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Eyeing Moon, NASA hosts first public Microsoft CEO critical of astronaut graduation ceremony new India citizenship law

Satya Nadella implied the law could stop a talented immigrant from making a mark India (AFP Photo/Drew Angerer) NASA’s new class of astronauts – the first to graduate since the agency announced its Artemis program – appear on stage during their graduation ceremony at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Jan. 10, 2020. The class includes 11 NASA astronauts, as well as two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts, selected in 2017. They will join the active astronaut corps, beginning careers in exploration that may take them to the International Space Station, on missions to the Moon under the Artemis program, or someday, Mars. Pictured from left are: Kayla Barron of NASA, Zena Cardman of NASA, Raja Chari of NASA, Matthew Dominick of NASA, Bob Hines of NASA, Warren Hoburg of NASA, Jonny Kim of NASA, Joshua Kutryk of CSA, Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA, Loral O’Hara of NASA, Jessica Watkins of NASA, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons of CSA, and Frank Rubio of NASA. Credits: NASA

by Julia Benarrous with Issam Ahmed

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ouston | AFP | 1/10/2020 NASA on Friday

K AUSHAL P ATEL A SSOCIATES F ORENSIC D ATA C ONSULTANT

celebrated its latest class of graduating astronauts at a public ceremony in Houston, honoring a diverse and gender-balanced group now qualified for spaceflight

missions including America’s return to the Moon and eventual journey to Mars.

After completing more than two years of basic

training, the six women and seven men were chosen from a record-breaking 18,000 applicants and represent a wide variety Continued on Page 7

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EW DELHI, | AFP | 1/14/2020 Microsoft’s chief executive hit out at the government of his native India and joined criticism of a new citizenship law that opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi say is anti-Muslim.

The legislation makes it easier for persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to gain citizenship, but Muslims are

excluded because Modi says they do not qualify as such.

The law has sparked nationwide protests that have left at least 27 people dead, and stoked fears that India’s 200 million Muslims will be marginalised.

Speaking at an event in New York, Microsoft boss Satya Nadella implied the law could stop a talented immigrant from making a mark India, as he had done as a new arrival in the

United States, according to a transcript of his remarks tweeted by BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith.

“I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or becomes the next CEO of Infosys,” Nadella said, referring to an Indian IT giant.

“If I had to sort of mirror what happens to me in the US, I hope that’s what happens in India.”

H ARRY P ATEL CFE, CTRS, EA, CBA IRS T AX P RACTIONER

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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By Andrew Buher

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Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Director Marketing: Office Accountant: Data Entry:

Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Giril Edakkunnath Priyan Mathew Satish Philip

Contributors: OpEd: Dr. Chandra Mittal Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Mala Sharma Health: Sudhir Mathuria Research: Dr. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee

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Editor Online: Shobana Muratee All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com.

It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear inVoice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, theVoice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement.

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 IMMIGRATION LAW  PERSONAL INJURY/ ACCIDENT  CRIMINAL DEFENCE  FAMILY LAW Mala Sharma has received “10 Best Attorneys” by American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys and “Top 40 Under 40” for Civil Plaintiff Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. Sharda Sharma, JD, CPA has received “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Advocates. Mr. Sharma has received the Client’s Choice Award by AVVO. Anjali Sharma has been selected Immigration Law “10 Best Atto Attorneys” by the American Institute of Legal Counsel Immigration.

Licensed in both Texas State and Federal Court

Over 45 Years of Combined Experience

ecent polling suggests that the majority of Americans believe the nation’s best years are in the past.

A simple fact underlies this sentiment: We have been unable to solve big problems lately — even when solutions are within reach.

A principal cause of our problem-solving paralysis is our inability to think and act holistically. We live, learn, and work across narrow, outdated boundaries that prevent us from comprehending the big picture.

I began the 2010s by serving as chief operating officer of the New York City Department of Education. My tenure was filled with surprises; the country’s largest school system delivers them on an hourly basis.

Perhaps most astonishing was the fact that actionable, relevant information that should have been used to positively alter the trajectory of New York City’s 1.1 million students was too often under lock and key in separate city agencies.

For instance, the Department of Education held details about students’ grades and attendance.

At the same time, another city agency possessed knowledge about students’ housing situations, and a third maintained facts about students’ health and wellness. Together, the data would have painted a holistic picture of a student’s life, but it was inaccessible. Each agency’s capacity — not to mention each teacher’s ability — to compre-

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y name is Rahul Pandit and I was born in Kashmir. I am a Kashmiri Pandit, a member of the minority Hindu population who were the original inhabitants of the Valley of Kashmir. Descendants of the priestly, or Brahmin, class of India who lived along the banks of the ancient Saraswat river, Pandits gave rise to numerous saints and sages over the generations, and even developed a subset of Hindu philosophy known as Kashmiri Shaivism.

Pandits lived peacefully in the Valley until the influx of Islam in the 1300s. Since then we have suffered no less than seven mass exoduses with the most recent occurring 30 years ago.

On January 19, 1990, while I was enjoying my senior year and final semester in high school in America, terrorist-driven violence, rape, torture, and murder led to the forced exodus of my relatives and 350,000 other Hindu Pandits from our homeland in Kashmir. The world turned a blind eye to their ethnic cleansing. It is hard to fault the world when our people’s own country of India ignored the situation and let a 5000-yearold cultural identity nearly get wiped off the face of the earth.

It is easier however to blame the proxies of Pakistani-led terrorist groups, the originators of ‘fake news’, that led people to believe that we left on our own accord as part of some greater Indian government conspiracy.

How repulsive.

While our community and its shortlist of supporters would advocate for recognition of our plight and rehabilitation of our community, it was indeed difficult for my friends and colleagues in America to even remotely grasp the gravity of the situation created by Islamic terrorists in our once peaceful homeland.

Fast forward 30 years and the Kashmiri Pandit community is still a people without a homeland, and yet the world continues to ignore our plight.

The narrative is once again stolen from the Kashmiri Pandits because of continued political fighting and vested interests whose stated claim is the peaceful resolution to the Kashmir problem without offering any concrete steps to achieve that peace which incorporate our aboriginal community.

January 19 is Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Day, a somber reminder to all Kashmiris of our tragic story. Thirty years and the beauty of our land fades from our memories; worse yet, this homeland has not even been touched by many in the next generation. The displacement of nearly all of our small 5000-year-old community lends even greater importance to maintaining our displaced religion and culture so they would not be lost to the melting pot of the world. Nevertheless our hope remains that our safe and

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

Why we can’t solve big problems hensively understand and therefore better address every child’s unique needs was severely limited.

This narrow thinking, manifested in a lack of coordination and siloed information, is not a new phenomenon.

In the 1940s, multiple New York City agencies planned construction projects for the same parcels of land, unaware of each other’s intentions. It is also not unique to New York City. The 911 Commission Report notes that during the summer of 2001, no one in the federal government looked at the bigger picture; individual investigations were not connected to national priorities.

The situation that I encountered at the Department of Education is indicative of our inability as a country to address complicated challenges.

Examples abound: Crumbling infrastructure. Persistent gun violence. Outrageously expensive healthcare. These issues fray the fabric of our local communities and democratic institutions. And yet we are stuck in a moment of passivity, tolerating incremental progress while long-term societal burdens persist and our fellow Americans struggle to thrive. Why? At home, fueled by runaway income inequality, our neighbors are more likely to look like us and possess similar levels of

educational attainment.

At school — because of myriad factors including poor workforce planning and declining higher education budgets — college students are pushed into career education at the expense of the liberal arts.

At work, jobs have become hyperspecialized. For example, “administrative assistant” — a job category that employs no fewer than 3.7 million Americans — is increasingly being broken down into specialized workflows and outsourced around the world.

Buzzwords like innovation and creativity crowd the stages of venues like TED and Shark Tank. Yet, we attempt to solve problems of growing complexity and interconnectedness by focusing on the symptoms without working to chip away at the underlying causes of the problem.

Americans are a practical people — we don’t expect technologists or politicians or anyone else to solve our most complicated societal problems single-handedly. But we do expect leaders in industry, government, and the social sector to act with an understanding of the big picture and a bias towards sustainable fixes.

Fortunately, the news isn’t all bad. Communities across the country are beginning to reap the benefits of holistic prob-

lem-solving by forward-looking organizations and bold leaders.

In Denver, Colo., Metro Caring, a community-based organization, is decreasing hunger by providing access not only to fresh food but to evidence-based poverty-fighting interventions, including tax assistance. And back in New York City, there is finally a pilot underway between the Department of Education and the Departement of Homeless Services to share data.

This is the kind of work necessary to surpass the rest of the world’s progress in the next ten years.

As we turn towards a new decade, let us focus on problem-solving that is flexible, informed by data, and created in close proximity to the people whom the intervention is designed to help.

Most importantly, we need problem-solving that respects the interconnected causes of our most significant challenges and works to address them holistically.

Andrew Buher is founder and managing director of Opportunity Labs, a consultancy and new company builder focused on holistic problem-solving. He was formerly a White House Fellow and the chief operating officer of the New York City Department of Education.

- The Hill Editorial

Candlelight vigil commemorating the Kashmiri Pandit exodus of January 19, 1990 secure rehabilition in the Valley will one day return, as we attempt to preserve our community’s socio-religious identity in exile.

On January 19, 1990, the Houston Kashmiri Pandit community, Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Indo-American Kashmir Forum (IAKF), and local cosponsor Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH), invite you to join a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the nearly 1000 Kashmiri Pandits murdered and over 350,000 forced to leave their homeland 30 years ago. This is one of many remembrance events around the nation being organized on this somber 30th year anniversary of the Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Day. For more information on this event, please visit

Rahul Pandit, MD. Director of Communications Indo-American Kashmir Forum Image: Screen grab from Youtube video ‘Kashmir History and Article 370 in 3 minutes’

https://www.facebook.com/ events/760216317832319/

For more information on our story, please visit IAKF.org or iheartkashmir.org.

st

Celebrate India’s 71 Republic Day at India House

Sunday, January 26, 2020 | Flag Hoisting at 11:30 am

Happy Republic Day! We invite you with your family and friends to come and celebrate the joy & happiness of India’s transition toward becoming an independent republic.

O. P. Jindal Center, India House, 8888 West Bellfort Ave., Houston, TX 77031 (Light refreshments will be served)

For more information contact: 713-929-1900 | vipin@indiahouseinc.org | www.indiahouseinc.org

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TAMU Neuroscientist wins Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Samba Reddy received the ABAP Lifetime Gold Medal Award for distinguished contribution to pharmacy profession

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Dhiren Shethia takes charge as Pratham Houston’s new President

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very year, the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy (ABAP) selects one member worldwide to confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize outstanding lifelong contributions to the professional field of pharmacy.

ABAP is an international scientific organization involved in promoting the biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields in Asia, Europe and United States.

Dr. Samba Reddy, receiving the ABAP Lifetime Achievement Award on December 20, 2019 in

This year, Dr. Samba Reddy, Professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, has been conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th annual convention of ABAP & International Biotechnology Conference on December 20, 2019 in Vijayawada, India.

