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December 23, 2011

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Rugs and More – A Store Sparkling with Royal Grandeur By Sowmya Nandakumar HOUSTON: A show business professional opening a rugs and home décor store is quite some news! Located on 7320 South West Freeway, “Rugs and More” owned by Rajender Singh, had a grand opening on Saturday, December 17 at 10:30am. Guests entered the store and were lost to its splendor of antiquity and luxury. It is a haven for interior designers and those who are looking to bring a tasteful but expensive artistic flourish to their homes. A walk through the store gives one an experience of its royal grandeur – while the antiques and rugs are interesting and attractive, one has to keep in mind that this is about “rich and royal grandeur”, and the prices conform to those descriptions as well. The highlight of the event was the arrival of Houston’s Mayor Anise Parker, who cut the ribbon and formally inaugurated the opening of the store. She said, “It is businesses like these that are the engine of Houston’s economy. I get invited to cut the ribbon on many occasions, but today I thought it was important for me to be here for this community, to support your entrepreneurial endeavors”. According to her, despite the economic

crisis, Houston is still a place filled with optimistic prospects because of such entrepreneurial initiative. Anise Parker then cut the ribbon to cheering applause, and took a tour of the inside. She sure seemed to have enjoyed the store’s classical aura and charm as much as any of the others who were there. Rajender Singh is the President and owner of Star Promotions Inc., and is popular for the shows and star performances he has brought to Houston. Originally from Jaipur, he is also a writer and has authored a best seller in India, titled Vatan Se Door (Away from the Motherland). When I asked him if he usually writes in Hindi, he laughingly answered, “Don’t worry. I always write in Hindi. I am not going to start competing with people like you who write in English.”.

HOUSTON (Hindu): A bipartisan bill has been tabled in the U.S. House of Representatives to make companies that move call centres overseas ineligible for grants or guaranteed loans from the federal government, a move aimed at stemming the tide of jobs heading to nations like India. Introduced by Rep Tim Bishop and Rep David McKinley, the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act would also put some aggressive mandates on call centre operations. “Outsourcing is one of the scourges of our economy and why we are struggling so to knock down the unemployment rate,” said Bishop. Under the protectionist legislation, not only would customer service

representatives, working overseas for U.S. corporations, have to disclose their locations upon request, they would also have to offer callers the option of being transferred to call centres back in America, the Huffington Post reported. Besides, the proposed legislation requires the Secretary of Labour to maintain a list of employers that locate call centres overseas. The companies also require to provide 120-day advance notification before moving a call centre overseas.

Why a rug store? I have been partners with a friend of mine in India who manufactures these rugs and I am familiar with the business. What was your inspiration? I always wanted to open a rug store. So “Jab hona hai, tab ho jata hai” – things happen when they have to happen and what I had been thinking

Rajender Singh with wife Amrit at Rugs and More See Collage on Page 28

about for a while finally came true. Where do all these patterns and designs come from? Our rugs are international because they come from India, Pakistan, Turkey and Italy. What sort of market demand can your store cater to? We are ready to undertake custom and wholesale orders apart from being open for regular sale. Now that the store has opened what do you hope for?

I believe that we offer great prices for our products. I am hoping that interior designers and others looking for home décor realize this and start frequenting the store. Why did you shift from the show business to the rug store? I have not shifted from the show business. The show business has always been a part of me and I will continue to do it because it is my passion. I have worked with many stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh

The call centre bill has strong backing from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), a union which represents 150,000 call centre workers in the U.S. In a report, issued recently by the CWA, the union alleged that outsourced call centres, including some based in India, pose a serious security

threat as there are insufficient safeguards in place to deter fraud. The report, titled ‘Why Shipping Call Center Jobs Overseas Hurts Us Back Home’, cited several examples of security breaches, involving outsourced call centres, including in India. Owing to the insufficient protections in place, it is impossible to deter this type of fraud, the report said. Some call centre operators, particularly those in rural areas, are trying hard to compete with overseas call-centres and some rural call centre operators say they are seeing a trend toward companies moving call centres back to the U.S. The ability of home-based workers to use a broadband connection to con-

