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an Obamacare Succeed Without Subsidies? Read on Page 15 Or Call: 713-771-2900.
Vol. 27 No. 32 Friday, August 08, 2014 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
IACF Awards $24,500 in Scholarships to Fort Bend ISD Students
Morgan Hardin, who graduated from Dulles HS being presented with the ‘David Raj Memorial Scholarship’ by Sanjay Rao as IACF President Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala looks on. Photo by Harsh M Photography by Shobana Muratee
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ighteen students of the Fort Bend ISD were the delighted recipients of the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF) scholarship program that donated $24,500 this year. The check was presented on Saturday, August 2nd. at their Vegas style ‘Ace of Hearts Charity’ event held at the Aloft Hotel in Houston. Education, Family Welfare, General
Needs and Health Care are the four pillars of giving of the IACF, a nonprofit charitable organization that has been helping the underprivileged and needy. True to their motto, ‘We live here and we give here,’ the IACF has for last 27 years raised and distributed about $2 million in donations to different charities in Houston according to Jawahar Malhotra, Director IACF who also mentioned that the organization was focused on helping every
John Healey Jr., District Attorney, Fort Bend County and James Rice, FBISD Trustee seen presenting the IACF check for $24,500 towards scholarships to the 18 Fort Bend ISD students who were selected. The ceremony was held on August 2, 2014 at the Aloft Hotel in Houston. Photo by Harsh M Photography charity. “We are reaching out to budding organizations that need help,” he said. Welcoming the gathering Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala, IACF president spoke briefly about the Charity’s objectives. In the area of education, he mentioned that in the last three years the IACF has been involved in finding recruiters to teach in the HISD and Alief ISD in the Math and Science programs. Dr. Cherivirala also rec-
ognized the elected officials present: John Healy, Fort Bend DA, Jim Rice, former president and current Board of Trustee, Dr. Christine Whitbeck, Deputy Superintendent, Fort Bend, KP George, FBISD Trustee, the IACF Board and members of the media. Jim Rice also spoke on the occasion and specially recognized Dr. Whitbeck. “She is responsible for the academic excellence of 72,000 students,” he said speaking of her challenging
role as a Deputy Superintendent. He also recognized Fort Bend trustees present. DA, John Healy also gave his remarks on the occasion. He congratulated the IACF for “Stepping up to the plate and recognizing the importance of education,” he said. To the students he said, “Remember that you here not just because of your hard work but beContinued on Page 3
Grand ‘Bonalu’ Festival Celebrations Held in Houston
H
OUSTON: July 30th, 2014 For the first time, Houston celebrated Bonalu Festival with joy and exuberance at Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir on July 27th, 2014. Over 400 people joined the festivities from the Greater Houston area. The sunny weather and pious atmosphere at the Temple provided an ideal stage for this indoor and outdoor community event. Bonalu Celebrations in Houston was planned to coincide with the festivities in India including Bonalu preparation, singing, dancing, and a festive lunch. The event was organized with the help of numerous committed volunteers and donors to promote Telugu culture and heritage. Bonalu is a Hindu Festival during which Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated in Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad and parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also celebrated in villages to please their grama devatha, the village deity. The festival falls in the month of Ashada Masam, which is July/August. Bonam means Bojanam in Telugu, a meal, which is an offering to Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with milk, jaggery in a new brass or earthen pot adorned with neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a lighted diya on the top of the pot. Women carry the pots on their heads and make offering of Bonam along with turmeric, vermilion, bangles and saree to the Mother
Goddess across the temples. Bonalu involves the worship of Kali and her various forms as Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma etc. The event started at 11:00 AM with a puja by Suresh Swami, resident priest of Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, with invoking the Goddess, the life saver for good health and prosperity. A special stage was created for this purpose with alankaram, the decoration where people gathered to receive the blessings of the Goddess. A procession was taken out around the temple with ladies carrying Bonam on their heads and men dancing to the dole and music. People walked and danced around the temple bare foot in the mid afternoon with full devotion. In spite of hot weather, everyone enjoyed the dancing with active participation. Later, the specially prepared Bonalu were taken inside. All women and girls in colorful and ethnic sarees and dresses danced as a group around the Bonalu. As the program reached to the end, the circular group dances expanded as many ladies and children participated in the synchronized dancing while clapping along with the music. Men formed a separate circle and danced enthusiastically to the music. Overall, the Telugu native culture was showcased in every moment of the festival through the ethnic attire, simple yet powerful prayers, native music and dance, ethnic food,
Women seen carrying ornate pots of flowers on their heads as part of the Bonalu Celebrations. volunteering and more importantly a sense of community. Everyone danced continuously for an hour to the rhythm of music. The uniqueness of this festival is that everyone actively participated throughout the event.
Finally, the program ended with delicious festive lunch exclusively prepared by Mayuri and Biryani Pot Restaurants. The organizing committee thanked
the volunteers for various activities ranging from food to stage set-up and other arrangements. They also thanked the donors and Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir. (reported by Houston Telangana Friends)
OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
VOICE OF ASIA 2
USA by Dana Bolger
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By the time women get to college, they’ve already absorbed years of directives to “avoidâ€? getting raped: Don’t drink, don’t irt, don’t walk there, don’t attract attention.
Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Jacob David Susan Pothanikat AR Vadlamani Priyan Mathew
I know women who followed them all. They passed up opportunities to travel, socialize, explore the world and themselves, trusting that if they just kept their legs closed and stayed home, they’d be safe.
Columnists: Legal: Richard M. Alderman Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Medical: Kesavan Shan, MD Research: Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Health Insurance: Sudhir Mathuria Astrology: Hardik Vyas
I was one of them. I was raped my sophomore year of college, sober, in my dormitory and, like most campus victims, by someone I knew and trusted. He had tried to lure me with alcohol and, when that didn’t work, he raped me anyway.
VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Online Editor:
Shobana Muratee
A lifetime of warnings doesn’t keep women from getting raped. It just keeps us from lives worth living.
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INDIA by Rajinder Puri Regardless of how the controversy over the UPSC examination is resolved, it can be conďŹ dently stated that fresh crises based on differences in language will continue to erupt. Protesting students claim that the dispute is not between English and Hindi. They claim cultural bias against rural students. But even culture is largely inuenced by language. To solve such crises permanently the fundamental Indian language problem needs to be addressed. What is it?
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Quite simply, India is a nation state without a national language. Regional leaders can argue that a national language is not essential and the mother tongue is sufďŹ cient. It is not. I venture to state some candid views about the language problem that might rufe feelings. The problem arises from the following truths.
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.
India does need a national language. There is none at pres-
GLOBAL A poem from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s masterpiece The Gitanjali was recited by Indian Ambassador to the U.N. Asoke Kumar Mukerji as part of a commemorative ceremony held here marking 100 years of the outbreak of the World War I.
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A lifetime of warnings doesn’t keep women from getting raped. It just keeps us from lives worth living. Of course, in a world where sexual violence is rampant, many are understandably desperate to protect the women they love. While it’s comforting to think that more talk about less alcohol will reduce the violence, it’s neither illuminating nor true: Women already know the “safety tips.� And we suffer violence regardless of whether we follow them — whether we’re drunk or sober, in miniskirts or sweat pants, 18 years old, or 8, or 80. As a friend of mine once wisely observed, “If you’re pushing a woman to change her behavior to ‘prevent’ rape,
rather than telling a perpetrator to change his, you’re really saying ‘make sure he rapes the other girl.’� There will always be a more intoxicated girl at the party. Rape is a powerful tool of social control, used to keep us in our place. Like rape itself, the endless chorus of “don’ts� keeps us quiet and submissive. But it neither reduces violence nor comes without cost: It keeps us out of public space, afraid to take risks. It does violence’s work for it. To reduce rape, we can challenge the conditions of inequal-
Our Credentials:
ity that allow gender violence to ourish. Begin consent education in elementary schools, teach boys not to rape, and hold perpetrators accountable in our colleges, churches and families. The alternative — to deny women the opportunity to move freely and live full lives — reafďŹ rms the very effects of violence it seeks to mitigate. Dana Bolger, a recent Amherst College graduate, is a co-founder of Know Your IX, a survivor-led campaign to end campus sexual violence. Courtesy: (USA Today)
Solving language problem permanently! ent. Of all regional languages Hindi holds the best promise of becoming a future national language because it is spoken by the largest number of people in the country. But a national language cannot simply be imposed by law. It has to be accepted by people voluntarily. People in the south favour English as the language of national discourse. People in the north dispute that. They consider English as a relic of colonial rule. They are wrong. The world has moved on. English is the premier world language in a global system. Its knowledge is advantageous to all people. It remains the language of maximum information. Much of the information in regional languages, including in Hindi, is acquired second-hand through translation from English. Apart from the bias favouring people know-
ing English, which is there, it is a fact that English-speaking people generally are better informed than regional counterparts. Therefore how to solve the language problem?
