventual carnage. The session was part of an effort to chart the terrorists’ route across the Arabian Sea, to a water landing on the edge of Mumbai, then through the chaotic streets. Videos, maps and reconnaissance reports had been supplied to Mir by Pakistani-American David Headley. “The gunmen were shown all this data from the reconnaissance,” said Deven Bharti, a top Mumbai police official who investigated the attacks, adding that the terrorists were trained to use Google Earth and global positioning equipment on their own. “Kasab was trained to locate

everything in Mumbai before he went.” He also searched online for previous terror strikes in India and weather forecasts in the Arabian Sea, typed “4 star hotel in delhi” and “taj hotel,” and visited mapsoﬁndia.com to pore over sites in and around Mumbai, documents show. “Still, the sheer scale of his ambition might have served as a smokescreen for his focus on the city,” the report said, adding that he also showed interest in Kashmir, Punjab, New Delhi, Afghanistan and the US Army in Germany and Canada. He constantly ﬂipped back and forth among Internet porn and entertainment sites while he was carrying out his work. By November 24, Shah had moved to the Karachi suburbs, where he set up an electronic “control room” with the help of an Indian militant named Abu Jundal, according to his later confession to the Indian authorities. The report said that it was from this room that Mir, Shah and others issued minute-byminute instructions to the assault team of 10 LeT men once the attacks began. A day before the attacks, Jundal tested the VoIP software on four laptops spread out on four small tables facing a pair of televisions as the plotters, including Mir, Shah and LeT operations commander Zaki-urRehman Lakhvi waited for the killings to begin. “Before the attacks started

WORLD/US L

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Tsunami orphans recount journey to philanthropy

ONDON, (AFP) - A decade after being orphaned by the Asian tsunami, British brothers Rob and Paul Forkan are successful entrepreneurs who are giving back to the Sri Lankans who helped them by building an orphanage. The brothers, their two younger siblings as well as their parents Kevin and Sandra were relaxing in their hotel complex on December 26, 2004, when the giant wave crashed through their bungalows. Rob and Paul managed to climb on the roof and clung on as the water rushed by. When the wave subsided, Rob saw his brother Mattie perched on a tree, his face covered in blood. A little later the brothers located their badly wounded sister Rosie, placed in a tree by their parents moments before they disappeared. Aided by a young Sri Lankan who had just lost his mother, Rob tried to track down his parents, visiting several hospitals and stumbling across scenes of devastation that still haunt him today. Empty-handed, the siblings set off on their own, travelling on foot and by van to the capital Colombo, 150 kilometres (93 miles) from their hotel in Weligama. Ten years later Rob, 27, and that evening, the documents show, Shah pulled up Google images of the Oberoi Hotel and conducted Wikimapia searches for the Taj and the Chabad House,the report said, adding that he began Googling news coverage of Mumbai. PTI

Paul (left) and Rob Forkan, founders of sandal-making firm Gandys, pose for pictures with their products in southwest London on December 17, 2014 (AFP Photo/Justin Tallis). Paul, 25, recounted their incredible story and their philanthropic work, wearing their trademark flip-flops and Bermuda shorts in their beachwear company’s London office. “When we were in Sri Lanka and we got affected by the tsunami ourselves, and we lost our parents, the children of Sri Lanka helped us get home. So this is kind of returning the favour,” Rob told AFP. The two have published a book about this year their experiences entitled “Tsunami Kids” and in the coming weeks they will inaugurate what they hope will be the first of several orphanages on the island. The institution, which will accommodate 400 children, will

be financed with part of the profits of their flip-flop business through the charity they have set up -- “Orphans for Orphans”. The brothers have travelled to Sri Lanka this week ahead of the orphanage opening on what is only their second visit to the island since the tragedy on Boxing Day 2004. - Driven by parents’ example After arriving back in Britain 10 years ago, the four children found refuge with an older sister, Marie. Their other sister, Jo, had left Sri Lanka on Christmas Eve, narrowly escaping the tsunami that claimed more than 280,000 lives. Then began the tortuous three-

month wait until the news they had been dreading arrived, the conﬁrmation that their parents had died. Their return was made all the more difﬁcult as they had spent four years out of the British school system, travelling and carrying out humanitarian projects with their parents throughout Asia. “Having our eyes opened at a young age by seeing parts of the world was an incredible experience and something we would not change for the world,” Rob said. “All the experiences we had through our parents and what they showed us has given us the values we have today,” he added.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

LIFESTYLE

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 27 No. 52 Friday, December 26, 2014 Section 2 Page 11 by Julia ZAPPEI UALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The lines snaking into Bangladesh’s overwhelmed hospitals are often so long, says Nusrat Hussein Kiwan, that they extend into the street outside -- too many patients seeking too few quality doctors. So, through a Google search, the wife of a Bangladeshi construction executive chose a Malaysian hospital for her heart bypass surgery. “It’s peaceful here, and my doctors are good,” Kiwan, 65, said during a post-op check-up at a Kuala Lumpur private hospital, looking full of life in an orange headscarf and sparkling gold bracelets. “I didn’t expect to be as good as before. But I’m better.” Kiwan spent $20,000 on the procedure earlier this year, joining a booming global medical tourism market that is seeing particularly rapid growth in Southeast Asia. US-based industry resource Patients Beyond Borders estimates the world market is expanding by 25 percent per year -- it reached $55 billion with 11 million medical tourists in 2013. International medical tourism began to gain ground in the 1980s as Latin American countries such as Costa Rica and Brazil offered relatively cheap dental, cosmetic and other procedures to US and European patients driven south by high costs. But the onetime niche market has developed into a multi-billion-dollar industry as developing-world health systems improve, global aviation links spread, and the Internet broadens patients’ horizons. Procedures vary widely from fertility treatments in Barbados, to cosmetic surgery in Brazil, heart and eye operations in Malaysia, and gender-reassignment in Thailand. - ‘Perfect storm’ The sector beneﬁts from a “perfect storm of an ageing global population, rising afﬂuence and greater choice in quality hospitals,” said Josef Woodman, CEO of Patients Beyond Borders. “This is particularly true in Asia, where disparities in quality of care are driving millions of patients to countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan -- and even the US and UK -- in search of medical treatment not yet available in their homelands.” “The near-term growth potential

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140 Medical Centre. The company also recently opened a new branch near the border with Singapore to entice patients from the more afﬂuent citystate. Most medical tourists to Malaysia, however, are wellheeled visitors from less-developed Indonesia, followed by Indians, Japanese and Chinese. Future growth is expected from the wealthy Middle East. - Sun and silicone Ancillary businesses have sprouted. Beautiful Holidays, based on the northern Malaysian island of Penang, connects overseas clients with local cosmetic surgeons, arranges their accommodations, and shepherds them to pre- and post-op check-ups. But it also arranges drinks, dining and sightseeing in Penang, know for its historical sites, beaches and cultural melange. “The idea is to have people come here for holidays -- sun and silicone, that kind of thing,” said Tony Leong, the company’s programme director. Ashley Higgins, a 30-year-old American, has used the company twice, ﬁrst for a breast augmentation, then a nose job. She was initially wary of going under the knife on the other side of the globe, but price concerns won out. “The hard part is trusting people when you are 1,000 miles from home. I felt comfortable coming here,” she said.