Dr. Reddy received this coveted honor in recognition of his distinguished scientific research and dedicated service to the profession in the field of pharmacy, according to the meeting souvenir and website release. The

Vijayawada, India

award and Gold medal were presented to Dr. Reddy at the inaugural session by Dr. Appa Rao, Hon’ble vice-chancellor of University of Hyderabad, and Dr. K.S. Rao, Hon’ble vice-chancellor of Mizoram Central University, India.

Dr. Reddy’s work over the past two decades has laid the groundwork for understanding neurobiology of neurosteroids in brain disorders. He has made a seminal contribution to epilepsy and elucidated the pivotal role of neurosteroids in neuro-

endocrine conditions, leading to the discovery of neurosteroid replacement therapy. His work has contributed to development of two medicines for brain disorders (brexanolone and ganaxolone). This work has had a profound impact in pharmacy field and has benefitted millions of patients worldwide. In 2019, the first neurosteroid allopregnanolone (brexanolone) was approved by the FDA for clinical use in post-partum depression, which affects nearly 10% of childbearing women. The synthetic analog ganaxolone is

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in advanced trial for treating seizures disorder that affects 50 million people worldwide.

Dr. Reddy, who hails from Warangal in Telangana, has trained over 50 students/postdocs, authored 5 textbooks, and published over 190 scientific papers. In addition to teaching and research, he provides selfless services as expert member on many national and international scientific panels in USA, and participates in charitable services in India.

Dhiren Shethia

Dhiren Shethia took charge as president of the Pratham USA Houston chapter, effective January 2020. Dhiren succeeds Asha Dhume, who provided inspirational and effective leadership during her tenure as president.

Dhiren is a managing director at Accenture. Prior to his current position, he was the managing partner and co-founder of Enaxis Consulting, which was acquired by Accenture in 2018, and has led several other successful organizations throughout his career.

In 2014, Dhiren was named “Business Person of the Year” by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. An active supporter of Pratham USA

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since its inception, Dhiren has served on both the executive and advisory boards of the Houston chapter, while also supporting multiple other charities focused on education and empowerment along with his wife, Anila.

Asha is an invaluable member of the Pratham community, whose contributions to Pratham cannot be overstated. Through her tireless efforts as president, the chapter grew significantly, achieving its largest-ever annual fundraising sum. In addition, the 2019 gala was the highest-grossing event among American Indian charities in Houston. We are delighted that she will continue her involvement with the chapter as an indispensable member of the Houston board.

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Section 2

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

Family Health Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Five facts your OB-GYN wants you to know about IUDs

Rosalyn Miller, D.O., OB-GYN

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UGAR LAND—(Jan. 2, 2020) — Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a great birth control option, but many women choose other forms of birth control because they have reservations about IUDs. A Houston Methodist OB-GYN answered common questions patients ask her about this very effective form of birth control.

“The biggest advantage of IUDs is there is zero chance of user error,” said Rosalyn Miller, D.O., board-certified OBGYN with Houston Methodist Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sugar Land. “Even with perfect use of birth control pills, which means never missing a dose, the pills are 99% effective. Most women are going to forget a pill from time to time, which brings the effectiveness rate down to 96%. IUDs are more than 99% effective, making them the best birth control option for many women.”

Miller said many of her patients have heard rumors or myths about IUDs that just aren’t true, so she wants every woman to know these five facts about IUDs: Fact: Placement of the IUD may be uncomfortable, but most agree it is tolerable.

“A woman will feel some mild to moderate pain, similar

to intense cramps, for about 30 seconds during IUD placement, but there are ways to make you more comfortable,” Miller said. “First, your doctor can ease anxiety by walking you through each step of the procedure. Taking an over-thecounter pain medication, such as ibuprofen, before placement can help. In some cases, your doctor can also prescribe something to help make placement easier. We do not want women to avoid IUDs because of these fears, so please talk to your doctor about your concerns and ways they can help decrease discomfort.”

Fact: There are two main types of IUDs, hormonal and a non-hormonal copper form.

They each have different benefits and side effects.

“As with any birth control, there will always be an adjustment period,” Miller said.

“With the hormonal IUD, some women experience side effects such as irregular bleeding and spotting for three to six months, but then many women experience lighter or no periods at all.

Some report changes in mood or acne, but these are less common and there are ways your doctor can help with these possible side effects.”

With the non-hormonal copper IUD, women might experience heavier, longer periods and spotting for two to three months. If you experience side effects that continue or become severe, ask your doctor how to best address these concerns.

Fact: While some women fear that IUDs are dangerous, complications are rare.

“Expulsions, or the IUD falling out of place, occurs in less than 0.5-8% of women who have an IUD,” Miller said. “The risk of pelvic inflammatory disease is rare, occurring in 1% of women. The most serious complication is perforation of the uterus, which occurs when

the IUD punctures the uterine wall. However, this complication is rare, occurring in 0.1 % of women, and it can be easily prevented by checking IUD location immediately after placement using an ultrasound.”

Fact: Having an IUD will not affect your fertility later on.

“In a study comparing pregnancy rates between former IUD users and former users of other contraceptive methods, there was no difference between the two groups in the time it took to become pregnant,” Miller said. “When you have your IUD removed, your fertility will return to what is normal for your body, just like any other form of contraceptive.”

Fact: IUDs can also help with heavy periods.

“The hormonal IUD is also approved for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding,” Miller said. “It is the only form of birth control that can help with heavy bleeding and is often used an alternative to surgical treatment for heavy periods.”

Miller encourages women to visit their OB-GYN for a well woman exam every year and to ask about birth control methods at their next appointment.

“Every woman should pick the birth control option that is right for her, but I don’t want women to be afraid of IUDs,” Miller said. “They are a fantastic option for busy women who want effective birth control that they don’t have to think about or remember to take.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Miller, visit houstonmethodist.org/obgyn or call 346.874.2060. To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

First case of mystery SARS-like virus found outside China

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xtra Help Low Income Subsidies can help Medicare enrollees pay for various prescription costs, including premiums, deductibles and copays. The Social Security Administration says that Extra Help is worth about $4,900 each year. That’s a lot of money that no one wants to leave on the table.

Qualifying for Extra Help • To receive Extra Help, you will have to meet a few qualifications. First of all one must be enrolled in Medicare.

• You must live in one of the 50 states or in the District of Columbia • You must meet the resource and income limits.

When calculating resources, you should include bank accounts, stocks and bonds, but they should not include life insurance policies, their car or their home. Additionally, if some of their resources are intended for burial expenses, they can make use of a burial expense allowance.

The resource limits have been announced for 2020: • $7,860 for a single individual for the full subsidy without the burial expense allowance and $9,360 with it • $11,800 for a married couple for the full subsidy without the burial expense allowance and $14,800 with it • $13,110 for a single individual for a partial subsidy without the burial expense allowance and $14,610 with it • $26,160 for a married couple for a partial subsidy without the burial expense allowance and $29,160 with it Your Income

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Health authorities in China reported the country’s first death from the new type of coronavirus at the weekend. (Photo: UPI/Barcroft Media)

was closed on January 1.

There is so far no indication of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

- ‘Not unexpected’ Scientists in Hong Kong’s Department of Health said on Saturday that genetic sequencing of the virus from a Wuhan patient, published online by a Chinese expert, indicated it was 80 percent similar to SARS found in bats.

WHO said on Monday it was not surprising that the virus had spread beyond China.

“The possibility of cases being identified in other countries was not unexpected, and reinforces why WHO calls for ongoing active monitoring and preparedness in other countries,” it said in a statement.

Thai authorities have been on high alert, with airport officials checking all passengers coming from Wuhan to the kingdom’s major airports.

An official from the Public Health Emergency Operation Center told AFP the infected

woman travelling from Wuhan had been intercepted on arrival in Thailand, after airport officials determined she had a fever.

WHO said it had issued guidance on how to detect and treat people with the new virus and stressed that China’s decision to rapidly share the genetic sequencing of the virus made it possible to quickly diagnose patients.

WHO has not recommended any specific measures for travellers or restrictions on trade with China, but stressed on Monday it was taking the situation seriously.

“Given developments, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will consult with Emergency Committee members and could call for a meeting of the committee on short notice,” it said in a statement.

During such meetings, experts determine whether the UN health agency should declare an international health emergency -- a designation used only for the gravest epidemics.

Tel: 713-774-5140

• If your income is $16,862 if you are single or $22,829 for married couples, you could qualify for the full Low-Income Subsidy. Applying for Extra Help If your clients qualify for Extra Help automatically, they will receive a notification informing them of this. Otherwise, they can apply for Extra Help online at through the Social Security Administration by going to https:// www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/ prescriptionhelp/.

Using Extra Help Once you have qualified for Extra Help, they should make sure they are receiving the financial assistance correctly. They will need to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan. They should also contact their plan to notify them of the Low Income Subsidy, and they may need to supply documentation to prove this.

In 2020, Medicare enrollees receiving Extra Help should not pay more than $3.60 for generic prescriptions or $8.95 for brandname prescriptions that are covered by their plan. If they think they are paying more than they should, they should contact the plan.

How to use Medicare site for your drug list.

The Medicare Plan Finder has been redesigned, and this means that Medicare enrollees need to re-enter their drug lists.

Print Out the Old Drug List.

Drug lists that were created in the old Plan Finder cannot be easily moved to the new Plan Finder.

Instead, you’ll need to find and print the drug list from the old Plan Finder, so you can then enter the information into the new Plan Finder.

Use the New Plan Finder.

Keep in mind that the new Plan

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

Finder does not include a Drug List ID lookup. Also, users are expected to sign into their accounts before they can save drug lists.

Simply select “Continue without logging in” to do so.

You will then be prompted to answer a number of questions about the desired plan type, the ZIP code and where prescriptions are purchased.

You will need to re-enter the drug list. If you have printed out the old drug list, you can use it as a starting point, along with any new information. You will need to provide information about the dosage, and you may be asked if lower cost generics can be substituted.

Once you’ve entered all the necessary information, you will get a list of available plans.

1.

You can sort the plans based on the lowest premium, the lowest drug cost and premium, or the lowest deductible.

2.

You can filter costs based on the star ratings or a preferred insurance carrier.

To choose right Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Prescription drug plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

Only one in four Medicare patients participate in cardiac rehabilitation ALLAS, Jan. 14, 2019 – Too few people covered by Medicare participated in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or acute heart event or surgery, particularly women, the elderly and non-white patients, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | Monday 1/13/2020 - A new virus from the same family as the deadly SARS disease has spread beyond China’s borders for the first time with a case emerging in Thailand, UN and Thai officials said on Monday.

Medicare Drug Plan Low Income Subsidy Limits for 2020

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by Nina Larson

Thai doctors diagnosed a Chinese traveller with mild pneumonia on January 8 later confirmed to have been caused by the so-called novel coronavirus -- which has already given rise to 41 pneumonia-like cases and one death in China.

The outbreak has caused alarm because of the link with SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

The UN health agency (WHO) confirmed that the outbreak in the city of Wuhan was caused by a previously unknown type of corona virus, a broad family ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like SARS. “Laboratory testing subsequently confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP in an email, referring to the case in Thailand.

WHO said it might soon host an emergency meeting on the spread of the new virus.

Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed to reporters in Bangkok Monday that a 61-year-old Chinese woman who had travelled from Wuhan “was infected with the virus from outside Thailand”.

Thai health officials said on Monday she was recovering.