Two goals have to be achieved. First, every school child in India should have access to English, which is the world’s premier language. Secondly, Hindi must be developed into a global language which in the natural course would make it acceptable as the national language even in the south. I believe both goals are achievable within the next decade. The following steps need to be taken. Adopt the Roman script for Hindi, retaining the Devnagari alphabet. This has been scientiďŹ cally accomplished in the world’s premier centre of Sanskrit studies in the Heidelberg University of Germany. Make
the use of this script a voluntarily chosen alternative in all schools in all regions. Most parents would like their children to access learning of English without compromising the learning of the mother tongue. With India emerging as a global trading nation, many foreigners will learn Hindi. The language would adopt words from regional and foreign languages. It will acquire a rich vocabulary like English. It will remove the artiďŹ cial difference between Hindi and Urdu. It will become the premier link language of all South Asia. Within ten years Hindi can become a global language used in the United Nations. No wonder Roman Hindi was recommended by Netaji Subhash Bose! Courtesy: The Statesman The writer is a veteran journalist and cartoonist. He blogs at www.rajinderpuri.com
Tagore’s Gitanjali part of WWI commemorative event at UN cited and recorded poems related to the war by authors from their respective countries. The poems and their recordings were displayed at an interactive exhibition organised by the U.K.’s mission to the U.N. on Monday as it took over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August. Mr. Mukerji read verse 96 from The Gitanjali, a collection of Tagore’s poems originally published in 1910. “When I go from hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable,â€? reads the ďŹ rst stanza of the poem by the legendary Indian philosopher. The Indian delegation said as the shadows of an impending world war were gathering, Tagore’s poems encapsulated a simple faith in man and divinity, a refuge from the crass materialism that was engulďŹ ng the world. It said the spirit of Tagore’s poems appealed to an entire generation, affording solace, faith and hope by rediscovering truth and beauty in the world. Among the poignant instances of the popular appeal of Tagore’s poetry in war-torn Britain is the story of trench poet Wilfred Owen.
After the death of her son on the warfront, Owen’s mother Susan got his personal possessions back. In the notebook that Owen carried in his pocket, he had written poem 96 from Gitanjali with Tagore’s name inscribed below. Owen had recited lines from the poem when he had bid goodbye to his mother. Owen’s mother had written to Tagore in August 1920 recounting the experience, moved by the power of the poem that reverberated in her mind in the voice of her lost son. As part of its presidency of the Security Council, the U.K.’s mission to the U.N. would be focusing on conict prevention and commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the war. In July, India had co-sponsored a commemorative event on the World War I at the world body’s headquarters. The courage and sacriďŹ ce of millions of soldiers, including thousands from India, who fought in the war was remembered at the event titled ‘Learning from War to Build Peace’. The event highlighted the importance of reconciliation through diplomacy and dialogue.
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During the event, a short ďŹ lm showing images of the World War I was screened. The ďŹ lm had particularly moving images of the Indian soldiers ďŹ ghting in the battleďŹ eld across the world. U.N. chief Ban ki-Moon had said that as the world marks the 100th anniversary of the “war to end all wars,â€? nations continue to see horriďŹ c violence on many fronts. Mr. Mukerji had said apart from the soldiers and medical personal from India who played a key role in the war, a large number of technical support troops during the war also hailed from India. During the event, excerpts from letters and diaries of soldiers and nurses as they lived through the war were also read by U.N. interns and staff. Among the three letters that were read was one by Indian soldier Gholam Rasul Khan, who was one of over a million volunteer Indian soldiers serving in the war as part of Indian Expeditionary Forces. Khan had written the letter from France on May 24, 1916 to his father Mahmood Navas Khan in which he had said he hoped to soon return to his homeland. Courtesy; PTI
C OMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 3
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Second Front Page
Friday, August 08, 2014 • www.voiceofasiaonline.com • Page 3 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140
IACF Scholarships..
Pooja Lodia, Channel 13 news anchor and emcee of the event introduced the high school graduates and recipients of the scholarship as: JB Cameau, Willowridge HS Jenny Chang, Elkins HS Muhammad Daniyal, Dulles HS Komal Desai, Hightower HS Jasmine Felder, Kempner HS Emily Garza: Austin High School Morgan Hardin, Dulles High School Efiom Ita, Travis High School Alma Martinez, Elkins High School Ashley Mhlanga, Clements HS Habiba Omosun: George Bush HS Hiren Patel, Clear Brook HS Jasmin Patel, Clear Brook HS Sean Rivera, Austin High School Birva Shah, George Ranch HS Megan Tu, Kempner High School Dennis Valle, Willowridge HS Ta’lour Williams, Bush HS
IACF President Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala presents Emily Garza Austin High School graduate with her prize at the games - a golf tournament at Sweet Water Country Club. Dr. Vanitha Pothuri, Secretary is also seen. Continued from Page 1 cause of the hard work of others who recognize your accomplishments. So find a little bit time to other people much like yourselves.” This year was also introduced the David Raj Memorial scholarship in honor former president of IACF who passed away battling cancer. This scholarship was given to Morgan Hardin, who in spite of her severe financial struggles, graduated from Dulles High School. She is planning on attending the University of Houston and eventually her dream is to become a neurosurgeon. She, like David Raj, is passionate about education and music. This scholarship would be given out every year, Dr. Cherivirala said. Dr. Kamala Raghava, Presidentelect announced that the IACF annual gala would be on September 20, 2014 at Hilton Americas. The theme she said was ‘Yellow Brick Road To Char-
ity.’ She urged that more people get involved and support the organization wholeheartedly. Dr. Vanitha Pothuri, IACF Secretary proposed a Vote of Thanks.
(Details and pics of the students can be read on www.voiceofasiaonline. com). The event was thoroughly enjoyable for everyone who had a good time at the games and won prizes from Chef Roshini Gurnani and Aloft Hotel. The mood elevated by super DJ Yogi and his non-stop music.
Guests seen having a good time at the casino tables.
Twin celebration at MTS: Aadi Poorm and Bhagavathi Seva
The celebrations are performed during the Aadi month by M.K. Sriram Dakshinayana Punyakalam, the night of the Devas, begins on the first day of the month Aadi. It is marked on July 17, 2014. The sun changes its direction during this period and next six months is the night time of the gods. Due to this reason, secular auspicious events are not held in the month. However Goddess in the form of Devi is celebrated through numerous pujas and festivals. In Tamil Nadu Aadi Pooram is celebrated whereas is Kerala Bhagavathy Seva is celebrated in the same month. Sri Meenakshi Temple celebrated Aadi Pooram on Wednesday, July 30th. It was a supremely divine experience for the 50 odd devotees who had specially come to participate. This is a very auspicious day for both Sri Andal and Sri Meenakshi. Andal’s birthday is celebrated with great grandeur at her birth place Srivilliputtur. Similarly, this day is also very special to the divine mother Parvathy. This festival is celebrated with great gusto in Madurai Meenakshi temple. MTS celebrates this event in a very unique way. Both the utsava murthis are kept side by side and the entire
puja worship takes place at the same time. An elaborate abhishekam was performed to the chanting of Durga and Sri Sookthams. Following this both the devis were decorated most beautifully. They were then carried on a palanquin by devotees on a procession around the temple. Following this they were seated on the exquisitely decorated oonjal (swing). It was such a splendid sight to behold – the gentle movement of the swing accompanied by the sweet songs of devotees, sending waves of exhilaration in the hearts of the devotees. On Friday, August 1st, in the auspicious month of Aadi, Bhagavathy Seva, a very special and unique puja offering to Goddess Bhagavathy (Durga) was celebrated at MTS. This puja originated in Kerala and is very popular there. This puja at Sri Meenakshi Temple attracts a number of devotees not only of Kerala origin, but also from other areas. Anyone participating in this puja for the first time is so touched by the spiritual experience that they invariably return whenever it is conducted again. Continued on Page 5
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COMMUNITY The People’s Lawyer www.peopleslawyer.net
Swami Mukundananda to speak on the Body, Mind and Soul Relationship From August 23rd to August 28th, 2014 at India House
Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center
You don’t need a lawyer in Justice Court Q. I am owed $2,000 for a loan that has not been paid back. I have finally decided that I need to go to court to try and force the person to pay. I know I can sue in Justice Court for up to $10,000. Should I hire an attorney or can I represent myself? A. As you know, Justice Court is the new name for small claims court in Texas. As far as the law is concerned, you may always represent yourself in any court. The real question is whether you should. Generally, a court proceeding can be complicated, governed by rules with which you probably are not familiar. Without an attorney, you are at a disadvantage in a formal legal proceeding. But Justice Court is different. It is a much less formal proceeding, designed to be a real people’s court. Most judges presiding over Justice Court are not lawyers, and all take steps to make the participants feel at ease. As far as I am concerned, if you are comfortable presenting your side of the story to the judge, you can represent yourself. Be sure to bring any evidence you have, such as proof you gave the person the money and a signed promissory note or any other document agreeing to pay you back. You want to be able to prove the money was a loan and not a gift. Q. Is it possible to live with someone for as long as twenty years and not have a common law marriage? A. There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about common law marriage. To have a common law marriage, you must do more than just live together. If a couple wants to live together and not be married, they may live together for as long as they want. To have a common law marriage, the couple must agree to be married, hold themselves out as married, and live together as married. Without all three elements, there is not a common law marriage. Q. I have a smoke detector in my apartment and it needs new batteries. I asked my landlord to replace them and he said it is my obligation. It is his apartment and his smoke detector, why should I have to replace the batteries? A. Under the law, a landlord must provide a tenant with a working smoke detector when he or she moves in, and must repair any defective detectors. The landlord is not, however, required to replace the batteries after the tenant has taken possession. That is the obligation of the tenant. Q. I have a durable power of attorney, given to me by my