Voice of Asia May 23 2014

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FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

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ead Social Security and Medicare Report By Social Security Board of Trustees on Page 18 Or Call: 713771-2900.

Vol. 27 No. 21 Friday, May 23, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

India’s Modi invites Pakistan ISKCON of Houston Opens New Temple PM to swearing-in: party

by Bhuvan BAGGA NEW DELHI, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - Indian prime minister-elect Narendra Modi has invited Pakistan’s premier Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in next Monday, his party said, in a bold diplomatic statement that he intends to improve strained relations.

Nirmala Sitharaman, spokeswoman for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told AFP Wednesday all heads of government from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are being sent “invitations to be present at Mr Modi’s swearing in”.

Continued on page 10 Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and India’s next prime minister Narendra Modi greets the gathering at the home of his 90-year-old mother in Gandhinagar, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Friday, May 16, 2014.

Houston Indian Americans celebrate ‘Victory of India’

Visitors enjoy the festivities at the new temple. The central dome towers to 72 feet high. Photo by Misha More

Three day festival concludes. Thousands attend the Grand Opening of new ISKCON Houston temple.

Left: Abhishek of the Deities (ceremonial bathing) being performed for the Radha Krishna Deities as part of the installation ceremony. Photo by Thejas Rajaram.

Read complete report on Page 12

“Hearty Congratulations to ISKCON Houston on its Grand Opening of the New Temple.” - VOICE OF ASIA A jubilant crowd outside India House. Photos by Bijay Dixit, Unique Images

by Shobana Muratee

I

n an unbridled gust of joy and jubilation, nearly 625 Indian Americans - both the young and old - gathered at the India House on Sunday, May 18th to celebrate ‘Victory of India’. They were celebrating the recent general elections that have declared an unprecedented victory to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and announced its 63-year-old leader Narendra Modi as the incoming Prime Minister.

This victory was especially historical for the Global India Bharat Vikas (GIBV) association, formed with the help of NRI volunteers to boost the ‘Modi for PM’ campaign. More than 1000 NRIs went from the USA, Japan,

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Canada and other countries to India as volunteers for the campaign out of which 25 were from Houston.

KP George sworn in as FBISD Board Trustee

Achalesh Amar, Houston GIBV Coordinator, informed the gathering that approximately 1.9 million calls were made by the GIBV volunteers throughout the “Reference Calling Campaign,” successfully connecting with five to eight million voters in India directly.

“The innumerable ‘indirect’ appeals through social media campaign support on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp provided by the volunteers helped generate and sustain the momentum throughout the nine phases of polling,” Amar stated. He urged the gathering to Continued on page 6

KP George was sworn in as FBISD Board Trustee on Monday May 19 evening following the regular Board meeting. Other new trustee sworn in along with him are Jason Burdine and Kristin Tassin. The Ceremony was conducted by Jayne Keyser for the office of the Superintendent family, friends and supporters participated in the ceremony.

LEFT: Swearing in ceremony: L-R: KP George – Position 5, who resides in the east side of the District.

Kristin Tassin – Position 4, which is an atlarge position.

Jason Burdine – Position 1, who resides in the west side of the District.

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

VOICE OF ASIA 2

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Reections on India’s 2014 General Elections

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

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

India, the largest functioning democracy in the world, has once again demonstrated its ability to manage its elections in a peaceful and mature manner, paving the way for a smooth transition of the Government.

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

Having achieved an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).is in a position to offer stable Government for the next 5 years.

Mr. Modi has lead his party to victory with superb oratory skills promising good governance and development for India. He has raised expectations of the aspirational generation of young people who constitute almost 30% of India’s population. Mr. Modi’s biggest challenge will however,be to ďŹ nd the right people with integrity and character to form his Government.

VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Online Editor:

Shobana Muratee

All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher.

Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-7745143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@ voiceofasiagroup.com

Mr. Modi, will no doubt, face many challenges to govern a country that is saddled with with inefďŹ cient bureaucracy and entrenched corruption at all levels. During his campaign, Mr. Modi rightly criticized the illegal money Indians tucked away in overseas Banks, but did not spell out how he proposes to bring the money back to India.

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temple for Lord Rama, in Ayodhya.

Also, BJP did not bring up certain hot button issues to forefront like abrogation of the Article 370 of Indian constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, passage of a Uniform Civil Code under which all Indian citizens follow one law irrespective of their individual religious beliefs; and religious conversions taking place in the country.

decades. Mr. Modi should also revive the Master plan to interconnect all of India’s rivers, a brain child of late Dr. K.L. Rao, then Public Works and Irrigation Minister in Nehru’s Congress Government. If implemented, this project alone will create thousands of jobs across

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Mr. Modi had made a statement in Varanasi that he would get the Holy river Ganges cleaned up, a project that was originally initiated by late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi of the Congress party, but was never completed even after two

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Unlike in previous elections, BJP this time, conspicuously stayed away from the controversial subject of building a

During the 8 month long electioneering, neither Congress nor BJP had addressed the acute power shortages being experienced in the country. BJP’s position on Nuclear Power plants is not yet known. Discussions on issues like global warming, urban pollution and illiteracy were not even discussed as bylines.

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 conďŹ rmation 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.

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the country. Unfortunately, the project is languishing on the drafting board for want of strong political will to proceed.

During the elections, very little discussion took place on foreign policy matters such as the Chinese encroachments in the North-East, illegal immigration from Bangladesh, cross border terrorism from Pakistan and most importantly, the long standing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir. Mr. Modi is expected to take bold decisions in all these matters in the best interest of India. One thing is for sure. Mr. Modi is not Mr. Vajpayee to waste time on bus diplomacies with Pakistan..

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, May 23, 2014

Page 3

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Sri Vasavi Jayanthi Celebrations at Sri Meenakshi Temple

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Vedic Heritage School Year end program celebrated at Sri Meenakshi Temple

Vedic heritage School students Sri Vasavi Devi.

Sakthaicha Vidhmahey; Adi Sakthaicha Dheemahi; Thanno Kanyakamba Prachodayat Swaha. The Kalasam with holy water was taken in a procession to the Vasavi Sannidhi for doing Abhishekam to the Moola vigraham.

The alankaram was expertly done by the priest with Silver Kavacham, new Silk Sari and fresh flower garlands.

The participants cited Ashtothra Namavali. The ritual aspect ended with Aarati followed by another colorful procession carrying the Utsava Vigraham around the main temple.

In parallel children were actively kept engaged by the Borugu family in fun and learning experience that included a question and answer session on the history and message of Sri Vasavi Devi.

The Deity being taken in a procession by devotees

by Seshagiri Pabbisetty

O

n May 18th Vasavi Pooja Sangam coordinated the celebrations under the auspices of Sri Meenakshi Temple. With the sponsorship of Sri Vasavi devotees and their enthusiastic participation with their families and friends the festival turned out to be another enchanting and memorable socio-religious experience for everybody.

The event is a celebration of Dharmam, Seelam (Chastity) and Ahimsa (Non-violence), the three core values she preached and, meant to spread her message. As Sri Vasavi Puranam portrayed she was a manifestation of Adi Parasakthi. With a Divine purpose She was born into a royal family. She was given the name, Vasavamba, but later known as Sri Vasavi Kanyaka

Parameswari or Sri Vasavi in short.

Unlike Goddess Meenakshi, who married Lord Siva, Sri Vasavi decided to dedicate her life to Lord Siva by remaining unmarried as “Gowrabalika (Virgin)”. As such She refused the King’s marriage offer even under the threat of war and decided to end her Avatar by offering herself to the God of Fire, Agni, thus preventing bloodshed and also upholding the dignity and honor of womanhood. In her message She emphasized the virtues of Dharmam and Seelam and Ahimsa.

In reverence to her true manifestation the function started at the Ganesh temple with homam (havan), seeking the blessings of Lord Ganapathi first and ending with invoking sanctifications of Sri Vasavi Devi as Adiparasakthi by chanting Vasavi Gayathri: Om Parah

At the Sri Vasavi Sannidhi the priest gave theertham and prasadam to each participant with the Devi’s blessings; this was followed with a delicious lunch. At the luncheon the current coordinator, Sri Kalva Prasad, gave an account of the year-long activities and thanked all the volunteers, especially the Ladies, sponsors and participants, children in particular, for a successful and blissful year. He expressed his gratitude to the Celebration Team, in particular to Sri Shankar Pabba for the team leadership role, to Sri Karunakar Chowdavarapu for his liaison role with the temple and to Sri Satya Narendrula for the Audio arrangements and introduced the incoming coordinator, Sri Athukuri Sudarshan. He mentioned about the NRIVA-GMR fund drive nationwide to help the needy and introduced Dr. Siddeswar Gubba as the local champion. He also made a reference to the local media coverage,

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he annual Year End Program (YEP) by the Vedic Heritage Class (VHS) students of Sri Meenakshi Temple was celebrated on 5/18/2014 at the temple Kalyanamantapam. Garuda Rao, the coordinator of VHS, ensured the execution of a well thought out event, which was attended by nearly 350 individuals.

A team of 30 students from VHS, put together a stage-drama, under the able guidance of volunteer teachers, that depicted episodes from Siva Purana. During a week filled with final exams, it was truly remarkable to see young talent go on stage and exhibit great enthusiasm in learning their script and portraying mythological stories.

It was inspiring to see wholehearted support from parents who spent countless hours in working with their children to prepare for the event. Colorful costumes and stage props added to the authenticity of the show. Mahalakshmi Sadasivam, who is a joint coordinator for VHS helped to direct the show that included music, dance and captivating dialogue. wherein Sri Vasavi was mentioned to have become immortal as the champion of Peace and Nonviolence (Ahimsa) and a reference was made to the statement of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, past president of India, describing Goddess Vasavi very rightly as the First ever known personification of Non-violence in the world – a fact that needs to be pub-

The YEP included a graduation ceremony for the senior batch of VHS students who rendered a videotaped summary of what they learned in Bhagawath Gita class. There was also poster presentation by the junior VHS class who went on stage to discuss what they learnt about various temples in India. But certainly the most memorable segment was the littlest students who were dressed up as Gods and Goddesses. The show came to an end with Garuda Rao introducing Mahalakshmi Sadasivam as the coordinator for 2014-2015 along with Sripathy Karanam and Padmanabhan Bheri as co-coordinators. Padma Golla (MTS Treasurer), representing the MTS board, thanked heartily the hard and dedicated service provided by the VHS teachers and volunteers.

No event of such magnitude is complete without a sumptuous lunch which was served in the adjacent Youth Hall, complete with kids’ favorite noodles and ice cream kulfi. Indeed a great day to remember for VHS who will regroup in Fall 2014 for the next academic year. licized and recognized as is done for other non-violence champions, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and others. The devotees were very grateful to the temple board and administration for their support and, in particular, to the temple priest, Sri Pawankumar Sribhashyam, for his expertise in performing the ritual aspects of the celebrations.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The People’s Lawyer

Answers to your Immigration Questions

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer:

www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Stay up-to-date about your rights as a consumer Q. It seems that the law is always changing and new scams are developed everyday. What is the best way to stay current about consumer rights?

A. The best way I know to stay current is to subscribe to my free Consumer Alert Newsletter, published by the Center for Consumer Law. The newsletter is published two to three times a week.

It contains information about the law, shopping hints, scam alerts, financial planning, and valuable links. The only way to get the newsletter is to subscribe, and you can do that by going to my website, www.peopleslawyer.net.

Q. What is the statute of limitations on old debt? The creditor wrote it off in 2007. Now, a debt collector says he owns the debt and expects me to pay. I have a credit score of over 750 and don’t want them to mess with it or have them continue to harass me. Help.

A. The statute of limitations for suing on a debt is four years. This means that if the debt was in default and written off in 2007, it is now too late to sue. If you were sued you would have a defense based on this law. Assuming the information was reported to the credit bureau, it became obsolete and is generally not reported after seven years. The fact that a new creditor is trying to collect does not “restart” either the statute of limitations or the time period for the information to be reported by the credit bureau.

On the other hand, you still owe the money and the debt collector may request you pay.

There is a federal debt collection law, however, called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, that says if you informed the debt collector in writing to stop all communication, he must stop. I suggest you send notice demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. That should end things.

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

email at srichardslaw@aol.com

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS Q: Can you explain what deferred action for childhood arrivals is?

A: Under deferred action, certain individuals who came to the United States before the age of 16 may request consideration for a deferral of their removal from the United States. This policy, announced on June 15th, 2012, grants lawful presence to those individuals for a two year period. They are also eligible for employment authorization for that period of time if they are able to demonstrate economic necessity for employment.

Q: What do I need to show to request a grant of deferred action for childhood arrivals? I have yet to apply for this and I am interested in applying.

A: To be eligible for deferred action for the first time, you must show the following : Be under the age of 31 as of June 15th, 2012; you came to the United States before your 16th birthday; you resided in this country since June 15th, 2007 to present; have been physically present in the United States on June 15th, 2012; you either entered the country without inspection or your lawful immigration status has already expired as of June 15th, 2012; you are either currently in school or have graduated, or have obtained a GED certificate or other state authorized exam in the US or have been honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces or the Coast Guard of the US; and you must also have not been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety. If in doubt, please consult with an immigration attorney to help you determine whether you satisfy all the eligibility requirements for deferred action for childhood arrivals.

Q: What form do I have to use to apply for deferred action for childhood arrivals? What is the filing fee?

A: You will need to use Form I-821D. In addition to that, please also complete Form I-765 and I-765WS to apply for employment authorization. File all the forms together. The filing fee is $465.00

Q. Are adopted children and stepchildren treated the same as a natural born child for inheritance purposes?

Q: What happens if my request for deferred action is denied? Will I be placed in removal proceedings?

A. Yes and no. An adopted child is treated the same as any other child. A stepchild, on the other hand, is not considered a child for purposes of inheritance rights. Of course, you may have terms in your will treating a stepchild the same as any other child.

A: Information provided in your application for deferred action is generally protected from disclosure to Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) unless the applicant meets the criteria set forth in USCIS’s policy memorandum for referral to ICE, which can be found at www.uscis. gov/NTA. Some examples are cases involving criminal offences, fraud or a threat to national security or public safety.

Q. I am in the sixth month of a twelve-month lease. I am getting married next month and want to move out. Is this a valid excuse to break my lease?

A. This probably is not a valid reason to terminate your lease. As I have written many times before, a lease is a contract between a landlord and a tenant. The terms of the lease are whatever the parties agree to. What you are asking is if you have the right to terminate the lease and end your obligation to pay rent because you are getting married. The answer to this question depends on the terms of the lease. If the lease gives you such a right, you may exercise it. If the lease does not give you this right, you will be breaking the lease if you move out and stop paying rent. The law does not recognize an “excuse,” based on such events as marriage, a new job, loss of a job, or a serious medical problem.