Bachchan,Abhishek Bachchan,Asha Bhosle, etc. and I have enjoyed being a Star Promoter. The rug store is in addition to what I already do. What sort of competition do you expect in the future and how do you plan to deal with it? I never think of competition. I believe that if you work hard and do your best, you will do well anyway. As an accomplished businessman, what would you tell younger entrepreneurs in the community? Dream big, work hard, be completely dedicated and stay focused. What were the greatest challenges you faced getting here? First I had to find a lucrative location for the store which I eventually did. While I have great prices to offer now the challenge is for me to keep the prices at that level. The Mayor, Anise Parker spent a lot of time at the store. What did she think? She really liked it. She said that the antiques and the rugs were very beautiful. For those of you who are rugs and antique connoisseurs, Anise Parker is absolutely right! This is a store you want to visit because it is “Rugs and More”!

Now, Call Centres a Target of Anti-Outsourcing Bill

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

duct call-centre duties has helped fuel that trend. Reverse’ call-centre outsourcing driven by broadband could create 100,000 U.S. jobs. If passed, the proposed call centre legislation would likely further fuel a move of call-centre jobs back to the U.S. Our Chennai Correspondent adds: “Non-captive call centres will not be affected,” said Allsec Technologies Chief Executive R. Jagadish. “People in America are not willing to work for lower salaries. Today the outsourced jobs just cost only $11-12 an hour. Similarly the unemployment benefits have been extended to 180 days or more by the present Obama Government. As a result, they are not willing to work for low salaries. This is the ground reality,” he added.

December 23, 2011

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December 23, 2011

Profiting from China’s and India’s Need for Iranian Oil

By Tony Daltorio One of the reasons there is still a strong bid in the oil market is the concern over Iran’s nuclear development program. Any attack by Israel or the United States to destroy nuclear facilities will surely result in a response from Tehran, which will likely involve shutting down the Strait of Hormuz through which flows much of the Middle East’s oil (15.5 million barrels a day). Any such shutdown means that countries will have to tap into their strategic reserves to make up for lost oil imports from the region. For western nations, the International Energy Agency (IEA) can deliver an average of 10.4 million barrels a day and an additional 4 million barrels a day of refined products in the first month of a cutoff of supplies from the

Middle East. The IEA also has the ability to deliver 4 million barrels of crude oil a day for up to a year. But there is a problem for Asia’s emerging economic giants – China and India. Both countries have very limited strategic petroleum reserves. And these two countries are two of the biggest importers of Iranian crude oil. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy, China and India account for a third of Iran’s exports of 2.6 million barrels of oil a day. Iran is the third largest supplier of crude to China, behind only Saudi Arabia and Angola. The Chinese government’s strategic oil plan calls for a reserve of about 500 million barrels which is equivalent to 100 days’ supply. So far, China has a bit more than 110 million barrels of oil stockpiled

and it plans to add 40 million more barrels into the reserve this year and in 2012. Even though their reserve is still small, China is miles ahead of India. The government there is targeting a reserve of only 40 million barrels of oil – equal to about 2 weeks of supply – by the end of 2012. So far, India has only 9.8 million barrels of oil stockpiled, leaving it wide open to a disruption oil from Iran. That country is the second biggest supplier of oil to India, behind only Saudi Arabia. What does this mean for the global oil market? It likely means that both China and India may become ‘desperate’ buyers of crude oil if a disruption of oil from Iran occurs and willing to pay almost any price for oil from anywhere. Investors can best profit from

Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, taking an inspection tour among the centrifuges in a nuclear facility

this possibility by buying exchange traded funds based on crude oil prices. The best of these is the United States Brent Oil Fund

(NYSE: BNO) and is based on Brent crude oil futures traded in London. To visit us online for news: www.indoamerican-news.com

Kim Jong-Il’s Death: Will India-North Korea Ties Improve?

