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Massive turnout at India's 73rd Independence Day Celebrations in Houston Celebrations held at the Indian Consulate, India House & India Culture Center to Jammu and Kashmir (provisions of Article 370).

by Shobana Muratee

OUSTON – On Thursday, August 15, Indian Americans gathered in large numbers at the Indian Consulate to witness the flag hoisting ceremony on India’s 73rd Independence Day. The entire area around the Consulate was cordoned off by security due to heavy traffic. Guests dressed in vibrant ethnic attire and bold decorations in tricolors representing the Indian flag were bold was visible from afar.

The celebrations started on a somber note with the unfurling of the flag by the Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray, joined by Deputy Consul General Surender Adhana and a few community leaders. Indian National anthem was sung after which the guests assembled in the hall for second part of the program. Welcoming the gather, Consul General Dr. Ray, who has two months remaining to his tenure, expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming turnout. “All we have gathered here today to celebrate a long struggle that we fought. Many people died so that we could fly the flag that we unfurled outside,” he said. He spoke of tradition that all embassies and consulates across the

Three luxury buses were arranged by the Consulate for seniors and other members attending the event. Despite valet parking, there were cars lined up along many blocks waiting to park. There was great senses of solidarity and conscious effort to turn up in large numbers partly due to the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with India revoking special status India's Independence Day celebration at the Consulate General of India, Houston. (Photo credit: Consulate Facebook)

Trump: other countries must shoulder fight against jihadists

Historic response to “Howdy, Modi!” in Texas Over 50,000 register in three weeks for Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi event at Houston’s NRG Stadium

ver 50,000 registered in three weeks; Event sold out; new registrants now on the waitlist for the event

He also warned Europeans to take back nationals captured fighting for the Islamic State, or he will release them back to their countries. Asked by journalists if he is concerned about the reemergence of the Islamic State group in Iraq, Trump said forces under his lead had wiped out the extremists' caliphate. "At a certain point Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, they are going to have to fight their battles too." Continued on Page 9

Continued on Page 3

Iraq's rapid response forces detain a man as they storm a house north of Baghdad searching for wanted Islamic State group suspects on July 21, 2019. (AFP Photo/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

August 20, 2019 – Houston: In an unprecedented gathering of Indian-Americans in the United States, over 50,000 attendees have registered in the past three weeks for a sold-out “Howdy, Modi” community summit featuring India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, September 22nd at the NRG Stadium. With that milestone, the live audience will be the largest for an Indian Prime Minister in North America and the largest for a foreign leader visiting the United States other than the Pope. The Indian

Prime Minister will be visiting the US next month to give an annual speech at the General Assembly prior to which he will travel to Houston to meet the leading business, political and community leaders of Texas and the large Indian-American community based here. Attendees will celebrate a vibrant India and a strong U.S.-India relationship based on mutual respect and strong commercial and diplomatic ties. The summit, with the theme of “Shared Dreams, Bright Futures” will highlight the contributions of IndianAmericans in enriching the American life for the last seven decades as well as the key role Continued on Page 10

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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

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

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Editor Online: Shobana Muratee All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com. It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear inVoice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, theVoice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. — The Publisher Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $50 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074.

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Revocation of Article 370: A time for Pakistan to move beyond Indian Kashmir Chandra Mittal, Professor Houston Community College

by Dr. Chandra K. Mittal fter the wave of mass hysteria, commotion and scorn, over the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, subside both in India and Pakistan, political reality will sink in on both sides that Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain the integral part of India. It will also compel Pakistan’s political establishment and military leadership to accept that Line-of-Control (LOC) between two nations as set by the United Nationsbrokered ceasefire in 1949 after the 1947-1948 First Kashmir War, and accepted by the two nations is the final international boundary between the two.

Furthermore, history will also judge the revocation of Article 370 by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as purely an “internal matter” of India since the article is built in part XXI of the Indian Constitution as the “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions”, and was adopted by Jammu And Kashmir State in 1954 giving it autonomy in some areas. So, revocation of 370 to change the status of Indian J&K from a “semi-autonomous” to a fully integrated state of India is completely an Indian prerogative, and cannot be questioned by Pakistan. The abrogation has essentially sealed the fate of J&K state for the foreseeable future. But, the neighboring Pakistan has reacted sharply against this Indian domestic action, even to the extent of hurling personal insults on Prime Minister Narendra Modi violating norms of international conduct. The Prime Minister Imran Khan

of Pakistan has equated PM Modi to Adolf Hitler, and his political party Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and its sister organization Rastriya Swayamsavak Sangh (RSS) to the Nazi Party of Germany that annihilated Millions of Jews in the last century. Pakistani leadership has been also inciting anti-India sentiments among the Indian Muslims to create fear and encourage separatist thoughts. To express its displeasure, Pakistan has also launched an initiative to condemn India on the world stage by complaining to various head of states, as well as raising the matter in the United National Security Council (UNSC). But in response, it has failed to receive any support. Indeed, in some cases it has been rebuked by them. For example, US President Donald Trump has reportedly called Imran Khan and asked him to “Moderate his rhetoric” against India. Also, the UNSC refused to intervene in the matter of Article 370 abrogation by India, calling it purely India’s “internal” matter. Historically, since its creation in 1947 by the British, Pakistan has not lived in peace with India due to its dissatisfaction with the Jammu and Kashmir State joining secular India. Although, Maharaja Hari Singh, ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in British India, opted to join secular India by signing the “Instrument of Accession” with it on 26 October 1947, and expressively made it an integral part of India. But, Pakistan has refused to accept Indian Kashmir as part of India and has continued to acquire it. Immediately after the partition of India in 1947, Pakistan invaded the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a military conflict called the First Kashmir war, which lasted

for more than a year and killed some 6000 Pakistani soldiers. But it did succeed in occupying one-third of the former princely state of Kashmir in the North, leaving two-third in the South with India with a dividing line between two, called the Line-Of-Control (LOC). It is this LOC that was accepted by both India and Pakistan on July 27, 1949 in Karachi (Karachi Agreement), and became the internationally recognized boundary between the two nations. But, Pakistan has continued to label Indian Kashmir as the “Disputed Territory” and has continued its efforts to annex it by all means, fair and foul. It has had four major military confrontations with India, as well as has directly and indirectly supported many subversive activities inside India. These include support and encouragement for terroristic activities, domestic separatist movements, and insurgency inside India. The February 2019 terrorist attack in Pulwama, Kashmir and the 2008 terrorist attack in Taj Hotel in Mumbai which killed scores of innocent Indian people, are the prime examples of Pakistan’s complicity in subversions inside India. Ironically, though, none of these efforts have enabled Pakistan to achieve its core objective of annexing Indian Kashmir. In fact, these involvements have only given Pakistan negative publicity. Pakistan is admitted a powerful nation with large armies and armaments including the nuclear capabilities. But so is India with larger army, much bigger economy, and the credible nuclear capability with a vibrant scientific support infrastructure. It is a fallacy that Pakistan can ever achieve its Kashmir objective militarily as the record shows. The nuclear confrontation, on the other hand, be-

tween two nations is neither practical due to geographical proximity, nor desirable due potential catastrophic consequences. This realistically leaves Pakistan with only one option, and that is to accept the post Article 370 Indian Kashmir, and turn its attention away from Indian Kashmir and direct its resources towards domestic economic, social and political development to build a modern state on the principals of “MedineKi-Riyasat” that Prime Minister Imran Khan so often and so aptly aspires for at his public rallies and speeches. It is indeed a laudable goal that can be within the reach of its people. At the birth of Pakistan in 1947, the Founding Father Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah had dreamt of a Pakistan that would be peaceful, prosperous, progressive, and strong. He had envisioned a Pakistan that would a vibrant democracy and living in peace with cooperation with India. But those dreams of the Founder remain shattered and continue to elude the people of Pakistan due to its disproportionate allocation of limited resources for defense purposes. Its occupation with Kashmir has only burdened it resources causing economic and political instability. Perhaps the cessation of hostility with India on the Kashmir issue, and establishment of a lasting peace with India could give Pakistan a respite it desperately needs to create the “Medine-Ki-Riyasat” in Pakistan that Mr. Imran Khan often talks about.

Dr. Chandra Mittal is Professor at Houston Community College, Op-Ed Columnist for Voice of Asia, and the Co-Founder of IndoAmerican Association (IAA) Houston.

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Section 1

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Massive turnout at India's 73rd Independence Day Celebrations in Houston was to travel an extensive trip with President William Jefferson Clinton,” recounting her trip to the subcontinent. “Only eight members of Congress were invited for that long ten-day journey to the region that included India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.” President Clinton was the first American President to visit India. “What and amazing experience, we travelled everywhere. President Clinton was at the Taj Mahal on an elephant and that picture remains in the history books of India,” she said. “On this 73rd commemoration of Independence, the children of India are happy, and I was delighted to hear that the children of India are happy.” “This community has lived in peace and has provided investment, education, knowledge, and friendship,” she added.