Seeing the doctor, overseas: medical tourism booms in Asia

Bangladeshi woman Nusrat Hussein Kiwan sits at the International Patients Centre reception area, at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur, on December 9, 2014 (AFP Photo/Manan Vatsyayana)

is significant,” he said. Increasingly, major Asian players like India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are aggressively promoting treatments at up to 80 percent savings compared to developed nations, with some companies arranging package trips that combine a nose job with a little beach time. Southeast Asia, in particular, is considered a medical-tourism “sweet spot,” with decades of solid economic growth creating highquality medical systems that remain competitively priced. Patients come from both rich and poor nations, the former driven by high costs at home, and the latter seeking better-quality care. Malaysia’s market has nearly doubled since 2010, reaching 770,000 patients and $200 million in revenue last year, according to government figures. “We are behind Thailand for sure, but we are giving Singapore a good fight,” said T. Mahadevan, head of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia.

Thailand says it attracted 2.53 million medical tourists in 2012. Though its figures include spa tourists, that’s a one-third increase in just two years, a period in which revenues nearly doubled to around $4.2 billion. In Singapore, medical tourists spent $630 million last year, a figure likely inflated by the modern city-state’s relatively higher costs. Patients Beyond Borders estimates Singapore draws more than a halfmillion treatment-seekers annually, mostly from neighbouring Indonesia, where health systems lag. Malaysia set up a special body in 2009 to streamline and organise industry players. Patients Without Borders calls Malaysia “medical travel’s bestkept secret”, noting the widely spoken fluent English and far cheaper medical costs compared to Japan, the United States, Europe and other key clientele sources. “I would come back here again. I would definitely recommend it,” Alexandria Garvie, 61, said from her hospital bed in Kuala Lumpur

after a tummy tuck. The $5,000 procedure -- around one-quarter of what she would have paid at home in Australia -- was performed at the Beverly Wilshire

Alexandria Garvie from Australia poses for a photo following a tummy-tuck operation at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur, on December 3, 2014 (AFP Photo/Manan Vatsyayana).

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VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 13

Christmas Fast Facts

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

National Mathematics Day: Super 30 founder moots reality show on mathematics

reality show based on brain teasing sums to regenerate interest among youngsters towards mathematics was mooted by Super 30 founder Anand Kumar on Monday.

Pope Francis delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” message -- “to the city and to the world” -- from St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Credit CNN

ere’s a look at what you need to know about Christmas, a popular Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. In 2013, December 25th falls on a Wednesday. Facts: Celebrated December 25th in the United States and other countries. Christmas is celebrated on January 7 in some Eastern Orthodox countries, such as Russia. The real date of Jesus’ birth is not known. The Christmas story is told primarily in the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament. Considered the most popular Christian observance, Christmas is also celebrated as a secular family holiday. The word Christmas is derived from the Old English phrase Cristes maesse (Christ’s

mass). The tradition of substituting X-mas for Christmas has its origins in the early Christian church. The ﬁrst letter of Jesus Christ’s name is X in the Greek language. Many of the customs and symbols traditionally associated with Christmas originated with ancient pagan festivals and winter solstice rituals. The modern Christmas tree (typically evergreen conifersusually pine, balsam or ﬁr species) originated in Germany in the 16th century and became popular in England by the mid19th century thanks to Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert. St. Nicholas, the real person on whom Santa Claus is based, lived in the 4th century AD in the province of Lycia on the southwest coast of Asia Minor. Cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with creating the cur-

rent image of Santa Claus based on his illustrations that began appearing in Harpers Weekly in 1863. Economic Impact: Expected holiday spending for November and December 2014 is $602.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, an increase of 4.1% over 2013. The federation notes that spenders are more sophisticated shoppers. They are taking advantage of an improved economy by shopping earlier and smarter. The United States Post Ofﬁce is anticipating 450 to 470 million packages this holiday season. That is 12 percent more packages than the previous year. Online shopping is cited as one reason for the increase.

“But it should not be like other reality shows. It should be by a competent mathematician for the target audience, which can be huge as mathematics touches lives in innumerable ways,” Kumar told a function held on the 127th birth anniversary of mathematics legend Srinivasa Ramajuan held by Super 30 Ramanujam School of Mathematics. “It (the show) should be made enjoyable as well as informative - the best way to take the great mathematician’s (Ramanujan’s) legacy forward,” he added. He maintained that India has traditionally been good in mathematics and said it was important to realise why the country frittered away the advantage and how things could be changed by developing logical reasoning. “For that to happen, India needs good teachers. There

Source: Twitter should be a concerted effort for developing quality teachers by building an encouraging atmosphere, which could enable India to produce a winner of Field Medal,” he added. Stating that mathematics is linked to nature, Kumar himself demonstrated to the students how a concept could be used to solve different mathematical problems of any kind - be it of

algebra, trigonometry or geometry. He also dissuaded students from rote learning without understanding. Kumar’s Super 30 facilitates students from poor background to crack IIT entrance examinations and has won laurel across the world. He was recently called to deliver inspirational lecture at MIT and Harvard University.

Google self-driving car prototype ready to try road

December 17 and December 18 are expected to be the busiest days for mail and package deliveries respectively, according to the United States Post Ofﬁce. (SOURCE: CNN Library)

Hanukkah Fast Facts

This image provided on May 28, 2014 by Google shows a self-driving two-seat prototype vehicle conceived and designed by Google (AFP Photo/)

AN FRANCISCO Google on Monday announced that the ﬁrst completed prototype of its self-driving car is ready to be road tested.

