Voice of Asia 15 May 2015

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IS claims deadly attack on Karachi Shiites, first in Pakistan

by Ashraf KHAN

K

ARACHI, Pakistan, AFP, 5/13/2015 Pistol-wielding gunmen in Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi stormed a bus carrying members of the Shiite Ismaili minority Wednesday, killing at least 43 in the first attack in the country officially claimed by the Islamic State group.

The IS claims, posted on Twitter, are set to raise fears over the Middle East-based jihadists’ growing influence after they announced in January the creation of a branch in what

they called “Khorasan province�, encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of surrounding countries. “Thanks be to Allah, 43 apostates were killed and around 30 were wounded in an attack carried out by Islamic State soldiers on a bus transporting Shiite Ismaili infidels in the city of Karachi,� the extremist group said in an Arabic statement, citing a higher number of injured than Pakistani officials.

Pakistani police also found leaflets claiming IS responsibility at the scene of the attack in

the city’s eastern Malir district, while the homegrown Jundullah militant faction, which some analysts suspect of having ties to IS, made a separate claim of responsibility to AFP. Pakistan has experienced a rising tide of sectarian violence in recent years, particularly against Shiites, who make up around 20 percent of the country’s predominantly Muslim population of 200 million. “According to the initial information which we have Continued on page 8

Women mourn as they visit a local hospital following an attack on a bus in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. AP Photo.

South Indian US Chamber of Commerce raises funds Nepal earthquake victims

Vishnu Nepal seen receiving the check from Jiji Olikan, Executive Secretary of the Chamber on May 7 2015 in Houston.

H

OUSTON - South Indian US Chamber of Commerce, Houston in solidarity with the Nepalese community held a condolence meeting at their corporate office on May 7 2015 to grieve with the community and share their support in relief efforts for the victims and their families affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal.

About 100 people including the Chamber members, community leaders and supporters attended the meeting. A check for the amount raised was given to Mr. Vishnu Nepal, Secretary, Nepali Association of Houston, by the Executive Secretary of the Chamber Mr. Jiji Olikan. Mr. Nepal promised that the amount will be delivered to the relief agency as soon as possible.

Members of the South Indian US Chamber of Commerce, Houston Stafford City Council Member Hon. Mr. Ken Mathew, Koshy

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Karachi is bleeding again More than 45 innocent people have been shot dead in what seems to be a provocative act against a peaceful community. The Ismalis were targeted on Wednesday by blood-thirsty criminals. This is the first time that this minority Shia sect has been made to suffer, and that too at a time when the metropolis is limping back to normalcy after years of turmoil and bloodshed.

Though this killing will also be forgotten with the passage of time, without any recourse to justice, as other bloodbaths did, it is clear the war against terrorism is far from being won.

Despite tall claims from the powers-that-be that security situation is under control, and a host of unscrupulous elements have been netted, no progress is evident as far as the ground situation is concerned. The biggest city of Pakistan, which is the heart of the economy, still reels under ethnic, lingual and sectarian violence. During the last two weeks, a number of targeted killings were also reported, especially of security officials who were leading the operation against terrorists. The latest killing shows that criminals and terrorists who were on the run since the paramilitary forces literally took over the city, are back to continue their bloody business.

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Karachi killing should not delay ongoing operation against mafia, terrorists But how did a bunch of people shoot all passengers dead in the ill-fated bus and manage to get away scot-free? The police have not been helpful with answers. The area where the killing took place is a stone’s throw away from police and Rangers kiosks, and falls in the heavily-guarded zones adjacent to the airport and other sensitive installations. This is a serious security lapse, and heads must roll.

Secondly, this targeted operation by the terrorists has proved beyond doubt the incompetence of the provincial government, which has been a silent spectator as the city goes down the drain.

Thirdly, it raises questions on intelligence gathering and the anti-terror response of paramilitary forces in Karachi, which is now directly working under the army’s command to cleanse the city of extortionists and snipers.

Wednesday’s killing has a

shady political mosaic, as well.

The incident took place in the wake of rumours that paramilitary forces are all set to launch its second phase of operation against high-profile politicians and their wheelers-dealers — who were allegedly instrumental in fuelling terrorist activities and amassing illegal wealth.

This resolve was also reiterated at the Army Core Commanders meeting last week.

This tragic incident could be a conspiracy to delay that operation, and an attempt to keep the security forces bogged down.

Whatever may be the case, the army and the paramilitary authorities have to lead from the front, as the government is seen to be playing to the gallery to serve its interests.

Karachi, and the country alike, cannot wait for another tragedy to take place before the security forces move in. It’s high time criminals in the rankand-file of political parties, as well as extremist religious elements are wiped out. Its success will largely depend on what scale of action the secu-

rity authorities can take against the bigwigs who patronise such activities under their noses.

Tales of money-laundering, misuse of official positions, pampering criminals in political parties and preaching a jaundiced version of faith are some of the issues that should be thoroughly investigated and action taken against the culprits.

The clean-up has to be acrossthe-board and without any bias.

Just like there is no difference between the so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taleban, the same should be the criterion for dealing with white-collar criminals and gun-wielding terrorists.

Despite the passage of law, military courts are yet to swing in action and pronounce judgments, which could act as a deterent to terror activities. What Pakistan needs is action against its sacred cows and the who’swho of politics that have turned the country into their private property while plunging it into chaos and anarchy.

Source: Khaleej Times

Is Political Correctness Undermining American Civilization?

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FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Chandra K. Mittal

by Chandra K. Mittal, Ph.D. Over the past 50 years or so the United States has been increasingly witnessing a social culture in which common citizens have to always watch over their shoulders (i.e. be careful) before speaking in public on issues related to race, religion, gender, welfare, nationality, age, etc. They are fearful that someone, somewhere, somehow may get offended by such speech. These are hot-button social topics for American society and can be publicly addressed or discussed only in ways that are not offensive to anyone.

Such speech is termed “Politically Correct (PC)�.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Political Correctness as “conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibili-

ties (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated�. In practice, however, the application of the term extends to the broader social issues and contexts in United States today.

While the politically incorrectness is not illegal, it is certainly frowned upon by those who are sensitive to these topics and disagree with actual majority view point. Such social culture is resulting in people being afraid to express themselves freely in front of others without being denigrated or stigmatized.

In most instances, public speech has to be either politically correct (PC) or not given at all.

This practice is essentially a coercion to silence free speech and an affront on the First Amendment Rights of the US citizens under the Constitution.

The US Founding fathers, George Mason and James Madison who wrote the First Article of the Bill of Rights, the so called First Amendment to the US Constitution in 1791, would have never thought that some 200 years later the right to “free speech� would come under such

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attack in America and would be replaced with “restricted speech�. The fundamental goal and intent of the First Amendment was to protect free speech in order to encourage diversity of views including the dissenting voices in matters of public policy. Free speech was considered crucial to achieve and maintain freedom.

By allowing free speech along with the freedom of the press and religion the Founders empowered the citizens to control their own destiny in a free country. These basic freedoms were considered the bedrock of American democracy, unique and exceptional compared to all other countries of the world. It is the freedom to think and express oneself that brings out the optimal intellectual potential of human beings. The converse is true in the repressive governing systems like dictatorships and theocracies where citizens are not allowed to think and express themselves. Such societies never progress or prosper.

While the idea of political correctness might have originated from the noble objective of correcting the social and economic injustices of the past against certain groups, today it is transforming into an irrational governing doctrine. Political correctness is becoming an extra-Constitutional social “movement� laced with radicalism and extremism as it is trying to play “quick catch up� by changing the social order. Even though the US constitution exists to protect citizens’ rights and there are strict federal and state laws against all forms of discrimination and violations of civil rights, the PC doctrine is pushing its own rules of social engagement to create Utopia.

In many instances political correctness is being used to justify mediocracy, discourage excellence, mask deficiencies and shortcomings of the actual situation by shutting the free speech. This portends a dim future for the American democracy, whose success is primarily based on excellence, open debate, plurality of views and dissent. In a healthy democracy there is crucial need of truth to solve social problems. The present decline of educational standards in the United States is the best example how political correctness has lowered its ranking in the world.

Political correctness also has a negative impact on the country’s prosperity since social policies

do affect economy. It is taking a major toll in terms of its adverse effects on American ingenuity and creativity. Intimidation and fear are a form of subjugation, oppression and violence.

They kill the human spirit – the ultimate source of all human creativity and inventiveness. A society that has to kowtow to the so called “correct’ political point of view of others for fear of being demonized is doomed to decline over time because it does not have the capacity to invent, innovate or readjust.

The world has repeatedly witnessed the imposition of political correctness in various forms for political expediency, sometimes even by force. But it has never brought the intended results, and has always led to their decline. Because political correctness is an idealistic (nonpragmatic) view point, it is in complete conflict with the reality. It may, and does lure people towards it like a mirage but it never deliver on its promise.

The public policies created by governments on the basis of “Political Correctness� rather than by the “free will of the people�, are rarely sustainable because they lack substance.

The best example of this is the worldwide movement of socialism in the early 20th century, which was conceived to be the “politically correct� way of managing the societies. But it slowly sank of its own weight by the end of the last century. And today many of the former socialistic societies have changed the course and are turning to the freedom (i.e. less regimented) model of governance as exemplified by China, Russia, India, etc. Consequently, they are all experiencing economic growth and prosperity.

In the final analysis, political correctness is contrary to the very idea and ideals on which the US was founded – the individual freedom. Anything that interferes with this principle is un-American by definition.

Forcing political correctness on the US citizens is not just regressive but an assault on American spirit. Imposition of such doctrine will reverse the progress that made US the superpower and an exceptional human civilization the world has experienced.

Dr. Chandra Mittal is Professor at Houston Community College, Houston, and Co-Founder of Indo-American Association, Houston. He can be contacted at drckmittal@yahoo.com.

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FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Second Front Page

Friday, May 15, 2015 • www.voiceofasiaonline.com • Page 3 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140

“Finding the Perfect Job in Difficult Times” hits it right with the audience

Panelists on the left observe as the event is kicked off by Pratish Kanani, the President of IITAGH

O

ver 80 professionals attended the IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH) panel discussion on, “Finding the Perfect Job in Difficult Times,” on Thursday, April 30th 2015.

Many showed up early and got to network with their peers while enjoying the appetizer selection of fish tacos, chicken satay, quesadillas, hummus, spinach & artichoke dip, and

beer and wine.

The event was kicked off by Pratish Kanani, the President of IITAGH, who welcomed everyone, provided an overview of IITAGH, highlighted a sampling of upcoming events, and asked them to sign up at the website. He then introduced the moderator for the evening, Sundy Srinivasan.

Sundy introduced each of the

panelists and gave them 5 minutes for their prepared remarks before opening up the session and collecting the questions to ask the panelists. The panelists included Pradeep Anand, President of Seeta Resources, Marie Bergeron, Director of Career Development at the Rice University Jones School of Business, and Ramesh Anand, President of American Personnel Resources LLC. Pradeep

A section of the audience at the event held on April 30th 2015. started with defining a perfect job, and then talked about networking and its importance in finding the perfect job.

A summary of his notes are here. Marie focused on what it takes for students to find a job and shared the importance of clearly articulating their story and understanding their transferable skills. Ramesh talked about the role that headhunters

play, and how to best utilize headhunters in the job search process.

After an hour and 15 minutes, the formal event came to an end, but the crowds remained for at least another hour asking 1-on-1 questions, and further networking with the group. “This was an absolutely outstanding event and I really enjoyed listening to the panelists,” shared one of

the attendees who had recently moved to Houston. She further shared, “I am really looking forward to more of these kinds of events.”

IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We help our members connect, develop, and give back to the local community. For more information, please visit www.iitagh.org

New building project for Houston C.S.I congregation kicks off St. Thomas C.S.I Church of Greater Houston organized the fund raising kick off for its proposed new building project. The ceremony was held on May 3rd, 2015, after the worship service. The meeting was chaired by the pastor of the church, Rev. Alpha Varughese Joseph and was also attended by Rev. A.V. Thomas.

The kick off was inaugurated by receiving the pledge form from Mr. Abraham Panickamuriyil .

Over 25 families from the church wholeheartedly pledged their contribution towards the project. On behalf of the building committee, senior member Mr. Josie C Abraham coordinated the meeting and expressed his thanks to everyone.

The Church was started 26 years ago by the joint effort and vision of around 22 families. Now, by the grace of God, the church has grown to become the largest C.S.I congregation in the Houston area with over 90 families. A building committee has been constituted to accomplish this building project.