Flag hoisting ceremony at the India Consulate. (Photo credit: Consulate Facebook) Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee being presented with a bust of Mahatma Gandhi by India's Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray and his wife Dr. Amit Goldberg. (Consulate Facebook Photo) Continued from front page

world, wherever there are Indians, observed on this today which was a two-part ceremony. “We unfurl the flag and then we read the address of the President of India,” he said. On a more poignant note he added, “This is the moment that we remember, right now where we are, here in the comforts of this wonderful country which has given hope to so many of you, that there are Indian soldiers today standing in Jammu and Kashmir fighting the battle for us. Let us remember them.”

Deputy Consul General, Surender Adhana read President Ram Nath Kovind’s address in its entirety (which was partly in Hindi and English).

She was presented with copper bust of Gandhi by Consul General Dr. Ray and his wife Dr. Amit Goldberg. The guests were treated to lunch and later joined in the bhangra dancing in the front area of the Consulate office.

On the occasion, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee addressed the gathering, “I come in the name of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King,” she said to the cheering audience. In her long service spanning nearly 12 terms in the US Congress, she said, “I had the privilege, in that tenure, to be a part of the very select and elite group which

For excerpts of India's President's Speech on the eve of India's 73rd Independence Day Visit us @ voiceofasia. news

Consulate members are joined by the Indian Americans for bhangra dancing in fron the of the

Consulate office. (Photo credit: Consulate Facebook)

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Your Realtor for Home Buying & Quick Sell We Have a Team to Assist with Credit Issues Koshy Thomas and Moani Thomas were married 56 years ago on August 23, 1963. They both hail from Kerala, South India and come to the United States in the early 70s settling in New York for a few years before they moved to Houston in 1978. Here, they made a permanent home raising their three daughters who are all successful attorneys. They have three grandsons whom they dote on. Koshy started his publication in 1987 and called it Voice of Asia, a mirror into the steadily growing Asian population in the Greater Houston areas. Now in its 32th year of publication, the newsweekly caters to a wider population covering major counties around Houston. His passion to keep the community informed and educated led him to launch several other magazines like Fortunes India, Asia Business Journal, Yellow Pages, and HealthLine (no longer in circulation) and more recently partner with major TV channel ABC13 for content sharing. Moani has always been his best critique as well as a supporter of all his projects. Watching them work together is both inspirational and encouraging. Their faith and family is paramount, which they believe keeps them together.

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COMMUNITY

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“Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” rapidly approaching 100,000 schools target” by Prakash Waghmare

onsidering Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation’s (‘EVF’ or ‘Ekal’) profound impact and rapid growth at the grass-root level, Honorable Indian PM Narendra Modi in 2017 gave ‘Ekal’ a unique goal of establishing 100,000 schools by 2022. In India’s history, 2022 has a very distinctive significance. It happens to be the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. On this front, the most exciting new development is that EVF is undoubtedly going to ring the ‘target-bell’ by early 2020 itself. As of this moment, Ekal already has 93,000 schools in the same number of villages that are grooming 2.55M children & youths each year for life’s major challenges. The most remarkable thing about these staggering numbers is, more than half of them are girls. Moreover, quite a few of its alumni have gone on to become high-caliber teachers, District Officers, company administrators and technocrats in their adult life. Although rooted in Education, Ekal has blossomed into healthcare, integrated village development and economic empowerment. Recently, ‘United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) confirmed that, defying global

Ekal received National Honor “Gandhi Peace Prize” from Govt of India. trend, India is likely to meet 100% child enrolment and school completion target set by them, in 2030. This heartening affirmation is nothing but a consequential endorsement of EVF’s educational mission in rural and tribal areas of India. This year, “Ekal Abhiyan Trust’ (an umbrella Orgz for various off-shoots of Ekal) was bestowed with Iconic National Honor – “Gandhi Peace Prize” – by the Govt of India, for its contribution to Education in remote areas, with gender and social equality. ‘EVF’ is the largest literacy movement undertaken by the Indians and NRIs in dozen countries.

In last one year alone, Ekal has successfully added 20,000 schools. This meteoric rise has been partly due to high-end “Future of India” GALAs that Ekal has started hosting in various metropolitan areas since 2017. Last year it hosted three Galas – Houston, Washington & New York – and raised over $5M. This was in addition to $6M it had already raised through its annual fund-raising concerts across USA in 55 cities. This year, two Galas have been planned - one in Los Angeles area and another in New York City. LA-Gala is being

THE STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI

In Champaran, “face-to-face with God, ahimsa, truth”

he annual meeting of the Congress was held in December 1916 in Lucknow. The Congress was divided. There were the moderates and there were the extremists, but at Lucknow the Congress met without tension between the two wings. The President, Ambika Charan Mazumdar, spoke in terms of Swaraj, which previous leaders had demanded. A resolution was passed appealing to His Majesty’s Government and demanding that a definite step should be taken towards Indian self-government by granting the reforms contained in the scheme prepared by the AllIndia Congress Committee and adopted by the All-India Muslim League. In Lucknow the Congress and the Muslim League came to an agreement. This was later known as the Lucknow Pact. For the sake of the unity of India the Congress conceded many points demanded by the Muslims. For two years Gandhi had travelled extensively in India and had talked at different places. He now wanted to start some work connected with labor. His interest first centered on the problem of indentured labor, the system under which poor, ignorant laborers were enticed away from India to work in the British colonies. He had fought this system in South Africa and he wanted to see it abolished.

The Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, announced that His Majesty’s Government had agreed to abolish the system’ in due course. Gandhi, however, wanted a definite date before which the system would go.

As a result of the agitation, the Government announced that the system of indentured labor would be stopped before July 31,1917. Gandhi had heard about an obnoxious system of agricultural labor prevailing in Bihar. In the Champaran district of Bihar, the cultivators were forced by Europeans to grow indigo, a blue dye, and this imposed on them untold sufferings. They could not grow the food they needed, nor did they re-

Suresh Iyer, President of ‘Ekal-USA’, has confirmed that, so far this year, Ekal has raised almost $5.5M Attributing this stunning achievement to thousands of its devout Donors and dedicated volunteers, Suresh is confident that, with two Galas, Ekal, will once again cut through $10 Million mark by the year’s end. In 2017, Bajrang Bagra, CEO of ‘Ekal Abhiyan Trust’ initiated a special literacy project for border regions like Jammu-Kashmir where 6,000 Ekal schools are in operation.

Mahatma Gandhi Week in Houston Call 713785-3900 or visit www. mahatmagandhilibrary.org ceive adequate payment for the indigo. Gandhi was unaware of this until an agriculturist from Bihar, Rajkumar Shukla, met him and told him of the woes of the people of Champaran. He requested Gandhi to go to the place and see for himself the state of affairs there. Gandhi was then attending the Congress meeting at Lucknow and he did not have time to go there. Rajkumar

Ayurveda for All

by Sunita Tarkunde

s we know now that Ayu is life. And goal of human existence is to be ‘happy’. This happiness that we all are looking for; is equated with balance in Ayurveda. Once our life is balanced, it yields happiness. Balance is the master key. “Ati Sarvatra Varjayet” meaning avoid everything in extreme. Balance in life is achieved through balanced Ahara, Vihara, and Nidra. These three like a tripod balance our life and any one misaligned leg can lead to wobbly life. Pillars of Ayu: Ahara – Food consumed by individual. Food that is consumed should be balancing to the individual, meaning food should be according to the Prakruti and the season. Food becomes like a medicine when received in balanced manner. And best of the best medicine can be ineffective if food is not balanced. Food is not just what we eat by mouth. Whatever is received through all five senses is considered as food. Seeing, hear-

Shukla followed him about, begging him to come and help the suffering villagers in Champaran. Gandhi at last promised to visit the place after he had visited Calcutta.

harm our cause.”

When Gandhi was in Calcutta, Rajkumar was there too, to take him to Bihar.

“That day in Champaran was an unforgettable event in my life ..... It is no exaggeration, but the literal truth, to say that in this meeting with the peasants, I was face to face with God, ahimsa and truth,” Gandhi wrote later. The Government withdrew the case against Gandhi and allowed him to remain in the district. Gandhi stayed there to study the grievances of the peasants. He visited many villages. He cross-examined about 8,000 cultivators and recorded their statements. In this way he arrived at an exact understanding of their plight and the causes.

Gandhi went to Champaran with Rajkumar early in 1917. On his arrival the District Magistrate served him with a notice saying that he was not to remain in the district of Champaran but must leave the place by the first available train.

So now Gandhi started a great agitation on this issue. He went to Bombay and consulted all the Indian leaders there. They fixed May 31, 1917 as the last date for the abolition of indentured labor. He then went around the country to get support for this view. Meetings were held in all important places. Everywhere there was a great response. Even Gandhi said that he had not expected so much public support.

hosted on Saturday, September 14 at ‘Hyatt Regency’ (200 South Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA), and NYC-Gala is taking place on Saturday, November 9 at the majestic ‘Gotham Hall’ (1356 Broadway, NYC, NY 10018). For details of ticket purchase, sponsorship or special-project enquiry, please check www.lagala.ekal.org OR www.nycgala.ekal.org for respective Galas. At LA-Gala, the keynote speaker is going to be ‘Emily Church’, Exec Dir of ‘XPrize Foundation’ with Bollywood heart-throb ‘Vivek Oberoi’ as the special guest. The entertainment will be provided by Bollywood Comedian ‘Omi Vaidya’ which will be capped by a fusion-music concert by ‘Nauzad’. ‘EVF’ is a duly registered non-profit Charitable Organization 501(C) in USA and dispenses all its assistance in rural areas irrespective of recipient’s religion, creed, caste and region. Its overhead is around 10%.