The national Menorah in Washington, DC. Credit: CNN

ere is some background information about the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. In 2014, Hanukkah will start on Tuesday, December 16th at sunset and will end December 24th at sunset. Facts: Hanukkah begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts eight days. The starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year, but usually falls between late November and late December.

means dedication. Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication and Feast of the Maccabees. Hanukkah is not the Jewish version of Christmas, but often children receive gifts, especially in areas where Jewish and Christian children are in close contact. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians and the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem around 165 BC.

Pronunciation: HAH nu kah

Re-dedication was necessary because Seleucid king of Syria, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, had deﬁled the temple by having an altar to Zeus placed there.

The Hebrew word Hanukkah

When the Maccabees began

Hanukkah is the preferred spelling, but it can also be spelled Chanukah or Chanukkah.

preparing the Temple for the re-dedication, they found that they only had enough oil to light the Temple for one night. It ended up lasting for eight days, until the delivery of new consecrated oil. Candles are lit each night of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle. On the ﬁrst evening, one candle is lit in a special candelabra called a menorah or hanukkiyah. Beginning on the second night, one candle is added every night until the total reaches eight on the last night. The candles are lit by a separate candle called a shamash, which is lit ﬁrst and then is used to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right. One symbol of Hanukkah is

“We’re going to be spending the holidays zipping around our test track, and we hope to see you on the streets of Northern California in the new year,” the Internet titan’s autonomous car team said in a post at Google+ social network. The prototype is a manifestation of plans that Californiabased Google revealed in May to build its own autonomous car minus typical features such as steering wheels. “They won’t have a steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal... because they don’t need them. Our software the dreidel. A game is played with this four-sided spinning top. Before the Maccabean Revolt, it was illegal for people under the rule of Antiochus IV

and sensors do all the work,” Google’s Chris Urmson said in a blog post in May. Technical speciﬁcs about the prototype were not disclosed on Monday. For Google, the car marks a shift away from adapting vehicles made by others in its quest to pioneer individual transport that needs only a stop-and-go function. Google said early this year that the top speed of the battery-powered prototypes will be 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour and that they would be designed for utility, not luxury. The blog post on Monday showed a white, rounded buglooking vehicle. “Weve been working on Epiphanes to read the Torah. When soldiers came through, Jews pretended to play a gambling game involving tops. Traditional Hanukkah foods,

different prototypes-of-prototypes, each designed to test different systems of a selfdriving car—for example, the typical car parts like steering and braking, as well as the selfdriving parts like the computer and sensors,” Google said. “We’ve now put all those systems together in this fully functional vehicle—our ﬁrst complete prototype for fully autonomous driving.” Several automakers have been working on autonomous or semi-autonomous features for cars, such as self-parking, but no fully autonomous car has come to market. “Self-driving cars, if widely adopted, stand to be as transformative to consumer life as the smartphone,” said Mike Hudson, who tracks the automotive industry for eMarketer such as the latkes, or potato pancakes, are fried in oil, as another way to incorporate the memory of the Maccabees into the holiday. (SOURCE: CNN Library)

Turkey-based AFP photographer wins Time laurel

ASHINGTON Time magazine named AFP’s Bulent Kilic as its Best Wire Photographer for 2014 on Monday for his powerful images from the Syrian border, Ukraine and his native Turkey. He is the third Agence France-Presse photographer to win the Time laurel for excellence in news wire images, established in 2010. Kilic, 35, “systematically found himself at the heart of the news,” not least when he captured the moment when Islamic State ﬁghters came

under air attack near the ﬂashpoint Syrian border town of Kobane, Time said. “His striking, vivid and memorable images have captured the attention of photo editors across the planet,” added Olivier Laurent, editor of Time’s LightBox photo blog. Based in Istanbul, Kilic began the year covering anti-government protests in Ukraine, before going on to the Soma coal mine disaster in Turkey in May, in which 301 people died.

In October, using a telephoto lens from a hilltop by the Turkey-Syria border, he captured what Time called “a jaw-dropping explosion” from which a lone Islamic State militant is seen running amid a mushroom cloud of dust. Previous AFP winners of Time’s laurel for top wire service photographer are Mauricio Lima in 2010 and Marco Longari in 2012. AFP photographers have twice won the Pulitzer prize for their work: Massoud Hossaini in 2012 and freelancer Javier Manzano in 2013.

Left: A photo by Bulent Kilic shows Kurdish boy Mohammed with his father who is watching ﬁghting in the Syrian town of Kobane from the Turkish border village of Mursitpinar, on October 19, 2014 (AFP Photo/Bulent Kilic).

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 14

Friday, December 26, 2014

Section 2

Page 14

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Navigating the holidays with food allergies

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Tel: 713-774-5140

An old car for your teenager? Take care, say experts

ARIS, France | - Parents who want to buy a small old car for their teenager could be putting their child at risk, experts warned in the British journal Injury Prevention on Friday. A survey of drivers aged 15 to 17 killed in US crashes from 2008 to 2013 found that 48 percent of the fatalities had been driving vehicles that were 11 or more years old.

by Mireille Schwartz, (CNN) olidays are a particularly challenging time for us food-allergic individuals with so many desserts and homemade treats, casseroles and dips laid out on the table -- largely without ingredient labels. Food-allergic children can feel left out of the traditional festivities, many of which center around food, and allergies can present a challenge for hosts, as they frequently must tend to a wide range of preferences and needs behind the scenes. All the excitement and good cheer makes it more difﬁcult to be informed about the ingredients in each and every party food. There are ways, however, to reduce anxiety through the holidays while staying happy, healthy, and allergy free. Season’s eatings Protecting children with allergies This is a wonderful time of year for getting together over meals with those closest to you. I suffer from ﬁsh allergy and my daughter has a peanut and tree nut allergy. Members of our inner circle are the most reliable and trusted food allergy gatekeepers for parties and celebrations, but it’s not possible to assume that friends and family will always remember to avoid reaction-causing foods after you’ve told them. After all, they don’t live with your food allergy day in and day out and, thus, naturally aren’t yet in the habit of checking every label every time. The holiday season is an optimal time to check in and remind everyone of your allergies prior to the get-togethers. This season is also an excellent time to ensure your auto-injectors and rescue medications are up-to-date. The auto-injectors, in particular,