Left: Rev. Alpha Varughese Joseph and Rev. A.V.

Thomas with members of Building Committee.

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The People’s Lawyer www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

New job is not a valid excuse to break a lease Q. About five months ago, my husband and I rented an apartment. Now my husband is being transferred to another city. If we do have to move soon, we’ll break our lease by 6 months. The landlord says we will owe him for leaving early. Is he right?

A. You cannot just end your lease for a new job, unless the lease says so. Leaving early for any reason not authorized in the lease will be considered a breach, and you could owe damages. My suggestion is to talk with the landlord and to see if he will agree to terminate the lease early. Maybe if you pay a month or two rent, he will let you leave. If you do work something out, be sure to get it in writing.

If you break the lease and move out early, you could owe the costs of finding a new tenant, plus rent until the end of the lease term or when the apartment is rented to someone else, whichever is earlier.

Q. I work at a freestanding emergency clinic. I started in October and work four to five 12-hour shifts per month. I was notified two weeks ago that the company overpaid me by almost $900 due to the accountant’s error. Am I obligated to pay them back? This was their fault. They did not notice the overage for months, and I don’t have an extra $900. Thanks for helping.

A. As far as the law is concerned, in most cases when someone makes a mistake and pays too much money, the person who receives it does not have the right to keep it. It doesn’t matter that it was their fault they overpaid you. The opposite is also true. If they underpaid you, and you didn’t discover it for several months, they would still owe you the money when you asked to be paid the proper amount. I suggest you speak with them about arranging a repayment plan you can afford.

Q. My father deeded his house to me, but kept a life estate for himself. He now is moving into assisted living, and wants me to be able to sell the house free of his life estate. What can I do?

A. As you know, the life estate gives him control over the property while he is alive.

It is an interest in property and just like any other interest can be transferred or sold. If he wants to deed his interest to you he can, and that would give you the right to sell the property free and clear of his life estate. I suggest you speak with a local attorney, or even a realtor and title company, to find out the best way to do this. In my opinion, if he is still competent and will agree to sign a deed and sell his life estate with your interest in the house, it should not be a big deal.

Q. I was married in another state, but moved to Texas shortly after the wedding. We have lived in Texas for four years. If I file for divorce, would I collect alimony under Texas law or the law of the state where I was married?

A. If you live in Texas and divorce in Texas, you are subject to Texas law. Also, Texas does not have alimony. Texas is a “community property state,” which basically means you divide all the property you and your spouse acquired during the marriage. You also will be entitled to child support, assuming you were awarded custody. There is a provision in the law that is similar to short-term alimony, but this “spousal support” provision does not apply unless you have been married for at least ten years.

I suggest you speak with a family law attorney who can fully describe your legal rights in the event of divorce.

Q. I fell in a local bar. All my friends saw that I fell and was hurt. The bar says it is not responsible. Can I take them to justice court?

A. First, just because you fell does not mean the bar has any liability. It is responsible if its negligence caused the fall, but not simply because it owns the property. For example, if you tripped over your own feet or another customer and fell, the bar has no liability. On the other hand, if there was a spilled drink the bar did not clean up in a reasonable period of time and that caused the fall, the bar would be considered “negligent,” and responsible. I suggest you think about what caused cause of the fall. If you believe it was the bar’s fault, ask for compensation for your medical expenses. If they do not pay, justice court may be the best place to get the matter resolved.

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FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER Answers to your Immigration Questions

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer:email at srichardslaw@aol.com ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT FILING AN AFFIRMATIVE ASYLUM APPLICATION Sharlene Sharmila Richards Q: I am thinking of filing for asylum as I fear returning to my home country. What do I need to show in order to file for asylum?

A: An individual who has suffered past persecution in his or her home country or has a well-founded fear of persecution in his home country on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or because of membership in a particular social group may file for asylum for gain protection and legal status here in the United States.

Q: I am in the United States illegally. I have been here for more than one year in this status and I was informed that it may be too late to file the asylum application.

A: You may apply for asylum regardless of your immigration status. However, you are required to file the asylum application within one year of your last arrival in the United States.

There are exceptions to that one year requirement: You may qualify for the exception if you can show changed circumstances materially affecting your eligibility for asylum. Examples of this are changes in country conditions in your home country or changes in activities you had become involved in that now places you at risk of persecution if you were to return to your home country.

The other exception is extraordinary circumstances which resulted in your failure to file within the one year period. Examples of this can be if you suffered a serious illness or mental or physical disability including any effects of persecution or harm during the one year period upon your arrival in the United States which prevented you from filing the application in a timely manner.

Q: I wish to include my fiancé in my asylum application. I believe he will also suffer persecution if he returned to my home country with me. Do we have to get married to include him?

A: Yes you do. Once you are married, you may include your spouse as a dependent in your asylum application. You may include your spouse in the asylum application at the time you file or at any time until a final decision is made on your case.

Q: What form do I use to file an asylum application? Is there a fee for this application?

Where do I file the application?

A: You will need to use form I-589 Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal.

You can obtain this form from the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under “Forms”. There is no filing fee for the application. Typically, the affirmative asylum application is filed at the USCIS Service Center that has jurisdiction over applications for the state where the applicant resides.

Please check the instructions for the Form I-589 for the current filing address.

Q: I have three children, two of them are under the age of 21 and the other is over the age of 21 years. Can I include all of them in my asylum application?

A: You should list all your children in your asylum application irrespective of their age, whether they are married or not and whether living here in the US or abroad. However, only the children under the age of 21 and who are unmarried can be dependents on your asylum application. Your son or daughter over the age of 21 may, if eligible, file his or her own asylum application.

Q: I presently have F-1 status and I want to apply for asylum. Will the application for asylum jeopardize my F-1 status?

A: No, it will not.

Q: My asylum application was denied by the asylum office. Can I appeal the decision?

A: If the asylum officer decides not to approve your affirmative asylum application, there is no appeal. The officer will refer the case to an immigration court for removal proceedings.

Only at the removal proceedings before the immigration judge can the applicant be denied asylum. In such a case, the applicant will be ordered removed from the US. It is at this stage that the applicant can file an appeal from the order of the removal by the immigration judge.

Q: How soon before I receive my work authorization card after I have filed the asylum application? Can I file for work authorization at the same time as the asylum application?

A: No, you cannot file for your employment authorization at the same time when you apply for asylum. You may apply for employment authorization if 150 days have passed since you filed your complete asylum application, excluding any delays caused by you such as requests for reschedule your interview and if a decision has yet to be made on your application. The filing date is date USCIS received your application.

Q: What happens if my child turns 21 years old after I have filed my asylum application?

A: Your child will continue to be eligible as a dependent or derivative on your asylum application if he or she turned 21 after the application was filed but while it is pending. Your child must have been unmarried and under 21 years old on the date the application was filed.

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 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

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VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Chinmaya Birth Centenary Celebrations begin with Glory and Grace

by Padmashree Rao & Vinod Sharma Photos by Satish Byali, Jayesh Mistry, Rajesh Thatte and Nilesh Shah

H

OUSTON. “Unto Him, Our Best” is the global resolve and promise as Chinmaya Mission worldwide prepares to pay tribute to the beloved spiritual Master Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda on his birth centenary year beginning Friday, May 8th, 2015.

Inspired by that lofty slogan, Chinmaya Mission Houston offered its best during the threeday-event commemorating the onset of the 100th year celebration of the birth of a rare modern sage – a fearless Guru who galvanized the globe with his powerful logic of spirituality and sang the Lord’s Song everywhere.

It was a birthday event where dedicated action joined hands with unabashed devotion and united before the altar of blissful Knowledge. The spirit of the Bhagavad Gita was exemplified in every heart as each aspect of the festivities from May 8th to May 10th shone with Chinmaya glory, precision, and beauty.

On the evening of May 8th, in the beautiful courtyard of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya, a lifesized image of the inimitable Gurudev placed just outside the temple evoked the memory of Gurudev’s promise to wait for every seeker at the door to eternal Truth. Surrounding Gurudev was beauty beyond aesthetics – the decorations of flowers, candles, and banners seemed to perfectly complement the beaming blue skies and the gently glowing green grass of the courtyard.

Inside the Smrti hall, Manasa Kethireddipalli invoked the Grace of the Guru and highlighted the fearless transforma-

tion of Balakrishnan Menon into Swami Chinmayananda.

As the chanting of Gurustotram and Chinmayastakam energized the hall, Acarya Sri Gaurang Nanavaty lit the Akhanda Jyoti – the flame that will shine on and light the spiritual journey for the whole year ahead. Following that ceremony, Acarya Sri Gaurangbhai addressed the gathering. He said that Gurudev’s extraordinary intellect, deep conviction, and fearless quest for Truth gave this world the Chinmaya Mission.

Then, the devotees were thrilled to hear from Gurudev himself, via one of his timeless video talks. Describing the process of setting and facing challenging goals, Gurudev elaborated on one of the immortal verses of the Gita. Just like the Ganga, Gurudev dramatized, a determined seeker must learn to jump lightly over small hurdles, rush with strength over big obstacles, and skirt around mountains of seemingly unending challenges, never losing sight of the goal to merge with the Highest!

to the Eldridge Park, over 1000 people enjoyed several fun activities including a tug of war and laughing yoga. If laughter were like flower petals and cheerful thoughts like rising fragrance from incense then the Mission family certainly made the walkathon a grand offering to our Gurudev.

The next day, on May 10th, the centenary celebrations took on yet another hue of pious joy and gratitude. The day began with performing Gurudev’s Paduka Puja. Since the day also marked Mother’s Day, both the mother and the Guru were revered. The Chinmaya Houston family conveyed their love and gratitude to beloved Acarya Srimati Darshana Nanavaty and prayed for her years of good health ahead. All mothers were wished with a tender poem written by Elisha Thakare, a Bala Vihar child.

Urging for a truly Chinmaya

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released a commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda. movement ahead, Acarya Gaurangbhai said that the best tribute to Gurudev – and the most meaningful inheritance left to the next generation – is the regular study of the Bhagavad Gita. And, just two verses of the Gita everyday could begin an unending personalized trib-

ute to Pujya Gurudev!

Chinmaya Mission invites all to the special screenings of a biopic about Swami Chinmayananada, “On a Quest,” on May 30th and June 7th at 3:15pm at the AMC Dunvale. The movie portrays the unconventional life journey and an unforget-

table glimpse of a great Master, Buy your tickets online at www.chinmayahouston.org/ onaquest .Ticket availability is limited, so we encourage you to purchase soon. For more information, please visit www.chinmayahouston.org or contact Jay Deshmukh 832-541-0059.

The rest of the evening was a rare birthday party where a thousand-plus CMH family members assembled in the courtyard. A special birthday song composed by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, a musical encore by the Chinmaya choir children, and an energetic flash-mob styled dance delighted all with both devotion and cheer. The evening ended with fireworks that formed an awe-inspiring background for the Sivalinga above Gurudev’s image.

The morning of May 9th welcomed a happy Chinmaya army to a well-organized walkathon.

It was a walk that symbolized the Chinmaya family’s courage and fortitude to fight against all negativities and progress on the path of universal spirituality.

As part of the 5K walkathon

More than 1000 people wearing their T-shirts with the slogan “Unto Him Our Best” walked in unison to the park.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Atma Shanthi Pooja for Nepal EarthInternational Day of Yoga quake victims at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Houston - 21 June, 2015

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n 11 December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga receiving broad support from 177 member states, including USA. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of 21 June as International Day of Yoga by Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014.

Devotees and MTS board members gathered for the Athma Shathi Puja at Sri Meenakshi Temple. Consul General of India, Houston Mr. Harish Parvathaneni, seen in the center took part in the puja.

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n Athma Shanthi Puja was conducted at Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) on Sunday May 10th for Nepal Earthquake victims.

Ms. Prashanti Pandit, Executive member, Nepal Association of Houston (NAH) and Dr. Rupak Rauniar (Vice President, NAH) joined the Indian Consul General Mr. Harish Parvathaneni, along with devotees and MTS board members for the Pooja.

Aarthi was performed at each of the Pradhana Sannadhis in the main temple. MTS Secretary Srikanth Venugopalan and Vice Chair Narayanan expressed the condolences and support on behalf of MTS. The Indian Consul General while extending the support on behalf of Indian Government also shared the information on the immediate response to the disaster and the current efforts, urging all Indians to continue to support the effort. MTS Treasurer Padma Golla provided information on MTS’s fund raising effort for the Nepal victims and shared the information on the immediate pledge of $ 1000 from the

Consulate General of India, Houston would be celebrating the first International Day of Yoga in a befitting manner on Sunday, 21 June from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX in close coordination with Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) and numerous other Yoga schools / institutions, and other social and cultural organizations. The IDY celebration would bring together a large

number of Houstonians including elected officials, and institutions to perform Yoga and actively participate in a number of free interactive Yoga sessions featuring Yoga demonstration by experts, and a ‘Yoga Fair’.