Authorities in Wuhan said a seafood market in the city was the centre of the outbreak. It

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Every year, an estimated 1.3 million U.S. adults with heart disease may qualify for cardiac rehabilitation (this number does not include those with qualifying heart failure).

Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to improve health outcomes among patients who have heart failure, have suffered heart attacks or have undergone a cardiac procedure such as coronary artery bypass surgery. This observational study measured participation rates and identified the populations and regions most at risk for suboptimal cardiac rehabilitation.

In the review of more than 366,000 patients covered by Medicare who were eligible for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in 2016, researchers found: - only about 25% (approximately 90,000) participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program; - among those who participated in cardiac rehabilitation, only 24% began the program within 21 days of the acute cardiac event or surgery; and - among those who participated in cardiac rehabilitation, only about 27% completed the full course of the recommended 36 or more cardiac rehabil-

itation sessions, which have been shown to improve health outcomes.

“Cardiac rehabilitation has strong evidence demonstrating its lifesaving and life-enhancing benefits, and Medicare Part B provides coverage for the program. However, participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs remains low among people covered by Medicare,“ said lead study author Matthew D. Ritchey, P.T, D.P.T., O.C.S., M.P.H., a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. “The low participation and completion rates observed translate to upwards of 7 million missed opportunities in this study to potentially improve health outcomes if 70% of them covered by Medicare who had a heart attack or acute heart event or surgery participated in cardiac rehabilitation and completed 36 sessions.”

Additional study findings included: Participation in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation decreased with increasing age, with only about 10% of patients age 85 and older participating, versus about 32% of those age 65 to 74.

Participation was lower among women than men, about 19% versus about 29%, respectively.

Over half of the cardiac rehab eligible patients had less than 5 comorbid conditions.

Non-Hispanic whites had the highest participation rate at about 26%, versus 16% for Asians, 14% for non-Hispanic blacks and 13% for Hispanics.

Participation also varied by region, with cardiac rehabilitation being lowest in the Southeastern United States and the Appalachian region.

Patients who had a procedure such as coronary bypass surgery were more likely to participate in cardiac rehabilitation than those who had a heart attack with no procedure performed.

Researchers noted that patients face systematic, logistical and cultural barriers to attending and completing an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. At the system level, there are no universally accepted, automated, electronic referral processes for cardiac rehabilitation services.

On a personal level, patients may not complete rehabilitation due to the costs and/or the time needed to participate in the program versus returning to work and other personal commitments.

“Improving awareness of the value of cardiac rehabilitation, increasing referral of eligible patients and reducing system and patient barriers to participation are all critical steps in improving the referral, enrollment and participation rates, which, in turn, can improve patient outcomes,” said Ritchey.

“For example, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, recently launched the TAKEheart initiative to implement automatic referral processes with care coordination to increase cardiac rehabilitation referrals, enrollment and retention across hundreds of hospitals. Each of these programs are important building blocks for continued improvement for patients.”

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FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

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How tech is catering to the elderly and caregivers

by Dean Takahashi

A

t CES 2020, tech’s biggest trade show, it was heartening to see that the tech industry is paying attention to the needs of the elderly and the younger people who provide care for the elderly.

I’ve paid attention to this since my 86-year-old mother has severe dementia and lives in a memory care home in Silicon Valley. For years, I couldn’t find any technology that she could handle or that could make my life easier. But I’m happy to see that many tech companies now get it. Our generation is about to be overwhelmed with caregiving tasks for the elderly, and we need some help.

CES 2020 had 2.9 million square feet of space and 4,500 exhibitors in Las Vegas. Most of the tech for the elderly was in the health and wellness marketplace in the Sands Expo, which was up 25% in exhibitors and 15% in square footage.

“The role technology will play in health monitoring and self-treatment is already in great demand for eldercare and to anyone that needs to keep track of their health,” said Tim Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Technologies who has attended 50 CES events over the decades, in an email. “It will be one of the more important growth markets in tech in the next 20 years.”

I noticed the trend at CES 2019, and what was different compared to the past is that it wasn’t just startups with attentive CEOs who were coming up with these products. Big companies were paying attention as well to the human side of technology, from sex tech to mom products. And it makes sense.

- The elderly are a big market The American Association of Retired Persons said in “2019

Tech Trends and the 50+” that 115 million Americans over 50 represent an enormous market for technology and that by the end of the next decade this group is projected to spend $84 billion on tech products.

One of the problems is that technologists have been designing cool products that don’t resonate with older people. Jitterbug created its retro cell phones because fancy products like the iPhone just weren’t designed for older people. And some of the products also weren’t designed with much younger caregivers in mind either.

“Social robots have struggled to find a home in recent years,” said Steve Koenig, vice president of market research at the Consumer Technology Association, in a press briefing. “If you have an aging loved one at home, you want the peace of mind to know that their medication was dispensed. Treating people, like seniors with Alzheimer’s, requires a focus on the human-machine interaction.”

Apple didn’t appear at the show, but its Apple Watch and iPhone products keep adding new capabilities for detecting health problems, such as atrial fibrillation (via ECG), a life-threatening condition caused by an irregular heart rate.

(I used my iPhone/Apple Watch to figure out that I walked 37 miles at the show.)

The media also did a better job focusing on stories about the elderly and caregivers.

- Designing with caregivers in mind Procter & Gamble showed off the Gillette Treo, a razor that is designed for a caregiver to shave an elderly person. In all of its 182-year history, P&G’s Gillette brand has never created a razor for someone to shave someone else. One of its fea-

tures is that it has a tube filled with shaving cream that you can dispense while you’re shaving someone, so you don’t have to go get a can of shaving cream.

“The overall objective is to bring to life the product innovation and the human insight that we’re bringing to show consumers,” said Guy Peri, vice president and chief data & analytics officer at P&G Information Technology, in an interview with VentureBeat.

And Samsung digital health vice president Natalie Schneider spoke alongside Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP CEO, on the topic of the “longevity economy” in a talk at CES. The idea is that companies can profitably target the elder generation, which is about to become a huge population as the baby boomers retire.

The AARP also showcases the wares of seven healthcare startups at its booth at CES. Samsung itself had its Ballie rolling robot, which can detect a fall in a home and roll over to ask the person if it should call 911.

One of the winners at Last Gadget Standing, one of the big awards contests at CES, was MedWand, a handheld medical testing device created by Samir Qamar and his team. MedWand is a small connected device with a camera. The four-ounce device can perform 10 different tests, including heart rate, temperature, and electrocardiogram (ECG). It is targeted at people in homes, hospices, and eldercare facilities and enables them to share exam results remotely with their doctors in real time.

Withings introduced the new ScanWatch that checks for sleep apnea and also takes ECG readings. And Omron Healthcare is now selling its FDA-cleared wearable blood pressure monitor for $500.

- CNET

FRESH AIR! In Hollywood, Florida, French-Canadians take in the air during morning exercises.

(Photo: Sarah Leen)

Senior citizens getting roommates to help save money

M

ore than 33% of Americans aged 65 and over do not have any money saved for retirement.

So senior citizens are getting creative to make ends meet financially, with many getting roommates. In 2016, 70% more seniors lived with roommates than a decade before.

Since retiring about six years ago, Paul Covington has relied exclusively on social security without any savings. The 81-year-old needed help paying his mortgage, so Jim English moved in.

“We signed an agreement,” English said. “So this was more of a formal process, which I liked a lot.”

Covington and English were matched through the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, a non-profit organization that fa-

cilitates living arrangements for seniors in need.

Covington said he was nervous about paying his mortgage at the time. While helping Covington with that, English was able to save on his end as well..

“I’m paying less than what I would if I was on my own by at least a few hundred,” English said.

After five months of English contributing to the mortgage and utilities, Covington was able to save $3,000.

Covington said the extra money is “like a step into heaven.”

“In terms of being relieved of, you know, the economic pressure,” Covington said.

The benefits also go beyond their bank accounts.

“I think people should be more in contact,” English said. “And something like this, I think, would work for a lot of people. So I would recommend it strongly.”

CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger said as arrangements like Congington and English’s become more common, it’s important to watch out for scammers.

“Unless you’re working with an organization, you got to have your guard up a little bit, right?

So if you don’t have an organization in your town... you want to do a little bit of a background check,” Schlesinger said. “You want to have a contract or a lease. But, if possible, certainly use an organization to match you.”

- CBSN News

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

Thiruvathira Celebration at Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple in Houston A traditional festival of Kerala celebrated mainly by women

Inside of Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple in Houston by Mathilakath

Poornima

S

ree Guruvayoorappan Temple, Houston, celebrated “Ardra Darsanam” (Thiruvathira) on 09 Jan 2020 in an exquisite and extensive way for the first time ever!

Thiruvathira, an ageold traditional festival of Kerala is celebrated mainly by women, who does “orikkal” (avoiding food containing rice) and spend their day and night chanting Shiv sthuthies.

Those who takes vrutham is not supposed to sleep the whole night. Belief behind Thiruvathira vrutham is that Sree Parvathy, wife of Lord Shiva took the vrutham for the long life of Lord Shiva on his birthday.

Another belief is that Lord Shiva married Parvathy on this day and people celebrate the unity of Shiva and Sakthi by taking vrutham on that day. Married women take vrutham for the health and long life of

their husband and young girls takes vrutham to get a good partner to make rest of their life happy.

At Sree Guruvayoorappan temple Houston, Pooja coordinator Krishnaja Kurup along with Vidhu, who has very good knowledge about the rituals, took lead in organizing everything for this auspicious day.

Devotees started pouring in after their long day at work. Main Pooja on Thiruvathira day is a Shiva Abhishekam , which started by 8 PM in an atmosphere filled with chants and prayers! After Abhishekam women moved towards the temple hall where wheat porridge, puzhukku (a dish made out of eight root vegetables) and koova payasam(a dessert made out of arrowroot powder and jaggery) had already been prepared.

Vidhu lead the group of

Thiruvathira, an age-old traditional festival of Kerala, celebrated mainly by women was celebrated grandly for the first time in Houston.

ladies to a famous ritual dance along with vocals which is usually written to praise lord Shiva and Devi Parvathy. After a few rounds of dance and games, it was time for them to go and fetch flowers for the

famous ceremony of pathira poo choodal. For this they take a traditional lamp with them and sing beautiful tuned songs. Once they pick up flowers, it’s time for them to put those flowers in their hair and chew bettle

leaf (thamboolam). Thamboolam was followed by famous “Ardra Dharsanam “(watching full moon) by women. Vrutham will end once ladies take a bath next morning and come back and visit temple in the early

hours. The event organized

by Sree Guruvayoorappan temple was nostalgic to many of the participants who relived their days of Thiruvathira in Kerala after many years. For the younger generation, this was both

an amusement and opportunity to delve deeper into a culture that they are not accustomed to. Besides being a weekday, this well-organized event witnessed a huge turnout of families!

Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrated at Sri Meenakshi Temple

Sree Meenakshi Temple Deities decked in gold and precious stones for the celebrations.

by Bhargavi Golla

S

ri Meenakshi Temple celebrated Vaikunta Ekadasi with devotion and religious splendor in the honor of Lord Venkateswara on Monday, January 6th, 2020. More than 250 devotees gathered at the Temple on a weekday morning to witness and participate in this auspicious event.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi, is considered to be the most important Ekadasi. Ekadasi means ‘the eleventh’ in Sanskrit and refers to the eleventh day of the bright fortnight (shukla paksha) belonging to a lunar month. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is the 11th day in the lunar calendar after the new moon in Dhanurmasa.