NEW DELHI (DNAI): India is closely watching developments in North Korea following the death of its longtime leader Kim Jong-il, which could improve New Delhi’s ties with the reclusive country whose nuclear program and its export of missile technology to Pakistan have been a cause of much concern here. New Delhi is watching the events in North Korea closely. Kim Jongil, the supreme leader of nucleararmed North Korea, died Saturday during a train journey. He was 69. Reports from Pyongyang indicate that Kim’s youngest son Kim Jongun has succeeded as the ruler of the country. Not many are expecting any dramatic change in the power structure, but Kim’s successor could bring in his own people and

change some policies to consolidate ambassador for dinner, said sources, his power base. citing these instances as a warming The death of Kim Jong-il comes of ties between the two countries. at a time when India’s relations with North Korea, which have always been shadowed by Pyongyang’s covert export of missile technology to Islamabad through Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan network, have shown some signs of improvement. In March this year, India was quick to respond to a food crunch in North Korea by providing $1 million through the World Food Program. Pyongyang lauded India’s Kim Jong-Il died suddenly during a train journey timely assistance. For the first time in the last In May, a team from North Korea decade, North Korean foreign visited India to explore the Indian minister visited the Indian embassy experience in setting up special at the Republic Day function in economic zones. In August, India Pyongyang Jan 26.A few days and North Korea held foreign later, the North Korean vice office consultations and decided to foreign minister invited the Indian intensify bilateral ties.

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India and North Korea established diplomatic relations way back in 1973 and have maintained embassies in each other’s capitals. Many North Koreans receive training annually in India in diverse fields, including IT and science and technology. However, the relations never blossomed due to North Korea’s closed system and its ties with the military leadership in Pakistan that extended to covert nuclear tie-ups. India’s bilateral trade with North Korea is around half a billion dollars, a paltry amount compared to New Delhi’s over $10 billion trade with South Korea. India also sees North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and its covert nuclear program as a threat to regional security. In 1999, India impounded North Korean vessel MV Ku Wol San off Kandla port and found that it was carrying 177 tons of missile components, blueprints and manuals. In May 2009, India was quick to

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

condemn the nuclear test conducted by North Korea and voiced its concerns about its adverse impact on peace and security in the region. “For (North Korea) to conduct such a test in violation of its international commitments would be unfortunate,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishnasaid. With India’s growing trade with South Korea and its improving ties with North Korea, the US has been discussing the North Korean situation with New Delhi to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.

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INDIA

December 23, 2011

Rooftop turns Harvester for Drinking Water

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By S. Sundar MADURAI (The Hindu): The Western world can take a leaf from the pages of India in methods to harvest rain water. No day passes in the city without a leakage in the drinking water pipeline being reported. Similarly, complaints of sewage water mixing with drinking water are common here. Piped water supply has erratic, low pressure, unequal distribution and supply at odd hours” that makes daily life difficult for residents. What the people actually get through their taps on many days is not potable or of poor quality. For those who try their luck to quench their thirst with groundwater, the quality of water in many places is quite alarming. Going by Prof. T. Vel Rajan, of Civil Engineering Department of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, the ground water quality index (WQI), has turned worse than what he categorises as “very poor.” While the WQI between 76 and 100 has been categorised as “very poor,” the quality of groundwater in many pockets was in the range of 120 to 220. Stating that the geological formation in Madurai per se was not in favour of giving quality ground water, Vel Rajan says allowing liquid part of the sewage (in areas where underground drainage system does not exist) to enter into the subsoil system through septic tanks further pollutes the groundwater. “Even though our drinking water comes from river, we need to be mindful of the activities we do, that may pollute the ground water.” Former Chief Engineer of Madurai Corporation, K. Sakthivel, says the brick-made manholes in underground drainage system allows seepage of sewage into groundwater. F o r m e r T WA D B o a r d Superintending Engineer, S. Kaliyamoorthi, suggests that such problems can be avoided if the authorities go by material consideration and not cost consideration while formulating drinking water or underground drainage schemes. “Using pipelines made of right material will solve