have a relatively short shelf life and the product visibly starts to deteriorate at or around the expiration date. Remaining vigilant is key. Here are some holiday gathering tips for both hosts and guests: For hosts Hang on to labels. Keep food labels for everything used to prepare a festive homemade holiday meal so an allergic guest may double-check the ingredient list. Suggest alternatives. Request ﬂowers, wine or holiday-themed napkins and plates if guests want to contribute to the party and someone with a food allergy is attending. Look for “natural” turkey. Some pre-basted turkeys contain soy, wheat, and dairy. Instead, look for turkeys labeled “natural,” which by law must be minimally processed. Some freerange, all-natural, fresh turkeys are free of antibiotics, hormones, and allergens. Avoid cross-contamination. Care with utensils and surfaces when preparing foods is a must. Rinsing a knife that chopped walnuts is insufﬁcient -- thoroughly scrub all utensils and surfaces with soap and water and wipe clean. Even trace amounts of a food can cause a reaction for highly allergic people. Use color coding. How about trying color-coded cooking utensils this year? A bright red silicone spatula or a nifty lime green serving spoon is sure to alert food-allergic guests. Many large box stores stock seasonal arrays of themed and brightly colored utensils in advance of the holiday season. Consider donating. If a guest brings a food item that contains allergens, and there’s an allergic diner at the table, you could accept the item if it’s well-sealed and donate it later to a friend or a soup kitchen. Some cities

even have volunteer organizations dedicated to alleviating hunger. After a free phone call, their volunteers, who deliver sometimes more than 10 tons of food a week to agencies feeding people in need, will pick up your donation. For guests Put thought into contributions. When in doubt, beautiful fresh flowers are always a welcome hostess gift instead of a pie from a bakery when you’re just not sure about the allergy safety. Ship ahead. If you’re allergic and flying to visit friends or family, make some simple allergy-free foods that travel well and ship them to your host’s home a week or more in advance, so you’re sure they’ll arrive in time for your visit. Bring an allergy-free host gift. If your host has food allergies, you can always bring a gift of unpeeled fruit or a prepackaged seasonal safe food, with ingredient lists approved by your host. Bring a safe dish. If you’re food allergic and even if the party you’re invited to is not a potluck, why not offer to bring a safe dish or two so there’s definitely something you can eat. Your host will be thankful not to have to prepare separate food items, and sharing dishes that are allergen-free will delight everyone there. Check in beforehand. If you are allergic, always let your host or restaurant where you’re celebrating know in advance -don’t assume they will remember. Even a restaurant where you frequently dine may not immediately remember you and your medical condition at holiday banquet tables with prixfixe meals. Be sure to remember to always carry your rescue medication just in case of emergency. And here’s to your good health

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VOICE OF ASIA 15

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Section 2 Page 15

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Aamir Khan starrer ‘PK’ Gurmeet Choudhary-Ali Fazalgrosses Rs 95 crore at the box- Sapna Pabbi’s Khamoshiyan office in its opening weekend turned into a novel!

ue, December 23, 2014 1:00am UTC by Prateek Sur

Aamir Khan. Photo Courtesy: Facebook

UMBAI: Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ earned Rs 95.21 crore at the box-ofﬁce in the weekend, according to the producers. ‘PK’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and co-starring Anushka Sharma, released on December 19 in around 6000 screens all

over including 5200 in India. “PK collected record Rs 38.24 cr on Sunday which is 30 per cent growth from Saturday, taking the ﬁlm’s total weekend net collection to Rs 95.21 crore (Friday: 26.63 crore; Saturday 30.34 crore and Sunday 38.24 crore),” said a statement from

the film’s producer. The film got positive response from the audience and critics for its gripping storyline and powerful performances. Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Hirani and UTV, the film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Sushant Singh Rajput in pivotal roles.

‘Happy New Year’ to release online for fans outside India, China

The upcoming psycho thriller is making news almost everyday with its varied promotional techniques. Here’s something new… One has enjoyed the best of supernatural movies that Bollywood has seen being penned and directed by Vikram Bhatt. The specialist in the supernatural has written the story of Khamoshiyan and it seems it’s the moment to celebrate for the film-maker/ writer as three of his scripts are being made into a novel. The superhit 1920, 1920 – Evil Returns and the soon-to-be-released Khamoshiyan will turn into novels with never published before pictures and never known facts which Vikram would disclose in the books. Well looks like it’s time to get a taste of the same spine-chilling experience while reading it as a book. The compilation is set to be released in the end of January. An elated Vikram Bhatt says, “I’m simply thrilled. More so because the film of such genre gets an Adult rating. With the book coming out, young adults will also get to read my stories. It’s a first for me and I’m excited to gauge the reaction to this marketing initiative.” Vikram Bhatt had originally written Khamoshiyan and this was his script to make Haunted 2, the sequel to the acclaimed

Khamoshiyan poster. and superhit horror movie Haunted. However, he passed his story onto the debutant director Karan Darra whose ﬁlm’s trailer has been a roaring hit

online by becoming the fastest non star-cast trailer to register a million views. Khamoshiyan releases on Jan 30 and it is being presented by Fox Star Studios.

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hah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Happy New Year’ is just a click away for fans outside India and China with the Red Chillies Entertainment releasing the film online through Direct-To-Fan model. The film will be available on Happy New Year’s website to be viewed by the fans worldwide. The fans can pay through their credit cards and watch the film online. “We at Red Chillies have always taken pride in establishing new trends and delighting our fans. Along these lines we bring the biggest entertainer — Happy New Year, directly to our fans through Online streaming for the first time ever!,” said Venky Mysore, CEO RCE. While the traditional distribution markets like India and China enjoy a wide release of a Hindi film, DTF will release in other countries, barring these two traditional ones, to reach the most unconventional distribution markets.

‘Happy New Year’ cast during the promo. File Photo

Peshawar massacre: Dilip Kumar says he’s wounded beyond words Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar has expressed his thoughts and condemned the barbaric terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar that killed over 140 people, most of them children. Speaking to IANS, Kumar, who was born in Peshawar, said: “I was born in the charming city of Peshawar in undivided India and I still have many special memories of the place. What the Taliban terrorists of Pakistan did to the school children in Peshawar is unforgivable and sinful. “The massacre has wounded me beyond words. My heart longs to reach out to the parents who lost their sons and daugh-

ters in the worst crime any country has witnessed in recent years.” The 92-year-old further said: “I pray to the Almighty to give strength to the grieving parents to live through the trauma and horror and bear the loss. The time has come to crush and destroy such evil forces.” Kumar’s Peshawar house, which was declared a national heritage and a protected monument, is in shambles and nothing practical has so far been done for its preservation.

Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar

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VOICE OF ASIA 16

Friday, December 26, 2014

Section 2

Page 16

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

EU court says obesity can be disability by Lachlan CARMICHAEL / Sören BILLING

UXEMBOURG, | AFP | Thursday 12/18/2014 The European Union’s highest court ruled Thursday that obesity can be considered a “disability” if it hinders an overweight person’s performance at work. The European Court of Justice had been asked by a Danish court to consider the case of a child minder in Denmark who said he was ﬁred four years ago because he is obese.

“Obesity in itself has not previously been classed as a disability in British law,” said Claire Dawson . fessional life on an equal basis with other workers”.

The employee, Karsten Kaltoft, ﬁled a suit to obtain damages and interest from the municipality of Billund which employed him in the job, claiming he was the victim of discrimination.

The EU court said however it was up to the Danish court to “determine whether Kaltoft’s obesity falls within the deﬁnition of disability”.

“I’m both glad and relieved that there has been a ruling that... clearly points in our direction,” Kaltoft, who lost his job in 2010 and is now working as a lorry driver, told AFP.

Danish trade union FOA, which was acting on behalf of Kaltoft, described the ruling as “a great victory”.

“I was able to do my job like everybody else,” he added. Those who claimed it would make employers more reluctant to hire overweight people were wrong, he said. “If you have the qualities and qualiﬁcations an employer needs, I don’t think they -- when they are hiring you -- look at how easy you are to ﬁre,” he said. The Danish court asked the Luxembourg court whether EU law itself prohibits discrimination on grounds of obesity and whether obesity can be considered a disability. The EU court ruled that “no general principle of EU law prohibits, in itself, the discrimination on grounds of obesity”. But it said the “condition falls within the concept of ‘disability’ where... it hinders the full and effective participation of the person concerned in pro-

- ‘A great victory’ -

The town of Billund “has said all along that Karsten Kaltoft’s obesity could never constitute a disability because it was selfinﬂicted. The European Court of Justice ﬂatly rejects this argument,” the union said in a statement. Lawyer Jacob Sand, who represented Kaltoft, said the court’s decision protected a “vulnerable group of workers” but admitted that obesity could still be grounds for dismissal in cases where the employee is unable to perform the job they were hired to do. “A person who is dismissed if they are not competent, capable and available for the position has not been subjected to discrimination because it is only reasonable and factual to dismiss such a person,” he told AFP. It was only discrimination if “the person can perform his job but may be in need of some help to do it,” he said. However, Britain’s National

Obesity Forum said it “opened a can of worms for all employers” by pushing them to adapt to the problem of obesity rather than responding to it as a condition requiring remedial measures. “They will be required to make adjustments to their furniture and doors and whatever is needed for very large people,” said spokesman Tam Fry, who believed member states would challenge the ruling. “I believe it will also cause friction in the workplace between obese people and other workers,” he added. Matthew Elliott, chief executive of campaign group Business for Britain blasted the ruling as “yet another example of a decision by an EU court with no thought for the consequences or impact on business and the wider economy”. Others said the impact on existing legislation would be limited. “Obesity in itself has not previously been classed as a disability in British law,” said Claire Dawson, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon in London. “However, where an obese person has other health difﬁculties that can be associated with and potentially compounded by obesity, such as mobility difﬁculties, diabetes or depression, these may give rise to protection against disability discrimination,” she said

Miami, United States | AFP | Friday 12/19/2014 A listeria outbreak believed to originate from commercially packaged caramel apples has killed at least four people in the United States and sickened 28 people since November, officials said Friday. Listeria monocytogenes is caused by a bacteria and can cause life-threatening illness. It is particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and pregnant women, in whom it can cause miscarriage. A total of 83 percent of those interviewed so far (15 of 18 people) said they had recently eaten caramel-coated apples. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers in the United States not to eat commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples until further notice. “Out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends that US consumers do not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided,” the CDC said in a statement. Of the 28 infected, 26 were hospitalized and five people died. “Listeriosis contributed to at least four of these deaths,” said the CDC. Nine of the cases were pregnancy-related and involved either mothers-to-be or their newborn infants. Three cases of meningitis -- a dangerous complication of listeriosis -- among otherwise healthy children aged five to 15 were also reported. The illnesses have spread across 10 states. Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and symptoms typically begin within a few days to a couple of months after eating a contaminated product. The bacteria is found in soil, water and animal feces. Listeria can infect raw vegetables, animal meat, unpasteurized milk and processed foods such as cheese dips and deli meats.

Source: Memorial Hermann | Children’s Memorial Hermann | December 16, 2014

Sejal Patel, RN

According to Patel’s colleague Mary Marrs, RNII, BSN, who is also a critical care pediatric nurse at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and the one who nominated Patel for the rec-

ognition, Patel has been printing out blank calendars for her co-workers for the past several months and then ﬁlling in each day with a “random act of kindness,” thereby encouraging others to make someone else’s day a bit brighter.

cooking a delicious meal for a loved one, calling one’s best friend, giving 10 hugs in one day, baking a loaf of bread to share, forgiving someone, complaining less, and writing a poem for a podmate, just to name a few.

“Sejal has placed the calendars all over the units: at the workstations, in the bathrooms and in co-workers’ ofﬁces. These calendars have rippled into hundreds of random acts of kindness for her peers as well as our patients, patient families, visitors and even our family members when we bring this mentality home with us,” said Marrs.

“Sejal, I hope you’re listening… I want to thank you for, ﬁrst of all, doing what you’re doing for our kids… and all of the nurses and docs [sic] at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital for what you do,” said Patrick on his radio show on Thursday. “Actually making a calendar and encouraging other people to do random acts of kindness is just fantastic. You are exactly the type of person we want to honor, Sejal, and we do today.”