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Gandhi disobeyed this order. He was summoned to appear before the court. The magistrate said, “If you leave the district now and promise not to return, the case against you will be withdrawn: “This cannot be,” said Gandhi. “I came here to render humanitarian and national service. I shall make Champaran my home and work for the suffering people.’ A large crowd of peasants was outside the court shouting slogans. The magistrate and the police looked nervous. Then Gandhi said, “I shall help you and calm these people if you let me speak to them.” Gandhi appeared before the crowd and said, “You must show your faith in me and in my work by remaining quiet. The magistrate had the right to arrest me, because I disobeyed his order. If I am sent to jail, you must accept that as just. We must work peacefully. Any violent act will

The crowd dispersed peacefully. The police stared at Gandhi in admiration as he went inside the court.

He came to the conclusion that the ignorance of the cultivators was one of the main reasons why the European planters could exploit them. Gandhi set up voluntary organizations to improve the economic and educational conditions of the people. They opened schools and taught the people how to improve sanitation. The Government realized Gandhi’s strength and devotion to his causes. They themselves then set up a committee to enquire into the grievances of the cultivators. They invited Gandhi to serve on that committee, and he agreed. The result was that within a few months the Champaran Agrarian Bill was passed. It gave great relief to the cultivators and land tenants.

ing, touching, tasting and smelling is also part of Ahara. Over/under/wrong-usage of all sense organs can technically create a disease. That’s why fasting is considered as a chance to ‘give a break’ to our system, so it can heal itself. Water - 60-70% of our body is water. Water consumption falls under Ahara and should be practiced according to Prakruti and season. Vihara- Lifestyle Exercise is must for each and everyone and should be chosen in such a way that becomes balancing to the individual. Ayurveda recommends “Ardha Shakti Vyayama”- exert only half of your strength, beyond that threshold exercise can be harmful. Important part of life style is Stress management; plan and have fun at regular intervals. Nidra - Sleep Nothing can substitute as the best healer to a ‘good night sleep’. This is the priority, if you want to prevent or treat any disease. Live Ayurveda and stay Balanced!

Gandhi could not stay longer in Bihar. There were calls from other places. Labor unrest was brewing in Ahmedabad and Gandhi was requested to help settle the dispute. Gandhi hurried back to Ahmedabad. Before taking up the labor dispute Gandhi wanted to move his ashram. The Satyagraha Ashram was in a village near Ahmedabad, but the surroundings were not clean and plague had broken out. It had spread there from Ahmedabad. A rich merchant of Ahmedabad, who was closely associated with the ashram, volunteered to procure a suitable piece of land. Gandhi went about with him looking for land and at last they chose a place on the bank of the Sabarmati river, near the Sabarmati Central Jail. The land was purchased and there the famous Sabarmati Ashram was started. In Ahmedabad there were many textile mills. Prices had gone up and the mill workers were demanding higher wages. The mill owners would not agree. Gandhi sympathized with the workers and took up their cause. He launched a struggle and resorted to peaceful resistance. The workers proudly followed Gandhi and pledged their full support to him. They paraded the streets with large banners, and said they would not go back to work until a settlement had been reached. — To be continued

Sponsored by Houston Arts Alliance in honor of Mahatma Gandhi Sesquicentennial Houston celebrations. Great Summer Project For children! Enter Mahatma Gandhi Week 2019 citywide contests: Essay, I-Tribute, Poster and Speech contests. Visit gandhilibrary.org for registration and more information. By participating in these contests not only will the children make good use of their vacation time, they will also learn universal values of Truth, Nonviolence, Love and Service by participating in these contests.

VOICE OF ASIA 5

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The Challenges (and Triumphs) of a Young Manager

ulie Zhuo, Facebook’s VP of product design, started at the company as its first intern and became a manager at the age of 25. Like many first-time bosses, she made many missteps and acted how she thought managers were supposed to act. Eventually, she grew to find joy in the role and today she leads hundreds of people. She says that becoming a great manager also helps you know yourself better. Zhuo is the author of the book The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You. Flash back with me to the early days of Facebook. Not quite all the way back to founder Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard dorm room days, but not that long after. In the early 2000s, Facebook had set up in California and like a lot of startups there, a handful of bright, recent graduates were working long hours and fantasizing about changing the world. The entire company staff could fit into a backyard party. One of them was Julie Zhuo, who started there as the first intern. She studied computer science in college, got hired as a product designer and then a few years into the job she suddenly got a tap on the shoulder. She became a manager. It was a daunting experience, one with many missteps and misunderstandings. At just 25 years old she tried to act the way she thought a manager was supposed to act. Back then, Zhuo didn’t get much guidance on being a first-time manager and now she’s written the book she wishes had been there for her. Q: Julie, you became a manager at 25 and that almost could have gone differently right? You could have been – you could have stayed as an individual contributor and you could have been a top designer, and been involved in really cool projects, and never become the manager that you are today. And you clearly spent a lot of your time and energy and emotional energy just figuring out how to be the best manager you can be. So, looking back, I’m just curious, how much richer has being a manager made your life and

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

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Miami to become new powerhouse of tech startups

The VentureCity CEO Laura Gonzalez-Estefani, right, and co-founder Clara Bullrich during a meeting in Miami. (Photo: AFP)

Facebook VP Julie Zhuo (Photo: Facebook) what would you tell people at 25 if they have this opportunity to know about that path? JULIE ZHUO: The first thing I would say is that a lot of what learning to be a manager and learning to be a leader — because whenever you talk to pretty much anyone in their 20’s or early 20’s, I think everyone has this aspiration that they can grow their career. And growing their career means whether or not you are a manager that you’re growing as a leader of other people. And what I would say is there’s actually a ton of overlap and they are different roles, but what has been some of the most satisfying lessons that I’ve learned from management are frankly about how to grow as a leader. As kind of a more mature individual, as the kind of person that can help others, or that can rally a group of people around a particular cause. And so, it’s not about just like do

you have to pigeon hole yourself into one role or another, it’s just about saying OK, well what does it take to grow in my career as a leader? And I’ll try out some of the things that are about learning to work more effectively with people because frankly, at the end of the day if you want to be a leader you have to learn how to work through and with other people effectively. And that part is enriching and valuable, and you learn so much about yourself regardless of whether you think personally, management is managing a large team is the right path for you, or whether you want to continue to grow in your discipline. And so, I would just encourage people to take on whatever opportunities come their way that will enable them to learn some of those skills, to learn how to work through and with other people, and to learn how to become a stronger leader. - Harvard Business Review

IAMI | AFP | Sunday 8/17/2019 - Miami is famous for beach parties, gators that wander onto golf courses and iguanas that tumble out of palm trees. But now the city of "Scarface" and "Miami Vice" is vying to become a new powerhouse of tech startups that some in the business hope will spawn a novel phenomenon -- the "iguanacorn." The word is meant to represent the tropical answer to the Silicon Valley "unicorns," start-ups that are worth more than $1 billion. While still lagging behind San Francisco and New York, the Florida city is trying to position itself as a tech hub, and already has its first "unicorns" under its belt. They include ParkJockey, which has disrupted the car parking sector, and Magic Leap, which takes users into the world of augmented reality. Looking to surf the Florida tech wave, so-called startup accelerators -- firms that invest in fledgling tech ventures and speed up their early development -- are starting to pop up in

southern Florida. Among the leaders is 500 Startups, which opened a Miami branch last year, as well as TheVentureCity, set up two years ago to offer opportunities to Latin American and European entrepreneurs who lack Silicon Valley contacts. "Not everyone comes from Stanford or Columbia, from MIT, and has their own 'network' built up in San Francisco," said Laura Gonzalez-Estefani, a former Facebook executive and cofounder of TheVentureCity. The idea of her company is to "identify the best businesses outside of Silicon Valley and give them a boost," she told AFP. She jokingly refers to such ventures as "iguanacorns." "'Iguanacorns' is the way we tag the unicorns that are coming from emerging tech hubs," she said. Miami is already an international city, home to a diverse mix of Latinos and Europeans who can snack on Cuban croquettes or cross the street and find Russian "syrnikis," pancakes stuffed with cottage cheese.