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While Madurai’s average annual such problem, though it may cost rainfall was around 880 mm, he higher,” he avers. Dr. Velrajan’s study also found says a rainfall of 75 mm was that benzene was found in ground enough to harvest (through a 1,000 water in select areas. The increased square feet of roof top) water that benzene content in ground water was not due to petroleum leakages but due to other sources like vehicular emission, industrial effluents and fertilizers. Artificial recharge was the best way to improve ground water quality, he feels. However, the N. Arunachalam, former Chief Engineer, Public city residents Works Department, explains the functioning of the a n d t h o s e roof-top rainwater harvesting system at his residence l i v i n g i n in Madurai. Photo: R. Ashok adjacent areas need not panic over the alarming would cater to a family of four for 365 days. People can also convert status of ground water. Former Chief Engineer of their sumps to collect rainwater, Public works Department, N. instead of corporation water. “None Arunachalam, has a simple way of my family members have kidney to overcome the pressing problem. stone problem and the quality of “Roof top rain harvest” is what water is so good.” he says. Arunachalam, who is passionate he advocates to the residents to keep their water worries at arm’s about rainwater harvesting, likens it to the banking system. “My length. An expert, who has worked on overhead tank is an ATM and the rainwater harvesting, has set up tap at the kitchen is the debit card roof-top harvesting at the PWD that can be used anytime. The Circle office here where, he says, sump is a savings bank account, the the system has been functioning overflowing water that recharges well for several years, improving ground water is a fixed account. In a not only the groundwater table by way, it is also a community service by helping neighbors to get good seven metres, but also its quality. He suggests construction of filter potable water,” he says. An investment of Rs. 10,000 to tanks (using pebbles and fine sand mixed with charcoal powder) just Rs. 50,000 ($943) can give lifebelow the roof and placing the long solution for potable water, collection tank just below it, so that he says. He wants Madurai Corporation the rain water could be harvested in the kitchen using gravity. “Such to adopt the system by making it a system gives us not only good mandatory at least for high-rise health, but also helps in saving apartments. Arunachalam can be electricity,” he said. Arunachalam contacted in India: 94433 39951. uses boiled water that is filtered To advertise online, please call us using ordinary candle filters for both at 713-789-NEWS (6397) cooking and drinking purpose.

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INDIA

December 23, 2011

Goa Battles Tide of Sleaze

PANAJI (Dawn): A surge “The dancing girls on the floor, Reports have also suggested that in prostitution in Goa, a party can be taken overnight by paying since Goa became popular with destination for thousands of a price,” said Pandey, who works Russians increasing numbers of overseas visitors, is fuelling with anti-sex trafficking charity mafia-controlled Eastern European the Indian sun-and-sand state’s ARZ and has studied the impact of sex workers. growing reputation for sleaze and vice on the local community. “The main cause should be dealt corruption. T h e s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t i n with. NGOs are doing a good job in A police raid this month on a bar neighboring Maharashtra, of which this field but need backing of state in Calangute, in the to perform to the north of the former fullest.” Portuguese colony, UNICEF rescued 14 women and British and girls – including charity ECPAT eight from Nepal – International, and led to the arrest w h i c h of nine people on sex campaigns trafficking charges. against child The golden sex abuse, child beaches and laidpornography back atmosphere of and trafficking, Goa, on India’s west estimate that coast, attract huge some 400,000 to numbers of domestic Goa gets over 2.4 million tourists per season and human 500,000 children trafficking has become a major problem with tourists paying and foreign tourists, privately mafia controlled organizations that run sex trade are in enforced particularly over the prostitution in Christmas and New Year. Mumbai is the capital, sought to India. The state’s image has been tainted ban dance bars – where women The Roman Catholic Archbishop in recent years by a string of performers gyrate to the latest of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri corruption scandals involving Bollywood tunes – in 2005. Ferrao, has warned that Goa was police and politicians, as well as Goa attracts some 2.4 million becoming a paedophiles’ paradise drug and sex crime revelations. visitors every tourist season, because of curbs on the child sex Non-governmental organisations with about 400,000 of them from trade in Thailand and called for say prostitution in Goa has overseas. Pubs and nightclubs have “zero tolerance”. mushroomed since a crackdown sprung up along the coast in places Police chief Arya insists his force on so-called “dance bars” up the including Calangute, Candolim, is serious about tackling the issue. coast in Mumbai. Morjim and Baga. “Raids will be conducted as and “After the Mumbai dance bars Pandey said the sex workers, when information is received,” he closed, the girls were pushed into most of them in their late teens or said. “I am 100 per cent transparent the sex trade in places like Goa, early twenties, are mainly from and all information will be tracked, where they travel to dance in the northeastern India or smuggled in nothing will be left ignored.” pubs,” said activist Arun Pandey. from Nepal and Bangladesh.