It is considered to be the day on which the doors of Vaikuntha (heaven) will be kept open for all the saintly souls.

by Nithya Aradhanam & Thiruppavai Sevakalam.

Then priests performed abhishekam to Venkateswara while the devotees’ recited Vedic mantra led by priests. All the devotees exited the Temple and entered through the north entrance for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam. When the sanctum doors opened, going into raptures all the devotees started chanting loudly the sacred ‘Govindaa Govinda’. Utsava

moorthy on a Garuda vahanam was taken in a procession around the temple with devotees chanting bhajans. Puja concluded with Vaikunta Gadyam, Aarthi, Shaathumurai and distributed Theertham and Prasadam to all the devotees. Many devotees participated in Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting.

Light festival lunch was prepared by food committee and served by many

volunteers. There was a steady stream of devotees throughout the day to pray and get blessings on this auspicious day. This is the first event for the new board after the leadership transfer with Dhani Kannan as chairman, Partha Krishnaswamy as Secretary and Bhargavi Golla as Treasurer on January 1st, 2020. RAC chair Vinod Kaila thanked the priests, staff, Board, council and volunteers for this blissful event.

According to the Vishnu Purana, observing the Ekadasi Vrata (or fast) on Vaikuntha Ekadasi day confers the benefit equivalent to observing all the other eleven Ekadasis during the year. Fasting (according to one’s capacity), chanting the names of the Lord, visiting Vishnu temples are some of the ways this festival is observed.

At Sri Meenakshi Temple the day started with Thiruppalli Ezhuchi at 6AM at the main Temple followed

Hundreds of devotees participated in theauspicious event.

A grand procession of the deities

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FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

10th annual Sugar Land Home and Outdoor Living Show Jan 25, 2020 to Jan 26, 2020

H

OUSTON - The 10th Annual Sugar Land Home and Outdoor Living Show features appearances by top names in home improvement with over 200 exhibitors sharing products and services.

New this year are DIY workshops! Have fun making a floral arrangement with Ashley Wallace of The Tallest Tulip. AR Workshop of Pearland will work with attendees to build a unique wood home décor project and a canvas pillowcase with stencil and paint. Create your own and take it home! This is an event you leave with a keepsake!

Ashley Barber, Houston’s First Certified KonMari Professional Organizer with Simply Maven, will answer questions one on one with ways to minimize your home to create simplicity. Get rid of the clutter and keep items that bring joy to your life. (Special Note: The KonMari Method is created by Marie Kondo, bestselling author and star of Netflix’s hit show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, and founder of KonMari Media, Inc.) “I am a big believer in making space for what matters by choosing things that spark joy in an environment you can thrive in”, said Ashley Barber.

“I will be available both days to get your personal organizing questions answered to create a home you love” Outdoor Perfection, the fea-

tured landscape exhibitor, will display the newest ways to remodel your yard with 20% off during the show to celebrate 20 years of business.

Talk to experts from landscaping, outdoor living, kitchen and bath remodeling, pools, attics, painters, flooring, bathtubs, skylights, pest/mosquito control, kitchen accessories, hot tubs, windows/window treatments, roofing, garages, furniture, mattresses and much more. Light up your home year-round for Christmas and all the seasons by the touch of an app with Trimlight Houston. Have some fun between exhibitors sampling some of the finest Texas wines or craft beer from our exclusive food caterer, Clancy’s Public House.

Additional Professional Speakers appearing at show: • Michael Garfield, “The High-Tech Texan” be one of the first to see and hear about the newest Smart Home products from the Consumer Electronics Show!

• Diane Cowen-Houston Chronicle Architecture/Design Writer-bring your designs!

• Lisa Geisler, Professional Organizer and Author • LIVE broadcast from Randy Lemmon of GardenLine on AM KTRH 740. Meet Randy and be the first to look at his new book!

• Tom Tynan, longtime host

of HomeShow Radio on KTRH 740, until 2pm both days • Dany Millikin, HomeShow Garden Pro speaking on “Unlocking a Better Lawn” • Lisa Geisler, Professional Organizer/Author shares “Nine Steps for Surviving Home Renovation” • Fort Bend Master Gardeners-answering questions oneone • Sherwin Williams Color Snap Color Consultants Je’Nae Boyko, Color Consultant from Sherwin Williams encouraged attendees to meet one on one with her team. “Meet your local color consultants from Sherwin Williams, see the 2020 color pallets, see the color of the year and discover how to use the ColorSnap Visualizer App to explore color on your next project.”

Above left: Ashley Barber, Houston’s First

The Fort Bend History Association is the official non-profit partnering organization for the Sugar Land Show. For the past 52 years, the Fort Bend History Association has worked to preserve and share every aspect of Fort Bend County’s rich history.

Visit their vintage booth with clothing, furniture, and pieces from their archive collections.

They are affiliated with the Fort Bend Museum, The George Ranch Historical Park, and the Fort Bend Archeological Society.

Certified KonMari Professional Organizer.

Top: Ashley Wallace of The Tallest Tulip.

Left: Michael Garfield, “The High-Tech Texan” will showcase the latest Smart Home products.

their 2020 schedule while posing for a picture with Swatson.

Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 and 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Road in Stafford. Tickets for the show are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and children 12 years and younger free.

The Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball Mascot, Swatson, will be at the show from 1-2:30pm Saturday Jan 25. Get a copy of

Visit www.TexwoodShows.com where a downloadable discount coupon for $2 off admission is available.

NASA hosts first public astronaut Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital welcomes new graduation ceremony...

Chief Operating Officer Continued from Page 1

of backgrounds and specialties, from pilots to scientists, engineers and doctors.

S

U G A R LAND— (January 14, 2020) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has named Eliud Faz as its new chief operating officer.

Faz served as a Houston Methodist administrative fellow and as an eight-year member of the management team at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, where he eventually was named director of Eliud Faz, Chief Operating Officer finance.

He then served as chief financial officer for United Surgical Partners International, where his responsibilities included all financial operations of three acute care surgical specialty hospitals in the Houston area.

“Eliud’s background and expertise are a good fit for our hospital, and I know that everyone will quickly

see first-hand how his skills, insights and communication approach reflect that,” said Chris Siebenaler, regional senior vice president and CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Siebenaler said Faz’s strengths include both organizational/service line growth as well as employee engagement and relationship-building. At

each step in his career, he has created business opportunities, improved patient satisfaction and helped peers and direct reports develop new skills and achieve new career objectives.

Eliud has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.

He lives in Sugar Land with his family; wife, Andrea, and two sons, Mateo and Samuel.

To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Texas City disaster survivor shares story of explosion

T

he Texas City Disaster on April 16, 1947 was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history.

facilities, including the Monsanto Chemical Co. plant, which wiped out hundreds of houses and buildings.

The death toll was about 640 leaving over 5,000 injured and 63 unaccounted for.

Robert Roten, who was 13 at the time of the disaster, was just 25 blocks away from the blast area.

The disaster involved the explosion of 2,200 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer on a French ship which was docked in the Port of Texas City.

The original explosion initiated a reaction of several other explosions and fires in nearby ships and

Now, 72 years later, Roten is sharing his firsthand account of the disaster in the documentary film “The Fall and Rise of Texas City,” which was presented at a screening and Q&A session with Roten at the Houston Maritime Museum.

Roten was playing softball with classmates at his school’s recreation center at the time of the explosion, and he said the blast sent him flying 10 feet into the air. The second blast, only seconds later, knocked Roten back 10 more feet, and sent shrapnel flying.

“I was just in seventh grade, so I really didn’t think much about safety,” Roten said. “A lot of people didn’t want to live in Texas City, but I didn’t think much of it.”

After the blasts, Roten said he walked home to check on his fam-

The group included two candidates from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), which has participated in a joint training program with the United States since 1983.

“They are the best of the best: They are highly qualified and very diverse, and they represent all of America,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

The class included five people of color, including the first Iranian-American astronaut, Jasmin Moghbeli, who flew helicopter combat missions in Afghanistan and holds an engineering degree from MIT, and geologist Jessica Watkins, who joins only a handful of black women to complete the program.

The group, known as the “Turtles,” wore blue flight jumpsuits and took turns approaching the podium to receive their silver astronaut pins, as their fellow classmates paid tribute to their character in the first-ever public graduation ceremony.

The tradition of handing out pins dates back to the Mercury 7 astronauts who were selected in 1959, with participants receiving their gold pins once they complete their first spaceflights.

After being selected in 2017, the class completed training in spacewalking at NASA’s underwater Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, the systems of the International Space Station and piloting the T-38 training jet, plus Russian language lessons.

They are the first to graduate

ily. Fortunately, Roten’s sisters and parents survived the accident, with only minor shrapnel injuries incurred by one of his sisters, he said. There were also several injured neighbors that Roten’s mother was helping.

“The physical concern was

since NASA announced the Artemis program to return to the Moon by 2024, this time on its south pole, as the United States plans to place the next man and first woman on lunar soil and set up an orbital space station.

Part of the group’s training therefore included studying the building blocks of that program, which are still being developed: the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion crew capsule and the gateway space station.

But NASA has already said that the crew of the first return Moon mission, Artemis 3, will be selected from previous graduates.

- Elite group -

Astronauts play an active role in the development of spacecraft, and the current group will eventually join the ranks of the approximately 500 people in history who have ventured into space.

The 11 US astronauts bring the total number of NASA’s corps up to 48.

Their diversity stands in contrast to the early years of space exploration, long dominated by white men (including all 12 people who have walked on the Moon), until Sally Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983 and Guion Bluford the first black astronaut the same year.

It also includes Indian-American Raja Chari, an Air Force colonel and aeronautical engineer; Frank Rubio, a medical doctor and Blackhawk pilot; and Jonny Kim, a decorated Navy SEAL and emergency physician, who holds both a doctorate in medicine from Harvard and a mathematics de-

the well-being of my family, my house, and I was not overly concerned about if everybody was OK or did we have a future. I never thought of that too much,” Roten said.

Roten recalls how quickly the Red Cross and Salvation Army

gree.

“When I heard about possibly being a NASA astronaut I thought that was a platform like no other where I could leave a huge impact on the next generation and also contribute to our nation’s space exploration,” Kim told AFP. Watkins praised what she called NASA’s emphasis on diversity.

“I think cultural and social change can be slow, even when it’s trending in the right direction,” she said.

The CSA’s newest astronauts are Joshua Kutryk, a Royal Canadian Air Force lieutenant colonel, and Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons who holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Cambridge where she was working as an assistant professor in combustion in the Department of Engineering.

Asked about the difficulties she faced in her career, Moghbeli said some had questioned her choices when she decided to join the military after graduating from MIT. “In a post-September 11 world, did my parents think I was crazy? Yes, I’m pretty sure they did,” she said, but added that her family then gave her their full support.

“It’s because of that that I’m here today, and I think everyone feels similarly, but -- that being said -- there will always be people out there that doubt.

“When I was a sixth grader and said I was going to become an astronaut, do you think everyone was like, ‘Yep, she’s going to become an astronaut’?

