Voice of Asia, APRIL 1, 2016

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VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

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FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

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VOICE OF ASIA 28 years of dedicated service to the community

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Battle Lines Drawn Over Medicare Pricing Proposal Read on Page 16 or Call 832-806-1000

Vol. 29 No. 14 Friday, April 1, 2016 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Gaura Purnima celebrations at ISKCON of Houston

A majestic view of Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhav alter. Priests performing puja during the Gaura Purnima at ISKCON.

Suu Kyi aide sworn in as Myanmar president in historic power shift

C

The festivities began with the ceremonial abhishekh (bathing) ceremony.

haitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Bengal (India) on a full moon night during a lunar eclipse. It is typical for people to bathe in the Ganges during an eclipse and chant the Lord’s holy names for spiritual purification.

So, everyone in the area was chanting the holy names when He was born. His parents gave Him the name of Vishvambhara, meaning the support of the universe, because astrolo-

gers had predicted His super human qualities and that He would deliver the people of the world. He was also nicknamed Nimai because He had been born under a nima tree.

The ISKCON of Houston temple celebrated Lord’s appearance day - also known as “Gaura Purnima” on Tuesday, March 22nd.

Lord Chaitanya is Lord Krish-

na in His most merciful feature.

Therefore, even if one doesn’t understand Lord Chaitanya’s identity as the Supreme Lord, but accepts Him as a saintly person or as a social reformer and philosopher, one can still derive the highest benefit by chanting the names of God. Devotees came in with flowers, fruits and various offerings Continued on page 8

Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday celebrated at Vedanta Society of Greater Houston

Myanmar’s outgoing president Thein Sein (R) hands over the presidential seal to the country’s new President Htin Kyaw (L) during the handover ceremony in Naypyidaw on March 30, 2016 (AFP Photo/Nyein Chan Naing/Pool)

by Kelly MACNAMARA / Hla-Hla HTAY

M

yanmar entered a new era on Wednesday as Aung San Suu Kyi’s democracy movement took power after 50 years of military domination, with a close aide of the Nobel laureate sworn in as president.

Htin Kyaw, a school friend and confidant of the democracy champion, succeeds former general Thein Sein, who ushered in reforms that transformed Myanmar from a repressive hermit state to a nation full of hope.

junta-scripted constitution but has declared that she will steer the government anyway. Htin Kyaw is expected to act as her proxy.

The handover at the juntabuilt parliament in the capital Naypyidaw marks the final act of a prolonged transition since Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party swept elections last November.

The NLD won 80 percent of parliamentary seats, giving them a massive public mandate to rule.

As Htin Kyaw took the oath of office, he hinted he would change the army-imposed constitution that has excluded his friend and mentor from the top post.

They are tasked with reviving a battered economy and a society straitjacketed by the army, which ruled with an iron fist between 1962 and the start of reforms in 2011 under Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian administration.

Suu Kyi, 70, is barred from becoming president by the

Welcoming a new age of full civilian government, the

bespectacled new president pledged to be “faithful to the people of the republic of the union of Myanmar”.

“I will uphold and abide by the constitution and its laws. I will carry out my responsibilities uprightly and to the best of my ability,” the 69-year-old told the chamber.

- ‘Democratic standards’ -In a later ceremony at the presidential palace, Thein Sein symbolically handed over to his successor as a smiling Suu Kyi looked on.

But the army is far from leaving the political scene. The military holds a quarter of all parliamentary seats and three key posts in the cabinet.

Suu Kyi, the standard-bearer of the fight for democracy, joins that same cabinet holding Continued on page 10.

Swami Sarvadevanandaji Maharaj seen performing Homa while Consul General Mr. P. Harish, wife Nandita Harish and VSGH devotees observe. Read report on Page 5

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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by Ivan Eland (March 30, 2016) Huffington Post.

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T

he latest Western “victories” over the Islamic State—the U.S. killing of the number two man in the heinous group and the Russian supported retaking of the ancient town of Palmyra, Syria by the Syrian government— should not mask the long-term difficulties of eradicating the Islamist insurgency. Examining these two “achievements” may, however, tell us what is likely to work and what is not.

The two recent developments continue a series of setbacks for the Islamic State—the fall of the towns of Tikrit and Ramadi in Iraq and al-Shadadi in Syria. The U.S. assassination of Haji Iman, the organization’s day-to-day commander and finance minister, will probably have less of an effect than is widely believed. Even U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter admitted that the senior leadership of terrorist groups can be replaced. And since war is an evolutionary hothouse, an often more ruthless leader, who was tough enough to survive, replaces the slain leader. Experts on counterinsurgency are skeptical that any great power can kill its way out of an insurgency.

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Are Western ‘Victories’ Against The Islamic State Really That Significant?

The fall of Palmyra seems to belie the U.S. government’s line that President Vladimir Putin of Russia was only trying to weaken pro-U.S. anti-Assad rebels at the expense of taking on the Islamic State. Indeed, the heavy use of Russian air power in support of the Syrian Army seemed to be decisive in recapturing the town. This accomplishment should also make the United States chary about deposing Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite (an offshoot of Shi’ism) government in Syria.

The Russians have successfully shored up Assad’s control of the Shi’ite part of Syria. Assad may have a very poor human rights record, but he is better than the Islamic State getting control of all of Syria, something the U.S. government cannot seem to understand.

Yet, even if the Islamic state is defeated in most towns and cities—such as Mosul in Iraq and its capital of Raqqa in

Syria—the group likely will then fight strictly as a guerrilla force, requiring years to completely eradicate. And since the Islamic State was motivated to develop its ability to strike in the West—thus creating an international threat out of what had been merely a regional one—only after the U.S.-led Western coalition began bombing it in Iraq and Syria, it is easy to anticipate that the group’s overseas effort would continue, and maybe even accelerate, after the Islamic State loses the cities in its caliphate.

Now that a cease fire exists in the rest of Syria, the U.S. government needs to face the hard realities. Assad needs to stay and rule a rump Shi’ite (Alawite) Syria. To get the Sunnis in Iraq and Syria to drop support for the Islamic State, they need to fear such Shi’ite central governments in Syria and Iraq less than the Islamic State group.

Allowing the two countries to break up into autonomous re-

gions, with self-rule by various ethno-sectarian groups, would immediately give the Sunnis in both countries a big incentive to throw out the Islamic State fighters and more importantly would dissolve support for the group among such populations.

This option is much better than fighting a bloody long-term counterinsurgency, with the brutal Islamic State group continuing to lash out at Western, including possibly U.S., targets.

The decentralization of Iraq and Syria would drain local public support from the insurgency, instead of fueling it— as the current Russian and U.S.-led allied bombing is doing by accidentally or purposefully killing civilians. The international community—stocked full of countries with restive minorities—has always been reluctant to set the precedent of breaking up countries, but to restore stability in this volatile region, the United States needs to insist on this natural solution.

Courtesy: Huffington Post.

Anti-Hindu Dairy Queen owner to leave franchise

by Emma Hinchliffe Houston Chronicle, March 28, 2016

Update:

Dairy Queen franchisee is leaving his Kemah restaurant at the end of the month after drawing criticism last week for antiHindu messages displayed in his store.

Operator drew criticism for his anti-Hindu stance

A

The decision to leave Dairy Queen was in the works before these anti-Hindu messages gained attention and is unrelated, said Dairy Queen spokesman Dean Peters.

“Like the vast majority of Dairy Queen restaurants, the Kemah restaurant is owned and operated by an independent business owner, under a license from American Dairy Queen Corporation,” the company said in a statement. “The actions and statements of this individual franchisee are not representative of ADQ’s corporate values, nor of our iconic family brand. We support and welcome all customers, and expect our franchisees to do the same.”

of racism.

On Monday, Dar’s Dairy Queen location at 1107 Highway 146 in Kemah, about 25 miles north of Galveston, did not answer calls.

The owner told the ExpressNews he planned to leave because of a new, expensive “corporate mandate.” Dairy Queen said in its statement that the company will “continue to work with all parties toward the closing of this transaction in the near future.”

“We expect that this issue will be resolved at that time,” the statement said.

While the franchisee who used his Dairy Queen location to spread anti-Hindu messages in this case happened to be departing, Peters would not say how the company would handle a similar situation when the operator was not offering to step down.

The store’s owner, 65-yearold Mohammad Dar, told the San Antonio Express-News last week that he had been “researching” his findings about The Kemah location had these Hinduism for 14 years. Home- anti-Hindu signs for over a year, made signs at his drive-through but they only recently gained window, at the side of the road, attention. The posters are not and elsewhere in the store com- totally Subscription Renewal Form clear in their message, pared Hindus to monkeys and with Hindu and Muslim imagFax this form to: 713-774-5143 said that Hinduism was a kind

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VOICE OF ASIA

ery mixed with American and even British flags. Some did not mention Hinduism directly, instead offering vague messages like “Obey the Constitution of America, not Monkey-ism of Dark Ages.” Some customers who saw the signs posted their confusion about their meaning on Twitter.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Houston chapter spokesman Arsalan Safiullah said he thought the unclear messages were a reason the signs took so long to gain attention or condemnation. He said the incident was unusual and that Hindus and Muslims in the United States - and Houston do not often have this kind of tension.

“Here in the U.S., it’s very common for Hindus and Muslims to be friends. Our cultures are similar, and many Muslims in Houston are from India,” he said.

Safiullah said that CAIR, which usually defends the civil rights of Muslims in the U.S., was “doubly concerned” about this incident for its effects on both Hindus and Muslims.

The Kemah location is expected to transition ownership.

It is unclear if it will close in the interim.

The Hindus of Greater Houston and Hindu American Foundation welcomed a change in ownership at the Dairy Queen.

“After speaking with Dairy Queen’s spokesperson, Dean Peters, we applaud Dairy Queen for taking action to move up the timing of the sale of this location in Kemah to another franchisee owner in order to have these anti-Hindu signs removed swiftly, and we encourage the new owner to remove those signs as their first action,” the statement said.

“We also urge Dairy Queen to incorporate policies and procedures in their franchisee agreement to prevent such a situation from happening again. The Hindu community in Greater Houston is appreciative of the efforts of the Anti-Defamation League and other organizations to try and resolve this matter.

We continue to condemn the bigoted message of the signs and posters of Mr. Dar.” Courtesy: Houston Chronicle

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Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday celebrated at Vedanta Society of Greater Houston

H

OUSTON - Sunday, March 20, 2016 was an important day for the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston, (VSGH). It was Thakur Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Celebration. Swami Sarvadevanandaji Maharaj, the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hollywood and the present Minister in Charge of VSGH, was invited to perform the worship and the Homa, and to be the Speaker on Hinduism for the Interfaith Program in the evening.

The day was beautiful, sunny and slightly on the cooler side - a typical spring day. Sw. Sarvadevanandaji began the worship at 10 am. The shrine hall was full of devotees and the puja was divine. VSGH was honored by the attendance of the Consul General of India, P. Harish & his wife, Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni. Several de-

Consul General P.Harish and wife Nanditaji sharing lunch prasad with Swami at the VSGH Sunday, March 20.

VSGH members with Interfaith Participants and VIPs with Swami at the VSGH center in Houston. votional songs accompanied the ceremony which ended at 12:30 pm with Arati & Pushpanjali.

While the Homa preparation was going on, VSGH presented a small gift to CGI P. Harish & his wife Mrs. Nandita Par-

vathaneni, as a token of appreciation and gratitude for their continued support throughout their stay in Houston. VSGH

Women’s Voice for Better America to launch Opportunity Fair Women’s Voice for Better America, a network of diverse women leaders from Fort Bend and Houston, has launched a uniquely designed initiative to increase women’s access to Healthcare Choice, Career Progress and Voting Decision.

Co-chairs of Women’s Voice for Better America are Neeta Sane, Anhlan Nguyen, Nargis Ahmed, Ponnu Pillai, Fheryl Prestage, Munira Panjawani, Farida Abjani, Emee Nisnisan, Ling Luo, Claudia Ortega Hogue, Christina Sanders, Sophie Chou along with special coordinators, Ritu Raju, Maleeha Samee and Habiba Kavalec.

The mission of Women’s Voice for Better America is to encourage women to participate for societal, professional and individual advancement. The efforts by Women’s Voice for Better America are based on the simple principle that women’s progress is essential in making America better for our genera-

tion and for future generations to come.

