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Gates Foundation announces $100M for coronavirus response

ICC’s I-Fair 2020 showcases ‘United India’, Celebrates India’s 71st Republic Day

Co-chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, speaks in New Delhi, India in November 2019 (AFP Photo/ Money SHARMA)

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Wednesday 2/5/2020 - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged Wednesday to commit up to $100 million for the global response to the novel coronavirus epidemic that has claimed nearly 500 lives.

The funding will be used to strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts, the foundation said, including protecting at-risk populations and developing vaccines and diagnostics.

“Multilateral organizations, national governments, the private sector and philanthropies must work together to slow the pace of the outbreak, help countries protect their most vulnerable citizens and accelerate the development of the tools to bring this epidemic under con-

trol,” said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman.

The amount includes $10 million previously pledged in late January.

The foundation said it would direct $20 million to organizations like the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection, the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

A further $20 million would be allocated to help public health authorities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, regions which have been disproportionately affected by recent epidemics like the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic of 2009.

Children performing at the ICC I-Fair on February 1, 2020 at the Stafford Center. (Photo credit: Navin Mediwala/ Katy Photographer)

by Shobana Muratee

S

TAFFORD – India Culture Center (ICC) Houston celebrated its annual signature event I-Fair 2020 on Saturday, February 1 at the Stafford Center where a gathering of Indian Americans wit-nessed a plethora of cultural events commemorating India’s 71st Republic Day. The theme of the celebrations ‘United India’ (Akhand Bharat) was highlighted through dances by children as young as four that are students of various

local dance schools and also by seniors representing Indian Senior Citizens Associations. The glittering costumes and vibrant colors of the young performers combined with their amazing talent elevated the mood to a truly jubilant one.

A host of local elected officials included Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Fort Bend County Court at Law 3 Judge, Juli Mathew, Fort Bend County Court at Law 5 Judge Teana Watson, Naushad Kermally, Council Member, Sugar

Trump acquitted of all impeachment charges

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Wednesday 2/5/2020 The US Senate acquitted President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on Wednesday following a historic two-week trial.

The Republican-majority Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power and 53-47 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress.

Fifty-two Republicans voted to acquit Trump of abuse of power while all 47 Democrats voted to

KAUSHAL PATEL A SSOCIATES

F ORENSIC D ATA C ONSULTANT

Nisha Mirani, ICC’s outgoing president, was applauded for her

unstinted contribution as a leader and volunteer throughout her term. In her welcome address she thanked the community for their participation in ICC events and the board members and the trustees for their effort in making the events a grand success. “At India Culture Center, our mission is to serve as an umbrella organiza-tion for the Indo American Community of Greater Houston, so that the various member organizations Continued on Page 3

Trump’s defenders were not seen as having undermined the facts compiled by Schiff’s probe, and several Republican senators acknowledged he did wrong.

But his lawyers and Senate defenders argued, essentially, that Trump’s behavior was not egregious enough for impeachment and removal.

convict and remove him from office.

Utah Senator Mitt Romney was the only Republican to break ranks, voting for conviction on the abuse of power charge.

And, pointing to the December House impeachment vote, starkly along party lines, they painted it as a political effort to “destroy the president” in an election year -arguing that voters should be allowed to decide Trump’s fate.

But Romney sided with the Republican majority on the obstruction of Congress charge.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump on December 18 for withholding military aid to Ukraine to pressure Kiev to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.

Land, Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella, Mayor Pro Tem Wen Guerra, Ken Mathew, Councilmem-ber, Alice Chen, Councilmember, Sam Merchant representative, Congressman Al Green, Xavier Herrera, Communications Director, Office of Fort Bend County Judge to name a few. Candidates running for various politi-cal offices took the opportunity of meeting with the people.

“Your hatred of Donald Trump has blinded you to the obvious. This is not about protecting the country, this is about destroying the president,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said before the vote.

President Donald Trump (AFP Photo)

“The only way for this to end permanently is for the president to get reelected.”

ABFE FELLOW

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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by Kevin Carmichael Feb. 4, 2020,

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f recent public remarks are a guide, when President Donald Trump offers his assessment of the state of the union on Tuesday night, he will unequivocally declare it strong. He will talk about an economic boom “the likes of which the world has never seen before.” He will tout his exploits in commercial diplomacy, such as the “massive win” he secured for American workers by renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement and his “righting the wrongs of the past” by forcing China to buy more American farm goods.

The Democratic rebuttal is as sure to proclaim the opposite.

To hear the party’s leaders talk, you’d think the U.S. still was stuck in its post-recession funk.

“While there may be some indicators that are great for us — the stock market’s up, this or that — that isn’t increasing consumer confidence to the extent that we needed it to,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told The Wall Street Journal in December.

The state of the union isn’t as strong as Trump pretends, but it’s better than Democrats say With staid economic data becoming the latest weapon in partisan warfare, how can we know the true state of the U.S. economy? have created about 7 million jobs since the end of 2016. Adjusted for inflation, GDP increased 2.3 percent in 2019, while the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in December, the lowest since 1969, meaning the U.S. has essentially reached “full employment ” — a theoretical state at which every qualified worker who wants a job has one.

that Trump seems to be in denial of anything that doesn’t describe his perfectly adequate results as never-before-seen achievements.

And an accurate assessment means not only confronting the flaws — workers in the Rust Belt and the inner cities are still hurting, for example — but also being honest about who’s responsible.

It’s at this stage that marginalized workers find their way back into the workforce because employers are forced to loosen hiring requirements and shed biases to keep up with demand. To wit, the jobless rate for blacks has dropped to record levels.

The U.S. economy has grown uninterrupted since June 2009, the longest expansion on record — and a milestone that Trump must share with his predecessor, Barack Obama, not to mention the Fed, which defied convention over the past decade by keeping interest rates unusually low.

So with staid economic data becoming the latest weapon in partisan warfare, how can we know the true state of the U.S. economy? For an answer, the genuinely curious should consult an expert source that has no stake in the outcome of the election.

All of which sounds pretty good — and it is. So how do Democrats with a straight face declare the economy isn’t working for Americans? To some extent, it’s sour grapes, given how important the economy is in determining the outcome of presidential races.

The Bank of Canada, the Federal Reserve’s counterpart north of the border, has every incentive to get a proper reading of the U.S. economy. There is a saying in Canada that when the U.S. sneezes, Canada catches a cold.

If the Ph.D. economists at Canada’s central bank get the U.S. wrong, it also will get interest rates wrong.

But it’s also the case that the positive indicators have some negative undertones. Take income growth, one of the most important statistics in determining whether Americans feel good about the economy. Average hourly wages grew 2.9 percent in 2019 — 1 percent when you factor in inflation — which is “hardly impressive,” according to Tyler Cowen, an economics professor at George Mason University.

The Bank of Canada last week published a forecast that would displease Trump. It predicts that U.S. gross domestic product will expand 1.9 percent in 2020, a pace consistent with what most economists think the American economy can manage without triggering inflation but well below the rates Trump said he would deliver as president.

Still, Democratic hopefuls shouldn’t get too excited. The U.S. probably will lead big advanced economies, such as Japan and Germany, again this year with that figure. As far as the Canadian central bank is concerned, the U.S. economy is in decent shape.

It describes consumer spending as “solid.”

Solid but flawed. In other words, so-so.

Trump will likely focus on the fact that American employers

The 2.3 percent increase in GDP, the smallest gain since 2016, is well short of what Trump said he would deliver. And like most brutes, Trump succeeded in squeezing some concessions out of smaller trading partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement, but for a negligible impact on the U.S. economy; dueling experts predict small growth or small losses.

“It is true that the picture is not entirely rosy,” Jean Pisani-Ferry of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington wrote last week. “If anything, the trade deficit has increased.

Distressed areas have not recovered. Inequality is still appalling.

But this is no reason to overlook the positives. Assessment, rather than denial, is needed to shed light on what is happening.”

Part of the problem, though, is

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Moreover, Obama was forced to deal with the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Trump, for his part, had a chance to take the economy to another level. Instead, he started trade wars with China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico, among others. That choked the global economy, killing demand for American exports. The cost of tariffs will also likely wipe out the benefits of wage growth, and whatever positive effect the tax cuts had was offset by his protectionist trade policy.

On the other hand, Trump’s policies have undeniably added

a tremendous amount of debt.

His tax cuts haven’t yet paid for themselves and probably won’t.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that the federal deficit will widen to an astronomical $1 trillion in 2020, or upward of 4.6 percent of GDP. Debt is on pace to rise to about 81 percent of GDP this year and 98 percent of GDP by the end of the decade.

Whatever the strength of the economic state of the union at present, all that debt means the economy is more vulnerable going forward. Shocks like the 2008 financial crisis are difficult to see coming, which is one of the reasons governments used to strive to keep their houses in order. Today, it’s fears that the coronavirus outbreak could spread beyond China that have rocked stock markets in recent days. The solidity of Trump’s economy could be facing an imminent stress test.

SOURCE: Think Analysis, Essays)

(Opinion,

Kevin Carmichael is the national business columnist at the Financial Post and a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

He previously covered the Treasury Department for Bloomberg News and was the U.S. business correspondent for The Globe and Mail.

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ICC’s I-Fair 2020 showcases ‘United India’, Celebrates India’s 71st Republic Day game Antakashri organized by Ajit Patel and Santosh Verma and an enthralling talent show Mom & Me organized by Jasmeeta Singh and Falguni Gandhi and Essay Contest by Santosh Verma.

ICC’s out-going president Nisha Mirani receiving a plaque from Mayor Scarcella on behalf of ICC for her outstanding contribution during her term. Photos credit: Navin Mediwala /Katy Photographer

come together to support one another and exchange ideas,” Mirani said. India Culture Center (ICC), Houston is the oldest Indian American non-profit Organization in Greater Houston area, established since 1973 with a mission to promote ‘cultural, intellectual, social, physical and spiritual welfare to the people of Indian origin’.

Mirani was later recognized for her exceptional leadership and contribution during her term as ICC’s presi-dent. A plaque was presented to her on behalf of ICC by City of Stafford Mayor, Leonard Scarcella.

Also, on the occasion, a special recognition was made to Col Raj Bhalla, ICC’s past President for guidance and long-standing

support to the organization. He was presented a plaque by Mirani.

The formal program began with lighting of the lamp followed by the singing of the American and the Indian National anthems by Ishan Vijaywargiya. Mayor Scarcella in his message lauded the Indian American community for their contributions the city’s economic and cultural progress and to the nation in general. Many other officials also spoke on the occasion paying rich compliments to the members of ICC for their efforts in connecting communities with their events.

Earlier, a segment of light entertainment had the popular

The cultural segment that followed the formal segment had participants from: Arya Dance Academy, Dhadak Dance School, Sunda Performing Arts, Katy Bollywood Beats Dance, Storytellers dance school, Kathak Kala Kendra, USDG Lilrockstars, Indian Senior Citizen, Srinatraj School, Odissi Academy, and Swar Madhuri.