recently deceased mother. Can I use this instead of her will to wind up her affairs? A. I am often asked this question, and the answer is no. The authority granted by a power of attorney ends upon the death or incompetence of the grantor. Because this power of attorney was “durable” it would continue even if your mother became incompetent. But even a durable power of attorney terminates at death. The deceased person’s will controls the distribution of property after death. Q. I owe a fairly large medical bill. A debt collector has been calling me asking me to pay. He has told me that if I don’t pay, he will sue and can take my car, furniture and clothing? What can I do to stop this? He won’t take partial payments. A. If you don’t pay your bills, the creditor or debt collector has the right to sue. Even if you are sued, however, the law allows you to keep what is called “exempt” property. In Texas, most of your clothing, car and furniture are exempt. For a single person up to $30,000 of personal property is exempt, for a family up to $60,000. This means that even if you were sued, you could keep your property. The debt collector’s threats are hollow, but more importantly they are also illegal. A debt collector’s threats to take exempt property violate both state and federal debt collection laws. I suggest you let him know you know your rights and that you believe his threats violate the law. My guess is you then will be able to work out an acceptable payment plan. If the debt collector continues to harass you, consider justice court or a consumer attorney. The debt collection laws allow you to recover your damages, as well as punitive damages and attorney’s fees. If you want to know more about our debt collection laws or your other legal rights, visit my website, www.peopleslawyer.net
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Swami Mukundananda The popularity of Yoga has skyrocketed around the world. What is the science behind the effectiveness of the Yogasans? Swami Mukundananda (SM): The art of healthy living must incorporate all aspects of the personality: the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. While the central theme of Yog remains the highest goal of the spiritual path, physical yogic practices enshrined in it give direct and tangible benefits to everyone regardless of their spiritual aims. Yogasans harmonize the body, mind and emotions. For example, at the physical level, organs, muscles and nerves may not be functioning properly. Asans bring the different bodily functions into perfect coordination so that they work for the good of the whole body. At the mental level, people harbor poisonous thoughts and emotions within. Muscular knots can occur anywhere in the body – in the neck as cervical spondylitis, in the face as neuralgia, etc. Every mental knot has a corresponding physical, muscular knot and vice versa. For example, emotional tensions can affect the
smooth functioning of the lungs, and breathing process, contributing to a very debilitating disease, which is asthma. The aim of asans is to release these knots. For full benefit, these asans should be performed along with the meditation. Meditational exercises cleanse the mind, to bring a feeling of peace and contentment within. Proper asans, Pranayam, subtle body relaxation, meditation, tackle these knots both at the physical and mental levels. As a result of the release of dormant energy, the body becomes full of vitality and strength, the mind becomes light and creative, joyful and balanced. Yogasans have succeeded as an alternative therapy in diseases such as asthma, diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, digestive disorders and many ailments of a chronic and constitutional nature, where modern medical science has failed. What is consciousness? How is it different from the soul? SM: “Consciousness” is the symptom of life that is manifested by the soul. It is not the soul itself; rather, it is a quality of the soul. This is just as heat and light are manifestations of the fire, but by themselves, they are not the fire. Everything that exists is verily the energy of God. However, it is not all consciousness. Matter is “insentient” or devoid of consciousness, while the soul is “sentient” or possessing consciousness. This is an important distinction between the soul and matter. Apart from having consciousness itself, the soul also has the ability to impart consciousness to matter, when it associates with it. Just as “a flower carries aroma itself, and the garden where it
grows also becomes aromatic by its presence.” Likewise, the soul is sentient, and by its presence, it makes the dead matter of the body sentient as well. As long as the soul resides in the body, the senses, organs and limbs, all display signs of life. Upon death, when the soul departs, the body is dead matter once again. (Read more Q & A on www.voiceofasiaonline.com) Swami Mukundananda is a world-renowned teacher of spirituality, Yoga and Meditation. He is the founder of the unique Yogic system JKYog, also known as Yoga for the Body, Mind and Soul. He received His degrees in Engineering and Management from IIT (Delhi) and IIM (Kolkata). Swamiji is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. He has inspired people all over the world, on the path of Spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God-realization. He has been invited to speak at various Fortune 500 companies like Google, Oracle etc. For the youth, Swamiji has conducted programs at prestigious universities such as Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Kellogg and Duke University. Swami Mukundananda will have a week-long program in Houston. Swamiji’s program will be held at India House at 8888 W Bellfort Ave, Houston, TX 77031 from August 23rd to August 28th, 2014. Each day’s program will include Yoga, Meditation, Lecture program and Devotional chanting. The topic of the discourse is “The Path to Happiness”. Admission is free and Prasadam will we served after discourses. For inquires visit http://www.jkyog. org or call 281-630-5982 / 832377-6070.
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 5
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Arya Samaj Celebrates 23rd Foundation Day & Shri Krishna Janmastami
A
rya Samaj Greater Houston will be celebrating its 23rd foundation day and Shri Krishna Janmashtami with gaiety and fervor for two days on August 16th and 17th, 2014. On this occasion, Yajnas with selected mantras from all four Vedas, Bhajans and Vedic discourses will be held at Arya Samaj. The program will start on Saturday, the 16th of August, at 9:45am with Indian flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate India’s Independence Day. It will be followed by a Yajna, with the recitation of selected mantras from the Rig Veda, Bhajans, and a spiritual discourse. The morning session of this day will conclude at 12.00 noon with Aarti, Shanti Path and Prasad.
Event details: The Jungle Book, adapted for stage by Stuart Paterson, directed by Sunny Sinha and Sara Kumar Time: August 8, 2014 – August 17, 2014; Friday & Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 3pm Location: The Barn, 2201 Preston Street, Houston, TX 77003
Twin celebration at MTS: Continued from page 3 The priest invoked the Goddess Bhagavathy in a tall brass oil lamp decked in flower garlands, placed on a colorful kolam representing a lotus. This lamp was surrounded by more oil lamps symbolizing Ganesha, Saraswathy and others. In typical Kerala tradition, this puja is performed in tantric style. It was a glorious sight to see the jyothis swaying gently to chanting of various stotrams like Lalitha Sahasranamam, Lalitha Ashtothram, Soundarya Lahiri and Lalitha Trishati while archana to the Goddess was being performed. The puja
concluded with a most spectacular arathi when Goddess Bhagvathy radiated brilliantly lighting the divine lamp in everyone’s heart. Special Kerala style neivedya prasadams including neyappam and payasam were distributed to the devotees after the puja. All in all, the supremely divine pujas conducted by MTS, with the support of the temple priests, staff and the volunteers for making these two festivals unforgettable events. We thank RAC lead S. Narayanan and coordinators M.K. Sriram and Sasi Pillai for organizing these wonderful Pujas.
The program will be repeated the same evening from 6.00pm to 8.30pm, and also on Sunday, 17th August, in the morning from 10.00am to 12.00noon. The concluding session will be held in the evening from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and will include Poorna Ahuti. The Glory of Shri Krishna will be the topic of discourse in this session. Both the evening sessions will also have a musical program of Bhajans. At the end of every session, lunch/dinner Prasad will be served. Each time, the Yajna will be performed with selected mantras from one of the four Vedas. In these four sessions, renowned Vedic scholar Acharya Ashish Darshnacharya will deliver enlightening spiritual talks. Acharya Ashish ji is a much sought after Vedic speaker all over India and North America. Everyone is invited to attend any or all of these enlightening four sessions. You can also participate as a yajmaan (host) in any session by contacting Sanjay Sood ji at sanjay117@ gmail.com. For more information, please visit the ASGH website: aryasamajhouston. org or call (281) 752-0100.
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Devotees performing the Havan as the priest chants the mantras.
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 6
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Missouri City launches Municipal One Jump launched to serve Volunteer Program new generation of deserving, time and talents with the City while building camaraderie with their fellow neighbors.” Volunteer projects will range from public safety initiatives that crackdown on crime to environmental enterprises that help keep our area clean to parks projects that help beautify our green spaces. There will also be a chance for citizens to serve during emergency situations, helping to distribute critical information and supplies that can protect and save citizens. Each department will designate a Team member to lead their respective volunteer programs. For all projects, there is common goal: Maintain Missouri City.
Images courtesy of Missouri City. Citizens. Community. Collaboration.
M
issouri City’s dedication to citizen partnerships is one of the many ways that the “Show Me City” has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Places to Live” by CNN Money Magazine. In keeping with the City’s goal of community collaboration, Staff is launching a comprehensive and unified Citywide Municipal Volunteer Program (MVP) that will incorporate current opportunities and expand into new ar-
eas within the City. “Missouri City is respected for its safe streets, its thriving business, its scenic neighborhoods and its caring citizens. As the City continues to flourish, exciting opportunities such as the new volunteer program provide citizens a chance to partner with Staff on community projects,” City Manager Ed Broussard said. “This program a chance for residents to share their
“Many residents are excited about the possibility of getting involved and would like to see programs that engage youths and senior citizens, encourage people to recycle and compost and inspire companies to sponsor their communities,” Missouri City Communications Director Stacie Walker said. “We’re excited for this program to grow and for residents to become more involved in the City’s continued success.” To get involved, contact Missouri City Media Relations Specialist Cory Stottlemyer at 281-403-8532 and cstottlemyer@missouricitytx.gov to receive a volunteer application. For more information about Missouri City, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter—@MissouriCityTX and watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast).