Women’s Voice for Better America will be launching an Opportunity Fair on Saturday, Aug 27th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Star Learning located at 3528 Texas 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478. The Opportunity Fair will be a free admission, family event with light refreshments and door prizes. At the Opportunity Fair, women will receive free services and counsel from Ibn Sina Community Medical Center, Workforce Solutions and League of Women Voters. In addition, information about senior care and personal assistance service will be available by Golden Years.

Women’s Voice for Better America is glad to open the doors of opportunities for more women to join its network of volunteers. To join Women’s Voice for Better America, please contact Neeta Sane at 832-2798601.

will truly miss their presence at every major event. The devotees of the VSGH wish them the best of success and Happiness in Vietnam where he proceeds from here as its Indian Ambassador.

After the Homa was done, lunch was served to all devotees.

At 4:00 p.m. began the Annual Interfaith Program titled “Music as a Form of Worship”.

Pandit Suman Ghosh, a wellknown Hindustani classical singer in Houston, and Imam Mubasher Ahmed & his wife Nusrat of the Ahmadiya Community of Houston graced the event by attending the function. There were participants from five faiths, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Sufism & Hinduism who talked briefly about their religion, and how Music plays a part in their method of Worship. Then the vocal singers from each community performed devotional songs to illustrate the topic “Music as a Form of Worship”.

The Interfaith Program was a huge success. The shrine hall was reverberating with the devotional songs sung from indi-

vidual Sikh singers, to duets by the Rabbis of the Jewish Faith, to group songs presented by the Christians, Hindus & Sufis. Though the words were in different languages, they were very easy to follow. All the attendees joined in singing the songs & clapping their hands.

It proved that day what the Vedas have said a long time ago –“Truth is One, Sages call it by different name”, and it also proved very visually & emotionally what Sri Ramakrishna always said, “As Many Opinions, that many ways”. So that evening showed that though the devotees of different faiths & opinions had met in the same temple and worshiped the Lord in different ways and words, it was the worship to same God, the same Truth. VSGH hopes to continue these types of programs in the future, as per the ardent requests of many of the attending devotees and participants of the different faiths.

After the program was over, the main representative of the different groups was presented with a token of gratitude. The day ended with some of the participants and attendees joining Swami for dinner.

Read these and other community stories. Visit www. voiceofasiaonline.com

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The People’s Lawyer

Answers to your Immigration Questions

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

www.peopleslawyer.net

ANSWERS TO YOUR CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION QUESTIONS:

Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Store may have no liability for your accident Q. I went to a big-box store last week and had an accident. The manager completed an accident/incident report. I am not sure quite what actual happened, but I wound up in the floor in a sitting position. I hit my knee, and elbow somehow on the way down. Currently my knee is still swollen, elbow/arm swollen and sore as well as my shoulder and neck, and right above my hip on the left side. I have an appointment with my doctor this week to get checked out. I have never had to deal with something like this, and never expected it. I would like to know what procedures or steps I should take for something like this.

ability. The store was not at fault and did not do anything to cause your accident.

I suggest you follow up with the store and see if it is accepting responsibility for your accident. If they are not, and say that the accident was your own fault, you will need to show that in fact it was their negligence that caused the accident.

Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need the assistance of a personal injury attorney. The bottom line, however, is that this is an example of why it is so important we all have medical insurance. In many cases, no one else is responsible when we have an accident.

Q. Our neighbor installed a new fence between our homes, and did not tell us he was going to do it. After the fence went up he asked us to pay half the costs of the fence. Do we legally have to pay our half? Does it matter that they did not consult us about the fence?

A. I assume your question is whether the store has any responsibility and is liable for your medical bills and other expenses. The answer may not be what you expect.

A. As a general rule, unless you have a homeowner’s or civic association that requires the costs of the fence be divided between the neighbors, you have no obligation to pay half the costs. Your neighbor installed the fence, so it is his fence and he has to pay for it.

If he wanted you to pay for half the fence, he should have talked to you before the fence went up and had you to agree to split the costs. Having said that, however, you do benefit from the fence and it does seem fair for you to pay half. But you must make the decision of whether to pay and how much.

For the store to be responsible it must bear some “fault” that caused your accident. In most cases, you must show the store was “negligent” and that is why you were hurt. Negligence basically means not acting as a reasonable person would. For example, if something slippery spilled on the floor and the store did not clean it up properly as soon as they were aware of the spill, they could be considered negligent. If as a result of the spill you slipped and fell, the store could be liable for your injury. On the other hand, if you just lost your balance and fell, the store would have no li-

Q. I am 67 years old, and had a common law marriage for over 35 years. My husband re-

cently passed. Am I entitled to his Social Security?

A. Under the law, a widow is entitled to receive Social Security Survivor’s Benefits upon the death of her husband. The fact that you have a common law marriage does not change your eligibility. As I have said before, as far as the law is concerned, a common law marriage is no different than any other marriage. How much you receive will depend on factors such as how long your husband worked.

To learn more about survivor’s benefits, visit the Social Security Survivors Planner, http://www.ssa. gov/survivorplan/index.htm Q. My stepfather died without a will. Am I entitled to any of his property? He always treated me the same as all of his other children for almost my entire life.

A. This is a common question, with a common misconception about the law. Your stepfather may have treated you like his other children, but as far as the law is concerned, you are different and you may not inherit any of his property. If there is a will, the beneficiaries named in the will, including stepchildren, inherit. When a person dies without a will, however, the law determines who inherits his or her property. A stepchild is not included within the list of people to whom property passes after death.

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

Register now for the ‘People’s Law School’

O

nce again, it is time for the “People’s Law School,” the oldest and most successful law program for the layperson in the country! This is your chance to learn more about your legal rights, and have fun at the same time.

On Saturday, April 2nd, the Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center, with the sponsorship of the Houston Bar Association, will host more than thirty volunteer lawyers, judges, and law professors, teaching courses in thirteen different areas of law.

The “People’s Law School” is designed to give you some useful information about your legal rights. Best of all, it is absolutely free!

The program runs from 9 a.m. until noon on the main campus of the University of Houston. There will be classes

in business law, health insurance, consumer law, credit and debt collection, wills and estates, family law, landlord tenant law, small claims court, tax law, social security and how to find an attorney. There will even be a class on how you can research the law on the Internet. Each person may choose three classes to attend. Every class will be taught by a different instructor and is a little different, so feel free to take a class more than once if you are really interested in the subject matter.

Volunteer lawyers, judges, and law professors teach all the classes. To make sure things run smoothly, dozens of law students and members of the University of Houston Law Center staff will be available to help with everything from the free coffee and donuts, to the final evaluation form. Ev-

eryone who attends also will receive comprehensive written materials to supplement the classes.

Q: Do I have to be a permanent resident first before I can apply for citizenship?

A: Yes, generally, in order to be eligible for citizenship, you must first be a lawful permanent resident. If you are married to a US citizen, you become eligible for citizenship after three years of becoming a permanent resident and is still living with your spouse. Otherwise, typically, the requirement is you have to be a permanent resident for five years.

Q: I became a permanent resident after holding asylee status for almost 10 years. I have been a permanent resident for 3 years now.

I have not travelled abroad in the past 5 years and also do not have any convictions.

When do I become eligible to apply for naturalization?

A: For those granted asylum, a maximum of one year of your time in asylee status counts towards your time as a permanent resident.

In your situation, the fact that you held asylee status for 10 years does not matter and you are permitted to have only one year of your status as asylee count as permanent residence. USCIS will ‘roll back’ the date on your permanent resident card by one year. The effect of this is you will need to wait for four years to pass after the date on your permanent resident card before you become eligible to apply for citizenship. You are however permitted to submit your N-400 Application for Naturalization 90 days before the required 5 years have passed.

Q: My wife wants to apply for her naturalization.

She came here to the United States as a Refugee five years ago and has been a permanent resident for four years now. Can she apply for citizenship now?

A: Yes, she can. For those who came to the United States as refugees, they must apply for permanent residence within one year of their admission. They are however permitted to count the time from the date of their US entry as refugees as

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I had lied on my naturalization application about living with my wife. I was not living in the same house with her as I moved with my job and she decided to stay with hers but we were not legally separated. The officer took this to mean I had lied. I was told that I could reapply for naturalization but only after five years have passed. I did not appeal that decision. The five years have passed and I like to apply for naturalization again. What can I expect this time?

A: If you lied or provided false or misleading information in your Naturalization application and while under oath or affirmation, you are deemed to not have the required good moral character for citizenship. In your situation, if you decide to refile the naturalization application, be prepared to clarify the statements you had provided about living with your wife and why you provided those statements. It is best you consult with an immigration attorney who can advise you about your case in detail, what to expect and how to deal with the naturalization interview.

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

My Bio Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. You may contact her at telephone number 713-6238088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

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the beginning of their permanent residence. Based on your information, your wife does have the required five years in total and she is eligible to apply for her naturalization now.

Q: I went abroad and stayed for more than 6 months but less than one year in the last 5 years. Will this affect my naturalization application?

A: Yes, possibly. I am assuming you qualify for citizenship in all other respects.

Generally, any single absence between 6 months and a year within the requisite 5 year statutory period creates a rebuttable presumption that continuous residence has been interrupted. Because this presumption is rebuttable, you can present evidence to show that your continuous residence was not interrupted during that period of time which you were abroad.

For example, evidence that you have maintained your employment in the US, did not obtain employment abroad, retained full access to your home in the US, filed all your Tax Returns for the year in which you were gone and that your close family members continued to remain here during the period of your absence will be helpful. In addition, it is advisable for you to provide an explanation as to why you stayed beyond the 180 days period for that particular trip and provide documentation to support your reason. I suggest that you contact an immigration lawyer who can advise you accordingly.

Q: I had a re-entry permit and stayed abroad for more than one year during the 5 year period. I just returned from my trip and have just applied for citizenship. Will it be denied?

A: Yes, unfortunately, your application will be denied because any absence of more than one year during the period which continuous residence is required interrupts the continuous residence requirement.

As such, you are may reapply to naturalize four years and one day after your return from this particular trip or two years and one day under the rules for spouse of a U.S. citizen.

Q: I had applied for naturalization five years ago and my N-400 application was denied because the officer said

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VOICE OF ASIA 7

COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Samskriti and Anjali Center host farewell dinner honoring Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and wife Nandita Dr. Ratna Kumar presents her student, Amani Parvathaneni’s Kuchipudi classical dance performance

SUGAR LAND Samskriti & Anjali Center for Performing Arts Houston hosted a farewell dinner in honor of Consul General Harish and Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni, and a special Kuchipudi classical dance performance by their daughter Amani Parvathaneni at Anjali Center for Performing Arts on 18 March, 2016. The program was attended by guests from arts and culture, members of Consular Corps of Houston, members of the community and media.

Consul General, Mrs. Nandita Parvathaneni and Ms. Amani Parvathaneni (center) with Ms. Rathna Kumar, Founder / Director, Anjali Center for Performing Arts and guests from arts & culture on this occasion.

Indo-American Heritage Day celebration in Julia Ideson historic Library Building IN PICTURES Photo credit: Bilal Tawil

Dignitaries and guests that attended The Indo-American Heritage Day on March 26, 2016.

Amani Parvathaneni performing at the Anjali Center for Performing Arts on 18 March, 2016

Sam Merchant, FIS Chair, Krishna Vavilala, Consul Genaeral Mr. P. Harish, Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee, Prof. Stephen Klineberg, Rice Univ., and FIS Director Dr. Ponnada Narayana.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Sri Meenakshi Temple celebrates Panguni Uthiram festival on a grand scale

The elaborate decorations by the priests were captivating.

by Kamala Raghavan Panguni Uthiram is celebrated at many temples throughout South India and the world. Devotees flock to many well-known temples such as Perur, Palani, Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore and Vadapalani Murugan temple, to name a few.

The festival was celebrated in a grand manner at Sri Meenakshi Temple on Sunday, March 27, 2016. It is believed that the wedding

of Rama and Sita was celebrated on Panguni Uthiram.

The “Kalyanams” of SivaParvati, Lord Subramanya, Vishnu-Lakshmi and RamaSita are celebrated in a grand manner at many temples.

The festival is celebrated in temples by observing several rituals such as devotees carrying a “kavadi” (semicircular canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on shoulders), milk pots or pull a chariot in fulfilment

Devotees offer prayers during Panguni Uthiram celebrations at Sri Meenakshi Temple on Sunday, March 27, 2016.

of vows. A special feature is the “alagu”, where devotees pierce the body with spears and hooks as an offering to the Lord for having helped them to avert a calamity. The

Gaura Purnima ...at ISKCON of Houston

Devotees seen pulling the rope of the chariot during the procession at the Sri Meenakshi Temple. festival dates back to the 7th Temple. The Main Temple and devotional music by the Century according to histori- was full with devotees for devotees were feasts for the ans.