Some of the suggested random acts featured on Patel’s November calendar included:

Tel: 713-774-5140

Bacteria Have You Enrolled In Obama in caramel Care Yet? apples kills at By Galen Institute count, more than 42 signiﬁcant changleast 4 in US es already have been made to

Children’s Memorial Hermann Nurse’s ‘Random Acts Of Kindness’ Recognized With One In Return

ejal Patel, RN, a critical care pediatric nurse at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, received quite a surprise when she reported to work for her shift last Thursday. Matt Patrick, host of the “Matt Patrick Show” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH-AM, recognized her live on the air that morning and rewarded her with a $100 gift card to Urban Retreat Salon & Spa. Why did she win? It seems Patel’s “random acts of kindness” have ﬁnally come full circle.

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

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. Last article I had ﬁrst 10 changes stipulated. This article covers upto 19th change.

20. Non-compliant health plans get two year extension: The administration pushed back the deadline by two years that requires health insurers to cancel plans that are not compliant with ObamaCare’s mandates. These “illegal” plans may now be offered until 2017. This extension will prevent a wave cancellation notices from going out before the 2014 midterm elections. (March 5, 2014) 21. Delaying the sign-up deadline: The administration delayed until mid-April the March 31 deadline to sign up for insurance. Applicants simply need to check a box on their application to qualify for this extended sign-up period. (March 26, 2014) 22. Canceling Medicare Advantage cuts: The administration canceled scheduled cuts to Medicare Advantage. The ACA calls for $200 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage over 10 years. (April 7, 2014) 23. More Funds for Insurer Bailout: The administration said it will supplement risk corridor payments to health insurance plans with “other sources of funding” if the higher risk profile of enrollees means the plans would lose money. (May 16, 2014) 24. Exempting U.S. territories: Despite earlier administration claims that “HHS is not authorized to choose which provisions [of the ACA] might apply to the territories,” HHSwaived six major requirements – such as guaranteed issue, community rating, and essential benefit mandates – that were causing serious disruption to health insurance markets. (July 18, 2014) CHANGES BY CONGRESS, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA: 25. Military benefits: Congress clarified that plans provided by TRICARE, the military’s health-insurance program, constitutes minimal essential health-care coverage as required by the ACA; its benefits and plans wouldn’t nor-

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com mally meet ACA requirements. (April 26, 2010) 26. VA benefits: Congress also clarified that health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs constitutes minimum essential health-care coverage as required by the ACA. (May 27, 2010) 27. Drug-price clarification: Congress modified the definition of average manufacturer price (AMP) to include inhalation, infusion, implanted, or injectable drugs that are not generally dispensed through a retail pharmacy. (August 10, 2010) 28. Doc-fix tax: Congress modified the amount of premium tax credits that individuals would have to repay if they are over-allotted, an action designed to help offset the costs of the postponement of cuts in Medicare physician payments called for in the ACA. (December 15, 2010) 29. Extending the adoption credit: Congress extended the nonrefundable adoption tax credit, which happened to be included in the ACA, through tax year 2012. (December 17, 2010) 30. TRICARE for adult children: Congress extended TRICARE coverage to dependent adult children up to age 26 when it had previously only covered those up to the age of 21 — though beneficiaries still have to pay premiums for them. (January 7, 2011) Have you enrolled for Obama-Care yet? Call Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900 to-day, to promptly enroll in Obama Care. Have you enrolled for Obama-Care yet? Call Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900 to-day, to promptly enroll in Obama Care.

VOICE OF ASIA 17

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Friday, December 26, 2014

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Section 2

Page 17 Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

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ZEE TV’s Core Proposition Evolves Port of Houston Authority to sign To ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’ MoU of Friendship with JNPT

ZEEL MD & CEO Mr. Punit Goenka unveils the channel’s all-new, vibrant brand packaging at Zee Rishtey Awards 2014

UMBAI, (Dec. 13, 2014)-Launched in 1992 against the backdrop of post-liberalization with its socio-cultural and economic upheaval, Zee TV brought a new meaning to entertainment in India. It created a revolution in entertainment broadcast technology with its content, which mirrored the common man’s life and dreams. Twenty two years later, it still stands tall as a leading player in India and the largest Indian entertainment network in the world. In an exciting development at its annual awards show ‘Zee Rishtey Awards’, Zee TV, India’s leading Hindi entertainment channel, announced an evolution in its core proposition from ‘Ummeed Se Saje Zindagi’ to ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’ and ZEEL MD & CEO Mr. Punit Goenka unveiled an all-new, vibrant and dynamic brand packaging that resonates with its core ethos, while staying relevant to the changing palate of its loyal audiences. Zee TV continues to share a very strong emotional bond with its viewers. It has sustained and grown due to its ability to innovate and keep pace with changing times and expectations. A reﬂection of the adage that‘Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today’. In keeping with this thought, the channel announced a new brand identity featuring a new logo with a slogan ‘Ummeed Se Saje Zindagi’ in June 2011, conveying a progressive outlook for the channel. The slogan is a life truth that resonates beautifully with the content across Zee TV’s primetime – be it shows such as Punarvivaah that spoke of rediscovering love in a second marriage, Afsar Bitiya that captured the journey of a smalltown girl from modest begin-

nings to a successful career and self-esteem or any of Zee TV’s non-ﬁction formats that celebrate the talent of India’s common man, the channel’s shows have presented a beacon of hope to its viewers over the years. Today, Zee TV adds another layer to its core proposition, making it even more relevant to everyday life scenarios that

its viewers are faced with. Zee TV’s new brand slogan ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’ captures the beauty of re-discovering a new ray of hope with every moment of life. Speaking on the occasion, Zee TV Business Head Pradeep Hejmadi said, “Zee TV’s core proposition ofUmmeed se saje Zindagi was about a celebration and vindication of a woman’s emerging beliefs and a reflection of her changing hopes, dreams and optimism. This essence was embodied by each of our protagonists who emerged as role models and harbingers of hope for the masses. In that sense, Zee TV will always stand for Ummeed. It is the articulation that will change to reflect the changing times. Today, with India poised for growth, there is a feeling of ‘a new hope, every moment’. Zee TV’s new slogan ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’ captures this spirit and its brand philosophy as also its content will reflect the same!”