School with Indian Kids Named Britain’s Best LONDON (TOI): A primary school in Britain where the majority of students are of Indian and Asian origin has achieved the best exam results in the country. Students at Newton Farm School in Harrow, northwest London, gained the highest average points score in their tests, The Sun reported. More than three-quarters of pupils are from “ minority ethnic groups”, mainly Indian and other Asian backgrounds, and speak a language other than English at home, including a large number of

Tamil-speaking pupils. Over 90 percent of pupils in a class achieved a level above the standard in the age group in both maths and English. The school has 200 pupils aged four to 11. “The school provides a really well-rounded education while the foundations are absolutely rock solid. I believe our success is down to the rigour with which we look after our children,” headteacher Rekha Bhakoo, herself of Indian origin, was quoted as saying.

They have done it so young - a primary school in Britain with a majority of Indian students and Asian origin leads the rest of the country in education. They have gotten the highest average points in their tests showing that education at a young age can be achieved right if done right. Children of minority groups are performing better from Indian and Asian backgrounds and this can be related directly to parental support as well who nurture these kids with high ambitions

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

OPINION INDIA

December 23, 2011

We Want State-run Hospital in Place of AMRI, say Locals

KOLKOTA (DNAI): The ultramodern glass facade AMRI hospital in Dhakuria was out of bounds for the thousands of shanty dwellers who live in its vicinity. These slum dwellers, many of whom played a crucial role in saving patients during the fire last week, want a state-run medical facility at the spot so that they can get access to affordable healthcare. About 10,000 people live in shanties near the super-speciality hospital, where 93 people, mostly patients, choked to death due to toxic smoke from a pre-dawn fire Dec 9. Asit Kumar Tikadar, who has been residing in a shanty beside one of the dingy bylanes in the area for over 22 years, told IANS: “We did not get treatment there as we do not have money. Sometimes they (the doctors) gave us some firstaid and then referred us to public hospitals. “Then what is the use of this hospital?” the 45-year-old asked. A local cable operator, requesting anonymity, stated people here wanted that the hospital be converted into a fully public facility. AMRI sources, however, claimed that the hospital provides free firstaid treatment to the needy. As per records with the Registrar of Companies, the state government has 1.99 percent stake in Advanced Medicare Research Institute

(AMRI) Hospital, with private companies Emami and Shrachi Groups owning the remaining 98.01 percent. The hospital was co-founded by the two private companies with the

But as the private stakeholders injected fresh investment and built two more blocks, the state government’s stake progressively decreased. As per the ownership document,

The locals many of whom are slum dwellers helped rescue many of the victims from a terrible fire that broke out at AMRI now are demanding that AMRI be run as a state hospital so they can get good healthcare Photo: Bhaskar Mallick

state government in 1996. Earlier, the state-owned Niramoy Polyclinic was transferred to a consortium floated by S.K. Todi of the Shrachi Group and Swapansadhan Bose. Later, the Emami group replaced Bose. Initially, the government had a stake of 49 percent, while the rest was with the two private groups.