Kalyana Utsavam. Malai eyes and ears.

The grand celebration Matral (Garland exchange) The event Coordinators of Panguni Uthiram at Sri ritual was done beautifully Sathya Nagarajan and Saro by all the priests.

The proMeenakshi Temple was atAlagappan executed it flawtended by a huge crowd of cession with Mayil Vahanam lessly under the leadership devotees all through the was a great sight to watch. of Chairman Narayanan and morning. The function start- The decorations by the vice chairman Padmini Naed with beautiful Seerva- priests were beautiful, and than who were aided expertly risai procession from Ganesh the chanting of the slokas by the RAC team members.

Goswami Academy children presenting a song on the auspicious occasion.

Continued from page 3 for their beloved Lord Chaitanya, also known as Gauranga - who is the Golden incarnation of Lord Krishna. The spectacular temple room with ornate design and depiction of various narrations from the Vedic scriptures was specially decorated for the occasion. Depicting a specific incident from Lord Chaitanya’s life, where he once brought all the animals of the Jharikanda forest to peacefully join him in his joyous singing of praises to the Lord, the temple was decorated with a colorful forest theme.

The festivities began with the ceremonial abhishekh (bathing) ceremony. The Deities were bathed in sacred substances such as milk, ghee, honey, fresh fruit nectars and other choice substances while

the hundreds of congregation members gathered chanted the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in unison. It is the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavas that chanting this 16-syllable mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, cleanses one’s heart from all anxieties and illusions.

The resounding and deeply meditative sound of the conch shell announced the arati ceremony. This is not just ritual of an offering a lamp to the Lord, but meaningful way to connect to the divine. Offering a lamp to the Deity form of the Lord invokes auspiciousness and as the worshipper waves the lamp across each limb of the Lord, it takes the beholder away from the mundane.

After arati, His Grace Radha Krishna Dasa narrated excerpts from the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who brought to the world a truly secular path of Bhakti Yoga, with his teachings of how to serve and love God, regardless of caste, race, religion or creed.

Adding another fun element to the proceedings, students of the Goswami Academy presented a beautiful rendition of the song ‘ Lord Chaitanya’s moon is rising’, as an attestment to their training in both creative academics and spiritual values. As is tradition at any ISKCON festival, the evening celebrations ended with a delicious vegetarian feast.

Come visit ISKCON of Houston temple at 1320 West 34th Street. Sunday feast program starts every Sunday at 5:30 PM

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VOICE OF ASIA 9

Houston’s Mayor Turner reappoints Ramabhadran to METRO Board Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has re-appointed Sanjay Ramabhadran to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) and the appointment for a 2-year term was confirmed by Houston City Council. He was previously appointed by Mayor Annise Parker and became the first Indian-American to serve on the METRO Board. Other City of Houston appointees include incoming Chair Carrin Patman, Lex Frieden, Troi Taylor and Christof Spieler. Harris County appointees include Jim Robinson and Lisa Castaneda and Member City appointees include former Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel and former Katy Mayor Don Elder.

“It is good to have a mix of new ideas and institutional knowledge,” said Mayor Turner. “This new board will reflect the diversity of Houston and a diversity of thinking and experience that will be beneficial as METRO works to increase transit options and improve mobility in the area.” At the Press Conference, Mayor Turner recognized Sanjay’s civic engagement and added that he brings a great deal of experience to the Board especially as it relates to transit and transportation infrastructure.

METRO operates a regional multimodal transportation system across 1,300 square miles with 2,663 route miles, a 22.7 mile light rail system, 20 Transit Centers, 29 Park & Ride Facilities, over a 100 miles of HOV/ HOT lanes and a paratransit service, METROLift. Communities that are part of the METRO area include the cities of Houston, Bellaire, Katy, Missouri City, the Villages and West University Place. Major portions of unincorporated Harris County are also included.

Sanjay Ramabhadran currently serves as Managing Partner at VERSA Group LLC providing strategic consulting and advisory services. A

DIASPORA

Sanjay Ramabhadran registered Professional Engineer, he has provided engineering and master planning services to the Industrial and Governmental market segments for 20 years. He previously served on the Board & Management Team of a regional consulting firm and directed a Corporate Practice focused on water and infrastructure.

His civic involvement has included serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of LEADERSHIP HOUSTON; Director in the Texas Lyceum – a state-wide leadership group focused on public policy issues impacting Texas; Steering Committee Member – Houston General Plan; Senior Fellow – American Leadership Forum; President of the HESS Club; President of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston; and Past-President of the Indo-American Political Action Committee.

Sanjay Ram was honored as one of the 2012 Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) by the United States Junior Chamber.

UHCOP Prof., and Department Chair Rajender Aparasu selected for Fulbright Specialist Roster

3 Sikh soldiers file lawsuit India confirms against US defence dept Infosys em-

ployee killed in Brussels attacks

From left: Spc. Kanwar Singh, Pvt. Arjan Singh Ghotra and Spc. Harpal Singh.

(Photo: Courtesy photos)

S

HINGTON: Three Sikh soldiers today filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defence seeking to serve in the US armed forces without being forced to compromise with their articles of faith like turbans, unshorn hair and beards.

In the lawsuit, Specialist Kanwar Singh, Specialist Harpal Singh and Private Arjan Singh Ghotra has demanded that the army accommodate their religious articles of faith, including turbans, unshorn hair and beards, so that each can begin basic combat training with their various units in May. The lawsuit was filed by the Sikh Coalition, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and McDermott Will & Emery, after the US department of defence ignored a written demand letter that was sent on March 23.

“We had hoped that we would not have to file a second lawsuit on behalf of three more Sikh American soldiers, who simply want to practice their faith freely while serving their nation,” said the Sikh Coalition’s legal director, Harsimran Kaur.

“However, the defense department has remained unresponsive to their requests for accommodation and the clock is ticking. Action must be taken,” she alleged.

The new lawsuit follows the March 4 federal court ruling that the army was prohibited from subjecting a decorated Sikh American soldier, Captain Simratpal Singh, to discriminatory testing.

A final army decision regarding CPT Singh’s landmark religious accommodation request is due by March 31.

“We would like the opportunity, like every other American, to proudly serve,” said Kanwar Singh, who enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

“I look forward to joining my battalion for training and making the diverse state of Massachusetts proud,” he said.

SPC Harpal Singh, a California Telecommunications Engineering specialist, was recruited by the US Army Reserve for his foreign language skills.

PVT Arjan Singh Ghotra, who is 17, enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard and is slated to attend basic training before attending George Mason University this fall, the statement said.

“It is unfortunate that in the face of overwhelming evidence that Sikhs should be permitted to serve, we are once again asking whether our nation’s largest employer will embrace religious freedom and diversity or continue to aggressively thwart progress. It is a sad day for all Americans when our military is on the wrong side of common sense, the law and our shared American values,” said Amandeep Sidhu, Partner at McDermott Will & Emery.

Last year, 27 retired US Generals called on the department of defense to eliminate the ban on observant Sikhs.

These generals joined 105 Members of Congress, 15 Senators and 21 national interfaith and civil rights organizations, who had previously signed letters in support of American Sikhs’ right to serve.

Courtesy: Times of India.

Former UW business school teacher sentenced for fraud

S

Prof. Rajender R. Aparasu, UH College of Pharmacy’s Rajender R. Aparasu, Ph.D., FAPhA, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Roster. The Fulbright program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, serves to promote the international engagement of academic scholarship and build linkages between U.S. and overseas eligible institutions.

Aparasu is the first UHCOP faculty member added to the candidate roster of the Fulbright Specialist Program, which helps U.S. faculty and professionals share their academic expertise and develop linkages with non-U.S. institutions on curriculum, assessment, faculty development, research training, and other program development activities.

“There are very few Fulbright Specialists in pharmacy; I am really honored to be selected for Fulbright Specialist Roster,” said Aparasu, whose five-year term runs through 2021.

“This is a great opportunity to offer my expertise in developing professional and graduate pharmacy programs that involve pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit overseas pharmacy institutions to assist faculty and administrators with respect to academic and research programs in pharmaceutical outcomes research.”

Aparasu’s primary areas of expertise include pharmacoepidemiology, geriatrics, psychopharmacology and evidence-based medicine. His current research project, supported by an R01 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is evaluating safety profiles of anticholinergic medications in the elderly nursing home residents.

“Dr. Aparasu’s selection as a Fulbright Specialist validates his professional accomplishments and enhances

the institutional profile of UH and the College of Pharmacy,” said Jaime Ortiz, Ph.D., UH vice provost for Global Strategies and Studies. “I am glad he now joins such a select group of outstanding U.S. academicians and scholars that will soon engage in collaborative endeavors with similarly related institutions from around the world.”

Aparasu has authored or coauthored nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and seven book chapters, as well as served as editor or co-editor of two books (Principles of Research Design and Drug Literature and Research Methods for Pharmaceutical Practice and Policy).

Aparasu was recognized by his peers with the Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association (FAPhA) for his exemplary professional achievements and outstanding service and contribution to the pharmacy profession. The recipient of several research presentation awards during his career, Aparasu holds editorial board appointments on six peer-review journals and has been recognized as an “exceptional” reviewer by five peer-review journals.

He currently serves as co-chair of the Research Review Committee for the 21st Annual International Meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) to be held in Washington, D.C., this year.

Aparasu obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and joined UHCOP in 2006 after serving on the faculty at the South Dakota State University for more than a decade.

“We’re proud to have Dr. Aparasu as an ambassador of the college and the university through this prestigious program and organization,” said F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D., R.Ph., dean of the UH College of Pharmacy. “The Fulbright organization provides unique opportunities for exchanging ideas and cultivating new relationships that will also enhance our institutions’ reputation in the international community.”

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Raghavendran Ganeshan.

M

UMBAI, India | AFP | 3/29/2016 - An Indian man missing since last week’s bombings in Brussels died in the attacks that killed 35 people, his employer and India’s government have said.

“It is with deep regret that we confirm the passing of our colleague Raghavendran Ganeshan in the terrible attack in Brussels,” Indian software giant Infosys wrote on Twitter late Monday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Raghavendran’s family and with those who were injured or lost a loved one in these attacks,” added the Bangalore-based software firm in another tweet.

India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that the 31-year-old, who had been working in Brussels for four years, was killed in the blast at Maalbeek metro station.

“Unfortunately, he was travelling in the same coach of the metro in which the suicide bomber blew himself up,” Swaraj wrote.

“His mortal remains are being handed over to the family in Brussels.”

Indian media said Raghavendran was from the southern state of Tamil Nadu and had recently become a father. His wife and young son are reportedly in India, while his parents and younger brother have travelled to Brussels.

On Monday, Belgian officials said the death toll from the March 22 Islamic State bombings had climbed to 35 after four people died in hospital.

Some 340 were also injured in the attacks on the metro and Zaventem airport, Belgium’s worst ever terror atrocity.

The dead include four Americans as well as people from countries from China to Britain, Sweden to Peru, testament to the cosmopolitan nature of a city that is home to both the European Union and NATO.

EATTLE (AP) March 23, 2016 — A Seattle man who formerly taught at the University of Washington business school has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for fraud.

from 1992 until state regulators ordered him to close down in 2013.

Satyen Chatterjee pleaded guilty last May to federal charges that he swindled at least five investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chatterjee ran Strategic Capital Management

U.S. Attorney Annette Hayes said in a written statement that Chatterjee, a native of India, tricked members of his own Bengali community.

An Indian flight attendant who was pictured covered in dust and blood after the attacks at the airport, making newspaper front pages around the world, is currently recovering in hospital.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly sentenced him Wednesday to 40 months in prison and nearly $550,000 in restitution. Courtesy: Associated Press.

A haunting image of Jet Airways employee Nidhi Chaphekar, from Mumbai, showing her yellow jacket torn, became one of the most widely published images of the bombings.

GITS Sa Re Ga Ma Pa presented by Prem Jyotish presents Voices that will touch your heart!