Probably not.”

arrived to assist victims.

All but one of the 28 Texas City Fire Department members were killed in the initial explosion and while fighting the ship fire, so emergency services were coming from outside of the city.

- KTRK Channel 13

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FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

VOICE OF ASIA 9

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

Section 2

Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

12th Annual ‘State of the City Sugar Land’ address which will shift the City’s focus from moving vehicles to moving people, and · how Sugar Land is maintaining and building upon its position as an economic and financial leader that improves its quality of life and minimizes the residential tax burden.

•

www.voiceofasia.news

T

he Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the twelfth annual State of the City Sugar Land Address focusing on the City’s 2019 accomplishments. The program will be held Friday, January 24, 2020 at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land, located at 16090 City Walk at the corner of U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 6 from 7:30-9:00am.

As Sugar Land celebrates 60 years since its incorporation, join Mayor Joe Zimmerman and retiring City Manager Allen Bogard as they reflect on the City’s past, discuss current events, and explore what’s next for Sugar Land.

This will be City Manager Allen Bogard’s final State of the City address, as he plans to retire in late January after a 44-year career in public service that recently culminated with a career excellence award from International City/ County Management Association. The event will include an introduction of the City’s new City Manager, Mike Goodrum. Other presentation highlights include: · plans for the implementation of the recent $90.76 million voter-approved bond program, which includes projects related to drainage, facilities, streets and a new animal shelter, · upcoming work on the City’s mobility master plan,

I

n recognition of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Fort Bend County Libraries will celebrate with a Chinese Lantern Festival on Saturday, February 8, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the lobby of George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

Dancing lions from the Soaring Phoenix Dragon & Lion Dance Association will entertain visitors at 2:30 pm, following the welcome and introductions.

Underwriting Sponsors: Ardurra Group, Colliers International- Fort Bend, Costello, Inc., Loral O’Hara is one among the first class of astronauts to graduate under the Artemis program Credits: NASA Flikr

S

UGAR LAND, Texas, Thursday, June 8, 2017 (KTRK) -- She’s one of 12 astronaut candidates selected from over 18,000 applicants, and she grew up right here in the Houston area.

“I’ve wanted to be an astronaut since I was a little kid,” said astronaut candidate Loral O’Hara.

City Manager Allen Bogard Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation, Freese and Nichols, Inc. Geotest Engineering, Inc., Halff Associates, Inc., Houston Community College Southwest-Stafford, KSA Engineers, Inc.,LandPark Commercial, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Republic Services, Smart Financial Credit Union, S & B Infrastructure, Ltd., TBG Partners, University of Houston, Wharton County Junior College For Sponsorship and other details visit www.FortBendChamber.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

NASA’s newest George Memorial Library to celebrate Chinese astronaut is a Lunar New Year with Lantern Festival native of Sugar Land

Presenting Sponsors: Fluor Corporation, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., Johnson Development Corporation, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, and Paradigm Consultants, Inc. Mayor Joe Zimmerman

•

O’Hara, 34, applied twice previously and was selected on her third attempt.

“Third time is the charm,” she said.

She was born in Houston and raised in Sugar Land, attending Quail Valley Elementary, First Colony Middle School and Clements High School, according to Fort Bend ISD. She remembers getting the science bug in 7th grade. She credits teacher Naomi Brown for helping ignite her passion and curiosity.

“When we see kids go out into the workforce and achieve magnificent things, and we maybe had a little bit to do with that, it’s extremely gratifying,” said

Crafts and activities celebrating the Year of the Rat are planned for families with children of all ages. Max Nguyen, a paper-crafting volunteer with the Chinese Community Center, will demonstrate the art of origami, which involves folding and twisting pieces of paper to create whimsical works of art.

Visitors may also join in playing Cai Deng Mi, or “Guessing the Lantern’s Riddle,” and win a prize if the answer is correct!

The celebration at the library will feature authentic red lanterns that were presented to Fort Bend County in 2012, by representatives of Chancheng District, of Foshan City, China. The lanterns will hang in the lobby of the library for the day’s festivities.

Dancing lions from the Soaring Phoenix Dragon & Lion Dance Association will entertain the crowd.

The Chinese Lantern Festival marks the culmination of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. The festival is part of an ancient ceremony welcoming spring, and the lantern symbolizes the lengthening days of the

season. It is also thought to ward off evil spirits.

Brown.

wilderness first responder.

O’Hara’s background is impressive: She’s a research engineer with a bachelor’s in aerospace and a master’s in aeronautics and astronautics. She’s a private pilot, a certified EMT and

She hopes this background might serve her and NASA well if she is selected one day to set foot on Mars.

website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), or call George Memorial Library (281-342-4455) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

The Chinese Lantern Festival activities are free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries

out for ages, just stepping foot on another planet!” she said.

O’Hara and the 11 other astronaut candidates announced Wednesdayknow they have significant training ahead of them, but they’re ready

“That’s been something that I think we’ve all been dreaming

Home Ideas. Local Experts.

Show Hours

Saturday 9am – 6pm Sunday 10am – 5:30pm

Ticket Prices

$2 OFF Online Coupon

• Adults $10 • Seniors $9 • 12 and under Free

FREE PARKING

Home Décor Workshops!

Show Highlights

Tips from Organizing, Design and Color Experts

Ashley Barber

Diane Cowen

Lisa Giesler

In-Home Color Snap Consultants

Marie Kondo Professional Organizer (Certified KonMarie Consultant)

Create your own and take home!

Floral Bouquet and Classic DIY Home Decor Pieces. FREE for attendees.

See website for more details

Meet Gardening and Home Improvement Experts

Randy Lemmon AM 740 Host of GardenLine

Organizer, Author and Life Transition Specialist

Architecture & Design Writer

Sherwin-Williams

Feature Landscape

By Outdoor Perfection

Tom Tynan AM 610 Host of HomeShow Radio

Meet Sugar Land Skeeters Mascot Swatson!

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Smart Home tips from ‘the High-Tech Texan’

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OVER 200 HOME IMPROVEMENT VENDORS • Kitchen • Bath • Landscaping • Outdoor Living • Patios • Trees • Flooring • Spas • Windows • Doors • Generators • Mattresses and much more!

LEGAL

VOICE OF ASIA 10

Section 2

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GRANDPARENTS LEGAL RIGHTS TO GRANDCHILDREN IN TEXAS

We all hope children grow up in the best environment possible. Often, difficult situations arise within the family, which create grandparents’ concern for the children’s best interest. When a child does not have access to one parent or a grandparent, lack of these critical relationships can cause the child to suffer. In Texas, there are many different circumstances where grandparents may have certain rights of possession and access to the grandchild(ren). Each state’s rules on grandparents’ rights vary as family law is dependent on state laws.

In Texas, the state law strongly supports maintaining the rights of the biological parents and keeping the families together. When parents are supporting their children properly and no major concerns develop within the family relationship which would hurt the children’s well-being, then nothing in the law generally supports legal intervention between the parent-child relationship. Texas has specific laws pertaining to parents alone and others specifically, and other laws that apply to adults in general including grandparents.

In the event that a negative circumstance arises which affects the nuclear family and which hurts the child, then grandparents may have legal rights to intervene the weakened relationship of the family. Situations that could develop allowing grandparents

such rights include: death of a parent, termination of legal parental rights, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, incompetent parent, substance abuse by one parent, etc. Although, the grandparents’ right in these situations are not presumed to be an automatic right to access to the grandchildren under Texas laws impacting the grandparents’ rights. There must be other factors present for a court to order enforcement of grandparents’ rights. Such regulations pertain to biological or adoptive grandparents, not step grandparents.

Specifically, there are certain situations supporting grandparents’ rights in Texas: (1) Authorized agreement: Where the parent(s) voluntarily agree with the grandparent to transfer most or all parental responsibilities and legal rights to the grandparent.

(2) Termination of parental rights: although parents’ legal rights may be terminated, that parent’s parents’ rights are not terminated.

(3) Grandparent adoption: When legal parental rights are terminated, grandparent may petition to adopt the grandchild and the grandparent must meet certain deadlines and other requirements for adoption.

(4) Appointment as managing conservator: Managing conservator has custody of a child and when a parent dies or has their parental rights terminated, a court has discretion over whom to appoint and may appoint the grandparent as managing conservator.

(5) Parent not available to

child: When parent is incompetent, becomes incarcerated, dies, loses parental rights, the grandparent of this unavailable parent may request rights to possession and access of the child so no harm may result to the child in the child’s best interest.

In Texas, often to assert grandparents’ rights, a lawsuit must be filed, are very difficult to go through, involve many steps and procedures, and must be proven. A qualified attorney will help you through the process and suggest your best options.

About the Author: Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997 with over 42 years of combined experience.

Mala is a Board of Advocates for the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association GP Solo YLD, member of the Houston Bar Association, President Emeritus of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, and prior board member of the South Asian Bar Association.

Disclaimer: This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. If you require advice on any particular legal question, you may contact Sharma & Associates at 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws.net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Model Gigi Hadid called as potential Weinstein juror

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EW YORK | AFP | Monday 1/13/2020 American model Gigi Hadid appeared as a potential juror in disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein’s rape and sexual assault trial on Monday, adding a fresh celebrity twist to the high-profile proceedings.

Hadid, 24, raised her hand in the New York state court when Judge James Burke asked the dozens appearing for jury selection whether any of them knew Weinstein or his legal team.

“I have met the defendant,” said Hadid, sitting in the jury box.

Burke then asked her if she could be fair and impartial.

“Yes,” she replied.

Hadid -- who has modeled for a host of top fashion brands including Chanel and Victoria’s Secret -- said she had also met Salma Hayek.

The Mexican-born actress has accused Weinstein, 67, of sexual harassment and may be mentioned in court during the trial.

“I think I’m still able to keep an open mind on the facts,” Hadid told the Manhattan court.

Hadid appeared alongside 120 or so other jury candidates as pre-screening of potential jurors entered its second week.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are trying to select 12 jurors and six alternates. They have already questioned more than 500 candidates.

Scores have already been excused after saying they could not be impartial due to heightened publicity surrounding the trial, which is expected to run until early March.

Following her appearance, Hadid was due to fill out a questionnaire before returning later this week for further screening.

It is likely, however, that the defense would challenge the selection of a social media star with more than 51 million Instagram followers.

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

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR SURVIVING RELATIVES Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Q: My US Citizen husband had filed an I-130 Petition for me. However, he just passed away. What happens now to the Petition? Can I still obtain my permanent residence? I had also filed my I-485 Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident.

A: A widow or widower of a US Citizen is allowed to retain the classification as an immediate relative of the deceased US Citizen spouse and continue to be eligible to immigrate on the filed I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.

You must be able to show you have a good faith marriage to your spouse, and preferably, remain unmarried for the duration of the case.

Q: What is the procedure to apply for immigration benefit if my US Citizen spouse dies and she has not filed the I-130 Petition for me? I married my wife two months ago and she just discovered she has terminal cancer and not long to live. I am in the process of trying to decide my options once she passes away – whether to remain in the United States and pursue permanent residence or just return to my home country and re-start my life over there.

A: If you decide to initiate the permanent residence process after your US Citizen spouse passes away, you will have to file Form I-360 self-petition as an immediate relative. The self-petition must be filed within two years of your spouse’s death.