the government has two nominees on the board, with a senior official - the director of medical education - as chairman. Rajan Jana, a labourer, resides in one of the densely-populated unplanned slums behind the hospital. The 35-year-old, who took part in the rescue operations like other slum dwellers of the

Dhakuria-Panchanantala area, said: “When the fire broke out in the upper basement of the annexe building and smoke entered into the wards of the upper floors, almost all higher officials fled.” He alleged that security guards of the hospital tried to prevent slum dwellers who rushed to the spot to rescue helpless patients from entering the premises. Had the guards allowed them to enter at an earlier stage, lives of more patients could have been saved, he said with agony, showing his bruised palms. But the agency in charge of the hospital’s security denied any negligence. “I have heard about these allegations. But I would like to say that the security guards followed the proper fire fighting norms which state that if a fire breaks out in a building, then it should be immediately cordoned off so

that no outsiders can enter except professional fire fighters,” Debajit Choudhury, proprietor of NIS security agency, which held the contract to supply security guards for the Annexe 1 building. Rajan’s mother Gauri Jana alleged the doctors of the hospital had in the past refused to treat her five-yearold grandson when he suddenly fainted. “They asked us to go to a public hospital. They were rude to us as we are poor,” she said. “But the hospital should not be closed down. The government should take over control. Only then will we be able to get proper treatment from here. And local youths will also get jobs,” she said. Local councillor Chaitali Chatterjee said: “As all the people are demanding that AMRI be turned into a government-run hospital, I will take up the matter.”

Health: Discover the Magic of Mushrooms Mushrooms not only taste good but also a great source of healthy food To fight diseases, the answer is simple: Enjoy your share of mushrooms. Mushrooms are full of proteins, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, anti-biotic and antioxidants. From pizzas, pastas to omelettes, mushrooms can really add taste to a dish. The health benefits of mushroom are: B Vitamins are vital for turning food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which the body burns to produce energy. They also help the body metabolize fats and protein. Mushrooms contain loads of vitamin B2 and vitamin B3. Mushrooms have zero cholesterol, fats and very low carbohydrates. The fiber and certain enzymes in them also help lower cholesterol level. The high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when they are digested. Mushrooms can be an ideal low energy diet for diabetics. They

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • Friday, DECEMBER 23 , 2011• WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

have no fats, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrates, high proteins, vitamins and minerals, a lot of water and fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help breaking down of sugar or starch of the food. Ergothioneine, a powerful anti oxidant present in mushrooms is very effective in giving protection from free radicals as well as boosting up immunity. Mushrooms contain natural antibiotics (similar to penicillin, which itself is extracted from mushrooms) which check microbial and other fungal infections. Mushrooms are the only vegetable and the second known source (after cod liver oil) to contain vitamin-D in edible form. They are rich in calcium (good for bones), iron (cures anemia), potassium ( good for lowering blood pressure) and selenium. The best source of selenium is animal proteins. So, mushrooms can be the best choice for vegetarians to obtain selenium.

SPORTS

December 23, 2011

Pakistan and India Should Resume Tennis Ties: Bopanna

LAHORE (Dawn): Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna used a visit to Pakistan on Thursday to call for cross-border tennis in a bid to raise the profile of a sport overshadowed by cricket in south Asia. The 31-year-old from Bangalore travelled to Pakistan to attend the wedding of his former Pakistani doubles partner Aisam-ul Haq Qureshi this week. “It’s nice to be in Pakistan and I hope we resume tennis between the two countries which in turn would increase interest in the sport in both the countries,” Bopanna told reporters after playing a practice game in Lahore. Bopanna and Qureshi, who doubled up in 2007 and shot to fame by finishing as runners up in last year’s US open, have been poster boys for Indian-Pakistani rapprochement at a time of deep suspicion between the nucleararmed rivals.