The International Day of Yoga event at George R. Brown Convention Center is free and open to the public. We encourage interested participants to register online for free at the event website (http://iyogadayhouston. org/) which is mandatory for participation. Kindly bring a photo ID. For more details, please visit the website which will carry frequent updates about the event.

Let 21 June spread the message of Yoga, and all are invited to be part of this celebration for peace and harmony – in our lives, in our wonderful city of Houston and in the world at large!

MTS Basketball tournament conducts its 2nd annual competition

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by Mahesh K Iyer ecreation Center saw a very unique competitive sporting event on May 9th, featuring the young adults of Sri Meenakshi Temple. The three teams wore their colorful jersey, and were ready at 10:30 AM sharp, while Vyas Ramankulangara, a 10th grader from Pearland, led the gathering in prayer. MTS Secretary Srikanth Venugopalan MTS General Fund.

On behalf of NAH, Ms. Prashanti Pandit thanked the assembled devotees, expressing gratitude for the love and support offered by all. The Priests concluded with several chanting of the hymns from Vedas as the devotees joined in offering prayers to the departed souls and to relieve those suffering due to the natural calamity.

MTS requests donors to visit www.eMeenakshi.org and select community outreach option to contribute to the relief fund through its website.

and MTS Treasurer Padma Golla welcomed the team and officially kicked off the competition. The event was coordinated by Krishnan Swaminathan, a veteran basketball coach in his own right, and a sporting enthusiast. The pre-assigned volunteers refereed the game, kept scores and had loads of fun -- special thanks to Bala, Murali and Sriram.

How do you intensify the focus of a teenager? Well, competing in a basketball game is certainly one way!!! The adults were happy to see the spontaneity with which the teens took to competing in the game. The truly encouraging part for the adults was indeed to watch the focus exhibited by the teens.

All the games were too close to call until the very last minute.

Certainly they had put in a lot of efforts to get here. The final score was 29 to 27.

2015 Winner: Pearlanders 2015 Runner Up: Sweet Elite The event concluded with a friendly match between adults and the teens. Needless to say, the teens won!!

MTS Basketball 2015 2nd annual winning team Pearlanders with their Trophy

DIASPORA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Indo-American Community Services hosts Leadership and Technology Conference in Dallas

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Neel Mukherjee wins £10,000 UK literary award

ndo American Community Services organized a leadership and technology conference in Dallas Texas at Renaissance Richardson.

The conference was packed with attendees ranging from experienced mid carrier professionals to corporate leaders, Entrepreneurs and students.

IACS is one of the pioneering not for profit organization supporting South Asian American community through various initiatives such as diversity job fairs, women empowerment forum, professional, leadership and Technology and entrepreneurial conferences.

IACS executive committee member and technology, digital assets in-charge Ramesh Garapaty delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the audience and the speakers.

Honorable Consul General of Houston Harish Parvathaneni delivered the keynote address.

Mr.Parvathaneni talked about the rapid developments in India as it relates to these emerging technologies and explained to the audience various initiatives launched by government of India to promote entrepreneurship in the technology space.

The conference had two panel discussions with the first one introducing emerging technologies IoT, Big data to audience and articulating how these emerging technologies are out to transform how we live and work few years from now.

The second panel discussion focused on the information security challenges presented by IoT and Big data.

IoT panel was moderated by Dr.Rama venkata subramanian of Texas Instruments who is also an adjunct faculty at UT Dallas. The panelists included Shiraz Hasan Area Vice President Industrial IoT at AT&T, Nageswaran Vaidyanathan Senior Director connected car at Allstate, Swami Chandrasekaran Executive Architect for Watson at IBM CTO office.

Neel Mukherjee (Image courtesy: Flickr)

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olkata-born writer Neel Mukherjee’s “The Lives of Others” has won the UK’s Encore Award for the best second novel.

IACS executive team, students and sponsors at the Conference.

Information security panel was moderated by Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingam Distinguished Professor of UT Dallas. Dr.Venkata Majeti CEO of Loment and Girish Cheruvolu Vice President at Citibank discussed the various security challenges confronted by the corporations in the new digital age.

provided him by allowing him to connect with several working professionals.

Together with the IACS executive team and sponsor Sritek CEO Chandra and Sreenivas

Katragadda president of IACS felicitated all the speakers.

The event concluded with delicious dinner and Thank you from Jagan Bukkaraju secretary of IACS. The executive

team commended the efforts of Murali Tummala, Sumanth Yarra, Teja Vemulapalli, Satyan KalyanDurg, Anil Saldhana, Kavya Priya, Kalyan Medikundam in making the event a very grand success.

“Ranging from the mass hunger of the Second World War to independence and the emergence of the Maoist Naxalbari movement, Mukherjee chronicles these extraordinary years in Indian history through the piercingly observed story of one family,” he said. Commenting on his win, Mukherjee said, “The Encore Award is the coolest and the most original literary prize in town.

“Extremely Informative, Intensely thought provoking” is how one of the conference attendees Mohan Alladi put it when asked about his input on the conference.

“I have attended several single or multi-day long conferences sponsored by my employer paying thousands.

But this is one of the great conference where I learned about IoT, Big Data and Security just in just couple hours and met and connected with many professionals” is how one other attendee put it when she was asked about her view point.

One of the students from UTD Karthik who attended was impressed with the immense value the conference

The 10,000 pounds prize, first awarded in 1990, fills a niche in the catalogue of literary prizes by celebrating the achievement of outstanding second novels, often neglected in comparison to the attention given to promising first books. “We were immensely impressed by the ambition and depth of Neel Mukherjee’s second novel, in which a suburban house in 1960s Calcutta comes to reflect the political and social convulsions of an entire society,” Alex Clark, chair of the Encore Judges, said.

Left to right :- Anil Saldhana, Murali Tummala, Ramesh Garapaty, Sreenivas Katragadda, Harish Parvathaneni, and Jagan Bukkaraju.

It is a burst of light in what is usually considered to be dark, damp, bleak territory the dreaded second novel. I’m thrilled by my good fortune and, looking at the list of past winners, both humbled and deeply honoured.”Mukherjee’s first novel “A Life Apart” was published in 2010. “The Lives of Others” was shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize and the Costa Novel Award.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

PM Narendra Modi arrives in IS claims deadly attack on Karachi China, begins visit from President Shiites, first in Pakistan Xi Jinping’s hometown Continued from Page 1

India has raised with China its concerns over huge Chinese investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following President Xi Jinping’s trip to Pakistan last month.

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I’AN - May 14, 2015 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached China Thursday morning on a three-day visit during which he will hold summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a range of issues including the festering border dispute and China’s plans for infrastructure projects in PoK. Modi, who is undertaking his first visit to China as Prime Minister, would begin his day with a visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors museum which has a large collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.

He would later visit the famous Buddhist Dashang temple in Shaanxi province, the home province of President Xi, who has restored its old glory by making it the headquarters of his mega Silk Road projects.

Xi will join Modi in the afternoon and the two leaders would spend nearly about five hours with restricted as well as informal talks to build on their rapport discussing the most contentious issues like border dispute and China’s big push to rope in reluctant India into the Silk Road projects, specially the maritime silk road (MSR) over which India has strong reservations.

India has raised with China

received from hospitals, 43 people have been killed and 13 wounded,” Ghulam Haider Jamali, police chief of Sindh province told reporters.

“Six terrorists came on three motorcycles, they entered the bus and began firing indiscriminately. They used 9mm pistols,” he said.

Paramilitary Rangers conducted a series of targeted raids in Sohrab Goth and Safoora Goth neighbourhoods after the attack and arrested 18 suspects, the Rangers said in a statement, giving no further details.

In Xi’an, Modi will be hosted by Xi, departing from normal protocol to reciprocate gesture by Modi in Ahmedabad when the Chinese leader visited India in September last year. its concerns over huge Chinese investments in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) following President Xi Jinping’s trip to Pakistan last month.

In Xi’an, Modi will be hosted by Xi, departing from normal protocol to reciprocate gesture by Modi in Ahmedabad when the Chinese leader visited India in September last year.

Xi would accompany him to the famous Wild Goose Pagoda, the magnificent structure built in sixth century to commemorate the visit of a spiritual structure build to highlight famous Chinese Buddhist monk Xuan Zang’s 17-year-long journey.

Modi would also be accorded traditional Tang dynasty welcome followed by a banquet by Xi.

The two countries are set to announce a multi-million joint film production to reconstruct Xuan’s epic journey.

After informal interaction with the Chinese President, Modi will leave for Beijing late in the evening.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Premier Li Keqiang next day and go to Shanghai where he would address a business get-together, inaugurate the first Mahatma Gandhi chair at Fudan University and address the Indian community.

He is being accompanied

by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and senior officials.

China is the first leg of Modi’s three-nation tour that will also take him to Mongolia and South Korea. (PTI).

- ‘Senseless act’ Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the world Ismaili community, confirmed the toll in a statement sent by his office in France.

“This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community,” the philanthropist and business magnate said.

The killings were also condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who arrived in the city Wednesday evening and chaired a high-level meeting involving the country’s army chief General Raheel Sharif and other senior officials.

General Sharif, meanwhile, cancelled a pre-scheduled trip to Sri Lanka.

“No effort will be spared to apprehend and punish perpetrators of this terrorist act, their abettors and backers,” the army chief said in a telephone conversation with the Ismaili spiritual leader.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack, but urged Islamabad to “take swift measures aimed at effective protection of religious minorities”.

of inspiration from the group,” he said.

There have been concerns recently about the IS group tapping support in Pakistan, a country awash with dozens of militant groups.

At Karachi’s Memon Hospital Institute, where most of the wounded from Wednesday’s attack were rushed, crying relatives formed a human chain outside the main building to keep onlookers away.

Leaflets backing IS jihadists have been seen over recent months in parts of northwest Pakistan and pro-IS slogans have appeared on walls in several cities, but Wednesday’s claims are the first official ones to be made by the group.

A spokesman for the Jundullah militant faction, which has claimed several major attacks in the past, including one on a church in Peshawar that killed 81 Christians in 2013, also said his group was responsible for storming the bus.

Speaking over the phone from an undisclosed location, Ahmed Marwat said: “Shiites and Ahmadis are unbelievers, they are apostates and deserved death.”

Little is known about Jundullah, its strength, or its organisational structure, but it is believed to be based out of the country’s tribal areas and parts of Karachi.

- ‘IS-style caliphate’ According to security analyst Amir Rana, the shadowy group has pledged its allegiance to IS in the past.

“Jundullah is the group who at the very initial state had shown its allegiance to Daesh, or Islamic State, and it has a lot

“And this was the same group who had claimed that they were going to be setting up an ISstyle caliphate in the country.”

A sobbing middle-aged man told AFP: “I have come to collect the body of my young son.

He was a student preparing for his first year exams at college.”

The bus itself, which had been driven after the attack to the hospital, was drenched in blood and riddled with bullet holes.

One female survivor who asked to remain anonymous described the attackers as being clean-shaven and dressed in Western attire, according to a male nurse who spoke to her.

The passengers were instructed to bow their heads as one attacker shouted “Kill them all”, the nurse quoted the survivor as saying.

“One attacker mentioned there were two kids on board and the other told them to let them live,” she told the nurse.

Wednesday’s attack was the second-deadliest in Pakistan this year after 62 Shiite Muslims were killed in a suicide bombing in late January.

Karachi, a sprawling city of roughly 20 million, has long had a reputation for high crime rates as well as ethnic, political and sectarian violence

Indian child bride faces $25,000 Priyanka Chopra fine for rejecting marriage

spells style as Alex Parrish in ‘Quantico’

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riyanka Chopra, who plays the role of an FBI trainee in Quantico, shared this picture of hers with Kerry Washington on Instagram captioned, “Learning from my favorite leading ladies! Thank u for guiding me thru!love u guys! #ABC @ellenpompeo @kerrywashington.” (Source: Instagram)

Indian students hold placards as they take an oath vowing to eliminate the practice of aborting female fetuses in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. © AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool.

NEW DELHI, (May 13, 2015) - The family of a 19year-old Indian girl has been ostracized and fined 1.6 million rupees ($25,000) by a village council after she rejected a marriage arranged when she was a baby, the girl and her parents said on Wednesday.