COMMUNITY / I-DAY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

India House celebrates India's 73rd Independence Day

OUSTON - The Flag Hoisting at the India House promptly followed the formal ceremony was conducted at the India Consulate. India House Trustee, Dr. Virendra Mathur hoisted the US Flag, Jugal Malani, did the honors for the Indian flag, Hari Agrawal, the Texas Flag and Deviprasad Rungta, hoisted India House Flag. National Anthems of US and India were sung by the students of Rajarajeshwary. The guests later gathered in the hall for the remaing of the program. Dr. Virendra Mathur, welcomed the gathering and read out the excerpts from India's President's speech. This was followed by Jugal Malani, who spoke on In-

dia’s Independence and also informed everyone about impending visit of PM Modi to Houston on Sep 22nd. Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition was presented to India House by Sam Merchant on behalf of congressman Al Green. Also, a certification of appreciation was present by Jennifer Russell on behalf of Rodney Ellis, Commissioner, Harris County Precinct One. Couple of Patriotic songs were sung by Mukta Saxena in her melodious voice. Dance was performed by Sania & Suria Mehta. Sumptuous Lunch for everyone was provided jointly by Maharaja Bhog, Bombay Brasserie and Samy’s Dosakall.

Indian Americans and friends of India gather on the lawn of India House for the flags-hoisting ceremony.

India Culture Center's I-Fest focuses on the young and talented by Shobana Muratee

for coordinating the Kahoot Live Quiz, Nimish Sheth and Sapna Shah, Emcee Neera Patel for formal segment and Col. Raj Bhalla for his guidance in organizing Karan Patel Community Award Segment and many others. Tickets sale at the ICC booth was well handled by Hemantbhai, Nirmal Patel, Sanjay Sohini and Praful Gandhi. Rajiv Bhavsar and Swapan Dhairyawan were appreciated for coordinating with the dignitaries.

TAFFORD - India Culture Center, (ICC) the longest serving Indo-American organization in Houston has been celebrated India's 73rd Independence Day on Sunday, August 18 at the Stafford Center. The celebrations were part of the organization's signature event I-Fest that showcases India’s culture, art and music through local talent. This year’s theme was ‘Young India’. “Looking at characteristic of India today, - a country filled with energy, fresh ideas, can do attitude, initiatives , and motivation – nothing but young India, was the most befitting,” stated Event Chair, Pramod Bengani.

Isha and Arjun sang the Indian and American National Anthem respectively. This year, three scholarships were given high school student in legacy of ICC past President, Late Dr. Satish Jhingran, late Keshu Patel and Late Harshad Patel. “ICC acknowledges their valuable contribution for organization’s growth,” she said. Col. Raj Bhallaji, Parul Fernades and Charlie Patel served as judges on the selection. Three students were chosen winners out of seven applicants. They were Shomik , Shobha and Adharsh. Each received $1000in scholarships.

ICC Scholarship winners with the judges.

Nisha Mirani, President India Culture Center welcomed the gathering and dedicated the day’s celebrations to the stalwarts and past presidents whose leadership continues to reflect in the dedication of the successive leaders. She urged that everyone show enthusiasm and support Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Houston on September 22. Mirani thanks her team of Directors for their hard work and dedication to make the event a success. Special thanks went out to Pramod Beganji for chairing the event, Charlie and Ajit Patel for organizing a total of 60 booths, Santosh and Hemant Patel for

The two part event started with cultural segment coordinated by Nimesh and Swapna. Over ten performances by various dancing groups ranged from as young as five year olds to over 60s. Every item presented was vibrant and entertaining. Groups and Schools that participated

Dignitaries at the I-Fest. Photos by Shobana Muratee

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The Kahoot Live Quiz engaged the audience and three winners received a total of $500. The segment was sponsored by Charlie Patel The formal segment commenced after the traditional lighting of the lamp followed by messages from Mayor of Stafford Leonardo Scarcella who also presented a proclamation to Mirani on the occasion. Joe Zimberman, Mayor, City of Sugar Land, KP George, Fort Bend County Judge, Himesh Patel, Sugar Land, Counciman, Ken Mathew, Councilman, City of Stafford were some the dignitaries that spoke on the occasion. The event concluded on a musical note with Ek Sham Desh Ke Nam performed by Harmony Group with Rex Desouza and Shilpi Paul who entertained the rest of the program. A Souvenir and Digital Screen was put together by Nisha Mirani while Darshak Thakkar provided sound. Navin Mediwala did his service with his photography.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Enthralling Arangetram by Meghana Muralidharan Meghana Muralidharan’s Bharatanatyam Arangetram performed on August 17 at the Bayou Theater, U of H, Clear Lake, was, on all accounts, a consummate treat.

pakkamelam group, her Guru who is known for “not compromising for anything less than perfect “ was smiling with a nod of approval and one could see her wiping her eyes gently—-tears of JOY ????- I am sure.

“As the Guru Sunanda Nair appropriately summarized at the conclusion of the event, it was way more than an Arangetram, even by the standards of many professional events that we have seen. And I have seen plenty of such. I could add several superlative adjectives, but without hinting any flattery or excess, it was exceptional, outstanding, one of a kind. The Vocalist, Murali Parthasarathy gave the essential substance to the show along with the excellent supportive ensembles on mridangam by Venkatesan Vedakrishnan, violin by Sunil Bhaskar and of course the nattuvangam by the Guru Sunanda. No dance performance can go well without all of the accompaniments blending well in unison. And the chief guest, the legendary Soorya Krishnamoorthy was quite a unique surprise adding on to the excellence of the evening.

Meghana’s dance mate Preethi has this to say “Meghana and I danced together in the same Bharatanatyam class for over five years. Meghana’s dedication to perfection, genuine passion, and humility could convince an audience that she was a professional. This is exactly what she did at her Arangetram last week. It is no surprise that all Meghana’s hard work and determination culminated into one of the best, most enjoyable Arangetram performances I have seen. A great part of Meghana’s success goes to her Guru Dr. Sunanda Nair. She motivates, disciplines, encourages, and supports her students, to help them become the best dancers they can be.”

Meghana Muralidharan performing Bharatanatyam during her Arangetram on August 17, 2019. Photos by Murali Santhana

Meghana's performance was beyond perfection. And the star of the show, Meghana performed beyond perfection. Every piece, as different they were, excelled the other. In one of the best Varnams by Papanasam Sivan, that I have seen in any Arangetram, Meghana proved her mettle in her prowess and mastery of Nritta, Nritya, and Natya. I wish P. Bhaskaran was in the audience to watch his Keshadi Paadam, as Murali Parthasarathy rendered it with emotional perfection as Meghana added another dimension to bhakti with her exquisite Abhinaya. Bhaja Manasa was quite an impressive beginning while Kavadi Chintu was a surprising crowd-pleaser, and every other bit kept up the crescendo through the evening. Unique credit goes to Meghana,

Meghana's exquisite Abhinaya

that unlike many Arangetrams where invitees attend such debuts to bless and encourage the budding artists, this was an exceptional entertaining evening as many in the audience felt a letdown that it was about to end, when she started the Mangalam. Some of the pieces almost brought tears of happiness in me. I am sure that her illustrious Guru would continue to mold her as a worthy prodigy and that her parents would offer her with all the needed inspiration and encouragement.” Dr. Venugopal Menon Dr. Jay and Viji Raman had this to say“We want to congratulate Meghana for her "outstanding performance" at her Arangetram. This was one of the best arangetrams we have attended. The varnam - the lon-

Meghana's outstanding performance

gest and the most intricate piece, is the true test of the dancer’s stamina, the ability to transition between pure, crisp and complex jatis alternating with mood changing abhinaya or Bhava. Meghana presented an amazing visual feast leaving the audience in awe, while depicting the story of a true devotee deeply hurt by the total disregard from his favorite deity, Shiva, in a span of 27 minutes, using the full stage space and not missing one beat.

surrendering herself to Lord Krishna. In the Swati Thirunal’s Keerthanam, Meghana showed a harmonious blend of graceful moves, crisp hasta mudras with precise footwork. Kavadi Chindu with a touch of folk-dance moves kept the audience also tapping their feet. An intricate tillana showcasing Bhava, Raga, Thala and Natya marked the grand finale of an enjoyable visual extravaganza, leaving the audience wanting more.

In the second half, Meghana danced with utmost devotion describing the eternal beauty of lord Krishna to the ever-popular Malayalam song composed by the one and only P Bhaskaran Sir. There was not one dry eye in the audience when Meghana ended the dance

However, her Guru deserves tremendous credit for bringing out the best of her. At the end of Mangalam , as Meghana walked in dancing steps paying her “pranaams”( obeisance’s) to the Gods, to the applauding audience giving her a prolonged standing ovation, and to the

Meghana Muralidharan with Guru Sunanda Nair, her family and guest of honor Soorya Krishnamoorthy

And to the words of wisdom from the guest of honor, Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Founder of the Soorya movement, “am happy that I came

for the arangetram of Meghana Muralitharan. When I accepted the invitation, I thought that this would be one of the usual arangetrams, I frequently attend. She corrected my thoughts by her almost chiseled perfection in dance. She is fortunate to have a sensitive and loving Guru, Sunanda Nair. Usually Gurus who are active on stage as dancer, do not create good dancers. Here, I saw the Guru in tears of happiness and pride when the disciple excelled, to her satisfaction. Meghana, Imbibe lot of Goodness from the Guru, lot of Positivity from nature, Humility from parents...” Thanks to Beth Hardin for the beautiful makeup and Murali Santhana for the photo and video captures.