If you break your lease and try to terminate early, you may be liable for damages This will mean that you could owe the landlord damages for the period of time that he is unable to re-let the apartment. I suggest you talk with the landlord about letting you out early, perhaps in exchange for the payment of one month’s rent.

Q. We have a 14-year-old child. Is it “legal” to leave her home alone, or with our younger child while we go out? Is there a legal age a child can be left home alone or allowed to baby-sit?

A. There is no “legal age” at which a child may be left alone or stay with another child. The law requires that you, as a parent, not abandon your child or put the child in a dangerous situation.

These requirements establish the standard for leaving a child alone. Basically, if your older child is mature enough to safely stay at home alone or care for a younger child, he or she is old enough.

Do you want to know more about your legal rights? Visit my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

IMMIGRATION

Q:

I have a conviction for DUI. Can I apply for deferred action?

A: DUI (driving under the influence) is classified as a significant misdemeanor for deferred action purposes. Regardless of the sentenced imposed, this offence makes renders you ineligible to apply for deferred action. Other significant misdemeanor offences are those involving domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking and offences where the person was sentenced to actual time in custody of more than 90 days.

Q:

What is the meaning of a felony offence?

A: A felony is any federal or state offence punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

Q:

Can I also apply to travel if my deferred action application is pending?

A: No, you may not. You may only apply for Advance Parole to travel abroad only after your deferred action for childhood arrival application has been approved. It is very important to consult with an immigration attorney to discuss the risks associated with traveling abroad using Advance Parole.

Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case.

Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. You may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

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VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Houston Indian Americans celebrate ‘Victory of India’

Achalesh Amar, Houston GIBV Coordinator, speaks on the occasion.

Sarojini Gupta, President Sewa International, seen reciting a poem dedicating to Modi ji.

Continued from page 1 get involved in nation building and mentioned the initiatives taken by NRIs which found a mention in BJP manifesto – a 7 point agenda for 70 million abled individuals and disaster management efforts.

The “Victory of India� celebrations were kicked off with a procession through the parking lot of India House center setting the mood with high energy dancing and shouting of slogans: “Bharat Mata Ki Jai� and “Vande Mataram� throughout.

The celebrations continued with equal gusto inside India House where guests were seated to a formal setting. A beautiful rendition of the patriotic song “Vande Mataramâ€? was sung followed by more inspirational songs like ‘Chodo kal ki baaten‌.’ that resonated Modi’s slogan to march ahead.

Ritesh Seal and Anand Bhattad, both active members of the GIVB served as emcees for the event successfully enhancing the mood with their high energy presentations and engaging the audience throughout the program with their wisecracks and apt insertions of relevant information.

Sharad Amin, President, Hindus of Greater Houston, and Madhukar Adi, (Hyderabad) gave an account of the “campaign on the ground� activities in India, sharing their experiences of campaigning in three Indian states. Krupa Rathi, a ten year old dedicated her poem thanking people for supporting Modi ji in her own adorable style. A video

Members of the India American community in Houston who gathered at the India House to join in the celebrations on May 18th, 2014 . Photos by Bijay Dixit, Unique Images.

Young volunteers sang Indian patriotic songs at the celebration

GIBV supporters: L-R: Ramesh Bhutada, Jugal Malani and Vijay Pallod

of Modi ji’s victory speech was played to the rapt attention of the audience which responded with thunderous slogan shouting at the end of the speech.

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In his keynote address, Ramesh Bhutada, a noted industrialist and an experienced leader of the community (the GIVB volunteers referred to as their mentor) spoke encouragingly about how the entire team inspired each other to work tirelessly and enthusiastically. Terming

Gandhi Gopinath proposed a Vote of Thanks to all the supporters, volunteers, media members, donors and attendees. The entire event was efďŹ ciently coordinated by Manoj Rathi who meticulously planned and executed the entire program until it concluded with a sumptuous vegetarian dinner, provided by Vishala Restaurant. Earlier on May, 16th, volunteers and supporters of NaMo campaign were treated to a luncheon at the Bhojan restaurant to express their appreciation and also celebrate the moment of victory.

(With input from Achalesh Amar).

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Sarojini Gupta, President Sewa International, recited a couple of freshly coined poems capturing the campaign and victory of BJP. Jugal Malani, President, India House, Dinkar Chedda and Haider Kazim addressed the gathering as well.

this election victory as the second independence for India as it truly got its ‘freedom from vote bank politics, freedom from caste based politics, and freedom from the dynastic politics.�

He lauded the efforts of various organizations in India which supported in the campaign. The efforts of Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar found a special mention in his speech. Hailing the paradigm shift in the politics where the focus would be on development of all, he was thrilled to mention that with India was emerging as a “Jagat guru� and the younger generation of NRIs would feel better connected to India. Bhutada also recognized Raman bhai Patel, (from Surat, Gujarat) former from VP of BJP Gujarat and Kartik Trivedi, an artist and musician of international acclaim based in Houston who were present on the occasion.

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VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd VHPA congratulates the to provide Visa/OCI/PIO/Renunciation people of India of Indian Citizenship Certificate application support services WASHINGTON, DC (May 16, 2014)

A

s already informed earlier, the Embassy of India in the USA has awarded the new contract for providing Visa/OCI/PIO/ Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Certificate application support services to the Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd., to be operational from May 21st, 2014.

The current Service Provider, BLS International Limited, will be closing all its operations with regard to Visa/OCI/ PIO/Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Certificate support services in the evening of 20th May, 2014 at all locations in USA. The website of Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. is operational from May 16th, 2014: http://www.in.ckgs.us The locations of CKGS Service Centers across USA are: Washington DC- Suite 100, 1250, 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 New York- 2nd Floor, 235 West, 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011 Chicago- Suite 1003, 19 S, La Salle Street, Chicago, IL 60603 San Francisco- 1st Floor, 225 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 Houston- Binz Building, Suite 550, 1001 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002 Atlanta- 1st Floor, Suite 180, 5883 Glenridge Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 32328 CKGS Helpdesk phone numbers (to be operational from16th May) are: Toll free no: 1-866-978-0055

408-709-1764 408-709-1773 For any enquiries the email id of CKGS is : enquiriesusa@ ckgs.com The following is once again reiterated: Applications in person viz. “walk-in application” will be accepted by BLS International Ltd. till the afternoon of 16th May 2014. Only Emergency Visa applications will be accepted by BLS till forenoon of 20th May 2014.

Applications sent through mail upto 13th May 2014 and

reaching the BLS International Ltd. on or before 15th May, 2014 will be accepted. Thereafter, applicants, who propose to send their applications by mail, may send them, so as to reach offices of the Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. at jurisdictional locations on or after May 21st, 2014. It may also be noted that Banker’s checks/ Money order accompanying these applications are drawn in favor of the new service provider Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. with the revised service fee.

From the 21st of May, 2014 all Visa/OCI/PIO/Renuncia-

tion of Indian Citizenship Certificate application support services will be provided by the Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. Applicants, who have already submitted their applications to BLS International Ltd, may check online status of their applications from BLS International Ltd website till May 20th, 2014. The status of these Pending applications will be available on the website of Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Ltd. from 21st May 2014 and can be tracked from CKGS website www.in.ckgs.us.

Indian-American author pleads guilty in Senate campaign scheme

N

ew York, May 21, 2014 - Conservative IndianAmerican author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza, who has been critical of President Barack Obama through his works, pleaded guilty before a US court to violating election campaign law by making illegal contributions to a Senate campaign.

D’Souza, 53, had in January pleaded not guilty to charges brought by Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor India-born Preet Bharara and was scheduled to go on trial from May 19.

He, however, decided to change his plea and yesterday admitted during a hearing in Manhattan federal court before District Judge Richard Berman that he made two close aides to contribute USD 10,000 each to the senate campaign of Republican Wendy Long in 2012 with the understanding that he would reimburse them for their contributions.

He admitted that he knew that what he was doing was wrong and something the law forbids.

The court then accepted the guilty

D’Souza, 53 plea. “I deeply regret my conduct,” he said in court.

“I knew that causing a campaign contribution to be made in the name of another was wrong and something the law forbids,” he added.

The Mumbai-native faces a maximum sentence of two years

in prison but according to his plea deal with prosecutors, the advisory sentencing guidelines call for a term in the range of 10-16 months when he is sentenced on September 23.

Apart from being charged with one count of causing to make USD 20,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Long’s cam-

The World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), congratulates the people of India, for successfully electing a new government in the most elaborate exercise of democratic process, anywhere in the world. As the geographical and spiritual homeland of the largest number of Hindus worldwide, India is often considered as the Punnyabhumi for the community.

In the past one month more than 1.25 billion people participated in a complex election process that included issues relevant to the survival of the Indian economy and sociopolitical identity. The ruling coalition which had dominated the political discourse for most of the past six decades was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi. This paradigm shift in the Indian political discourse, to a identity rooted in the concept of “Hindu Universalism”, is in stark contrast to the divisive and appeasement politics that had mired the country over paign, D’Souza was also charged with one count of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in connection with the illegal campaign contributions.

Under the plea agreement, the prosecutors would dismiss the false statements count when D’Souza is sentenced.

Last week, Berman had denied a pretrial motion by D’Souza to dismiss the indictment.

D’Souza had alleged that he was being targetted for “selective prosecution” since he had been a critic of Obama.

Bermna had ruled that there was “no evidence” to support D’Souza’s allegation that he was being prosecuted because of his outspoken criticisms of the President.

“Following the court’s ruling denying Dinesh D’Souza’s baseless claim of selective prosecution, D’Souza now has admitted, through his guilty plea, what we have asserted all along – that he knowingly and intentionally vio-

the past few decades.

The decisive mandate offers the new government an opportunity to tackle some of the intractable problems plaguing India, such as- the situation of the Hindu refugees from Kashmir, uniform civil code for all citizens of India, and the perpetual threat of terror. It also allows the government the ability to have and a more global outlook in preserving and promoting the values of Hindu Dharma.

The World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) wishes the new government led by Narendra Modi, all possible support in fulfilling their mandate. We believe people of India have entrusted BJP with the task of bringing about social equity and economic growth, for all.

We are confident that a better understanding and partnership will develop between India and the United States that is rooted in mutual respect, shared threat perception and a move towards increased prosperity for all.

lated federal election laws,” Bharara said in a statement.

D’Souza’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman said that “Given the technical nature of the charge, there was no viable defense.”

“We are hopeful that Judge Berman will recognize D’Souza to be a fundamentally honorable man who should not be imprisoned for what was an isolated instance of wrongdoing in an otherwise productive and responsible life,” he said.

Long, who has been a friend of D’Souza’s from their college days at Dartmouth in the 1980s, issued a statement after learning about D’Souza’s plea and said she was “heartbroken” about the case.

D’Souza, who is also a bestselling conservative author, had come in for severe criticism for his 2012 documentary ‘2016: Obama’s America’, a documentary that had equated reelection of Obama with the death and dismemberment of the US and had been running at number three on the top movies list when it was released.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Community Walk hosted by Morton Lodge Presents Fifty BAPS Charities in Irving, TX Year Service Award

American Diabetes Association educates walkers at the annual BAPS Charities Walk

Right Worshipful Charles Cupples, District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 108 presents the award to Raj Bhalla while Secretary Jim Starks looks on.

A

t the stated meeting of May 13th, Raj Bhalla was awarded his fifty year service award. Raj was initiated on January 6, 1964, passed on May 7, 1964, and raised on June 4, 1964, all in Northern Star Lodge No. 21 in Ferozepore Cantonment in the Punjab of India. He came to the US in 1976 and affiliated with Paumanok-Port Washington No. 855 in New York where he served as its Worshipful Master in 1982. He moved to Texas and affiliated with Morton Lodge No. 72 in 1998.

Following the presentation by Wor. Jim Talbot and RW Charles Cupples, Raj shared his thoughts about his Masonic career.

Morton Lodge is blessed to count his kind and gentle man as a friend and brother.

Star Learning hosts Special Open House for Indian community

Participants display the State Of Texas & Dallas County resolution during BAPS Charities annual Walk.

M

ehr Patel is only 12 years old. Everyone that meets her immediately smiles upon seeing her beaming face. Even though Mehr is still a kid she decided to fundraise for a cause close to her heart. To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

The 2014 BAPS Charities walk in Dallas, TX, which took place on Saturday May 17, 2014, supported the American Diabetes Association. ADA’s mission to help cure diabetes motivated Mehr and many other walkers to fundraise and walk for this cause, which hits near and dear to their heart. After living with the disease, Mehr has become committed toward living a healthier lifestyle and raising awareness so that people learn how to effectively manage and treat diabetes. She was thrilled knowing that her efforts were going to make a profound impact in the community. For the last 3 months, Mehr took up the cause of raising funds to support the BAPS Charities Walk in Dallas and raised over $700!

This year’s walkathon brought together approximately 880 participants ranging from young kids at the age of 2 to seniors at the age of 75. The walk launched with a traditional prayer for world peace and an opening speech by Dallas County Commissioner, Dr. Elba Garcia. ”It is a honor to be here at the BAPS Charities walk this year, this is a great walk supporting a great cause. It is great to see all the people here today to support BAPS Charities and

American Diabetes Association” stated Dr. Garcia.

Upon completing the 5k walk, Jitendra Bhatia proudly stated, “I was excited to join in this walk because it brings the community together, teaching kids to start being involved in charities from a young age”.

Dr. Ankitbhai Patel, a local volunteer for the walk, commented, “Participating in events like this is a wonderful opportunity for my entire family to come together and contribute to something that creates a positive impact in our community.

Today, I walked with my family and friends”.

BAPS Charities undertakes many such charitable events throughout the year to support local communities. BAPS Charities’ projects are inspired

by Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s motto, “In the joy of others, lies our own”. Through this motto, Pramukh Swami Maharaj selflessly serves society through a variety of social projects and inspires thousands of others to do the same. In addition to the 40 such annual walkathons hosted across North America this year, BAPS Charities hosts a variety of programs to support healthy living, environmental awareness and education initiatives around the world. BAPS Charities sincerely serves the community, by improving the quality of life of individuals and families.

committed to sincerely serving the world by caring for individuals, families, and communities. It is affiliated with BAPS as an independent charity and social services arm. The 55,000 BAPS volunteers networked in over 3,300 centers around the world provide over 12 million volunteer-hours of service annually.

Among social service charities, BAPS Charities is a wellrespected and trusted name. It has amassed over 50 years of firsthand experience in initiating, managing, and sustaining 160 humanitarian operations throughout the world in such diverse fields as: medical services, environmental services, community services, tribal services, and disaster relief services.

Keynote Speaker: Mr. KP George, Fort Bend ISD Trustee

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educate the community for a better future.