Santadevi Meghwal, from the western desert state of Rajasthan, said she was married off at 11 months old to a nine-yearold boy in her village, 60 km (37 miles) south of Jodhpur.

Meghwal became aware of her marriage at the age 16 and, with the support of her parents, refused to go and live with her husband and in-laws as they demanded.

“I was 11 months old when I was married off. It was only when I grew up that I realized what had happened,” Meghwal told the CNN-IBN television station on Wednesday. “I want to study and become a teacher.

I don’t want to go there,” she added.

Meghwal’s family said her husband’s family refused to annul the marriage and took the matter to the council in Rohichan Khurd village, which imposed the fine and banished the family from the community.

“The community is forcing us to send our daughter to the groom’s and if we don’t, they are demanding 16 lakh (1.6 million) rupees from us,” Padmaram, Meghwal’s father, told the NDTV news channel.

Members of the village council and Meghwal’s husband and in-laws were not immediately available for comment.

A local charity, the Sarathi Trust, said it was helping the family, was planning legal action against the members of the village council, and had advised Meghwal’s in-laws to agree to an annulment of the marriage.

Child marriage is illegal in India, but it is deeply rooted in Indian society and remains

widespread in parts of the country. About 47 percent of women aged between 20 and 24 were married before the age of 18, according to government figures.

In Rajasthan - one of India’s premier tourist destinations where millions visit its ancient fortresses and join camel-back desert safaris - some 65 percent of women were child brides, above the national average.

Gender experts say the practice hampers efforts to improve the status of women, as it cuts across every part of a girl’s development and creates a vicious cycle of malnutrition, poor health and ignorance.

A child bride is more likely to drop out of school and have serious complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Her children are more likely to be underweight and will be lucky to survive beyond the age of five.

(Reporting by Nita Bhalla; Editing by Tim Pearce, Thomson Reuters Foundation).

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Priyanka Chopra, with Kerry Washington on Instagram

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Ashirwad’s Happy Day 2015 Walk to END Lupus Now & 5K Run raised about $260,000

Ashirwad’s chief teacher Geetha Ravula (far right) with the top three Sloka-Thon. Also seen on far left is Mr. Sridhar.

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shirwad A Blessing Temple celebrated Happy:) Day 7 on Sunday April 26th, in Durgabari Temple, Houston TX. Happy:) Day is Ashirwad’s i-Lifestyle (Indian Lifestyle) class graduation & appreciation nite. Highlights of the evening were Chief Teacher’s Commitment Award, Sloka-Thon & $loka-Bet, VEDIC FAIR 2015 Appreciation, “Yoga Showcase”, Annual Slo-

Bhat is crowned Sloka-Thon 2015 champion for reciting 34 Slokas from Bhagwad Githa and slokas by number from Sri Vishnusahasranama Sthotram asked by Judges. 1st runner up is Srinidhi Srikalyani & 2nd runner up is Aishani Sakalbhaktula.

Ashirwad recognized & awarded VEDIC FAIR 2015, “INDIA Exhibit Presentation” Competition, champion Bha-

petition {Sathwik}.

Ashirwad Divine students presented highlight of the evening “Yoga Showcase”. Students showcased various asanas learned in i-Lifestyle class such as Bhujangasan, Uttita Parsva Konasan, Virabadrasan, Trikonasan, Chakrasan, Halasan, Danurasan and more.

Happy Day concluded on a happy note, all students delight-

Participants of the Walk to END Lupus Now & 5K Run.

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OUSTON - On May 3rd, 2015, The Lupus Foundation of America-Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, held their annual walk/ run fundraiser. Walk to END Lupus Now & 5K Run raised about $260,000 with 3,600 participants and 600 runners registered. Proceeds from the event support programs such as Education and Outreach, Direct Services, Research and overall support of the lupus community in the Texas Gulf Coast Region.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. Symptoms of lupus come and go, change over time, and often imitate other illnesses, mak-

ing lupus difficult to diagnose.

Common symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, overwhelming fatigue, and fevers that last for days or weeks. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is complex and hard to define, with no known causes or cure. It strikes without warning, and affects each person differently. It is debilitating, devastating, and can be fatal.

Lupus can strike anyone at any time, but 90 percent of the 1.5 million Americans living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk and are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with lupus. The onset of lupus symptoms typically occurs in women of childbearing age,

15-44.

The Lupus Foundation of America introduced Help Us Solve the Cruel MysteryTM as its new rallying cry and launched a national tour to increase awareness of lupus, research funding, and support for the lupus community. Get involved by signing the petition to urge Congress to provide more funds for lupus research and education services that support the millions of Americans living with lupus.

Visit www.LupusTexas.org to learn more about lupus and other ways to show your support.

Source: Lupus Foundation of America

HPD Civilian Supervisor of the Year 2015 Award for Harkeert Singh “Yoga Showcase by students another highlight of the celebrations. ka Recital & Student Graduation Ceremony.

Ashirwad’s chief teacher Geetha Ravula-Ji, every year recognizes one Ashirwad Family for their consistent commitment to heritage. This year’s Chief Teacher’s commitment award of 2015 was presented to Ananya Bhonsley and her parents Bindu Rao (Mother), Vivek Bhonsley (Father).

Signature event of the evening that parents and students look forward fervently is SlokaThon. Ashirwad students compete to recite as many slokas as they can in 3 minutes and recite any sloka by number from Sri Vishnusahasra Namam or Bhagwad Githa. Sloka Chanting has many benefits. Chanter doesn’t necessarily have to be aware of meaning of verses to enjoy these benefits. Sanskrit language has tremendous spectrum of energy, its phonetics require the complexity of tongue placements that stimulate pituitary gland located just millimeters away from the roof of the palate. Since chanting naturally requires cycles of deep respiration, it also amounts to release of emotional toxicity and unwanted psychic residue.

Chanters have reported to have experienced more mental clarity and memory increase.

vana Gollapudi for her presentation “Indian Scientific Heritage”, Ayushi Sapru is the runner up for her presentation on “Lord Ganesh”. In below 10 years category Ananya Bhonsley is the champion for her presentation on “Navagraha - The Nine Planetary Dieties” & Annika Ahuja is the runner up for her presentation on “Vrindavan”. Renu Ahuja is the champion & Manisha Mohta is the runner up in Cooking Com-

fully received their graduation trophy. Ashirwad i-Lifestyle class of 2015-2016 will commence on Saturday, September 12 2015. Enrollments are now open for kids over 4 year to 18 years. Teen Yoga, Meditation classes and summer adult classes for yoga, meditation and Bhagwad Githa are held every month in Katy, TX. For more information email AshirwadABlessing@gmail.com or visit AshirwadABlessing.org

Harkeert Singh seen with Charles McClelland, Chief of the Houston Police Department and Mayor Annise Parker

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arkeert Singh, 44 came to Houston/ in August 1998 at the age of 27. He was born in India: in a village called Lambra, in the northern state of Punjab and raised in R.K. Puram and Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi where he did his primary education at the Khalsa Middle School. He completed his High School from S.S. Khalsa, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi and went to Collage at the Deshbandu Collage, Kalkajee also in New Delhi.

Harkeert Singh and wife Rajinder Kaur have two children Aushmeet Singh and Sukhmeet Singh Singh joined the Houston Police Department on March 2000. He was promoted as “Office Supervisor” on June 2005. He was awarded the HPD Civilian Supervisor of the Year 2015.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital unveils new TrueBeam linear accelerator for state-of-the-art cancer treatment

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UGAR LAND—(May 13, 2015) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has installed a new radiation therapy system, which integrates imaging, beam delivery and motion management to give physicians unmatched control of radiation therapy.

“This is a major step forward in cancer treatment,” says Clive Shkedy, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology services at Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land.

“The new system allows us to limit side effects and reduce the impact on surrounding tissue while improving the delivery of radiation. It actually gives us a 4-D image as we work – a three-dimensional view of the tumor along with any movement – so that we can deliver radiation doses to a precise spot at the most opportune moment.”

The system called TrueBeam, developed by Varian Medical Systems, is ideal for treating tumors of the lung, abdomen, breast, prostate, head and neck.

One of the major advances of the new system is its GPS-like system for prostate cancer treatment, in which tiny markers are implanted in the patient for precise, real-time tracking of the tumor. “This is especially beneficial because the prostate can move slightly throughout a treatment session due to a full bladder or abdominal gas,” said Dr. Shkedy. “Now, we are able to adjust the delivery of radiation in real time to ensure that we are hitting the tumor even if there is slight movement during treatment.”

With this new technology, clinicians can correlate the tumor position in breast cancer patients in relation to the patient’s respiratory cycle. Using an infrared tracking camera, the system measures the patient’s respiratory pattern and range of motion. This allows the clinician to set gating thresholds that turn the radiation beam on and off automatically for maximum benefit.

“As the patient inhales, the heart and lungs move toward the breast and during exhalation, they move away,” said Dr. Shkedy. “The gating mechanism in the TrueBeam system allows us to rapidly deliver radiation doses when the patient’s heart and lungs are furthest from the tumor, limiting the amount of radiation those critical organs receive.”

The gating system can also be used with other forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, and will be used in stereotactic

Annual Sugar Land Kids Fish set for May 16

S

UGAR LAND, TX Calling all kids! Head over to Eldridge Park, 2511 Eldridge Blvd., on May 16 for the fourth annual Sugar Land Kids Fish event.

The FREE tournament begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon. An awards ceremony will follow, and trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in the following categories: 5 and younger, 6-9 years old, 10-12 years old and 13-16 years old.

Want to fish but don’t know how? No problem! Everything needed will be provided – from rods and reels to the bait and instructions. Participants may bring chairs or blankets to sit on, as well as their own rods and reels.

If fishing all morning stirs the appetite, there will be food and beverage options available for purchase. Also planned are a Texas-sized foam pit, a fun photo booth, activity booths, giveaways and much, much more.

For more information, contact the Sugar Land Parks and Recreation Department at (281) 275-2825 or visit facebook. com/sugarlandparks.

body radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery, said Dr. Shkedy.

TrueBeam also allows for quicker treatment sessions – just a few minutes a day in most cases – and a more comfortable patient experience. For example, the system is quieter than traditional linear accelerators and there are enhanced communication capabilities that enable the patient to remain in constant contact with the operating therapist.

The Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land is set up to conduct clinical trials using the new TrueBeam system, and can electronically transfer data to trial organizers.

“Our successful approach relies on our collaborative approach with patients,” says Dr. Shkedy. “The TrueBeam system gives our team another powerful tool that we can use to plan and deliver the best possible care.”

Learn more about the cancer services at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital by calling our Cancer Navigator, Frances Goerlich at 281.274.7930 or join us at our Cancer Center open house on Thursday, June 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. The community is invited to attend, tour, interact

TrueBeam Linear Accelerator with staff and see how our new TrueBeam technology works.

We will have tours, refreshments, a free gift for attendees

and fabulous door prizes. To RSVP, call 281.275.0751 or

email SLRSVP@houstonmethodist.org

Lifestyle VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 11

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 28 No. 20 Friday, May 15, 2015 Section 2 Page 11

by Olivier THIBAULT / Richard INGHAM

P

ARIS - Binge drinking is emerging as a major hazard for the young in some countries, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Tuesday in its first probe into alcohol abuse.

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140

Binge drinking is major risk in some countries says OECD

Over the past 20 years, alcohol consumption in OECD countries has declined by 2.5 percent on average, the 34-nation club of rich economies said.

- People with higher levels of education and socio-economic status are likelier to drink alcohol.

Estonia, Austria and France had the highest consumption, with 12 litres or more per person per year.

- Those who indulge in risky drinking are likelier to be men who are less educated and of a lower socio-economic status and women who are better educated and of a higher status.

Those countries below the OECD average included South Korea, the United States and Canada, while the lowest on the list were Israel and Turkey.

“These trends are worrying because some of the harms typically associated with heavy drinking in young age, such as traffic accidents and violence, often affect people other than drinkers themselves,” said the report.

“Heavy drinking at a young age is associated with an increased risk of

- People from minority ethnic groups in OECD countries tend to drink less alcohol than the majority of the population, but with important exceptions in some countries.

- The proportion of under-15s who have been drunk at one point increased from 30 to 43 percent among boys, and from 26 to 41 percent among girls, during the same period.

In 2012, the average per-capita consumption in the OECD was 9.1 litres (16 pints) of pure alcohol per capita, it said.