Rohan Bopanna at the wedding of Aisam-ul Haq Qureshi

Last month the pair parted ways as Bopanna wanted to find an Indian partner in a bid to qualify for next year’s London Olympics. “We are good friends and will remain good friends,” said Bopanna. “I am here to attend his wedding and am very happy at that.” Dubbed the “Indo-Pak express”, the duo actively promoted IndiaPakistan rapprochement and even

He also warned that HRT, who have yet to score a point in two years, would be less competitive next season than they had been at the end of 2011 and were “taking a step back so that we can take two forward.” The only other team with a declared vacancy is former champions Williams, with whom Karthikeyan worked as a test driver in 2006 and 2007.

Germany’s Adrian Sutil is seen as favourite for that seat, unless Williams stick with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. Karthikeyan said Kolles had made a strong contribution to HRT but the team was moving on. “With a small team he did a good job. But now the team has a different direction and that’s a good thing,” he said .

Indian Women Fetch Bronze in Hockey Tourney

offered to play tennis over the border, which has a history of warfare and political tension. Bopanna said they were still waiting for permission for the “peace match.” “We offered to play a match at the Wagah border and wrote letters to both governments, but we still await clearance,” said Bopanna.

Karthikeyan Hopes to Stay Alive in F1

BANGALORE (Samachar): India’s Narain Karthikeyan has not given up hope of racing in Formula One (F1) next year despite there being only two clear vacancies remaining and a long list of rivals for them. “I had a good Indian Grand Prix and the intention is to see what opportunities are available in Formula One and see how we can conclude something,” Karthikeyan said on the sidelines of a karting event in Bangalore. “I’m not dealing with it directly. So there are people who are liaising on behalf of me,” he said. Karthikeyan made his F1 comeback with Hispania (HRT) this year after having made his debut with Jordan in 2005, but had to stand aside from the British Grand Prix in July in favour of Red Bull-backed Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo. He made a one-off race appearance for his inaugural home grand prix at the Buddh circuit, replacing Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, and finished 17th and ahead of Ricciardo. Ricciardo has since moved on to

India beat Ireland in the four-nation tournament at Parana, Argentina

India’s Narain Karthikeyan hopeful of racing Formula One next year

Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team, with Spanish veteran Pedro de la Rosa the only driver confirmed by HRT so far. The Spanish-based team’s owners have also replaced Colin Kolles, who handed Karthikeyan his drives at Jordan and HRT, as principal with former racer Luis Perez-Sala now in charge.

Perez-Sala said on Saturday that HRT were in advanced talks with several drivers but gave no details. “It’s a decision we surely won’t make until the start of next year because, at this stage, who will be the team’s second driver for next season is perhaps the least urgent one right now,” said the Spaniard.

To e-mail us local school or college level sport events, email us: indoamericannews@yahoo.com

NEW DELHI (IBN): The Indian women’s hockey team notched up a facile 4-1 win over Ireland to clinch the bronze medal in the fournation tournament held in Parana, Argentina. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half time but India came back strongly in the second session to fire three goals. The goal scorers for India were Jaspreet Kaur (penalty corner 7th min), Anuradha Thokchom (58th min), Vandana Katariya (68th min) and Ritu Rani (penalty corner 70th min), while Aine Connery (7th min) sounded the board for Ireland. India beat Ireland 4-1 in the fournation Tournament held in Parana, Argentina. Ireland took an early lead in the seventh minute with the lone goal scored by Connery after a defensive lapse by the Indians. India restored parity when Kaur found the target from a penalty corner in the 26th minute after an Irish defender obstructed Vandana

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011 • WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

Katariya in the striking circle. India dominated the proceedings in the second half and exhibited their flair as they mounted attacks with regular monotony. Goalkeeper Yogita Bali and deep defenders Pinky Thokchom, Kaur and Preety Sunila Kiro stood tall and thwarted all moves by the Irish attackers. Anuradha Thokchom put India ahead in the 58th minute when she beat Ireland custodian Emma Gray with a deflection from a right flank cross. Katariya increased the lead to 3-1 in the 68th minute when she found the mark after Ritu Rani and Asunta Lakra combined a midfield manoeuvre. India rounded off the tally at the death with Preety Sunila Kiro scoring from a penalty corner variation. The team will return from Argentina on Wednesday. World champions Argentina beat South Africa 2-0 in the final to win the tournament.