Star Learning Vision: To

Please join us in this special

For additional information on BAPS Charities and its international and local philanthropic activities, please visit www. bapscharities.org About American Diabetes As-

About BAPS Charities: BAPS Charities is a 501(c) (3) registered nonprofit international charity organization

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sociation: We lead the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fight for those affected by diabetes. We fund research to prevent, cure and manage

event. Come meet our tutors and staff, tour the center, enjoy refreshments, and learn more about academic summer camp programs, as well as surprise door prizes & raffles!

If you would like more information about this event, please contact Star Learning at 832-999-4921 or email at sonia@starlearning.com. diabetes. We deliver services to hundreds of communities. We provide objective and credible information. We give voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

VOICE OF ASIA 9

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Club 24 donates 123,780 to charitable causes at its Annual Philanthropy event

Executive Committee : From left Nat Krishnamurthy, Chair: Outreach events; Rakesh Joshi: Treasurer, Ashok Garg,:Founding Member; Asha Dume: President; Madhavi Kavadi: Chair: signature events; Kiran Gupta: chair: Social events; Dr Vivek Kavadi, Past president; Pradeep Gupta, Chair: Nominating committee. Photos by Bijay Dixit of Unique Photo images.

by Shobana Muratee

he is perfect for this evening is because he is the most nicest and generous individual. To be successful in your professions in your life you not only have to have good minds and good hands but also a good heart and that is Rusty Hardin,” Dr. Kamat summed up.

O

n a cool summer evening, in the comforts of pool side lawns the stage was being set for a party of an unconventional kind.

Club 24, a charitable organization that was formed in 2006 by a group of like minded individuals of the Indian American community in Houston and has since been involved in philanthropic activities supporting different charitable causes was hosting its signature, annual ‘Philanthropy’ event on the evening of May 10, 2014 at the residence of Drs. Aparna and Ashish Kamat.

Over the last eight years, members of Club 24 have been successfully hosting this event in a similar fashion at the residence of members rather than in a formal setting of a banquet hall maintaining the social aspect of the Club. Children volunteered to receive the guests and Bijay Dixit of Unique Images took portrait shots of the guests as they entered, courtesy Club 24.

Asha Dhume, President of Club 24 welcomed the guests and quoting Confucius as saying, “When wealth is centralized people are dispersed but when wealth is distributed people are brought together,” she said that statement symbolized the spirit of evening and the people that gathered. “We came here as immigrants with very little and succeeded beyond our wildest imagination therefore it is but natural for our members to give back and invest in causes that are dearer to their heart in the local communities. This year, Club 24 has raised $123,780 Dhume reported and the monies would be donated to nine local charities: Avaondale House – a United Way agency, Easter Seals, Ekal Vidhyalaya, Houston Public Media, Magic Bus, Ovarcome, Pratham, Memorial Spring Branch Rotary and Tahirih Justice Center. Donors and representatives of the recipient organizations were recognized on the occasion.

Dr. Vivek Kavadi, past president gave a brief history of Club 24 highlighting its mission and vision. Formed In 2006 by a group of like minded individuals mostly from the Indian American community who came together to form a new club in Houston, he said. “Club 24 was formed to expand the reach of our members into the Houston community. As India Americans most of us are active in our own community.

What we hoped to do is to leverage those individual activities toward a more coordinated effort,” Dr. Kavadi said. In explaining the vision of Club 24, Dr. Kavadi said, “We wanted not only be involved but to be engaged. We wanted not only to contribute but to influence; we wanted not only to participate but to lead” The goal, he said has always been to ‘build bridges beyond our own’. “This outreach effort is at the crux of who we are and why we exists.”

Another important activity he said was, “To channel our philanthropic efforts to organizations in a collective way.” Dr. Kavadi served as the First Chair of Club 24 in 2008.

“Philanthropy is truly about getting engaged. It is not about writing checks but getting involved with our resources, time and efforts,” Dr. Ashish Kamat said as he introduced the Keynote Rusty Hardin saying, “And Rusty was right choice.” He went on to praise Hardin who is known to many as the ‘super lawyer’, ranked as the top 100 lawyers in Texas. “The reason

Representatives of Houston Public Media seen receiving the donation from the donors at the Club 24 annual Philanthrophy event.

Key note speaker Rusty Hardin with Special guest Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia

“If I had to go back and do anything I would start doing it lot sooner than I did,” said Rusty Hardin opening his keynote address. “Until I was 49 I worked for the government,” Hardin said. Hardin and wife Tissy came to Houston in 1975, where he served as a District Attorney with a starting salary of $13000/ year. Hardin went on to say how he had stayed for 15 years, had

two sons and did not have much to give he said. “But as a prosecutor I got involved in victim groups (people whose children have been killed in some type of active violence), Women’s groups in Texas, and similar organizations,” he said. “When we got some money, we started picking our charities that involved kids. There are so many good causes that need charity,” Hardin mentioned a few. He particularly recognized the remarkable efforts Coach Gene Stallings and his son Johnny founder of the Rise School of Houston which is for children with Down syndrome that he supports apart from many others.

“Although you’re Indian heri-

tage may be the common factor, but you are involved in different activities and live in different areas and have different passions. So you should be picking those passions,” Hardin said.

He lauded the efforts of Club 24 and said he would endorse it.

“Try to make a difference,” he said to the gathering.

Special guest Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia also spoke on the occasion and spoke of Hardin’s philanthropic contributions. He commended the efforts of the all the charitable organizations representing that evening. A sumptuous Indian dinner was catered by Madras Pavilion and Darshak Thacker arranged the sound system.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 10

India’s Modi invites Pakistan PM to swearing-in: party Continued from page 1

would soon.

The invitation, yet to officially dispatched to Pakistan or other members of the eight-nation grouping, signals Modi’s intention to tackle India’s most troubled bilateral relationship at a time when Sharif is also keen on talks, analysts say.

get

the

invitations

- Hopes for thaw Sharif, who is himself a centre-right leader, has hailed Modi’s “impressive victory” and many diplomats hope the two men can thaw ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

“It’s a very important gesture,” said Manoj Joshi, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhibased think-tank.

Sharif has cited his working relationship with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India’s last prime minister under the BJP, as a reason for optimism, according to diplomatic sources.

“It definitely shows Modi’s intentions to focus on immediate neighbours and it’s a realistic signal: realism in the sense that unless you have good relations with neighbours you can hardly focus beyond,” he said.

In 1999, during Sharif’s second term in power, Vajpayee rode a bus to the Pakistani city of Lahore to sign a peace accord and raise hopes of normalised ties.

Modi will take the oath as prime minister 10 days after his right-wing Hindu nationalist BJP scored a landslide victory, securing the first majority by a single party in 30 years.

But three months later, the neighbours embarked on the Kargil conflict in the Himalayan region of Kashmir that almost became a full-fledged war.

The hardline leader was expected to usher in a more muscular foreign policy, insisting on the campaign trail other countries would respect India only if it showed strong political leadership.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947 and bilateral ties broke down after 2008 attacks by Pakistani gunmen on India’s commercial hub Mumbai in which 166 people were killed.

A senior official from India’s foreign ministry told AFP it was examining a proposal to welcome foreign heads of governments next Monday, but said invitations had not yet been dispatched.

Relations have warmed slightly under outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but still remain frosty amid mutual distrust and regular skirmishes along their disputed Kashmir border.

However, a BJP source said Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh was writing to the SAARC leaders and they

Singh’s Congress party, which crashed to its worstever defeat in the elections, brushed aside political hostil-

d an s u ho T ve Sa

ity and welcomed the invitation to SAARC leaders.

“It’s the prerogative of the prime minister who he wants to invite,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told a news conference.

“We hope this positive initiative will translate into something substantive.”

Modi warned during campaigning that talks could not be held with Pakistan until all violence ceased.

Key issues remain the disputed Kashmir region as well as Islamist militancy inside India, which New Delhi frequently accuses Pakistan of backing.

While Pakistan’s civilian leaders and business community favour closer ties, many ordinary Pakistani revile Modi.

He is tainted by 2002 religious riots in his home state of Gujarat that killed 1,000 people, mostly Muslims.

Pakistan’s powerful army is also said by analysts to be wary of closer ties and could act as a brake on any peacemaking attempts.

Talat Masood, a political analyst based in Islamabad, hailed the Indian initiative as a “great gesture” that Pakistan must reciprocate even if the army thinks otherwise.

“There’s nothing to lose in reciprocating it and attending the ceremony. This will give the message Pakistan is genuine about improving relations with India,” Masood, also a retired general, told AFP.

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Pakistan air strikes, clashes kill at least 75

Arvind Kejriwal asks supporters to forgive him for ‘mistake’ NEW DELHI: Three months after the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi resigned, party chief Arvind Kejriwal publicly admitted the decision was a “ mistake” and asked supporters to forgive him. The AAP, however, has dropped its plan to form the government again as the Congress has ruled out extending support to the fledgling party.

Although AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, have earlier apologised for acting impulsively, they have always stood by the decision to resign. This is the first time Kejriwal has admitted that his call to quit was wrong. He had first shown signs of regret in an interview to ET last month when he said he should have taken people into confidence before submitting his resignation.

President rejects Yakub Memon’s mercy plea

President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the mercy petition of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, brother of fugitive ‘Tiger’ Memon, whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1993 case of Mumbai serial blasts, which had claimed 257 lives. Memon is currently lodged in the Nagpur jail.

The Centre said Memon’s case didn’t qualify for presidential pardon. After the President rejected his plea, the decision was conveyed to the Maharashtra government. The apex court had in March last year confirmed the death sentence, holding Memon guilty of being the “driving spirit” in the serial blasts.

by Hasbanullah KHAN MIRANSHAH, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - Pakistani air force jets pounded Taliban targets in a restive tribal area near the Afghan border on Wednesday before clashes broke out between the military and insurgents, leaving dozens dead.

At least 60 people including insurgent commanders were killed in the early morning airstrikes, officials said, while separately a minimum of 11 militants and four security officials died in fighting near the town of Mir Ali in the North Waziristan region.

The violence will come as a fresh blow to stop-start peace talks between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which have made little progress since they began in February.

There have been a number of insurgent attacks on security forces in recent weeks and the air raids fit a familiar pattern of the armed forces responding by hitting the insurgents’ bases in the tribal areas.

Targets in North Waziristan district, a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, were hit in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“As per reports so far, 60 hardcore terrorists including some of the important commanders and foreigners were also killed in the strikes and around 30 were injured,” a statement from the military’s media wing said, without elaborating on who the commanders were.

In the later incident, the military said in a statement, “11 terrorists were killed and four security forces personnel including an officer embraced martyrdom.”

The number and identity of the dead could not be verified independently because fighting is ongoing and journalists cannot enter the area.

Local intelligence officials and residents said civilians were among the wounded.

The military said those targeted in Wednesday’s operation were linked to recent bomb and suicide attacks around the country.

It also said that a “huge cache” of munitions were destroyed in the strikes.

An AFP reporter in the district said helicopter gunships and ground troops were firing on targets in and around the town of Mir Ali, and local tribesmen had been ordered to evacuate.

An intelligence official added that the Datta Khel and Ghulam Ali areas were also targeted.

North Waziristan is one of the seven rugged semi-autonomous tribal areas along the Afghan border, an area long tagged by Washington as the most dangerous place in the world.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government began negotiations with the TTP through intermediaries in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later.

Analyst Hasan Askari said the strikes were in line with the military’s policy of retaliating to attacks the militants’ headquarters.

“There is also realisation among government that the dialogue is more or less dead,” he added.

Since the TTP launched their insurgency in 2007, more than 6,800 people have been killed in bomb and gun attacks around Pakistan, according to an AFP tally.

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WORLD/US

VOICE OF ASIA 11

US ready to help back Libya elections

W

ASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - The United States is ready to help organize new elections in Libya in hopes of ushering in a more stable government, US officials said Wednesday amid growing concern at the political turmoil.

Libya’s electoral commission said Tuesday that polls will take place on June 25 to replace its disputed interim parliament, according to the LANA state news agency.

“We’re prepared to help support elections preparation from here,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, cautioning that Washington was still waiting for official word from Tripoli.

Washington has a range of tools at its disposal, she said, declining to confirm however whether the US would be prepared to help with security arrangements.

US Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said during a visit to Washington that resolving the country’s political fragmentation was going to take hard work and she was trying to reach out to “all influences in society and that can include

spoilers as well as” more positive players.

Militias are blamed for growing unrest in the North African country since the 2011 NATObacked uprising that killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

And successive governments have complained that the claim by the General National Council (GNC) to executive power as well as legislative authority has tied their hands in taming the militias.

Jones told the Stimson Center think-tank that the US and its international partners were focused on trying to foster political dialogue.

“One of the reasons that all of the programs that we and the international community have been engaged in in the three years following the revolution have failed to gain significant traction is because there are underlying disagreements and disputes within a very ununified and weak government which is in a continual battle with the General National Council,” Jones said.

been forewarned of the actions of renegade general Khalifa Haftar, whom Libyan authorities branded an “outlaw” after he launched a Friday assault on Islamists in Benghazi.

Haftar has won widening support for his campaign to rid Libya of extremists, and Jones said she “personally... would not come out and condemn” his efforts in going after groups blacklisted by the US as terrorist organizations, despite Washington’s disapproval of the violence used to achieve that goal.

Haftar is now one of the many political forces that need to join the dialogue.

“He’s not declared that he wants to be the ruler, he’s not declared that he wants to be in charge of the state,” Jones said, adding the announcement of June elections may have been one of his desired results.

- Renegade general must join dialogue -

“What he has declared is that he wants the GNC to step aside because the GNC has thus far failed to take any action to respond to the unhappiness of many Libyans that it has outstayed its time, and there’s no forcing mechanism to compel it to leave,” Jones said.

She stressed the US had not

She also admitted that follow-

ing the militant assault on a US mission in eastern Benghazi in 2012 that left four Americans dead, including her predecessor Chris Stevens, security for her “small but lean team” was tight.

“We’re somewhat similar to a medieval fortress,” Jones said.

“Benghazi will not happen again... but something else will.

“It’s a precarious environment,” she added, stressing she managed to travel beyond the capital but only to the west of the country.

US Secretary of State John Kerry meanwhile spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy as well as his counterparts from Turkey and France about “the dire situation in Libya” and how the international community can help, Psaki said.

“Elections (are) certainly part of that,” Psaki told reporters.

“It helps lay a foundation for a more stable Libya because having an elected government that can continue to work on the challenges that need to be addressed... is clearly an important part of what we think needs to happen from here.”

US kidnap, sex abuse victim found alive after 10 years

L

OS ANGELES, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - A woman who was allegedly kidnapped a decade ago at age 15, sexually abused and held against her will has been found alive in California, and her suspected captor arrested.

The woman, now 25, was kidnapped in Santa Ana, southeast of Los Angeles, in 2004 by her mother’s live-in boyfriend.

