Voice of Asia Aug 1 2014

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Vol. 27 No. 31 Friday, August 1, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Kerry arrives in India to reboot ties with Modi

‘Desi Grandparents Day’ Event Promotes Bonding and TLC Organized jointly by IACF and ISCA on July 26, 2014

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in India on Wednesday, (AFP Photo/ Paul J. Richards) the highest-ranking member of the ew Delhi (AFP) - US Secre- Obama administration to visit India tary of State John Kerry flew since the Hindu nationalist Modi won into India on Wednesday for a landslide election in May. ice-breaking talks with new Prime The top diplomat’s trip is intended to Minister Narendra Modi, forecasting a transformation in Washington’s trou- pave the way for a visit by Modi to the US later this year, nearly a decade after bled relations with New Delhi. he was denied a visa over deadly antiKerry, who landed in Delhi on an Continued on Page 2 overnight flight from Washington, is

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L-R: ISCA president Arvind Patel, IACF President Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala, Directors of IACF with winners of the Musical Chairs competition Photo credit: Mehul Shah

by Shobana Murtaee OUSTON – As the countdown for back to school begins, children are less likely to be visiting grandparents or having a field day with them. But on SaturBy Jacob David day, July 26, together they had a blast UGAR LAND, TX - Far- celebrating ‘Desi Grandparents Day’ han Akhtar’s Live Concert in at the India House. A very thoughtful Houston was one of the firsts event that was put together for the first planned in a broad move to expand time by the Indo-American Charity the philanthropic workings of Magic Foundation (IACF) and collaborated Bus Charity organization along with by Indian Senior Citizens Association Farhan Akhtar to support MARD – a (ISCA) and India House to bring three movement Men Against Rape and generations of a family together for a day of fun, learning and wellbeing.

Discrimination, in the wake of the Over 300 people attended the event horrendous acts perpetrated by men against women in India last year. The that had an array of activities for the children while the seniors were able to event was a huge success. get a quick assessment of their health To continue the efforts of raising with some of the free medical testawareness, the Board of Directors for ing such as BP, Osteoporosis, dental the Magic Bus met on July 22, 2014 at checkup and consultations with physithe Madras Pavilion Restaurant, Sugar cians, dietitians and other health serLand to discuss initiatives for more vice providers brought together under programs to wipe out inequality and the leadership of IACF Director Dr. Mahendra Jain, an Internal Medicine poverty in India. practitioner with Houston MethodA gala event is being planned on ist Hospital. Free BP screening and October 11, 2014 at 7 PM by Magic general consultation was arranged by Bus at J.W.Marriott on the 2nd Floor the Houston Methodist Primary Care to let people know more about Magic group and Houston Methodist Sugar Bus. Kavitark “Ram” Shriram, a Ven- Land Hospital. They also provided L-R: Brij Kathuria, Jugal Malani, Dr. Sunita Moonat, Amit Bhandari – President, Swatantra Jain, Ms. Mona Parikh who attended the Board of Directors Meeting for Magic Bus on July 22nd, 2014. Dr. Harshad Patel and Gopal Savjani (not in the picture). Photo by Jacob David, VOA Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 3

Magic Bus Director’s Meeting Plans US Expansion

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS The Guardian view on

T sanctions against Russia

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FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

he United States and the European Union have now enacted a substantial range of sanctions on Russia, cutting off credit, banning arms exports and limiting the transfer of so-called sensitive technology, as well as targeting a number of highly placed individuals. It is far from guaranteed they will bring about a change in Moscow’s policy on Ukraine, but they will certainly deepen the antagonism between Russia and western countries. So it is to be hoped that those who decided on them did so with heavy hearts and with a determination to rebuild the relationship with Russia whenever opportunities to do so arise. President Barack Obama said this week that sanctions do not mean there is going to be a new cold war, but that is precisely the danger that lies before us.

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

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The Ukraine crisis did not spring out of nowhere. It arose after a long period in which trust between Moscow and western capitals had dwindled. Trust was never complete. There was always rivalry and difference.

But it is worth remembering the fruits of cooperation in arms control, in the growth of a new economic relationship between Europe and Russia, in the creation of international criminal courts, and in the solution of particularly difficult international issues, as when Russia was instrumental in ending the Kosovo war. These are all now threatened by the further deterioration of relations since the Maidan revolution in Kiev. If western sanctions do shift the Russian approach to Ukraine, there would still remain a huge problem of achieving some kind of reconciliation. Even if the fighting in eastern Ukraine ended, to be succeeded by negotiations between Ukrainians about what autonomy the eastern regions might be able to enjoy, the obstacle of the Crimean annexation would stand in the way of a better understanding.

Crimea cannot just be written off or marked down as the price for a settlement in eastern Ukraine. If there is no deal on eastern Ukraine, the prospects are obviously worse.

So is this just a matter of being “tough”, perhaps for a very long period, until Russia changes or President Vladimir Putin is no longer in charge?

After all, Russia today is a poorer, smaller country than the old Soviet Union, therefore arguably easier to contain.

That would be the worst possible course. We could even stumble into a hot war. The old cold war was gradually half-civilised by the introduction of rules, by technical devices such as hotlines, by the avoidance of inflammatory and condemnatory language, by the identification of areas of common interest, and by grasping that the really serious problems arose out of the inter-

The Ukraine crisis did not come out of nowhere but followed a long period in which trust between Moscow and the west had eroded. Are we heading for a new cold war? action between the policies and decisions of both sides. The habit of seeing one decision by the other side in isolation from all that had gone before and labelling it instantly as malign was hard to abandon. We surely do not want to go back to that kind of old thinking. Yet charges of genocide and terrorism are flung back and forth in Ukraine, a kind of rhetorical equivalent to the shellfire raking its cities.

President Putin himself can’t be wished away. His popularity ratings are at an all time high and he will be in charge for at least four more years, perhaps longer. The Ukrainian armed forces are closing in on the separatist enclaves. They appear to be winning, although not without inflicting serious casualties on the civilian population. If that is the case, President Putin has a hard decision before him: whether to continue military support or even send Russian

President Vladimir Putin … four more years, or more, in charge.

Photograph: Sergei Chirikov/EPA troops into Ukraine. We really do not know whether sanctions will make that more or less likely.

What we do know, from the old cold war is that restraint is more likely when an alternative path is opened up. Talks are due to take place in Minsk soon between Russia, Ukraine and the Organisation for Secu-

Kerry arrives in India to reboot ties with Modi Continued from page 1 Muslim riots in the state where he was chief minister.

For the past two decades, the world’s two largest democracies have described themselves as natural allies, sharing similar concerns over China’s rise and Islamic extremism.

But incidents including the US arrest of an Indian diplomat last year sent ties plunging to their lowest point in years, and analysts say Modi’s previous treatment as a pariah still rankles.

And a new row is brewing over a customs deal, despite efforts to emphasise areas where the two sides can make common cause.

In a joint editorial with US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in Wednesday’s Economic Times, Kerry said Modi’s strong mandate opened up possibilities for cooperation on issues from boosting trade to energy.

“The long-standing partnership between the US and India is on the cusp of an historic transformation,” said the commentary in the Delhi-based daily.

“Working together, the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy can forge a new era of shared prosperity and security for

hundreds of millions of people in India, across Asia and the world.”

threw US support behind New Delhi’s leading goal of winning a UN Security Council seat.

The US officials will hold talks with Indian officials on Thursday and Kerry will meet Modi on Friday.

Relations took a sharp turn for the worse when US authorities in December arrested an Indian diplomat on allegations of mistreating her servant, leading New Delhi to retaliate against US personnel.

For some observers, Kerry’s three-day trip is in itself a sign of India’s importance. He has focused much of his tenure on crises in the Middle East, and returned just Sunday from a gruelling, unsuccessful mission to end the Gaza conflict.