INDIA

December 23, 2011

KFC to Open 500 More Restaurants in India by 2015

Happy diners at a KFC restaurant in Chandigarh, India

NEW DELHI (Zee News): Putting behind violent protests against its entry in the mid-1990s, American restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken, better known as KFC, has

NEW DELHI (OnCars): Audi is planning to launch the Audi S6 sedan and the Q3 SUV in the Indian market next year. The primary reason for the move, as stated by the company, is to drive sales growth up by 40 per cent in 2012. The two models will take their first public bow at the upcoming Auto Expo to be held in New Delhi next month. “The study is going on to

thrived on the growing fascination for fast food among the Indian middle class to chart a major expansion plan in the country through small-town penetration and

innovative products. Like its other American peers like Dominoes, Pizza Hut and McDonalds, this Louisville, Kentucky-based chain has also started tweaking its classical chicken recipes and introducing new ones like fiery grilled chicken and vegetarian dishes to suit Indian food habits. KFC, which operates in 109 countries and claims to have more than 15,000 outlets around the world, expects to ramp up its restaurants in India to 500 by 2015, riding on eager and aspirational customers in its smaller cities. “We are growing at a CAGR ( compound annual growth rate) of 70 percent. We already have 150plus restaurants in 30-plus cities and are confident of reaching our target of 500 by 2015,” Dhruv Kaul, KFC India’s marketing director, told media on the expansion process that started in 2005.

“We’ll mainly expand within the metros, but also in cities like Durgapur, Calicut, Kochi and other tier-two towns. The reception we are receiving in new towns is very, very encouraging,” Kaul said. There has been a series of launches this year that included popcorn chicken, cappuccino, crushers and vegetarian and chicken rissoles, apart from the fiery grilled chicken. Speaking about the new product, he said it was developed entirely within the country and was six months in the making. “It went through six months of rigorous testing and the feedback we received was extremely encouraging as the flavour was well liked. It has done extremely well in the 10 days since its launch,” Kaul said. “It’s a fiery product based on the Indian palate,” he added. Made with juicy chicken pieces,

fiery grilled chicken is marinated and seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, and then grilled to perfection via a unique ‘steam roast’ process, developed specially for KFC. Asked if the new product would find its way to other KFC restaurants in the South Asian region, Kaul did not rule this out. “I can only speak for India but we have a robust exchange of ideas and products. We are inspired by the market and so I wouldn’t be surprised if this product even moves outside the region,” he said. KFC had a rather shaky start in India, seeing violent protests from nationalists, farmers, health activists as well as animal rights activists that saw the vandalisation of its first outlet in Bangalore. The company has now put that behind and moved on. To subscribe to our newspaper, pleasecall 713-789-NEWS (6397)

introduce Audi S6 in the Indian market. We are thinking of launching the car during the second quarter of next year.” Audi India Head, Michael Perschke said. “We may launch Audi Q3 in India very soon. It will most probably

come in during the second half of 2012.” Perschke added. The Audi S6 sedan is equipped with a massive V8 engine that produces 518PS of max power and will compete with the likes of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG and BMW M5. With the Q3 the automaker will make its presence felt in one segment lower than that of Q5 and will take on BMW’s X1.

Apart from the S6 and the Q3 models, which will be adorning the stall at the Auto Expo, Audi will also be showcasing an electric hybrid version of the Audi A3 called the e-tron next month. In the current year, Audi has sold 5100 units and aims to surpass the sales mark of 5400 units by the end of the year – an increase of 80 per cent over last year’s sales.

Audi India to Launch S6 Sedan and Q3 SUV

Best Wished to the Sikh Nation on Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 346th birthday

celebrations January 5th 2012

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • Friday, DECEMBER 23 , 2011• WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

December 23, 2011

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36 December 23, 2011

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