She came forward herself, triggering the arrest Tuesday of her alleged kidnapper, identified as 41-year-old Isidro Garcia.

The victim, whose identity was not immediately revealed, had opportunities to escape during the last decade, but “saw no way out of her situation,” Santa Ana police said in a statement Wednesday.

In 2007, Garcia allegedly forced her into a marriage and in 2012, they had a child together.

She finally came forward after recently contacting her sister via Facebook, and “eventually gained the courage to contact the police,” said the statement.

Isidro Garcia, 41, is seen in an undated photo released by the Santa Ana Police Department in Santa Ana, Calfornia.

A Southern California woman abducted a decade ago when she was 15 has been found alive and Garcia, her accused kidnapper, has been arrested, police said on Wednesday. -PHOTO: REUTERS. Garcia -- who lives in Bell Gardens, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Santa Ana in the Los Angeles suburbs -- was booked for kidnapping and rape, lewd acts with a minor and false imprisonment.

The teenager went missing in August 2004 with Garcia.

“Garcia drugged the victim and drove her to a house in Compton,” police said, refer-

ring to a rough south LA neighborhood.

LA Times that she had spoken to the victim’s mother, shortly before she disappeared.

Once there, he had false identity documents made for her and “locked her overnight in a garage to prevent the victim from fleeing,” the statement added.

“I spoke to her mom about God,” 54-year-old Silvia Suarez told the newspaper.

“Over the course of the following months and years, Garcia repeatedly told the victim her family had given up looking for her, and if she tried to go back to them, the family would be deported.”

They moved several times to avoid police detection.

- Frequent abuse “Garcia frequently physically and sexually assaulted the victim,” police said, adding that he arranged for the pair to work nights for a cleaning service, “so he could keep a close eye on the victim.”

“Even with the opportunity to escape, after years of physical and mental abuse, the victim saw no way out of her situation and lived a life with Garcia under sustained physical and mental abuse,” it added.

A former neighbor told the

“She said she was having problems with her partner. She believed he was romancing her daughter.”

Araceli Ochoa, a leasing agent for the apartment complex, said he spoke to the mother after her daughter’s disappearance.

“She couldn’t understand how her daughter could leave,” he told the LA Times.

Ochoa said he was happy for the mother.

“I am very excited that they found her. But it’s still a tragedy that she has to live with every day now,” he said. “Each day with him probably felt like 100 years to her.”

The case recalls that of three young women held captive for a decade in Cleveland, Ohio, and freed last year after one of them broke free.

Their captor, Ariel Castro, hanged himself in prison in September.

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

UK politicians say Charles ‘free to speak’ after Putin-Hitler row

by Alice RITCHIE

L

ONDON, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - British politicians defended the right of Prince Charles to speak his mind on Wednesday after he reportedly compared the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine to those of Adolf Hitler.

The heir to the throne made the apparently unguarded comment during a trip to a museum in Canada, in private conversation with a Polish-born woman who had fled the Nazis as a child.

“I had finished showing him the exhibit and talked with him about my own family background and how I came to Canada,” 78-year-old Marienne Ferguson told the Daily Mail newspaper.

“The prince then said: ‘And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler’.”

The remark made headlines around the world, and Russian media said it threatened to further “complicate” relations between Britain and Moscow.

Charles and Putin are both attending commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of DDay on June 6, although royal aides said no formal meeting was scheduled.

Prime Minister David Cameron declined to comment on a private conversation, but said: “Of course, everyone is entitled to their private opinions.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the future king was “free to express himself”.

Opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband went even further, saying: “I think he has got a point about President Putin’s actions, and I think he is absolutely entitled to say that there are real concerns about that.”

However, Labour lawmaker Mike Gapes, a member of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, said the royals “should be seen and not heard”.

“If Prince Charles wants to make controversial statements on national or international issues, he should abdicate and stand for election,” he said on Twitter.

The prince’s office would not confirm the remarks but said he would not have intended to make a political statement.

“We do not comment on private conversations. But we would like to stress that the Prince of Wales would not seek to make a public political statement during a private conversation,” a spokeswoman said.

- ‘Just a little remark’ -

The prince reportedly made the remark during a tour of the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of a four-day trip to Canada with his wife Camilla.

Ferguson, who moved to Canada with her Jewish family when she was 13 and who lost relatives in the Holocaust, confirmed her account of their conversation in a later interview with the BBC. She added that it was “just a little remark -- I didn’t think it was going to make such a big uproar”.

Members of the royal family by convention do not comment on political affairs, and Queen Elizabeth II is famous for keeping her own counsel.

However, her 65-year-old son Charles has come under criticism in the past for his outspoken remarks about everything from genetically modified food to architecture.

There was no official reaction in Moscow to his comments, but the popular daily Moskovsky Komsomolets said the timing was “badly chosen” ahead of the D-Day commemorations.

On its website, it also said the remarks “risk triggering an international scandal and complicate the already clouded relations between Great Britain and Russia”.

Ties between London and Moscow were plunged into deep freeze following the 2006 murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident, in London.

Relations began to improve in 2011, but the crisis over Ukraine has led to fresh tensions as the United States and the EU imposed sanctions on Russia for its intervention in the former Soviet state.

A spokeswoman for Britain’s Foreign Office told AFP that “it is not for us to comment” on the prince’s remarks.

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton made a similar comparison at a private event in March, according to a local newspaper report.

Describing how Moscow justified sending more troops into Crimea as a way to protect Russian speakers from a pro-Western government, Clinton said: “If this sounds familiar, it’s what Hitler did back in the 30s.”

The Russian foreign ministry last month complained to the German ambassador after Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble reportedly drew parallels between Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and Hitler’s aggression in Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II.

VOICE OF ASIA 12

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

ISKCON of Houston Opens New Temple

Newly installed Radha Krishna Deities – Sri Sri Radha Giridhari.

by ISKCON of Houston Communications Team Photos by Thejas Rajaram and team.

T

he past weekend of May 16, 17 and 18 marked a historic milestone in Houston’s landscape, adding to its rich and vibrant culture with the Grand Opening of new International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple.

Spanning over 24,000 square feet, the ISKCON of Houston (Hare Krishna) temple – an architectural gem – is anchored by a central dome that is 72 feet high. This weekend, the temple celebrated its Grand Opening Festival, attended by more than 11,000. Visitors from Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia, India and USA marked this as a “once in a lifetime” event.

The celebration was officially inaugurated on Friday evening with an Interfaith program, welcoming participants from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baha’i, Zoroastrian communities, to name a few. The exchange of spiritual wisdom between communities was followed by a variety of cultural presentations. The open garden was perfectly lit up and filled with lively booths, including a very popular henna station, ‘trya-sari’ booth, Indian arts & merchandise booth. The much-famed troupe “Festival of India,” introduced Vedic philosophy and ideas in their unique and innovative fashion. The creative stalls on Vedic philosophy had exhibits that included dioramas on reincarnation, karma and the difference between mind, body and soul. His Holiness BB Govinda Swami’s renowned kirtan group, based in Kazakhstan, brought a new dimension to the event with their mesmerizing kirtan.

A view of the alter inside the new temple> The Deities of Sri Radha Nilamadhava seen beautifully decorated in all varieties of flowers.

Swamis perform yajna as part of the installation ceremony

Swami, HH Bhakti Sundar Goswami, HH Jayadvaita Swami, HH Hanumat Presaka Swami, HG Mukunda Datta Dasa, HG Deena Bandhu Dasa, HH Kalakantha Dasa, HG Yashomati Nandan Dasa - to name a few, were present to grace the proceedings.

Marvelous structure: The temple, with intricate marble lotus carvings on the inside, has multiple domes all-glittering in a captivating blue and tan on the outside. The center dome is adorned with a glittering golden wheel, or chakra as it is referred to in the ancient Sanskrit language. It is visible from miles around it. As newcomers enter the temple, they experience a welcoming atmosphere. First time visitor Susan put it in a nutshell when she said “I can actually feel positive vibes here.” The ornate temple room and the altar itself were decorated with fresh flowers adding to the grace and beauty of the occasion. The main altar, with intricate hand-carved teakwood carvings, is home to Their Lordships - Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava, Sri Gaura Chandra, Sri Nitai Chandra and Sri Giriraj Govardhan, all looking radiant and happy in their new home. The altar of Founder Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was lovingly decorated with flowers and handmade garlands.

As unique decorations on the main altar, were two stunning white elephants, bedecked with white and yellow flowers. It would be no exaggeration to say they turned more than a few heads!

New Deities installed: Devotees conducted kirtan, which is a form of call and response, singing glories of the Lord throughout both days.

This kirtan - accompanied by traditional instruments such as the flute, mrdanga drums and harmonium - created a divine symphony of sounds.

For all guests who visited, smiling volunteers offered temple tours and offered to the newcomers a glimpse into the ancient Vedic traditions and philosophy of Krishna consciousness. As guests strolled around the cool marble floors of the temple, they were offered narrations on the numerous paintings and murals lining the walls, which depict various activities of the beloved Lord Krishna and his female divine counterpart Radha.

Festivities started early on Saturday morning with meticulous preparations for the new Deity installation. New Radha Krishna Deities – Sri Sri Radha Giridhari were installed on Saturday.

For this occasion, two very highly qual-

Hon. Consul General of India, Houston P Harish is seen speaking on the occasion as the Swamis look on.

Following the yajna, there was Abhishek of the Deities (ceremonial bathing) with various choice offerings all while the devotees joyfully sang and chanted welcoming the new deities into their new abode.

The Mayapuris’ Kirtan and Mrdanga presentation

Hon. Consul General of India, Houston Mr. Parvathaneni Harish with his wife Nandita attended the event and enjoyed the festivities for several hours.

He seemed to capture the essence of the event when he said that the only way to salvation in today’s day and age was by chanting the holy names. He warmly appreciated the devotees of ISKCON for their sincerity and commitment to the path of Bhakti.

Teaching: At ISKCON of Houston, bhakti yoga is promoted throughout all teachings.

As explained by the temple president, HG Shyamsundar Dasa: “Bhakti Yoga is a very simple process and is built on 4 pillars.”

1.

Mercy. By being a vegetarian and eating food that is offered to the Lord.

2.

Truthfulness. By not getting involved in gambling.

3.

Cleanliness. By not engaging in illicit sex.

Devotee Dayal Nitai das at the book stall.

4.

Austerity. By refraining from any form of intoxication.

“All of us carry bhakti eternally in our hearts. Fire spreads quickly when we have a spark and fan it a little. That spark is the chanting of the holy names.

Just by chanting the holy names, in the form of Mahamantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare – we become steadfast in bhakti yoga” – said HG Shyamsundar Dasa.

Cultural Program: Devotees serving food to the visiting guests ified priests - well versed with the science of Vedic rituals travelled from India to perform the auspicious ceremony.

The joyous ceremony started with a fire sacrifice (yajna) in the garden outside the main temple. Various paraphernalia was offered in the presence of numer-

ous spiritual leaders within ISKCON. Special guests: HH Giriraj Swami, HH Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami, HH Guruprasad Swami, HH Romapada Swami, HH Gunagrahi Dasa Goswami, HH Rtadhvaja

The grand opening weekend was marked with performances from all over the nation showcasing the wonderful unity that can be found amongst so much diversity. Local Houston artists wowed audiences with their dance presentations and music recitals and there were special appearances made by the world renounced Kirtan group, the Mayapuris, and the United Nations As-

sociation International Choir. The cultural events kicked of on interfaith day Friday with several performances. This event, organized by ISKCON Houston’s outreach department, was meant to showcase the rich ethnic heritages of our city and how we are all intrinsically connected because of our relationship with The Lord whether he is Jesus, Allah, Jehovah, Rama or Krishna.

On Saturday and Sunday, more than 30 schools graced the Children’s indoor stage and the Radha Nilamadhava Main stage. These two days featured some of the best and brightest students of some of the most illustrious dance and music schools Houston had to offer. The main attractions were The Mayapuris’ Kirtan and Mrdanga presentation, the United Nations Association International choir group performance and the Kirtan band from Kazakhstan with HH BB Govinda Swami. The Mayapuris have performed in Houston before and have given vibrant and exciting performances infusing the areas of Kirtan, music, dance and traditional Mrdanga presentations.

HH BB Govinda Swami and his musicians were another jewel in these cultural events as their singing brought forth deeply rooted feelings of love for God and desire to do some devotional service. The United Nations Association International choir with Swara Raga Laya Music group’s collaborative performance included more than 15 instruments and 75 artists from 30 different countries. This mini concert infused both the western styles of music as well as the Indian classical styles to manifest our shared identity as the children of God. Fusion called “Gita – A Song” deserved a loud applause.

On both days, there were unlimited, free prasadam meals, with various Indian delicacies. It promised to be an appetizing trailer for the soon to be opened vegetarian restaurant – next to the temple. Volunteers were also enthusiastically serving water to the thirsty audience throughout the two and half day program, epitomizing the hospitality of the practitioners of Bhakti Yoga.

Hundreds of volunteers planned for months and worked very hard to make this a grand opening.

The Deities of Sri Sri Radha NilaMadhava presides over a welcoming arati, kirtan and free vegetarian dinner feast each Sunday at 5:30pm at ISKCON of Houston (located: 1320 W 34th St Houston TX 77018).

For more details, please visit www. iskconofhouston.org or call 713-686GITA (4482).

VOICE OF ASIA 13

LIFESTYLE

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 27

No. 21

Friday, May 23, 2014 Section 2

Page 13

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

Pakistan’s sorcerers promise the world, for a price

F

rom winning the heart of your beloved to getting a promotion at work, Pakistan’s practitioners of black magic say there is nothing they can’t help you achieve -- for a humble donation.

People tend to choose spouses who have similar DNA, according to scientists who reported on Monday the results of a study exploring the genetic resemblance of married couples.

A cure-all to some and for others a scam that preys on people’s superstitions, the sorcerers continue to thrive despite the disapproval of some hardline schools of Islam.

It offers an answer for all manner of problems: “failure in love, overcoming the boss, getting a job transfer, foreign travel, lack of marriage proposals and a chance to win a lottery.”

Pir Ali Hussain Shah, the 55-yearold “saint” referred to in the notice says the correct incantation from the Koran is key to working miracles.

“Disease, financial or family problems or any other problem of the world, can be solved in one night of recitation,” Shah told AFP. Shah said he was working for the good of humanity and providing the service on a charitable basis -- though he admitted satisfied followers were generous with their gifts.

The researchers examined the genetic blueprints of 825 U.S. married couples and found a significant preference for a spouse with DNA similarities across the entire human genome.

This photograph taken on March 2, 2014 shows Pakistani pir Syed Izhar Bokhari (L) with a devotee at his astaana (Sufi abode) in Rawalpindi.