Zee TV’s Iconic Singing Reality Show Reinvents With A First-of-its-Kind 30 Member Jury of Music Connoisseurs To Aid The Selection Process After screening 50,000 entries from across the world including North America and after over 8 weeks of grueling auditions across 14 Indian cities to discover India’s most talented singers, only the most striking voices with an ability to touch your hearts will make it to the stage of Zee TV’s GITS Sa Re Ga Ma Pa presented by Prem Jyotish Starting Saturday, 26th March at 9 pm ET & 9:30 pm PT, India’s first and the most definitive singing reality show - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is back on your screens with an all-new season after a hiatus of four years.

The show has been instrumental in identifying, grooming and opening the doors to the industry for some of the country’s most remarkable musical talent - Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Shekhar Ravjiani, Bela Shende, Sanjivani, Kamal Khan and Ranjeet Rajwada over the last two decades.

Evolving its format over the years from episodic winners to a pyramid structure, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has been at the pinnacle of defining and redefining musical talent. Even as the much revered music platform completes 21 years since its launch in 1995, its latest season promises to be young and fresh like never before. The quest, this time around, is for voices of tomorrow - the most unique voices that are truly repre-

Top musical talents featured in Zee TV’s GITS Sa Re Ga Ma Pa sentative of contemporary India.

Carrying forward the grand legacy of enriching India’s music fraternity with gems from its homegrown talent pool, Zee TV has selected an eclectic panel of mentors to identify, groom and hone the skills of the current crop of contestants this season - these mentors are music maestros who’ve given India some unforgettable melodies and are idolized by millions of music enthusiasts the world over. The mentors include the Dabangg duo of Bollywood music Sajid-Wajid and the affable, endearing and multiple award-winning Pritam Chakraborty who’s known to constantly offer opportunities to young newcomers. Joining them for the very first time on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is the king of Indi-Pop and Bollywood playback, the performer par excellence -

Mika Singh. The young and charming Aditya Narayan, groomed in a family with great musical lineage, returns to host the upcoming season.

For the first time ever, a panel of 30 jury members who are experts from the music fraternity, will closely assess the aspiring singers right from the audition stage and help the mentors in the selection process. They represent different components of today’s music scene from DJs and music producers to singers, arrangers and lyricists.

Also a first, 2 finalists from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa North America 2016 went to India to live their dream of participating in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa India.

Tune in to Zee TV from 26th March onwards, Every Sat & Sun at 9 pm ET | 9:30 pm PT.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 10

Islamists end protest in Pakistani capital

by Khurram SHAHZAD SLAMABAD, AFP, 3/30/2016 - Islamist protesters gathered in the Pakistani capital ended their days-long sit-in on Wednesday after claiming the government had agreed to a number of their demands including the hanging of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

I

poor and minorities.

However the interior minister denied any such deal was made.

“There has been nor written or any other form of agreement,” Khan said.

“We were about to give orders to law enforcement agencies for clearing the area Pakistan’s Interior Minister but then two religious perChauhdry Nisar Ali Khan de- sonalities intervened.” nied however that a deal had The minister added that the been struck, saying the demprotesters then decided to onstrators left “on their own leave on their “own accord”. accord”.

The protesters -- who numbered some 25,000 at their peak -- had gathered Sunday in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in February five years after he assassinated a liberal Punjab governor over his calls to reform the country’s blasphemy laws.

The demonstrators clashed with security forces in Islamabad before setting up camp outside key government buildings along the capital’s main Constitution Avenue.

The stand-off came as Pakistan mourned more than 70 people killed in a Taliban suicide bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter Sunday in Lahore, underscoring deep religious divisions fuelling the Muslim country’s long battle with extremism.

A police source said more than 7,000 security forces were poised to clear the sitin, including the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps with reinforcements from the Ashraf Asif Jalali, one of the Punjab police, while army protest’s main leaders, told troops guarded key governreporters at the protest site ment buildings.

Wednesday evening: “As a Columnist Gul Bukhari result of the continuous foursaid that after initially underday sit-in, the government has estimating the protesters and accepted our demands.” failing to read their intentions “Nobody involved in blas- to hold a sit-in following fuphemy against the Holy neral prayers Sunday, the Prophet will be given conces- government had acted wisesions, whether they be Asia ly by allowing them to tire Bibi or anybody else,” he out and displaying an overadded, referring to a Christian whelming show of force. woman on death row since “The show of force was put 2010 over a dispute with Muslim women involving a out and in the end all they got was safe passage out,” she bowl of water. said, adding there was nothHe added that the govern- ing in the agreement claimed ment had also agreed to not by the protest leaders that make any changes to Paki- went beyond the current stastan’s controversial blasphe- tus quo and it was a “facemy law, which critics say is saving measure”. frequently used to oppress the

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Suu Kyi aide sworn in .....

“Of course there are no amendments planned on the blasphemy law. But there was no question of that happening. The government doesn’t even have the prerogative to change the law, that is with parliament.”

Bukhari added that the case of Asia Bibi together with other blasphemy convicts was also a judicial matter and would not be affected.

- Qadri’s legacy -Hailed as a hero by right-wing religious groups when he murdered Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, the demonstrators have demanded that Qadri be named a “martyr” and called for the execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five convicted of blasphemy.

Pakistan has 17 people on death row for blasphemy including Bibi, but has not executed anyone yet.

Qadri’s hanging, hailed as a “key moment” by analysts in Pakistan’s war on religious extremism, has become a flashpoint for the deep divisions in the conservative Muslim country.

His funeral earlier this month drew tens of thousands in an extremist show of force that alarmed moderate Muslims, while the call to hang Bibi along with the Easter attack in Lahore has underscored a growing sense of insecurity for Pakistan’s minorities.

On Wednesday the death toll from the Lahore bombing climbed again to 74. Dozens more remain in hospital, seven of them critical, medical staff told AFP. “It’s a sense of great grief, sorrow and fear,” Shamoon Gill, spokesman for the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, told AFP.

Myanmar’s outgoing president Thein Sein (R) hands over the presidential seal to the country’s new President Htin Kyaw (L) during the handover ceremony in Naypyidaw on March 30, 2016 (AFP Photo/Gal ROMA, Adrian LEUNG) Continued from page 3 a clutch of positions including foreign minister.

In a speech later in the day Htin Kyaw signalled the NLD would continue its long-stated vow to amend the constitution to bring it up to “democratic standards” -- no small order given that the military’s bloc in parliament gives it an effective veto on any such change.

He gave no details.

Expectations run high among Myanmar’s 51 million people but the new government faces a steep task.

Revolts still rage in ethnic minority borderlands, poverty is widespread and the military holds huge political and economic power.

Sectarian tensions and antiMuslim sentiment have flared in recent years.

US President Barack Obama hailed an “extraordinary moment” in Myanmar’s history.

“Htin Kyaw’s inauguration represents a historic milestone in the country’s transition to a democratically elected, civilian-led government,” Obama said in a statement.

But he warned of “significant challenges going forward,” including on economic development and working to securing personal freedoms for all.

The European Union welcomed Htin Kyaw’s swearing in as a “new important step in the consolidation of the country’s remarkable transition”.

But it added: “Many challenges remain for Myanmar to become an inclusive, pluralistic and peaceful democracy.”

- ‘Biggest day’ -NLD lawmakers also have little practical experience of government.

Some were jailed by the junta, including most famously Suu Kyi who was held under house arrest for s total of 15 years.

But on a historic day the party faithful were undaunted by the challenges ahead.

“I’m really happy. I am also remembering my colleagues who sacrificed for this battle (for democracy),” said NLD lawmaker Aye Naing.

Among a smattering of NLD supporters outside parliament, Yin Myint May welcomed the handover. “It is the biggest day for us,” she said.

“Remember we started (the democracy fight) in 1990,” she added, referring to elections won in a landslide by the NLD that were ignored by the junta.

Myanmar has witnessed a staggering political change since 2011 under Thein Sein.

Investors and tourists have begun to pile in as much repression has eased, promising a better future to a public who now have access to mobile phones, cheaper cars and other coveted consumer goods.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

LIFESTYLE

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 29 No. 14

Section 2

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US honors ‘International Women of Courage’

Fashion mogul accuses designers of ‘enslaving women’ with Islamic styles

by Jean-François GUYOT / Fiachra GIBBONS

P

ARIS - Former fashion mogul Pierre Berge lashed out Wednesday at designers creating Islamic clothing and headscarves, accusing them of taking part in the “enslavement of women”.

The French businessman, partner of the late fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent, took aim at the wave of big fashion chains that have followed the Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana in catering specifically to the Muslim market.

“I am scandalised,” he told Europe 1 French radio.

US Secretary of State John Kerry poses with recipients of the 2016 International Women of Courage Award at the State Department in Washington, DC, March 29, 2016 (AFP Photo/Jim Watson).

W

ASHINGTON The United States issued awards Tuesday to 14 lawyers, activists, humanitarians and reformers said to represent “International Women of Courage.”

“Fourteen leaders, fourteen role models, fourteen women of courage, one crystal clear message,” said Secretary of State John Kerry.

“Don’t accept the unacceptable or wait for someone else to step up. Act in the name of justice. Act in the name of tolerance. Act on behalf of truth.”

All but one of the honorees were able to attend the ceremony in Washington, an annual event that began in 2007 to encourage women’s empowerment.

Bangladeshi barrister Sara Hossain helped draft her country’s laws on violence against women and has argued landmark rights cases before the supreme court.

Debra Baptist-Estrada is commander of the immigration department at Belize’s main airport and has worked with US officials against corruption and trafficking.

Ni Yulan, a disabled Chinese property rights lawyer, was the

only honoree not to receive her award in person, having been forbidden from traveling by her government.

France’s Latifa Ibn Ziaten became an activist promoting interfaith dialogue in 2012 after her soldier son was slain by Islamist extremist Mohamed Merah.

Attorney General Thelma Aldana of Guatemala began her career as a courtroom janitor and has now brought corruption charges against the highest in the land.

Nagham Nawzat Hasan is an Iraqi gynecologist and a member of the country’s persecuted Yazidi minority. She works with girls kidnapped and raped

by Islamist militants.

Transgender rights advocate Nisha Ayub continues to work for justice despite being sexually abused after being sentenced to a men’s prison for wearing women’s clothing.

Mauritania’s first female attorney Fatimata M’baye was honored as co-founder and president of the Mauritanian Association for Human Rights and fights slavery.

Russian journalist Zhanna Nemtsova has braved death threats to campaign for justice for her father, former deputy

prime minister Boris Nemtsov, assassinated last year.

Zuzana Stevulova, director of the Human Rights League of Slovakia, is the foremost champion of the rights of refugees flowing into Europe from war in the Middle East.

Tel: 713-774-5140

“Creators should have nothing to do with Islamic fashion.

Designers are there to make women more beautiful, to give them their freedom, not to collaborate with this dictatorship which imposes this abominable thing by which we hide

lowed this trend with “negroes who supported slavery”.

Her office later told AFP she had not intented to cause offence but was referring to an abolitionist tract by the French philosopher Montesquieu, “De l’esclavage des nègres” (“On the Enslavement of Negroes”).

Earlier this year Dolce & Gabbana became the first major western brand to openly aim at capturing a corner of the Islamic fashion market -- estimated to be worth $260 billion (230 billion euros) -- with its Abaya range.

It included 14 abayas or ankle-length dresses, which it matched with embroidered headscarves and hijabs.

- ‘Burqinis’ -The Swedish giant H&M followed their lead, using a veiled Muslim women in its advertising campaign, with the Japanese brand Uniqlo earlier this month an-

month of Ramadan, picking up on the success of a small DKNY line the previous year.

But Berge, 85, who ran the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house for four decades, decried their “opportunism”.

“These creators who are taking part in the enslavement of women should ask themselves some questions,” he added.

“In one way they are complicit, and all this to make make money. Principles should come before money,” Berge argued.

“In life you have to chose the side of freedom,” he said.

Rather than covering women up, “we must teach (Muslim) women to revolt, to take their clothes off, to learn to live like most of the women in the rest of the world.

“It’s absolutely inadmissible.

Awadeya Mahmoud, founder of the Women’s Food and Tea Sellers’ Cooperative in Sudan has championed the rights of small businesswomen against authoritarian government Former BBC journalist Vicky Ntetema exposed the trade in the body parts of murdered albinos used in ritual magic amd now leads an NGO dedicated to ending it.

Thai bookseller Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit has twice been sent to re-education camps by her country’s military junta but still provides a space for political free expression.

Nihal Naj Ali Al-Awlaqi, Yemen’s minister of legal affairs, helped put women’s rights in a draft constitution and is involved in talks to end her country’s civil war.