“It is significant that the secretary is able to stick to making time for the Strategic Dialogue with India when there are literally parts of the world in flames,” said Alyssa Ayres, a former State Department official.

- Lingering resentment Despite strong ties between their people, the Indian and US governments have frequently been at odds.

After tensions during the Cold War and US sanctions over India’s 1998 nuclear tests, former president Bill Clinton began reconciliation efforts. His successor George W. Bush pushed through a landmark nuclear cooperation accord with India.

But some Indian commentators saw President Barack Obama as less interested in the relationship, even though he

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The immediate topic is the security of the site of the crashed Malaysian airliner. Yet perhaps there is a shred of hope that this encounter, or back-channel talks which we do not at this moment know about, might offer a way back from the dangerous ground all of us, east and west, are now treading.

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Modi has little reason for gratitude toward the United States. In 2005, Washington refused him a visa over allegations of turning a blind eye to anti-Muslim riots as leader of the state of Gujarat.

Allegations that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been the target of surveillance operations by the US national security agency while it was in opposition have added to the sense of grievance.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said Wednesday that Kerry’s visit was an opportunity “to explore transformative initiatives that can move the relationship to the next level” but he also said that concerns over cyber security would be raised.

“There is a considerable disquiet in India about the authorisation provided to American agencies in terms of contravening the privacy of individuals, entities and government of India,” he told reporters.

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FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, August 1, 2014

Page 3

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Magic Bus... ‘Desi Grandparents Day’ ...

Continued from Page 1 ture Capitalist who is on the International Board and the U.S Board will be attending this event. He is a notable venture capitalists who funded Google to take them to their next stage. Also, Kevin Negandhi, first South Asian ESPN anchor, Sports Author and Professional will be attending this event.

Magic Bus is different from other charity organizations in that it focuses on teaching sports to kids ages 3 and up well into their teens. It also focuses on teaching vocational trade to both boys and girls so that they can have a trade to make a livelihood from. Amit Bhandari, President of the US region, is a Chemical Engineer by profession.

Along with his wife Arpita Bhandari, and his three children they make a trip once in 6 months to India for about 2 weeks to a month to volunteer with Magic Bus in India. Magic Bus focuses on a ten year program for each child giving prime importance to Hygiene and Gender Equality.

Brij Kathuria, also a member of the US Board is a semi-retired professional, plays a crucial role in the planning and execution of all the activities of Magic Bus here in the USA. He said that “Magic Bus has been fortunate to get the support and endorsement from several Bollywood stars, like Abhishek Bhachan, Ranbir Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Kapoor, and Indian Sports professionals, like MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, and Raj Kundra, a British based Indian businessman, married to Shilpa Shetty.”

Magic Bus is the charity organization started by Matthew Spacie, COO of Cox & Kings. In an interview with Economic Times, he said “Behavioral change among the young is as important as building a school. Nobody in the world does it on a scale that we do,” talking about why Magic Bus does its activities differently than any other charity. Swatantra Jain is a member of the National Board of Directors with Pratham USA. Attending the event, he

Top: Musical Chairs and Below Art work in session. Photo credit: Mehul Shah.

Dr. Mahendra Jain checking the BP of an attendee. VOA Photo Continued from Page 1 various goodies including tote bag, water bottles, band aids, etc to each of the attendees.

Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala, IACF President, along with president- elect Dr. Kamala Raghavan, past president Murthy Divakaruni and IACF Directors Alpa Shah, Abhijit, Dr. Mahendra, Neeta and others were seen diligently attending to the children and seniors keeping them entertained in the various activities that were planned for the day. Members of the ISCA ensured that seniors who attended took full advan-

tage of the free medical services being provided. Ms. Ballard of The Primary Care Group agreed to have a larger showing as well with more of the local physicians attending at IACF’s upcoming events.

Osteoporosis screening and general pharmacy questions were provided by Randall’s/Safeway under the assistance of their regional pharmacy manager Heta Shah. Dietician Mita De Jesus from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic assisted the attendees in making smart food choices given various medical conditions and dietary restrictions. Dental

said, that “We non-profits are not in competition with one another. There are so many children who are living impoverished lives. They need our help. One charity can do only so much and cannot take the responsibility of helping the entire nation. We need to work with other charities to help as many children as we can.” Swatantra Jain, has been a longtime advocate for child education.

panding activities to raise awareness in Singapore and London as well. According to Amit Bhandari, President, on the role of sports in a child’s life, “Children are more drawn to sports than education. They are ready to play Sports anytime. Children have a lot of energy in them and sports help channel this energy in the right way. It helps keep kids out of trouble.” he said.

Magic Bus is on the active look out for child mentors. It is currently ex-

To know more details about Magic bus, please visit: www.magicbususa. org.

checkup was provided by Dr. Purvi Parikh of A-Z dental, Sugar Land.

The event that stared around 9 am had breakfast arranged and sponsored

by Madras Pavilion. Children delighted themselves with their grandparents at the art work session organized by Neeta Balsaver. Face painting was yet another popular activity of the day for the children. However, the Musical Chairs and the Spoon and Lemon (S&L) competitions were wholesome fun watching children and grandparents stick together as they played.

Winners of these events were: • 1st prize winners for Musical Chair – Bhavya and Ranjana Arora • 1st prize winners for S&L race: Harshi Desai and Raju Kadakia • 2nd prize Musical Chairs: Vihaan

patel and anil Amin • 2nd prize S&L race: Aaska and Sushila Mistry.

Several items were given out in Raffle. The IACF gave pill containers as door prizes.

Thanking the participants and the volunteers, Dr. Kamala Raghavan, IACF President-elect invited everyone to attend in the immediate upcoming event Ace of Hearts for Charity on August 2nd 2014 at the Aloft Hotel and their annual gala set for September 20th 2014 where IACF will be giving $25,000 in scholarships to Fort Bend County children.

At the conclusion, the ISCA held their regular monthly meeting from noon to 2:00 followed by lunch sponsored by Dr. Arun Banker and family.

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FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The People’s Lawyer

Answers to your Immigration Questions

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer: email at srichardslaw@aol.com

www.peopleslawyer.net

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT E-2 TREATY INVESTOR VISA

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Renter’s insurance is a very good idea Q. I live in a two-bedroom apartment. I pay my rent on time and I am a good tenant. I do not have insurance. Recently, a fire at my complex burned part of my apartment and damaged my property. The apartment owner says he will repair the apartment but is not responsible for my property. What can I do?

A. The apartment owner may be correct--it depends on the facts. Simply because there was a fire at the complex does not mean the apartment owner is legally responsible for the damage to your apartment. Basically, for the apartment to be responsible it will be necessary for you to show some “fault” on the part of the apartment. In most cases, the basis for this “fault” is negligence. Under the law of negligence, an apartment owner must take reasonable steps to maintain the apartment and must act reasonably to remedy any problem. If he does not and your property is damaged as a result, he could be liable.

For example, if the fire were caused by an act of God or some other accident outside of the control of the owner, the owner would have no responsibility. On the other hand, if there was a problem with the electrical wiring and the apartment owner did not properly repair it, the owner could be liable if a fire resulted and damaged your apartment.

Unfortunately, you have learned too late the value of renter’s insurance. Just as a homeowner should have homeowner’s insurance to cover damage to the home, renters should have renter’s insurance to protect against situations such as this one. In fact, many landlords now require a tenant to have renter’s insurance.

Q. I pay my rent in cash each month. Does my landlord have to give me a receipt?

A. If you pay cash, the law requires the landlord to provide you with a receipt for payment.

Q. I have a small construction business. I have not been paid for a job. How long do I have to file a claim in Justice Court?

A. As you seem to know, the new court for filing a small claim in Texas is Justice Court. You may file a claim for up to $10,000. Your claim to collect the money you are owed would be for breach of contract. In Texas you have four years to file a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Q. I have been working for the same company for about one year. They just called me in and said they were firing me because “things have not worked out.” I have always done what was asked of me and received very good evaluations. This seems like a wrongful termination. Can I sue?