Houston: No Limits CityFest brings live music, fun to Discovery Green
H
OUSTON – Celebrate all things Houston at Houston: No Limits CityFest on Saturday, Sept. 6! Activities include live music by local bands, interactive displays, giveaways, photo booth, vendor tents, free children’s activities, and more! The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Discovery Green in downtown Houston. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, visit TheCity-
WithNoLimits.com, or follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter. This event is presented by Houston: The City With No Limits and the Greater Houston Partnership. About Houston: The City With No Limits Launched in 2014 by the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston: The City With No Limits promotional campaign highlights the vibrancy of the Houston region and the qualities that make it a great place to live and
launch a career. A primary focus of the multiyear campaign is to strengthen Houston’s ability to attract top young professional talent to the 11-county region. Beginning in 2015, advertising will run in select markets nationwide, and as the campaign continues to evolve, additional communications tactics will be unveiled. Houston: The City With No Limits campaign is funded by GHP’s Opportunity Houston 2.0 program.
underserved students
A
s a first-generation IndianAmerican, I heard stories of parents, family, and friends coming to the US with nothing but $5 in their pocket, persevering, living the American Dream, and experiencing the prosperity it provides. Just as this nation has given much to me and my family, I hope myself to give back to those who haven’t had the chance to experience the same opportunities I had. My name is Raj Salhotra, and I am a Rice University graduate who joined Teach for America because only 1 in 10 low-income students are graduating from college within 4 years. Comparing my students’ lives to my own, I realized something inherently unfair - my students worked as hard, if not harder, than I did, but had trouble realizing their dreams because their communities and parents simply could not provide the resources that I had. Alongside three other Indian-Americans: Karthik Soora, Shiroy Aspandiar, and Timeer Amin, I created One Jump because I want to share the American Dream with a new generation of deserving, underserved students. I’d like to introduce you to one of our students: Jorge. When Jorge was 7, he arrived in the United States, not knowing English. He didn’t know why school was important and as a result he actually failed 4th grade. Jorge knew that college existed, but he assumed he could earn more money working in construction like his parents. By complete chance, we stumbled upon an email advertising a summer enrichment opportunity at Cornell, and helped Jorge apply for this program, which allowed him to live at Cornell for a whole week. During that time he engineered a solar-powered house with other underserved students. This experience inspired him to believe college was possible, and he became one of the first students in his school’s history to pass the AP Chemistry and Physics exams. Through Jorge’s efforts, he was accepted to the University of Rochester with almost a full scholarship to study mechanical engineering. He will be the first in his family to graduate both from high school and college. However, the problem is that not every student has access to opportunities
like Jorge. And, if we had to be completely honest, Jorge’s life-changing experience at Cornell only happened because of chance. It is a travesty that there is no system that can serve to inspire and connect underserved students to life-changing opportunities. One Jump has a two-fold mission: one, inspire underserved students to believe that they can attend and graduate from college by showing them videos of similar students who have succeeded, and two, connect students to transformative summer opportunities that have been shown to increase their likelihood of attending and graduating college. To reach these goals, One Jump has created a mobile-compatible website that will contain both a repository of videos of underserved students who have gained admission to college and beaten the odds. It will also feature a database of summer opportunities (more than 1000 opportunities have already been loaded) searchable by subject matter, university and region of the country. Students will then be able to log onto the website, watch videos of similar students, create an account, and apply to summer opportunities, whose applications are embedded in our website. Finally, once students are accepted into these summer enrichment programs, One Jump will connect them to a partial scholarship to cover associated expenses. One Jump aims to help students dedicated students like Jorge believe that their dreams are possible and that their aspirations to become an engineer, doctor, or teacher are possible. One Jump aims to expand equality of opportunity so that any child, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or zip-code where they live, can reach their goals. One Jump ultimately aims to ensure that every student can experience the same American Dream so many of us have lived. You can contact Raj Salhotra at 713320-0303 or visit website onejump. org
DIASPORA
VOICE OF ASIA 7
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
After Attack, Sikh Man Urges to Create a World Without Hate by Yoshita Singh
N
EW YORK - (Aug. 05, 2014) A 29-year old Sikh man, critically injured after he was hit by a truck driver, who allegedly used racist slur against him, is demanding justice to ensure
such crimes are not repeated and has urged for the need to “create a world without hate”. “My name is Sandeep Singh, I am in a great deal of pain, but I will survive. I was attacked because I am a Sikh and because I look like a Sikh. Justice
should be served so no one else goes through what I have been through. We need to create a world without hate,” Singh, the victim, said in a message posted by the Sikh Coalition, a US-based rights group. The group will hold a rally
today in Singh’s support and to demand the attack against him, to be investigated as a “hate crime”. Singh, a married father of two, is demanding justice to ensure such crimes are not repeated and has urged for the
need to “create a world without hate”. Singh is currently recovering from the serious injuries he sustained when he was hit by a pick-up truck last week and dragged nearly 30 feet on a public street in Queens, following an argument with the driver who used racist language against him and his friend. The attack on Singh and the rally comes at a time when members of the Sikh community are remembering the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting of August 5, 2012 when six Sikh persons were killed by 40year-old Wade Michael Page in a rampage. “As the nation remembers the Oak Creek Gurdwara massacre two years ago, the Sikh Coalition is working with law
enforcement officials to ensure that the attack on Sandeep is investigated as a hate crime and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the Sikh Coalition said. Members of the community and of several other rights groups in the city have expressed solidarity with Singh and demanded immediate justice. The New York chapter of the Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organisation, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-New York), said, it will be joining the Sikh Coalition at the rally to show solidarity with the Sikh community. The Sikh Cultural Society, Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Gurdwara and United Sikhs are also rallying support for Singh.
Indian author Nikhil Chandwani wins American Literary Forum Society award
Chandwani bagged the prestigious award for his book titled “Coded Conspiracy” and documentary “Escape from Kenya”.
N
EW YORK: Noted novelist and documentary maker Nikhil Chandwani has become the first Indian author to win “Conspiracy Novel of the Year” award from the American Literary Forum Society. Chandwani bagged the prestigious award for his book titled “Coded Conspiracy” and documentary “Escape from Kenya”. At 21, Chandwani is also the youngest to win the American the award announced Aug 4. Conceived while directing his travel show “Song of the Open Road”, “Coded Conspiracy”, Chandwani said, was a result of his unswerving passion for writing.
Published by New Delhibased Rectitude Publishing House, “Coded Conspiracy” offers a gripping tale of love and betrayal with an intriguing cast of characters. Chandwani, who was first noticed in 2011 when he came out with his first novel titled “I wrote your name in the sky”, is also a winner of the United Kingdom Writers Forum’ Award in literature - a first for an Indian. Currently busy writing the scripts for a Hollywood movie, an upcoming Bollywood movie and a travel documentary, Chandwani is also working as an assistant director on “Saffron Skies”, another upcoming Hollywood film.
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SOUTH ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 9
Narendra Modi gives reforms agenda a push, gets Cabinet nod for FDI in defence, railway infrastructure
M
oving ahead with the economic reforms, the Cabinet tonight cleared the long-delayed proposal for raising FDI limit in defence to 49 per cent and fully opened up the railway infrastructure segment, like high-speed trains, for foreign investment.
The NDA government has been arguing that the FDI limit needs to be hiked in defence to help expand the domestic industrial base in the sector. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to open up cashstrapped railways to foreign investment by allowing 100 per cent FDI in areas such as highspeed train systems, suburban corridors and dedicated freight line projects implemented in PPP mode. The FDI liberalisation in the sector would help in modernisation and expansion of the railway projects. However, FDI will not be allowed in train operations and safety. According to estimates, the sector is facing a cash crunch
S
audi authorities on Monday beheaded a Nepalese housemaid convicted of murdering a twoyear-old boy by slitting his throat, the interior ministry said.
The ministry said the maid was executed in the northern city of Arar without providing further details of the crime. In a second execution on Monday, Saudi national Hamad al-Ahmadi was decapitated in the holy western city of Medina for stabbing his wife to death while she was asleep, another ministry statement said.
FDI ceiling in the sensitive defence sector has been hiked to 49 per cent from current 26 per cent, with the condition that of the control in joint venture manufacturing defence equipment will remain Indian hands.
The proposal had been pending for several years as it was first mooted by the Commerce Ministry during the previos UPA government. However, the then Defence Minister A K Antony had blocked it, citing national security concerns.
Saudi beheads Nepalese maid for toddler murder
The maid was found guilty of “slaughtering with a knife” the Saudi toddler Osama bin Maeed al-Enzi, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
The decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here came barely two weeks after the one to raise the cap of FDI in insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.
The move is aimed at boosting domestic industry of a country which imports up to 70 per cent of its military hardware.
