Daily Archives: November 25, 2017


Brazil President Has Angioplasty in 3 Arteries, Stent put in

Brazil’s President Michel Temer is recovering after undergoing a successful angioplasty in three coronary arteries. The presidential palace said Saturday that at least one stent was implanted in the procedure late Friday. It said Temer was recuperating in a hospital in Sao Paulo. The 77-year-old president was admitted to the hospital on Friday night to have a coronary catheter inserted. That’s typically a procedure to check for blockages in arteries. Earlier this year, Temer was diagnosed with a partial coronary obstruction. His office had said he planned to treat it …


Bookmaker Taking No Bets on When Prince Harry Will Wed 

A major London bookmaker has suspended betting on whether Prince Harry will marry American actress Meghan Markle in 2018 amid rumors an engagement may be announced soon. Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said Friday that it seems an engagement announcement “is to be confirmed imminently.” The bookmaker has stopped taking bets on a 2018 royal wedding after Markle was seen shopping in London this week. The British press has reported that Markle has met in private with Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The couple has been dating for more than a …


What’s On the Menu? Augmented Reality and 3-D Food Models

At Vino Levantino wine bar in New York City, the desserts are delicious but not always so straightforward. “We have a few desserts that are not usual … or people (are) not familiar with them,” owner Haim Amit said. “Like we have the kadaif, I mean, not everyone knows what’s kadaif.” Rather than explain the traditional Middle Eastern dessert to customers, Amit shows them.  Using the Kabaq augmented reality application on an iPad, he demonstrates how virtual, 3-D models of desserts can now be superimposed onto the tabletop in front …


Startup Hopes to Show 3-D Versions of Menu Items

It’s not always easy to know what to order when dining out, especially with exotic or foreign cuisines. But a tech startup in New York is hoping to help, using augmented reality to bring restaurant menus to life. VOA’s Tina Trinh met with the founder of Kabaq … From: MeNeedIt


Chinese Barber, Clients Swear by Eyelid Shave

Chinese street barber Xiong Gaowu deftly scrapes a straight razor along the inside of his customer’s eyelid. “You should be gentle, very, very gentle,” said Xiong, who performs traditional eyelid shaves at his roadside location in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan. Customers swear by the practice of “blade wash eyes,” as it is known in Mandarin, saying they trust Xiong’s skill with the blade. “No, it’s not dangerous,” said 68-year-old Zhang Tian. “My eyes feel refreshed after shaving and I feel comfortable.” Xiong, 62, said he …


Head of Consumer Watchdog Names Successor, Trump Names Another

The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Friday and named his own successor, leading to an open conflict with President Donald Trump, who announced a different person as acting head of the agency later in the day. That means there are now effectively two acting directors of the CFPB, when there should only be one. Typically an acting director position would be filled according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. But Richard Cordray, along with his resignation, elevated Leandra English, who was the agency’s chief of …


Fighting Pollution, Plastics in Indonesia

Slowly but steadily, the consciousness about the need to protect and preserve the natural environment is rising all over the world. Grassroots initiatives get more coverage, and those involved in them say it feels good to be a part of a beneficial movement. VOA’s George Putic reports on two of the latest initiative in Indonesia. … From: MeNeedIt


Trump Wants to End Welfare of Clinton Era

Overhauling welfare was one of the defining goals of Bill Clinton’s presidency, starting with a campaign promise to “end welfare as we know it,” continuing with a bitter policy fight and producing change that remains hotly debated 20 years later. Now, President Donald Trump wants to put his stamp on the welfare system, apparently in favor of a more restrictive policy. He says “people are taking advantage of the system.” Trump, who has been signaling interest in the issue for some time, said this past week that he wants to …