Meghana with Guru Sunanda Nair

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Teens swept up in night raids India's Moon probe enters in Kashmir clampdown lunar orbit

ANGALORE, India | AFP | Tuesday 8/20/2019 - India's Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on Tuesday, executing one of the trickiest manoeuvres on its historic mission to the Moon.

by Parvaiz Bukhari

RINAGAR, India | AFP | Tuesday 8/20/2019 - Ali Mohammad Rah sat on the pavement outside a police station in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar on Tuesday, waiting to see his teenage sons, who were swept up in government raids overnight. "Soldiers violently banged windows of our home while we were sleeping," Rah told AFP, saying his sons -- aged 14 and 16 -- were taken away before dawn in the Srinagar neighbourhood of Mehjoor Nagar. "They just barged in and dragged my two sons away." Government sources say at least 4,000 people have been detained in Kashmir since India revoked the restive Himalayan region's autonomy on August 5 and imposed a massive security lockdown on the restive region. Protests have broken out frequently, prompting raids by police and paramilitary forces. In Nowshera, in an old quar-

After four weeks in space, the craft completed its Lunar Orbit Insertion as planned, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement. Two Kashmiri men wait outside a police station in Srinagar for news of relatives they say were detained by authorities (AFP Photo/ Punit Paranjpe) ter of the city, residents said several young men were taken away and detained by police on Sunday night. Locals from other neighbourhoods reported similar blitzes. To try and stop the raids, residents in Srinagar's Soura area have erected barricades and dug trenches in roads that lead to their cluster of homes.

4,000 detained in Kashmir since autonomy stripped: govt sources by Parvaiz Bukhari

RINAGAR, India | AFP | Sunday 8/18/2019 - Thousands of people have been detained in Indian Kashmir over fears of unrest after New Delhi stripped the region of its autonomy two weeks ago, government sources told AFP. A magistrate speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said at least 4,000 people were arrested and held under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a controversial law that allows authorities to imprison someone for up to two years without

charge or trial. "Most of them were flown out of Kashmir because prisons here have run out of capacity," the magistrate said, adding that he had used a satellite phone allocated to him to collate the figures from colleagues across the Himalayan territory amid a communications blackout and lockdown imposed by authorities. The revelations came as the family of a timber trader alleged he died after suffocating from tear gas fired by security forces.

Sitting outside the police station alongside Rah on Tuesday were dozens of other locals who said their relatives were also in custody -- among them 21 boys from the most recent night raid. They say soldiers used ladders to scale the walls of their compounds.

"They (security forces) first damaged the property and when he went out to check, they fired tear gas shells and because of the smoke, he suffocated and died," Muddasir Ahmed, the nephew of 62-year-old Sidiq Khan, told AFP Sunday during his wake. The Kashmir government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One youth had died in the early days of the lockdown after he jumped into a river while being chased by police. - Sweeping arrests Authorities have repeatedly declined to provide a tally of how many people have been taken into custody, apart from confirming more than 100 local politicians, activists and academics were detained in the first few days after the state was stripped of its semi-auton-

The insertion "was completed successfully today at 0902 hrs IST (0332 GMT) as planned, using the onboard propulsion system. The duration of manoeuver was 1738 seconds," the national space agency said. India is seeking to become just the fourth nation after Russia, the United States and China to land a spacecraft on the Moon. If the rest of the mission goes to plan, the Indian probe will land on the lunar South

omous status. They said the "few preventive detentions" were made to avoid a "breach of the peace" in a region that has fought an armed rebellion against Indian rule for three decades. Those detained include high-profile former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. Jammu and Kashmir government spokesman Rohit Kansal said previously there was "no centralised figure" for the total number of people detained. But AFP spoke to numerous government officials in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, including police and security personnel, who confirmed the sweeping arrests. A police official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP "around 6,000 people were

Chandrayaan 2, or Moon Chariot 2, lifted off from India's spaceport at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state on July 22 (AFP Photo/Arun Sankar) Pole on September 7. To enter the final orbit over the lunar poles, Chandrayaan 2 will undergo four more similar manoeuvres, with the next scheduled for Wednesday. ISRO chief K. Sivan said the manoeuvre was a key milestone for the mission, adding he was hoping for a perfect landing next month. "On September 7, the lander will land on the moon. Whatever is humanly possible, has been done by us," Sivan told reporters. Tuesday's insertion was one of the trickiest operations in the mission because if the satellite had approached the Moon at a higher velocity it would have

medically examined at a couple of places in Srinagar after they were detained".

bounced off and got lost in deep space. And had it approached at a slow velocity, the Moon's gravity would have pulled it in, causing a crash. - Heart-stopping moments "The approach velocity had to be just right and the altitude over the moon precise. Even a small error would have killed the mission," Sivan said. "Our heartbeats increased... for 30 minutes, our hearts almost stopped." Chandrayaan 2, or Moon Chariot 2, lifted off from India's spaceport at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state on July 22.

land and take off every night.

"They are first sent to the central jail in Srinagar and later flown out of here in military aircraft," he added.

Another security official said "thousands are jailed" but that the figure did not include other residents whose detentions at police stations had not been recorded.

Residents living around the airport in Srinagar, where the Indian Air Force controls air traffic, say military aircraft

Families of those detained were reluctant to speak to AFP, fearing they would get into trouble with authorities.

ASIA/US

VOICE OF ASIA 9

Trump: other countries must shoulder fight against jihadists fight their battles too."

ASHINGTON | AFP | Wednesday 8/21/2019 - US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that other countries must assume the battle against Islamic extremists as the US negotiates a withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also warned Europeans to take back nationals captured fighting for the Islamic State, or he will release them back to their countries. Asked by journalists if he is concerned about the reemergence of the Islamic State group in Iraq, Trump said forces under his lead had wiped out the extremists' caliphate. "At a certain point Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, they are going to have to fight their battles too.""We wiped out the caliphate 100 percent. I did it in record time. But at a certain point, all of these other countries, where ISIS is around ... are going to have to fight them. Because do we want to stay there another 19 years? I don't think so." He singled out India and Pakistan as frontline countries that are doing little to fight jihadist groups. "Look, India's right there, they are not fighting it, we're fighting it. Pakistan is next door. They're fighting it, very little.... it's not fair. The United States is seven thousand miles away," he told reporters. The Trump administration has reduced the US military presence in Syria and Iraq and is negotiating a US withdrawal from Afghanistan with the Taliban insurgents. But defense experts warn that a vacuum left by the United States could allow an extremist resurgence. A recent Pentagon report said that the Islamic State is reforming and launching attacks after losing their hold on physical territory in Iraq and Syria. Trump, meanwhile, assailed France and Germany for not repatriating citizens who had fought with Islamic state and are now being held in camps in Syria. "We're holding thousands of ISIS fighters right now. And Europe has to take them," he said. "If Europe doesn't take them, I'll have no choice but to release them into the countries from which they came. Which is Germany and France and other places." "We captured them, we've got thousands of them, and now as usual our allies don't want 'em," he said. "The United States is not going to put them in Guan-

tanamo for the next 50 years and pay for it."

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Medical Workers' Day: Practicing physicians reach 3.6 million in China

EIJING, Monday, 8/19/2019 - The number of practicing physicians in China reached 3.6 million in 2018, while visits by patients exceeded 8.3 billion in the same year, China Central Television reported on

According to the National Health Commission, among the 3.6 million practicing physicians, over 20 percent of them are at senior level. In addition, statistics indicate that the total number of registered doctors increased by

80.4 percent between 1998 and 2018. And the doctor visits increased by 290.1 percent in the same period. The data comes as the country celebrates its second Medical Workers' Day on August 19.

Medical Workers' Day is the fourth industrial day dedicated to a particular profession in China. China also celebrates Teachers' Day, Journalists Day and Nurses Day. - China Plus News

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 10

Historic response to “Howdy, Modi!” in Texas Continued from Page 1 they have played in strengthening relations between the two nations. This contribution spans across diverse fields of technology, education, medicine, energy, oil and gas, chemicals and pipelines and others. The “Howdy Modi” summit has been organized with the support of more than 1,000 volunteers and 650 Texas based Welcome Partner organizations, an extraordinary feat by the Indian-American community of coming together to celebrate and strengthen the ties between the two nations. “On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Indian-Americans in Texas, and as co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I welcome Prime Minister Modi to Houston,” said U.S. Senator John Cornyn. “India continues to be key security and economic partner of the United States, and I look forward to seeing that relationship strengthen with his visit to Texas.” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner added: “I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Houston, home to one of the biggest and most vibrant Indian communities in the U.S. I know how much his visit means to not only the Indian diaspora in our city but throughout the region. This historic visit will strengthen the already robust bonds between Houston and India on trade, culture, and tourism – all of which benefit every Houstonian.” The event is symbolic of the growing relations between India and Houston as reflected in its trade figures. In 2019 (to date), India is Houston’s fourth-largest trading partner, just behind Brazil, China, and Mexico1. Further, from 2009 to 2018, trade between Houston and India averaged $4.8 billion annually and was valued at $7.2 billion in 2018. There are more than 130,000 individuals of Indian origin in the Houston area, according to the American Community Survey in 2017. “The Indian-American community has reached a tipping point,” said Durga Agrawal, President and CEO of Piping Technology & Products Inc and the founding President of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. “The Indian-Americans today are not just educated, wealthy, and powerful individuals, but a public service-driven community that is giving back to America, our adopted country, while keeping close ties with our homeland, India; serving both and contributing to both." In October 2018, Dr. Agrawal donated money for the naming of a building at the University of Houston which is now called "Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal Engineering and Research building". The building cost over USD 51 million and helped boost the university’s engineering, research, and academic experience. As a result of the grant, the annual engineering research expenses will be increased by USD 36 million and will promote USD 612 million of economic activity in Houston. "Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America and has many advantages including a central location and access to global trade routes, a trained and talented workforce, and a business-friendly regulatory environment, making this region an ideal partner for business and commerce. I'm personally proud of the vibrant and welcoming Indian community here, and the work they do to strengthen the ties between our two great countries. We are honored to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this historic event," said Bhavesh (Bob) Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell. Texas India Forum has retained MELA Arts Connect from New York City to curate, produce and direct a cultural program for the event. The program will feature a mix of artists from Houston as well as elsewhere in Texas and the U.S. Notably, the program will not feature any performers from India. The organizing committee has insisted on showcasing the wealth of talent in the Indian-American community.