Next month, the honorees will tour US cities to meet American people and discuss their work to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.

© AFP/File / by Fiachra Gibbons, Jean-François Guyot | Pierre Berge, pictured in 2015 at the national library in Rabat after visiting an exhibition on “Berber Women of Morocco” women and make them live a hidden life.”

nouncing it would begin selling hijabs in its London stores.

It is not tolerable,” he told the radio station.

“Renounce the money and have some principles,” he declared, lashing the new fashion for “modest” Muslim-friendly lines.

The British brand Marks & Spencer has also put its toe in the water, marketing full-body “burqini” swimming costumes in its online store.

His comments came as the French families minister, Laurence Rossignol, sparked outrage on social media as she compared women who fol-

Last year Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Oscar de la Renta and Mango all launched varyingly “modest” collections to coincide with the holy Muslim

Berge -- who spends most of his time in Muslim-majority Morocco -- said: “I am definitely not an Islamophobe.

Women have a right to wear headscarves, but I do not see why we are going towards this religion, these practises and mores that are absolutely incompatible with our western freedoms.”

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LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Dreams of fame at the School of Go US warns Americans of ‘potential risks’ for Europe trips

by Jung Ha-Won

S

W

EOUL, South Korea - For the past two years, 12-yearold Cho Sung-Bin has spent nearly all his waking hours focused on a wooden board covered with black and white stones, honing the skills he hopes to translate into a lucrative career as a professional Go player.

ASHINGTON - The United States warned its citizens on Tuesday of the “potential risks” of European travel following a spate of terror attacks, including the latest bombings in Belgium that killed around 35 people.

Several Americans have already been confirmed wounded in the attacks, including three Mormon missionaries, a US airman and his relatives.

“It’s fun. I never get tired,” said Cho, one of dozens of preteens sitting at rows of desks topped with playing boards at the Lee Se-Dol School of Go in central Seoul.

Many spend 12 hours a day practising match play with each other in the small, neon-lit, largely windowless rooms of the school named after the grandmaster they all hope to emulate.

Already well known in East Asia, Lee achieved global recognition earlier this month when he took on Google’s artificial intelligence AlphaGo programme in a five-match showdown.

The 33-year-old lost the series, but the battle gave an unprecedented boost to the ancient board game’s international profile.

Go originated in China 3,000 years ago and has been played for centuries mostly in China, Japan and South Korea, with more than 40 million fans worldwide.

The rules are simple -- two players take turns placing black or white stones on a square board with a 19x19 grid. Whoever captures the most territory wins.

But the strategies needed to secure victory are complex, with reportedly more possible move configurations than atoms in the universe.

- ‘An art form’ -”Go is not just an entertainment. It’s an art form and a natural philosophy as much as a sport,” said professional player Seo Kon-Woo. The game is also seen as a tool to help children improve their focus, with hundreds of private Go schools across South Korea offering after-hours tuition.

For those who show a special skill and affinity for the game, Go also offers a possible career path which, in the case of top players like Lee Se-Dol, can lead to fame and fortune.

“Many talented kids are discovered when they are five or six, and turn pro before they’re even 12,” said Kim Jung-Youl, a veteran coach and head of the Lee Se-Dol School.

Considered one of the greatest Go

“The State Department alerts US citizens to potential risks of travel to and throughout Europe following several terrorist attacks, including the March 22 attacks in Brussels claimed by ISIL,” the agency said, referring to the self-proclaimed Islamic State group.

© AFP / by Jung Ha-Won | A student places pieces on a Go board at the Lee Se-Dol School of Go in Seoul. players of the modern era with 18 international titles, Lee started playing at the age of five and turned pro seven years later.

“I meant to stay here only during school break, but playing Go is so much fun ... much more than computer games,” he told AFP.

South Korea has around 300 professional players certified by the national Go association, and even those who don’t become star names can make a decent living from tournaments and teaching.

When his parents gave their consent, he swapped his home for a school dormitory he shares with dozens of other Go-playing children.

Dozens of competitions -- both for individuals and “professional teams” sponsored by companies -- are held in East Asia each year, with star players earning millions of dollars.

- Too old at 20 -Joining the professional tour requires at least a decade of tough training and the Korean Go Association, which only accepts 15 new members each year, estimates there are around 1,000 children currently studying in schools specialising in the discipline.

Potential professionals are usually identified when they are very young, and then pushed hard through a relentless streaming system that quickly ejects those not considered up to the mark.

Those who have failed to break through by the end of their teenage years are generally dropped from consideration by the association.

“It becomes nearly impossible to go pro once you’re aged over 20,” Kim said.

Cho Sung-Bin said he had been on “temporary leave” from his normal school for two years, after begging his parents to let him go full-time at Lee’s school.

All major Go schools in the South Korean capital run their own dormitories, allowing them to attract the best students from around the country.

Cho has already taken a big step forward after being selected by the Go Association for an elite league, in which 132 students compete on a weekly basis and are ranked on their performances.

“Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants and transportation,” it added, in a travel alert that expires June 20.

Three US missionaries from Utah were seriously wounded in the blasts at the Belgian capital’s airport, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-

day Saints.

They had been accompanying a French colleague who was heading to the United States and was also wounded.

And the US Air Force said one of its service members and several of his relatives were also injured in the attacks, which included a third bombing on a metro train.

“US citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation,” the State Department said.

“Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious holidays and at large festivals or events.”

It noted that European governments were also guarding against attacks and conducting raids to disrupt plots.

“We work closely with our allies and will continue to share information with our European partners that will help identify and counter terrorist threats,” the State Department said.

New ‘smart’ bottle helps uncorked wine keep longer

Those at the top of the table are on course for professional status, while the lower ranked players -- or those who turn 19 -- are unceremoniously replaced by better or younger players every two months.

- Crushing pressure -For Jo Min-Soo the expectation to perform was so great he almost had a mental breakdown after he joined the elite league aged 12.

“I couldn’t handle the stress so didn’t play well,” he said.

Even a prodigy like Lee Se-Dol suffered from the pressure -- which brought on temporary aphasia when he was 12, leaving him with a highpitched shrill voice that made him reluctant to speak in public for years.

Jo has dreamed of being a professional player since he was six, dropping out of school in 2013 to focus on his training.

But at 18, time is running out -- a point brought home every day by the younger kids like Cho he shares a dormitory with.

“Compared to them, I’m too old...I’m feeling a bit desperate,” Jo said.

& 5K RUN IN FRONT OF MINUTE MAID PARK

“I started this because I love playing the game so much,” he said.

“Now I’m not entirely sure...but this is the only thing I can do.”

Boston-based Kuvee says it has created the world’s first “smart” bottle which can keep wine as fresh for up to a month (AFP Photo/Eric Cabanis).

N

EW YORK - A US startup says it has created the world’s first “smart” bottle which can keep wine as fresh as the day it was uncorked for up to a month.

Pre-orders began this week for the bottle, which retails for $179, with shipment to California and Massachusetts beginning in October, and other markets in late 2016.

The Boston-based Kuvee company said in a statement that the industry “has been slow to innovate beyond the glass bottle and cork.”

Kuvee’s patented valve system allows oenophiles to enjoy several different bottles of wines, one glass at a time.

Kuvee’s specially designed bottle with its intricate valve system “prevents oxygen from touching the wine, so wine stays fresh for up to 30 days after opening,” said company founder and CEO Vijay Manwani, in a press release on Monday.

The company said wines are easily switched in and out to accommodate multiple users’ preferences.

“As a result, consumers can open multiple wines and enjoy them without fear that the leftovers will spoil,” Manwani said.

Kuvee has also curated a selection of four California wines, allowing customers to sample at will, “adding a new level of choice, personalization and convenience to the at-home wine experience,” Manwani said.

The price for the wines range from $15 to $50 per bottle.

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HEALTH, SC & TECH

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Wearable tech takes aim Many in US unaware of key facts on Zika virus: study at health care costs Miami, United States | AFP | Tuesday 3/29/2016 - 20:00 GMT | 444 words Many Americans are unclear on key facts about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects and is of particular concern to pregnant women, US researchers said Tuesday.

The findings were contained in a nationally representative poll of 1,275 adults conducted by the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health in early March.

The survey included 105 households in which a woman was pregnant or was considering becoming pregnant in the next year.

A hostess gives a yoga class during a free event organized by Fitbit cardio-watch company on the Santa Monica Pier (AFP Photo/Angela Weiss).

by Rob Lever

W

ASHINGTON Stroll around the office or neighborhood six times a day, and earn $1.50 toward your health insurance. Step up activity a bit more and bring the total to $1,400 annually.

The catch: you need to wear a special activity tracker that monitors steps taken, “intensity” levels and other physical indicators.

That’s the offer in a new insurance product marketed by UnitedHealthcare, the secondlargest US health insurer, one of many programs aimed at boosting physical fitness and reducing health insurance costs for employers and employees.

“One of the greatest challenges we have is how to incentivize and motivate individuals to be accountable for their own heath and well- being,” said Steve Beecy of UnitedHealthcare.

He called the Trio Tracker device, introduced with technology partner Qualcomm, “a game-changer.”

completing workouts and gym visits each month.

Growth in such programs over the past few years coincides with incentives to meet Obamacare goals on preventive care, and with new research suggesting that more activity can ward off many medical ailments.

- Data mining -But the new programs raise questions about private data collected and stored by insurers.

While employers and insurers must comply with US privacy regulations so that health data cannot be seen or used by employers, critics still worry.

“Technology is outpacing the legal protections in place,” said Bradley Shear, a Washington lawyer specializing in privacy.

“While some employee wellness programs and the data collected may be protected under (federal privacy law), others may not be.”

Across the US, employers are stepping up the use of technology in “wellness” programs that encourage healthier lifestyles.

A report this year by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab warned of potential problems.

For example, there have been situations where fitness trackerrelated information was introduced in sexual assault cases or personal injury claims.

Wellness programs aren’t new, but technology like activity trackers has transformed them with more precise measurements and automated uploads to verify activity.

“Such data, if it can be manipulated, brings such evidence into question as well as the broader trustworthiness of fitness tracker data ... there are also concerns that the radios in

A survey of more than 200 large employers by the National Business Group on Health found 37 percent used activity trackers in 2015 and another 37 percent planned to adopt the technology in coming years.

“There is a strong interest (in the use of technology) because of the impact on an employer’s long-term health care costs,” said Scott Marcotte of Xerox Human Resources, which participated in the study.

Makers of activity trackers such as Fitbit and Jawbone have been expanding their efforts to be part of corporate wellness programs.

One of the biggest tie-ups was announced last year when US retail giant Target said it would offer free or discounted Fitbit trackers to its more than 300,000 employees.

- ‘Gamification’ -As a further incentive, Target said it would allow teams of employees which log the most average daily steps to collect more than $1 million for local non-profit organizations.

This strategy of providing financial incentives for healthy activity is known in the industry as “gamification.”

Jimmy Fleming of the consulting group Healthy Wage said financial incentives can make a difference in spurring healthier behaviors.

“We have a lot of clients who want to subsidize the program and make it free, but it’s less effective,” Fleming said. “There has to be both a carrot and a stick.”

One program being offered through health services firm Vitality Group provides an Apple Watch for $25, a fraction of the retail cost. But employees must “pay” for the device by

fitness trackers could be used to monitor their wearers’ movements,” the report said.

Barbara Duck, a technology consultant who writes a blog on health privacy, said the financial incentives are not worth it.

Duck said that although insurers cannot sell or disclose personal health data, “they can put a score on your head and sell that.”

“It’s not about making you healthier in the long run, it’s about collecting more data to sell and to score you with,” she said.

Also, some employees will feel compelled to participate because they cannot afford the financial penalties if they don’t, Duck said.

Sales of wearable tech devices surged nearly 200 percent in the third quarter of last year to 21 million units, according to the latest IDC survey.

Some surveys show as many as 20 percent of Americans use a fitness tracker.

IDC analyst Lynne Dunbrack said it will take time to see if fitness trackers take hold in the workplace and achieve their goals.

“Part of the challenge with these programs is that the ones who tend to use it the most and stay with it are not the target population for the chronic problems,” she said.

Obama announces new steps to fight painkiller epidemic

W

ASHINGTON, AFP | US President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced new plans to combat the epidemic of heroin and prescription painkiller abuse which kills tens of thousands of people each year in the United States.