It cited binge drinking among young people and alcohol abuse by women.

- Most alcohol in the OECD is drunk by the heaviest-drinking 20 percent of the population. But much of the overall consumption -- close to 11 percent -may go unrecorded by governments.

- The proportion of children aged 15 and under who have not yet drunk alcohol fell during the 2000s from 33 to 30 percent of boys, and from 50 to 31 percent of girls.

But this figure masks important national changes and a worrying shift in some countries towards youth boozing and excessive drinking by women, it said.

Within the broad overall decline, “many countries have experienced a significant increase in some risky drinking behaviours,” the report said.

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

AFP/AFP/File - Binge drinking among young people has increased in many countries in recent years, an OECD report says. acute and chronic conditions.

part of the analysis.

OECD said.

“It is also associated with problem drinking later on in life, and people who are successful in the labour market may see their long-term career prospects jeopardised.”

OECD members Norway, Iceland, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Britain and Ireland, also notched up large increases.

They include access to relatively cheap drink, but also the pitching of alcoholic beverages to a youth market, promoted with music and a partying message.

The biggest surge in youth drinking was seen in Russia, followed by Estonia, and then India and China, which like Russia have partnership status with the OECD and were included in

But there were declines in youth drinking in Italy, France and Slovenia.

The binge-drinking phenomenon appears to have several causes, the

- Alcohol risks The report, “Tackling Harmful Alcohol Use”, also made these points:

- Alcohol consumption in big emerging countries, according to data from non-OECD economies, has seen a relatively major increase, but starting from much lower levels.

The report said that worldwide harmful consumption of alcohol rose from eighth to the fifth leading cause of death and disability from 1990 to 2010.

Curbing dangerous drinking requires a basket of strategies, focused especially on the “social norms” that drive boozing, it said.

“A tax hike leading to an average increase of 10 percent in alcohol prices, as well as a range of regulatory approaches, would also generate large impacts,” it said.

Black Miss Japan fights for race revolution

by Alastair HIMMER

T

OKYO - Ariana Miyamoto entered the Miss Universe Japan beauty contest after a mixed-race friend committed suicide. And she endured abuse after winning the crown because of her skin colour.

Far from being put off by the backlash, Miyamoto resolved to use her new-found fame to help fight racial prejudice -in much the same way British supermodel Naomi Campbell broke down cultural barriers in the fashion industry a generation ago.

“I’m stubborn,” said Miyamoto, the daughter of a Japanese mother and black American father, who turned 21 on Tuesday.

“I was prepared for the criticism. I’d be lying to say it didn’t hurt at all. I’m Japanese -- I stand up and bow when I answer the phone. But that criticism did give me extra motivation,” she told AFP in an interview.

“I didn’t feel any added pressure because the reason I took part in the pageant was my friend’s death. My goal was to raise awareness of racial discrimination,” added Miyamoto, who was bullied as a schoolgirl growing up in the port town of Sasebo, near Nagasaki.

“Now I have a great platform to deliver that message as the first black Miss Universe Japan. It’s always hard to be the first, so in that respect what Naomi Campbell did was really amazing.”

Social media lit up after Miyamoto’s victory in March, many critics complaining the title should have gone to what they called a “pure” Japanese, rather than a “haafu” (the Japanese pronunciation of “half”, a word used to describe mixed race).

Miyamoto, who turns heads in Japan with her caramel skin and height of 1.73 m (5 ft 8 ins), admitted she has had to toughen up.

“I used to get bullied as a kid but I’ve got mentally stronger, to protect myself,” said the model, whose first language is Japanese, screwing up her nose in mock horror when handed an English menu by a waitress.

“When I was small I stood out and always felt I had to fit in with everyone. I’d try not to bring attention to myself, but now I say what I feel. I do things my own way.

“I want to start a revolution,” Miyamoto added with a laugh.

“I can’t change things overnight but in 100-200 years there will be very few pure Japanese left,

so we have to start changing the way we think.”

- ‘Shock of the new’ The hostility Miyamoto faced sits at odds with a governmentsponsored drive to promote the country overseas as “Cool Japan” and entice foreign tourists for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Some point to the success of mixed-race celebrities such as Rola -- a model of Bengali, Japanese and Russian descent -- and half-British singer and actress Becky as proof of Japan’s openness to change.

“It’s possible that some conservative people might feel Ariana Miyamoto doesn’t fit the traditional Japanese image to represent the country,” said psychologist Yoko Haruka, a regular on Japanese TV. “It’s just the shock of the new. But she certainly has the chance to be a pioneer, and it’s an excellent opportunity for Japan to become more globally aware.”

Miyamoto argues that any shift still favours Caucasian or Eurasian lineage in an overwhelmingly homogenous country, where multi-racial children make up just two percent of those born annually.

“In Japan there are hardly

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After Ariana Miyamoto’s victory in March, many critics complained the Miss Universe Japan title should have gone to what they called a “pure” Japanese (AFP Photo/Toru Yamanaka) any black models or TV personalities,” she said. “Most celebrities are like Rola or Becky.

Hopefully I can help create a Japan where anyone can make things happen.”

living in splendour at New York’s Trump Towers -- and her influence over issues close to her heart, which also include gender identity disorder, would be greatly enhanced.

Should Miyamoto win the Miss Universe finals later this year, she would spend a year

But despite her noble intentions, Miyamoto has no plans to run for political office just

yet.

“I’d like to use my position to become a leader,” she smiled.

“I’m like a sponge -- always absorbing new things. But I haven’t thought too deeply about politics yet. It’s still a bit early to think about becoming Prime Minister!”

SCIENCE & TECH

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Second quake part of chain reaction: scientists

In forensics, ‘microbiome’ may be the new ‘fingerprint’

ARIS, AFP - The 7.3magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Tuesday, 17 days after a lethal 7.8 temblor, is part of a chain reaction in a notorious seismic hotspot, scientists said.

IAMI - A person’s gut bacteria and the colony of microbes that live in the body and on the skin may serve as a unique identifier, much like a fingerprint, researchers said Monday.

P

Like buttons popping off one by one from a shirt that is ripped open, a large quake displaces stress to another part of a fault, causing it to rupture, they said.

“Large earthquakes are often followed by other quakes, sometimes as large as the initial one,” said Carmen Solana, a volcanologist at Britain’s University of Portsmouth.

“This is because the movement produced by the first quake adds extra stress on other faults and destabilises them,” she told the Science Media Centre (SMC), a not-for-profit organisation based in London.

“It is a chain reaction.”

Tuesday’s quake hit 76 kilometres (47 miles) east of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, followed around half an hour later by a second tremor of 6.3

magnitude.

The April 25 quake, which killed more than 8,000 people, occurred a similar distance west of Kathmandu.

Both events happened on the same fault, where the Indian and Eurasian plates of the Earth’s crust meet, bumping and jostling.

“Since the first earthquake in April, aftershocks have been migrating more or less southeastwards,” Nigel Harris, a professor of tectonics at Britain’s Open University, told the SMC.

aftershocks in the region were unlikely to be greater than five magnitude.

Over 80 years prior to Tuesday’s quake, eastern Nepal had an 8.1 temblor in 1934. Around 10,700 people were killed in Nepal and neighbouring India.

“This means that pressure between the two tectonic plates in this region has significantly eased,” Bernard told AFP. At the interface of the two plates, the Indian plate is riding upwards at around two centimetres (fourth-fifths of an inch) a year.

“There has been a rip in the underlying plate which has suddenly moved west to east, and this second earthquake is an extension of that process.”

The movement is not smooth but rather laden with friction, leading to sharp and potentially destructive jolts as stress builds up.

The April 25 and May 12 quakes were shallow, which means that ground shaking is far greater than with temblors that occur at depth, the scientists said.

“The boundary region of the India and Eurasia plates has a history of large and great earthquakes,” the US Geological Survey (USGS) said on its website.

Pascal Bernard, a seismologist at the Institute for Planetary Physics in Paris, said

“Prior to April 25, four events of magnitude six or larger had occurred within 250 km of this area over the past century.”

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The study led by Harvard University is the first to investigate just how identifiable people are based on their bacteria, which can vary substantially based on a person’s age, diet, geographic location and overall health.

“Linking a human DNA sample to a database of human DNA ‘fingerprints’ is the basis for forensic genetics, which is now a decades-old field,” said lead author Eric Franzosa, research fellow in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard.

“We’ve shown that the same sort of linking is possible using DNA sequences from microbes inhabiting the human body -no human DNA required.”

Scientists found that stool samples were particularly reliable. Up to 86 percent of people could be identified by their gut bacteria after one year.

Skin samples were less reliable. About one third of those could be matched to a person after one year, said the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

But even if the samples could

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A person’s gut bacteria and the colony of microbes that live in the body and on the skin may serve as a unique identifier, much like a fingerprint, researchers said (AFP Photo/Eric Piermont). not be matched, there were very few false positives. In most cases, either a match was made or it was not, but rarely did it identify the wrong person.

The study was based on a pool of 120 people, among the 242 who have donated their stool, saliva and skin samples to the Human Microbiome Project, which maintains a public database for researchers.

A computer science algorithm was used to establish individual codes based on the donors’ microbiomes.

These codes were then compared to the same people’s samples collected during follow-up visits, as well as to a pool of strangers.

Researchers said their study shows it is possible to match human microbiome samples across databases.

But they also raised the issue of ethics, warning that the practice could expose sensitive personal information such as the presence of a sexually transmitted infection, which could be detected from the microbiome without the subject’s own DNA or consent.

“Although the potential for any data privacy concerns from purely microbial DNA is very low, it’s important for researchers to know that such issues are theoretically possible,” said senior author Curtis Huttenhower, associate professor of computational biology and bioinformatics at Harvard.

Now, beef with the goodness of fish

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Beijing, May 12, 2015 (PTI) Chinese scientists have reared beef rich in the beneficial fatty acids associated with fish oils.

The team from Northwest A&F University and the National Beef Cattle Improvement Centre in Yangling, Shaanxi province, successfully introduced a gene into foetal cells from Luxi Yellow cattle, a Chinese breed with a high beef yield.

The fat1 gene, isolated from a nematode worm, codes for desaturase enzymes that are involved in the conversion of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

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A diet rich in long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as omega-3 oils, can help protect against cardiovascular diseases, obesity and

Dining with a light eater makes you eat less: Study

neurodegenerative diseases.

However, levels of these fatty acids in the human diet have decreased over the years and the levels of shorter chain n-6 fatty acids have increased.

Introducing the fat1 gene to cattle increased the levels of beneficial oils by over five times.

“We have provided the first evidence that it is possible to create a new breed of cattle with higher nutritional value in terms of their fatty acid composition,” said corresponding author Linsen Zan from the College of Animal Science and Technology at the university.

Of 14 calves that successfully received the fat1 gene, 11 died at less than four months old,

mainly from inflammation and from an infection common to cattle, haemorrhagic septicaemia.

Other research groups are experimenting with increasing levels of omega-3 oils in farmed fish by creating fishmeal rich in a new plant source.

A similar strategy could be used for cattle - producing feedstock rich in omega-3s - but the new study shows that elevated levels can be directly produced in beef, researchers said.

Similar genes have previously been introduced to pigs, dairy cattle and sheep by international research groups.

The study is published in Springer’s journal Biotechnology Letters.

Smartphones among top gadgets for Americans: survey

Melbourne: People are more likely to eat less if their dining companion consumes only a small amount of food, due to a psychological effect, a new study has found.

R

esearchers led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) found that how much food your dining companion eats can have a big influence on how much you consume.

consume,” Vartanian said.

This psychological effect, known as social modelling, leads people to eat less than they normally would if alone when their companion consumes a small amount of food, researchers said.

“The research shows that social factors are a powerful influence on consumption. When the companion eats very little, people suppress their food intake and eat less than they normally would if alone,” he said.

Study lead author, Associate Professor Lenny Vartanian of the UNSW School of Psychology, said that in social situations the appropriate amount of food to eat can be unclear.

“If the social model eats a large amount, people have the freedom to eat their normal intake, or even more if they want,” he added.

“Internal signals like hunger and feeling full can often be unreliable guides. In these situations people can look to the example of others to decide how much food they should

Vartanian and his colleagues analysed the results of 38 studies in which the amount of food that people ate in company was measured.

The effect is observed in many different situations: with healthy and unhealthy snack foods, during meals, when the diner has been deprived of food, and among children, and it occurs independent of peo-

ple’s body weight, researchers said.

“It even occurs when the companion is not physically present and diners are simply given a written indication of what that other person ate,” said Vartanian.