Inscribed “spells” of black magic script can also be dissolved into liquids and used as a curse to be given to one’s enemies, while some sorcerers ask their followers to sacrifice a black hen or goat to ward off evils.

Visiting the shrines of ancient Sufi saints and offering alms to the poor -and cash to the custodians -- are very popular in Pakistan, where many believe they will help get their prayers answered.

health and wellbeing.

“It surely is effective, I am coming here for the past 25 years and I have come out of so many troubled situations in my life,” the black-veiled Bibi told AFP. - Fraudsters? Not everyone approves. Mufti Tehsinullah of Islamabad’s radical Red Mosque said that while the practice of black magic was officially recognised in the Hadith -- Islamic texts relating

A remarkable full-page advertisement appeared in national newspapers recently, signed by the head of Pakistan’s only brewery, accusing his brother-in-law of turning his mother against him through “witchcraft and black magic”.

Taxi driver Irfan Ahmed, 26, sought help to win the hand of a woman he had fallen in love with -- with no success.

This photograph taken on March 2, 2014 shows a Pakistani Muslim devotee waiting for his turn at the astaana (Sufi abode) of Pir (saint) Syed Izhar Bokhari.

For 45-year-old Razia Bibi, a housewife from the city of Rawalpindi, visiting her saint Syed Izhar Bokhari at his astaana (Sufi abode) is an important ritual she believes ensures her family’s

to the life of the Prophet Muhammad -- it was wrong to exploit it.

“Practising black magic and making it a business is against Sharia and the fake practitioners have in many cases

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It’s not just the poor and so-called simple people who believe in the dark arts.

There is also little legal redress available for those left unsatisfied by their sorcerer’s efforts.

“The girl’s parents did not want her to marry a British-Pakistani man she liked. She contacted me and I did the recitation and told her that within seven days she will get married and it happened.”

Other methods include reciting the Koran and then blowing onto water or rosewater which a follower then drinks.

abused young girls who go to them for help in getting proposals,” he claimed.

He was sentenced to five years in jail and fined 10,000 rupees ($100 dollars), but in 2013 he was freed after the only woman who came forward to testify retracted her statement.

The expensive Sunday newspaper ad was paid for by one such follower grateful for Shah’s help in getting married to a man in Britain despite her parents’ opposition, he said.

Shah and his ilk use a number of traditional practices, including writing verses of the Koran on paper and folding them into various patterns to be worn around the neck as a talisman.

The study compared this affinity for husbands or wives with similar DNA makeup to the well-established and strong tendency of people to marry

And there have been some notorious cases of abuse. In 2011, long-haired, bushy-bearded sorcerer Mohammad Saleem was arrested for duping hundreds of women into having sex with him in the hope of conceiving a boy.

“People who are happy with my work and get solace from their worries, themselves come and give offerings in cash and kind which I spend on langar (charity food handouts),” Shah said.

- Spells and sacrifices -

BY WILL DUNHAM (Reuters) - He leaves the toilet seat up, prefers old Japanese monster movies to romantic comedies and fancies mixed martial arts over ballet. So what do you have in common with your husband?

More than you may think.

The centuries-old practice is rooted in mystic Sufi lore and has traditionally been the domain of pirs (saints) and aamils (sorcerers).

“Contact us immediately to get all the jobs done while sitting at home,” screams one classified advert featured in several newspapers.

What do you want in a spouse?

Genetic similarity may help

www.aonedishnetwork.com 10148 Hwy 6, South Sugar Land, TX 77498

“I have tried these problem solvers and they all are fake. I lost thousands of rupees on them to make my marriage possible, but she got married to someone else and I am still a bachelor,” he said.

“I did not go to police as it would be too embarrassing to explain and also police are not of much help in these matters.”

mates with similar educational levels.

The researchers found that the preference for a genetically similar spouse was about a third as strong as the preference for a spouse with comparable education.

The 1,650 people studied in the research were non-Hispanic, white men and women born between the 1930s and 1950s who were taking part in a broader U.S. government-funded study involving health and retirement.

“We do know in some sense that people prefer genetically similar spouses because we know that people tend to date and marry within their own racial and ethnic groups. We worked really hard in this study to not just replicate that fact,” said researcher Benjamin Domingue of the University of Colorado’s Institute of Behavioral Science, who led the study.

“We eliminated racial variability and tried to control for ethnic variability. And we still find a preference for genetically similar individuals,” Domingue added.

The researchers measured genetic similarity by comparing 1.7 million individual DNA building blocks, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, in the study participants. They compared the genetic makeup of the married couples to other randomly chosen people of the opposite sex in the same pool of study participants.

Domingue said the actual mechanism for a person being drawn to another person’s genetic similarities is probably complicated and multifaceted - “just a whole host of things,” he noted.

The researchers noted that people usually pick spouses with similar backgrounds and characteristics in addition to education, including race, religion, age, income and body type.

Genetic similarity can be added to the list, they said.

“For example, people clearly care about height in picking partners. To the extent that tall people marry other tall people, that is going to result in genetic similarity among spouses. But it is difficult to know whether height or genes is driving this decision,” Domingue said.

The researchers said it would be interesting to see the results of similar studies involving other populations including additional races, interracial spouses and gay couples.

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Full list of top-ranked Photographing a city’s “Cities of Opportunity” century -- in a single shot

by Kate Millar

B

London tops the list in the top ten.

A list ranking the most dynamic, innovative and livable cities has put London in the top spot.

3. Singapore

In Pricewaterhousecooper’s sixth edition of its “Cities of Opportunity” ranking, the British capital was deemed the highest performing city for topping three of the 10 categories examined.

6. Paris

The indicators fall under a trio of overarching ideas: “forwardlooking tools” in education and technology; quality of life; and the ability to pay the bills for it all.

Here are the top 10 cities, and the top cities in each category: 1. London 2. New York

4. Toronto 5. San Francisco 7. Stockholm 8. Hong Kong 9. Sydney 10. Chicago Top cities across 10 categories: Intellectual capital and innovation: Paris, London, San Francisco Technology readiness: London and Seoul tied for first place, Stockholm, Hong Kong City gateway: London, Beijing, Singapore

Transportation and infrastructure: Singapore, Toronto, Buenos Aires and Seoul tied for third Health, safety and security: Stockholm, Sydney and Toronto tied for second, Berlin Sustainability and the natural environment: Stockholm and Sydney tied for first, Paris and Berlin tied for second, San Francisco Demographics and livability: Sydney, London, San Francisco Economic clout: Beijing, New York

London,

Ease of doing business: Singapore, Hong Kong, New York Cost: Los Angeles, Chicago, Johannesburg

ERLIN - Photographs capture fleeting moments in time, but what would be revealed if an image could show an entire century?

That is the question behind the latest “thought experiment” by the American conceptual artist Jonathon Keats, whose past endeavours include a bid to genetically engineer God, and porn films for houseplants -complete with close-ups of bees pollinating flowers.

Using ultra-long-exposure cameras, he has set out to document Berlin’s shifting urban landscape over the next 100 years.

The 42-year-old, based between San Francisco and northern Italy, invited people from this week to take one of 100 small pinhole cameras and place it in a strategic Berlin location.

To add to the fun, he’s asked them to keep mum about where they have hidden their “photographic time capsule”, only revealing its location in their old age, to a child who could in turn wait until adulthood to retrieve it.

Keats is promising that whoever returns a camera 100 years from now to his partners in the project, Berlin-based Team Titanic gallery, will see their photo go on display -- and get their 10-euro ($14) deposit back.

A date for the “CenturyCamera” exhibition’s opening is already in the diary -- May 16, 2114.

“I will not be in attendance,” the artist said, dryly, in an interview with AFP for the project launch.

But he doesn’t mind at all.

The self-styled experimental philosopher wants to probe how “putting a camera in the hands of the unborn” can make people scrutinise the legacy of the decision taken today for their city.

“The first people to see these photos will be children who haven’t yet been conceived,” Keats said.

US conceptual artist Jonathon Keats holds up one of his “Century Cameras” ahead of the opening of his Century Camera project at a gallery in Berlin May 15, 2014. Keats will make available 100 of the small pinhole cameras, designed to take one photograph over 100 years, to Berlin residents interested in capturing their city’s change over a century. AFP / JOHN MACDOUGALL. “They’re impacted by every decision we make, but they’re powerless. If anyone has the right to spy on us, it’s our descendants.”

- Like ‘ghosts’ of houses He describes what he is doing as, effectively, “surveillance” -intentionally using the “highly loaded” word.

But his aim is to provoke discussion, especially following the uproar caused by recent revelations of mass US spying.

“This surveillance is completely out in the open, and that encourages the conversation about surveillance to be completely out in the open, as it needs to be.”

“Nothing is hidden here, except for the cameras themselves.”

So how will the 100-year photographs work?

With simplicity and, of course, durability uppermost in mind, Keats’ steel canister cameras use black paper, instead of photographic paper, that will fade with the highly focused and very low light trained through the pin hole.

“If you have a camera directed towards some houses and those houses get bulldozed after 25 years and they build a skyscraper, what you’ll see are just the ghosts of the houses, a

shadow of the houses.

“The skyscraper will be bolder in the same image. It’ll be a double exposure in effect,” he said, adding that minor changes in the image, such as day-today human activity, would not register.

Dressed in an everyman sweater and jeans, the bespectacled Keats, whose past projects include ballet for honeybees and a travel documentary watched by plants, admits there is plenty that could go wrong.

“First of all the technology hasn’t been tried and as a result we are working based on some assumptions,” he said.

But plans are already afoot to organise the project in other cities and Keats even hopes the United Nations could get involved.

The German capital has undergone rampant change in the almost quarter century since the Berlin Wall fell, one of the reasons it was chosen for the photographic project.

The challenge for those hiding the cameras is to choose a spot worthy of century-long observation, said Julia Schulz, of Team Titanic.

“It’ll be interesting to see if people choose a well-known place such as the Berlin Wall -- or their own little plot of garden.”

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Friday, May 23, 2014

Section 2

Page 15

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Tel: 713-774-5140

Importance of having a CV “Why” Camp for Youth among 4 Exciting Cultural Summer with minimal gaps

Camps in Pearland and Cypress

May 13, 2014, Manvel, TX – Global Organization for Divinity (G.O.D.) USA’s Gopa Kuteeram camps have grown to become innovative, not-tomiss experiences for children and youth in Houston and several cities in the USA and the world!

This year G.O.D. Houston (Namadwaar group) once again presents an exciting array of 4 unique camps, with a wonderful blend of fun-filled creativity, culture and education. Two of these camps will be held in the Pearland area and two in Cypress area, and will be geared towards kids and youth of different ages.

A medical student examines a patient

W

hen applying for residency, a number of factors play a role in your candidacy. Besides the obvious like USMLE scores and attempts, graduation year, graduate status (i.e.

United States, International, or Foreign Medical Graduate), and amount of United States Clinical Experience, another often overlooked but determinant factor plays in as well: “gaps” in your Curriculum Vitae. What this translates to, is that any period in your pursuit of becoming a board certified United States doctor that was not spent within the field can work against you. Specifically, having a CV without gaps and laser focused on one speciality is imperative.

Unprepared residency candidates will have gaps in their CV. Circumstances include studying for the USMLE, travelling to the states if a candidate is a foreigner, and personal reasons such as a death, wedding, and

so on. Gaps of a couple months should not affect one’s candidacy drastically. However, the Residents Medical experts would argue that gaps of over 3 months may hurt one’s candidacy: “Any time off from the field of medicine looks bad. Medicine constantly changes and residency programs favor candidates who are always immersed in the field. Furthermore, residency requires 80 hours a week, plus multi-tasking. This is also why MD researchers are favored by program directors as well, we call these seasoned and well-rounded individuals ‘Physician-Scientists’”, says Dr. Arnold Michael Everest, President & CEO of Residents Medical, a Graduate Medical Education organization based out of Los Angeles. Dr. Everest says he meet many International and Foreign Medical Graduates who suffer from gaps in their CV because of the obvi-

ous nuance of moving not only from state to state but in their cases, nations. These individuals not only face the arduous task of learning medicine in a new culture and language and implementing this, but also settling into a new system, which widens the gaps in their CVs. The best way to divert attention from these holes in ones CV is to have experience that is meaningful to Program Directors. This includes services that Residents Medical provides, such as hands-on externships at university-based hospitals, paid research fellowships at university-based hospitals, clinical electives and rotations, as well as USMLE Preparation with Ivy League and top medical school graduates. All services are tailored to make a candidate appear stronger to a residency program.

Having gaps on ones CV can greatly hurt ones candidacy. To make ones candidacy stronger

The most innovative of these camps will be the “WHY?-5” Youth Camp for youth aged 12 to 17 years which will be held in the Pearland area, at Namadwaar Prayer House on Bailey avenue. This camp will aim to directly focus on the numerous questions of the younger generation – about the Indian culture and way of life, and more importantly, about ‘Life’ itself.

Here youngsters will be encouraged - in a youth-friendly manner - to think deeper about for a residency program, it is better to prepare for them early on, which means effectuating the services mentioned above.

A highly credible and studious medical student or graduate has multiple commitments going on at the same time within the field of medicine, including externships and research. International and Foreign Medical Graduates should therefore take full advantage of Residents Medical’s services to make sure their candidacy for residency is that much stronger.

life and the future (beyond career and comfort, and even beyond religion and ‘doing good’), and open up with their questions, so they can be guided to discover the answers in a fun, inspiring environment.

Apart from the interactive sessions and discussions, there will also be themed workshops in Cartooning, Culinary Arts, Cricket and Creative Writing.

This camp will be held in the evenings, from July 24 to 27, with the timing set to accommodate any internships or summer jobs of high school youth.

Apart from the Why-5 camp, G.O.D. will also conduct three other camps for younger children. The uniqueness of these camps is that they blend creative themed workshops and value-based exercises with lots of games and fun trips and activities to present an exciting immersion in rich Indian culture.

The “Vibrant India” camp in Pearland (June 20-22) for children aged 5 to 10 years will provide an experience of In-

dia’s colorful diversity and educate children with information they never knew about India.

There will be several creative workshops in art, sports, music, dance, culinary arts and many interactive sessions on India’s twisty languages, grounded traditions, all-embracing belief system and ancient royal history. A highlight of the camp will be a field trip that includes a writing workshop with a writer from WITS Houston. Children of all cultural backgrounds will gain immensely in their knowledge and appreciation of India’s culture through this camp.

The Cypress area camps include “Crazy Kishkindha”, a Ramayana-themed camp (June 13-15) for children aged 8 to 12 years, and a Li’l Gopas culture camp (July 18-19) for children aged 4 to 7 years.

Both these will include several creative and fun activities and themed workshops including art & craft, music, dance, yoga, story-telling, and much more.