“The cultural program will provide a unique view on the Indian-American experience, and promises to show the diversity of our community while being an engaging and entertaining performance,” said Jugal Malani, chair of the “Howdy, Modi!” organizing committee. “We want the entire city of Houston to enjoy the festivities and learn about both the growing Texas-India relations and US-India relations,” he added. - Logistical Details Potential attendees at the event can still register for the free event at www.howdymodi.org. New registrants will be on a waiting list. Registration for university students is open until August 29th as part of a special allotment. The audience will have the chance to hear Modi’s vision for India and the U.S.-India partnership. The address by the Indian Prime Minister will have a simultaneous English translation available via the attendees smartphones. It will also be broadcast live online and on television channels reaching

over 1 billion people across the U.S. and India. Doors for the event will open at 7:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 10:00 a.m. The Texas India Forum will have busing available for certain farout Houston suburbs and those unable to drive themselves to the event. The website has additional information on its FAQ page for attendees. For more information, please visit www.howdymodi.org. ABOUT THE TEXAS INDIA FORUM The Texas India Forum, Inc. (TIF) is a not-for-profit organization that encourages cooperation between the United States and India, advancing the shared values of democracy, inclusive economic development, and mutual respect. TIF brings together IndianAmerican organizations and institutions to encourage collaboration within the region and expand opportunities for engagement with India. 1 Source: WISERTrade, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Foreign Trade Division

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Trump revives suggestion he'd end birthright citizenship by Colleen Long

ASHINGTON | AP | Wednesday 8/21/2019, President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was looking "very seriously" at ending the right to citizenship for babies born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil. Trump spoke to reporters as he departed the White House for a speech in Louisville, Kentucky. He said birthright citizenship was "frankly ridiculous." "We're looking at it very, very seriously," he said. This isn't the first time Trump has claimed he'd do away with it - he said something similar in October. But the citizenship proposal would inevitably spark a longshot legal battle over whether the president can alter the long-accepted understanding that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to any child born on U.S. soil, regardless of a parent's immigration status. James Ho, a conservative Trump-appointed federal ap-

peals court judge, wrote in 2006, before his appointment, that birthright citizenship "is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers."

to brokers who arrange their travel documents, accommodations and hospital stays. Sizable numbers of women from China and Nigeria also come to the U.S. for the same reason.

But Trump has said he was assured by his lawyers that the change could be made "just with an executive order" - an argument he has been making since his early days as a candidate, when he dubbed birthright citizenship a "magnet for illegal immigration" and pledged to end it.

Trump's comments Wednesday came as the administration continued to make immigration changes pushed by his hardline advisers that have been in the works for months. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced it had moved to end a longstanding federal agreement that limits how long immigrant children can be kept in detention. The decision will almost certainly lead to a legal battle over the government's desire to hold migrant families until their cases are decided.

There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012 about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S., then left the country. Places like Florida have seen in a boom in so-called "birth tourism." Every year, hundreds of pregnant Russian women travel to the United States to give birth, paying from $20,000 to more than $50,000

The rule follows moves last week to broaden the definition of a "public charge" - a burden to the U.S. - to include immigrants on public assistance, potentially denying green cards to more immigrants. There was also a recent effort to effectively end asylum altogether at the southern border.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

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www.voiceofasia.news

Special Election in Fort Bend County will be a test for Republicans in November

ov. Greg Abbott has set a date for the special election to replace state Rep. John Zerwas who announced his retirement last month. The election will be Nov. 5. Zerwas’ seat covers much of Fort Bend County, an area of rapidly shifting demographics. Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser says those changes

will make for a competitive election. “So, it’s going to be a real test for the Republicans and Democrats to see who has the energy and the enthusiasm and the turnout capabilities to win this special election,” Steinhauser says. He also says that Republicans will need to appeal to a broader base in order to hold on to that

Candidates have until Sept. 4 to file.

The College of Technology building is located on the UH at Sugar Land site at U.S. 59 and University Blvd.

The buildings will house programs in nursing, technology and engineering. In Katy, UH will open another building that will house the UH College of Nursing and UH Cullen College of Engineering. That building is located near the intersection of Interstate 10 and the Grand Parkway. The College of Nursing will offer the traditional Bachelor of

Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing. UH at Katy will share the building with the University of Houston–Victoria at Katy. Programs from UHV Katy include business, education and liberal arts. More than 600 students are expected to be enrolled by the time classes start in the fall at the Katy site. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the building is planned for Oct. 14. School officials say UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy are instructional sites of the University of Houston. The sites feature Tier One programs and classes taught by UH faculty and instructors. “The Tier One programs offered at the two instructional sites mirror the professional and career opportunities that will be available to graduates,” said Paula Myrick Short, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. Expanding higher education opportunities in Katy has long been a goal of UH, and the new building at Sugar Land is crucial to accommodate the broadening programs and growing number of students attending classes there.

Convicted killer Jonathan Bradshaw. (Photo: FBSD)

According to Fort Bend County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Rosen, on January 20th, 2018, Bradshaw’s twin brother, Johnny Bradshaw, was speeding up and down a residential neighborhood street in Kendleton. The victim, Ladarian Trevon Welch told Johnny to slow down multiple times. Johnny then drove down the street to pick up the defendant. Ladarian Welch was standing outside of his home in front of the curb when Johnny parked in the middle of the street and Jonathan got out of the passenger seat. The defendant confronted Welch about telling his

The current tenant lineup

Murder conviction in neighborhood altercation case

ICHMOND - Jonathan Bradshaw was sentenced to a 60-year prison sentence on August 13, 2019 after a jury convicted him of Murder a day earlier. The 22-year-old Kendleton man was charged with the crime after a neighborhood confrontation in 2018.

Graphic: Quest Properties

ICHMOND - Groundbreaking was held on August 15, 2019 for the 200,000-square-foot Grand at Aliana, a regional commercial and retail development at West Airport Boulevard and Grand Parkway/SH 99 in Richmond, TX. NewQuest Properties is the developer.

Two new campuses, one in each city, will open with the start of the fall semester.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the new building is planned for Sept. 12, UH officials said.

Groundbreaking held for Richmond’s 200k-SF Grand at Aliana complex

“There needs to a be an organization behind the best candidate so that they can get their people to the polls, and to persuade some of those in the middle why they should vote for Republicans instead of the Democrats,” he says.

ATY - The University of Houston is expanding three of its programs to Sugar Land and Katy.

Students can study biotechnology, construction management, digital media, human resource development, mechanical engineering, supply chain and logistics technology and technology leadership and innovation management.

brother what to do. Jonathan then pulled a gun on Welch and fired four times. Welch was shot once in the leg and once in the chest, which resulted in his death. The defendant ran away on foot after the shooting. “Jonathan Bradshaw’s inhumane and senseless killing of 22-year-old Ladarian Welch robbed a young man of his future and a mother of her only son,” said Rosen. “We appreciate the jury’s attention and swift justice in this case.” Bradshaw was tried in the 240th District Court before Presiding Judge Frank J. Fraley. Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years, or life, in prison and a fin up to $10,000. Under Texas law, Bradshaw must serve half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole. Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Rosen and Grayson Miller prosecuted the case. - Fort Bend Office of the District Attorney

Tel: 713-774-5140

seat.

UH to open new campuses in Katy and Sugar Land this fall

It is a 100,000 square-foot facility with state-of-the-art classroom, training and research spaces.

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“We worked with stakeholders in both communities and were very intentional in the programs we wanted to offer. We are pleased to bring their vision to fruition,” said Jay Neal, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief operating officer for UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy. - KHOU

MD Anderson Cancer Center Blood Drive held for much needed donations

ugar Land Town Square, Texas 6 at U.S. 59, will host a MD Anderson Cancer Center Blood Drive from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. Platelet blood donors are especially needed. People who donate platelets will receive a custom polo shirt in addition to their appreciation T-shirt.

includes 24 Hour Fitness, Burlington, Ross Dress for Less, Michaels, Petco, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Bath & Body Works and Sketchers. Out-parcels have been groundleased to McDonald’s, Jason’s Deli, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Timewise and Express Oil. Baylor St. Luke’s new urgent and primary care clinic will be a single-tenant

building on a ground-leased one-acre pad site fronting the Grand Parkway. Situated on 57 acres, the project is adjacent to a Targetanchored center, which opened in late 2017. NewQuest’s Josh Friedlander and David Meyers are handling leasing. The center is part of the 2,000-acre Aliana master-planned community.