Event Chair Ajit Patel said, “The colorful and heritage-rich I-Fair has truly become a marquee event in the Indo American Community in Metropolitan Houston, with attendees representing every major ethnic group from the South Asian subcontinent. This year’s India Festival endeav-ors to reconnect with our ancestral roots and culture by showcasing the spectacle of Indian herit-age through arts, crafts, songs, dance, and music. He also thanked his Board, vendors and partic-ipants for making the event a grand success. Special thanks were made to Darshak Thakkar (Krishna Sounds) for audio and Navin Mediwala (Katy Photographer) for photography. A sou-venir commemorating the India’s 71st Republic Day was released on the occasion.

Kathak dancers perform at ICC I-Fair 2020

Participants and winners of the Essay Contest

ICC Board of Directors ICC Directors: Hemant Patel, Rajiv Bhavsar and Ajit Patel being honored at the I-Day event. Photos credit: Navin Mediwala /Katy Photographer

VOICE OF ASIA 4

Section 2

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Family Health Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Kerala Medical Technology Consortium (KMTC) – Concept with global potential Dr. Venugopal K. Menon

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flagship initiative of the Kerala Government, undertaken through the Kerala Development and Strategic Council (K-DISC), the Kerala Medical Technology Consortium (KMTC) aims at positioning the state as an international destination for medical technologies and devices development and manufacturing over the next decade.

The enterprise was formally inaugurated in Thiruvanathapuram by Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister on January 23, 2020.

The brilliant concept is the brainchild of Dr. Ramachandran Thekkedath, former Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology with decades of experience in lasers, bioinstrumentation and medical devices on sev-

eral lines. Currently based in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ramachandran is engaged in the R&D of extracorporeal blood-cleaning devices and guiding the work of several groups in India and USA. In creating an ecosystem for medical technology development in India, he initiated an international think tank conclave, “Medical Device Innovation – Translating Ideas to Practice (MeDITIP)’ incorporating scientists, doctors, experts in manufacturing, marketing and sales, regulatory, legal and funding sources together.

A foundation meeting about the ‘Concept to Planning’ was held at Thiruvananthapuram in 2018, led by Dr. K. M. Abraham, former Chief Secretary to Government, along with Dr. Thekkedath, Mr. Gigo Joseph, former CEO, Smart City & Info Park and Dr. Usha Thekkedath, a physician researcher.

After extensive discussions

with national and international experts in all facets of the product development cycle, visiting institutes, incubation facilities and industries, as well as researching best practices adopted by similar initiatives globally, a detailed project report was developed by the team.

Taking advantage of Kerala’s national leadership in healthcare and education, KMTC envisions bringing together the leading medical R&D institutions and universities in the state for collaborative research, education and training, incorporating cutting-edge technology. Kerala has advantages like availability of scientists, skilled man power, and clean environment, offering a huge potential in the field for commercially manufacturing products that would meet local as well as global needs.

WHO forecasts 81% cancer jump in poorer countries

The UN health agency on Tuesday warned cancer cases would rise by 81 percent in low- and middle-income countries by 2040 because of a lack of investment in prevention and care.

U

N health agency on Tuesday warned cancer cases would rise by 81 percent in low- and middle-income countries by 2040 because of a lack of investment in prevention and care.

nicable diseases, told journalists.

and 2015.

But in poorer countries, the reduction was just five percent.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report that these countries had focused their limited resources on combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health instead of fighting cancer.

The annual report found that overall cancer cases in the world would rise by 60 percent by 2040 and said tobacco use was responsible for 25 percent of cancer deaths.

Elisabete Weiderpass, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which works with the WHO, said better cancer treatment in high-income countries had resulted in a 20-percent drop in mortality between 2000

It said they often had the highest cancer mortality too.

“This is a wake-up call to all of us to tackle the unacceptable inequalities between cancer services in rich and poor countries,” Ren Minghui, a WHO Assistant Director General, said in the report.

“If people have access to primary care and referral systems then cancer can be detected early, treated effectively and cured.

Cancer should not be a death sentence for anyone, anywhere,” he said.

The report, timed to coincide with World Cancer Day, said an investment of $25 billion (23 billion euros) over the next decade could save seven million lives from cancer.

“Controlling cancer does not have to be expensive,” Andre Ilbawi, of the WHO’s department for management of non-commu-

“We need to see everyone benefiting equally,” she said.

While cancer had long been considered a disease of wealthy countries, this was no longer the case, the report said. It pointed out that one in five people worldwide would face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

“It’s a global burden,” Ren said

Stop Diabetes Movement (SDM) Sewa International in association with VYASA is conducting 10-day yoga camps as part of Stop Diabetes Movement (SDM).

These are particularly designed for pre-diabetic and diabetic people to help them control their sugar levels and also provide a holistic approach. This camp is free for Diabetics & Pre-Diabetics & participating for the first time, there is a deposit required to attend which is completely refunded once you complete the 10-day continuous camp.

Date: Feb 21st to Mar 1st Locations: Sugar Land, Katy & West Oaks Mall Timings: 6:30 - 8:30 PM on weekdays and 3:00 - 6:00 PM on Weekends Screening for participants will take place on Saturday, Feb 15th between 8 and 11 AM. For details about these SDM camps & registration, click https://sewausa.org/event-3713057

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CMS finalizes decision to cover Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain for Medicare beneficiaries

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he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain. Before this final National Coverage Determination (NCD) reconsideration, acupuncture was nationally non-covered by Medicare. CMS conducted evidence reviews and examined the coverage policies of private payers to inform today’s decision.

“Expanding options for pain treatment is a key piece of the Trump Administrations’ strategy for defeating our country’s opioid crisis,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “President Trump has promised to protect and improve Medicare for our seniors, and deciding to cover this new treatment option is another sign of that commitment.

Medicare beneficiaries will now have a new option at their disposal to help them deal with chronic low back pain, which is a common and sometimes debilitating condition.”

The decision regarding coverage takes into account an assessment of benefits and harms and the opioid public health crisis. While a small number of adults 65 years of age or older have been enrolled in published acupuncture studies, patients with chronic low back pain in these studies showed improvements in function and pain.

The evidence reviewed for this decision supports clinical strategies that include nonpharmacologic therapies for chronic low back pain. CMS notes too

that while there is variation in covered indications and frequency of services, a number of large private payers provide some coverage of acupuncture for certain indications.

“We are dedicated to increasing access to alternatives to prescription opioids and believe that covering acupuncture for chronic low back pain is in the best interest of Medicare patients,” said CMS Principal Deputy Administrator of Operations and Policy Kimberly Brandt. “We are building on important lessons learned from the private sector in this critical aspect of patient care. Over-reliance on opioids for people with chronic pain is one of the factors that led to the crisis, so it is vital that we offer a range of treatment options for our beneficiaries.”

In 2017, opioids were involved in 47,600 deaths related to overdose. CMS is keenly focused on fighting the opioids epidemic including by supporting access to pain management using a safe and effective range of treatment options that rely less on prescription opioids, including non-pharmacological approaches. In addition to today’s announcement, CMS has made significant strides in preventing opioid use disorder, such as issuing safety alerts to pharmacists when a beneficiary’s opioids prescription exceeds certain levels. Given these and other efforts from federal partners, total opioids dispensed by pharmacies nationwide declined

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

31 percent since 2017.

Acupuncture is a treatment in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. As with other complex diseases, CMS recognizes the importance of having treatment options which allow for an integrated approach that is tailored to the needs and preferences of Medicare patients.

Today’s decision will cover up to 12 sessions in 90 days with an additional 8 sessions for those patients with chronic low back pain who demonstrate improvement.

Source: CMS To choose suitable Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Supplement Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-7712900.

READ LATEST ON HEALTH INSURANCE by Sudhir Mathuria ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIA.NEWS

Sub-standard mask donations hamper China virus response: Red Cross

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he Red Cross on Monday stressed the need to ensure that all masks used in Chinese hospitals fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak are high quality, warning that donating sub-standard gear was more problematic than helpful.

China has acknowledged that it “urgently” needs medical supplies, including surgical masks, to battle the outbreak which has killed more than 360 people in the country and infected more than 17,000.

“At the moment, the supply has been heavily stressed,” said Jagan Chapagain, the new secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

He meanwhile rejected harsh criticism lobbed against the local Red Cross chapter in Wuhan—the epicentre of the outbreak—over charges that donations of masks from across China failed to reach hospitals on the frontlines.

“Clearly the Wuhan Red Cross hasn’t dealt with this type of situation recently, (and) they had to massively scale up in a short period of time, so to have some shortcomings is not totally unnatural,” he said.

But he said he supported the chapter’s “deliberate” decision to withhold a number of the masks donated because they were not

The World Health Organization says “the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide the adequate level of protection” against the spread of coronavirus. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images) safe for use by health professionals who risked exposure to the deadly virus.

“Having high-quality masks for the caregivers is extremely important,” the 52-year-old Nepali humanitarian told AFP in an interview Monday, two days after taking the helm of the IFRC. He said frontline medical workers required masks of the socalled N-95 standard, but warned that many of the masks being donated from within China as well as from abroad did not measure up.

“They are not good enough for the caregivers,” he said.

‘Really problematic’ Chapagain urged donors to ensure that any medical gear they send is of the required quality, and to “not send stuff that does not meet the standards, (which) creates more problems than help.”

He noted that people using the poorer-quality masks could have “a false sense of protection”, while large quantities of such masks cause the “logistics pipeline (to get) congested, the warehouse gets congested”.

Already overstretched Red Cross volunteers are left “to sort it out”, Chapagain said.

VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Food & Fine Dining

Section 2

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A doctor’s common-sense approach to heartburn relief

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ONE VOTE CAN MAKE YOU THE WINNER Voice of Asia, the Free community newspaper in English from Greater Houston Is giving you another opportunity to reach out and remind the Voters about you and your candidacy.

Please consider the following 1.ONE VOTE MAKE CAN YOU THE WINNER 2. An Advertisement in Voice of Asia will reach out to thousands of readers by Thursday, February 13, 2020.

Average size of 5.67” x 5” and any size bigger up to 11” x 21.5”

Consuming smaller portions at a time can be helpful . Photo source: (c) Rawpixel / iStock via Getty Images Plus

I

ndigestion is on the rise worldwide and is especially prevalent in the U.S. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month. While it’s a common issue for older people due to aging, it’s now a growing problem for younger adults as well, who report increasing bouts of indigestion, upset stomach, and anxious stomach, which may be linked to stress and hectic lifestyles “When the acid in your stomach rises into your esophagus, that’s when you know you have heartburn,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, a board-certified physician in internal medicine and author of “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor.” He explains that heartburn is more than just a minor discomfort, and it can impact daily life. “Heartburn can cause chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and even interfere with sleep. While there are many contributing factors, whatever the cause, it’s uncomfortable and important to manage.”

Suffering from indigestion and heartburn? Dr. Redcross recommends a few simple measures that may help you find relief.

• When embarking on a new diet to improve health and wellness, the last thing you may expect to suffer from are digestive issues. But a sudden change to one’s diet is frequently the source of heartburn. Keto diets in particular can trigger heartburn as the diet requires upping the intake of fat, which takes longer to leave the stomach. If you are starting a new diet, it can be helpful to change your diet more gradually.