About a dozen funding measures and initiatives were detailed by the White House nearly two weeks after the US Centers for Disease Control urged doctors to exercise more caution prescribing opioids, which can be highly addictive and have led to soaring overdose deaths in recent years.

Forty Americans die each day from prescription opioid overdoses, according to the CDC. Obama was to describe the new measures -- which include easier access to the overdose antidote naloxone, money for community policing and improved access to mental health services -- at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday.

“These actions build on the President’s proposal for $1.1 billion in new funding to help every American with an opioid use disorder who wants treatment get the help they need,” said a statement released by the White House ahead of the event.

The plan includes two $11 million funding opportunities.

One is for states to purchase and distribute the opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone, and the other to boost medication-assisted treatment services in up to 11 states by increasing access to buprenorphine, which

can help addicts wean off heroin or painkillers.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Health and Human Services released $94 million in new funding “to increase substance use disorder treatment services, with a specific focus on expanding medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorders in underserved communities,” it said.

“This funding is expected to help health centers treat nearly 124,000 new patients with substance use disorders.”

Other steps include establishing a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force “to advance access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.”

Policing programs and rural health initiatives were also included in the funding plans.

New guidance for government-funded needle exchange programs will be issued by the Department of Health and Human Services to “implement or expand syringe services programs for people who inject drugs,” it said.

The bipartisan budget agreement signed last year “revised a longstanding ban on these programs and allows communities with a demonstrated need to use federal funds for the operational components of syringe services programs,” said the White House statement.

More than 60 medical schools were also to announce changes in their curricula beginning in the fall that would “require their students to take some form of prescriber education,” in line with the latest CDC guidelines.

In those households, nearly one in four (23 percent) were not aware of the association be-

tween Zika virus and the birth defect, microcephaly, in which infants are born with unusually small heads.

Thousands of children in Brazil have been born with the condition, sparking alarm about a virus that today remains poorly understood by global scientists.

One in five of these households said they believed a vaccine exists to prevent Zika, even though one does not and experts say such a vaccine will take years to develop.

More than four in 10 (42 percent) did not realize Zika virus can be sexually transmitted.

Furthermore, one quarter mistakenly believed symptoms were likely to be apparent, when in fact most of those who are infected show no signs of illness.

Snapchat ramps up messaging service with ‘chat 2.0’

S

AN FRANCISCO Snapchat is dressing up its messaging with an upgraded video chat and animations, part of the social network’s efforts to be the preferred service for young users.

“We’re excited to introduce Chat 2.0,” the California startup announced on its blog Tuesday.

“You can start by sending a few chats, and when your friend shows up, start talking or video chatting instantly with one tap,” it said.

“Your friend can simply listen if you want to sing them a song, or watch if you have a new puppy to show them.”

The new chat platform aims for improved video chat with new features such as sending an audio note or a “sticker” chosen from a range of images similar to those on Facebook’s Messenger app.

First gaining notoriety for its disappearing messages, Snapchat has been growing rapidly to a base of some 100 million,

with particular appeal to young users, as it expands its partnerships with various media organizations.

The Los Angeles-based company, which reportedly turned down a $3 billion buyout from Facebook in 2013, was valued at more than $15 billion in its latest funding round.

But it is facing competition from Facebook and others seeking to be the preferred messaging platform -- that can draw users into more services and open up possibilities for advertisers.

“What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating -- just like you do in person,” the Snapchat team said on the blog.

“When that’s possible, you aren’t texting, calling, or video chatting you’re just talking.

We’ve been working on this redesign for a while -- we can’t wait to hear what you think!”

Symptoms of Zika can include fever, rash, joint pain, pain behind the eyes and the eye infection conjunctivitis, sometimes known as pink-eye.

Among the general public, misconceptions about Zika were also common, the poll found.

Four in 10 said they thought Zika could be a danger to future pregnancies, while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Zika is believed to be a threat only to current pregnancies.

Significant misunderstandings about how Zika is transmitted were also found.

One in five (22 percent) did not know Zika could spread from a pregnant mother to her fetus, and more than a quarter (29 percent) were unaware it can be transmitted through blood transfusions.

A full 40 percent did not know it could be transmitted sexually.

Nealy one-third (31 percent) thought, incorrectly, that Zika could be spread by coughing and sneezing.

Nearly three-quarters of those polled (71 percent) were unaware of a link between Zika virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis.

“These misperceptions about Zika virus transmission could lead people to take unnecessary or inappropriate precautions, as we have seen in other kinds of outbreaks,” said Gillian SteelFisher, director of the poll and research scientist at Harvard.

“We have a key window before the mosquito season gears up in communities within the United States mainland to correct misperceptions about Zika virus so that pregnant women and their partners may take appropriate measures to protect their families.”

VOICE OF ASIA 14

Young Life

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Tel: 713-774-5140

The one habit millennials should keep

by Jonnelle Marte (The Washington Post, Mar.29) Karen Carr, a financial planner with the Society of Grownups, a financial company that targets millennials. For instance, some people may have moved from part-time jobs to full-time positions. Others may have upped their savings rate after landing a promotion or raise.

Millennials get a bad rap for being irresponsible with money.

But new studies show that not only are they carrying less debt than they did in previous years, they are actually pretty good at saving. Millennials are saving more aggressively than they have in the past, and in some cases they’re saving more than their older counterparts, according to a new study from Bankrate.com.

“There is a greater inclination toward saving among millennials than we’ve seen in previous generations,” says Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

Sixty-two percent of millennials, defined in the survey as consumers between the ages of 18 and 29, are saving more than 5 percent of their pay for retirement, emergencies or for other financial goals, the study found.

That’s up substantially from the 42 percent who were saving at least that much last year.

It’s also greater than the roughly 50 percent of consumers between the ages of 30 and 49 who were saving as much.

Millennials are stashing more cash Some 62% of millennials are saving more than 5% of their pay, up from 42% last year, according to Bankrate.com.

A look at last year’s survey helps to illustrate the shift. The portion of millennials saving the bare minimum, less than 5 percent of their pay, fell to 19 percent this year from 37 per-

cent last year. And the share of people saving more, between 6 percent and 10 percent of their pay, increased to 33 percent this

year from 20 percent in 2015.

So how is it that some millennials are able to save so much

more now? Some workers may be stashing away more money as they move up in their careers and earn higher wages, says

The unemployment rate for people between 20 and 24 years old fell to 8.6 percent in February from 9.9 percent a year before, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages and salaries are also higher for people of all ages, by 4 percent in February from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of

FBISD’s Jacqueline Chin and Leyna Nguyen to compete in the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, April 2 Event will be broadcast live on TV 8, with live online streaming

F

ORT BEND ISD – Two Fort Bend ISD students have advanced to the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, which will be held Saturday, April 2. Jacqueline Chin, a 7th grade student in the GT Academy at Quail Valley Middle School, and Leyna Nguyen, a 6th grade student at Sugar Land Middle School, advanced to the bee after being among the top spellers in their district/regional bees in February.

They are among more than 50 top spellers from Texas public, private and home schools who will compete. Nishant Shah, a Sartartia Middle School 8th grade student, will serve as the District Alternate.

Sponsored by H-E-B and the Harris County Department of Education, the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee is the second largest local spelling

series of bees at the school, district and regional levels.

Pictured (from left) is Alternate Nishant Shah and District winners Jacqueline Chin and Leyna Nguyen.

bee in the country with 1,000plus schools participating from

42 Texas counties. Students competing in the bee advanced after completing a

Make plans to cheer and watch FBISD’s top spellers as they compete for a spot at the final competition. The event will be broadcast live on Houston Public Media - TV 8, beginning at 2:00 p.m., with live streaming online at www.houstonpublicmedia.org/spellingbee. The top two spellers advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held in Washington, D.C. in May.

Economic Analysis.

Having cash on hand for emergencies could also be a huge motivator for young people who may have struggled to land a job during the recession or who saw family members get laid off, says McBride of Bankrate. “Even if they weren’t directly impacted, they saw the effect on their parents or their grandparents,” he said.

That could explain why when asked about the motivation behind their saving, the highest share of millennials — 40 percent — said they were setting aside money for an emergency, according to a separate report from the American Institute of CPAs and the Ad Council.

The next biggest motivators were to save for a big purchase, which could be more common for millennials who are growing up and making major life changes, such as starting a family or buying a home. Thirty-six percent of 20-something and 30-something consumers said they were saving for a vacation, 27 percent reported saving for a house and 26 percent are setting aside money to buy a car, according to the Aicpa report.

Whatever their motivation, saving turned out to be more important to millennials than some of the other goals that may be more stereotypically expected of them, according to that survey. Saving more was the No. 1 goal named by 34 percent of millennials, higher than the 20 percent of people who said living a healthy lifestyle was their top goal. It was also greater than the 19 percent who said their No. 1 priority is to pay down debt.

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VOICE OF ASIA 15

Section 2

B OLLYWOOD M ASALA BOLLYWOOD MASALA Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Kareena: ‘Ki & Ka’ is entertainment, not a documentary

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Tel: 713-774-5140

Bollywood stars at L’Oreal Paris’ Women of Worth Awards

The actress says the aim of the gender-role-swap film isn’t to change society

Ki & Ka (Hindi): Follows a young, married couple whose relationship challenges the gender roles placed upon women and men in Indian society. Photo credit:Gulf News.

New Delhi: (PTI) Kareena Kapoor Khan may be playing her family’s breadwinner in her upcoming film Ki & Ka, but the actress says the movie is not about female empowerment.

The 35-year-old actress, who was in the capital along with co-star Arjun Kapoor to promote the R Balki-directed movie, said the film is not trying to bring about change in society.

“Films are a medium of entertainment first. This movie is not a documentary on women empowerment or gender equality or is aimed to bring about a change in the society.

“People can see the film and enjoy it and if after watching it they take back a message, that’s an add-on. But this movie is nowhere a revolution.”

The movie, out on March 31 in the UAE, stars Arjun, 30, as Kabir, who

decides to be a homemaker while his wife pursues a corporate job.

Balki, whose last outing was Shamitabh, agreed, saying that he has never written any of his stories with the intention of giving a social message.

“I have never ever made a film with a message. I don’t write a film keeping in mind the social issues. I just want to tell a story [that] is entertaining and fun.

“In the process of telling the story, if somebody gets a message, well and good. But I think the fundamental purpose of the film is entertainment,” he said.

The actress also reflected on the success of her last release, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which won the National award for the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment on Mon-

day.

She credited the film’s success to its lead Salman Khan and director Kabir Khan.

“Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the greatest film of our times. It spoke a lot about humanity, love, support and integrity.

So I am really proud of the film. Of course great going for Kabir Khan and Salman who actually believed in the script and made this film happen,” she said.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a cross-border drama, revolved around a Pakistani girl who loses her way on the IndoPak border and finds herself in India.

The character played by Khan finds her and takes it upon himself to reunite her with her family in Pakistan.

Kapoor played 50-year-old actor’s love interest in the film.

Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph during the Women of Worth Awards in Mumbai on March 28, 2016. Photo: AFP

Bollywood under fire in Dubai

by Manjusha Radhakrishnan Three comedians, of Ghanta awards fame, will take a swipe at the worst Bollywood films on April 8 Bollywood awards shows — frequently under fire for their perceived lack of credibility — will come under

National Awards: Kangana, Amitabh Bachchan Win Top Honours

N

EW DELHI - Actors Kangana Ranaut and Amitabh Bachchan have won their third and fourth National Awards respectively. Kangana won Best Actress for Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Big B won Best Actor for Piku. Kangana, 29, also won the Best Actress National Award last year for Queen and the Best Supporting Award for Fashion in 2009.

This is Bachchan’s fourth win after Agneepath, Black and Paa.

rita, With A Straw. Tanvi Azmi won Best Supporting Actress for Bajirao Mastani. Nanak Shah Fakir won Best Film on National Integration. Masaan won Best Debut for a Director.

Visaranai won Best Tamil Film while Dum Laga Ke Haisha won Best Hindi Film.

Remo D’Souza won Best Choreography for Bajirao Mastani. The film also won Best Production Design, Best Cinematography and other honours.

The multi-lingual blockbuster Baahubali has won Best Feature Film and Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been awarded Best Director for Bajirao Mastani, which won several other awards. Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan won Best Wholesome Family Entertainer.

Baahubali also won the award for Best Special Effects.

Kalki Koechlin won a Special Jury Award for her performance in Marga-

Piku’s Juhi Chaturvedi and Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ Himanshu Sharma shared the award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue. Vishal Bhardwaj won Best Adapted Screenplay for Talvar.