Both these camps will be held at the Cy-Fair Library on Barker-Cypress road.

Early-bird discount deadlines for all the camps end on different dates in June. Space is limited and will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

All proceeds benefit nonprofit activities of G.O.D. For more information about all the camps, their dates and times, and to register online, please visit www.godivinity. org. Please call 281-516-1596 or emailhouston.god@godivinity.org with any questions.

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VOICE OF ASIA 16

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BOLLYWOOD MASALA Section 2 Page 16

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

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Tel: 713-774-5140

Cannes: Aishwarya Shows SRK named richer than Hollywood How It’s Done Cruise in Hollywood-Bollywood rich list

S

hah Rukh Khan is the lone Indian celebrity to make it to a list of the top ten wealthiest Hollywood and Bollywood personalities by beating stars like Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp.

The 48-year-old actor, who is the owner of an IPL team and acted in more than 50 Bollywood films, has come second on the Wealth-X’s list with an estimated fortune of USD 600 million.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has topped the rich list with a fortune of USD 820 million.

Cruise is on third number with a fortune of USD 480 million while Tyler Perry and Depp are fourth and fifth respectively with an estimated wealth of USD 450 million each.

The list also includes several Academy Award winners including Jack Nicholson (USD 400 million), Tom Hanks (USD 390 million) and actor Clint Eastwood (USD 370 million).

Shah Rukh Khan has come second on the Wealth-X’s list with an estimated fortune of $600 million.

Nicholson is at the number six followed by Hanks, Bill Cosby, Eastwood and Adam Sandler.

Wealth-X is world’s leading ultra high net worth intelligence and prospecting firm with the largest collection of

curated research on UHNW individuals.

The research was done by using a proprietary valuation model to assess all asset holdings including privately and publicly held businesses and investible assets to develop the net worth valuation.

Hema Malini elected!

Aishwarya Rai wears a champagne-colored strapless Cavalli gown to the premiere of “Two Days, One Night” at the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival May 20 in Cannes, France. (Getty Images)

C

ANNES, France - Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan met actress Freida Pinto during a special shoot at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The 40-year-old former Miss World has teamed up with the “Slumdog Millionaire” star for the first time for a L’Oreal Paris shoot.

“I always look forward to meeting L’Oreal Paris spokespeople at Cannes every year. I have met Freida for the first time in person. All of us L’Oreal Paris spokespeople are so different, but each one of us is worth it,” Aishwarya said in a statement.

Freida, 29, was also excited to do the shoot with the “Devdas” star and immediately got up to greet and hug her when she came to the venue.

Newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament and Indian Bollywood actress Hema Malini arrives in Parliament in New Delhi on May 20, 2014 (AFP Photo/Prakash Singh)

Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses as she arrives for the screening of the film ‘Deux Jours, Une Nuit (Two Days, One Night) at the 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes,

“She was really happy to get a chance to finally do a shoot with Aishwarya and couldn’t wait to see her L’Oreal Lumiere inspired red carpet look,” a source said.

Aishwarya, who is accompanied by her two-year-old daughter Aaradhya, walked the red carpet May 20 and 21, turning heads May 20 in a champagne-colored strapless Cavalli gown. (PTI).

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ENTERTAINMENT

VOICE OF ASIA 17

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Now, it’s Lingala rap India.com Presents Sonu in a Tamil film Nigam’s “Klose To My Soul” North America Tour

N

EW YORK, NY (May 15, 2014) - The much awaited grand musical extravaganza “Klose To My Soul” Concert Tour featuring Bollywood’s iconic and versatile singer Sonu Nigam is underway!

India.com is the Title Sponsor of this concert and is running an exciting contest for its patrons. Users can win tickets to the shows across USA, Canada and the Caribbean. Viewers can participate via SMS by texting ‘SONU’ followed by their “Email Address” and preferred “Concert City” to 77948 or by sending an email to sonu2014@ india.com.

Fun experience: Rapper Yabama JO with Gaana Bala and Simon (centre)

by Srinivasa Ramanujam Music director Simon has got Congo rapper Yabama JO to sing for Ainthaam Thalaimurai Sitha Vaithiya Sigamani Composer Simon of Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu fame has tuned a rap number in Lingala, a language spoken in the Congo region, for his upcoming Tamil film Ainthaam Thalaimurai Sitha Vaithiya Sigamani. For this particular song, he has roped in Yabama JO, a rapper from Congo, and Gaana Bala.

“I knew him (Yabama JO) through a common friend and felt that it would be interesting to hear his voice in a Tamil album,” says Simon, “So, we brought him down and explained the song. Singers from that region croon from their heart – they do not follow a said musical structure. I had to elaborately explain how the song would

shape up before we actually went for the recording.”

Getting the rapper and Gaana Bala together for a recording session was a memorable experience, he says. “We wanted to see how their voices would fuse and it’s come out really well. We have even shot a music video with the two of them jamming on the song.”

Yabama JO, he says, was fascinated

by Indian sounds and music. “He was constantly asking us about the music scene here. We even made him sing a line in Tamil!”

Ainthaam Thalaimurai Sitha Vaithiya Sigamani, which stars Bharath and Nandita in lead roles, has been directed by LG Ravichandar. Simon has also made music composer Vijay Antony sing a number for the film. (The Hindu).

India.com loyalists attending the concerts in USA and Canada also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a picture with the musical maestro by participating in the meet & greet contest held at each concert venue. They simply have to text ‘MEETSONU’ followed by their “Name” and “Email Address” to 77948.

The concert has already received rave reviews for its Washington DC and New Jersey legs and will soon be taking Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Vancouver, San Jose, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, Detroit and Montreal by storm.

India.com is a new online platform for everything Indian in an instant – from breaking news, business and Bollywood to sports, travel and free classifieds. The website combines these one-of-a-kind features with an e-mail portal that will keep you con-

nected. Catering to Indians in North American and others who are interested in the Indian culture, India.com provides a user-friendly platform for credible, current, and intelligent information easily accessible in all forms digital – from your desktop, tablet or

Tiger Shroff to play Shiva in ‘Immortals After many flops Ak- of Meluha’? shay Kumar ready for sex comedy too

smart phone.

Shri Balaji Entertainment Inc, is a premier entertainment company headquartered in USA with its operations in India and Canada and has been organizing Bollywood Live Concerts worldwide since 1991.

US TV actor held for allegedly killing wife

L

OS ANGELES, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - US film and television actor Michael Jace was arrested early Tuesday after allegedly shooting his wife dead, police said, while media reports said he had confessed.

The 51-year-old, famous for the police drama series “The Shield,” was detained “for the killing of his wife of nine years, April,” said Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective Lyman Doster.

Tiger Shroff

by Aparna Mudi

N

Akshay Kumar

M

UMBAI - Akshay Kumar has his hands full. In June the action drama `Holiday: A Soldier is never off duty` releases. And the trailer for the comedy `It`s Entertainment` is out, with mostly positive reviews. The `Khiladi` of Bollywood has recently stated to reporters that he is not averse to sex comedies.

“If I get a good script, I will also do it. At the end of the day, it`s just a film. It`s just a character that you are following. You do not become a sex maniac or anything as such.

Take a film as a film let it be reel not real,” the 46-year-old told reporters in a group interview.

Sex comedies have often not been taken well by the Indian audience and critics, but Akshay has a pragmatic approach to the genre.

“Nobody is forcing you to watch such films. `Grand Masti` did well at the box office, but if you don`t like it then don`t watch it,” Kumar said.

“If it`s a sex comedy don`t feel shy what the audience will think and all! If you are making such a film, trust yourself and go with your conviction rather than thinking about you will lose few audience with this film.”

He said: “I think sex comedy is a very good genre. I did it long back. I would put `Garam Masala` in the same zone.”

Akshay has established himself as a directors actor and is comfortable in all genres of cinema, having worked with the best filmmakers in the industry and is one of the most sellable stars of B-Town even today.

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EW DELHI: The young Shroff is barely a film old and he has bagged the lead in Dharma Production`s upcoming project. `Immortals of Meluha`, which is based on the book by Amish Tripathi by the same name, may have got Tiger Shroff on board for the action mythology set to directed by Karan Malhotra of `Agneepath` fame.

Incidentally, it was rumoured that `Immortals...` was going to be named `Shuddhi`. Now the rumours have been lifted, and reports suggest that `Immortals...` would start filming only after `Shuddhi` is released.

Tiger Shroff has shown to be quite a pro in the action sequences and with his chiselled body is probably a good choice for the warrior lord`s role. However the actor is yet to prove his mettle in acting

skills and the Meluha trilogy with it`s intense drama in the book, may require real skills to translate into good cinema.

Shroff has a long way to go to be officially announced as reports suggested that `Immortals of Meluha` would go on floors only after Karan`s `Shuddhi` is released. And with actors not really jumping on to the Karan`s ambitious project, it seems like at least a couple of years away.

The LAPD was treating the shooting as a murder related to domestic violence, he added.

Two children were in the house at the time of the killing.

Jace has also appeared in films, including “Forrest Gump,” Boogie Nights” and “Planet of the Apes.” The TV series “The Shield” followed a movie of the same name in which he played officer Julien Lowe.

The actor allegedly called 911 on Monday evening and said his 40-year-old wife had been

shot and that he had pulled the trigger, according to the TMZ celebrity news website.

“I shot my wife,” he told police from the family home in the Hyde Park neighborhood south of downtown Los Angeles, according to sources cited

by TMZ. Multiple shots were fired in the incident, according to the Los Angeles Times, which reported that his wife had returned home 10-15 minutes earlier after fetching the couple’s sons from baseball practice.

Jace was formally arrested about 3:00 am Tuesday, booked for murder and held in lieu of $1 million bail. He is due to make a first appearance in court on Thursday.

The two children involved, both under 10 years old, were taken into protective custody, said LAPD detective Raquel Cruz.

Jace was previously married to Jennifer Bitterman but they were divorced in 2002.

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Friday, May 23, 2014

Section 2

Page 18

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Pregnancy linked to car crash risk: study

New MERS deaths take Saudi toll to 173

omen are at increased risk of being seriously injured during a motor vehicle accident during the second trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study from Canada.

While the study can’t say why the women’s risk of car crashes increased during the middle of their pregnancies, Redelmeier said it may have something to do with the symptoms that result from wide fluctuations in hormones.

RIYADH, May 19, 2014 (AFP) - Saudi health authorities reported Monday new deaths from the MERS coronavirus, taking to 173 the overall number of fatalities from the disease in the world’s worst-hit country.

“That’s what the factor is for the neurological changes, which are usually minor, but these minor changes can catch up to you when you’re operating a motor vehicle,” he said.

The health ministry said on its website that five people have died, including a 28-yearold woman in the port city of Jeddah, and a 32-year-old man in northern Tabuk.

Despite the increased risk, Redelmeier added that women shouldn’t stop driving, because the crashes could be avoided by following standard safety advice. That includes obeying speed limits, stop and yield signs.

A woman aged 69 died in Riyadh and a 55-year-old man died in the city of Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest site which is visited by millions of pilgrims each year.

W

Pregnant women were 42 percent more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident that sent them to an emergency room, compared to when they weren’t carrying a child, researchers found.

“A normal pregnancy is usually accompanied by a lot of fatigue, nausea, mood fluctuations, anxieties and distractions which may all contribute to distracted driving,” Dr. Donald Redelmeier, the study’s lead author from the University of Toronto, told Reuters Health.

Redelmeier, who is also an internist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said he got curious about the risk of vehicle crashes during pregnancy, because pregnant women would ask about the danger in other activities, such as riding a rollercoaster.

“Never once was I asked about road safety despite it being a larger risk to mother and

child,” he said.

For the new study, he and his colleagues analyzed data on all adult women who gave birth in the Canadian province of Ontario between April 2006 and March 2011.

They compared the women’s crash rates before and after pregnancy to see if there was a difference.

Over half a million women gave birth and accounted for about 8,000 crashes as drivers during that time.

The researchers found that the rate of accidents was about 4.6 crashes per 1,000 women before pregnancy, compared to 7.7 crashes per 1,000 women during their second trimester.

The increased risk was present regardless of a woman’s background and demographics. It also didn’t seem to matter whether the woman already had children.

The crash rate fell before delivery and continued to fall after birth, the researchers report in the Canadian medical journal CMAJ.

He added that doctors should remind pregnant women during routine visits to be especially cautious when driving.

“If there is nothing more pressing that’s the time to take a moment and mention the importance of road safety advice,” Redelmeier said. “You don’t want any pregnant women ending up in my emergency department.”

SOURCE: Reuters Health

5.5 million ‘invisible’ baby deaths a year

by R. Prasad

G

lobally, about 5.5 million babies — nearly three million neonates and about 2.6 million stillbirths — die every year. In other words, every day, about 8,000

neonates are dying and the number of stillbirths is about 7,000.

Stillbirths happen at about 28 weeks of gestation and also during labour. Babies who die during labour — just five minutes before birth — account for

nearly half of all stillbirths.

Half of all the newborn deaths across the world occur in five countries. With 7,79,000 deaths, India accounts for the highest number of newborn mortality in

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FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

A fifth man, 59 died on Sunday in the western city of Taif.

The ministry said the total numbers of infections has reached 537 case.

Other nations including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have also recorded cases, mostly in people who had been to the desert kingdom.

MERS is considered a deadlier but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that appeared in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.

Like SARS, it appears to cause a lung infection, with patients suffering coughing, breathing difficulties and a temperature. But MERS differs in that it also causes rapid kidney failure. the world. The other four countries are Nigeria (2,76,000), Pakistan (2,02,400), China (1,57,000), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1,18,000).

The results were published recently in The Lancet.

Slower progress What is indeed significant is that while great strides have been taken in halving the number of deaths in children aged under-five, the progress in reducing the number of newborn deaths has been “slower.” In the case of stillbirths, the progress has been even worse — it is “substantially slower” than even that of reducing newborn mortality. Stillbirths are not counted in the Millennium Development Goals.

Shockingly, the 2.6 million stillbirths every year across the world are largely “invisible.”

“In most countries stillbirths do not get birth or death certificates, which contributes to their invisibility; hence, most of the world’s newborn deaths and almost all stillbirths enter and leave the world without a piece of paper to record their existence,” Joy Lawn, professor of maternal, reproductive and child health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and lead author of one of the papers was quoted as saying in The Lancet. “The fact that the vast majority of these deaths — which have a huge effect on the women and families involved — are never formally included in a country’s health registration systems signifies acceptance that these deaths are inevitable, and ultimately links to inaction.”

According to the journal, “preterm babies are less likely to be counted, even in rich countries, especially where they are not expected to survive.”

Though the average annual rate of newborn deaths has been declining at 2 per cent since 1990, the rate of decline is lower compared with that seen in the under-five age group — 3.4 per cent. The lack of registration, The Lancet notes, is a key reason for slower progress in recent decades for prevention of newborn deaths compared with maternal and child mortality reduction.