• Indigestion from travel is common, as being away from home often means eating unfamiliar foods and keeping odd hours. When on the go, (or all the time) stick mostly with tried-andtrue foods you know that sit well, attempt to keep a regular eating schedule, and wear loose, comfortable clothing.

• Eating too fast or too much can also contribute to indigestion.

Slow down and savor your food.

Also, consider consuming smaller portions at a time.

• Try to incorporate some movement into your daily routine, particularly after meals, as lying down directly after eating can be a source of indigestion. Exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is another important factor in managing in-

digestion.

• Know your triggers. For some, certain foods like citrus, spices, fatty food, and alcoholic or caffeinated beverages can trigger symptoms. Knowing your specific triggers can help you avoid them.

• Be prepared to address symptoms when they strike. Indigestion sufferers with a bloated or upset stomach can find plantbased relief with travel-friendly Boiron Acidil tablets that melt in your mouth without water. Easy to take before or after a meal, they work with the body to target occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, bloating, or upset stomach. This homeopathic medicine can help get your body back into balance naturally. Claims for Acidil are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. They are not FDA evaluated. More information about Acidil and other homeopathic medicines for gastrointestinal relief can be found by visiting BoironUSA.com/digestives.

For a happy, healthy belly, learn your indigestion triggers and be prepared to manage symptoms.

- StatePoint

‘Cheddargate’ chef tells Michelin to keep out of his restaurant

Don’t mention the Cheddar: French chef Marc Veyrat in his new Paris restaurant. AFP Photo.

by Olga Nedbaeva

vivial cuisine.

for,” he declared.

ARC Veyrat, the French celebrity chef at the centre of the “Cheddargate” scandal, has declared that he never wants a Michelin star for his new Paris restaurant.

The chef, who is never without his black Savoyard hat, had lambasted “incompetent” Michelin inspectors who he said claimed that he had used English Cheddar cheese in a souffle instead of French Reblochon.

“I have trained seven three-star chefs, 21 two-star ones and I don’t know how many who have one star.

The flamboyant cook who took the red guide to court last year after he lost his third Michelin star for his celebrated flagship restaurant in the French Alps, has taken over a historic Parisian dining room previously owned by the equally colourful French actor, Gerard Depardieu.

Veyrat lost his court battle against Michelin -- although he is appealing.

M

“I never want the Michelin (inspectors) in here,” Veyrat told AFP as he opened the Fontaine Gaillon in a former 17th-century mansion in the French capital.

Instead he insisted he wanted to “put stars in the eyes of his diners” with his inventive but con-

And he still had the knives out for the gastronomic bible as he prepared some “virtual bread” made from mousse in his new establishment, where he said he will be cook every “Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday”.

- ‘Who do they think they are?’ He accused the guide of not knowing what it was doing, and of a multitude of sins including having cozy relations with some chefs.

“Who do they take themselves

“But they want to put us back in basic training as if we hadn’t 50 years of know-how and experience to draw upon?” he added.

But Veyrat, 69, said the shock of losing his third star for his Maison des Bois in Manigod was less than the pain he felt when the Michelin took the third star last week from the restaurant once run by the legendary Paul Bocuse near Lyon.

“One does not touch Paul Bocuse,” Veyrat said. By relegating his restaurant, the guide was attacking the essence of “French identity”, he claimed.

The man they called the “pope” of haute cuisine “opened restaurants all over the world, and trained so many chefs”, he insisted.

3. One E blast to 10,000 email subscribers can reach them as early as Monday February 10, 2020 4. No time to leave it for another day.

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VOICE OF ASIA 6

India’s Republic Day Extravaganza at Arya Samaj’s DAV Schools

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Congressman Al Green’s statement on Coronavirus

by Sanika Kulkarni DAV Sanskrit School, Arya youth group

T

he festivities at Arya Samaj started on Friday, January 24th with DAV Montessori & Elementary School having India’s Republic day presentations on the main stage, followed by Science fair and awards presentation. The students from our pre-school come together to put together an unforgettable event for the Republic Day of India, where prominent figures from India are highlighted along with messages of tolerance, diversity and consciences. Portraying larger-than-life figures from Indian history provide a fun platform for our younger students to learn about Indian history while building confidence in speaking in front of an audience. Same day, there was an amazing display of science fair projects by the Elementary School students. The science fair project topics included, Solar Power, Immune System memory, Rubber band powered boat, Effects of mass on the distance that an object travels, How hand warmers work, Molecules & temperature.

Then on Sunday, January, 26th, the festivities continued with flag hoisting, patriotic songs and dance performed by DAV Sanskriti School students, followed by delicious Laddoos and priti bhoj. This holiday is extremely important because many of India’s freedom fighters were a part of Arya Samaj, which was founded in 1875 by Maharshi Dayanand. The organization contributed immensely to building modern India from both a cultural and political standpoint, and Maharshi Dayanand’s ideas and teachings ring true to this day.

Arya Samaj members sang the national anthem, and the DAV Sanskriti School students followed this with their stunning performances. The adults were mesmerized by the childrens’ beautiful voices, vibrant dancing, and child speaker Rahul Sanklecha’s impressive speech.

Overall, there was a clear sense of pride in both adults and children alike, and the celebrations proved that despite living in a different country, we as a community were still extremely proud to be from India.

ASGH DAV Sanskriti Sunday School children, volunteers, Teachers & Parents at Republic Day celebrations with patrotic songs & dance performances Jan 26th

ASGH DAV Montessori & Elementary School celebrated India’s Republic day with presentations on the main stage, where prominent figures from India are highlighted with message of tolerance, diversity and consciences.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announces first Early Childhood Listening Session Series of Community Conversations to Inform New Effort Aimed at Improving Development of Children Ages 0-3

H

arris County, Texas Wednesday, February 5, 2020, County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced the launch of a series of community conversations designed to gather input for programs that support early childhood development across Harris County. The first session will take place on Saturday, February 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Health Museum at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004.

“We know that many families

H

OUSTON – On Friday, January 31, 2020, Congressman Al Green held a press conference to discuss the public health issue regarding novel coronavirus. He was joined by public health officials and community leaders to address misinformation regarding a rumored coronavirus case – that has been dispelled by the Houston Health Department – as well as the negative effects that misinformation has had on local businesses.

Following the press conference, Congressman Green released this statement:

“Coronavirus has become a buzzword and global topic of discussion since the respiratory illness was first detected in China more than a month ago.

While it is imperative that we acknowledge the serious nature of the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus strain (2019nCoV), we must not stoke any looming fears or stigmas surrounding this public health issue. Houstonians should not be skeptical of traversing any parts of the city that they typically frequent due to this virus. The businesses in Houston’s Chinatown have not been deemed unsafe to patronize by the Houston Health Department or any other trusted health authorities wellversed on issues related to novel coronavirus.

ASGH DAV Sanskriti Sunday School Children singing patrotic songs, flag hoisting, Sunday, Jan 26th with Shri Dev Mahajan

County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Congressman Al Green. Image: Twitter.

in Harris County don’t have access to critical services and support like affordable childcare and, even when they do, high-quality providers are few and far between. Right now, we’re in the early stages of planning this new initiative, and would like to build the county’s vision alongside the families, practitioners, and other stakeholders who think about early childhood development every day. We urge anyone interested in shaping the future of Harris County to join us.”

Research demonstrates that early childhood programs have one of the strongest returns on investment for any type of public program. Decades of studies have shown that children who had access to quality early childhood programs have higher high school graduation rates without suspension, have fewer interactions with the criminal justice system, and enjoy higher rates of employment as adults.

To RSVP, or for more information, please visit www.HarrisCountyKids.com.

“As World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros indicated in his January 30th statement –

‘This is the time for facts, not fear.

This is the time for science, not rumors.

This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.’

“The facts are that there are currently 6 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the United States and none are located in the State of Texas. The science suggests that – while there is no vaccine currently available to prevent novel coronavirus – proper handwashing and hygiene, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, as well as staying home and seeking medical care when sick can help prevent the spread of this and other respiratory illnesses like the flu. When we collaborate to dispel misinformation and only perpetuate facts from trusted sources, solidarity is achieved, and stigma is diminished. When people maliciously spread false information and rumors, they may be subjecting themselves to legal liability.

“I must thank each of the health officials from various levels of local government as well as the community leaders here today for their dedication to helping ensure our communities are informed.

For more information on novel coronavirus, call 1-800-CDC-INFO. That’s 1-800-232-4636.”

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

ASIA / SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

First Indian and black African Tokyo Olympic boss ‘extremely worried’ about deadly virus enter fashion’s elite club TOKYO, Japan | AFP | Wednesday 2/5/2020 - The chief executive officer of the Tokyo Olympics admitted Wednesday that organisers are “extremely worried” about the possible effect of the deadly new coronavirus on this summer’s Games.

Toshiro Muto said he hoped the outbreak in China would be quickly contained to restore confidence in the run-up to the Olympics.

“We are extremely worried in the sense that the spread of the infectious virus could pour cold water on momentum for the Games,” he said before a meeting with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra acknowledges the audience at the end of the Women’s Spring-Summer 2020 Haute Couture collection fashion show in Paris on January 23, 2020. (AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat)

by Fiachra GIBBONS

P

ARIS | AFP | Rahul Mishra and Imane Ayissi made history Thursday by becoming the first Indian and black African designers to show their clothes on the elite Paris haute couture catwalk.

Only a little more than a dozen of the world’s most prestigious luxury labels -- including Dior, Chanel and Givenchy -- have a right to call their clothes haute couture.

All the clothes must be handmade -- and go on to sell for tens of thousands of euros (dollars) to some of the richest and most famous women in the world.

Mishra, an advocate of ethical “slow fashion” who blames mechanisation for much of the world’s ills, said “it felt amazing and very surreal to be the first Indian to be chosen.”

“They see a great future for us -- which will make us push ourselves even harder,” the 40-year-old told AFP after his debut show was cheered by

20 days in November, Mishra said he imagined a “pure virginal and untamed planet... with ecosystems crafted out of embroidered flora and fauna”.

“I am very emotional about it.

Sometimes it makes me cry. All our children should be growing up in a better world,” he added.

“When I take Aarna (his daughter) to the foothills of the Himalayas and the sky turns blue, she is so happy.

“Once, when she saw the River Ganges, she said: ‘Can you please clean it for us so can go for a swim?’”

Mishra said he was reducing the quantity of clothes he was producing while at the same time increasing their quality, with humming birds, koalas and other animals hidden in the hundreds of hand worked embroidered leaves and flowers of his “jungle dresses”.

The designer has won ethical and sustainability awards for his work supporting local crafts

people in rural India.

“My objective is to create jobs which help people in their own villages,” Mishra said.

“If villages are stronger, you will have a stronger country, a stronger nation, and a stronger world,” he added.

Ayissi takes a similar stand, refusing to use wax prints popular in West Africa which he dismisses as “colonial”.

Dutch mills flooded Africa with cotton printed with colourful patterns borrowed from Indonesian batik in the 19th century, and still dominate the market.

“When we talk about African fashion, it’s always wax, which is a real pity,” he told AFP, “because it’s killing our own African heritage.”