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
The latest executions brings to 17 the number of death senFDI move in defence aimed at boosting domestic industry, which imports up to 70 per cent of its military hardware. of around Rs 29,000 crore and allowing of FDI will help mop up resources. The FDI liberalisation in the sector is expected to help in modernisation and expansion of the railways. At present, there is a ban on any kind of FDI in railways sector except mass rapid transport systems. The move will also help in development of its infrastructure for industrial purposes. With the FDI nod, the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor is expected to get a push. The construction of exclusive rail corridor for freight movement is also likely to be boosted. However, FDI is not allowed in train operations and safety. The FDI proposal for railways was pending for some time with the Home Ministry resisting it, citing concerns with regard to rail infrastructure in border areas. Finance Minister Arun Jait-
ley had in his budget speech for 2014-15 announced plans to increase FDI in defence sector while Railways Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had mentioned opening up of cash-
tences carried out this year in the ultra-conservative kingdom. Saudi Arabia beheaded 78 people in 2013, according to an AFP count. Last year, the UN High Commission for Human Rights denounced a “sharp increase in the use of capital punishment” there since 2011. According to figures from rights group Amnesty International, the number of executions rose from 27 in 2010, including five foreigners, to 82 in 2011, including 28 foreigners. In 2012, the number of executions dipped slightly to 79, among them 27 foreigners. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia’s strict version of Islamic sharia law.
Read latest on South Asia
starved railways for foreign investment. The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to set up Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari in Bihar. (PTI).
Pak cleric booked for inciting people against govt
L
AHORE - Ahead of his anti-government march, Canada-based Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri was today booked for inciting people against the state. The Lahore police registered a case against Qadri, who has vowed to lead a “revolution” against the Nawaz Sharif government, for allegedly making a speech in which he had asked his supporters to “raid the houses of policemen if they torture them during protest.” “We have received an application from a citizen against Pakistan Awami Tahreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri for
provoking people against police. After analysing its legal aspects, a case was registered against him for inciting people against the state and police,” Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider said. Condemning the registration of FIR against Qadri, PAT spokesman Qazi Faiz said: “The government had killed our men and now it has registered a case against us. It is a strange law of the land.”
launch a crackdown on Qadri’s supporters ahead of his party’s 10 August gathering here to pay homage to his 14 activists, who were killed in a police attack at the party headquarters in Model Town on 17 June.
He said, “This act would not stop the PAT from holding its ‘Revolution March’.”
“The government has decided to deal with the protesters of Freedom March and Revolution March with iron hand,” a senior police official said.
The Pakistan government has reportedly decided to
The government has also prepared the lists of the supporters of Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who has announced to hold ‘Azadi March’ in Islamabad on 14 August.
He said the government had issued directions to police to detain activists of both the parties ahead of the protests. Imran has announced 14 August for his ‘Azadi March’ while Qadri has said that he will announce the date for his ‘Inqlabi March’ on 10 August. Ban on women: Reminiscent of Taliban rule in neighbouring Afghanistan, a group of clerics in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region has barred women from venturing out of their homes without a male relative, warning that the violators would be fined and socially boycotted.
VOICE OF ASIA 10
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
VOICE OF ASIA 11
LIFESTYLE
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Vol. 27 No. 32 Friday, August 08, 2014 Section 2 Page 11
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140
Mumbai’s Fashion Week LFW starts from August 20 to August 24
Top Pakistani designers to showcase at Lakme Fashion Week
L to R: Faiza Samee, Zara Shahjahan, Rizwan Beyg and Sania Maskatiya.
P
Top & Below: Indian models displays a creation by Krishna Mehta and Payal Singhal during the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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EW DELHI (AP) — India’s cultural capital of Mumbai is in the thick of the fashion world with Lakme Fashion Week, wrapping up five days of runway presentations on Tuesday.
Sania Maskatiya Sania Maskatiya is known for versatile looks and color blending, she plans to present a bespoke luxury prêt collection titled ‘Sakura’, which is inspired by popular Japanese culture and symbolism to represent the beauty and fragility of life. We’re expecting to see an array of
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These leading designers intend to develop different pieces for their collections, alongside popular designs.
His prêt line takes a practical approach to fashion. As a pioneer of incorporating digital printing in the Pakistani fashion, for both men and women, he prioritizes affordable prices while not compromising on the vibrant hues of his truck art collection. Madhubani paintings have especially inspired his focus on flora and fauna in this collection.
Shivan & Narresh offered a swimwear and cruise wear collection inspired by horses, with fabric inspired by the gloss of an equine’s skin. The handmade louvered jersey was molded into bikini, dress, gown, sari and shirts as well as the collection’s signature sari bikini and the new Kafsuit — a kaftaninspired swimsuit.
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When it comes to the contemporary Pakistani fashion, Zara Shahjahan has delved into various styles, be it luxury prêt, western wear or couture to create and serve the modern image of a Pakistani woman.
“There is more that unites us than what separates us,” says the fashion icon, who aims to highlight Pakistan’s similarities with India through his designs.
Shyamal and Bhumika Shodhan dubbed their festive collection Maharaja, paying homage to the grandeur and glory of royalty. The collection harkened back to the Mughal era, which was at its height during the 17th and 18th centuries. The color palette of wine, jade, purple, ivory and gold painted a luxurious story.
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Hello! Pakistan and POPxo.com are organising the integration of Pakistani designers into what is truly India’s premier fashion event.
Beyg’s theme for LFW will be truck art —indigenous to Pakistan— a fun and colorful collection he has received international acclaim for.
Krishna Mehta targeted the upcoming wedding season with a mix of traditional and modern bridal wear. While there were a few lehengas and saris in her collection, she also had some modern pieces like a sari kimono with elaborate stitching, and jackets and blouses with lace cutwork.
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custom-made mixed prints and hand embroideries across a diversity of textures, incuts, and patterns. ‘Sakura’ draws from the grace of the cherry blossom, the stark romance of the Japanese landscape, tea houses, turtles and treasure chests.
Rizwan Beyg.
It began Friday with a show of budding young designers including Asa Kazingmei and his collection inspired by fabrics from India’s northeastern Naga Tribe. Other designers showcased bold cuts and colors, true to what editors, stylists and retailers expect from a place rich in jewel tones and luxe textures.
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akistan’s top fashion designers Faiza Samee, Rizwan Beyg, Zara Shahjahan and Sania Maskatiya are amongst the 86 designers participating to showcase their collection at the prestigious Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW), in Palladium Hotel in Mumbai, from August 20 to August 24.
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Shahjahan will be showcasing a luxury prêt collection at LFW. She says that Lakme is a big platform for her company. She wants to introduce this audience to her designs that are quintessentially Zahra Shahjahan, such as her floral collection. Faiza Samee Faiza Samee, who along with Zara Shahjahan recently showcased at “Fashion Parade” in London, reminds us that critical international buyers will be present at LFW, creating many opportunities for the designers to broaden their markets. “This is a huge platform, as well as a competitive one”, says Faiza. Alongside the cutting edge work she is known for, Samee also plans to re-enter Muslim costumes, such as Mughal style coatees and pajamas, on this prestigious platform. She has a large clientele in India – her biggest market outside of Pakistan – and she frequently visits Delhi. As Rizwan Beyg remarks, music and fashion are two of our flourishing industries – and it is high time we recognise that ourselves and show it to the world. (Dawn)
Young Life
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FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Tel: 713-774-5140
KYCC SuperKings are champi- MONEY ons of Summer-2014, TCC Colts Four Tips Cricket League-Houston
for Growing Your Small Business
TCC Colts Cricket League (TCCL) summer tournament players of ages 8-12yrs
T
riggers Cricket Club (TCC), Houston based non-profit organization, took initiative aimed at giving young children an opportunity to formally learn and play Cricket in a fun-loving environment of camaraderie, respect and sportsmanship. To introduce and develop interest for Cricket amongst children of greater Houston area, TCC organized an inaugural TCC Colts Cricket League (TCCL) summer tournament 2014 for children ages 8-12 years from May to July (2014). Over Seventy children joined five participating teams namely Cubs, Wild Cats, KYC Super Kings, KYC Knight Riders and NT Texans. Dedicated Team Coaches scheduled training sessions to teach Cricket fundamentals and scrimmage games to prepare for league games. Games were played at Matzke Park, Canyon Gate Park and Paul Rushing Park. All five teams played the league games with Great Spirit and competition. Super Kings, Texans, Cubs and Wild Cats reached the playoffs based on their performances. On 12 July, Playoff games Super Kings versus Wild Cats at Paul Rushing Park and Cubs versus Texans at Matzke Park. Super Kings and Texans won their respective games and reached into the Championship finals. The Grand Finale to crown the Triggers Colts Summer Champions 2014 season started with a spectacular celebrations and a huge family picnic at Matzke Park on 19 July 2014. TCC invited family and friends of all youngsters to watch the grand finale, while having fun at the family picnic. Championship and Plate finals are witnessed by very enthusiastic and supportive crowd of over 200. Parents, Grandparents and siblings came in big number to support their children and team with banners, horns, whistles and drums. Raffle draws were conducted before the Championship game and during drink breaks, with many exciting prizes to give away. Plate final to determine 3rd Place in the league was played between Wild Cats and Cubs, prior to the Championship final. Cubs scored 46 runs in 10 overs and Wildcats defeated Cubs by 6 wickets in 9.2 overs. Championship final was played between the two best teams of the tournament, Super Kings and Texans, Texans won the toss and put the Super Kings into bat. At the end of 10 overs Super Kings had a defendable score of 38 runs on the board. Texans chased scored consistently to get closer to the Championship needing only 9 runs to win in last over. Super Kings crossed the line with good final over and won by 4 runs. Presentation party included Chief Guest Mr. Brian Hodgden, Mrs. Hodgden, Guest of Honor Mr. Sakhi Muhammed, TCC President Mr. Nanda Kumar, TCC VP Mr. Krishna Sikharam, TCC Secretary Mr. Nataraj Rao and TCCL Program Director Mr. Surya Saladi. TCC Secretary welcomed Mr. Hodgden and Mr. Muhammed for their encouragement and presence. Mr. Surya Saladi presented a plaque as token of appreciation to Chief Guest Mr. Hodgden. Coaches from all five teams were recognized for their efforts to build such team spirit amongst these young cricketers. Man of the match trophies for each league games, Play-off games and Championship Final were awarded. Top performers of various categories Rohit (League MVP) Arya (Finals MVP), Prateer (Best Batsman), Arir (Best Bowler) and Numair (Best Fielder) were recognized with award trophies. KYC Super Kings won the TCC Colts Cricket League 2014 Championship Trophy and the League Champions Trophy.