But about three million deaths — 54 per cent of maternal deaths, 33 per cent of stillbirths, and 71 per cent of newborn deaths — can be easily prevented if “achievable interventions

Tel: 713-774-5140

Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees

A SUMMARY OF THE 2013 ANNUAL REPORTS A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC:

E

ach year the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds report on the current and projected financial status of the two programs.

This message summarizes the 2013 Annual Reports.

Neither Medicare nor Social Security can sustain projected long-run programs in full under currently scheduled financing, and legislative changes are necessary to avoid disruptive consequences for beneficiaries and taxpayers. If lawmakers take action sooner rather than later, more options and more time will be available to phase in changes so that the public has adequate time to prepare.

Earlier action will also help elected officials minimize adverse impacts on vulnerable populations, including lower-income workers and people already dependent on program benefits.

Social Security and Medicare together accounted for 38 percent of federal expenditures in fiscal year 2012.

Both programs will experience cost growth substantially in excess of GDP growth through the mid-2030s due to rapid population aging caused by the large baby-boom generation entering retirement and lower-birth-rate generations entering employment and, in the case of Medicare, to growth in expenditures per beneficiary exceeding growth in per capita GDP. In later years, projected costs expressed as a share of GDP trend up slowly for Medicare and are relatively flat for Social Security, reflecting very gradual population aging caused by increasing longevity and slower growth in perbeneficiary health care costs.

Social Security Social Security’s Disability Insurance (DI) program satisfies neither the Trustees’ longrange test of close actuarial balance nor their short-range test of financial adequacy and faces the most immediate financing shortfall of any of the separate trust funds. DI Trust Fund reserves expressed as a percent of annual cost (the trust fund ratio) declined to 85 percent at the beginning of 2013, and the Trustees project trust fund depletion in 2016, the same year projected in the last Trustees Report. DI cost has exceeded non-interest income since 2005, and the trust fund ratio has declined since peaking in 2003. While legislation is needed to address all of Social Security’s financial imbalances, the need

are scaled up to nearly universal coverage” at all stages — before conception, as well as before, during and after pregnancy.

Risk factors According to the journal, preterm birth is the biggest risk factor in both 0-6 days and 7-27

Sudhir Mathuria

Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com

has become most urgent with respect to the program’s DI component. Lawmakers need to act soon to avoid reduced payments to DI beneficiaries three years from now.

Social Security’s total expenditures have exceeded non-interest income of its combined trust funds since 2010, and the Trustees estimate that Social Security cost will exceed non-interest income throughout the 75-year projection period. The deficit of non-interest income relative to cost was about $49 billion in 2010, $45 billion in 2011, and $55 billion in 2012. The Trustees project that this cashflow deficit will average about $75 billion between 2013 and 2018 before rising steeply as income growth slows to the sustainable trend rate after the economic recovery is complete and the number of beneficiaries continues to grow at a substantially faster rate than the number of covered workers. Redemption of trust fund asset reserves by the General Fund of the Treasury will provide the resources needed to offset Social Security’s annual aggregate cash-flow deficits.

Since the cash-flow deficit will be less than interest earnings through 2020, reserves of the combined trust funds measured in current dollars will continue to grow, but not by enough to prevent the ratio of reserves to one year’s projected cost (the combined trust fund ratio) from declining. (This ratio peaked in 2008, declined through 2012, and is expected to decline steadily in future years.) After 2020, Treasury will redeem trust fund asset reserves to the extent that program cost exceeds tax revenue and interest earnings until depletion of total trust fund reserves in 2033, the same year projected in last year’s Trustees Report. Thereafter, tax income would be sufficient to pay about threequarters of scheduled benefits through 2087.

(To Be Continued…)

days periods. While in the case of the early neonatal period (0-6 days), the intrapartum conditions that occur during childbirth or delivery play a significant role, infections become the predominating factor in the later neonatal period (7-27 days).

(The Hindu)

Can eating cheese be as bad for us as smoking?

W

e have always b e e n made to be believe that smoking is one of the dangerous habits that mankind has as it can lead to death.

But there are a few other habits that might cost you as much.

One such habit is having a high protein diet. Shocking it may sound but this is what University of Southern nia claims.

Eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you 4 times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet.

Califor-

This claim is based on the research that tracked a large sample of adults for nearly two decades.

The findings of the research

have found that eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet.

Animal sources for protein include meat, milk and cheese.

VOICE OF ASIA 19

HEALTH, TECH & SCIENCE

Google sees spending $30 bn buying foreign firms

S

AN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2014 (AFP) Google told US regulators that it could spend as much as $30 billion of its offshore cash reserves on buying foreign companies or technology rights, it emerged Wednesday.

In responses to questions from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internet titan said that the bulk of the money it is amassing outside the country is likely to be spent on acquisitions.

Google told regulators in a letter that “it is reasonable to forecast” that it needs from $20 billion to $30 billion of its foreign earnings to pay to companies or technology in the years ahead.

“We continue to expect substantial use of our offshore earnings for acquisitions as our global business has expanded into other product offerings

like mobile devices where our competitors and business partners are no longer primarily US based multinationals,” Google said in the letter, which was dated December of 2013.

Google said acquisitions would be a part of its overall growth strategy, and that the trend was for the sizes of deals to get bigger.

Last year, Google spent about $1.4 billion on more than 20 strategic deals, including the $1 billion acquisition of Waze.

Google wrote that in 2012 it tried to buy another foreign firm, which it did not name, in a deal that could have been valued between $4 billion and $5 billion.

That was the same year that Google spent $12.4 billion to buy Motorola Mobility, which it is now selling to Lenovo at a fraction of that price.

Google told the SEC that about half of its revenue came from outside the US as of the end of last year.

Google also told regulators that it envisions that one day that digital ads along the lines of those seen on smartphones or tablets will begin popping up on once ‘dumb’ devices such as thermostats, eyewear, watches, and appliances being made smart with computer chips and Internet connections.

W

ASHINGTON, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - AT&T’s blockbuster deal for DirecTV raises new concerns about consolidation in the US pay TV sector, but may also lead to a rethinking of another megadeal involving cable giant Comcast.

Some early reactions were skeptical after AT&T on Sunday announced a $48.5billion deal for the satellite broadcaster, just three months after Comcast unveiled plans to swallow up its rival Time Warner Cable for $45 billion.

“With this latest proposed merger, I am concerned that the telecommunications marketplace is trending even further toward one that favors big companies over consumers,” said Senator Patrick Leahy, who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, pledging his panel “will be looking closely at this transaction.”

A House panel also promised to review the deal, and John Bergmayer at the consumer activist group Public Knowledge warned of reduced competition.

“The industry needs more competition, not more merg-

ers,” Bergmayer said. “The burden is on AT&T and DirecTV to show otherwise.”

But others said the deal may help Comcast win regulatory approval because it shows the emergence of a strong rival.

Herbert Hovenkamp, an antitrust specialist at the University of Iowa College of Law, said that AT&T’s announcement “makes the road a little easier for Comcast” based on antitrust law.

Hovenkamp said that even though each deal must be examined separately, “if the concern was that Comcast would not have enough competitive restraint, this new merger could serve to make things a little easier.”

Hovenkamp told AFP the AT&T deal on its own should not raise antitrust concerns because it is not a major competitor now in the TV market, with fewer than six million subscribers.

AT&T at worst may be forced to cede its pay TV customers from its bundled “UVerse” brand because it competes with DirecTV, he said.

While AT&T is not seen as a major competitor now in pay TV, the moves come as industry lines are being

The paper, quoting people familiar with the deal, said negotiations are nearly complete. it did not say what the sale price might be.

Founded in 2006, video streaming start-up RayV has set up its headquarters in Los Angeles but has kept its research and development teams in Tel Aviv.

“Our expectation is that users will be using our services and viewing our ads on an increasingly wide diversity of devices in the future, and thus our advertising systems are becoming increasingly device-agnostic.”

The company specializes in developing software for high definition video streaming over the Internet.

blurred -- television is viewed increasingly on mobile devices, and more companies are looking at the Netflix model for streaming video.

Acquiring RayV would be a boost for Yahoo! which has suffered several setbacks of late in its strategy of broadening its video offerings. Bids to acquire the French video site Dailymotion and TV portal Hulu failed.

Yahoo this year launched negotiations with online video services Fullscreen Inc. and News Distribution Network Inc., the Journal said.

The report came shortly after US online entertainment powerhouse Netflix announced what it called significant expansion into Europe, promising viewers in six countries online video by the end of the year.

- Mergers and innovation Scott Cleland of the consulting firm Precursor said the tie-up shows the marketplace works.

“This proposed merger is just the latest example of how communications competition and technology advances are forcing competitors to creatively transform their businesses to innovatively meet consumer demand in new and productive ways,” he said.

But some see the megamergers in a different light.

“The rush is on for some of the biggest industry players to get even bigger, with consumers left on the losing end,” said Delara Derakhshani at Consumers Union.

“You can’t justify AT&T buying DirecTV by pointing at Comcast’s grab for Time Warner because neither one is a good deal for consumers.”

The merger with DirecTV would provide AT&T’s television service broader reach, making it the number two provider of pay TV in the

Scientists discover why olive oil lowers blood pressure

NEW YORK, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - Yahoo Inc., eager to strengthen its video streaming activities, is close to buying the Israeli startup firm RayV, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

“We expect the definition of ‘mobile’ to continue to evolve as more and more ‘smart’ devices gain traction in the market,” Google said.

AT&T-DirecTV tie-up shifts focus from Comcast megadeal

by Rob Lever

Yahoo! looking to buy video streaming start-up: report

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

United States with about 26 million customers, compared to Comcast-Time Warner Cable’s 30 million.

AT&T said it would use the merger to expand plans to build and enhance high-speed broadband service to 15 million customer locations, mostly in rural areas.

AT&T chairman and chief executive Randall Stephenson said Monday that the deal provides synergies for the telecom giant.

“The logic for the transaction is this gives us the opportunity to create something that we believe is very unique,” he told analysts.

“We think it will help us accelerate growth. But even more important, it gives us the opportunity to lead the way and to redefine the video entertainment business for mobile in a high-speed world.

“That includes delivering content to consumers across multiple screens, mobile devices, TVs, laptops, the backseat displays of connected cars and even airplanes.”

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 (AFP) - The secret to the Mediterranean diet may be in the salad.

Eating unsaturated fats, like those in olive oil, along with leafy greens and other vegetables creates a certain kind of fatty acid that lowers blood pressure, scientists said Monday.

These nitro fatty acids are formed when consuming spinach, celery and carrots that are filled with nitrates and nitrites, along with avocado, nuts and olive oils that contain healthy fats.

Nitro fatty acids appear to inhibit an enzyme known as soluble epoxide hydrolase, which regulates blood pressure, said the research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal.

The study was based on experiments in lab mice, and was funded by the British Heart Foundation.

“The findings of our study help to explain why previous research has shown that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart failure and heart attacks,” said Philip Eaton, professor of cardiovascular biochemistry at King’s College London.

While most experts agree that the Mediterranean diet -- which consists of lots of vegetables, fish, grains, red wine and fatty nuts and oils -- brings health benefits, there has been little scientific consensus about how or why.

Some have touted red wine as a driving force behind the ability of Europeans to eat high fat cheeses and meats while maintaining better overall health than Americans.

But research published last week found that a key antioxidant in red wine, resveratrol, did not help people in Italy live longer or avoid cancer or heart disease.

‘Selfie’, ‘hashtag’ now in Merriam-Webster dictionary

N

EW YORK, May 19, 2014 (AFP) “Selfie,” “hashtag,” and “tweep” are among more than 150 new words added to America’s best-selling Merriam-Webster dictionary, spotlighting the growing influence of technology on everyday life.

“So many of these new words show the impact of online connectivity to our lives and livelihoods,” said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster.

“Tweep, selfie, and hashtag refer to the ways we communicate and share as individuals,” he added.

Originally a social media

buzzword, “selfie” was admitted to the online version of the Oxford English dictionary in 2013, which named it word of the year.

Merriam-Webster defined “selfie” as “an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks.”

“Crowdfunding,” “big data” and “gamification,” were also added, showing “how technology is being used to understand and motivate behavior,” the dictionary said.

Another newbie was “catfish,” defined as a person who sets up a false social networking profile for deceptive purposes.

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VOICE OF ASIA 20

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Friday, May 23, 2014

Section 2

Page 20

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Setting Great Expectations on Fusion Flavor the catering aspect of the restaurant.

Duranni’s Chefs (L) Amarjit Singh and Raeez Ahmed Exec Chefs have over 70 years of experience combined in Indian and Pakistani cuisines. Photos by Jacob David, VOA

The food was undoubtedly tasty. A table full of non-vegetarian delicacies – Silk Chicken – which are spice rubbed leg quarters and drumsticks grilled well that the meat is moist like fresh silk intended to fall easily off the bone, the Durrani’s Platter which has the Beef and Chicken Kababs, Beef and Chicken Boti (chunks) with lamb chops.

These were accompanied by french fries. The lamb chops were seared to perfection and light on the spices. The beef boti was a bit heavily coated

by Jacob David

S

ituated on the corner of West Belfort and Highway 6 is Durrani’s Tandoor n’ Grill. Started by old time friends, Jamil Durrani and Arif Memon, both who share common interests in Music and Food, they thought it right to bring the two passions together under one roof.

Arif Memon now long time radio jockey for 14.80 AM Hum Tum Radio, weekdays daily from 10 AM – 12 PM has worked alongside Rajesh Khanna, Mega Star in Bollywood. Arif’s love for classical Hindi film tunes, and Jamil Durrani’s love for ghazals and ragas, got them together on many occasions. Then the light bulb moment occurred.

“It was an idea flash resulting from stupidity, I must say, to go into the restaurant business, the toughest of all businesses, but we are glad we did it anyways and that’s because of our love for music and food,” Jamil Durrani says.

The entrance depicts large life size posters of ghazal singers and actors and actresses from the 70s. “We want the good times to be remembered even today.” Arif Memon says. The restaurant opens itself to a sports bar layout with three giant 50” screen TVs, one TV playing cricket, another a Mexican channel and one Hindi programming, the sound kept to a minimum. “We want families to come and enjoy our food, so we have instrumentals dominating our speakers, rather than TV.” Arif continues.

The restaurant has booth style seating on both sides adjoining the walls and single tables seat four to eight people. The restaurant seats 120 guests.

To the right of the restaurant is the large banquet hall that can seat 150 with round tables or seat 300 theater style for a business presentation. The banquet hall has 12 foot screen

The sports bar with large screen TVs gives it a youthful exuberance and feel.