Ayissi, a former dancer who worked with singers such as Sting and Seal, told AFP he wanted to open up “a new path for Africa” and find an “alternative way of doing luxury fashion”.

Imane Ayissi. Photos: AFP fashionistas.

Both Mishra and Cameroon-born Ayissi, 51, are champions of traditional fabrics and techniques from their homelands and are famous for their classy lines.

- ‘Immense’ for Africa Ayissi said his selection was “immense” both for Africa and himself.

“I am so proud that I can show my work and showcase real African fabrics and African heritage,” he told AFP backstage as celebrities, including the chic head of Unesco, Audrey Azoulay, congratulated him.

Mishra broke through on the Paris ready-to-wear scene after winning the International Woolmark Prize in 2014, the top award that also launched the careers of such greats as Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.

The purity of his often white creations with their detailed but understated embroidery has won him many fans, including Vogue’s legendary critic Suzy Menkes.

The doyenne of fashion’s front row called him an Indian “national treasure”.

But this time, Mishra turned up the colour palette somewhat with dresses that subtly evoked the jungle paradises and pristine underwater world off the Maldives he worries that one day we might lose.

- Delhi smoke dreams Appalled by the smoke and pollution that meant he had to keep his four-yearold daughter indoors in Delhi for nearly

He has gone back to using prestigious local materials, like the strip fabric kente woven by the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which was originally worn only by nobles.

The son of an undefeated African boxing champ and a former Miss Cameroon, he also uses appliqued techniques from Benin and Ghana.

Haute couture shows only take place in Paris and the criteria to enter and remain in fashion’s elite club are strictly enforced by French law.

India police ‘harassing’ students over sedition probe: rights groups

“I hope that it can be eradicated as quickly as possible. We plan to cooperate with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), the IPC, the government and the city of Tokyo to tackle the disease.”

Speaking to AFP, the IOC urged calm following Muto’s comments.

“We have full confidence that the relevant authorities, in particular in Japan, China and the World Health Organisation (WHO), will take all the necessary measures to address the situation,” said an IOC spokesperson.

“Preparations for Tokyo 2020 continue as planned.”

More than 20 countries have confirmed cases of the pathogen, which has killed nearly 500 people and infected at least 24,000 in

mainland China.

- ‘We will do everything’ Japan has had no reported deaths so far, but at least 10 people on a cruise ship carrying 3,711 passengers and crew quarantined off Yokohama have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Saburo Kawabuchi, the mayor of the Athletes’ Village where an expected 11,000 sportsmen and women will stay, struck a sombre tone.

“I hope from my heart that we can overcome this (virus) and have a smooth Olympics,” said the former Japanese football chief.

“We will do our everything we can to protect the athletes to allow them to produce their best performances.”

Awkwafina and otthers at Valentine DTLA

NEW DELHi | AFP | Wednesday 2/5/2020 - Indian police are “harassing” primary school students by repeatedly questioning them after their school was charged with sedition over a play allegedly criticising the government’s contentious citizenship law, rights groups said Wednesday.

India has been gripped by widespread street demonstrations against the law that grants citizenship to religious groups from three neighbouring countries, but excludes Muslims.

Police questioned nearly a dozen young student actors after a member of the youth wing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party filed a complaint against the school in Bidar district in southern Karnataka state.

A teacher and a mother of an 11-year-old participant were arrested under the British colonial-era law for helping the children with the performance, which was part of the school’s foundation day programme.

LOS ANGELES, California - January 15: (L-R) Teresa Hsiao, Awkwafina, and Lori Tan Chinn attend Comedy Central’s “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens” Premiere Party at Valentine DTLA on January 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images for Comedy Central/AFP

VOICE OF ASIA 9

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Section 2

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Public Meeting Set for Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

S

UGAR LAND - The public is invited to attend a risk assessment workshop for an update to the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan on Feb. 26, from 6-8 p.m., in the Cane Room at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North.

The goal of the plan is to minimize or eliminate longterm risks to human life and property from known hazards by identifying and implementing cost-effective mitigation actions. The assessment will guide activities proposed in the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

“This project identifies hazards and their occurrence within our area; compares risks of exposure to an established inventory of assets; and provides an estimate of potential human and economic losses based on the vulnerability of people,

buildings and infrastructure,” said Assistant Fire Chief Pat Hughes. “It’s our goal to ensure Sugar Land remains safer than ever before.”

The purpose of the workshop is to share results of the assessment performed by the city’s project consultant and solicit information form the general public.

Those unable to attend the workshop may watch the meeting on Channel 16 if they live in Sugar Land and subscribe to Comcast. The meeting will also be livestreamed to the city’s website at www.sugarlandtx. gov and reposted at www.sugarlandtx.gov/HMP after the meeting.

For more information, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/HMP.

Portion of Robinson road closed for emergency repairs; expect delays

Image courtesy of Missouri City MISSOURI CITY -The 3200 block of Robinson Road is closed to traffic in both directions so that crews can make an emergency repair to the concrete pavement damaged by a local contractor who was installing a 12-inch sanitary sewer line without prior notification to staff as required by City policy.

Staff has issued a temporary stop-work order to the company, Statewide Services, Inc., who is a contractor for a nearby development. Once Statewide crews restore the damaged concrete,

their project will be reevaluated for next steps.

Weather permitting, crews will reopen the road by Friday, Feb. 7. A temporary driving surface will be installed in the interim until the roadway is restored to its pre-existing condition. City staff is monitoring the repairs and advises residents and motorists that there may be traffic delays in the area.

For updates, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov

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Tel: 713-774-5140

Texas Lesson Study Helps Katy ISD Teachers Share and Learn Best Practices

K

ATY [February 4, 2020] – Assessing what works and what needs improvement, that was the goal of a post assessment meeting among Morton Ranch High School (MRHS) teachers, who recently began participating in the Texas Lesson Study to better refine their lesson plans and to improve the way students learn in their classrooms. Today’s collaborative effort included a visit from Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, who launched the initiative to encourage the development and sharing of highly effective classroom lesson plans within schools and across the state.

“Teachers often draw support from each other and this type of collaboration not only strengthens them as an educator, but it fortifies the student along the way,” said MRHS Principal Julie Hinson. “Texas Lesson Study allows our teachers to share different ideas, interests and strategies which are essential to providing an unparalleled learning experiences at Katy ISD,” added Hinson.

The Texas Lesson Study is an inquiry-based, job-embedded professional development tool, where teachers work together to develop, teach and assess strategic research-based lesson plans.

Educators identify a research theme and student expectations from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that students seem to have difficulty understanding. With the Texas Lesson Study, teachers will collect data that includes students’ responses, levels of engagement and learning processes and will then reflect and refine lessons to better equip them in the subject matter.

Morton Ranch High School (MRHS) teachers and students with , TEA Commissioner Mike Morath

“As a team, we decided to focus on TEK 13(C), because we felt that this was an area that could be improved and that would help students in high school and beyond.”

Other Katy ISD campuses that have implemented the Texas Lesson Study within the past three years include Wilson Elementary, West Memorial Junior High, Mayde Creek Junior High, WoodCreek Junior High and Taylor High School – several of which had their lesson plans published on the TEA statewide online resource webpage, www.TexasGateway.org

MRHS students with faculty member

“Participating in a lesson study is beneficial for teachers as much as it is for students,” said Sarah Rosenberg, an English II teacher at MRHS. “This process allows an educator to learn by doing, which is what we advocate for student learning as well.”

“Our English team looked at data from previous years to see which areas our students struggled in,” said Danielle Tefft, an English II teacher at MRHS.

Commissioner Morath at MRHS. Images: KISD

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

HOLLYWOOD - BOLLYWOOD

Section 2

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www.voiceofasia.news

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Shannen Doherty shares she has stage 4 breast cancer ‘‘I’d rather people hear it from me’’

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Disha Patani on fire in Malang, creates waves with 30M Instagram followers

A

fter piquing the curiosity of fans on her upcoming song, Disha Patani released the peppy number titled ‘Hui Malang’ from the action-thriller ‘Malang’.

H

OLLYWOOD - Shannen Doherty has always been transparent about the struggles she has faced. Now, the actress has revealed a new struggle that she’s kept out of the public eye.

“It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that -- I’m stage four. So my cancer came back. And that’s why I’m here,” Doherty told ABC News’ Amy Robach in an interview that aired Tuesday on “Good Morning America.” “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”

In the interview, the 48-yearold opened up about her breast cancer’s recurrence and how she coping with it.

“I definitely have days where I say why me. And then I go, well, why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this?

None of us do,” she said. “But I would say that my first reaction is always concern about how -how am I going to tell my mom, my husband.”

Since her initial breast cancer diagnosis in March 2015, the actress of popular hit shows like “Charmed” and “90210” has always been candid about her disease by documenting her battle on social media.

But this time around, Doherty decided to keep the news to herself and despite the diagnosis, went back to work on the set of the “90210” reboot, which was also just four months after her friend and former co-star, Luke Perry’s passing.

“It’s so weird for me to be diagnosed and then somebody who was, you know, seemingly healthy to go first,” said Doherty. “It was really, like, shocking. And the least I could do to honor him was to do that show. I still haven’t done, in my opinion. So it’s a hard one.”

Doherty also said that she didn’t tell anyone about her recurrence because she wanted to prove that she was still able to work.

“One of the reasons, along with Luke -- that I did ‘90210’ and didn’t really tell anybody because I thought, people can look at that other people with stage four can work too. Like, you know, our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis. We still have some living to do,” she said.

While she kept her diagnosis a secret, telling only a small group of people, Doherty said she leaned on actor, Brian Austin Green, one of her “90210” co-stars, to help her get through grueling, 15-16 hours-long filming days on set.

“I had moments of great anxiety where I thought, ‘I can’t really do this,’ and Brian was the one person who -- of that group of people that knew -- that I told, like, pretty quickly and said, ‘Here, the -- this is what I’m dealing with,’” she said.

“So prior to shooting he would always call me and say, ‘Listen, you know, whatever happens, I have your back.’ He would look at me and be like, ‘We got this, kiddo’... so Brian helped me through a lot.”

Amid her battle with cancer, Doherty is also in the middle of a legal fight with her insurance company State Farm.

With all that she’s been through, Doherty isn’t letting anything slow her down and is using her platform to make a difference and defend others who have been or are going through similar experiences.

“I think the thing I want to do the most right now is I want to make an impact,” she said.

“I want to be remembered for something bigger than just me.”

-GMA News

Oscars Box Office: ‘Parasite’ feasts on younger moviegoers The best picture contender is already one of the top-grossing foreign-language films of all time in advance of the Feb. 9 Academy Awards ceremony.

B

ong Joon Ho’s Oscar contender Parasite continues to feed on impressive numbers as it widens its reach at the U.S. box office in advance of the Feb. 9 Academy Awards ceremony, where it will compete for the best picture prize.

Through Feb. 2, the genre-bending thriller’s domestic gross rested at $33.2 million, one of the best showings of all time for a foreign-language film. When Parasite first opened in select theaters in October, it scored a massive per-location average of $131,000 — the best showing of 2019. Still, even the most seasoned box office ana-

lysts said that the South Korean film would top out at no more than $20 million in the U.S. One of the secrets to the specialty pic’s ongoing, surprise success is its appeal to younger consumers (Gen Z and millennials).