The effect appears to be stronger in women than men, and this may be because women tend to be more concerned about how they are viewed by others when they are eating.

The research also found that the modelling effect is stronger in older children than in younger children, which also suggests that relying on external rather than internal cues for how much to eat is a learnt behaviour.

The results are published in the journal Social Influence.

SOURCE: PTI, May 12, 2015.

A woman uses her smart phone as she walks on November 13, 2014 in New York (AFP Photo/Don Emmert).

W

ASHINGTON Smartphones are now used in 72 percent of US homes and have become the third most owned electronics item for Americans, a survey showed Monday.

The annual survey by the Consumer Electronics Association found that smartphones trail only televisions, which are in 97 percent of US households, and DVD players, in 78 percent.

“A strong consumer appetite for mobile connected devices is causing some very interesting changes in the (electronics) ownership landscape,” said Steve Koenig, market research chief at the association.

“These mobile devices have

greatly influenced the type of content Americans consume, and given birth to new emerging tech categories such as wearable activity trackers and smart home devices that consumers are beginning to embrace more broadly.”

Laptop computers were number four on the list at 67 percent, followed by digital cameras, printers, headphones, desktop computers and tablets.

Video game consoles held the number 10 spot.

The survey showed smartphone ownership jumped eight percentage points in the past year. Meanwhile tablet computers saw a big gain of nine points and are present in 54 percent of US households, according to the study.

Among the fast-growing items were fitness trackers, up six points to 11 percent, and digital media streaming devices, rising five points to 29 percent, the association said. Basic cell phones meanwhile were on the decline.

Read more on SC & TECH www.voiceofasiaonline.com

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Look Who’s Living In Tree Houses!

Get out of your house and into the trees at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land’s newest exhibit, opening May 22

S

UGAR LAND, TX—This Summer, families can spend some quality time hanging out in the trees with a visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land’s newest exhibition, TreeHouses, opening May 22 through September 7. For a walk through this special exhibition, click here.

discover not-so-obvious tree connections in our own houses l Enjoy imaginative play and slip on a fun costume to become a rabbit, skunk or chipmunk.

TreeHouses was developed by EEC and funded by Jane’s Trust, Cabot Family Charitable Trust and IMLS. Locally sponsored by the City of Sugar Land – www.VisitSugarlandTx. com.

The focus moves up, in, around and even underneath trees. Tree Houses includes fun, hands-on ways to explore the important roles that trees play in providing homes for all sorts of wild things (including people). Incorporating all of the senses, this special exhibition engages forest explorers of all ages in indoor nature explorations and the ecology of sustainable harvesting of this important natural resource.

Tickets for TreeHouses are now on sale and may be purchased online. For more information, visit the museum’s web site at www.hmns.org or call (281) 313-2227.

In this lively setting, visitors are encouraged to: l Look for signs of animal tree dwellers as they walk through an indoor tree house and across a wobbly connecting bridge Tree Houses/2 l Play a computerized forest game where they can harvest trees without harming wildlife l Watch how a forest becomes house l View the tree houses people have built around the world— even design and build their own

TreeHouses was developed by EEC and funded by Jane’s Trust, Cabot Family Charitable Trust and IMLS. Locally sponsored by the City of Sugar Land – www.VisitSugarlandTx.com. l See stereoscopic 3-D images of some of the smaller animals we can find living in New England’s trees l Listen for animals inside the tree

house and try to guess their sounds on an “animal dance floor” l Peer down from inside a “crow’s nest” (and peer down at the folks “on the ground”)

l Revisit favorite fictional tree dwellers, from the Ewoks of Star Wars to Winnie the Pooh l

Wander through a “kitchen” to

The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land—On Oct. 3, 2009, a historic prison building in the residential community area of Telfair opened to the public, transformed – as the new Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. This satellite facility of HMNS includes five permanent galleries reflecting the most popular exhibit areas of the downtown Museum location. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the 43,000 square foot building and the surrounding 5.5 acres of land that house the museum present a variety of compelling traveling exhibitions. Located at 13019 University Blvd. (at the corner of University and New Territory Blvds.), a visit to HMNS at Sugar Land is always an adventure.

Japanese hotel offers Why is Europe so fat? ‘crying rooms’ for women Questions and Answers

I

n a bizarre offer, a hotel in Tokyo has launched special “crying rooms” for women that are equipped with a selection of tear-jerking movies, eye masks and luxury tissues to allow female guests to cry heartily.

The Mitsui Garden Yotsuya hotel said it is providing the rooms to help women de-stress and overcome emotional problems, and that it hopes the rooms would allow women to cry ‘heartily’ and in private.

At USD 83 a night, the rooms are equipped with a selection of tear-jerking aides, ‘metro. co.uk’ reported.

These include movies such as Forest Gump and A Tale Of Mari And Three Puppies (a 2007 Japanese film about the true story of a dog and her puppies who survived the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake).

‘Soft as cashmere’, tissues for tears are rpovided The rooms also have sad manga comics for those who would prefer to read and shed tears.

The rooms also contain tissues which are described as ‘soft as cashmere’, eye masks and makeup remover to help female guests cry in comfort.

Read these stories and more on www.VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Youngest Astrologer of North America Astrologer, Vaastu & Gem Stone Consultant

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P

RAGUE - World Health Organization research published Wednesday contends that Europe is getting fatter every year, and heading for an obesity crisis.

Gema Fruhbeck, a nutrition expert and president of the executive committee of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, talks about solutions: Q: Why is the obesity problem so difficult to tackle?

A: Obesity is not like an infection (which can be treated), obesity is something that is going to be with us all of our life.

Technology has made life easy for people, while driving them to be very inactive. Even leisure time is very much related to computer screens and it is necessary to change the mentality of society.

The current economic crisis also has a negative impact, leading low-income people or the unemployed to eat higherenergy food which is cheaper,

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rather than follow a healthy diet which is more expensive.

It is necessary to collaborate with politicians, urban planners, architects and sociologists to really change the whole framework in which the society addresses the problem of obesity.

Q: What are some nations getting right, such as the Netherlands where levels are on a downward trend?

A: It’s easy to cycle in Holland, which is not the case in many other European countries.

From a political point of view, they are a nation that has been very pre-occupied about initiatives to tackle the obesity problem.

We really need to be proactive, so unless policy makers make the decision to have an action against obesity, it’s going to be very difficult. And what we are seeing now is almost the opposite since it’s becoming so frequent and so

normal, many people tend to downplay the importance of obesity, many people say it’s not a disease.

Q: What would you propose to tackle obesity?

We really need to put a lot of effort in educating our children about healthy lifestyle.

Most of our celebrations are related to food, social events where food is important. Try to be able to combine this in the whole of your life, so I’ll have a very nice (meal) with friends, have a great time, but this can also be done by going for a walk and not sitting all day. We need a mentality change.

Taxes on junk food do not work because they penalise people with lower income.

Packaging is very important and so is labelling and telling the people how to read the labels.

Fighting obesity is impossible without realising that obesity is the gateway to ill health.

Indian woman traces long-lost Chinese sister via social media

J

ennifer, who is in the city for the last three days with her husband, is yet to meet or contact her sister.

3K

10

Nearly all adults in Ireland -- one of Europe’s fattest nations -- will be overweight by 2030, WHO data suggests (AFP Photo/Philippe Huguen).

An Indian woman, who came to Beijing to trace her 81-year-old step sister, a lone survivor of her Chinese father’s family in the World War II, on Tuesday reportedly located her in the city through social media.

62-year-old Jennifer An, daughter of a Chinese Marine Engineer An Chi Pong, who settled in Ma-

dras (now Chennai) and lived there for over 40 years, has been informed

by Chinese official media that they have located her sister An Roesai, who is staying with her daughter in Beijing, through social media.

However, Jennifer, who is in the city for the last three days with her husband, is yet to meet or contact her sister. “We are waiting for confirmation and looking forward to meeting at the earliest,” said Jennifer’s husband V R S Balaji.

“Only when I meet her in person and talk to her about her past I will be convinced,” Jennifer said.

On May 7, the family had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting China from May 14, requesting him to help them trace An. Jennifer and her husband came to Beijing three days ago and resided with their friend Viswanath, an Indian consultant of several pharmaceutical companies, and contacted different Chinese media networks to help them to trace An.

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 14

Friday, May 15, 2015

P

RAGUE - Obese children are far less likely to finish school than peers of normal weight, according to European research Thursday which also highlighted body image problems in kids as young as six.

Section 2

Page 14

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Obese kids face stigma, flunk school: European research

And these problems are likely to become bigger and bigger as the waistlines of European children expand -- led by Ireland with 27.5 percent of under-fives classified as overweight, according to findings presented at a European Congress on Obesity in Prague.

sit in the classroom the day afterwards and learn? There are many, many reasons.”

A third research paper, conducted in England, found that children as young as six can be dissatisfied with being overweight.

Of the group, 19 percent (59) were overweight or obese and had “higher body shape dissatisfaction scores on average than normal weight children,” said a statement.

Girls had a higher dissatisfaction score than boys showing they had a greater desire to be thin even at this young age, according to the authors.

“Obesity prevention programmes need to consider psychological wellbeing and ensure that it is not compromised,” said researcher Pinki Sahota of the Leeds Beckett University.

Kazakhstan had the lowest rate at 0.6 percent, Lithuania 5.1 percent, conference host the Czech Republic 5.5 percent, and Tajikistan six percent.

People are classified overweight if they have a BMI (body weight index, a ratio of weight to height) of 25 and higher, and obese from a BMI of 30.

Differences in gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status did not affect the result, said the research conducted among nearly 9,000 youngsters in Sweden.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Data was collected from 301 pupils from six years of age from eight primary schools in Leeds.

Britain had the second-highest rate with 23.1 percent, followed by Albania with 22 percent and Georgia with 20 percent, Bulgaria with 19.8 percent and Spain with 18.4 percent, said an analysis of data provided by 32 countries in the World Health Organization’s 53-member Europe region.

A second study presented at the congress said only 56 percent of children in Sweden who had received treatment for obesity completed 12 years or more of school, compared to 76 percent of normal-weight peers.

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Globally, the WHO says 42 million children under five were overweight or obese in 2013.

Obese children are far less likely to finish school than peers of normal weight, according to European research (AFP Photo/Francois Guillot) The reasons were not clear, but study author Emilia Hagman of the Karolinska Institutet theorised that bullying might be a factor.

“If you are being bullied at school, you are feeling all this stigmatisation,

you don’t really want to go to school so maybe school absences could be one reason,” she told AFP on the sidelines of the congress.

“Maybe you don’t sleep well at night so how easy is it going to be to

Obese children experience breathing difficulties, bone breaks, high blood pressure and “psychological harm”, according to a WHO factsheet.

Childhood obesity has been associated with a higher risk of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood.

No decision made on removal of Jefferson Davis statue from U. of Texas campus

Jefferson Davis statue on the University of Texas at Austin’s campus. . Photo courtesy of David Maly

by Alexandra Samuels, The University of Texas at Austin May 12, 2015

leaders as Martin Luther King and Barbara Jordan.

No final decision has been made to remove the Jefferson Davis statue on the University of Texas at Austin’s campus.

As with all Student Government proposals, this one has been sent to university administrators who will review and carefully consider it.”

Gary Susswein, director of media relations for UT-Austin, says since the university is in the middle of a presidential transition, this would not be an appropriate time for outgoing leadership to make a major decision about a change in policy.

Don Carleton, executive director of the Briscoe Center for American History at UTAustin, says says the statue’s artist, Pompeo Coppini, wanted to point of the statue to “show the reconciliation between the North and South during World War I.”

The university’s statement on the issue is as followed:

“Coppini wanted to have figures of the former confederacy and Woodrow Wilson to all be together…to symbolize a united America going to Europe to fight Germany,” Carleton says.

That was the whole idea of the statues. It was not conceived as a tribute to the confederacy, it was used to show reconciliation”

“The statue dates to the close of World War I. Jefferson Davis was juxtaposed with a statue of Woodrow Wilson and they were designed to show that the American effort in World War I brought the final reunification of the nation after the rupture of the Civil War. In previous decades, there have been proposals to remove the statue. The university administration chose at those times to leave it in place but also to emphasize the university’s values by adding prominently-placed statues of such

In order to deal with recent backlash from students regarding the statue, Carleton suggests either moving the statue to a museum or placing plaques in front of the piece explaining their original purpose. Carleton says he thinks this will “spark

good discussion” and that “debate is a healthy part of the educational process.”