College financial aid seminar to be hosted on Wednesday, Aug 28

UGAR LAND - College-bound high-school students and their parents are encouraged to attend “Paying for College without Going Broke,” on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. at Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. in Sugar Land, on the UH campus. No charge will be asked for the seminar. Brannon Lloyd, a college financial-planning educator, will provide an overview of the costs associated with attending college. He will discuss ways of qualifying for different types of financial aid without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, and expensive debt. Brannon Lloyd is the president of The College Money Guys, LP and a well-known college planner and educator who has literally “grown-up” in the financial planning business. Brannon created the company to use his many years of experience and expertise to help parents create a plan to pay for

college without having to sacrifice their retirement. Under his management, The College Money Guys specializes in helping clients qualify for financial aid regardless of their income level. The company regularly conducts free workshops around the Houston-metro area for families educating audiences on little known tips and techniques that can be used to defray college expenses. In addition, Brannon has conducted planning workshops for corporate employee benefit programs including United Airlines,

ExxonMobil, Memorial-Hermann, NASA, and the City of Houston. Brannon is a soughtafter media guest and has been featured in such media publications as USA Today, US News and World Report, ABC 13, and Fox News. Brannon attended the University of Houston. He spends time volunteering for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, The Community of Hope, and the Houston Food Bank. The program is free. Visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us for more information or call 281633-5100.

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FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD Section 2

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Saaho: New poster with Prabhas, Shraddha Kapoor unveiled

he makers of Saaho are leaving no stones unturned to promote their forthcoming action flick. Ahead of the Saaho pre-release event slated to take place on 18 August (today) at Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City, the makers have dropped yet another poster from the movie, featuring the lead actors Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor.

Kartik Aaryan starring in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.

'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' to hit screens on July 31, 2020

In this picture, Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor are seen embracing, but Shraddha breaks the fourth wall, suspiciously looking at the audience while clutching onto a revolver.

Recently, the team of Saaho went on a character-poster releasing spree, dropping the first looks of Neil Nitin Mukesh, Arun Vijay, Chunky Panday, Jackie Shroff, Murali Sharma, Mandira Bedi, and Evelyn Sharma, and Mahesh Manjrekar. Saaho marks Shraddha's debut in Telugu film industry. It was reported that she will play the role of a cop from whose perspective the film is going to be narrated. She will reportedly perform some daredevil action stunts in the film. The action choreography of the film is being supervised by Kenny Bates, who has been the action director of massive Hollywood hits like Transformers, Mission: Impossible, Rush Hour, and Armageddon. - First Post

He also shared two posters from the film with tagline: “The Haunting Comedy Returns“.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, starring Kartik Aaryan, is slated to be released on July 31 next year, the makers announced on Monday.

“Ghostbuster is all set to enter. Hare Ram Hare Ram Hare Krishna Hare Ram,” he captioned the photo.

Producer Bhushan Kumar took to Twitter to share the news. “Finally after a long wait, excited to officially announce the haunting comedy #BhoolBhulaiyaa2 with a stellar team. This project has been in the works for a while and I’m really looking forward to it. In cinemas on 31st July, 2020. More details soon,” Kumar tweeted.

Kartik also shared a still from the film on Instagram.

Co-produced by Murad Khetani and Krishan Kumar, Anees Bazmi is attached to direct. The script has been penned by Farhad Samji and Aakash Kaushik. Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which released in 2007, starred Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Shiney Ahuja. The film was the official Hindi remake of the 1993 Malayalam comedy psychological thriller, Manichitrathazhu.

Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming film Saaho.

Music composer Khayyam passes away Music composer Khayyam, 92, passed away in Mumbai on on Monday at due to cardiac arrest.

usic composer Khayyam passed away in Mumbai on Monday due to a cardiac arrest. Spokesperson of Khayyam Trust Pritam Sharma said in a statement, “Veteran music composer Khayyam Saab is no more. He breathed his last at Sujoy Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai at 9:30 PM on 19/08/2019. He was admitted there since last few days for age related illness.” Ghazal singer Talat Aziz also confirmed the news to indianexpress.com. He said, “He passed away at 9:30 PM of cardiac arrest, but the factors were bilateral lung infection and he fought bravely for more than 21 days. I am at the hospital right now.”

UMBAI, Aug. 19 2019, PTI - Bhool Bhulaiyaa, which released in 2007, starred Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Shiney Ahuja.

ing the music maestro.

Konkona Sen Sharma to direct a web series The series will follow the life of Arati Das and will mirror the politics of West Bengal in the 60s and 70s.

Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi was a noted music composer of the Hindi film industry and was best known for his compositions in films like Umrao Jaan and Kabhi Kabhi. Some of his most popular songs include, “Dikhayii Diye Yun” from Bazaar, “Aaja Re” from Noorie, “Tere Chehre Se” from Kabhi Kabhi, “In Aankhon Ki” from Umrao Jaan among many others. He first gained fame for composing music for the 1961 film Shola Aur Shabnam.

Music legend Khayyam dead at 92. Image credit:Twitter

The composer had been hospitalised due to lung infection on July 28 after he collapsed in his house. The 92-year-old artiste was admitted to Sujoy Hospital

in Juhu. Tributes began pouring in soon after the news of Khayyam’s death came out. Several artistes from the Indian film industry took to social media remember-

He was honoured with the National Film Award for his work in Umrao Jaan. He also won a Filmfare Award for Umrao Jaan and Kabhi Kabhi. He was bestowed with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007.

The Government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 2011. - Courtesy: Indian Express

REVIEW: Second season of Sacred Games mirrors the ills of today's India

Konkona Sen Sharma made her feature film directorial debut with 2017’s A Death in the Gunj.

onkona Sen Sharma is set to make her digital directorial debut with a series based on the life of Arati Das, better known as Miss Shefali. Chronicling the life of a young Bengali girl who ruled as the ‘Queen of Cabaret’ in Kolkata, the Zee Studio-produced series will also mirror politics of West Bengal in the ’60s and ’70s through her life journey. “The whole era of post-Partition and pre-liberalisation fascinated me. Since I am from Kolkata, I have

by Gautaman Bhaskaran

HENNAI: August 18, 2019 The first season of “Sacred Games” last year was a hit, and the second edition, which began streaming on Netflix on Aug. 15, may be even more so.

ple Batya Ableman (Kalki Koechlin) believe that only such a catastrophic destruction can help cleanse society and bring a cleaner, saner new order. A narrative of deceit, betrayal, love and longing, the second season has a plodding start, but picks up steam from the fourth episode, with Sartaj and his men racing against time to find a nuclear time bomb that could wipe out Mumbai.

The eight episodes explore some of India's most pressing current issues such as a nuclear threat, terrorism and inter-religious animosity dating back to the country's 1947 partition. It. It also addresses how religious men can indulge in the most unholy of acts, including helping corrupt politicians. Some of the greatest films have had conflict and war as their backdrop: “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca,” “Ben-Hur” and “Garam Hawa,” to mention a few. The second season of “Sacred Games” also unfolds in such a scenario, with terrorism and inter-communal disharmony having a rippling effect on the nation. Directed by Anurag Kashyap (“Gangs of Wasseypur,” “Black Friday”) and Neeraj Ghaywan (“Masaan,” which premiered at Cannes in 2015), the web series, based on Vikram Chandra's 2006 novel, unfolds with Ganesh Gaitonde (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) escaping from prison and finding himself in Mombasa. He has been carted there by an agent of India's Research and Analysis Wing, Kusum Devi Yadav (Amruta Subhash), who forces him to help find Shahid Khan (Ranvir Shorey), the mastermind behind bomb blasts and terror attacks.