A. Basically, unless you have an employment contract, Texas law considers you to be an employee “at will.” That means you can be fired, or you may quit, at anytime, for any or no reason.

Employers may not discriminate based on things such as sex, race, age, religion, or disability, but they do not have to have a good reason to fire you. Your termination is wrongful, only if it violates your contract or is unlawful discrimination. If you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against, you should contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Q. I went through a divorce. I kept the car and he kept the truck. The decree says we will each make the payments for the vehicle we kept. I paid off my car; he did not pay for the truck, and it was repossessed. The debt collectors keep calling me because the loan was in both of our names. Am I still liable for his debt?

A. When you were divorced, the court decided who would pay the bills. The divorce decree, however, is between you and your spouse, not the lender. If you were responsible for the truck loan before the divorce, you still owe it after the divorce. If you pay, however, you have the right to be reimbursed by your ex-spouse based on the divorce decree.

Want to know more about our legal rights? Check out my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

Q: What is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?

A: The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign nationals who are citizens from Treaty countries who wish to live in the United States to invest, develop and manage the operations of a new or existing business. For a complete list of E-2 Treaty Investor countries, please go to http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/treaty.html.

Q: I am from Turkey and I wish to invest in an existing business here in Houston. The business is currently owned by an American Citizen. How much shareholding do I need to have in the business?

A: Citizens of Turkey are eligible to apply for the E-2 Treaty Investor visa as Turkey is a member of the Treaty with US. You, the foreign investor must own at least 50% of the company.

Q: How much do I need to invest in the business to be eligible for the E- visa? Do I need to invest $1 million and hire at least 10 employees to qualify for this visa?

A: No, the $1 million and 10 employee requirement applies to the EB-5 Investor Visa which is an immigrant category for permanent residence (Green Card). In contrast to the EB-5 Investor Visa category, the E-2 nonimmigrant visa does not require a specific amount of investment or a specific number of employees. For the E-2 visa, while there is no specific investment amount or minimum amount, a significant investment sufficient to establish the business as well as to provide the business with working capital will satisfy the substantiality criteria. The amount of the investment will depend on the type of the business. For example, a manufacturing based business will certainly require a larger sum of investment than an air-conditioning repair business.

Q: Does the business need to have any employees? Can some of these workers be independent contractors?

A: Yes, ideally, in order to satisfy the non-marginality rule, the business should not be set up for the sole purpose of supporting the E-2 investor and his or her family. Successful E-2 petitions typically are those that are able to demonstrate that the business has hired employees or independent contractors or will be doing so in the near future.

Q: I am looking at starting my own business and applying for the E-2 visa. I was informed that I will need a 5 year business plan.

A: I strongly suggest that you have one prepared as it essential for a successful petition. The business plan must show growth prospects for the business and the intent to hire employees.

Q: Do I need to hire an immigration lawyer to assist in the preparation of the E-2 Treaty Investor petition?

A: Yes, I strongly recommend that you consult and engage the services of an immigration attorney experienced in E-2 visa work to assist you. This is because the E-2 visa requirements are fairly extensive and these specific requirements must all be met in order for your petition to be successful.

Q: I brought funds from my home country to invest in my new business here in the US. Can I use this money for the investment?

A: Yes, you may if you are able to demonstrate that the funds have been legally obtained.

Q: I have a wife and two minor children. What status will they have if I received the E-2 visa? Can they live and work legally in the US? A: Yes, your wife and children under 21 years of age can get the E-2 visa as your derivatives. They will be eligible to work if they applied for the Employment Authorization Document.

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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FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

‘Jagannath Puri’ Style Rath Yatra Celebrated in Austin at Radha Madhav Dham Temple

Presiding deity, Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani, is taken out in a grand chariot procession

A

USTIN - Just a few weeks ago on June 29, more than a million devotees congregated at the holy city of Jagannath Puri in Odisha, India to participate in the annual Rath Yatra (festival of chariots). The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a huge Hindu festival in which the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and Subhadra are carried in a procession to the Gundicha temple, about a mile away, where they reside for nine days.

A similar festival is celebrated at Radha Madhav Dham in Austin, TX, one of the largest Hindu temples in North America. Every year, the presiding deity, Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani, is taken out in a grand chariot procession that is reminiscent of the Jagannath Rath Yatra.

This year too, amid great devotional fanfare, on Sunday July 6th , Shree Radha Rani

was brought out in a beautifully decorated chariot to visit the holy places of Braj that are represented within the 200-acre picturesque grounds of the Ashram.

The excitement began early in the morning, as hundreds gathered all over the country to attend this festival. Both young and old, dressed up in colorful festive attire, joyously waited to welcome Radha Rani. Gracefully seated on a pearl-white and gold chariot decorated with sparkling fabric, jewels and fresh flowers, Shree Radha Rani arrived amidst the exuberant sounds of drums, conches, cymbals and a shower of marigold flowers, as the sounds of “Radhey Radhey, Radhey” permeated the air.

Reminiscent of Radha Krishna’s descension on this earth planet 5,000 years ago,

Devotee dressed as Shree Krishna offering arti during the procession.

when Radha Rani would often ride in Her chariot, accompanied by many Gopis, and Shree Krishna would welcome and glorify Her, a magnificent dance was performed depicting Lord Krishna’s welcome of Shree Radha Rani. This was followed by Arti, after which the chariot proceeded forward, with hundreds of devotees following the procession in devotional merriment - walking, singing, and dancing along the way.

The chariot stopped at a few holy places along the route, where beautiful leelas (pastimes) of Radha Krishna were enacted, enthralling the hearts of the audience and bringing to life glimpses of

Radha Krishna in Vrindavan for devotional meditation.

A few hours later, as the chariot started its return to the temple, one could tell from the soaring levels of excitement and the increasing sounds of drums and bells, that the Rath Yatra was reaching its climax. It was a sight worth capturing, as everyone danced in joyful exuberance, and the ashram grounds reverberated with the echoes of “Radhey Govind” and “Hari Bol.” Even the sun seemed to be joining the crowds, as it danced with the clouds, disappearing and then re-appearing in the skies.

Even though the Rath Ya-

tra concluded at noon, the festivities inside the prayer hall continued with cultural programs and leela performances. This was followed by an eloquent talk by one of the senior preachers of the temple, Siddheshvari Devi Ji, who explained the Divinity of Shree Radha Rani’s s personality by quoting from the Vedas to explain that “Shree Radha Rani is the highest entity of all, because She is the one worshipped by the Lord of the Universe, Shree Krishna Himself.”She went on to further explain that while “both Shree Radha and Krishna are one – one soul, one intellect – they appear in two forms only to perform

leela’s and distribute Divine love to all souls.”

The annual Rath Yatra gave many wonderful memories for participants who came from all over the country to participate in this huge event. “An experience of a lifetime”, were the words of many as they filed out of the prayer hall to enjoy the lunch mahaprasad. It was a day of devotional revelry, a day of intimate darshan, a day one had to witness to believe…

For videos and photos of this event go to www.radhamadhavdham.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/radhamadhavdham.

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No. 31 Friday, August 1, 2014 Section 2 Page 11 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140

Why did the Peking Duck

EIJING - Where does Peking Duck come from? It is a trick question: the dish named for China’s capital has its origins in Nanjing, hundreds of kilometres to the south.

cross the country?

The tidbit is one of the revelations in a museum opened earlier this month to mark the 150th anniversary of the Quanjude restaurant, now the sevenstorey flagship of a chain with franchises as far away as Australia.

What is the purpose of the fast?

In the Holy Quran Chapter 2, verse 183, Allah commands the Muslims to fast and states that the purpose of the fast is to develop a quality called in Arabic “taqwa” which may be defined as God-fearing.