You should remain as widower (be unmarried) during the entire process including the adjustment of status process. You must also be able to demonstrate that you have a legal and bona fide marriage to your deceased spouse. You may file the Form I-485 Application for Permanent Residence concurrently with the I-360 self-petition. There is no Affidavit of Support requirement. As such you will need to file with the I-485 Application for Permanent Residence the Form I-864A Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant.

Q: What is the Filing Fee for Form I-130 and Form I-360?

Model Gigi Hadid leaves New York Criminal Court on Monday, January 13, 2020. Hadid, who lives in Manhattan, is a potential juror in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial. (AFP Photo)

A: The Filing Fee for Form I-130 is $535.00 and there is no Filing Fee for Form I-360.

Top judge in protest-hit Hong Kong defends legal system

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ONG KONG, China | AFP | Monday 1/13/2020 - Hong Kong’s top judge on Monday delivered a passionate defence of the city’s legal system as it struggles with a backlog of protester trials and accusations of bias from all sides.

The semi-autonomous city has an independent, British-style judiciary -- viewed as one of the bedrocks of the financial hub’s identity and a key factor differentiating it from mainland China.

Its courts have been overloaded during seven months of sometimes violent democracy protests that have seen more than 6,500 people arrested, of whom around a thousand are

Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault by more than 80 women since accusations against him ignited the #MeToo movement in October 2017.

But he is being tried on charges

undergoing or have completed legal proceedings.

Since the protests began, “many commentaries have been given as to the work of the courts and many views have been expressed regarding our judges”, Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma said.

“A lot of these have been fair, but unfortunately, some have proceeded on misconceptions and misunderstandings,” he added in a speech to mark the opening of the legal year.

Ma, who will retire early next year, emphasised the impartiality of the judiciary and its obligation to ensure fair trials.

“Judges look only to the letter of the law and to the spirit of

related to just two. He faces life in prison if found guilty of predatory sexual assault.

Opening arguments are expected to begin on January 22.

Tel: 713-774-5140

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

Personal Injury:

Mala Sharma

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

the law, and nothing else. Political, economic or social considerations... simply do not enter into the equation,” he said.

Q: My US Citizen sibling filed an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for me several years ago and the petition has been approved. I have been waiting for the immigrant visa to become available but the priority date is still not current. My sibling passed away suddenly of a heart attack and I am wondering if I am still able to obtain permanent residence through his petition? I currently have H-1B status and reside in the US. If it is possible, what do I need to do?

A: Under Section 204(l) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, you may be able to seek relief if at the time of your father’s death, you can demonstrate that you reside in the United States. If you decide you wish to receive your immigrant visa through consular processing (i.e at the US Consulate abroad), I advise that you continue to maintain your US residence when you travel abroad to receive the visa. Section 204(l) of the INA is a very useful provision which offers protection to the following types of beneficiaries: the principal or derivative beneficiary of a pending or approved I-130 petition, when the Petitioner dies; the derivative beneficiary of a pending or approved I-130 Petition, when the principal beneficiary dies; the derivative beneficiary of a pending or approved I-140 employment based petition, when the principal beneficiary dies; beneficiary of a pending or approved I-730 refugee / asylee relative petition when the petitioner asylee dies; the derivative of a T or U nonimmigrant visa holder who is admitted as a derivative when the principal T or U visa holder dies and the derivative asylee, when the principal asylee dies. To apply for this benefit, there is no specific form to use in conjunction with the I-485. You will need to separately request for INA Section 204(l) relief by submitting a letter containing the details of the deceased petitioner and providing proof of the Petitioner’s Death Certificate and proof of your residence in the US at the time of death. For the Affidavit of Support, you will need to provide Form I-864 Affidavit of Support by substitute sponsor or and I-864W Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption if you are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirements, for example if you already have 40 Quarters of employment income etc.

Q:

My US Citizen moth-

In November, China condemned a Hong Kong court’s decision to overturn a ban on face masks worn by democracy protesters, asserting that only Beijing can rule on constitutional issues.

The same month, China’s state-controlled Global Times tabloid published an editorial

er filed an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for me and it included my spouse and 10 year-old child. The Petition was approved last year and my mother died several months after the petition was approved. We do not live in the United States. Can we still immigrate on my mother’s petition?

A: If the Petitioner dies and the Beneficiary has an approved petition but does not reside in the United States at the time of the Petitioner’s death, then the only way to immigrate would be through ‘humanitarian reinstatement’ of the petition. The limitation of humanitarian reinstatement are as follows : the petition must already be approved before the Petitioner died and it can only provide relief for the principal beneficiary, and not the derivative beneficiaries, if any. In your case, if your request for humanitarian reinstatement is granted, you could end up immigrating under the petition but your spouse and child may not. This is a discretionary form of relief and will depend on factors such as processing delays, lack of ties to your home country, your health and any other factors that could be favorable to a reinstatement. You must write a letter to USCIS explaining why the petition should be reinstated and provide evidence for this.

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. If you require advice or assistance, 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.

accusing Hong Kong’s High Court and some judges of abusing their powers.

Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland as part of the “one country, two systems” deal made when colonial power Britain handed it back to China in 1997.

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FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

India’s National Film Awards 2019 Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal, Keerthy Suresh, Akshay Kumar honored

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Sharp gains for Hollywood actresses in 2018 but barriers persist: study

ne of the most prestigious awards of India, National Film Awards 2019 took place in Delhi today at Vigyan Bhawan. The award was presented by India’s Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar. At the ceremony, many Bollywood celebs were present to receive the honour including, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Akshay Kumar among others.

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OS ANGELES | AFP | Wednesday 1/8/2020 The number of major Hollywood films starring female lead characters sharply increased last year, a study revealed Wednesday.

The movie industry has come under criticism for its low representation of women and ethnic minorities, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo, #TimesUp and #OscarsSoWhite campaigns of recent years.

Overall, 40 percent of hit films featured women as their lead characters last year -- a record since the authors began tracking in 2002, and up from 31 percent in 2018.

“We have now seen two consecutive years of substantial gains for female protagonists, indicating the beginning of a positive shift in representation,” said Martha Lauzen of the San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film.

But despite female-led hits such as “Captain Marvel,” “Hustlers” and “Little Women,” the amount of speaking roles for women in top-grossing films slightly dropped, the annual report found.

“It’s important to note that moviegoers are still almost twice as likely to see a male character as a female character in a speaking role,” said Lauzen.

The “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World” study looked at casting in 2018’s biggest domestic box office hit movies.

It found that representation for ethnic minority actresses remained stubbornly low -- 68 percent of all female characters were white, a slight increase on the previous year.

In a sign of enduring gender stereotypes, female characters were more likely than male counterparts to have a known marital status, and were less likely to have a known job or to be shown at their workplaces.

Actress were also likely to be younger than actors -- the majority of female characters were in their 20s and 30s, while, most males were in their 30s and 40s.

“Female characters experience a precipitous drop from their 30s to their 40s, and few women age into their 60s,” it found.

The report looked at characters appearing in the 100 top domestic grossing films last year.

Padukone’s new film ‘Chhapaak’ (‘Splash’) about an acid attack survivor was released on Friday (AFP Photo/Sujit Jaiswal)

Under-fire Bollywood star prays for new film

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UMBAI, India | AFP | 1/10/2020 - Bollywood’s top actress was snapped praying in a temple on Friday ahead of the release of her new film as a storm continued to rage over her attendance at a recent student protest.

The presence of Deepika Padukone, 34, at the demonstration in New Delhi on Tuesday broke with the unspoken tradition of Bollywood stars remaining for the most part apolitical.

It unleashed a furore on social media with detractors accusing the actress of a publicity stunt to promote her latest role as an acid attack survivor, while others applauded her courage.

On Thursday Smriti Irani, a former model and TV actress who is now a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, accused her of being unpatriotic.

Padukone was “standing with people who celebrate every time a CRPF jawan is killed”, Irani said, referring to an Indian paramilitary soldier.

Members of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have

Mark Hamill quits Facebook over dishonest political ads

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AN FRANCISCO | AFP | Monday 1/13/2020 Mark Hamill, the actor famous for legendary “Star Wars” film character Luke Skywalker, has quit Facebook for its refusal to require political ads to be honest.

“So disappointed that #MarkZuckerberg values profit more than truthfulness that I’ve decided to delete my Facebook

American Horror Story actor Harry Hains dies aged 27

Harry Hains, who appeared in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story, pictured in 2016. (Photograph: Michael Bezjian/WireImage)

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he Australian actor had appeared in Ryan Murphy’s anthology series and the Netflix show The OA

Harry Hains, an Australian actor who appeared in the TV series American Horror Story and The OA, has died aged 27. Hains’ death was confirmed by his mother, the actor Jane Badler.

Hains had previously spoken about being gender fluid, telling the magazine Boys By Girls: “I know that I am born male, but I don’t think I represent what it means to be a man. I believe we should be whatever we want.

It gets kind of confusing when we start labelling ourselves so

called for a boycott of her film “Chhapaak” (“Splash”), which came out on Friday.

They have urged moviegoers to watch “Tanhaji”, a swashbuckling historical epic about a Hindu general, instead.

Padukone was attending a protest after an attack blamed on a group close to the BJP at a Delhi university last Sunday injured 34 students while police allegedly stood by.

The incident followed several weeks of protests nationwide against a new citizenship law during which police have been accused of using excessive force, with at least 25 people killed.

Media reports said that Modi’s government has also shelved a promotional video featuring Padukone in which she speaks about the need to give acid attack survivors equal opportunities.

Meanwhile two Indian states and one union territory run by the main opposition Congress party have cut government taxes on tickets for Padukone’s film.

I try to stay away from labels.”

In the same interview, the actor revealed he had suffered from a severe type of insomnia during his childhood.

His cause of death has not been announced. A memorial service will be held in Los Angeles on 12 January.

Born in Melbourne, Hains had lived in London and New York, and most recently was based in Los Angeles. In 2015, he appeared in the Hotel series of Ryan Murphy’s hit anthology American Horror Story, and had a role in Netflix’s supernatural drama The OA. He was also a model, and performed as a musician under the name Antiboy.

account,” Hamill tweeted Sunday evening.

“I know this is a big ‘Who Cares?’ for the world at large, but I’ll sleep better at night. #PatriotismOverProfits.”

Hamill’s message triggered a flood of replies, with many lauding his decision to use his celebrity platform to make a statement about honesty in politics.

“Facebook, pay attention.

You’ve lost the man who played Luke Skywalker,” one fan commented.

“The only thing worse than that is maybe Santa Claus telling you to feck off. Might be time to rethink things.”

In contrast, another tweet questioned whether it was Facebook’s place to censor politicians or their ads, and suggested instead putting notice labels on demonstrably false messages.

“Giving up Facebook doesn’t solve the problem,” the Twitter user replied to Hamill.

“Fake news is everywhere.

What happens next? Give up the internet?”

Facebook this month enacted a new ban on posts or ads that interfere with people taking part in the US census, which will have an online participation option this year.

The census interference policy forbids deception about when or how to take part in the US census, or the significance of participating, according to the California-based internet titan.

Facebook, criticized for its hands-off policy on misleading comments from politicians, said it would not allow political actors to post false information about the census, in a policy similar to theirs on “voter interference.”