Coffee Shop Owner . PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Monkey Business - Fotolia.com
D
espite the time commitment and financial investment that come with the territory, more than 25 million people nationwide have opted to start a microbusiness – a company with five or fewer employees. One in every 10 Americans works in a microbusiness, according to the Sam’s Club/Gallup Microbusiness Tracker, a quarterly survey of more than 850 microbusiness owners that provides insights into their economic and emotional concerns. The Sam’s Club survey indicates that women are opening 46 percent of today’s Main Street businesses – from restaurants to daycare centers – far greater than the number of women owned businesses that are over 20 years old. “I’ve never worked harder in my life or felt more rewarded,” says Molly Beasley of Fairhope, Alabama, owner of Give a Dog a Bone, a Do-It-Yourself dog washing company. “This business is my passion. There’s a lot of satisfaction in knowing you are providing a valuable, affordable service in your community.” After more than two years working 20 to 40 hours a week at a DIY dog wash in California, Beasley relocated to Alabama and found herself dreaming about opening her own dog wash.
As the TCCL inaugural tournament comes to an end, planning for next step has already commenced. TCCL is planning to expand to 8 teams playing in 4 grounds throughout greater Houston area from 2015. An effort like this requires support and TCC thanks Wells Fargo and KPIT for their generous support for the inaugural TCCL tournament and would like to invite others to come forward to support this children’s cricket in Houston. Like us @ https://www.facebook.com/TCCcolts
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Eventually, she decided the timing was right to take the entrepreneurial leap and she hasn’t looked back. Since launching Give a Dog a Bone in 2012, Beasley caters to customers Monday through Sunday and spends her downtime thinking about ways to grow the bottom line. Indeed, growth in microbusinesses has been driven largely by high personal sacrifice yet overall job satisfaction, according to the survey: • Over 60 percent of microbusiness owners have financed their businesses from personal savings and nearly as many (55 percent) say having access to cash reserves is a major issue. • One in three microbusiness owners (31 percent) depend more on second jobs for their personal income than on the business they launched. • Yet 69 percent of microbusiness owners feel they have the ideal job. Amidst these findings, one question bubbles to the surface – how can entrepreneurs maintain their passion while dealing with long hours and increasing budget demands? Beasley provides some tips: • Embrace Perspective: No matter how much you love your company,
there will be days when balancing the books creates anxiety. Remind yourself what fueled you to launch your business. • Find Balance: Sometimes it might seem impossible to relax, but devoting even 60 minutes weekly to non-business related activities will help you recharge. • Become Resourceful: Find ways to save money, time and energy. Try multitasking, such as purchasing business supplies while waiting for a prescription to be filled, or patronizing retailers with special early shopping hours for business owners. Consider streamlining home expenses by eliminating cable or cooking at home. • Make Changes: Stay motivated by experimenting with new methods and tools. Attending trainings or online webinars about your industry can help re-ignite your creativity and even lead to business growth. For more insights from the Sam’s Club/Microbusiness Tracker, visit www.samsclub.com/newsroom. In a recovering economy, it’s no surprise microbusinesses are growing. For many, the job satisfaction is worth the time and financial investments. (StatePoint).
VOICE OF ASIA 13
BOLLYWOOD MASALA
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Friday, August 08, 2014
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Shraddha, Esha, Kangana at India AR Rahman collaborates with Steven Spielberg Bridal Week 2014
and Oprah Winfrey in The Hundred Foot Journey!
AR Rahman by Prateek Sur
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ence
Shraddha Kapoor, Esha Gupta, Kangana Ranaut are all set to turn brides.Photo: Yogen Shah
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ollywood beauties Shraddha Kapoor, Esha Gupta, Kangana Ranaut are all set to turn traditional brides for designers JJ Valaya, Jyotsna Tiwari and Suneet Varma respectively at the upcoming India Bridal Fashion Week. Shraddha, who is also the face of the sixth edition of the bridal week, would be seen in an extraordinary ensemble
from the Valaya’s collection ‘The Nautch of Fez’. Delhi girl Esha would dress up as the coy yet unconventional bride in Tiwari’s romantic collection ‘Under the Stars. The ‘Humshakals’ actress would sport a bridal finery designed lehenga. ‘Queen’ star Kangana, who has become quite a regular at fashion events, would be wearing a timeless trousseau
fit for a princess from Varma’s regal collection. Designer Tarun Tahiliani will open the four-day fashion extravaganza on August 7 at the DLF Emporio. Raghavendra Rathore, Jyotsna Tiwari, Meera Muzaffar Ali, Ashima Leena, Gauri and Nainika, Falguni and Shane Peacock are the other designers who would be presenting their collections in the com-
ing days (PTI)
he Mozart Of Madras has been taking Indian music to a global audi-
AR Rahman has been touted as one of the rarest musical genius across the globe. He has taken Indian music to the world and has won numerous awards at prestigious award functions like the Oscars, Grammy Awards and others. In a recent advance we get to know that he has been signed on board to
The Giver to release in India on August 15! The Hollywood fiction stars Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and Brenton Thwaites in the lead Hollywood upcoming science fiction The Giver, starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and Brenton Thwaites will hit theatres in India on August 15, coinciding with its US release. The film, based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel of the same name, also stars Alexander Skarsgard, Odeya Rush, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift. The Giver is directed by Phillip Noyce and produced by Bridges, who also plays the
titular role. “My daughters read the book, but before I had known that they had read it, I was looking for some material to direct my father, Lloyd Bridges,” he recalls. “I also wanted to make a movie that my kids could watch at the time. I was looking through a catalogue of children books and I came across this wonderful cover of a book, with this old, grizzled kind of guy on the cover and thought, ‘Oh yeah, my dad can play that guy!’” Bridges said.
compose the music for Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey’s upcoming project The Hundred Foot Journey. Now that is some great news for all Indians that the global audience will once again get a taste of AR Rahman‘s music. The movie features Om Puri (who plays the role of Mr Kadam) and Helen Mirren (Madame Mellory). The film shows a stark contrast between Indian and French cultures, and amalgamates it very beautifully with the background of food, cuisines and cooking. Grapevine has it that Rahman has remixed a host of Bollywood melodies and old Indian classics for the film. The Kadam family plays these songs in their restaurant, creating a din in the neighbourhood and leaving Madame Mellory, the owner of a Michelin-starred French restaurant annoyed. The two families clash and are in conflict, but through the course of the film discover their compassion through gastronomical delights. Talking to a leading daily Puri informed, “We Indians love our music and when we play it, we make sure that our neighbours hear it too. A sequence like this is beautifully portrayed in the film which actually establishes the clash aptly.” The Hundred Foot Journey, a Reliance Entertainment and DreamWorks production, releases worldwide and in India on August 8. (UTC).
The film’s story revolves around a young boy Jonas who lives in a seemingly ideal and colorless world of conformity and contentment. When he begins to spend time with the Giver (Jeff Bridges), who is the sole keeper of all the community’s memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truth of his community’s secret past. With this knowledge, Jonas realises that he must escape their world to protect his dear ones but it is a challenge that no one has ever overcome. (PTI)
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Friday, August 08, 2014
Section 2
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Optical implant could revolutionize glaucoma management
Go Healthy Houston initiative, Houston Restaurant Weeks to show residents how to dine out healthy
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he Go Healthy Houston initiative and the annual fundraiser Houston Restaurant Weeks are partnering to promote healthy dinning out. A variety of nutritious menu options will help Houstonians make healthier food choices while eating out during Houston Restaurant Weeks, scheduled for Aug. 1 to Sept. 1. Wireless transmission to the database
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ased in Hanover, Germany, Implandata Opthalmic Products GmbH has announced the advancement of its Pro-IOP eye pressure measurement system, an implantable sensor that could not only reduce doctor visits but preserve the sight of an aging population. Once installed in a patient, the pressure sensor wirelessly transmits data to the doctor’s database and x`provides a layman’s version of the data to the patient by means of an app. Glaucoma is known to have negligible symptoms and by the time patients notice the telltale narrowing of their field of vision, it is often too late to treat, which makes consistent, early monitoring an appealing method. “Patients being able to take the reins -- that’s going to change the game in glaucoma management,” said co-founder and CEO Max Ostermeier in an interview with Relaxnews. Previous research has indicated the possibility of a micro
implant to wirelessly measure eye pressure, although the design it produced was geared towards cataract patients, intended for implantation during cataract surgery. Pro-IOP is unique because it comes in a variety of designs, some of which are tailored to those who have already undergone cataract surgery, others to those who have not and another to those whose needs for cataract surgery and the installation of the micro implant are concurrent. “Not all glaucoma patients need cataract surgery,” says Ostermeier. “So there isn’t always a need for a cataract lens and for those who don’t have cataracts, the sensor can be implanted in a variety of places in the eye.” Ostermeier says that for those who don’t have cataracts, the implantation procedure is roughly similar to the Lasik procedure, which employs a laser to correct vision problems. Cataract lenses are implanted behind the iris and the procedure is less complicated when there are other options as to
where the sensor could be implanted. The company is currently conducting clinical trials in Europe to attain CE Marking, which is required for medical devices sold in Europe, and its first implantation was successful. FDA approval for a pilot study in the US is expected this fall and Ostermeier says he hopes US-based testing will start this winter. “Glaucoma is a growing disease,” says Ostermeier, “And as baby boomers age, more of the population is at risk.” Ostermeier says he hopes to have Pro-IOP on the market by the second half of next year. He says that at the moment Implandata Opthalmic Products GmbH is focusing on the project at hand, although there is potential for the technology to expand into cardiac pressure measuring. “Who knows where we could go in two to three years,” says Ostermeier.