As a historian, Carleton says he’s against destroying the statue because that would mean “destroying evidence of history and destroying art.”

Students, however, feel differently.

In March, student body President Xavier Rotnofsky and Vice President Rohit Mandalapu made the removal the statue part of their campaign, reportedly due to their disapproval of what Davis represents for some: “slavery and racism.”

Rotnofsky says those things are “just not in line with the university’s core values.” In addition, the UT Student Government Assembly passed a resolution to remove the statue.

Students have generally backed Rotnofsky and Mandalapu’s claims. Various times this semester, the statue has been vandalized with the words “Davis must fall” and “Emancipate UT.” “Overall, I’m interested in seeing how we commemorate our history,” Carleton says.

sphilip@llppc-law.com

VOICE OF ASIA 15

Bollywood Masala

Friday, May 15, 2015

Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor are expected to dazzle and stun with their choicest fashion appearances Cannes 2015.

M

UMBAI | This year we have three Indian beauties will be walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2015 representing international cosmetic brand, L’Oreal. While Katrina Kaif will be making her red carpet debut at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor are expected to dazzle and stun with their choicest fashion appearances.

Section 2

Page 15

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Tel: 713-774-5140

What to expect at Cannes Film Festival 2015?

Katrina Kaif, who is already one her way to Cannes, will be seen walking the red carpet on the first two days – May 13 and 14 along with fellow ambassadors from around the globe including Naomi Watts, Fan Bingbing and Julianne Moore.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who completes 14 years this year representing L’Oreal, will hit the carpet towards the end of the festival – May 17 and 20.

Like last year, Aishwarya will chair the annual amfAR gala along with husband Abhishek on May 21.

Sonam Kapoor, who will complete five very fabulous years at Cannes will bring her charm and elegance to the carpet on May 16 and 18. While, her outfits can be anyone’s guess, the beauty did give us a peek into her Cannes preparations by sharing pictures from her latest photoshoto for Cannes.

Katrina Kaif

When it comes to films at the festival, highlights include Woody Allen’s ‘Irrational Man’, Justin Kurzel’s ‘Macbeth’ starring Michael Fassbender and

Marion Cotillard, Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ and Matteo Garrone’s ‘The tale of Tales’.

No May engagement, Katrina Kaif’s spokesperson

Sonam Kapoor

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Salman Khan, now free, has a date with Dubai

Katrina Kaif’ and Ranbir Kapoor

M

UMBAI - Discounting reports that she was getting engaged to Ranbir Kapoor this month, actress Katrina Kaif today said “there are no plans as yet”.

There were stories in the media that Ranbir and Kaif will get engaged or married this month.

Katrina, 31, who is currently busy with Abhishek Kapoor’s “Fitoor” and Anurag Basu’s “Jagga Jasoos” with Ranbir, will make her debut at the Cannes red carpet tomorrow.

“There is no truth to these wedding dates, there are no plans as yet,” the spokesperson said in a media statement, adding the actress has a packed month.

This comes just a few days after Ranbir, 32, who had been on a denial mode, finally confirmed that they planned to get married next year.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan with father Salim Khan and mother Salma at his residence after returning from the Sessions court in Mumbai on Friday.

F

allen Bollywood star will attend and perform at the inaugural Arab Indo Bollywood Awards 2015 on May 29

homeless people. Khan has consistently denied charges of drunk and negligent driving.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan, out on bail after being sentenced to five years in prison for a fatal 2002 car crash, will attend and perform at Arab Indo Bollywood Awards 2015 at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse on May 29, organisers have confirmed.

Khan needs to seek permission in order to travel outside India, Indian media reported last Friday when he was bailed.

According to Indian newspaper DNA, “deciding the conditions of bail, Judge Thipsay asked if Salman’s passport was with him and was told that it was in

The event, organised by Benchmark in association with Al Bustan Group, is likely to be Khan’s first foreign assignment after his turbulent jail-or-bail saga last week.

On May 6, Khan was sentenced to five years in prison after being convinced of several charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder after he lost control of his SUV and rammed into a pavement in Mumbai killing one and injuring four other

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the possession of the Bandra police and the actor routinely sought its permission before going abroad.”

It’s the first time that AIBA, an awards ceremony put together to honour Bollywood’s brightest stars, is being held in the UAE. Actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Dhawan, Parineeti Chopra, Neha Dhupia are some of the other stars slated to attend along with Khan.

Read more Leisure & Entertainment Stories Visit: www.voiceofasiaonline.com

HEALTHY LIVING VOICE OF AHEALTH SIA

VOICE OF ASIA 16

Friday, May 15, 2015

Section 2

Page 16

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Sick in winter but healthy in summer? Blame your genes

People make their way through the snow in New York’s Times Square during a winter storm earlier this year (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)

P

ARIS, AFP | 5/12/2015 - Nearly a quarter of our genes change how active they are according to the season, which may explain why people are more prone to illness in winter rather than summer, scientists said Tuesday.

In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers said they were stunned by just how much of our genetic code is affected by the time of year.

Out of 22,822 genes the researchers analysed, 5,136 operated at higher or lower levels depending on the season, with some more active in winter and others more active in summer.

Our immune system could be one of the many mechanisms that would be subtly affected by “seasonality,” the researchers said.

Lead scientist John Todd, a professor of medical genetics at the University of Cambridge, said the discovery was both “really surprising” but also “obvious.”

“It helps explain why so many diseases, from heart disease to mental illness, are much worse in the winter months,” he said.

“But no one had appreciated the extent to which this actually occurred.

“The implications for how we treat diseases like Type 1 diabetes, and how we plan our research studies could be profound.”

The team looked at blood samples and fatty tissue provided by 16,000 people living in the northern and southern hemisphere and in equatorial Africa.

The activity -- in scientific parlance, the “expression” -- of thousands of genes in the fatty tissue varied according to the time of year the samples were taken.

There were also variations, but far less pronounced, from samples taken from people in equatorial regions, where the seasons are less distinct.

In samples from the west African country Gambia, genes in immune cells in the blood were more active during the rainy season from June to October, when mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria are on the rise.

One discovery is that a gene called ARNTL that plays a part in inflammation -- the defensive process that is also implicated in many auto-immune diseases -- is seasonally influenced.

There were also seasonal differences in the types of blood cells.

Another is that vaccination may be more effective in winter than in summer, because a key set of “seasonal genes” in the immune system are primed to deliver a stronger response.

The “seasonal genes” displayed opposing levels of expression in the samples taken from the northern and southern hemisphere.

The work will boost understanding of how light and ambient temperature can affect physical and mental health, the researchers hope.

The difference was most marked among donors from Iceland, where there is nearly 24 hours of daylight in summer and nearly 24 hours of darkness in winter.

The “circadian clock” has been highlighted by a slew of studies in recent years showing the toll of night shifts and jetlag on factory workers and long-haul flight crews.

Measles dangers linger for years after infection: study

MIAMI - Measles can harm the immune system for up to three years, leaving survivors at a higher risk of catching other infectious and potentially deadly diseases, researchers said Thursday.

It was previously known that measles could suppress the body’s natural defenses for months, but the findings in the journal Science show that the dangers of the vaccine-preventable disease last much longer, by wiping out essential memory cells that protect the body against infections like pneumonia, meningitis and parasitic diseases.

“In other words, if you get measles, three years down the road, you could die from something that you would not die from had you not been infected with measles,” said co-author C. Jessica Metcalf, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and public affairs at Princeton University.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases of all. It typically causes a rash and fever, and can lead to dangerous complications such as lung infections, brain swelling and seizures.

After the measles vaccine was introduced some 50 years ago, mortality from measles began to fall in Europe and the United States, as did deaths from other infectious disease, the researchers said.

Looking at deaths among children aged one to nine in Europe, and one and 14 in the United States, in both pre- and post-vaccine eras, researchers found a “very strong correlation between measles incidence and deaths from other diseases, allowing for a ‘lag period’ averaging roughly 28 months after infection with measles,” said the study.

“Our findings suggest that measles vaccines have benefits that extend beyond just protecting against measles itself,” said lead author Michael Mina, a medical student at Emory University who worked on the study as a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton.

“It is one of the most cost-effective interventions for global health.”

Did You Know: Bananas are a NutrientRich Food Choice for Your Diet

T

he average American eats 27 pounds of bananas every year -- and it’s no wonder, bananas not only taste great, they are also good for your health.

the Peel Adventure Kit” -- chock full of banana swag. The winner of the contest will receive all of that plus $5,000.

Bananas are a great nutrientdense power food, providing natural energy to fuel active lives. Pack a banana wherever you go and you’ll always have a quick, convenient source of nutrition to pick you up and keep you going. SOURCE: StatePoint.

As an excellent source of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and other nutrients, bananas are low in calories, have no fat, sodium or cholesterol. So, incorporating them into your diet just makes sense.

While bananas on their own make a great snack, they can also be enjoyed in appetizers, desserts, salads, smoothies, and baked goods, too.

For a wholesome treat, try this recipe for Healthy Chiquita Banana-Pear Chewy Granola Bars, which relies on fresh fruit for its sweetness instead of refined sugar, making it a delicious, healthful choice.

Ingredients: • 2 cups large flake rolled oats • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds • 3 medium, very ripe Chiquita bananas • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil • 2 Tbsp. honey • 1tsp. cinnamon • 1/4 tsp. allspice • 1/4 tsp. sea salt • 1/4 cup flaxseed

Bananas are good for your health. Photo credit: StatePoint • 1Barlett pear, peeled and diced • 1/2 cup dried cranberries • 1/2 cup dried blueberries Directions: • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on both long sides of the pan. Set aside.

• Spread the oats and almonds on a large baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the oats are just starting to brown. Cool slightly.

• In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in the coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Fold in the flaxseed, pear, cranberries, blueberries, oats and almonds.

• Transfer mixture into the prepared pan, packing it down with a spatula. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until firm. Cool in the

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

pan for 10 minutes. Lift out of pan and continue to cool completely.

Using Life Insurance in Retirement Plans

E

state planning is a part of the larger job of lifetime financial planning. It is designed to accomplish two important functions: • to maximize the distributable wealth; and • to transfer wealth to his or her beneficiaries in an appropriate way.

Life insurance generally plays two roles in the job of estate planning: (1) providing estate liquidity and (2) enhancing the estate.

Estate enhancement through life insurance is usually done with clients who •

are younger;

• have dependent family members; or • have small to moderate-size estates.

Estate planning for these clients principally involves ensuring that the client’s estate will provide the appropriate kind of lifestyle for surviving family members.

Typically in these smaller estates, federal estate taxes and other death taxes are not of any significant concern.

Usually, the estate tax unified credit and the unlimited marital deduction available under the federal estate transfer system remove any concern about estate taxation for these clients.

Let us understand some of the terms.The estate tax unified credit is a credit against estate taxes, for which everyone is eligible. The unlimited marital deduction refers to the right to give a spouse an unlimited amount of assets during life or at death without paying transfer taxes (gift tax or estate tax).

Life insurance for the small-estate client is important, because it provides the needed funds exactly when required, that is, at the death of the primary wage earner.

Life insurance death benefits are paid very quickly following the insurer’s receipt of due proof of the insured’s death. For surviving family members, both of these factors can be extremely important.

Estate planning normally addresses the disposition of

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com a person’s property both during the client’s lifetime and after his or her death. Accordingly, preparing an estate plan requires that the planner have a working knowledge of estate and gift taxation, wills, property law, insurance, and trusts.

An appropriately designed estate plan can • minimize the assettransfer taxes owed during a lifetime; • help reduce taxes at the time of death; and • address the need for liquidity to meet estate settlement costs.

The main role of life insurance in estate planning for the client with a larger estate is to provide funds to conserve the estate. Simply stated, clients can use life insurance policies to pay estate taxes and settlement costs rather than having to liquidate estate assets to pay these costs.

Estate taxes, those taxes assessed on the transfer of assets at death, apply only to assets owned by the deceased. Because life insurance is often owned by the deceased insured, its death benefits are a part of his or her federal gross estate. However, life insurance death benefit proceeds are included in a deceased person’s estate only if that person owned the policy at the time of death.

To plan and purchase life insurance from any major company contact Sudhir Mathuria @ 713-771-2900.

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• Cut into 12 bars.

When shopping, look for bananas that were farmed responsibly. For example, Chiquita is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2020, recycles 2,000 metric tons of plastic bags and twine used on company farms annually, and is committed to reforestation efforts in the regions where they farm.