No secret ingredients are revealed, but around 20 models detail each stage of the duck’s journey to the plate.

Slaughtered when it weighs around three kilos, pumped full of air to separate skin from fat, the bird is gutted and filled with boiling water to help a sweet basting syrup penetrate the meat before being dried, coated and roasted.

What does the fast involve?

The fast involves refraining from food, drink, and sexual relations during the daylight hours. The fast is broken each evening with a meal called “iftar” (meaning “breaking the fast”), and the last meal in the morning before dawn is called “suhur” (meaning “morning meal”). It is a test of devotion, in which physical endurance mirrors the inner spiritual state that a believer constantly strives to improve.

“The baking time is about 50 minutes,” a museum panel reads. “The roast duck coming out of the oven looks plump, in a colour of jujube red all over its body, full of oily luster, with a crisp skin, a fresh and tender mouthfeel, tasting delicious but not oily, bearing a subtle fragrance of the fruit tree.”

Fuchsia Dunlop, a British writer who specialises in Chinese food, describes today’s Peking duck as “a more recent innovation”.

“When Quanjude was set up, in 1864, the guy who started it employed some chefs who worked in the imperial palace and they used this hanging up technique from imperial kitchens to roast the duck,” she said.

“It’s a clay oven, with the ducks hanging inside, with a fruit wood fire in the mouth of the oven.”

Once cooked the bird is dissected at the table by a skilled chef, his hands usually protected from the heat only by a flimsy plastic glove as he reduces the carcass to precise sections of meat and slivers of crispy skin.

“If he has a good cut, he can cut it into a hundred slices,” says Dunlop.

At the restaurant, diner He Yufan

A chef preparing Peking Duck at the Quanjude restaurant in Beijing, the restaurant is celebrating its 150th birthday (AFP Photo/Greg Baker) said: “When I watch the chef cut it, he makes it look like art. That’s why it feels good to eat it.”

Her friend Guo Jin was indifferent to the birthplace of the dish. “Beijing is the only place in the world that has authentic Peking duck,” she said. “You can’t get this anywhere else.”

- Duck diplomacy According to Quanjude, which boasts of having sold 196 million ducks around the world, the dish has played its part in Chinese international relations.

Its chefs would accompany Chinese diplomatic missions and pictures in the museum show Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon, who made a landmark visit to China in 1972, eating duck.

“Ping-Pong diplomacy, Maotai diplomacy and roast duck diplomacy were once called the three great diplomatic manoeuvres of China by (former Premier) Zhou Enlai,” a panel says, referring to China’s pungent fermented sorghum spirit.

On one occasion, Zhou dined with Charlie Chaplin in 1954 in Geneva, where the British actor was living in exile from the US after questions were raised over his alleged Communist sympathies.

“I have a special feeling for ducks,” Chaplin is quoted as telling Zhou. “I created a character who is hilarious when walking, and his posture is from the duck, so I do not eat duck as a rule.

But I will break rules this time.”

- Gastronomic traditions -

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The show “encouraged people to stop taking it for granted, showed them it’s something to be proud of and learn about, and tell the outside world about”, she added.

It “seems to have really woken Chinese people up to the fact that they have an amazing food culture and it’s part of their heritage”.

According to Dunlop the Quanjude museum is part of a nationwide trend to showcase China’s gastronomic traditions.

What’s Eid al-Fitr?

The name Eid-ul-Fitr means “feast of the fast-breaking”. It takes place on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which follows Ramadan. This joyous day includes a special prayer, celebrations with family and friends and also giving out charity to the needy so that they can also celebrate.

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“Lots of their cooking techniques have existed for centuries and are very specific, depending on the region they are coming from in this huge country,” she said.

Are there any other observances or customs attached to Ramadan?

1.

Recitation of the entire Quran 2.

Observance of special night prayer called Tarawih 3.

I’tikaf(seclusion) which is sheltering in the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan for prayer 4.

Celebration of the “Night of Power” marking the specific date of the beginning of the revelation of the Quran 5.

Giving the obligatory Zakat(Charity) to the needy people

How the message of fasting communicated in the Western countries?

In Western countries like USA, many Muslim communities host iftars for of other religions by way of interfaith outreach. President Thomas Jefferson hosted an iftar for a Muslim guest in 1805; both Presidents Bush and Obama have hosted iftars at the White House each year of their terms. There is also a special holiday marking the end of Ramadan, called Eid-ul-Fitr.

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“A Bite of China”, that highlighted different areas’ cuisines and dishes.

Who has to fast?

The fast is obligatory on all mature adult Muslims. Exceptions include people who are ill, are traveling, women who are pregnant or in their menstrual period, people who are mentally disabled, etc.

There has been talk of Beijing applying next year to have Chinese food included on UNESCO’s list of global intangible cultural heritage, which so far only includes a few culinary items, among them French haute cuisine and Japanese dietary customs called washoku.

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What does the word “Ramadan” mean?

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is based on the lunar cycle.

Does the month of Ramadan commemorate anything?

The month of Ramadan is when the first verses of the Quran were revealed.

Statues of roasters, photos of officials dining and menus going back 100 years trace the duck’s route from humble waterfowl to culinary institution.

A roast duck style was first developed in the court kitchens of Nanjing, China’s then capital in the eastern province of Jiangsu, and the dish only came to Beijing when the Ming dynasty Yongle emperor moved his seat north in the 15th century.

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VOICE OF ASIA 12

Friday, August 1, 2014

Section 2

Page 12

FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Colleges that offer the best Shopping Tips for bang for your tuition buck College-Bound Students

P

reparing for college life is a must, whether you are planning to live on or off campus. But it can be overwhelming without a game plan.

To make this exciting experience as smooth as possible, the college experts at Bed Bath & Beyond are offering helpful shopping tips for students and parents.

• Use a checklist: Stay organized and on budget with a checklist. Some retailers offer online and in-store lists breaking down the essential gear needed for on and off-campus living.

A college student works on her laptop. Photo by Justin Sullivan—Getty Images

by Laura Lorenzetti

I

f would-be students make smart choices, college costs don’t have to be overwhelming.

Money.com has ranked the best colleges for your money — and the schools with the highest rankings may surprise you.

Some of the top Ivy League schools made it into the top 10, as well as some lesser-known liberal arts colleges (Claremont McKenna College and Principia College, for example).

But the most affordable title goes to Berea College, where students will spend a net total of $49,280 to get their degree and walk away with an average debt load of $2,290. Meanwhile, if you want to target a school with the highest median pay five years out, look to Harvey Mudd College. Students

net an average of $73,300 annually five years after leaving campus.

As the debate around rising student loan debt rages, future college students are likely wondering if the cost of going to college is worth the payoff.

Student debt has topped $1 trillion nationwide. Over 70% of college graduates last year had student loan debt at an average of $29,400 per borrower, according to the Project on Student Debt. From 2008 to 2012, the rate of debt accumulation has been increasing an average of 6% every year.

Yet even as student debt grows, the pay gap between college graduates and everyone else reached a record high last year, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Those with a four-year college degree made, on average, 98% more an hour in 2013 than people without a

degree.

College is clearly the way to higher lifetime pay, even with the added debt. So the next question is: how do students choose the school that will best maximize their earnings-to-cost ratio?

On the whole, technology and math focused schools, including Harvey Mudd, offer students a ramp to high pay without unbearable costs. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology offer the second and third highest average income five years out, both topping $68,000.

However, those schools aren’t for everyone. The acceptance rate at MIT is 9%. The lesserknown Harvey Mudd? Still only 19%.

Students who may not have top-level scores can still target

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• Know your school rules: To avoid any unwelcome surprises on move-in day, learn your school-specific rules before shopping. From microwaves to coffeemakers, know what you can and can’t bring to your school. Look up your school rules at www.bedbathandbeyond.com/shopforcollege.