When Parasite finally expanded nationwide late last month after scoring numerous accolades, almost 60 percent of ticket buyers over the Jan. 24-26 weekend were between ages 18 and 34, according to those with access to PostTrak’s exit surveys.

Often, movies competing in the Oscar race draw their

The 27-year-old actor hopped on to Twitter and shared the video in a post that read: “Unleash Your Malang Side With #HuiMalang! Song out now.”

In the three-minute-three-second song, Disha is seen setting the stage on fire as she moves on the dance number. Dressed in silver attire, Disha takes the oomph factor of the song to another level.

The foot-tapping number has been penned by Kunaal Vermaa and Haarsh Limbachiyaa and crooned

by Asees Kaur. Earlier, lead actor Aditya Roy Kapoor shared a poster from the film which had him sporting a ferocious look. The title track received 10 million views on YouTube in merely 24 hours of its release.

Expressing happiness on achieving the milestone on social media, Disha, who will be seen in Mohit Suri’s “Malang”, wrote a lengthy post, thanking every person who has supported and stood by her through her journey till now.

The trailer of the movie took the expectations a notch higher with the powerful visuals it presented.

The revenge drama, directed

Visit : www. voiceofasia.news

by Mohit Suri, is set for release on Friday, February 7.

“30 million and happy faces... Just wanted to say a big thank you to my entire team of ‘Malang’, who have worked so hard everyday and given me so much love. @mohitsuri I am blessed to be your heroine,thank you for literally holding my hand through every

shot and making everything so seamless and easy. @vaibhavi. merchant cant express in words how lucky I am to be getting a chance to work with you again, you’re my wonder woman, and someone I look up to.”

She even thanked her “Malang” co-stars Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kunal Kemmu and Elli Avrram “for being

the best co-stars I could’ve ever imagined.”

“Thank you to my lovely fc’s for giving me a reason to do what I do everyday. God bless all,” she wrote on Instagram.

Disha made her Bollywood debut with the sports biopic “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story”.

She was later seen in “Baaghi 2” and “Bharat”.

- Gulf News

Saif Ali Khan: A star in Bollywood -and on Netflix

by Udita Jhunjhunwala

M

UMBAI | AFP - Saif Ali Khan, bonafide Bollywood royalty and star of Netflix hit “Sacred Games”, says India’s massive film industry does not need international audiences to thrive.

But that may not be a good thing, he cautions.

The 49-year-old actor, whose latest film “Jawaani Jaaneman” (“Youthful Lover”) is out on Friday, has starred in multiple blockbusters over the years, from “Dil Chahta Hai” (“The Heart Desires”) in 2001 to “Tanhaji”, released earlier this month.

Yet even as foreign films -- like South Korean hit “Parasite” -- find viewers and awards overseas, Bollywood has remained on the fringes of global entertainment, content to target India’s 1.3 billion population and millions of others from the diaspora.

“The thing about our culture... is that we don’t really need verification, validation, appreciation from an outside culture,” Khan told AFP in Mumbai.

“There are so many of us that if we just keep each other happy then we don’t financially need anything,” he added.

But he warned that while such an insular approach may not harm Bollywood’s bottom line, it could be “dangerous” for the industry’s development.

box office strength from older, “adult” moviegoers, but Parasite is skewing younger than most. In its second weekend in wide release (1,060 cinemas), Parasite’s 18 to 34 audience was again at 61 percent.

That compares with 40 and 47 percent, respectively, for fellow best picture contenders 1917 and Little Women in their second weekends, according to PostTrak.

“Parasite is a hit with younger audiences for whom the movie likely represents the epitome of cool international cinema.

www. voiceofasia.news Read the latest articles and news on BOLLYWOOD /HOLLYWOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Bollywood actress Disha Patani poses for photographs during the trailer launch of her upcoming romantic action Hindi film ‘Malang’ in Mumbai on January 6, 2020. (Photo: Sujit Jaiswal / AFP)

“Cinema is about people meeting, comparing, collaborating because the human condition is quite similar. But if we isolate ourselves... I think we will lose out on something because we will keep catering just to ourselves,” he said.

The son of cricketing legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi -- whose family ruled the former princely state of Pataudi -- and actress Sharmila Tagore, Khan has never shied away from taking risks, straddling Bollywood and art-house cinema during his decades-long career.

Even so, the opportunity to play troubled policeman Sartaj Singh in “Sacred Games” in 2018 was a turning point.

“I think Sartaj Singh did a lot for me. People who don’t usually watch Hindi films watched ‘Sacred Games’... and working with all those people in

that environment helped my acting a lot,” he said.

- Bollywood ‘renaissance’ The first big name from Bollywood to embrace digital entertainment, Khan said the ambition displayed by Netflix and others has the potential to upend the status quo, even in movie-mad India.

“Historically the money has been in the big screen, at least in India,” he said, “so a lot of mainstream actors... would think twice before doing television”.

But streaming services are “challenging that notion”, he said, while also offering actors greater opportunities and contributing to a “renaissance” in the industry.

For his part, he has played everything from a commitment-shy chef in the 2005 hit “Salaam Namaste” to a

The film has become a conversation piece with layers of plot that unravel like an onion and this has fueled massive social media buzz and of course with multiple Oscar nominations, a solid increase in box office for a film that might have otherwise stalled out short of $30 million in North America,” says Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore.

In a second milestone, Parasite has passed up 2017’s I, Tonya ($30 million) to become the top-grossing release in the three-year history of U.S. indie distributor Neon, run by Tom Quinn, not adjusted for infla-

tion.

Parasite — about an impoverished family who con their rich bosses — is nominated for six Oscars, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay.

Among other awards wins so far, Parasite is the first foreign-language film ever to receive top honors from the Screen Actors Guild.

Globally, Parasite’s gross currently rests at more than $163 million, led by South Korea with more than $73 million in ticket sales.

murderous drifter in the 2006 black comedy “Being Cyrus” to a Shakespearean villain in “Omkara”, an Indian adaptation of “Othello”.

Describing today’s Bollywood as a “big umbrella” that accommodates art-house cinema, crowd-pleasing “masala” musicals, low-key comedies and even zombie movies, Khan said the variety helps him “feel sane”.

“There’s something always to be said for something that challenges you mentally or makes you feel that you are going into some territory that is interesting... I would like to mix it up as much as possible.”

- Risky business His latest movie is an outand-out entertainer, but even here, Khan has departed from the norm by playing father to a 21-year-old woman in an industry where leading men in their fifties routinely romance decades-younger actresses on screen.

Yet, despite his openness to experiment with roles, Khan says there are areas where he feels nervous to tread, such as politics, echoing concerns shared by many actors who steer clear of expressing opinions on divisive issues.

With India gripped by a wave of protests against the government’s new citizenship law, some have bucked convention by speaking out, most notably female superstar Deepika Padukone earlier this month.

But Khan, who is married to top actress Kareena Kapoor, says he prefers to be apolitical.

When actors speak out on political topics, all too often, “the issue is completely ignored and the actor who said it is highlighted and abused and trolled,” he said.

In some cases when religious radicals have taken offence at an actor’s comments, stars have faced boycott calls and threats, he said. Theatres have also been attacked, putting livelihoods at risk.

“You have to think five times before you endanger other people.”

LEISURE

VOICE OF ASIA 11

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The world’s gambling capital near China shuts down due to coronavirus outbreak

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This beer company wants people to take care of themselves — and will pay you to do it!

by Cailey Rizzo

by Alison Fox

H

C

ONG KONG - Macau, the world’s gambling capital, will shut down for two weeks as reports of the coronavirus grow.

On Tuesday, Macau’s chief executive, Ho Iat Seng, asked the city’s 41 casinos to close for two weeks, according to RTHK. General public services in Macau are also temporarily being halted, with only emergency services running normally.

“Of course this was a difficult decision, but we must do it for the health of Macau’s residents,” he said in a televised news conference.

The two-week closure comes during the Lunar New Year celebrations, when many folks in China are typically traveling or vacationing. It’s estimated that this closure could cut five to 15 percent out of Macau’s annual gambling revenue, a consultant told The New York Times.

The city is also scaling back on public transportation, and it passed a law requiring all those who board public transit to wear a face mask. Mr. Ho also urged residents to stay home and only leave for essentials, like purchasing food.

Ten people in Macau have been diagnosed with the coronavirus since its outbreak. The city has already seen an 80 percent drop in visitation during the Lunar New Year period.

This week, Hong Kong confirmed its first coronavirus-related fatality. The death toll is now estimated to be at least 360 people.

Casino gambling was legalised in 1962 and the gaming industry initially operated under a government-licensed monopoly Casinos employ about 24 per cent of the total workforce in the region. - Travel + Leisure

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

HICAGO - Drinking beer may not be the healthiest activity, but one Chicago-based brewery is rejecting that idea — and even wants to pay people to take care of themselves and make healthy lifestyle changes.

The Goose Island Beer Company will pay 10 people a total of $9,800 each if they make small, realistic changes, like buying a treadmill to increase their daily steps or paying off a student loan (because nothing causes stress quite like student debt). The promotion coincides with the beer company’s new, 98-calorie IPA, So-Lo. “We’re excited to support those in our community looking to make positive changes,” Todd Ahsmann, the president of Goose Island Beer Co., said in an email, adding that his own recent weight loss made it clear that “in order to make lasting, positive change, the first step is to identify realistic, manageable goals.”

Ahsmann said the company wants people to “visit your grandma more frequently or invest in your local neighbor-

Photo: The Goose Island Beer Company

hood.” He added, “We’re here to support you and hope it makes a significant difference in your life and in your community.”

To enter, beer lovers (21 and older) can write in on Feb. 4 to say how they will use the money — in 98 words or less — or go to the Goose Island Taproom at 1800 W Fulton St. in Chicago on Feb. 8 to share their small change — in 98 seconds or less, of course.

Contest winners will be contacted on Feb. 21, according to the company.

The contest was inspired by the company’s new lower calorie beer, which Quinn Fuechsl, a brewer at Goose Island, came up with after becoming a new dad.

Fuechsl said in an email that he “wanted to make some small changes toward a healthier life,” and creating a low calorie beer — a first for Goose Island — was one way to do that.

“It’s awesome to see [that] we’re taking the small-change mentality even further into our community,” he added.

- Travel + Leisure

Here’s the biggest mistake you made with your free time last year (and in 2018, and in 2017...)

by Suzanne R. Kelleher

Photos: Getty Images

I

f you’re like most employees in the United States, you ended last year with a bunch of unused vacation days.

More than a crying shame, that was just plain dumb. You earned that paid time off (PTO), and leaving it on the table means you’re essentially giving an envelope full of money back to your employer.

In 2018, the average American employee left 6.5 unused days — more than a work week! — which was the equivalent of $571 in donated time, according to an annual study by the U.S. Travel Association (U.S.T.A.). Think about it like this: You worked more than a full week for free.

Not that it’s just about the money. There’s a growing body of evidence that taking vacation is really good for your health.

The U.S. Travel Association’s most recent study estimated that Americans left a record-breaking 768 million days of PTO on the table in 2018.