About the new packaging for the channel, he adds, “Designed and developed by the internationally acclaimed design studio Les Telecreateurs, Zee TV’s aqua blue logo now makes way for a deeper shade of blue, lending it a stronger, more dynamic edge. The new motif of the packaging is a spinning top, originally derived from the left top portion of the ‘Z’ itself. It spins, taking the form of a beautiful flower-like element. Here, each spine is perceived as a new lamha; Every show of Zee TV is a new lamha, a new emotion, a new sense of exuberance, a new cherishable moment. And from this thought stems the new brand slogan ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’. The color scheme of the new packaging is further fine-tuned to a strong blue for weekday fiction shows evoking the faith and trust of our viewers, yellow for weekend fiction signifying warmth and optimism, orange for weekend non-fiction that stands for cheer, confidence and celebration. The red packaging for movies and events represents excitement and youthful energy.” Zee TV has rolled out a 360degree marketing campaign across HSM to unveil the new identity. The creative agency FCB Ulka has conceptualized a simple yet memorable visual device of ‘fingers crossed’ to bring alive the new proposition. The channel has also brought on board ace music composers Salim Sulaiman to compose a very upbeat and memorable audio pneumonic to bring alive the essence of the new brand proposition. Says Nitin Karkare, COO, FCB Ulka, “Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed – the power of the moment that can bring hope/ ummeed being the notion and tagline, the creative idea had

OUSTON - The cities of Houston and Mumbai, India, share a number of common interests. Among them are world-class ports. Taking a step that will bring a closer relationship, the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) passed a proposal to sign a Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Sutapa Ghosh, accompanied by Ellen Goldberg and Atul Badwal, made the presentation to Chairman Janiece Longoria and Port Commissioners at PHA’s ﬁnal meeting of the year. According to the agreement, the two sides “will work together to develop and expand mutual understanding and cooperation, to share technical and professional expertise regarding port administration and development, and to promote greater economic beneﬁts for both.” Preparation for the agreement began in April, 2013, when Ghosh, the Founder and Festival Director of the Indian Film Festival of Houston, led a delegation to JNPT. With her were Mr. John Mosley from the Port of Houston, along with representatives from KBR, BP,

John Moseley, (Senior Director, Trade Development at Port of Houston Authority), Ellen Goldberg, (IFFH Board member) Janiece M. Longoria (Chairman, Port of Houston), Sutapa Ghosh, (Founder and Festival Director of Indian Film Festival of Houston), Atul Badwal, (IFFH Board member), John D Kennedy (Commission, Port of Houston). Photo Credit: Krishna Giri.

and other organizations. The Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Mr. N.N. Kumar, sent a letter to the Port of Houston in August 2014 for the Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation Jawaharlal Nehru Port is ranked 31st among the Top 100 Ports in the World. It is India’s #1 container port and is poised to handle 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) by the year 2020 - 21. The year 2014 marked

the 100th anniversary of the Houston Ship Channel and the 25th anniversary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. Currently, trade between India and the Houston-Galveston district ranked #13 in terms of Total tonnage and #3 in import TEUS (Twentyfoot equivalent units). Both sides expressed keen optimism in expanding the relationship between PHA and JNPT based on this memorandum of friendship and trade cooperation.

To Advertise Online www.voiceofasiaonline.com call 713-774-5140 to be something that not only sticks to people’s minds, promotes a telegraphic take-out of the message but also has a viral potential to become the talk of the town.” In the wake of this brand refresh exercise, the channel will call out to its viewers to share their Ummeedstories – slices of their life that will go on to inspire content on Zee TV as

well as be showcased on digital platforms. Some of the most impressive, crowd-sourced stories will even be curated into a book by a best-selling author. Zee TV also plans to encourage its viewers to begin contributing videos of their acting, dancing or singing to an online talent repository, with gratiﬁcation for the best entries every single month!

As the preferred channel for viewers and advertisers, Zee TV continues to grow and evolve, increase brand loyalty and lead content innovation. Zee TV is driven by creativity and innovation, yet still deeply rooted in Indian heritage and values. Consistent with the spirit of ZEE TV, the new brand identity ‘Har Lamha Nayi Ummeed’ is by the viewers, of the viewers and for the viewers.

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

Your Horoscope for the Week of December 26, 2014 by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Confidence and skill rise sharply with an invention or a final debt payment. This trend peaks gloriously. After that, any return to normal life may disappoint. You could be staring out the window again with daydreams of flying. Be careful about your wishes, because around the middle of the week you may actually get some of them. Beware of new distractions ongoing around you, when good looks and intense opinions might pull you into the orbit of some stronger heavenly body.

Success and pleasure as you whirl through unﬁnished business with style and warmth. Savor your accomplishments. For two intense days, you’re all seeing and all knowing. Some of what you’ve learned has immediate applications, and some can be set aside for future use. Your ally in all that’s logical and practical, bails you out this week. Some tacks on a big question mark and hints at a surprising answer. Do you have ‘record’ capacity? You can always blow it away later if you don’t need it.

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Growth, changing hopefully into a rhythm that suits you, because you’ll be stuck there all week. This week is about relationships, whether you’re starting or ending one. Resolve this thing ASAP, or long term plans must change. Fortunately, the stars bring and fresh energy to you. Gamblers and opportunists gleefully forget what has gone before. Cash out and leave the building by week’s end, when Lady Luck pulls another mood change. If you’re reasonable, the last days of the week are free from failed experiments.

Remember that growth without change is a joke. Your immediate future should be secured, and you’ll have time for fun. But the week ﬁnds you impatient at the slowing trend that the stars bring to your fast-paced world. Be ready to spend the end of the week either in search of your personal grail or chasing a wild goose. As you go down to the wire, you’ll probably question whether your quest was worth all the effort. Throwing money at problems trying to sooth or placate is highly likely and disappointing as well.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June You want to be the life of the party and mastermind of all the jokes. Don’t fret, satisfaction returns on the weekend. Spend the weekend giving as well as taking. You’re watching the clock, which only slows time down. Expect Monday and Tuesday to crawl by in a tangle of little headaches and petty intrigues. Mid-week brings new spark to your legendary ﬁre, and then it’s all about you. An attack of conscience or a bout of soul searching leads you to forsake pure fun for some greater purpose.

The need for patience, understanding and compassion always comes ‘easier’ for you but it may feel ‘strained’ this week well into and then you ‘catch a natural break’ and members seem to back off and STOP challenging you. Most of the time, they are likely to be totally unaware, with the exception and may be ‘needling you’ or it feels that way. Stay calm and give them a ‘small warning.’ Celebrating with pals over sudden ‘life altering’ events IS likely this week ......Read online www.voiceofasiaonline.com

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Rest mind and body with lighter work or none at all. But you can’t seem to slow down, you’re in demand and overbooked. Be careful of excessive work or play, because apparently endless resources could bottom out. But water signs regenerate quickly. The weekend ﬁnds you buoyant, focused, and ready to mentor/advisor anyone who needs your help. By early the next week, the joy is gone but the engine keeps running. Rewards come when the powers that be hand you the keys and walk away.