• Create a college registry: A registry makes a great resource for family and friends choosing graduation or college gifts. Students can also use their registry to share what they’re bringing

schools that will cost less than $100,000. Montana Tech at the University of Montana, where students pay $88,250 for their degrees, accepts 89% of applicants. University of Arizona, with a total cost of $98,560, accepts 71%.

Those looking for a school that will provide an invaluable skill set to kickstart their

to school with roommates.

• Meet the roomie: Once students receive their housing assignment, they should connect with their future roommate to finalize room decisions and avoid duplication.

• Make packing easy: Take advantage of resources that make transporting your items to college easier. For example, Bath & Beyond has a free instore service, Pack & Hold, which allows students to select dorm room essentials at a store near home and have everything ready to pick up for purchase at a store near campus.

• Bedding: The bed is pretty much the center of dorm room life, so make it comfortable and stylish. School-provided mattresses are often thin, so consider adding a memory foam topper or fiber bed for extra support. Remember that most dorms require twin extra-long sheets (TXL), and don’t forget to protect the mattress against bed bugs and allergens with a mattress protector. Coordinate your bed and room on budget with a value Campus Collection. For ideas, visit www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

American dream should peruse Money’s list of colleges that add the most value. While it’s not surprising that CalTech and Princeton University send out grads that make the big bucks (those schools tend to attract the top-of-the-top to begin with), these schools transform often struggling students into earnings powerhouses.

• Organize: Maximizing space is a must. Create more room with storage and organizational items under the bed, over the door and in the closet. For example, Real Simple Slimline Flocked Hangers allow students to hang more clothing per unit of space. Look for multi-functional items, such as bed risers that have an AC outlet and USB charger.

• Make it homey: Add an area rug and throw blankets for extra warmth, or add accents like a cool side table and colorful throw pillows. Welcome friends and study buddies with functional and stylish seating like the Bunjo Bungee Chair or Sound Lounge Speaker Ottoman. Decorate the walls with dry erase message boards, artwork and photo displays.

• Study smart: Make sure your work space is highly functional.

You’ll need plenty of storage for school supplies, lighting for late night cramming and a surge protector to plug-in all your devices.

Creating a home away from home can be a challenge. Use tools and resources specifically designed for college-bound students to stay organized and on budget. (Source: StatePoint).

At the University of California-Irvine, the No.2 school on the list, nearly 40% of the student body comes from lowincome families. It graduates 86% of freshmen, a 15-percentage-point lead over schools with similar student populations.

Those students go on to earn an average of $49,000 five years out, about $9,000 more than graduates of similar schools.

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VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Chennai to DiCaprio raises $25 mln at French launch LifeCell’s public stem banking charity gala Guests shelled out between $7,000 and $130,000 to attend the event.

N

ICE (AFP) - Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has raised more than $25 million (18 million euros) at a charity gala in France for his foundation which aims at protecting the environment and endangered species.

The fundraiser late Wednesday in the chic Riviera seaside resort of Saint-Tropez included an auction of Hollywood and rock and roll memorabilia and works by Damien Hirst and Pablo Picasso.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Chennai to launch LifeCell’s public stem cell banking program.

C

HENNAI, India (PTI) - Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Sunday reiterated the importance of stem cell banking by mothers and the situation that led to her decision to go in for stem cell banking for her daughter.

“The decision to bank umbilical cord cell had to be taken at a time when I was taking baby steps to parenthood. And on our part, we did some research, spoke to friends and our families, of course. We were informed about it,” said Ash, a young mother herself.

Donning a red saree and

black blouse with a string of fragrant jasmines decorating her hair bun - the traditional attire of women from the South, Ash looked elegant and aptly dressed for the day - Parents’ Day. On being informed it was Parents’ Day, the mother of two-and-a-half year old Aaradhya said, “Every day is Parents’ Day. We are meant to have such a beautiful experience in our lives and let us celebrate that emotion every week and day in our lives.”

Describing the situation that led to her decision to go in for stem cell banking for her

daughter, she said “Knowledge can be very very useful and once we were aware of the potential of stem cell banking, the decision was natural and we recognised how stem cells are such a precious gift that can be given to our children.”

“I think that every expecting parent in our country should become aware of stem cell banking. Stem cells from the umbilical cord is a nature given resource. That needs to be preserved,” she said.

It also included DiCaprio s Harley Davidson motorbike bearing the signatures of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro and a guitar belonging to U2 frontman Bono.

DiCaprio told the 500 guests

Leonardo DiCaprio -- who included stars ranging from US soap star Joan Collins to French actress Marion Cotillard -- that animal and flora species were rapidly disappearing on a scale last seen when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Guests shelled out between

$7,000 and $130,000 to attend the event.

A sculpture by British artist Damien Hirst was snapped up for $6 million by Russianborn billionaire Len Blavatnik, while South African tycoon Patrice Motsepe paid $1 million for a Picasso drawing.

Wham! to reunite? George Michael wants to get back with old pop partner Andrew Ridgeley

Ash was here to celebrate the milestone achievement of LifeCell’s preserving of 1,00,000 umbilical cord stem cell units.

Manisha Koirala launches a social networking website

The pair, both 51, sold an incredible 25 million records in the time they were together. Getty.

by Hannah Hope ould George Michael really be planning to reunite the band that made him world famous?

The superstar singer has recently dropped several hints that he could re-form his 1980s pop duo Wham! in the near future – even suggesting a one-off headline performance at the Glastonbury festival.

George enjoyed massive success when he teamed up with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981 but split five years later, leaving fans distraught.

The pair, both 51, sold an incredible 25 million records in the time they were together and set dancefloors alive with their biggest hits Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Club Tropicana.

Now, in a series of interviews promoting his new single Feeling Good, a cover of Nina Simone’s much sampled 1965 hit, George admits it was a mistake to end Wham! so soon.

When asked by Q mag what his biggest regret is, George says: “Splitting Wham!” He added: “Also, not asking Kate Moss to join Wham!”

She’d have loved that.

chief guest for the event. When asked about the social networking phenomenon designed by Sagoon and Company, the actress believed that the website was a very good project to connect each one very easily and conveniently to friends and relatives across the globe.

She also added that she is now able to chat with her people, send wishes to her friends and relatives at one place with this website.

the website was an outcome of six years of constant hard work and diligence.

C

Actress Manisha Koirala, (2nd from left) is the brand ambassador for Sagoon. Seen here at the launch of the website.

K

Company, had launched its site at the America Nepali Association (ANA) Convention in Virginia earlier this month.

Sagoon Inc , a start up Tech

The service of Sagoon Inc can be accessed from both mobile web and computers with www. sagoon.com being their official website. The new website allows

ATHMANDU - Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala inaugurated the launch of a social networking website founded by a small team of Nepalese in US at Hyatt Hotel in the Indian Capital on Saturday.

the users to access the entire social networking websites in a single platform, aiming to provide a one stop solution to the problem of having to log on to different networking websites.

Actress Manisha Koirala, also the brand ambassador for Sagoon and Company, was the

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Also on the occasion, the chairperson and creator of the website, Govinda Giri, expressed his heartfelt views that

A team which consisted of Kevin Sithola, Swati Dayal, Yasir Nazar, Nukul Ghosh and many more members contributed diligently to put this innovative endeavour together, he added.

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Friday, August 1, 2014

Section 2

Page 15

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

UT Health’s Dr. Bhavani Iyer awarded low vision grant About UTHealth

HOUSTON – (July 15, 2014) – Bhavani Iyer, O.D., a low vision specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, has been awarded a grant to help Harris County residents whose vision problems cannot be corrected with eyeglasses, medication or surgery.

in and around Harris County with low vision. This is the first such grant to be awarded in Texas and the third largest in the country. The project has received an additional $20,000 in funding from local sources.

Even with corrective lenses, many people with low vision can see 20/60 at best. However, there are a variety of low vision devices, such as telescopes, magnifiers and electronic readers to help offset their vision loss.