Worse yet, nearly a third of those unused days — a whopping 236 million — were forfeited forever, which translated to $65.5 billion in lost benefits overall.

Employers in every state except California, Montana, and Nebraska have the right to implement “use it or lose it” policies where employees forfeit their accrued vacation time if they don’t take it by a pre-determined date.

The total number of unused PTO days climbed 9 percent in

Did you leave paid vacation days on the table in 2019? (Photo: Getty Images)

just a year. Interestingly, that’s mainly because the number of earned days is increasing faster than people are using up their paid time off. The number of PTO days used has been slowly rising since 2014. So while Americans have more vacation time than before, but they’re frittering it away.

According to the U.S.T.A. study, the vast majority of Americans (83%) say they want to use their time off to travel but they don’t.

There’s a simple trick to making sure you spend your vacation time wisely: Get a calendar and plan ahead. Employees who do took an average of 12 workdays to travel in 2018, compared to five days for non-planners, according to the U.S.T.A. study. Among employees that planned ahead, more than half (56%) said they

had taken their last trip within the last six months, compared to just 36 percent of non-planners. Sadly, nearly one quarter (23%) of non-planners had not taken a vacation or trip in the previous two years.

No Texas or federal law requires employers to make payouts of accrued but unused paid leave, although in rare instances, usually involving express contracts, some courts have required such payments to former employees. That is a matter left to employers to specify in their company policies.

Don’t want to be a vacation chump in 2020? National Plan for Vacation Day is coming up on January 28, 2020. Take it as inspiration to break a bad habit and plan ahead for this year’s getaways.

- Forbes

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 12

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Children’s mental health is affected by sleep duration

www.voiceofasia.news

D

epress i o n , a n x i e t y, impulsive behavior and poor cognitive performance in children is effected by the amount of sleep they have researchers from the University of Warwick have found.

Sleep states are active processes that support reorganization of brain circuitry.

This makes sleep especially important for children, whose brains are developing and reorganizing rapidly.

L

The online petition posted on Change.org urges the Alhambra Unified School District located east of Los Angeles and with a heavily Asian population, to basically shut down until the outbreak is over.

“Studying while knowing that

In the paper “Sleep duration, These are the different parts of the brain affected by sleep. Credit: University of brain structure, Warwick and psychiatric and cognitive problems in children,” published in the marginal gyrus was found to be for children with less than seven journal Molecular Psychiatry, associated with the shorter sleep hours sleep was 53% higher on 11,000 children aged 9-11 from duration by using big data analy- average and the cognitive total score was 7.8% lower on average the Adolescent Brain Cognitive sis approach. than for children with 9-11 hours Development dataset had the reProfessor Jianfeng Feng, from of sleep. It highlights the imporlationship between sleep duration and brain structure examined by the University of Warwick’s De- tance of enough sleep in both researchers Professor Jianfeng partment of Computer Science cognition and mental health in children.

Feng, Professor Edmund Rolls, comments: Dr. Wei Cheng and colleagues “The recommended amount of “We have to stress here that the from the University of Warwick’s Department of Computer Science sleep for children six to 12 years results were found based upon asof age is nine to 12 hours. How- sociation studies, but not causal and Fudan University. ever, sleep disturbances are com- studies.”

Measures of depression, anxi- mon among children and adolesProfessor Edmund Rolls from ety, impulsive behavior and poor cents around the world due to the increasing demand on their time the University of Warwick’s Decognitive performance in the children were associated with from school, increased screen partment of Computer Science shorter sleep duration. Moreover, time use, and sports and social also commented: the depressive problems were as- activities.

“These are important associasociated with short sleep duration A previous study showed that tions that have been identified beone year later. The results were found based upon association about 60% of adolescents in the tween sleep duration in children, United States receive less than brain structure, and cognitive studies, not causal studies. eight hours of sleep on school and mental health measures, but further research is needed to disLower brain volume of brain nights. cover the underlying reasons for areas involved the orbitofrontal “Our findings showed that the these relationships.”cortex, prefrontal and temporal cortex, precuneus, and supra- behavior problems total score -Source: University of Warwick

Tel: 713-774-5140

your life is in danger does not create a stable and safe learning environment and would make students take their mind off of studying which is a necessity to test scores,” the petition states.

School district officials, however, have dismissed the petition as a bid to whip up hysteria over the deadly outbreak that has killed hundreds in China.

“This is an example of what contagious fear does when you do not look at facts and instead rely on false rumors and hysterical social media posts without even

getting the facts,” Toby Gilbert, a spokeswoman for the district, told AFP. Gilbert said there were no plans to cancel classes and parents and students had been urged to depend on facts and science when seeking information about the outbreak.

More than 20,500 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide as of Tuesday and more than 400 people have died.

In the United States, 11 cases have been confirmed, including six in California.

French teen’s anti-Islam rant revives debate on free speech

by Clare BYRNE and Maria Elena BUCHELI

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aris, France | AFP | Tuesday 2/4/2020 - An outspoken French teenager has reignited a polarising debate over free speech in the country after an expletive-laden Instagram rant against Islam that has forced her to stay home from school on safety fears.

The case of 16-year-old Mila -who has received a slew of death threats for calling Islam “a shitty religion” -- has come just over five years after a group of French cartoonists from the Charlie Hebdo magazine were gunned down by jihadist gunmen after poking fun at the Prophet Mohammed.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced that the teen, whose full name has been withheld by French media, and her family had been put under police protection.

Right-wing politicians have accused the government of failing to show enough support for the teen in the face of what they call “Islamist” threats over the last two weeks.

In a TV interview Monday, Mila said she did “not regret” her remarks and defended her right to “blaspheme”.

How to talk to your children about tough money matters

Petition urges US school district to cancel classes over coronavirus OS ANGELES | AFP | 2/4/2020 - As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, fueling rumors and misinformation, a petition to cancel all classes in one US school district for fear of the virus has garnered nearly 14,000 signatures.

February 4, 2020

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen responded by tweeting: “This young girl is braver than the whole political class in power over the past 30 years.”

The Senate leader of the main opposition Republicans party,

Bruno Retailleau, also issued a robust defence of Mila against “this political Islam which is trampling our values”.

But some on the left, like former Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal, appeared torn between the desire to defend the unfettered free speech for which the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists died and reprimand the teen for her foul-mouthed outburst.

While defending Mila’s “total” freedom to criticise a religion, Royal said she should have shown more “respect, manners and knowledge” and should not be made into “a paragon of freedom of expression.”

- Freedom of expression? Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet declared the death threats received by Mila were “unacceptable in a democracy” but added her remarks about Islam were “clearly an infringement on freedom of conscience”.

Belloubet’s remarks caused an outcry from the opposition with the Republicans’ leader in the lower house of parliament Damien Abad fuming: “It’s called freedom of expression!”

The furore began when Mila, a striking figure with short hair dyed purple and piercing blue eyes, live streamed footage of herself doing her makeup on Instagram on January 18.

Recounting the events to the host of the popular chatshow Le Quotidien on Monday, Mila said: “A guy was hitting on me heavily during the live, telling me ‘you’re

beautiful, you’re hot, what age are you?”.

She duly informed those watching that she was lesbian and that “blacks and Arabs” were not her type.

Cue a stream of insults and threats, followed by her now infamous response, spoken directly to camera.

“The Koran is a religion of hatred, there is only hatred in it. Islam is shit, your religion is shit,” she said, describing in lewd terms what she would do to “your god”.

- ‘Right to blaspheme’ The video was widely shared on social media, where it elicited more threats, including of death and rape.

Fearing for the girl’s safety, the regional education board told Mila to stay home from school, where she remains two weeks later.

“You reap what you sow”, a senior member of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Abdallah Zekri, told French radio, arguing that the youngster had “asked for it” (the threats).

The president of the CFCM, Mohammed Moussaoui, however expressed unease at these comments declaring that “nothing justified death threats.”

For Denis Lacorne, researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris and author of a book entitled “The Limits of Tolerance”, the case raises questions about the boundaries between free speech and tolerance in France.

2020 Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest The Texas General Land Office hosts an annual art contest to encourage young Texans to reflect on wonders of the Texas coastline

Photo source: (c) Creatas Images / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Has your family discussed money concerns?

Clinical psychologists note that when kids don’t have enough information about something, they may become anxious, make up their own explanations -- which can include blaming themselves for a perceived problem -- or seek information from other, potentially unreliable sources. They recommend talking to your children about financial concerns, keeping in mind that the level of detail shared should be based on your child’s age.

Preschool and Elementary Age Experts suggest limiting financial discussion with very young children to the basics. If the economy is struggling, you might tell them that this can happen when businesses spend more money than they have and have to pay back what they borrowed, which means those businesses don’t have money to spend on other things, like employees. You might also explain that when money is tighter, they may need to wait a little

longer to get certain items such as new toys. Psychologists emphasize the need to be honest, but reassuring, letting children know that tough financial times are only temporary and that you will always provide them with everything they need.

“Tweens” and Teens Children in this age group are old enough for you to explain what financial terms mean and why the economy doesn’t always perform well. You might also provide an overview of how credit works, introducing terms such as interest, risk and liability.

You could also engage your kids in family budget decisions, particularly should you feel a financial pinch. If they want to go on a vacation or buy that new video game system, ask for their ideas on how to save up the money. If you can’t afford to eat out as often, let them pick a favorite restaurant for a special monthly or quarterly meal. You might also consider encouraging older children to get jobs so they can earn their own spending money.

College Kids Experts say that at this age, families should be open and straightforward when discussing finances. In addition to helping college-age kids understand a change in the economy or other financial development, explain what it could mean for your family’s financial situation and whether it could impact them. Tell them how you’ve been spending and saving, describe struggles you’ve faced, and outline the steps you’ll take to shore up finances. You can also help them build their own budgets and saving plans. Being honest about financial mistakes you’ve made can help your children avoid them in the future.

For more tips on teaching kids about money, visit letsmakeaplan.org.

Explaining your family’s financial situation will not only help your children make sense of what’s happening, it will provide them with confidence and a foundation of financial knowledge that will carry them into adulthood.

-StatePoint

Art by: Gracyn Cambell, 12. Adopt-A-Beach Art Contest

A

USTIN – (2/3/2020) The Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced that the 2020 Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest is now open for entries. Artwork should be based on the theme “Treasures of the Texas Coast” and depict why the Texas coast is important or special to the participating student. The top 40 pieces of art will appear in a 2021 calendar which will be distributed throughout the state.

to see children appreciating the wildlife and natural beauty of our coast through their own artwork and talent.”

Miami, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral or Puerto Rico, and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston.

The grand prize winner’s teacher will also receive a prize package to include two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines and one 7-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

“The Texas Coastline is one of the many treasures that makes our great state unique,” said Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush. “The Adopt-A-Beach Art Contest gives children an early opportunity to learn more about the Texas coast and discover the importance of keeping it clean.

It is encouraging and inspiring

All 40 winners will receive a ticket to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, two tickets to the Houston Zoo, a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium, two all day passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston, prizes, a certificate of recognition from the Texas General Land Office and a calendar displaying the winning artwork.