Duranni’s Platter Beef and Chicken Kabab, Beef and chicken boti, grilled lamb chops served with naan and fries which comes live for business conferences or for fun on a Cricket day with full HD experience. A quick tour of the restrooms reveal a clean, spotless place. “Our restrooms are the image of our kitchen. We do our best to keep it as clean as our kitchen, which we clean daily and power wash once every week. Hygiene in a food place like ours is important.”

Arif Memon says.

Durrani’s opened on February 14, 2014, Valentine’s Day to a full house. Jamil Durrani is from Pakistan and Arif Memon from India. They believe that food from both these countries are a delight to experience and savor. “Our menu is in its formative stages. We are only 3 months old, but we have had so much positive feedback from our patrons, that we are constantly changing our menu to fit their needs.” Arif Memon said. “We are planning to introduce Halal Steaks and gently ease in other new dishes.” he added. Mother’s Day was a blockbuster success with so many guests showing up. Durrani’s boasts of three Executive Chefs. Amarjit Singh and Inderjit Singh are from Amritsar, Punjab, India and Raeez Ahmed is from Pakistan. Two spanish sous chefs help with

with the spices but was palatable. The chicken boti pieces were light on the spices and equally good. The Goat Biriyani was a huge portion with ample meat pieces that accompanied the Durrani’s platter was flavorful down to each spoonful. Washing these down with chilled mango lassi (sweetened mango flavored butter milk) definitely hit the sweet spot and took the edge of some of the spice.

Catering is a huge deal at Durrani’s, where there is a selection of Indian, Pakistani, Mexican and Chinese food to please your palate. They cater to events with a minimum of 70 people. The most popular Mexican food asked for is Fajitas, beans and rice where the Spanish Chefs get the flavors right. Also popular is the tray with Leg of lamb on Tihari, a bed of flavored rice with boiled eggs that can easily feed 20 people. Durrani’s Tandoor n’ Grill provides employment benefiting local vendors and farmers by ordering their produce, eggs and halal meat.

Every Friday after 8:30 PM is Light Musical Night free for all. Guests don’t have to order food even. Each week new local artistes are encouraged to participate. Musical instruments like tabla, harmonium

Banquet hall seats 150-300 guests and keyboard accompany ghazal singers. Younger people attend these events to get a taste and feel for the South Asian tradition of music and culture. Both Jamil and Arif

are happy that the younger crowd find some of the music interesting.

Durrani’s Tandoor n’ Grill is open 7 days. 10581 S.Hwy

6, Ste:101, Sugar Land, TX 77498. Ph: 281-313-0774. www.durranistandoorgrill. com E-mail us with your food reviews which we will post online: voiceasia@aol.com

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VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Nutrients and Herbs for Depression?

Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Rice University, Houston.

by Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee

W

hile everyone experiences “the blues” from time to time, depression is a kind of low mood that can affect a person’s ability to effectively live and enjoy life. Depression impacts about 120 million people worldwide, with about 6% of men and 9.5% of women experiencing this condition. Depression affects nearly 16 million Americans annually too.

The World Health Organization predicts depression to become the second most burdensome disease by 2020, which means it will cost society, in terms of medical care, sickness and days lost from work, more than every other condition except heart disease. Unfortunately, depression is a multi-factorial issue.

While conventional medicine focuses only on neurotransmitters, naturopathic and holistic medicines are at an advantage to treat the many factors that contribute to depression such as sleep and lifestyle issues; lack of exercise; poor diet choices and poor digestion; inflammation in the body and the brain; hormonal imbalances; stress and spiritual issues; nutrient and healthy oil deficiencies and environmental toxicity.

Herbal and Nutrient Remedies for Depression Although modern science has only recently learned to address the underlying causes of depression, for centuries folk medicine has offered some mildly effective treatments.

There are many wonderful and safe nutrients and botanical medicines (herbs) that can help with low mood. In this article, focus is on a few nutri-

ents that have been to be very useful, and sometimes miraculous to helped patients who are suffering from depression. Of course, it is very important to remember that if you are not looking into the many factors listed earlier to address the underlying causes of depression, these nutrients or herbs alone may not do the trick. Also, if on antidepressant medications, one should always check with ones doctor before changing medication dosage, or using these supplements along with medications.

St. John’s Wort St. John’s Wort is one of the most widely studied herbs. Its Latin name Hypericum perforatum means “above a ghost” and the plant was originally gathered as a way to ward off evil spirits. This venerable herb has been cultivated in Europe for centuries, where folk healers have used it to dispel melancholia (which we now call clinical depression) since the days of ancient Greece. In modern Germany, St. John’s Wort is routinely prescribed to treat mild to moderate depression among both children and adults. Rigorous studies have concluded that the herb may be as effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression as modern antidepressant drug therapy with fewer side effects While early researchers thought St. John’s Wort worked like a weak version of an antidepressant drug, current research suggests that St. John’s Wort has many effects on both the brain and the body. It is known to help digestion, act as an antiviral, has anti-inflammatory properties and supports thyroid function. It also gently balances the neurotransmitters GABA, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. It has been found that depression sufferers who have a long-term chronic type of depression called dysthymia often do the best with this herb.

If a patient can get out of bed and function at a job, but are just generally still low in mood, self-esteem and zest for life, this may be a good herb.

St. John’s Wort can be taken

as a capsule,as a liquid extract, which is a concentrated form of the herb. It is usually dosed in capsule form at 900 mg to 1800 mg a day in divided doses. One caveat: St. John’s Wort interacts with numerous drugs, and should never be taken without a doctor’s approval, especially by someone who is presently taking other medications.St. John’s Wort can affect the effectiveness of other medications. Studies show that it can help the drug Plavix works better in people for whom it did not initially work. Other studies show it can lower the effects of birth control pills and immune suppressants.

Saffron:

like turkey and bananas. 5-HTP is the molecule the body uses to make serotonin, a molecule that helps elevate mood. While many antidepressants artificially stop the production of enzymes that breakdown serotonin, 5-HTP gives the body more of the raw materials it needs to make more serotonin.

5-HTP is very good at crossing the blood brain barrier, which means it is a molecule that can get into the brain to help achieve a needed change in brain chemistry. 5-HTP is best used with someone who has both depression and anxiety.

It is also an effective choice for people who have insomnia and cannot stay asleep. Finally, there is some research that suggests it has benefit with weight loss.While there are no known toxicities of 5-HTP, some people can get a little nausea when taking 5-HTP, so it helps to take it with some carbohydrate, like a slice of apple, which will also help its absorption. A dose of 100 mg twice a day, up to 200 mg three times a day is appropriate.

Pumpkin seeds

Saffron is a well-known Persian spice used for its ability to help the digestive system heal.

Because most neurotransmitters are made in the digestive tract, this might be the reason saffron has been shown in studies to elevate low mood. As the most expensive spice, it is high in carotenoids and B vitamins.

In studies, saffron has been compared to both Prozac and Imipramine, and found to work at least as well, or better, with fewer side effects.While the petal is the expensive part of the herb, capsules of the stigma part of the plant, which is less expensive can be used and still contains the powerful moodenhancing ingredients. Studies show a dose of 15 mg twice a day can be effective. No toxicity has been shown when taking saffron in therapeutic amounts or in cooking.

5 - h y r d ro x y t r y p t o p h a n (5-HTP) 5-hyrdroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid found in low amounts in foods

nerve conduction as well. It also has been shown to be helpful with patients who have arthritis and joint pain.SAM e tends to work quickly, often lifting mood within days rather than weeks, whereas most other supplements and drugs take longer.It has been shown to be very useful for Parkinson’s disease patients with depression, and some studies suggest it may be most beneficial in the senior population. Other studies show it to be safe for children too, and preliminary research shows it may be safe in pregnancy, though more research is needed. Dose for SAM e starts slowly. Recommended dosage is of 200 mg twice daily, for the first day, then 400 mg twice daily on day three, 400mg three times daily on day 10, and finally to the full dose of 400 mg four times daily. . Folic acid, also known as folate, is also under investigation as a therapy for mild depression.

Folate is often abnormally low among people with depression, and some clinical trials indicate that adding folate to the diet may improve the effectiveness of modern antidepressant drugs. Sunflower seeds are rich in B6 while vegetables such as asparagus, parsnips, citrus fruits, beets, spinach, and other dark leafy greens are packed with folate.

they play a crucial role in allowing the efficient passage of messenger chemicals. Many medical professionals believe that depression is rooted in faulty brain chemical signaling, and that, as a result, an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids promotes optimal functioning. Studies show that supplemental omega-3 fatty acids may help regulate mood and reduce the likelihood of depression, while also improving the effectiveness of antidepressant medications, should they become necessary. Some studies suggest that an intake of at least 2 g of mixed EPA/DHA per day is beneficial.

Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo biloba helps the brain make certain neurotransmitters, which may alleviate depression. One study has shown a standardized extract was helpful for elderly, depressed persons who also had dementia. Even the lowly oat, fresh in its milky stage and made into a tincture, has a reputation as a nerve tonic and can diminish cravings associated with addictions.

Aromatherapy

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Pumpkin seeds provide a high level of the amino acid tryptophan, which in the brain promotes the synthesis of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. Normal levels of serotonin provide a calm sense of well-being.

S-adenosylmethionine and folate S-adenosylmethionine and is a naturally occurring chemical in the body based on the amino acid methionine; it helps boost a number of neurotransmitters.

SAMe also helps with healthy

Countless well-controlled studies have concluded that omega-3 fatty acids, obtained primarily from fatty cold-water fish and fish oil supplements, and presently from algae are crucial for proper regulation of a number of brain functions, including mood. The omega-3 fatty acids are a group of three chemicals, EPA, DHA and ALA, which are essential nutrients. They must be obtained through the diet, and the body must have an adequate supply to function properly. EPA and DHA are especially important.

The brain is nearly 60 percent fat by weight, much of that fat consisting of omega-3 fatty acids, which serve as structural components of the brain’s cells and tissues. As integral components of nerve cell membranes,

Aromatherapy can be useful for lifting the spirits. Use an aromatherapy lamp to infuse a room with scent or tuck a scented cloth into your pillowcase at night. Scented geranium, lavender, angelica, chamomile, juniper, mint, and rosemary are all good choices.

Infusing their essences into massage oil is another enjoyable way to beat depression.

Thus there are many natural options for depression from the natural medicine world and can be a healthful and effective part of healing from depression.

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, May 23, 2014

Your Horoscope for the Week of May 23, 2014

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

As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.

READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

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

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

Some of the people you care for most may prove difficult to get along with, through no You will see some family matters & making decisions. When you find it difficult to fault of your own. That’s just the way the planets are lying and you will all have to learn make a decision, there is no point insisting any longer. You’ll just end up going round to compromise. A forthcoming family gathering or reunion could be causing some strain. in circles. When it comes to dealing with domestic affairs, just go with the flow. Don’t Don’t worry, all will go well. All you have to do is remain detached and not let others tell you what to try to push things through when it becomes obvious that there is resistance. Wait for do. Travel and distant places are high on your list of priorities at the moment. a new opportunity. Communication improves and so does understanding, as you make a decision to compromise and to adapt to existing circumstances.

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Some events, that may leave you feeling a little nervous or confused. This is when you need to take refuge in your own home until you calm down. A part of you is avoiding commitment, preferring to keep all your options open. There comes a time when you have to choose, and a decision will have to be made in the next few weeks. No matter what others have to say, you are perfectly entitled to change your mind. Don’t be afraid to make a U-turn.

Need to learn balancing & avoiding extremes. Once you climb off your emotional roller coaster, things will become easier. You are currently on an interesting path, paved with good intentions. Be warned, as you move on, you may be in for a bumpy ride. This will be a learning experience, but one which could take you by surprise. You are full of energy and ready to party this week, but try not to burn the candle at both ends. You need some rest and peace and quiet if you want to keep the pace.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Just as you were beginning to give up hope, your love life could give you a boost. Things become more active and a seemingly stagnant situation suddenly takes off. Secrets come out from their hiding places and ghosts spring from closets. This will help to clear the air and get family relationships off on a better footing. You have been struggling for too long, and now you’ve had enough. Support comes in both financial and moral forms, to give you new energy as far as home is concerned.

The new learning experience, Energy is a little low and you won’t feel like making much of an effort when it comes to socializing. But your charm, warmth and generosity will do the trick, so just be yourself. Conflict or misunderstanding is a possibility in love matters. A family situation is becoming increasingly complex, leaving you feeling baffled and confused. The air has to be cleared, but you will not be the one to make the first step.

You’ll be compensated for your ability to compromise.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July You don’t usually go in for gushing romance, something gets into you and you are all hearts and flowers. Enjoy yourself and let your imagination run wild. When you find you are constantly frustrated in close friendships, it’s time to ask yourself a few questions. Perhaps you are just drawn to the wrong kind of people. Expect to be feeling more enthusiastic for home affairs, as a new form of domestic energy takes hold of you, allowing you to deal with matters which are usually overwhelming for you.

The surprise announcement could leave you feeling somewhat disorientated. You will soon recover your wits and come up with the right response. Plutonic and intimate relationships come into the spotlight this week, as you are asked to make a greater commitment or prove your feelings. You come through all tests with flying colors.

Luck is on your side, which means that games of chance are likely to bring dividends of some sorts.

Take a few risks (well thought out ones of course) and you could double your money.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August

You have fascination with a new person or concept. Fulfill your creative needs by taking up a new activity. As you look ahead to the next few months, you wonder where you are heading. Now is the time to lay the groundwork for a new personal project. There is a new opening for you, but you don’t know enough about this matter to make the most of it. Gather more information and don’t be afraid to ask questions whenever you can. Financially you may feel that you are working flat out just to make ends meet, with little left over for fun and games.

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Personal plans for entertaining & career goals. You have the key to open a door to something new and exciting. Someone you know will bring you the chance to harness your potential and grow even faster. Your personal relationships require faith, trust and confidence, if you feel this is lacking, don’t take it out on the other person. When you have some time to yourself, don’t shut yourself away others. Stay with friends, seek out crowds and parties.

QR

Don’t judge the book by its cover. If you scratch beneath the surface of someone you know, you may discover a true friend with similar feelings and experiences to your own. Things seem just too good to be true, and you wonder when someone will pull the rug out from under your feet. Rest assured, all is well and things are set to go from good to better. When tension mounts, or you feel tired or unmotivated at home, it’s time to get to the bottom of it all. You will discover just where all that energy is draining away to.

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

You are opting to take the difficult route and take on a new challenge. This will not be easy all the time, but the outcome will prove to be well worth the effort. Someone close to you could be a little defensive and you will have to watch your words. Choose what you say very carefully to avoid hurting other people’s feelings. You could have the feeling of being under siege, as several social events end up at your place, or people invite themselves around at the last moment. Don’t let your space be invaded. Learn to put your foot down.

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