“There are things people with low vision can do to make the most of their vision,” Iyer said.

“Through the project, we’re reaching out to people who may be suffering in silence by addressing some of the barriers.”

Iyer is using the three-year, $164,645 SightFirst grant from the Lions Club International Foundation to provide outreach programs as well as education and training for the thousands

The program is called the “Harris County Low Vision Project.”

Educational programs and support services will be offered at two low vision centers in Houston – the Center for Visual Rehabilitation at The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic in the Texas Medical Center and Har-

ris Health System’s Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.

Iyer plans to establish low vision device loaner libraries at both locations. These would benefit people who need to be trained on the devices or who may want to check them out before buying them.

Examples of low vision aids include miniature telescopes that are attached to eyeglasses or held by hand as well as filters that screen out blue light and glare. Magnification devices for reading can be attached to eyeglasses and stands or held by hand. For those with severe levels of impairment, strong electronic readers are available.

In 2010, approximately 3 million people were classified as having low vision, reports the National Eye Institute. That

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) was established in 1972 as Houston’s health university. The most comprehensive academic health center in The UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, UTHealth is home to schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry, medicine, nursing and public health. UTHealth educates more health care professionals than any health-related institution in the State of Texas and features the nation’s sixth-largest medical school and the highest ranked nursing graduate school in Texas. It also includes a psychiatric hospital and a growing network of clinics throughout the region.

The university’s primary teaching hospitals include Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. For more information, visitwww.uth.edu.

About Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Lions Clubs International Foundation is the grant-making body of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest volunteer service club organization. The LCIF SightFirst program, Lions’ flagship initiative, builds comprehensive eye care systems to fight the major causes of blindness and care for blind and visually impaired persons. For more information, visit www.lcif.org

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital debuts new implantable cardiac monitor tal. The implantable cardiac monitor is 80 percent smaller than other similar implantable devices or approximately onethird the size of a AAA battery.

The device allows physicians to continuously and wirelessly monitor a patient’s heart for up to three years.

Sohail Jalal, M.D.

S

UGAR LAND—(July 28, 2014) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is the first in Fort Bend County to use an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) that is smaller than a AAA battery on patients with an irregular heartbeat.

Board-certified electrophysiologist, Sohail Jalal, M.D., recently implanted the new Reveal LINQ™ monitor in a patient during a minimally invasive procedure at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospi-

“The Reveal LINQ is a major step forward for patients who require ongoing monitoring due to cardiac arrhythmia, or what we call an irregular heartbeat,” said Dr. Jalal. “Because it is so small, it can be placed just beneath the skin through a tiny incision, and once in place, it is nearly invisible to the naked eye. The procedure is simple and easy for patients. Most importantly, patients with this device can undergo an MRI exam which is not possible with conventional implantable monitors.”

Once in place, the Reveal

LINQ ICM continuously monitors the heart so that physicians have a real time snapshot of the patient’s cardiac activity. In the event of a cardiac arrhythmia, the device alerts the physician via a wireless network so that early intervention is possible.

The system’s remote monitoring capabilities can work almost anywhere in the world, sending data to a patient’s physician quickly and easily.

Remote monitoring of cardiac arrhythmia has been shown to improve patient quality of life, reduce hospital stays and improve survival rates. The implantable cardiac monitor can also lead to early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm and a major risk factor for stroke. With early detection and treatment a stroke could be prevented.

“Continuous, remote monitor-

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group welcomes Dr. Rajan

ing is the best way for patients who suffer from cardiac arrhythmia to protect themselves from future episodes that may be extremely serious,” Dr. Jalal said. “The data we collect via monitoring enables us to better understand how the heart is working and allows us to identify problems before they become life-threatening.

Symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia include fatigue, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat or pounding, shortness of breath, chest pain, and, in extreme cases, sudden cardiac arrest.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jalal or another electrophysiologist in your area, call 281.274.7500. Learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital at houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or visit us on Facebook at FB.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

O

n Tuesday two U.S. appeals courts issued conflicting rulings on a subject that’s important to millions of people: the availability of subsidies to help purchase coverage under the health-care law. KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey answers some frequently asked questions about those court decisions and how they impact consumers.

Q: What did the courts decide?

A: In a blow to the health law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the health law’s subsidies are available only to individuals in the 14 states and the District of Columbia now operating their own health insurance exchanges. The federal government now runs the exchanges in 36 states. Judge Thomas Griffith, writing the majority opinion in the 2-1 decision, said they concluded “that the ACA unambiguously restricts” the subsidies to “exchanges ‘established by the state.’ “ In a separate ruling, a threejudge panel for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., ruled unanimously for the Obama administration, allowing subsidies to be available to residents in all states.

Judge Roger Gregory, writing the opinion, said while the health law is “ambiguous and subject to multiple interpretations,” the court decided to uphold the IRS’s interpretation of the law that residents of states using the federal exchange are entitled to subsidies.

Q: What was the issue the courts decided on?

A: The case centers on a brief description in the health law that says subsidies will be available “through an exchange established by the state.”

In implementing the law, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interpreted the law to allow eligible consumers to receive subsidies to help purchase coverage, regardless of whether they are in an exchange run by their state or by the federal government.

Opponents of the law questioned that interpretation, saying that the law as written clearly directs subsidies to state-based exchanges only.

But proponents– including several lawmakers who helped write it – said lawmakers fully intended that subsidies be offered on all exchanges no matter if they were administered by the feds or state officials.

Q: I live in a state with a federally run exchange, and I get a subsidy to help me buy coverage. Am I going to lose it?

A: Nothing is happening immediately. Justice Department officials said Tuesday they plan to seek an en banc review from the D.C. Appeals Court, meaning that the panel’s full contingent of 11 judges would hear the case. Six of the court’s judges would have to agree for the full panel to

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com review the case. The full panel is dominated by judges appointed by Democrats, 7-4.

Eventually the case could be considered by the Supreme Court, but the current subsidies would likely remain in place until there is a final legal decision on the matter.

“In the meantime, to be clear, people getting premium tax credits should know that nothing has changed; tax credits remain available,” said Emily Pierce, deputy director of the Justice Department’s office of public affairs.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the administration was confident it would prevail. “You don’t need a fancy legal degree to understand that Congress intended for every eligible American to have access to tax credits that would lower their health care costs, regardless of whether it was state officials or federal officials who were running the marketplace.”

Supporters of the court challenge to the IRS interpretation on subsidies also maintain their case is strong. “The executive branch does not get to rewrite statutes just because it thinks those statutes would work better a certain way,” said Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute who championed the subsidy appeals. “If people lose those subsidies it is because the courts have ruled that those subsidies are and always have been unlawful -that the administration had no authority to administer those in the first place.”

Q: Are these the only two court cases?

A: No. There are two other similar cases pending in courts in Oklahoma and Indiana.

Q: If there are legal disputes ongoing about who qualifies to receive a subsidy, do I still have to buy health insurance?

A: Yes. The law’s “individual mandate,” which requires most people to purchase health insurance or pay a fine, is still in place.

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Consumer Guide on Health Law Court Decisions

number is expected to rise to about 9 million by 2050.

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VOICE OF ASIA 16

HEALTH, TECH & SCIENCE

Indian customs connected with Health and Science Part II is that our body has significant amount of iron in our blood.

When we sleep in this position, iron from the whole body starts to congregate in brain. This can cause headache, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline, Parkinson disease and brain degeneration.

What is the significance of Surya Namaskar

by Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Rice University.

by Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Why do we clean the house during Diwali ?

Diwali usually falls in October or November which marks the start of winter season and end of rainy season. Rainy season wasn’t a good time for everyone in ancient times; many homes needed repair and renovation after heavy rainfall. That is why the time before Diwali was considered the period during which everyone can indulge in cleaning and beautification of their home. And also take out their winter clothes and pack the summer ones.