In addition, one Grand Prize Winner will be selected to receive two round-trip coach-class tickets from United Airlines to any destination in the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, one 7-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean International departing out of Galveston,

The winning artwork will be on display in the South Central Gallery at the state capitol May 20th through 27th. Special thanks to State Representative Dennis Paul for sponsoring the exhibit this year.

All entries must be postmarked

by Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

Guidelines and Entry Form for the art contest can be found on the Adopt-A-Beach website.

VOICE OF ASIA 13

Section 2

Business

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tesla continues surge as US stocks gain

Virus outbreak to delay Chinese purchase of US goods: Trump aide

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ASHINGTON | AFP | 2/4/2020 - The new coronavirus outbreak in China will delay Beijing’s plans to purchase goods from the United States under the terms of a trade deal, a top US trade official said Tuesday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been credited with the electric company’s surge over the last five months. (AFP photo)

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ew York, United States | AFP | 2/4/2020 - Wall Street stocks jumped Tuesday, gaining for a second straight session as fears eased over an economic hit from the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Major US indices rose more than one percent, with analysts citing economic stimulus measures by the People’s Bank of China for cushioning the blow in that country, as well as the extremely limited spread of the ailment so far in the United States.

Despite more cases, the rise “was not enough to cause panic on Wall Street, or to increase the fear that China and other countries won’t be able to get it under control,” said Tom Cahill, portfolio strategist at Ventura Wealth Management The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4 percent to finish the session at 28,807.63.

The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 1.5 percent closing at 3,297.59, while the techrich Nasdaq Composite Index surged 2.1 percent to 9,467.97.

The gains Tuesday added to the February recovery following Friday’s rout on rising fears that the virus outbreak would derail global growth, even as

officials have confirmed that growth will take a hit at least in the first quarter.

The companies seeing a rebound included travel-oriented stocks that tumbled last week, including United Airlines, which surged 5.3 percent and Marriott International, which advanced 4.2 percent.

Still, World Bank President David Malpass said the international organization plans to revise its global growth forecast downwards due to the outbreak, on an expected slowdown in China and the likely hit to global supply chains that depend on the country.

Meanwhile, Tesla surged 13.7 percent, adding to a nearly 20 percent rise Monday as it continued to reach new records following a run of strong results.

Most other leading technology companies also advanced, including Apple, Amazon and Netflix, all of which won at least two percent.

An exception was Google-parent Alphabet, which slid 2.6 percent after reporting fourth-quarter sales that missed expectations despite stellar growth at YouTube and in their cloud-oriented businesses.

Bhutan makes Indians pay ‘sustainable development fee’

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HIMPHU, Bhutan | AFP | 2/4/2020 - Bhutan is introducing a “sustainable development fee” for regional tourists following a spike in Indian visitors that has sparked worries for the unique Himalayan kingdom’s cherished ecology.

The majority of tourists already cough up $250 per day in high season -- including meals, transport, and accommodation -- to visit the country of 750,000 people famous for putting happiness before economic growth and being carbon negative.

But this “high value, low impact” strategy has come under strain in recent years because of a sharp rise in visitors from its giant neighbour India -- who are exempt from the levy.

On Monday Bhutan’s lower house of parliament passed legislation meaning that visitors from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives have to pay a fee of 1,200 ngultrums ($16.85) per day from July.

In 2018, Bhutan received 200,000 visitors from countries in the region, up nearly 10 percent from 2017, sparking fears that it was becoming just another mass tourism destination.

India’s superstar cricket captain Virat Kohli did much to publicise Bhutan when he posted on social media photos from a recent trip with his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.

While India’s foremost celebrity couple, nicknamed collectively as “Virushka”, behaved themselves, others have not.

Last October an Indian biker caused outrage by clambering on top of a monument to pose for a photograph.

However, the chairman of Bhutan’s hotel and restaurants association, Sonam Wangchuk, voiced fears that newly built budget hotels accommodating the surge in Indian visitors would now go bust.

The US and China agreed in January to a deal that ended their trade war, with Beijing agreeing to buy an additional $200 billion in American goods over the next two years, including agricultural and manufacturing products.

But the virus -- which has killed more than 400 people, spread worldwide and disrupted business in China -- has thrown a wrench into the works.

In an interview with Fox Business Network, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow acknowledged that the outbreak may delay the deal’s implementation.

“The export boom from that trade deal will take longer because of the Chinese virus, that is true,” he said.

However, Kudlow said he expected “minimal impact” from the virus on the US economy.

“The world is not in Wuhan,” he said, referring to the Chinese city where the outbreak began.

The trade tensions between the US and China fueled a global growth slowdown in 2019, and concerns are rising that the outbreak could continue to hamper economic growth this year.

Hyundai suspends domestic production over China outbreak

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EOUL, South Korea | AFP South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor will suspend all domestic production because of a lack of parts due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, it said Tuesday.

The global car industry operates on tight supply lines and was thrown into turmoil when Japan’s Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in 2011 knocked out a Renesas Electronics factory producing a vital and widely used computer chip.

The outbreak of the coronavirus had disrupted the supply of parts for Hyundai, the company said.

“Hyundai Motor has decided to suspend its production lines from operating at all of its plants in Korea,” the carmaker said in a statement.

The order of suspensions would vary, it said, adding that all domestic production would cease on Monday.

Hyundai operates 20 plants worldwide, including seven in South Korea, and last year sold a total of 4.4 million vehicles.

Its South Korean production amounted to around 1.8 million vehicles, or approximately 35,000 a week.

The virus outbreak had disrupted the procurement of auto parts called wiring harnesses, which are mostly supplied from China.

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Tel: 713-774-5140

‘I do’: Tiffany shareholders back LVMH bid after long courtship

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ARIS | AFP | Tuesday 2/4/2020 - The shareholders of US jewellery company Tiffany gave the green light Tuesday for its acquisition by luxury behemoth LVHM for a sum of $16.2 billion, setting the French firm up to become a power player in fine gems at a time that demand is soaring.

The deal comes after a long wooing campaign by LVMH, already the world’s top luxury firm overall, for one of the world’s most famous jewellery houses, known for wedding rings and diamonds.

In a statement, LVMH announced that “stockholders of Tiffany & Co have voted overwhelmingly to approve the previously announced merger agreement relating to the proposed acquisition of Tiffany by LVMH.” According to an agreement announced in November, LVMH will pay $135 per share in cash, “in a transaction with an equity value of approximately 14.7 billion euros or $16.2 billion,” it said.

“This approval is a significant milestone as we move closer to completing our acquisition of Tiffany, an iconic company with a rich heritage and unique positioning in the global luxury jewellery market,” added billionaire Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH. “A globally recognised symbol of love, Tiffany will be an outstanding addition to our unique portfolio of luxury brands. We look forward

Tiffany owners are ready to tie the knot (AFP Photo/Eric Piermont)

to welcoming Tiffany into the LVMH family and helping the brand reach new heights as an LVMH Maison.”

The company said the transaction was expected to close mid-2020 subject to regulatory approvals.

Tiffany, founded in 1837 and headquartered on Fifth Avenue in New York, has long symbolised American sophistication, most memorably in the 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” starring Audrey Hepburn, based on the Truman Capote novella.

- Largest luxury group But even though its trademark Blue Boxes have often heralded tears of joy, analysts say it has struggled to refresh its image and attract a younger clientele. The deal adds Tiffany to LVMH’s extensive stable of luxury brands that include Louis Vuitton, Dior and Moet & Chandon, and will strength-

en its position in the United States.

It also lets LVMH tap into a different type of luxury demand, from clients who view their purchase as more of an investment than an impulse buy.

Tiffany had been lagging behind its rivals in terms of sales growth in recent years, and is expected to benefit from LVMH’s extensive global network and promotional power.

The addition of Tiffany to LVMH’s jewellery holdings, which already include Bulgari, Chaumet, Tag Heuer and Hublot, vaults it past Swissbased Richemont, which holds Cartier among other brands.

LVMH began its public courting of Tiffany on October 15 with an offer of $120 per share. In November, it raised its bid to about $130, which convinced Tiffany to open its books to LVMH, which then offered $135 to clinch the deal.

TRAVEL

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Harris County RIDES program celebrates its one millionth trip

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he Harris County RIDES program recently celebrated its 1 millionth trip. In October 2003, Harris County launched the pilot program known today throughout the community as Harris County RIDES.

Harris County RIDES is a great option for people, meeting the criteria, for whom public transportation is either unavailable or inaccessible. Harris County RIDES operates in all areas of the County, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rider 1 million is Ms. Peggy Huse who said, “The program allows me to be independent and not bother my daughter with my doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping.” Ms. Huse has been a client of the RIDES program for 14 years, and is one of the original riders.

She uses Harris County RIDES up to twice a day, travelling from where she lives in San Jacinto City to her appointments on the East Freeway.

Individuals who are 65 or older, or who are disabled (regardless of age) are eligible to use the program. If one is over

65, there is no need to prove disability. The disabled who are under 65 must get proof of disability from their doctor. Those who are qualified can go to the website to fill in a one-page application that can be returned by email, regular mail, or by going to the Harris County RIDES office at 8410 Lantern Point Drive.

Harris County Community Services Director, Joshua Stuckey said, “Harris County RIDES is an integral part of the services we provide for the County as it allows individuals who are not able to access public transportation to do the things they need to do on a daily basis. It provides members of our community with a sense of independence and freedom that they otherwise would not have.”

The program currently part-

ners with over 30 agencies and provides transportation to seniors and people with disabilities. Harris County RIDES is a curb-to-curb subsidized program that allows eligible customers and participating agencies to purchase transportation services at a significant discount.

Fifty-percent of the cost of the trip is split between the RIDES program and the individual users, or the various partner agencies that sponsor their clients.

Funding sources include FTA 5307 Urban Formula Funds and FTA 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and People with Disabilities.

RIDES currently has an active client base of 24,853 and provides more than 10,000 trips per month. Inter-local agreements between Harris County and neighboring counties allow

Harris County RIDES to serve the same specialized population in those counties. Harris Coun-

ty RIDES has become known for its regional coordination of transportation services.

For more information on how to qualify for Harris County RIDES, call 713-368-7433.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. PRESIDENTS

Week of Febuary 7, 2020 HOROSCOPE.COM

21 March to 20 April As thoughtful Mercury enters a private zone, its presence can encourage reflection and bring a chance to connect with your deeper feelings on key issues. You might also be more inclined to follow your dreams and spend time exploring their deeper meaning. This can be a time of coincidence and synchronicity when things come together.

21 April to 20 May The sun in your sector of goals can be an opportunity to shine. Use this time to showcase your best skills. If you sense that it’s time to take a step forward, do your best to impress. Talkative Mercury enters your social sector early in the week, and it can also inspire you to have more fun by making you inquisitive and eager to find out more.

21 May to 20 June Thoughtful Mercury moves into your career sector where it encourages you to think logically. With dreamy Neptune already in this zone, it can sometimes be difficult to separate what you want from what others want. Lively Mercury could encourage you to look at the facts and apply some common sense. However, you’ll also be more aware of your instinct and sixth sense.