Online platforms face the challenge of stopping an avalanche of disinformation while remaining open to political debate and free speech.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presents the award for Best Film on Social Issues to ‘Padman’, being received by Actor Akshay Kumar, during the 66th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar is also seen Image Credit: PTI

The Directorate of Film Festivals invited online entries and the acceptable last date for entries was until 22 January 2019. Feature and Non-Feature Films certified by Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January 2018, and 31 December 2018, were eligible for the film award categories.

In the ceremony, Vicky and Ayushman received the award for Best Actor for the film Uri: The Surgical Strike and Adhadhun respectively. The Best Director award was given to Aditya Dhar for Uri while the Adhadhun received the title for the Best Film. Akshay Kumar’s PadMan won the award for Best Film on Other Social Issues category.

Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan who was not able to attend the National Award ceremony due to health issues despite being in Delhi received Dadasahed Phalke Award.

- Catch News

Bollywood actors and award winners Keerthy Suresh (L), Ayushmann Khurrana (2nd L), Vicky Kaushal (2nd R) and Akshay Kumar pose for a photo at the National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi. (Image Credit: AFP)

Chef Vikas Khanna’s ‘Last Color’ in the Oscars race

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UMBAI - The film stars Neena Gupta in the lead as a widow living on the banks of the Ganges

He also penned a long heartfelt post describing his journey with the decision of taking the plunge to debut with the film.

January 03, 2020 (ANI) ‘The Last Color’, the directorial debut of renowned Chef Vikas Khanna, has made it into the Oscars race after finding a place on the list of the shortlisted feature films for the Academy Awards.

“Being a Michelin Star Chef, no one takes risks like this. To start something so new in creative fields.....but some inner voice made me do it. Just to be eligible for Oscars2020. (Best Feature Film). Just to be on this list,” read Khanna’s caption.

The chef-turned-filmmaker soon took to Instagram and Twitter to share his excitement along with a few stills from the Neena Gupta-starrer film.

Describing further about his experience with the film, he wrote “On Ganga’s banks, I wrote the story-screen-

cause [sic].”

play-scenes-concept-characters-music-novel of The Last Color. As she touched my feet & made me alive again & again.

Singing lullabies to me at the night.

Everything was a gift from the Universe. And today when I saw the list on OSCARS — ‘Eligible for the 92nd Academy Awards’.

My heart believes that this movie was made through me for some cosmic

Actor Nena Gupta who plays a central role in the film reacted to Khanna’s tweet and said that she cannot believe that the film is in the Oscar race.

‘The Last Color’ has not been released in this region.

Produced by Odisha based producer Jitendra Mishra and helmed by Khanna, the film revolves around the lives of windows residing in Indian religious sites of Vrindavan and Varanasi.

Young Life

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‘Pre-school Picasso’ shakes up German art world

by Kit Holden

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ERLIN, Germany | AFP | Thursday 1/9/2020 - Mikail Akar doesn’t flinch as the cameras click around him.

Born in 2012, the German artistic prodigy has spent half his life in the limelight.

One work in the collection was recently sold for 11,000 euros ($12,000), with proceeds going to Neuer’s children’s charity.

An explosion of colour reminiscent of Jackson Pollock, the piece is typical of Akar’s ab-

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www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

My HHYC Experience

and has taught me to focus on the nutrients that food contains rather than paying attention to the taste of the food.

Camp has also taught me a

spread of Hinduism is yoga.

Yoga is practiced by many people all around the world, but its origins are in Hinduism. The practice of yoga has given many people the chance to experience Hindu culture. Yoga was one of my favorite activities at camp because I felt that it gave me the energy and focus to get through the busy days at camp.

Last week, I attended the HHYC Annual Winter Lock-In. I am glad that I attended because I got to see all the friends that I had made at camp. When I arrived, I was greeted by a familiar face. I was unsure how the night was going to play out because I had never been to a lock-in. After getting settled, I sat down in a circle with my friends, and we played a traditional camp game.

Once everyone had arrived, the directors welcomed everyone,

a vegetarian. Camp helped me realize that I was not only hurting myself by eating meat, I was also damaging the environment. Becoming a vegetarian has changed my eating habits

lot about being a Hindu. I have learned about the history of Hinduism, and how it has become one of the most practiced religions in the world. One practice that has facilitated the

and gave a presentation on Hinduism and Individual Rights.

The presentation was like the education at camp. I enjoyed the education because we discussed the role of the Bill of Rights in

boxing gloves,” he said.

His father insists that he and his wife are careful not to push their son too hard and to protect him from the trappings of fame.

“If it gets too much for him, we will intervene. We turn down a lot of requests,” said the elder Akar.

“He only paints when he wants to. Sometimes that is once a week, sometimes once a month.”

- Successful brand Yet Akar senior also admits that his life has changed dramatically since discovering his son’s talent, and that he and his wife now “live for art”.

A former salesman and recruitment agent, the 38-year-old has since switched to managing

Mikail full time.

He has founded his own agency, and helped to establish his son as a successful brand.

At the event in Berlin, young Mikail rummages through a box of freshly ordered baseball caps adorned with his official logo.

He now has more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, and will exhibit his work abroad for the first time in the spring.

“Our next exhibition is in Cologne,” said the boy’s father.

“After that, we are going to Paris!”

y name is Abhi Bhatia, and I am in the 11th grade. I have attended the Hindu Heritage Youth Camp for 4 years now, and it has completely changed my lifestyle. I have made lifelong friends, and I have learned more about my heritage as a Hindu.

At camp, we wake up every morning at 6:30 am and do yoga. Yoga is one of the most widely practiced forms of exercise and meditation in the world. It allows for one to live a healthy lifestyle and achieve inner peace. I have implemented this at home as well. Every morning, I wake up at 6 am, drink a glass of water, and do yoga. This has helped me focus more in school, allowing for me to perform better in my classes.

When I returned from camp last summer, I decided to become

Abhi Bhatia

Tel: 713-774-5140 art, and how censorship rules do not apply to art. After that, we ate dinner, and moved onto my favorite camp activity; dodgeball. This brought back memories from my second year at camp because my team won the dodgeball tournament in 2017.

After dodgeball, we played a game of Musical Chairs, and I got 2nd place! By the time we had finished, it was 1 am. Everyone splits up and started doing their own things, when the counselors suggested that we do a fashion show. They brought out white sheets that we could decorate. Once the groups finished decorating, they picked a person in their group to drape the sheet on, so they could walk on the runway and show off their designs. In the end, my team won second place. A few of my friends decided to make a fort using the sheets and chairs and fell asleep inside. The counselors then put on a movie, and at 6:45, we all

(Facebook account photo for Mikail’s Galerie via CNS)

With his striped jumper, goofy grin and dreams of becoming a professional footballer, Akar seems just like any other sevenyear-old boy.

Yet the Cologne-born youngster is actually an expressionist whizz kid who has taken the international art scene by storm.

Dubbed the “pre-school Picasso” by German media, Akar’s paintings now sell for thousands of euros (dollars) to buyers from across the world.

- ‘Enough action figures’ “At just seven years old, he is established in the art world.

There is interest from Germany, France and the USA,” his father and manager, Kerem Akar, told AFP. Akar senior discovered Mikail’s precocious talent by chance several years ago, when he gifted his son a canvas and some handprint paints for his fourth birthday.

“We had already bought him enough cars and action figures, so we had the idea of getting him a canvas,” Kerem Akar said.

“The first picture looked fantastic, and I thought at first that my wife had painted it.”

“I thought maybe it was just coincidence, but by the second and third pictures it was clear he had talent.”

- Boxing gloves Akar’s talent is visible in his latest collection, a collaboration with Germany and Bayern Munich football star Manuel Neuer.

stract expressionist style.

The seven-year-old tells AFP that his idols include Pollock, Michael Jackson and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

He has also developed his own techniques, which include applying paint by punching the canvas with his father’s boxing gloves.

At a presentation of Akar’s new work at a private gallery in Berlin last month, one visitor said she was “speechless” upon discovering that the artist was a child who was just starting primary school.

“The balance and harmony of the composition -- I wouldn’t expect that from a child,” Arina Daehnick, a photographer from Berlin, told AFP. Diana Achtzig, director of the Achtzig Gallery for Contemporary Art in Berlin, said she was impressed by Akar’s “imagination and variation”.

“As long as he has someone supporting him and not exploiting him, then he has a great future ahead of him,” she said.

- Football dreams Akar himself says his dreams for when he has grown up lie elsewhere.

“When I’m older I want to be a football player,” he said, launching into an excited account of a recent 8-0 victory with his school team.

“Painting is quite tiring for me. Sometimes it can take a long time... especially with

Hindu Heritage Youth Campers

took a group picture and began to say our goodbyes. That was the end of the HHYC Annual Winter Lock-In. I look forward to attending again this summer because that would be my last year as a camper. I have enjoyed my years as a HHYC camper and hope to become a counselor one day. I am thankful for all the hard work that the counselors and directors have put in to make the camp as much fun as possible. Camp has been the highlight of my summer, and I look forward to attending this summer.

Beckham’s Miami picks top US college scorer in MLS draft

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IAMI | AFP | Thursday 1/9/2020 - David Beckham’s Inter Miami selected US collegiate leading goalscorer Robbie Robinson with the first pick in Thursday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft -- and Beckham even called to congratulate him.

The 21-year-old American scored 18 goals and set up nine others in 19 matches for Clemson University, which lost to Stanford in the national tournament quarter-finals.

Retired English football star Beckham, president of the Inter Miami expansion team that will debut March 1 at Los Angeles FC, praised the striker in a video chat after the selection.

“Welcome to Miami,” Beckham said. “It’s a very exciting year for us. You had a great season. It was a joy to watch. We’re very excited for you to bring

US collegiate leading goalscorer Robbie Robinson. your skills to our city.

“We’re excited about you being able to contribute to the team and develop as a player and we’re excited to have you in our club.”

Inter also chose right-back Dylan Nealis of US college champion Georgetown with the number three overall selection.

Beckham’s long-delayed MLS expansion club, obtained as part of the deal which saw him play for the Los Angeles

Galaxy from 2007-2012, will kick off in Fort Lauderdale with plans to open a new stadium in Miami for the 2022 campaign.

Inter Miami’s first home game is set for March 14 against Beckham’s former club, the Galaxy.

Argentine teen Julian Carranza is expected to secure a forward spot with Colombian-born American Juan Agudelo and German-born US national team forward Jerome Kiesewetter likely to line up down the wings.

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Takeaway.com wins battle for Britain’s Just Eat

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he Hague, Netherlands | AFP 1/10/2020 - Dutch online service Takeaway. com said Friday it had won a battle for Britain’s Just Eat, beating a hostile bid by tech firm Prosus to create one of the world’s largest food delivery platforms.

The combination of the two firms will create a delivery service worth around nine billion pounds ($11 billion) capable of competing against Britain-based Deliveroo and Uber Eats of the United States.

Prosus, the Dutch-listed consumer tech company which is owned by South African media titan Naspers, had offered 5.5 billion pounds ($7.1 billion) to buy Just Eat.