What is good about sitting on the floor and eating?

This tradition is not just about sitting on floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas. Sitting in this position while eating helps in improving digestion as the circulatory system so that one can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are standing.

Why we should not sleep with our head towards the north?

Myth is that it invites ghost or death but truth is that human body has its own magnetic field (Also known as hearts magnetic field, because the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we sleep with head towards north, our body’s magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the Earth’s Magnetic field. That cause problems related to blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields.

Apart from this another reason

Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to Sun God early in the morning by their water offering ritual. It was mainly because looking at Sun rays through water or directly at that time of the day is good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this routine, we become prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to be the most effective part of the day.

Why do women pierce their ears?

Piercing the ears has a great importance in Indian ethos.

Indian physicians and philosophers believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect, power of thinking and decision making faculties.

Talkativeness fritters away life energy. Ear piercing helps in speech-restraint. It helps to reduce impertinent behavior and the ear-channels become free from disorders. This idea appeals to the Western world as well, and so they are getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark of fashion.

Why do Indian women apply vermillion or Sindur?

It is interesting to note that that the application of Sindoor by married women carries a physiological significance. This is so because Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmeric-lime and the metal mercury. Due to its intrinsic properties, mercury, besides controlling blood pressure also activates sexual drive.

This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for the widows.

For best results, Sindoor should be applied right upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain.

The Scientific explanation of touching the feet (Charansparch).

Usually, the person of whose feet you are touching is either old or pious. When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego (and is called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy

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(which is called their karuna) which reaches you through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs. The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body. These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and palms become the ‘receptor’ of energy and the feet of other person become the ‘giver’ of energy.

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Why do we eat Til Gur ?

Til gur is a very colorful and excellent sesame candy made of sesame seeds and jaggery. Til means sesame seeds whereas gur means jaggery in Marathi/ Hindi. Since Makar Sankranti is celebrated in mid winter ideally Tilgur recipe is a combination that helps keep the body warm due to these heat generating ingredients making it a healthy sweet to enjoy. In Ayurveda, Sesame is considered to be an extremely beneficial and strong medicine. Sesame laddu’s are beneficial for those children who normally have the problem of bed-wetting in winters.

Why do Indian women wear bangles?

Normally the wrist portion is in constant motion in humans.

Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body.

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Why should Tulsi not be chewed with the teeth?

It is a popular belief that Tulsi is the wife of Lord Vishnu; therefore, chewing it will be a mark of disrespect. However, botanists, in the course of their research, found that Tulsi plant has significant amount of mercury. If raw mercury is applied to teeth, they fall immediately.

That’s why in Hindu religion, Tulsi leaves are not chewed but swallowed.

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Sunday, Oct 26, 2014 • 5pm • Cullen Theater, Wortham Center Tickets:$25 up to $100 (free to Samskriti members) online at Sulekha.com or samskritihouston.org Part funded by grants from The Texas Commission on the Arts and The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance

www.samskritihouston.org samskritihouston@hotmail.com 832 275 9656 - 281 265 ARTS Why do Indian women wear nose studs?

Nose piercing is an important custom which is followed

by Indian women. In Hindu religion, there is no strict restriction on wearing the nose stud, therefore, both married as well as unmarried women can wear a nose stud. According to

popular beliefs, the directly exhaled air of the wife affects the health of the husband. So, if the woman wears a nose ring, the air comes through an obstruction of the metal which apparently does not have any bad health effects. This is mostly a superstition which is popular in the Eastern parts of India. According to Ayurveda, piercing the nose near a particular node

on the nostril helps in lessening the pain during monthly periods in women. Hence, girls as well as older women are supposed to wear nose rings. It is preferred that women wear nose rings on the left nostril since the nerves leading from the left nostril are associated with the female reproductive organs. Piercing the nose at this position helps in easing childbirth.

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VOICE OF ASIA 17

BUSINESS

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Friday, August 1, 2014

Section 2

Page 17

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

India’s Flipkart raises $1 bln in funds to tackle Amazon

M

UMBAI, (AFP) India’s top e-commerce company Flipkart said Tuesday it had raised $1 billion (60 billion rupees) in funds as it battles US giant Amazon for supremacy in the hyper-competitive local market.

Flipkart, set up in 2007 by two former Amazon employees, said Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC was among those to participate in the fundraising, the latest cash injection into the e-commerce market.

“The fresh round of funding is a great milestone in the e-commerce industry of India,” Flipkart’s co-founder Sachin Bansal told reporters in Bangalore.

“Very few Internet companies in the world could have raised such funds publicly.”

Flipkart is the country’s biggest online shopping portal in an e-commerce market that is still puny next to China’s.

But the market, whose sales reached $2.3 billion in 2013 according to Indian consultancy Technopak, is expanding rapidly, with venture capitalists pouring money into the sector, scenting potential.

Bansal, whose firm began with music and books and expanded rapidly into mobiles, appliances and other goods, said the funding was “validation of the view that India’s Internet could produce multibillion dollar companies”.

Pragya Singh, associate vice president of Technopak, said “investors are realising that the firms they are investing in need their best backing” if they

want to survive the stiff competition.

The Center for Strategic Business Integrity grants Harry Patel, CBA the professional designation of Certified Board Advisor™ of Harry’s outstanding background and professional accomplishments, he has earned the CBA and will no doubt uphold and promote the CBA’s Code of Conduct, effectively promoting the Center’s mission to significantly improve corporate oversight.

In May, Flipkart said it was taking over rival Myntra, India’s top online fashion venture, in a deal analysts estimated at $330 million -- the largest of a string of transactions in the sector in the past two years.

About the Center for Strategic Business Integrity

Flipkart has been helped greatly by its service that allows customers to pay by cashon-delivery. Many Indians do not own bank cards while others feel uncomfortable using them online.

Harry Patel, CBA

N

ational Headquarters, Washington D.C. Metro Area -Mr. Harry Patel, CBA was named today as a Certified Board Advisor (CBA) by the Center for Strategic Business Integrity.

The CBA designation is granted to a select group of individuals with the heavy responsibility for acting as director of and/or as key advisor to corporate boards. The CBA is responsible for driving robust oversight of any corporate enterprise by deterring, detecting, responding and resolving

US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

M

“We are very disappointed

that India has taken a step back from its agreements that it made in December (last) at the WTO,” visiting US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said during an interaction.

The comments come in wake of New Delhi’s tough stand which has put a question mark on the passage of the TFA at the ongoing Geneva talks aimed

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Flipkart had earlier drawn backers such as New-York based venture capitalists Tiger Global Management LLC and announced earlier this year that it had passed the one billion sales mark.

Disappointed with India’s blocking WTO trade deal: US

UMBAI - The US is “very disappointed” with India’s stand at the ongoing Trade Facilitation Agreement talks at the WTO but Washington continues to be optimistic about salvaging the deal within tomorrow’s deadline, a top Obama administration official said Wednesday.

FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

at easing customs rules in the WTO’s 160 member countries.

India is seeking a guarantee on food security for its hundreds of millions of poor as a pre-condition for the passage of the pact.

The agreement, drafted during a ministerial at the Indonesian resort town of Bali last December, has to be sealed by

material corporate negligence in strategic decision making as well as business irregularities & corruption before the damage is done. Each CBA must meet the rigorous standards of the Center’s certification program including character, relevant experience and accomplishments demonstrating that they are equipped with the skills and ethics necessary to direct a modem corporate enterprise.

In making the announcement, the Center’s Executive Director, John L. Vema CBA, CPA, CFE said that: “by virtue

July 31.

being reached.

“I am an optimist, I am hopeful that over the next couple of days there is some potential for resolution... I’m hopeful that even in the last remaining days India might find a way to come to a solution on this issue,” Pritzker said.