A complete list of restaurants offering Go Healthy Houston options for Houston Restaurant Week is available online at www.gohealthyhouston.org. Restaurants include Arturo’s, Brennan’s, Canopy, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Hearsay Gastro Lounge, McCormick and Schmick’s, Ouisie’s Table, Prego, Salé-Sucré, Sorrento Ristorante, The Bird and the Bear and White Oak Kitchen + Drinks. Go Healthy Houston options are labeled with a GHH icon on the menus and online at www. houstonrestaurantweeks.com. The GHH menu options are not fried, combine to equal at least three servings of fruits and vegetables and either include a fruit-only dessert or do not include any dessert. Diners can choose items from multi-course, fixed priced menus at $20 for lunch, $25 for brunch, and $35 or $45 for dinner during the event benefiting the Houston Food Bank. A $20 lunch generates a $3 donation from the participating restaurants, a $25 brunch generates $4; a $35 dinner generates $5 and a $45 dinner generates a $7. For more information, visit www.gohealthyhouston.org.
US hospital prepares to receive Ebola patient by Kerry SHERIDAN
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ASHINGTON, August 1, 2014 (AFP) - A hospital in the southern United States said Thursday it was preparing to receive an Ebola patient “within the next several days” for treatment in its specialized containment unit. News of the pending transfer came just hours after American health authorities issued a warning against travel to three West African nations facing the largest outbreak of the deadly virus in history. The current outbreak has killed 729 people in West Africa since March, according to the World Health Organization. The hemorrhagic fever can be fatal in up to 90 percent of cases, though this outbreak has killed about 60 percent of those infected. “Emory University Hospital has been informed that there are plans to transfer a patient with Ebola virus infection to its special facility containment unit within the next several days,” the institution said. The hospital, located in Atlanta, Georgia, said it “has a specially built isolation unit set up in collaboration with” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that is “physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinary high level of clinical isolation.” It was not immediately clear if the patient in question was one of two Americans stricken with the virus in Liberia. Both are listed in stable but grave condition.
A picture taken on June 28, 2014 shows members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) wearing protective gear at the isolation ward of the Donka Hospital in Conakry, where people infected with the Ebola virus are being treated. (Photo by CELLOU BINANI/AFP/Getty Images). officials as saying. The hospital did not immediately return a call from AFP. Earlier, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said talks were under way for potential medical evacuations of US humanitarian workers who have contracted Ebola. “The State Department and the CDC are working to facilitate options for potential medevacs for US patients, specifically American citizen humanitarian workers,” he said. Marie Harf, deputy spokeswoman for the State Department, added that “every precaution will be taken to move the patients safely and securely, to provide critical care en route, and to maintain strict isolation upon arrival in the United States.”
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
person who is showing symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, are necessary to contract Ebola. “It is important to understand how it spreads,” Frieden told reporters. “It does not spread from people who are not sick with it.” He said the travel advisory was issued because the ongoing Ebola outbreak in these countries poses a potential risk to travelers. “Particularly if you are traveling to the area and you happen to fall ill or be injured in a car crash and need to go to a medical facility that might have recognized or unrecognized spread of Ebola.”
CNN, citing an unnamed source, reported that a US-contracted medical charter flight had left Georgia to evacuate the two.
- ‘Like fighting a forest fire’ -
Over the next month, the CDC is also sending 50 extra specialists to the affected areas in West Africa, he said.
In its travel warning, the CDC urged “all US residents to avoid non-essential travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.”
But the State Department has no plans to close its embassies in the affected countries or to reduce staffing.
At least one would be taken to the Emory University Hospital, the broadcaster cited hospital
CDC chief Tom Frieden stressed that direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected
“There’s been no change in our status with any of those embassies,” Harf said.
Even in the best of circumstances, the current outbreak could go on for six months or more, Frieden warned. “It is like fighting a forest fire. If you leave behind even
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Can Obamacare Succeed Without Subsidies? Split court decisions raise questions about health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans.
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resident Barack Obama’s signature health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, faces new scrutiny in the courts, raising additional questions about the future of Obamacare. In late July, two federal appeals court panels issued contradictory rulings within hours of each other on the legality of one of the law’s key components: subsidies to help people pay for health insurance. At issue in both lawsuits was whether the wording of the law authorizes the government to make tax credits available to subsidize the cost of health insurance premiums for millions of qualifying middle- and low-income Americans who purchase insurance using healthcare.gov, the federal exchange, or only for those who use state-run marketplaces. The reasoning behind the opposing rulings boiled down to whether the judges strictly interpreted the letter of the health care law or its spirit. Halbig v. Burwell was brought by a group of individuals and employers from states that did not establish their own exchanges and objected to the subsidies and the law’s mandate that they buy insurance. A West Virginia man who joined the lawsuit, for example, admits to being at least partly motivated by opposition to “government handouts,” and would rather avoid the choice of purchasing health insurance – even at a subsidized cost of less than $21 per year – or facing a tax penalty, according to court documents. In a major blow to Obamacare, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2 to 1 that the health care law, as written, restricts tax credit subsidies to people who purchase health insurance through marketplaces that are “established by the State.” In his decision, Judge Thomas Griffith, appointed to the court by President George W. Bush, noted that the ruling “will likely have significant consequences” for millions of Americans and health insurance markets. “We reach this conclusion, frankly, with reluctance,” he wrote. The ruling does not immediately block subsidies to people who use healthcare. gov, pending the Obama administration’s appeal. But if the ruling is upheld, it would mean the Internal Revenue Service lacked the authority to subsidize health insurance premiums through tax credits to nearly 5 million Americans in as many as 36 states – many with Republican governors or legislatures
Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com – where only the federal exchange operates. That could drastically alter or ultimately cripple Obamacare. Some 7.3 million people – or about 62 percent of the 11.8 million people expected to enroll in federally facilitated marketplaces by 2016 – could lose out on $36.1 billion in subsidies, according to a report by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. There would be a “domino effect,” says Linda Blumberg, a senior fellow and an economist at the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center. Without the subsidies, fewer people would have affordable insurance available, and so they would be exempted from the health care law’s requirement to have coverage, she explains. In turn, healthy people might leave the insurance pool, while those with costly medical needs come in. As a result, “the average price of insurance goes up, up and up,” she says. Moreover, insurers are likely to push for the repeal of patient protections, including those prohibiting discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions. In his dissenting opinion, Senior Judge Harry Edwards, the lone Democrat-appointed judge on the panel, described the lawsuit as a “not-soveiled attempt to gut” the health care law. The majority opinion “defies the will of Congress,” he wrote. Just two hours later, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, reached the opposite conclusion in King v. Burwell, a similar lawsuit brought by Virginia residents. It upheld the health care law, ruling 3 to 0 that subsidies provided in both state- and federally run exchanges are permissible and clearly intended by the Affordable Care Act. Contact Sudhir Mathuria for your Health and Wealth Planning at 713-771-2900.
one burning ember, one case undetected, it could reignite the epidemic.”
“Any hospital with an intensive care unit has the capacity to isolate patients,” he said.
A key part of the response is isolating patients who are ill, according to Frieden.
“There is nothing particularly special about the isolation of an Ebola patient, other than it is really important to do it right.”
VOICE OF ASIA 16
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
VOICE OF ASIA 17
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Friday, August 08, 2014
BUSINESS
Section 2 Page 17
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4 Indians in Fortune’s list of 20 extraordinary tech czars
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EW YORK - Four Indians are among Fortune magazine’s list of 20 ‘extraordinary’ technology czars and young entrepreneurs analyzing data and processing big numbers to discover information that will “transform the way businesses operate.”