Infosys said its probe had found no proof of misconduct or financial fraud by top executives including CEO Salil Parekh (R) (AFP Photo/MANJUNATH KIRAN)

M

UMBAI, India | AFP | 1/10/2020 - 0 India’s second-largest IT outsourcing firm Infosys on Friday announced a 23.5 percent jump in its quarterly net profits, beating estimates as it declared that an internal probe had found no evidence of misconduct by its top executives.

This was the company’s first financial announcement after whistleblower allegations sparked an internal investigation as well as an ongoing probe by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in October last year.

Anonymous whistleblowers had accused senior Infosys executives including CEO Salil Parekh of acting unethically to inflate revenues, causing the Bangalore-headquartered firm to lose over $7 billion from its

market value in a 24-hour period in New York.

But the IT giant appeared to have turned a corner Friday, as net profit for the quarter ending December came in at 44.57 billion rupees ($628.2 million), up from 36.09 billion rupees a year earlier, due to increased spending by clients in Western markets.

Infosys said its internal investigation had found no proof of misconduct or financial fraud.

“The audit committee determined that there was no evidence of any financial impropriety or executive misconduct,” Infosys Audit Committee Chairperson D. Sundaram said in a statement.

The firm raised its forecast for earnings growth from 9-10 percent to 10-10.5 percent in dollar terms for the current fiscal year.

Analysts said the allegations had not affected the company’s standing because it had acted quickly to defuse the crisis.

“It also reflects revival of IT spending and clients’ confidence in Infosys’s reputation,” Baburajan K, editor of TelecomLead.com, told AFP. Its success comes as Asia’s third-largest economy battles a prolonged slowdown -- manufacturing activity has stalled while unemployment has hit a four-decade high.

In November, government data showed that quarterly growth had fallen to 4.5 percent, its slowest pace in more than six years.

Infosys earns over 60 percent of its total revenue from the United States.

“I am thrilled,” Takeaway.com CEO Jitse Groen said, confirming that 80.4 percent of JustEat shareholders had accepted the deal, well above the threshold of 50 percent plus one share needed for the bid to succeed.

“Just Eat Takeaway.com is a dream combination”.

He thanked Just Eat staff for their “patience in what must have been an uncertain time”.

Signage for Just Eat is seen on the window of a restaurant in London.

Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville

Just Eat and Takeaway.com unveiled in July a plan to join forces to create a heavyweight in the rapidly-growing food delivery sector.

But Prosus then stepped in with a string of increasingly large “hostile” bids -- in that they were not solicited or pre-approved by the target company’s board.

Just East rejected those as too low and in December confirmed its taste for a share swap with a face value that was higher than

New CEO tells staff Boeing must be ‘transparent’

N

EW YORK | AFP | Monday 1/13/2020 - New Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun told employees on Monday the company must strengthen its culture, focus on “integrity” and be “transparent,” according to an email sent to staff.

Calhoun, a longtime Boeing

board member, officially took over on Monday as chief executive, replacing Dennis Muilenburg, who was ousted in December as the company faces a drawn-out crisis following deadly crashes of a top-selling jet.

Calhoun invoked Boeing’s “tremendous legacy of aerospace

Prosus’s cash effort, but subject to fluctuation in the Dutch company’s share price.

Prosus CEO Bob van Dijk said on Friday that the firm had not made any further offers because Just Eat was “an attractive business though one which will require significant investment.”

Just Eat provides an online website and app to enable customers to buy food from their local takeaway restaurants, taking a cut from delivery orders.

achievement” and called on employees to work to “rebuild trust” and restore key relationships with customers, partners and regulators.

“I see greatness in this company but I also see opportunities to be better. Much better,” Calhoun said. “That includes engaging one another and our stakeholders with greater transparency, holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of safety and quality.”

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, January 17, 2020

All that Jazz: the ex-Buddhist monk meditating his way to golf’s Masters

by Ross Adkin

H

ONG KONG, China | AFP | Thursday 1/9/2020 -Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has something special in his bag as he prepares for the US Masters -- the Buddhist meditation techniques learned as a monk that have helped him become the talk of Asian golf.

The 24-year-old is Augusta-bound after a huge year when he won the Asian Tour order of merit, with two tournament victories, and impressed at the PGA Championship at Bethpage.

Jazz’s victory at the Indonesian Masters in December saw him safely inside the world top 50, and secured his place among golf’s elite at the Masters in April.

The unassuming Thai is now 40th in the rankings, the second-highest Asian behind South Korea’s Im Sung-jae, and he walked off with four 2019 Asian Tour awards including Players’ Player of the Year.

The former teen prodigy -who goes by the nickname giv-

saffron robes at the monastery in the northern Chiang Rai region, where the strict routine involved fasting, chanting and learning how to meditate.

Most young Thai men spend time as a monk and the experience had a profound effect on Jazz, who won his first Asian Tour event, in Bangladesh, a few months later.

- ‘Play with respect’ He has since chalked up another five wins on the Tour and sits higher on the Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand is the second highest Asian player on the world rankings than his colourful countryman rankings (AFP Photo/Goh Chai Hin) Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the established US PGA Tour player en by his music-loving father there have been tough moments -- became the youngest player, too and it was after losing his who he calls his “older brother”. at 14 years and 71 days, to make Asian Tour card in 2016 that Jazz turned heads during his the cut at an Asian Tour event in he spent two weeks living as a Major debut at last year’s PGA Bangkok in 2010.

Buddhist monk.

Championship, where he was But after turning pro at 15, He shaved his head and wore tied for second behind Brooks

Koepka after the third round.

The Thai, who stroked a creditable two-under-par 68 at a breezy Fanling in the Hong Kong Open’s first round on Thursday, said meditation remains an important tool as he builds his career.

Jazz isn’t the only Thai sportsman to spend time in a monastery: Kiradech also had a brief spell as a monk, as did former top-10 tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan.

After dominating the Asian Tour awards, handed out this

“I’m still doing it,” he said.

“It’s not all the time, it is stuff I do when I feel like something is off, or I feel like I need to get back to the peace or something is going crazy.”

Jazz will need all his peace of mind to overcome his chequered record on the unusual, challenging Fanling layout, where he failed to make the cut on each of his two previous visits.

“I was a bit too aggressive,” he said of his last encounters.

“You need to play to the course, not overcome it... play with respect.”

week at a ceremony in Hong Kong, Jazz said his Players’ Player of the Year prize shows “you’re doing something right”.

“They’ve accepted you,” he said.

As well as the US Masters and playing more on the European Tour, Jazz has his sights on breaking into the world top 30 in the “short-term”.

And if he is playing on the final day at Fanling, he will switch his outfit to orange, the colour he wears every tournament Sunday in homage to his Buddhist robes.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: SUPER BOWL

Week of January 17, 2020 Horoscope.com

21 March to 20 April This week might be easier than last week, but you’re not quite out of the woods yet. There is still a lingering intensity, and this can relate to a key issue you’re dealing with. This weekend can bring a greater understanding of the core issues and what you need to do.

21 April to 20 May To create the future you want, you might need to let go of whatever is stopping you from getting there.

Last week, you may have become aware of what this is, and this week the conjunction of the sun with prudent Saturn and intense Pluto could inspire you further.

21 May to 20 June With an intense set of planets in a deeply emotional zone, it would be no surprise if you felt a tad exhausted. And yet, you could feel a sense of relief at letting something go that really needed to leave your life. Healing that can happen as a result.

21 June to 22 July Last week’s intense energies may continue to linger. However, by the weekend you could feel a little lighter and easier within. The sun’s link to cautious Saturn and transformative Pluto on Monday can bring a sense of closure to a relationship issue that has been going on.

23 July to 22 August Positive Jupiter is now in your lifestyle sector until late next year, and its presence here can add extra buoyancy and confidence. This is just as well, because last week’s intense energies may have left you wondering what your next steps should be. Solar ties at the start of the week could see you assessing your priorities.

23 August to 22 Sept Are you ready to express your creativity? After last week’s focused and intense aspects, your perspective on self-expression and creativity may have shifted a little.

This week you should find the silver lining to any issues you may have encountered.

23 September to 22 Oct Last week’s intense focus on your domestic sector could linger into this week, but you may feel generally lighter by the weekend. With the sun merging with prudent Saturn and potent Pluto on Monday, an opportunity could arise to resolve a family difficulty for good.

23 October to 21 Nov Your mind holds the secret to success, and where you place your attention can be the key to moving up the ladder or taking a step back.

Last week, the intense focus on your sector of talk and thought may have made you aware of the need to change your mindset.

22 November to 21 Dec Positive Jupiter, your guide planet, is presently in your money zone and will be until late next year, so you have good fortune on your side. Still, it might not have seemed like this last week if intense energies coincided with a deep realization.

22 December to 20 Jan If you were under intense pressure last week, this can now begin to ease. Still, with the sun linking to practical Saturn, your ruler, and explosive Pluto, reflecting on recent experiences can yield some valuable insights.

21 January to 19 Feb You may appear calm and collected on the outside, but feelings could be bubbling away on the inside. Last week’s intense focus may have seen you questioning events in your life and the reasons for them. You may gain an even greater understanding of why they occurred.

20 February to 20 Mar What are friends for? This is something you might have considered in depth last week when a powerful blend of energies may have brought change to your social life.

If you decided to distance yourself from certain toxic relationships, that was a wise move.

ACROSS 1. Wheel stopper 6. “Stinging” Muhammad 9. Greek portico 13. She turned to stone, mythology 14. Loud noise 15. *Like many football fans 16. At full speed 17. VHS successor 18. Omit 19. *Miami ____ 21. *They won their first two Super Bowl appearances 23. Time division 24. Do like phoenix 25. “Swan Lake” steps 28. It often follows tooth or back 30. What oars do 35. Part of a jousting outfit 37. Dickens!

39. Donkey in Mexico 40. Glazier’s unit 41. *Like Bud at a party 43. Farm structure 44. Fraternal letter 46. Miso bean 47. Make wet 48. Unmoved 50. Agitate 52. Tasseled hat 53. Colloquial approval 55. Opposite of paleo 57. *Tonowanda ____, shortest-lived team in NFL history 60. *Hard Rock ____ 64. In the buff 65. Rapscallion 67. It’s common?

68. What time does 69. Lawyers’ league 70. Load carrier 71. Extend credit 72. Nonclerical 73. Roommate annoyance SOLUTION:

DOWN 1. Angler’s enemy 2. Type of cotton fiber 3. Sound of pride 4. Do like a good citizen 5. Family subdivisions 6. Contributes 7. *54 8. Lemur from Madagascar 9. The only one 10. *Ronde to Tiki or Maurkice to Mike 11. *Gambling ____ 12. Pirate’s “yes” 15. Echo 20. *Popular stadium snack 22. Nile reptile 24. Clergy house 25. *Halftime show sponsor 26. “Encore!”

27. *What halftime performer does 29. 43 Across residents 31. “That hurts!”

32. Measure of alcohol 33. Jagged, as a leaf’s edge 34. *Halftime performer 36. Highway hauler 38. Boxer’s last blow 42. House coat 45. Not seeing eye to eye 49. Tiny Tim’s guitar 51. To the lowest degree, pl.

54. Relating to axis 56. Theater to Socrates 57. Leafy green 58. Similar 59. *Hall of Famers Ed or Andre 60. Neuter 61. Division word 62. ____ agreement 63. Bébé’s mother 64. *Super Bowl owner 66. Wharton degree

SUPER BOWL on Page 15

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