To take your banana love to the next level, celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Chiquita jingle, which at its peak, was played on radio stations across the United States 376 times a day. From now until May 29, you can visit www.ChiquitaBananas.com/ singoff and record yourself singing the Chiquita Banana song with your own flair. In exchange, the company will donate bananas to the food pantry of your choice, feature you on their website, and, while supplies last, send you an official “Under

Tel: 713-774-5140

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Friday, May 15, 2015

Business VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 17

Section 2

Page 17 Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Facebook dives deep into news with publisher deal

by Rob Lever

F

acebook moved deeper into the media business Wednesday by crafting a deal with news publishers which allows the social network to deliver articles directly to readers.

The long-anticipated move

by Facebook means it will host news items on its servers to give readers faster access.

The plan has been hotly debated in the news industry -- by those who argue it can help struggling media groups, and others who say news organizations will lose control of their content to the social network.

The new feature called Instant Articles “makes the reading experience as much as ten times faster than standard mobile web articles,” Facebook said in a blog post on its website.

Sharing articles on Facebook’s mobile app is growing but the average article takes about eight second to load, according to Facebook.

The nine partners in the launch are The New York Times, National Geographic, BuzzFeed, NBC, The Atlantic, The Guardian, BBC News, Spiegel and Bild, Facebook said.

Facebook said publishers will be able to sell advertisements in the articles and keep the revenue or use Facebook’s ad network. Publishers will also be able to track traffic and other data of their content hosted by the social network.

Instant Articles will initially be available on the Facebook app for iPhone, but Facebook is working to expand the platform.

“As a lover of journalism,

storytelling and mobile, I have high hopes for the positive impact Instant Articles will have on how we read, and share, the news,” Facebook’s news partnerships manager Liz Heron said of the plan.

- News juggernaut A recent Pew Research Center report found some 30 percent of Americans get at least some of their news from Facebook.

But media groups have been struggling with the shift to digital from print, both in terms of delivering relevant articles to readers and in getting ad revenue from their online services.

Some in the news industry argue the plan gives Facebook too much control of the news.

“Overall I don’t think it is a good idea,” said Dan Kennedy, a journalism professor at Northeastern University.

Kennedy said Facebook is not transparent about how it shows users news and the site can make changes that promote or demote content, which can have a major impact on news organizations.

by Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

Facebook’s formula for structuring its news feed has long been a source of controversy, with some arguing it creates an “information bubble” that segregates readers into likeminded groups.

oyota and Nissan launched massive global expansions Wednesday of their recalls of potentially deadly vehicle air bags made by Japan’s Takata.

- The future of news Danny Sullivan, founding editor at the Search Engine Land blog, said the move opens the door for Google to make a similar news partnership that could have a major impact on the news industry.

“I worry what it means when the free and independent web is mirrored within the walled gardens of two giants, Facebook and Google,” Sullivan said in a blog post.

But City University of New York journalism professor Jeff Jarvis said the Facebook move is a watershed event for news.

“When news organizations turn over a key part of their publishing platform to large corporation with its own agenda there are some real risks,” Kennedy said.

“This is good news for news,” Jarvis said. “If news and technology can come to terms, we can begin to reinvent journalism in a distributed world with new business models.”

New York Times media critic David Carr, who died in February, said last year that media outlets “would essentially be serfs in a kingdom that Facebook owns” under such a plan.

Jarvis said Facebook’s move along with Google’s efforts to partner with news organizations show a path for the future of the industry.

“I can see why these news sites are tempted by the offer, but I think they’re going to regret it,” said John Gruber who writes the “Daring Fireball”

“We in media can’t do it all by ourselves anymore,” he said in a blog post.

“We are no longer monopolies in control of content and

Tel: 713-774-5140

Toyota, Nissan add 6.5 million cars to air bag recall

news blog.

A study published last week

by Facebook found this was not the case -- that the site’s members were exposed to considerable “cross-cutting” content -- but some analysts said the conclusions were debatable.

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

T

The twin automakers’ actions add more than 6.5 million vehicles to the recalls that already encompassed millions of vehi-

US stocks rise amid big industrial takeover news

U

S stocks climbed in early trade Wednesday after a major industrial takeover and weak retail sales data that cast doubt on an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate increase.

About an hour into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 35.67 points (0.20 percent) at 18,103.90.

The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 6.24 (0.30 percent) to 2,105.36, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added 24.34 (0.49 percent) at 5,000.53.

US retail sales were virtually unchanged in April, the Commerce Department reported; most analysts had expected a 0.2 percent increase.

The disappointing report, a piece of the picture on consumer spending that accounts for twothirds of US economic activity, was seen as putting a potential chill on the Fed’s plan to raise its near-zero federal funds interest rate, signaled by the central bank

A worker demonstrates a Takata driver’s air bag. U.S. regulators want the supplier to conduct a nationwide recall of potentially deadly driver’s bags, but it refused.

(Photo: Jens Meyer, AP) cles from multiple automakers in the U.S. -- and around the world.

One is a new recall. The other two are expansions of previous ones.

Toyota’s and Nissan’s moves show how the troubles of Japanese auto supplier Takata, which has also drawn intense scrutiny from U.S. regulators, continue to deepen. It also indicates that Honda, which has borne the brunt of trouble from air bags because of its dependence on Takata, isn’t alone.

The new recall involves air bags on about 160,000 RAV4 SUVs in the U.S. from the 2004 and 2005 model years.

Six fatal accidents involving Takata air bags have occurred in Hondas -- five in the U.S. and one in Malaysia. The accidents are caused when a Takata inflator spews plastic and metal debris on passengers after accidents.

Nissan plans to recall 1.5 million more vehicles, Bloomberg News reported. Toyota will recall 5 million. The recalls are in addition to the more than 17 million vehicles subject to earlier recalls.

In an email to reporters, Toyota said the recall involves three distinct actions in the U.S.

In the next action, Toyota is expanding an April, 2013, recall to add 177,000 Tundra pickups from the 2003 and 2004 model years and 2004 Sequoia SUVs in the U.S. It is also including another 300,000 vehicles to past recalls of cars driven in mostly southern states with high humidity, which is believed to be a key factor in what has been causing Takata air bags to spew shrapnel when they deploy.

The expansion of the recall brings in 2005 to 2007 Toyota Corollas, Matrixes, and Sequoias; 2005 and 2006 Tundras; and 2005 to 2007 Lexus SCs. But it only applies to those cars whose owners have them in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Hawaii and some American territories.

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, May 15, 2015

Your Horoscope for the Week of May 15, 2015 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE

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

ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct

You’ll feel unusually popular & could start to feel more comfortable with who you are. Your natural charm & wit will be extremely sharp. Let an assuring tone of voice and sincere facial expressions take the place of a complex vocabulary. You want people to believe you as well as understand you. The facts will speak for themselves. Clashes with others, especially over money, behavior and/or discipline are likely as your nerves may be ‘shot’ and your fuse a bit short, possibly.

New routine that has you completely out of mind. News and gossip fall quickly on hungry ears. Whether you play the hero or the fool, everyone will know about it. It doesn’t matter who started the whole thing. The Golden Rule has never looked more attractive. Don’t make any promises that you can’t deliver. You’ll need to relax yourself with comforting activities. Massages, bubble baths or a good aerobic workout may be just what the doctor ordered.

Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Positive surge in your social and personal life. Friendships come in many strange flavors. Seek out the company of people who will tolerate you for who and what you are. You’ll accumulate personal power in some unexpected places. You may have been feeling a little down in the dumps lately. Events that happen this week, will now re-new your old spirit & confidence, to make you feel on top of the world. Don’t go overboard on the celebrating, you need to get your beauty rest.

A strong feelings of deja vu. You may almost feel as if you are reliving a dream or a past experience. Realize that things go around in a circle, sometimes. You subconscious can open new doors of discovery. Take the time to educate yourself on the fundamentals of meditation & you’ll find more enjoyment in your spiritual side. Speak your mind, especially to people who tend to pick on the weak or sick. You don’t yet have to choose between right and wrong, but that day will come, soon enough. Sleep on it, and listen to your dreams.

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

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Change of pace that will help you to deal with deep matters you have on your mind. You may have felt a little like a balloon, lately, getting ready to burst. Don’t sweat it! Delegate some of those tasks to others while maintaining the overall control of things. Relax and enjoy the scenery, while you contemplate your next move or direction. Feel confident in your ability to organize & get the job done effectively. You know some secrets to getting the job done with a minimum of effort on your part.

You may notice a tendency to lose patience with anyone who distracts you. Rebels would do well to hide behind the rules. The odds of a risky venture are running against you this week. By giving the forbidden a rest, you ensure that it will be even more exciting next time you decide to venture your luck. Love and camaraderie could be enhanced by time spent apart. Team players get to gauge their own worth as solo artists. Spend the latter part of your week acting entirely out of self-interest.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Need for co-operation from co-workers, peers and family. You may find that you’ll gain more respect once you reach over to mend the fence that has been broken. Your sharp tongue can sometimes get you into trouble, tone down your emotions & present the situation a little more objectively. No need to let other walk all over you, but you must acknowledge their perspective. The square peg just can’t fit into the round hole. If you are unable to obtain the respect you need, you may need to relocate to a place where people will accept you as you are.

Get past the immediate & to visualize your true goals. You shouldn’t bring your job home with you. You may need the time to reflect on events in your personal life. The joke may have gone too far. Either others can’t follow your thinking or they’re just not interested in participating. Be direct about your opinions, but be careful of the impression that you leave behind. Your name could be mentioned for the wrong reasons. Realize that life’s to short to waste on trivialities & gossip.

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

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Exciting news or opportunities from far away. If you have been searching for a new job or career, someone may have put in a good word for you. You may receive a fax or email requesting additional information about yourself, your education & your past experiences.

Enjoy the attention, be confident in who you are & where you are going. Be sure to take your time to examine all of your possible options. As they say, “All that glitters is not necessarily gold”.

Take a closer look behind the scenes & be sure of what you get yourself into.

Sort of sadness of something passing or leaving. Your outburst surprises an associate who has never seen this side of you. Spontaneity drives you careening along a series of existing channels. Now that you know what’s possible, do what’s necessary. Be it in your professional or personal life, you’ll feel a significant loss. Bring with you an optimism in future endeavors. Instead of losing a best friend, you’ll really be gaining new allies. . A new network of contacts will provide you with all the work & pleasure you need.

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

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Keen sense of loyalty & true understanding of others. You understand what makes people tick. Speak your mind & don’t back down, you need to make a stand. Friends may not be as forthcoming to your cause as you would like them to be. They may still need your shoulder to lean on. Listen to their excuses or reasons for their behavior, but don’t give into their logic for it. You know how to be supportive but you cannot continue to support everyone. Once you make that clear, you’ll learn a lesson you’ll never forget. People are just people, they are only human & their emotions can sometimes rule their actions.

QR

Memories of days gone by & hopes for new celebrations of joy. You have family gatherings to plan. Reflect on times when life was simpler & family values were followed. Take the time to include everyone close to you to participate. Your effort will mean a lot to someone special in your life. Others tend to learn from your example. If your actions & habits reflect a healthy lifestyle, you’ll influence & encourage others to take a closer look at their own situation. You’ll be able to accomplish tedious tasks you’ve been putting off, lately. Sometimes simpler is better, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

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Part Time Accountant Property Management Company in Houston is looking for a part-time accountant with the following qualifications: • Degree in Accounting or Business preferred.

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Know Your Words

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Atrophy-waste away from lack of use Collusion-plotting and planning Drawl-speak slowly with words running together Furtive-hidden and secret Insurgent-a rebel

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MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY FROM HBR.ORG Train Employees on How to Handle Abusive Customers Sometimes the customer is not always right. Certain customers — whether they’re unforgiving, obnoxious, or overly needy — can hurt employee morale, put your company’s reputation at risk, and prove too costly to serve.

It’s important to clearly define your ideal and non-ideal customer, and then train employees on how to deal with the latter. They are, after all, your company’s frontline eyes and ears — they must decide which customers are worth working with and which are not. Companies often don’t conduct special training to handle entitled and abusive customers, leaving employees to improvise. If they’re operating under the cliché of “the customer is king” and trying endlessly to please every whim, it can hurt your bottom line. Provide support by explaining what problematic customer behaviors to look out for and establishing a process for how to respond.

This will help them be able to make more effective on-thespot decisions.

Adapted from “When and Why to Part Ways with a Customer” by Lior Arussy.

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Now You Know!

Amazing facts from all over the WORLD!

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A Community message from Voice of Asia Group

• The first crossword puzzle appeared in 1913 • Nintendo first produced playing cards

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