She recalled that in the past, the US and the G-20 grouping had worked hard to “reassure India” on its concerns, including food security.

“I think it is quite consequential for India to walk away from the deal it had made. I think it will have serious implications and ramifications for the Doha round of talks,” Pritzker warned, but said she continues to be “optimistic” about a truce

New Delhi’s contention has received the backing of only a few of the developing countries like Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia, while others like Thailand, Pakistan and China are backing TFA. “To jeopardise the food security of millions at the altar of a mere anomaly in the rules is unacceptable,” New Delhi had

Center for Strategic Business Integrity is a research, education, advocacy and certification (the Certified Board Advisor) organization dedicated to developing effective corporate oversight strategies and skills for current and future corporate board directors as well as their key advisors.

Specifically the Center is: • A center for preparing & certifying board members & key advisors for their critical role; • A center for training and education; • A center for advocacy - promoting effective corporate oversight; • A center for research - developing insight into the successes & failures of corporate oversight; and, • A center for strategy development - formulating principles & supporting tools for more effective corporate oversight.

told the two-day general council meeting that concluded in Geneva last week.

“My delegation is of the view that the adoption of the TFA protocol be postponed till a permanent solution on public stock holding for food security is found,” Indian Ambassador to the WTO Anjali Prasad had said.

According to some estimates, the passage of the TFA will boost the global trade by USD 1 trillion (around Rs 60 lakh crore). (PTI).

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HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, August 1, 2014

Your Horoscope for the Week of August 1, 2014 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

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

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April You need to control your emotions. Finalize contracts as quickly as possible. Concentrate on key positions. Don’t be too quick to judge others. You may have invalid information that will cause you to make the wrong choices. Doors will open professionally if you send out your resume and go for interviews. Don’t allow children or entertainment to cost too much or you’ll have financial problems. Self-improvement projects are your best outlet. You need an outlet. You’ll be sensitive to the comments made by loved ones. Try not to jump to conclusions.

You need a change of scenery. Travel for business or pleasure and you’ll break up the monotony. Use your finesse to get what you want. You’ll be surprised by the response you receive. Check out some of the courses offered in your community. You need to start learning new skills if you want to keep up with the never-ending technological changes at work. Don’t become involved in dubious financial schemes. Extravagance could be your downfall. Excessiveness will result in minor illness.

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Use your innovative ideas and your energetic nature. This force will help you to push your ideas into motion. You’ll be receptive to new ideas and concepts. Friendships could develop into serious partnerships. You must act quickly if you want to meet your deadlines. Don’t hesitate to ask others for favors owed. You have more allies than you think. Don’t let boredom stand in the way of doing a good job. Put some flair back into your work or move onto greater challenges.

Keep continue your efforts to help others. It will be admired by onlookers. Someone you work with may be jealous of you. Keep your thoughts and intentions to yourself.

Outdoor activities will be invigorating. Take care of your family responsibilities first or include the ones you love in the events you attend. Don’t overspend on those unworthy of your generosity. You may want to look into the nature of an organization before you donate or join it.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Stick to your budget. Don’t bite off too much financially, losses will be evident if you aren’t stringent with your money. Someone is likely to misinterpret you if you aren’t perfectly clear about your intentions. Spend time pampering yourself and you’ll be glad you did. Don’t reveal secret information about others. Co-workers won’t be willing to cooperate with you, and you’ll have to accomplish projects on your own. Mingle with intellectual people to meet the type of companions. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Use discretion when discussing personal matters. You can avoid emotional issues with loved ones by being affectionate, fun loving and active. You’ll be able to make money if you investment in yourself. Be discriminating when discussing work, You won’t be able to trust some of your colleagues or clients. Keep your ideas to yourself for the time being. Find out all you can about your present position and the changes going on around you.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Outmaneuver & overcome any obstacle that stands in your way. You’ll so fine, as long as you don’t get angry. Don’t give up just because you face opposition, turn on your charm and push ahead. You’ll be indecisive, your spouse will be confused by your actions. Take the initiative and go after your goals. Business ventures can earn you extra cash. You’ll have to be careful that you don’t make rash decisions you’ll regret later. Don’t promise your spouse that you’ll do something for him or her unless you have full intentions of following through.

Go into new ventures with enthusiasm and an open mind. Stay put and work on the projects that don’t require a lot of travel or communication. Take things in stride. You are best to busy yourself with personal projects. You should be thinking about a career move. Someone you work for is probably trying to hold you back. Protect your reputation and prepare yourself for unexpected changes. It’s time to take a serious look at getting into shape before summer hits and you have to shed some of those layers of clothing you’ve been hiding under.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Get your point across. Work diligently on projects requiring fine detail. Avoid peers who want to get you involved in their personal dilemmas. You may want to help them, however you may get blamed for the outcome. You will learn more if you listen. Someone you know well will reveal information pertinent to your professional future. New friendships will develop through activities that include large groups. Move quickly if you see an opportunity to advance. Your timing must be impeccable.

You need to get out and meet some new people. You need to put some excitement back into your life. Emotional blackmail will get you into trouble. Don’t blame others for your own mistakes or unhappiness. New acquaintances will show interest in you if you are happy and positive about yourself. You need to make some personal changes in your life. Don’t be depressed. You need to concentrate on your creative projects and not worry so much about what other people are saying or doing.

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

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Concentrate on things you enjoy doing rather than just doing for others. You need a real break. Your colorful manner will attract attention. Use your energy in a constructive manner. The work you do around your home will be rewarding. Check out activities that offer a physical challenge. Now you’re ready to entertain. You must learn not to force your opinions on others. Participating in a challenging physical activity will help ease your tension and stress. You will be looking for a good fight if things don’t go your way. Remember that you can’t make decisions for other people even if you did pay their way.

QR

Emotional and personal situations will drain your energy. Refuse to get dragged into the middle of an argument. Don’t take sides. Get out and socialize with colleagues. If you can combine some work with pleasure, you will gain respect and help from those in a position to help you get ahead. If you made a promise to your family, you must not renege. Put everything else on hold. Emotional problems with family members will be disheartening. You must listen rather than offer your opinions. Visit with friends who may be able to shed some light on your situation. Don’t bend to other people’s whims.

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JOB POSTING – NEWS DIRECTOR KTRK-TV, the ABC/Disney owned television station located in Houston, TX is searching for an innovative NEWS DIRECTOR to manage a top rated news brand and provide strategic director for daily news coverage on multiple platforms.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record as a news director in a medium to large market with a demonstrated ability to grow the news product and brand.

Must be knowledgeable in all aspects of today’s news operations including interactive, 24/7 news and mobile applications. Candidate will be able to create a clear vision and strategy with a focus on continued growth for news and information on the Web and mobile applications.

An ability to foster an environment of creativity and teamwork while effectively setting goals and executing plans in accordance with station goals is essential. Additionally, this individual will work closely with other departments to further multi-platform opportunities.

To be considered all interested applicants must apply online at DISNEYCAREERS.COM, reference job # 204550BR. Please upload a cover letter, resume and list of references.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability No Telephone Calls

Broadcast Systems Specialist KTRK-TV ABC13 located in Houston, TX is seeking an experienced Broadcast Systems Specialist. This is a great opportunity for someone with advanced knowledge of computerized television broadcast equipment and systems including, but not limited to, master control automation, graphics systems, newsroom automation systems, and Non-Linear Editing Systems such as Avid, Edius, and Final Cut Studio. Strong computer networking skills are required.

The ideal candidate will have experience providing technical support in a broadcast environment and requires someone with a proven track record managing projects.

We are looking for someone that is motivated to excel and possess strong interpersonal skills. Candidates must be willing to work a schedule that will include nights and weekends throughout the year.

To be considered for this position you must apply on-line at www.disneycareers. com by uploading a resume file and cover letter. Job Req # 203745BR Equal Opportunity Employer – Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability No Telephone Calls

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