Gujarat was named most film-friendly state.

Kangana Ranaut in Tthe film anu Weds Manu Returns.

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The National Awards were announced in New Delhi on Monday.

the scanner again as three comedians from EIC (East India Company) take a swipe at the terrible Bollywood films that released last year.

The show, which will be held at the Godolphin Ballroom at Emirates Towers on April 8, will be India’s version of the Golden Raspberry Awards, a ceremony honours the worst in films in Hollywood.

The 90-minute show, called EIC Vs Bollywood — formerly known as the Ghanta Awards — will see Sorabh Pant, Sahil Shah and Sapan Verma pay tribute to the best of the worst Hindi films.

“It will be fun show where these three men roll out the dubious honour of presenting awards for the worst films. As they announce the worst in films, there will be a humorous brief by them on why it qualified and made it to their list,” said local organiser Bharat M Harpalani, managing director of AKS Comedy Nights.

While the show is likely to be witty and acidic, the Bollywood stars whose work is nominated won’t be present during the show to collect their dubious distinctions.

EIC comedians found instant fame through social media and now have over 300,000 Youtube subscribers.

They are known for their satirical take on Bollywood, censorship and politics.

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VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Male and female caffeine consump- Comparing Monthly Costs and Services -- Traditional Dental tion ups miscarriage risk: study

W

ASHINGTON - Women have an increased risk of miscarriage if they or their partner consume more than two caffeinated drinks a day in the weeks leading up to conception, a new US study found.

Women who drink more than two caffeinated beverages per day during the first seven weeks of pregnancy were also more likely to have a miscarriage, according to the study published online late Thursday in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

But rates of miscarriage are reduced for women who take a daily multivitamin before and after conception.

The study, carried out by researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Ohio State University, was based on data from the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study.

That study followed 501 couples

in Michigan and Texas from 2005 to 2009, examining the relationship between fertility, lifestyle and exposure to chemicals in the environment.

The current study compared cigarette use, caffeinated beverage consumption and multivitamin use among 344 couples when the woman was carrying a single offspring. Of these pregnancies, 98 -- or 28 percent -- ended in miscarriage.

The researchers’ conclusions were based on a statistical concept called hazard ratio, which estimates the chances of a particular outcome occurring during the study period.

However, the risk was almost as high -- 1.73 -- if the male partner drank that much caffeine or more.

“Our findings also indicate that the male partner matters, too,” said lead author Germaine Buck Louis, director of the Division of Intramural Population Health Research at the NIH. “Male preconception consumption of caffeinated beverages was just as strongly associated with pregnancy loss as females’.”

The study also found that taking a daily multivitamin significantly reduced chances of miscarriage.

A ratio greater than one indicates increased risk for miscarriage each day following conception, while a ratio less than one indicates reduced daily risk.

Taking a vitamin in the weeks leading up to conception had a hazard ratio of 0.45, a 55 percent reduction in risk for pregnancy loss.

The risk of miscarriage was 1.74 when the woman consumed more than two caffeinated drinks a day, the study showed.

Women who continued to take multivitamins through the early stages of pregnancy had a hazard ratio of 0.21, a risk reduction of 79 percent.

Will it hurt? Uncertainty is worst of all, says study

by Marlowe HOOD

P

ARIS - Not knowing if a decision will provoke pain is more stressful than correctly anticipating the outcome, even when that outcome hurts like hell, according to a study released Tuesday.

Moreover, experiments with volunteers receiving electric shocks showed, the greater the stress the better subjects were at reading available clues to figure out the right response.

“People whose stress tracks uncertainty more accurately are better at predicting when they’re going to get a shock,” Archy de Berker, a scientist at the Institute of Neurology at University College London and lead author of the study, told AFP. Published in Nature Communications, the research suggests that stress -- which corresponds to the activation of specific chemicals in the brain -- can help us navigate risk in some situations.

Scientists have long understood that uncertainty, in itself, can cause anxiety.

Classic experiments with rats subjected to arbitrary electric shocks showed that stress levels dropped when the animals were able to anticipate or control the timing of the jolts.

The same applies to people.

But previous research mostly compared our reactions to total unpredictability or total control, and didn’t examine different degrees and kinds of uncertainty we experience in everyday life.

Facing a crucial job interview, for example, most folks will be more relaxed if they feel sure of the outcome, one way or the other.

“The most stressful scenario is when

Scientists have long understood that uncertainty, in itself, can cause anxiety you really don’t know -- it’s the uncertainty that makes us anxious,” said coauthor Robb Rutledge, a researcher at the Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research at University College London.

- A painful shock -To better explore this middle ground, de Berker and colleagues devised a clever set of experiments in which 45 subjects, looking at images of two rocks on a computer screen, were repeatedly asked whether a snake lay hidden under one of them.

If there were a snake, the subjects -even if they guessed correctly -- would receive a painful electric shock on the back of the hand, roughly equivalent to a wasp’s sting, de Berker said.

They were asked the question several hundred times over the course of the experiment.

Using complicated mathematical models, the scientists created patterns that gave the volunteers some clues.

These patterns, in fact, reflected distinct types of uncertainty, some random and others more-or-less predictable

based on accumulated experience.

“Our experiment allows us to draw conclusions about the effect of uncertainty on stress,” de Berker said.

“It turns out that it’s much worse not knowing you are going to get a shock than knowing you definitely will or won’t.”

The researchers tracked stress levels by measuring changes in pupil diameter, a proxy for the release of noradrenaline in the brain, and through questionnaires.

Surprisingly, they found that getting a shock you correctly guessed is coming is about as stressful as NOT getting a shock when you DID expect one.

“It seems as if the shock and the uncertainty have roughly equal roles to play in the stress people experienced,” de Berker added.

The fact that subjects with higher anxiety levels performed better in the snake/no-snake guessing game suggests that stress -- over the course of human evolution -- may have given humans an edge in the struggle to survive.

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“The appropriate stress responses might be useful for learning about uncertain, dangerous things in the environment,” coauthor Sven Bestmann, also of University College London, noted in a press statement.

The study can be consulted at http://dx.doi. org/10.1038/ ncomms10996.

Plan Insurance vs. Discount Dental Plans Looking for affordable insurance for dental expenses? Begin by weighing the convenience and expense of conventional dental plan insurance versus a discount dental plan.

Let’s take a look at the differences: Typically, insurance for dental care is offered by an insurance company.

In exchange for a monthly premium, the consumer enjoys the benefits of reduced rates, provider networks, and affordable co-pays. The plans can be purchased and modified for family coverage or as individual dental insurance.

Most dental plan insurance policies also require an annual deductible. In some instances these plans also include an annual coverage limit. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to compare all pertinent plan details to determine which of them fits your needs, your budget, or whether you are better suited for individual dental insurance or a family plan.

A popular alternative to traditional dental plan insurance is the discount dental plan. Unlike the traditional plans, these affordable discount options are managed by consumer groups that contract with a wide network of dentists who provide dental services at deeply reduced rates.

Members of a discount dental plan pay fees rather than premiums. Typically these fees include an enrollment fee and an annual renewal fee.

Administrative costs are lower than with traditional dental plan insurance policies in part because there is no paperwork to process. Members of the network pay the pre-negotiated rates directly to network dentists, bypassing claim forms or reimbursement processing. In addition, discount plans do not restrict coverage limits.

For you, that means no limitations on the number of covered services you can receive in a year.

Discount dental plans can also be modified to suit your particular coverage needs. Both family and indi-

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com vidual plans are available. As well, unlike the more traditional insurance plans, some discount dental plans also include coverage and discounts for cosmetic dental services.

More often than not, dental plan insurance policies do exclude coverage for cosmetic dentistry.

In both cases, whether the more conventional insurance plans, or the increasingly popular dental discount plans, do your research on the plan providers before you make your final selection. Make certain that those dentists provide the type of services that you need. And, if you have a preferred dentist or specialist, check first to verify if that provider is included in the network.

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US doctors perform first HIV-to-HIV liver transplant

by Kerry SHERIDAN IAMI, AFP - The world’s first liver transplant from a donor infected with HIV to an HIVpositive recipient was announced Wednesday by US doctors, three years after a US ban on such operations was overturned.

The procedure involved a deceased donor whose liver was transplanted into a patient who had been infected with the virus that causes AIDS more than 20 years ago, said doctors at Johns Hopkins University.

The same donor also gave her kidney to another patient for transplant.

“A couple of weeks ago we performed the first HIV-to-HIV liver transplant in the world, and the first HIV-to-HIV kidney transplant in the United States,” Dorry Segev, professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told a press conference.

Similar HIV-to-HIV kidney transplant operations have already taken place in South Africa.

“This is a very exciting day for us,” Segev added.

“But it is really only the beginning.”

Both patients -- whose identities were not revealed -- are recovering well from their operations, the medical team said.

The kidney transplant patient has already left the hospital.

M

The donor’s name was not released, but her family issued a statement describing her as a “very boisterous soul” who fought for justice.

“She was a daughter, a mother, an auntie, best friend and sister,” it said.

“She was able to leave this world helping those underdogs she fought so hard for.”

- Thousands die while waiting -Under US law, it was illegal to use an organ from

a donor infected with HIV for transplant until Congress passed the HOPE Act, which US President Barack Obama signed into law in 2013.

People with HIV have been able to get organs from HIV-negative donors, but due to the scarcity of organ donors, many of those waiting die before they can get a transplant.

About 122,000 people are on the transplant waiting list in the United States.

Thousands of people die each year while they wait.

Segev said his research has shown that between 500 and 600 people with HIV -and with organs healthy enough for donation -- die each year.

Now that their organs can be used for other people with HIV, some 1,000 lives may be saved annually, he said.

Still, the operations carry “unique risks,” said Christine Durand, assistant professor of medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

These risks include the possibility of being exposed to a second strain of HIV from the donor.

Doctors must also consider whether the donor has a resistant strain of the virus, she said.

While Johns Hopkins was the first to carry out the procedure, Segev said dozens of hospitals in the United States have enough experience with negative-to-positive transplants to learn the intricacies of doing positive-to-positive surgeries.

The announcement of the two operations was applauded by advocacy groups, including the HIV Medicine Association.

“For patients living with HIV, deceased donors with the same infection represent a unique source of organs holding the potential to save the lives of hundreds of HIVinfected patients struggling with liver and kidney failure each year,” said a statement from HIVMA board chair Carlos del Rio.

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VOICE OF ASIA 17

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Section 2

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

India sets rules for foreign in- Eyeing future sales, luxury vestment in e-commerce sites carmakers innovate to woo millennials

N

EW DELHI, India | AFP | India has set rules for foreign investment in online marketplaces, allowing up to 100 percent overseas ownership and providing much-needed clarity as billions of dollars pour into the country’s fast-growing e-commerce sector.

The long-awaited rules permit full foreign ownership of sites that connect online buyers to sellers -- similar to the model pioneered by Internet giant eBay.

However, foreign direct investment in “inventory-based” sites that sell their own stock is forbidden, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said Tuesday.

In practice, India’s e-retailers already considered this to be the case, acting as technological platforms that connect buyers and sellers rather than selling their own products.

Even Amazon does not sell

its own stock directly to shoppers in India. Despite the regulatory fuzziness, domestic marketplace sites such as Flipkart and Snapdeal have attracted billions of dollars in overseas investment.

“This announcement brings current business structures on the right side of the law,” Devangshu Dutta, chief executive of Third Eyesight, a retail consultancy in Delhi, told AFP. While the new rules will end much of the uncertainty, the government has also imposed restrictions that may cause headaches for some online retailers.

Under the new rules, a single seller can only account for up to 25 percent of sales, the department said.

This could cause problems for some of the big sites which, while technically marketplaces, are reportedly home to a handful of super-sellers that

provide the lion’s share of their products.

Aggressive discounting wars

by India’s Internet retailers may also be under threat, as the rules say they are not allowed to “directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services”.

“There were no conditions (before) -- now it looks like some of the players may have to restructure the agreements with their sellers to be compliant. It’s not very easy,” said Paresh Parekh, a tax partner in retail and consumer products at EY. Some retailers welcomed the new rules, including Kunal Bahl. He founded Snapdeal, one of India’s biggest Internet shopping sites.

“Great to see the guidelines around 100% FDI in ecomm marketplaces. Glad the govt recognises and supports an industry transforming India,” he tweeted.