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Murthy started off at Yahoo when Hadoop, the open-source storage and processing software that powers much of the web’s big data, was an early prototype. His team’s mission was to scale it for Yahoo’s web search and Murthy helped develop a resource and workload management system called YARN that acts as a sort of operating system for Hadoop, Fotune said. Next on the list is Surabhi Gupta, a software engineer at popular travel rentals website Airbnb. As a graduate student in computer science at Stanford University, Gupta became fascinated by the art of summarisation, which is extracting meaning from text without actually reading the text. Gupta was working at Google when she started researching a trip using Airbnb. The possibilities Airbnb’s data offered fascinated her and in the four months at the room rental service company, overhauled
The fast food giant also said it was working to regain customer confidence in a region that accounts for 10 percent of its revenues.
Surabhi Gupta and improved their search engines and is currently working on condensing all of Airbnb’s listings to create summaries to enable users to understand different cities’ vibes, the publication said. Swatee Singh is Vice President of GMS IM Platforms and Big Data Capabilities at American Express, where her focus is to make “business personal.” She is the brains behind American Express ‘MyOffers’ which aims to give members “what they want when they need it.” She is also responsible for a tool that allows merchants to compare their annual perfor-
mance. Next on the list is Vijay Subramanian, Chief Analytics Officer at Rent the Runway, an online service that provides designer dress and accessory rentals. Subramanian built a model to estimate missed demand, product longevity, and occasion usage for the company’s inventory—a huge cost-saver for a company that buys truckloads of dresses and accessories from fashion designers every season to rent to customers. His next mission is to incorporate new types of data from Unlimited, the company’s major new expansion into everyday wear, Fortune said. (PTI).
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McDonald’s Yahoo, comScore warns of big hit to join on online ad from China meat measurement scandal EW YORK - Yahoo with one place to buy, measure EW YORK - - McDonald’s said Monday that a recent scandal over expired meat from a Chinese food supplier has had a “significant negative impact” on sales in China, Japan and some other markets.
Fortune’s maiden ‘Big Data All-Stars’ lists the 20 extraordinary people who are “the best at connecting the dots and digging deep.” Among the 20 is Arun Murthy, who co-founded business computer software company Hortonworks.
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
On July 21, Shanghai officials shut the Shanghai Husi Food Co. following a television report alleging the plant mixed out-ofdate meat with fresh product. Chinese police later detained five Shanghai Husi officials. As a consequence, “McDonald’s businesses in China, Japan and certain other markets are experiencing a significant negative impact to results,” the company said in a quarterly securities filing. “McDonald’s is undertaking recovery strategies to restore the trust and confidence of our customers,” it added. Last week, McDonald’s said it
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and the online metrics firm comScore announced plans Tuesday to work together to better measure audience reach for ads on Yahoo websites. The move, which comes as Yahoo loses ground to rivals in online advertising, will use comScore’s verification platform to provide better data to marketers. “Brands are reaching their audiences through multiple channels and need a consistent way to measure results across their campaigns,” said Eric Lange of Yahoo. Lange added that the new service “provides advertisers
stopped using food from all Chinese plants owned by Shanghai Husi’s parent company, USbased OSI Group.
and analyze campaigns against all available data. That’s something advertisers can’t get anywhere else today.” While online advertising is surging, Yahoo has failed to keep pace with juggernauts such as Google and Facebook, according to analysts. The research firm eMarketer said last month that Yahoo ad revenues fell 2.1 percent in 2013, and will grow a modest 2.7 percent this year. But the report said Yahoo will be overtaken by Microsoft for third place in online ad revenues, behind market leader Google and second-place Facebook. ensure meat quality.
Japanese McDonald’s restaurants also halted the sale of products made with chicken from China.
The McDonald’s warning follows a similar statement last week by Yum Brands, which said the scandal has had a “significant, negative impact” on sales at its Pizza Hut and KFC chains in China.
Both McDonald’s and OSI have apologized for the safety problems and pledged action to
McDonald’s shares fell 0.7 percent to $93.68 in midday trade.
Boeing launches plan to turn tobacco into jet fuel
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OHANNESBURG - US aerospace giant Boeing said on Wednesday it was working with South African Airways and a Dutch biofuel company to make jet fuel from tobacco seeds.
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The Dutch firm, SkyNRG, is boosting its production in South Africa of a hybrid, nicotine-free, tobacco crop called Solaris with “biofuel production expected... in the next few years,” the three companies said in a statement.
“Initially, oil from the plant’s seeds will be converted into jet fuel. In coming years, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa’s aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant,” added the firms.
Aviation biofuel, made from renewable resources such as plants, can reduce carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent. Airlines have flown more than 1,500 flights powered by biofuel globally since it was ap-
proved in 2011. Earlier this year, Boeing and research partners in the Middle East said they would start field trials after recording progress in making biofuel from desert plants fed with seawater.
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HOROSCOPE
VOICE OF ASIA 18
FRIDAY, August 08, 2014
Your Horoscope for the Week of August 8, 2014 by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM
Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Gambles of life, In your case, they are not really gambles but intuitive insights. Your careful research and caution make falling in love, dealing with children, or expressing a talent, secure areas of your life. Ideal financial conditions could seem elusive, right now. You may think that someone who should want to cooperate has undermined your position with a public event. Let others take the glory, if that is the issue. You may have other papad to fry and can go on to other projects with ease once you’re really willing to let go the present.
Tread lightly on weakened personal & professional relationships. People at a distance may hurt your pride. Some may disapprove with your tactics, and will clearly let you know, how they feel. Don’t try to take on everybody by yourself. Group projects may require the use of kid gloves. Emotions & feelings will interfere with your ability to bring people closer together. You need to take a closer look in the mirror & face your own personal challenges. Recognize your abilities and follow your dreams.
Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May
Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov
Keep yourself grounded & realistic. Don’t sell yourself short. You are in the company of people who think the world of you. You’ll regain a measure of control over your life by being more confident in who you are. Your behavior will be understood by those who know you and love you. Seek their help to get yourself back on track. Accepting help doesn’t mean that you’re doing a bad job on your own, everyone can always stand a little improvement in their methods.
Trust your gut instincts & be aware of your own power and effectiveness. Some situations in your personal life may be trying, to say the least. Try not to let them to make you feel down. speak to someone impartial & get their perspective. Don’t allow expectations of family members to apply undue pressure on you. If you lose your focus, you could get careless. You will be effective in projects that you are able to promote on an international level. Partners could be important to the kind of success that will put your creative ideas on the map.
Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Attain perfection, or your version of perfection. Just when you think you have the ability to control your own destiny, things will start to erode slightly. Prepare to deal with the consequences of getting involved in someone else’s personal problems. You may be driven you to take chances that you normally wouldn’t even consider, otherwise. Let your basic grasp of cause and effect be your guiding light, for the moment. The circular nature of events will shed light on your past mistakes.
Business, romance, and playful games, All of which should prove to be deeply satisfying experiences. Nothing can stand between you and what you want. You have an exciting chance to express a more compassionate, caring and nurturing part of yourself. You words will be well heeded. Romance may sweep you off your feet, and you may feel loved and cared for. Emotional highs are certainly welcome. Find a way to create excitement in your social and public life.
Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan
Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Tremendous opportunities at a distance, that had been almost overlooked. Traveling to distant shores may provide a particular kind of emotional security, but you may need to wait for a better time to travel. Communicate your plans & get started on your future agenda. This way, you’ll be able to put additional points in the bank and that will provide you with bigger dividends later on. Your creative fire will blaze brightly. This is a time of breakthrough and personal triumph. Experience is the best teacher for you right now.
Awakening of your spiritual ties. Your psychic energy will be very strong. Predictions can influence your current reality without really overriding it. You may think that you need to keep peace, at any price. Be willing to walk away from events that require any physical force. Lead the way by simply doing what you do best. Your ultimate stroke of charm is your ability to laugh at yourself. Just a few words from you can make all the difference to those you love. A partnership hinges not only on what is said, but on what is understood, as well.
Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb
Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Conserve your energy for important tasks to structure new public and career projects. Investments and gambles may not pay off. If you’ve recently been disappointed in romance, felt abandoned, you may act in a way that you’ll regret later. Organizational discussions may not go well, either. You may be tempted to say some things you’ll wish you hadn’t. Be objective and try to understand how others might react to your actions. Show your compassion and utilize your sense of humor.
Use your powers of persuasion to influence other’s ideas. Don’t be shy about expressing your opinions. Value the things that you have to offer to important public projects. Go full steam ahead with important projects, especially those that may lie at a distance from your present locale. There may be something you need to prove to yourself. Any work that you do now will be touched by your sincerity. Your present actions are destined to become the stuff that memories are made of.
Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March
Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Keep up with everyone else’s expectations. You may need to curb some activities so you don’t spread yourself too thin. Don’t get lazy at the wrong moment. Encourage your partners to go forward with exciting and challenging plans. Your home may be a haven that enables you to express the best of your ideas and intellect. Set high goals and know that you’ll hit the bull’s-eye. Do something special for yourself. If others are involved, so much the better, but you don’t really need others to enjoy yourself. Quality time comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Children & elder family members will require your attention.
QR
An emotional meltdown, either yours or someone else’s, close to you. Use any stress reduction techniques you can, to help keep your cool. Take a break from what you’ve been doing, and check in with your partner before going any further. Language & communication are tools you can use with great skill and power. If others aren’t prepared to give you what you deserve, reach out and take it for yourself. Celebrate your genius, even if you have to do it alone. Find and maintain your natural rhythm. You don’t need to have an extreme experience in order to be motivated.
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