A graceful apology returns some of your losses. The fire is back in your eyes, and you won’t stand for anyone’s dirty tricks. Expect to work straight through the weekend, when playtime finally hits. Stay close to home, because your skills may be required onsite. An early conclusion frees you to do personal work, but you’re back in battle against a problem revived by the Taurus mate or close acquaintance. You may get into a bit of messy fun, because a real or symbolic parent wags a moralistic finger at you, urging you to clean up your act.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August

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

The radical solution to help you through all the work that others cheerfully heap on your head. Keep turning on the charm, which could steer you straight out of trouble. Talk your way out of anything serious by the, unless it’s a seriously fantastic invitation for the coming weekend. A pointed remark could deﬂate your balloon, but keep your head above the clouds and you may witness a rare phenomenon. Be quiet about your discovery, when your perspective is met with little sympathy.

You are being out of step and possibly out of control. Hang on for the burst of astrological fire that warms and clarifies you later in the week. Unless you can escape, there won’t be another break in the action until late in the week. You’re refreshed and ready for the next phase by week’s end, which means that you won’t panic when you hit your wall. Expect a few days of not getting your way. Turn your new found creativity toward practical ends in the final days of this month, when you understand that you want power to help others instead of power for its own sake.

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

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Hunger, that great equalizer, centers you again. Optimism keeps you aﬂoat even when others sink into silence. Find new excitement with enlightened visitors or a hot date. You laugh at those poor souls who lack your cosmic advantages, but beware - a rival may soon steal your thunder. After this running start, buckle down to some serious work on. Surely you know the right people to make this happen. Reward follows punishment. Problems are plentiful but your patience remains ﬁrm. Several errands and some hike in spending are indicated. Additional spending, most likely on decor or ‘home improvements’ appears likely with you possibly ‘going way over budget.’

You’ll know exactly how to deal with high prices or depleted resources. Emotion and intuition spread their warm, reasonable vibes wherever you go. Keep one hand ﬁrmly on your priorities before they wander off into the haze. Consolidate your assets while they’re still clearly deﬁned. Personal problems are indicated for and MAY be clashes. Tread very lightly as how they are ‘addressed and handled TODAY’ may determine IF they resolve quickly or ‘stick around’ for minutes, days, weeks or months! Your patience easily ‘wears thin’ and this can be seen ‘over and over again’ in exchanges with others.

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CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 19

Part Time Accountant Property Management Company in Houston is looking for a part-time accountant with the following qualiﬁcations: • Degree in Accounting or Business preferred. • Must have good working knowledge of Quickbooks and Excel. • Experience in generating ﬁnancial reports & bookkeeping. • Other duties as assigned. Good compensation for an experienced person

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MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY FROM HBR.ORG Set Boundaries to Protect Your Time

e’re all too busy. And we can’t stand people who distract us at work and derail our productivity. There may be no escape from other people, but you can take steps to regain control of your time and schedule. State your preferred method of communication. Limit aggravation by proactively informing colleagues about the best way to reach you, whether it’s via phone call, text, email, or tweet. Require an agenda for meetings. Vague or rambling meetings eat up too much of our time. Insist on seeing an agenda before you commit to attending meetings so that you can contribute fully. Model the practice by creating an agenda for any meetings you chair and offering to share the template with others. Make others prepare. Before you commit to a meeting, ask if people have done their research and if the real decision-makers will be present. Adapted from “Stop People from Wasting Your Time” by Dorie Clark.

Embrace Your Weird Beard this Winter

FRIDAY, December 26, 2014

MANAGING EDITOR KTRK-TV, the ABC Owned Television station located in Houston, TX is looking to add a member to its news management team. Candidates for Managing Editor must have a strong sense of good content and how to cover it. Need to be cool and calm under stressful situations. Should be able to navigate easily during breaking news events, moving crews frequently and strategically. Must be aggressive and smart, organized and patient. Should be able to multi-task every minute of every day. Will be managing the assignments desk and field crews while helping to oversee daily editorial flow and overall newsroom staffing. Will coordinate daily news planning and coverage at the same time constantly pushing forward on planning future and long-term events like elections, highprofile trials, and promotables. Will work closely with other news and digital managers. Must have at least 5 years experience on assignments desk in a major market. Strong internal candidate. All Interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #240714BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. Equal Opportunity Employer – Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability. No Telephone Calls.

Assignments Desk/ News Planning Manager KTRK-TV the ABC Owned station located in Houston, TX has a current opening for an Assignments Desk/ News Planning Manager for our fast paced, high energy newsroom. This position is responsible for overseeing the assignment desk, including stafﬁng, organizing, setting up desk systems including scanners, helicopter coverage, and equipment.

Will be responsible for organizing daily

news coverage and future news planning. We are seeking someone who is extremely detail oriented, impeccably organized, and not afraid to make sound decisions. Prior assignment desk experience is required with prior news management experience preferred. Must be responsive to all breaking news situations, knowing how to move staff into place quickly and which resources should be utilized. The successful candidate will be a news junkie, willing to work sources and push all assignments desk staff to do the same.

Must be comfortable with logistics, moving crews frequently based on good

editorial decisions. Familiarity with microwave, satellite and live streaming technologies such as Dejero a must. Strong computer skills are required. To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #240905BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references. Equal Opportunity Employer – Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability. No Telephone Calls.

Know Your Words

Here’s your chance to be a Vocabulary Sleuth! Adjuration (noun) A vehement appeal.

Urchin - (noun) A roguish, mischievous boy. Veneer (noun) Outside show or elegance.

Now You Know!

Amazing facts from all over the WORLD!

• Pearls melt in vinegar. • Women blink twice as much as men. • India has the most post ofﬁces than any other country (over 100,000).

Waif - (noun) A homeless, neglected wanderer.

• Duck eggs are the largest eggs in the world.

Zenith - (noun) The culminating-point of prosperity, inﬂuence, or greatness.

• Tennis was originally played with bare hands.

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FRIDAY, December 26, 2014