US consumer confidence brightens in March Washington, | AFP | 3/29/2016 - US consumer confidence improved in March, bouncing back from a February slump as Americans showed higher hopes for the economy in the coming months, The Conference Board said Tuesday.

The boards’ consumer confidence index rose to 96.2 from 94.0 in February, led entirely by a gain in expectations for the situation six months ahead, while the assessment of the present situation declined moderately.

The number of survey respondents saying that business conditions were “good” fell, while the views on the labor market were mixed. There were increases in both those saying that jobs were “plentiful” and that jobs are “hard to get”.

But looking ahead, there were slightly more respondents expecting more jobs would be available, 12.9 percent, and fewer expecting they would decrease, 16.3 percent.

ances within six months rose.

Those planning to buy a home remained unchanged and fewer were in the market for a new automobile.

“Expectations regarding the short-term turned more favorable as last month’s turmoil in the financial markets appears to have abated,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board.

The Jaguar F-type SVR is pictured during the New York International Auto Show on March 23, 2016 (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad).

by John BIERS

had in the US.”

N

EW YORK - British carmaker Jaguar has developed a tool to win over seen-it-all millennials who view a conventional test drive as passe.

Seeking to tap into younger customers’ desire for a few moments of cinematic glory, Jaguar films the prospective customers behind the wheel as they navigate the vehicle through several precarious driving challenges, channeling their inner speed demon.

Moments later, they are emailed a slickly edited twominute film, which can conveniently be uploaded to Facebook and social media sites.

“On balance, consumers do not foresee the economy gaining any significant momentum in the near term, nor do they see it worsening.”

“It all takes literally minutes,” said Jaguar spokesman Stuart Schorr. “By the time you’re done, you’ve taken a test drive, but you’ve also got an asset that’s shareable and fun.”

US company to sell smartphone-shaped gun

The clever tactic is part of the 94-year-old brand’s effort to boost its US sales as it broadens its offerings in 2016 with the introduction of new models, including the F-PACE, Jaguar’s first sports utility vehicle.

W

ASHINGTON Americans will soon be able to buy a smartphone-shaped gun that can hold two bullets and easily slip into a pocket.

The Minnesota-based company Ideal Conceal says it will sell the new weapon from mid2016.

“Ingeniously designed to resemble a smartphone, yet with one click of the safety it opens and is ready to fire,” the company says on its website.

“Smartphones are everywhere, so your new pistol will easily blend in with today’s environment,” it adds. “In its locked position it will be virtually undetectable because it hides in plain sight.”

With their generally brighter outlook, the number of people expecting to buy major appli-

The gun is a double-barrelled .380 caliber folding pistol that will sell for $395, the company says.

Americans are deeply divided over gun rights between those who say carrying firearms is necessary for self-defense and others who support better gun control to fight an epidemic of shooting deaths in the country.

Firearms kill a total of 30,000 people each year.

However, Republican lawmakers, many of whom are backed by the powerful National Rifle Association, have blocked President Barack Obama’s attempt to pass gun control legislation.

“No one wants to be in a dreadful situation that may require you to defend yourself with the use of deadly force,” Ideal Conceal’s website says.

“Yet as the old adage goes: ‘It’s better to have a gun and not need one, than to need a gun and not have one.’”

Law enforcers may have a different view.

“In general, the concept of any kind of weapon that’s disguised, so that it’s not apparent that it’s a weapon, would be cause for concern,” Bill Johnson, director of the National Association of Police Organizations, told CNN. Eight states allow carrying concealed guns without a permit to do so.

But all the automakers at this week’s New York International Auto Show have the new generation in their sights.

“Generation Y will dictate who wins and who loses in the marketplace,” said John Humphrey of JD Power’s global automotive practice. “It is by far the biggest generation we’ve

BMW, also eyeing millennials, has trained a cadre of some 1,000 showroom “geniuses” -like the staff at an Apple Store “Genius Bar” -- to show drivers how they can customize the car’s myriad gadgets and driving tools.

They are distinct from the salesforce and are not supposed to seal deals, said Ludwig Willisch, president and chief executive of BMW North America.

Millennials “don’t like sales pressure,” Willisch told the JD Power auto forum Tuesday, as opposed to their parents, the baby boomers, who rely more on test drives and multiple visits before making a purchase.

With millennials, he said, “You only get one shot.”

“If we get this right, and we will, we have the opportunity to create lifelong BMW drivers.”

- Pocketbook challenge -It is a crucial point for luxury cars, which account for about half of the auto industry’s profits. A long-term worry for auto companies is that with the surge of rideshare programs like Uber and optimism about self-driving cars, younger Americans will drive less than earlier generations did.

Humphrey said automakers face particular pressure because the overall US auto market is expected to cool significantly following several boom years.

“We’re coming up on the

end of the current cycle,” said Humphrey, who warned that the industry could slip back towards overcapacity and a reliance on rebates and cheap prices to move inventory.

Those practices are less a problem for brands like Jaguar and BMW, which cater to a more select group of buyers less influenced by price, Humphrey said.

But luxury brands face other difficulties with millennials, a generation renowned for carrying hefty student loans and without the means to spend $50,000 or $60,000 on a car.

Compact and midsized cars accounted for the highest shares of the millennial market in 2015, with a combined 32.6 percent. Premium vehicles in total accounted for less than 10 percent, according to JD Power data.

For that reason, luxury automakers are taking the longterm view in their marketing campaigns.

Few of the 6,000 consumers who have participated in the Jaguar events have ordered one of their cars, Schorr said. But about 60 percent have shared their personal action videos on Facebook. That creates additional exposure and buzz, enhancing the brand’s prospects.

“The whole subtext is to reintroduce the Jaguar brand to a younger group of customers, and that’s an investment you look to pay off over a number of years,” he said.

Read latest on Business visit www.voiceofasiaonline.com

Oil prices rise on weaker dollar, US inventory data

L

ONDON - Oil prices rose Wednesday, helped by a weaker dollar and official data revealing a smaller-than-expected increase in US crude stockpiles, analysts said.

May was up 32 cents at $38.60 a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for May delivery gained 43 cents to $39.57 a barrel compared with Tuesday’s close.

If the oil price “hinges on US dollar weakness, it is not going to go much higher”, said Bernard Aw, a strategist at traders IG Markets.

The dollar weakened after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen signalled a cautious approach to US interest rate hikes, making crude priced in the currency cheaper for holders of rival units.

“US crude stocks posted another build but much smaller... than the prior week,” noted DNB Bank analyst Torbjorn Kjus.

“In the longer term, it’s still a demand and supply game.

It’s still a supply glut issue.

There’s only so much the US dollar can do.”

The US Department of Energy on Wednesday said that the country’s commercial crude stockpiles grew by 2.3 million barrels last week, lower than the some three million expected by analysts.

Prices have collapsed from levels above $100 seen in mid2014 largely owing to supply outrunning demand as global economies, particularly China, suffer a growth slowdown.

An official government report meanwhile showed another rise in US commercial crude stockpiles, indicating softer demand in the world’s top oil consumer, although the build came in below market expectations.

Around 1600 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in

Traders reacted also to the currency market where the dollar weakened after Yellen said Tuesday that interest rates were not likely to rise before June and that any move would

be slow and gradual.

Major oil producers, led by Russia and Saudi Arabia, will meet in Doha on April 17 to discuss measures to stabilise prices, including a proposal not to pump above current output levels.

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HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

Your Horoscope for the Week of April 1, 2016 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE

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

ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April In order to accomplish your immediate goals, you must reach out and try new ways to get the job done. If you want to see results, you should know who can help. You have a great network of allies that can provide you with some solid support. Partnerships will bring you more resources than if you try to go it alone. Listen to reason rather than emotion. If you start to promote your own ideas others will find it hard to deny your requests.

You need to continue to play the waiting game. Others want answers right away, but you should take some time to analyze the whole picture. If you try to push the process faster, something will hit the fan. Unfounded suspicions and accusations will only make others more uncomfortable. It’s better to keep quiet than to be negative. A surprise will shake things up and provide you with some answers. Try to be as discreet as possible. You’re ready to accept the news but not everybody is.

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May You usually work hard but lately you’ve been very relaxed in matters of importance.

Everyone is a specialist or is in need of one. Prove that you know more than your history suggests. Save time and money by drawing on the resources that you already possess. If this strategy has worked for you in the past, then it will probably work again.

Strike a happy medium with authorities who are being too rigid about your boundaries. An apology, a smile or a hug will get you what you want.

You know just which emotions to draw out of others and when to do it. You could combine valid points of view to provide a dynamic effort. Supporters will rally for your cause. Look upward and forward. Doubts should not be considered an option. Teamwork is easy for you and it could prove to be very profitable, in the long run. You’ll come out ahead no matter where you start from. By week’s end, you may get tired of being patient.

Selfishness will try to rear it’s ugly head, unless you get what’s rightfully yours.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June A sense, that you are thinking too much but not able to implement on it will lead you.

This may create frustration, little depression & will lead to little health issue like upset stomach. Patience will be your mantra to pass this week smoothly. You need to have some blessings & positive energy to get the things done. Taking your parents to temple or places of their interest will bring blessings & positivity in your life. You should keep yourself away from any gambling related activities.

Negative energy will have no power over the positive flow that you are rolling on, but remember, you need to learn to walk first before you can run. The warmth you feel inside will spark your passion for life. Get out there and enjoy all that life has to give.

Look past others misgivings in order to take advantage of their expertise. You may not understand all the workings of a new technology, but you can figure out how to use it for your own purpose. Check your list and make sure you cover all the bases.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July You will be highly under emotions. Waves of positive & negative thoughts will create kind of confusion, So you may find it’s difficult to focus & do decision making.

You will be little aggressive in your work but be careful that you don’t hurt anyone’s emotion, If you do so, immediately say & admit sorry, this will make you & other person calm & hence you will be able to move ahead smoothly. Time is not good for lending money to someone, you may loose your money or it will return late to you.

Recent events have made your temper flare and you need to re-organize and consolidate your energy. Even though you feel agitated, you’re very social and very capable.

Once the meetings are over, transform your home into a refuge from the real world for a while. Step back and realize that things aren’t quite as bad as you thought. Your positive flow has actually put you in a better position than you were before. You may have to act before you think you are ready to do so. Trust your intuition and don’t allow others to intimidate you.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August You like the way things are and want to order more of the same. Try to calm yourself down, go about your business and don’t be jealous of those on top. Your constant support will encourage others to go the distance for you. Cherish your friendships and you’ll never feel alone, again. A friendship could even turn into something stronger.

Exciting events should prove to make fun week-end plans. Your wishes and dreams will thrive on the new secure place you’ve found within yourself.

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

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Past performance will not carry much weight and will not have any bearing on the current situation. You need to find your voice and figure out how to use it to your best advantage. Before moving ahead on your own, think about ways to unite others. Human emotions cannot rule you, this time. You must try to look at things on a more intellectual plane. Try your best to stay clear of those who try to bring you down to their level. You need to look beyond the immediate to understand how the bigger picture works.

QR

Act on your emotions. Sometimes, you may be too quick to re-act, but this week, you’re right to take a stance. Others are the same as always, but your perception of them will change radically. Be aware that your words and your actions will affect them greatly. You can probably talk your way out it, but everybody is watching to see the outcome. Stay calm and your confidence level will rise. Everybody wants security, but their concepts may be different than yours.

Get back to your basic needs and wants. People with attitude problems shouldn’t even come into the equation, stay clear of them. Your dilemma is that everybody wants a piece of you. You’ll have no choice but to be yourself when you journey on this new adventure. By week’s end, the mysteries will start to wear thin and expose the harsh reality that really exists. You may have to temporarily withdraw from your profession in order to handle this personal matter. Once you finish dealing with the problem, you’ll be able to find a lot more compassion from your peers than you ever expected.

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CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 19

Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP) Information Technology Network Access Equipment Project No. 16-33

Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP) Internet Security Surveillance Services Project No. 16-32

Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs. edu/district/departments/ procurement.

Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs. edu/district/departments/ procurement.

Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tueday, April 5, 2016.

Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06 Houston Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Monday, April 11, 2016.

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

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Job Posting – Executive Producer, News & Digital KTRK-TV, Houston’s leading news organization, is looking for an Executive Producer with a proven track record in broadcast and digital. This person must be a strong team-leader, effective communicator, with a ‘can do’ attitude.Consistently able to solve problems, turn visions into reality, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure, especially in breaking news situations.

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VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, April 1, 2016

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WELLNESS EXPO

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