21 June to 22 July Inquisitive Mercury moves into your sector of travel and adventure on Monday, and you might be in the mood to expand your options. What is normal and familiar may seem a tad boring, and you might look for fresh alternatives that excite you or involve a learning curve. Still, as this chatty planet aligns with restless Uranus midweek, a friend’s suggestion could encourage you to take off on an impromptu trip.

23 July to 22 August While the sun lights up your sector of relating, encouraging you to reach out and connect, inquisitive Mercury moves into a more intense zone on Monday.

You may find yourself reflecting on issues that require closure. For this to happen, though, it might help to talk things through with someone you feel comfortable with. It could be a counselor, life coach, or even a friend.

23 August to 22 Sept The illuminating sun is in your lifestyle sector, making this a good opportunity to consider your routines and how you might use them to enhance your life. And with a supermoon, or turbocharged full moon, building up this week and taking place this weekend, this is a prime time to let go of those habits that have been holding you back.

23 September to 22 Oct This is very much a time when indulging in hobbies that you enjoy can recharge and restore you. Plus, romantic options could light up your life, especially since this is the month with Valentine’s Day. Logical Mercury enters your sector of work and service early on, so you may find that getting organized helps you to be more productive.

23 October to 21 Nov As articulate Mercury enters your leisure zone on Monday, it encourages you to explore avenues that can inspire and inform.

You might benefit from attending cultural events like art exhibitions, concerts, theater, and anything else that you’re drawn to. This is also your romance sector, so you may find you most easily connect with those who share your interests and whose conversation appeals to you.

22 November to 21 Dec Home and family life perk up this week as convivial Mercury moves into this sector and encourages conversations about key issues. Its presence in Pisces can inspire you to connect with your feelings and share them in a sensitive way.

You might also have plans that you’re ready to put into action.

22 December to 20 Jan Sobering Saturn eases away from powerful Pluto in your sign, which indicates that a key issue could seem less fraught. Any pressure you’ve felt might slowly melt away. Plus, with the sun in your money zone, its presence can shed a light on your current situation and encourage you to make wise investments. Talkative Mercury’s presence could inspire you to reach out with those on your wavelength.

21 January to 19 Feb With the sun illuminating your sign, you may note a greater sense of confidence and vitality. This is something you can channel into your plans and projects as well as your daily life. Chatty Mercury moves into your money zone on Monday, making this an excellent time to get organized and perhaps create a budget or savings plan.

20 February to 20 Mar With the sun continuing in your spiritual zone, you’re still in a phase in which you may benefit from reflection and tying up loose ends. This can be an opportunity to let go of emotional baggage that may have snarled up your efforts in the past. Talkative Mercury moves into your sign, though, so you may be able to give voice to your dreams and any ideas you’ve been hatching.

ACROSS 1. Frenzied 5. Between fathers and sons?

8. Not fake news 12. Black-tie occasion 13. Pupil’s place 14. Whatchamacallit 15. Similar 16. Nessie’s lake 17. Poet T.S. 18. *He called his residence the White House 20. Dashing style 21. Opposite of cathode 22. No-goodnik 23. Same as Danzig 26. Inside information, pl.

30. Antonym of keep 31. Data input device 34. ____ Madrid Club de Fútbol 35. Anomie, alt. sp.

37. Stupid person 38. First M in MGM 39. Narcotics agent, for short 40. Jennifer Lopez’ 2019 movie swindle 42. Band aid 43. Hiked the Inca Trail, e.g.

45. Threat, two words 47. H+, e.g.

48. “Fences” actress Davis 50. Long forearm bone 52. *His epitaph doesn’t mention his presidency 56. Abracadabra, e.g.

57. *First Lady of the US for only one month 58. Milano moolah 59. *Where JFK’s “Honey Fitz” spent time 60. Two of a kind, pl.

61. Winglike 62. Ring-around-the-rosy flower 63. “C’____ la vie!”

64. *President during Mexican-American War

SOLUTION:

DOWN 1. Petri dish filler 2. Kind of shark 3. Assortment 4. Dorothy Gale, e.g.

5. Gordon Gekko: “____ is good” 6. Bridal path 7. “Hey, over here!”

8. *He installed library at the White House 9. Marco Polo’s destination 10. “Oh ____!”

11. Little squirt 13. Conjure up 14. “Faster!” to a horse 19. Glorify 22. *Announce presidential ____ 23. *He established Yellowstone as 1st national park 24. 1/100 of a rial 25. “I love you” or “J’____” 26. *Only one to hold position in Executive and Judicial branches 27. Prenatal 28. Orwell’s animals’ turf, pl.

29. North face, e.g.

32. “You had” or “you would” 33. Baryshnikov’s step 36. *First president to campaign by telephone 38. Dixon of “The Walking Dead” 40. Farm layer 41. Body scrubbers 44. Bear Down Under 46. Hearing organ cover 48. Second planet from the Sun 49. “____ ____ me, then who?”

50. Machinating 51. Not more 52. Green gem 53. Storage cylinder 54. Face-to-face exam 55. Police informer 56. Tree juice

U.S. PRESIDENTSon Page 15

VOICE OF ASIA 15

B

SMALL BUSINESSES / CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

D

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Selling Your Business?

We can help you get faster results though our online listing.

Call 713-774-5140 Email Obituaries to us at: voiceasia@aol.com Deadline for publication: Tuesdays by 5pm.

List Your Business CALL TODAY 713-774-5140 Vega Soft Inc. acquIred by regal It SerVIceS Inc. Vega Soft Inc., a Houston, Texas-based company, has been acquired by Regal IT Services, Inc., a fast-growing company in the IT Consulting sector.

Vega Soft’s acquisition will help to boost Regal IT’s market reach and its extensive operations will allow it to take better advantage of missed business opportunities.

Accounting Assistant

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ax Consulting Firm’s accepting resumes from qualified entry level accounting graduate for “Accounting Assistant” Position.

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When you find some time, READ!

READ DAILY! 15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel!

A Community message from Voice of Asia Group

READ MORE COMMUNITY NEWS ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIA.NEWS

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Theme: U.S. PRESIDENTS

from Page 14

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, February 7, 2020

Home&Real Estate 2020 Interior design trends on the horizon

A compact house in Japan is defined by dynamic arches and lush courtyards

T

he 645-square-foot house that architects Yousaku and Madoca Tsutsumi of Arbol Design imagined for a compact lot in Osaka, Japan, is marked by a poetic series of archways and lush courtyards. The clients, a family of three, specifically requested Peranakan architectural details. “They wanted an extraordinary atmosphere; simple, exotic elements that would enrich their hearts,” Yousaku says.

Overall design trends are evolving. (Photo: StatePoint)

T

he beginning of the new year is a natural time to think about refreshing the look of your home, and in 2020, “cozy” and “warm” are trending keywords for interior design, according to experts, with luxurious textiles, inviting color palettes, and warm mixed metals found across all design styles.

While a maximalism approach is on the horizon, clean and modern design schemes continue to reign.

“Use a minimalist approach, allowing patterned décor to add pops of color,” advises Eliza Alkire, trend expert and product designer for Progress Lighting. “Accent this with hanging planters and potted greenery to enhance the character of any room with an organic look.”

To make the most of your space this year, consider this design advice from Alkire and the experts at Progress Lighting: - Materials, Shapes and Finishes While neutral color schemes are tried-and-true, in 2020, you’ll want to turn to an updated palette consisting of warm, earthen undertones. Choose lighting finished in mixed metals to accent the neutral scheme while adding visual interest and depth.

Recent years have seen light-

ing combine black chrome and gold finishes. Now, warm tones of natural brass, bronze and copper mixed with silver and black will be found across lighting designs, cabinet pulls and plumbing hardware. Move over, stainless steel! Just remember to keep the look uncluttered by not mixing more than two or three metals in one space.

Geometric shapes are dominating design trends. Adding lighting in triangle, diamond, hexagonal or combination of geometric shapes is one of the easiest ways to transform a space and add wow-factor. Make sure to balance statement-making lighting with clean, classic patterns and colors on furnishings and accessories.

Create warmth with tactile elements. Luxurious, richly-textured fabrics like velvet, suede and leather work nicely with clean, contemporary interiors as well as rustic farmhouse spaces.

Try vibrantly-colored velvets furnishings, pillows and throws.

Wallpaper is making a comeback: use it in small areas like powder room walls, or make a splash with a floral accent wall.

-Style Evolution Overall design trends are evolving. Homes that were previously traditional are now termed “new traditional” as they

take on fun, youthful elements that keep the design fresh.

Lighting fixtures have mixed metal finishes or are designed in new takes on classic silhouettes, such as large lanterns and chandeliers done in linear shapes.

Mountain style goes beyond a rustic, cabin look to take on a modern form with clean lines, neutral color palettes and uncluttered interiors. With open layouts and tall ceilings, sweeping views command attention.

Lighting is oversized, with airy, open designs meant to cast light without obstructing views from the plentiful windows in the space.

For fans of farmhouse style, this look has taken a delightful turn, with fewer rustic details and more modern charm.

Subtle hues go beyond a white and gray palette into the realm of soft greens and blush pinks.

Lighting is inspired by historical design with industrial details like working pulleys, but is combined with clean lines for a relaxed, casual vibe.

For more tips and inspiration, visit Progress Lighting at progressltg.com/Inspiration.

To stay on-trend in the new year, think cozy, warm and inviting.

-StatePoint

You can sell your home online with this real estate website

by Chelsey Hernandez

H

OUSTON, Monday, February 3, 2020 (KTRK) -- If you’re looking to sell your home, there’s a digital way to do so online that will save you thousands of dollars in closing costs!

Door.com is an online real estate platform that started in Dallas in 2016 and recently made its debut in Houston. The website allows users to easily sell their home online, making it convenient for homeowners.

You never have to meet your licensed agent in person: it’s all done via video chat. Dat Chu found this helpful when he was selling his Houston home while already living in California.

“I feel like the price is very affordable, definitely cheaper than a real estate agent,” said Chu. “Also, I’m working with a team. They have their own stager and photographer and dedicated person that takes care of everything until closing.”

Door.com promises to charge a flat $5,000 closing fee and on average customers save $12,000 in closing costs.

“I think that the days of getting into a car with your realtor and they drive you around town are over,” said Jackson Upchewsaw with Door.com. “People want convenience and they want things on demand, on their schedule, and we save you a ton of money in the process.”

- Channel 13 Consumer News

“This site in Osaka Prefecture is in the center of the city, where there are temples and old Japanese-style row houses,” Madoca says. Inspired by Peranakan Architecture, Arbol devised a series of dramatic arches that define pathways from one room to the next. The curved openings also frame views of the courtyards, help gradate the influx of sunlight, and create shadow play.

“The size of the arches varies rhythmically,” Yousaka says. “The gardens, the ceiling incline, and the sequence of arches create a sight line that gives psychological depth. You can feel the connection with the outside—the arches and partial arches produce a sense of openness.”

Like the neighboring residences, the home presents as a row house, but the arches, the yard just beyond the front facade, and the central courtyard provide an indoor/outdoor connection that lets it live larger than its 645 square feet. “You can feel the sunlight and watch the seasons change,” Madoca says.

- Dwell.com