Saif Ali Khan plays a police inspector in “Sacred Games” on Netflix. In Mumbai, police inspector Sartaj (Saif Ali Khan) has just two weeks to save the city from a nuclear attack, which Gaitonde had warned him

about. Both men love Mumbai and do not want it to be destroyed. But religious extremist Khanna Guruji (Pankaj Tripathi) and his chief disci-

Crude dialogue and a constant doomsday atmosphere could have been avoided, but riveting performances by the lead pair – Khan and Siddiqui (though he is getting typecast in this kind of role) – and nailbiting thrills make this Netflix original dramatically captivating. - Arab News

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

been aware of the subject and her unique story. “It’s about the fascinating life of this female protagonist who decided to live life on her own terms, it’s extremely interesting, and right up my ally. That is why I decided to make this series,” Konkona said in a statement. The director said casting is underway. “We are still developing the script and we plan to go on floors early next year. It is going to be an interesting journey,” she added. Ashima Avasthi, VP & Head, Zee Studios Originals said the team is delighted to partner with Konkona for the show. “Filmmaking is literally in her blood. She was born into the trade, and has performed admirably across disciplines, from acting, writing to directing. Over the next one year, we are working towards building a varied slate of 10-12 original shows along with direct-to-digital films. “We will focus on especially curated stories that remain untold across genres such as biopics, crime thrillers, light-hearted comedies, slice of life dramas, dark comedies among others,” she added. Konkona made her feature film directorial debut with 2017’s A Death in the Gunj. - Courtesy: Indian Express

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

HOLLYWOOD-BOLLYWOOD Section 2

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www.voiceofasia.news

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'Good Boys' tops N. American box office

Peter Fonda appears with his sister Jane Fonda at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles in April 2013 (AFP Photo/Joe Klamar)

'Easy Rider' star Peter Fonda dead at 79

OS ANGELES | AFP | Saturday 8/16/2019 - US actor Peter Fonda, whose starring role in classic road movie "Easy Rider" made him a symbol of 1960s counterculture, died Friday aged 79 at his Los Angeles home following a battle with lung cancer, his family said. Fonda was the son of famed Hollywood actor Henry, and the brother of activist and actress Jane, who described him as "my sweet-hearted baby brother" in a statement sent to AFP. "I am very sad ... I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing," she said. Fonda co-wrote and produced 1969's "Easy Rider," in which he appeared alongside its director Dennis Hopper and a young Jack Nicholson. The wildly successful film about two bikers travelling through the great outdoors of the American Southwest in a quest for freedom became an antiestablishment cult classic. It earned Fonda an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and is credited with ushering in an era of counterculture, independent filmmaking. "EASY RIDER depicted the rise of hippie culture, condemned the establishment, and celebrated freedom. Peter Fonda embodied those values and instilled them in a generation," wrote "Goodfellas" actress Illeana Douglas on Twitter. "Independent cinema begins with EASY RIDER." The image of Fonda with his legs stretched out on his Harley-Davidson

chopper painted in the colors of the American flag became emblematic of the era -- one of two bikes used in the film sold at auction for $1.35 million in 2014. Fonda would play anti-hero biker roles many times in his career. He enjoyed a renaissance almost three decades later when he was nominated for the best actor Oscar for "Ulee's Gold" (1997), but lost out to Nicholson. Fonda began his career as a stage actor on Broadway in his native New York. He was also a keen environmentalist, co-producing the 2012 film "The Big Fix" which centered on the explosion of the BP oil rig Deepwater Horizon, the ensuing spill and its consequences. He had been planning a 50th anniversary screening and concert of "Easy Rider" in New York next month, to be shown in sync with live performances of the famed soundtrack including "Born to be Wild" and "Ballad of Easy Rider." Fonda married three times, and leaves behind two children including actress Bridget. He passed away peacefully due to respiratory failure while surrounded by his relatives, they said in a separate statement. "While we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life," they said. "In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom."

Actors (L to R) Brady Noon, Jacob Tremblay and Keith L. Williams arrive at the Hollywood premiere of Universal Pictures' "Good Boys" on August 14, 2019 (AFP Photo/Kevin Winter)

OS ANGELES | AFP | Sunday 8/18/2019 - Universal's kid-oriented comedy "Good Boys" topped the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $21 million for the weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. It was the first time an R-rated comedy had placed No. 1 since the same studio's Melissa McCarthy film "The Boss" in early 2016, according to Hollywood Reporter. "Good Boys," produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, follows three 12-year-olds -- played by Brady Noon, Jacob Tremblay and Keith L. Williams -- as they desperately try to get into a kissing party. The three-day weekend was a good one for Universal, as last week's top movie "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" -- starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Sta-

Rape rows risk taking sheen off starry Venice film festival She also deplored the decision to add the director's cut of French director Gasper Noe's controversial 2002 rape shocker "Irreversible" to the line-up. "Time to turn over," she argued. Barbera defended his selections insisting that "numerous films this year deal with the theme of the feminine condition in the world which, even when directed by men, reveal a new sensitivity". He said this was "proof that the scandals of recent years have left their mark on our culture".

Polanski's inclusion in the Venice line-up has sparked controversy (AFP Photo/ Lionel Bonaventure) by Fiachra Gibbons

ENICE, Italy | AFP | Monday 8/18/2019 - The star-studded Venice film festival opens Wednesday with a row raging about the inclusion of controversial directors Roman Polanski and Nate Parker. With only two women directors out of 21 in the running for its Golden Lion top prize, campaigners have lashed the festival -- now the launchpad for the Oscars. Director Alberto Barbera said last year that he would rather quit the 11day event -- where three of the last five Oscar best picture winners were premiered -- than give in to pressure for quotas. But feminist critics have only upped their attacks, accusing the festival of "almost comically scant levels of selfawareness". "1 rapist. 2 women directors in competition at Venice. What else am I missing?" tweeted Women and Hollywood founder Melissa Silverstein, referring to Polanski's conviction for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old in 1978. She was equally scathing about the late addition of US director Parker's film "American Skin" to a sidebar section. "Good job Venice," she tweeted caustically, adding a reference to a rape trial the actor-turned-director was embroiled in while still at university. - Fury over Polanski and Parker Parker's 2016 debut film about a slave revolt, "The Birth of a Nation", was derailed after it emerged that he

was accused of raping a fellow student, who later killed herself. Although Parker was acquitted, he later admitted that when "I look back on that time as a teenager and can say without hesitation that I should have used more wisdom". Fellow black American director Spike Lee has vowed to travel to Venice to support "brave" Parker. "I haven't been affected by a film like this... in a long, long time," he said in a statement about the movie in which a Marine veteran whose son is killed by the police takes justice into his own hands. But it is the premiere of 85-year-old Polanski's historical thriller about the persecution of the French Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus, "An Officer and a Spy", which is likely to make most headlines. With Polanski suing the Academy of Motion Pictures for stripping him of his membership, Screen Daily's chief critic Fionnuala Halligan was withering about his selection. She imagined festival director "Barbera, wandering the Lido hopelessly, singing the same mournful refrain... he can't find a female film director. "So this year he's going to programme the new film by (a) convicted child rapist." The message was "crystal clear", she added: "You don't cut it, ladies." - "You don't cut it, ladies" Halligan wrote such "gender imbalance... shouldn't be acceptable and Polanski is just like rubbing salt into that."

The rows threaten to take some of the sheen off a staggeringly starry selection that features Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Kristen Stewart, Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson and Mick Jagger. Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Robert De Niro are also due on the red carpet where the curtain will also come up on the new DC Comics blockbuster, "The Joker". Trailers for the film starring Joaquin Phoenix, which traces the origins of Batman's nemesis, have already been viewed more than 80 million times. Steven Soderbergh's take on the Panama Papers investigation, "The Laundromat", will also been premiered while Pitt plays an astronaut in James Gray's highly-anticipated sci-fi drama. Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda -- who won best film at Cannes last year with "Shoplifters" -- opens the festival Wednesday with his French-set family story, "The Truth", starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke. The two female directors vying for the top prize are Saudi Arabia's Haifaa a l - M a n s o u r, the maker of the acclaimed "Wadjda", with "The Perfect Candidate", and the Australian comedy "Babyteeth" by newcomer Shannon Murphy.

O O R P

tham -- slipped just one spot from first to second, taking in $14 million. In third spot for a second straight week, showing considerable staying power, was Disney's animated "The Lion King," at $11.9 million. Its all-star voice cast includes Rogen, Donald Glover, Beyonce, James Earl Jones and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Sony's new animation "The Angry Birds Movie 2" placed fourth, at $10.5 million. That was a big drop from the original "Angry Birds" movie, which opened in May 2016 at $38.2 million. And in fifth was Lionsgate's "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," at $10.1

million. Based on the children's horror books, it stars Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza and Gabriel Rush. Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were: "47 Meters Down: Uncaged" ($9 million) "Dora & the Lost City of Gold" ($8.5 million) "Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood" ($7.6 million) "Blinded by the Light" ($4.5 million) "The Art of Racing in the Rain" ($4.4 million)

Twitter bans China accounts for misinformation campaign against 'Mulan' boycott

witter deleted nearly 1,000 accounts it said were "deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground."

ing undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground," the company said in a statement. Twitter added that it has "reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation."

Facebook and Twitter said Monday that they had deleted a network of fake accounts used by China to sow political discord over Hong Kong's pro-democracy, anti-police brutality protests.

Many of the deleted accounts claimed to be users based in the United States, in places ranging from New York City and to small towns like Berrien Springs, Mich. Some of the accounts were set up years ago, and slowly amassed followers by tweeting about innocuous pop culture, such as NBC's hit show This Is Us — a common tactic used to cloak misinformation campaigns in credibility.

The accounts also were used to share pro-Beijing rhetoric in response to the Hong Kong-initiated boycott of The Walt Disney Co.'s upcoming film Mulan, some of the tweet examples shared by Twitter reveal. The Mulan boycott was initiated late last week after the film's star, Crystal Liu Yifei, posted a message of support on Chinese social media for the Hong Kong police force. The post ignited a firestorm both within Hong Kong and among pro-democracy sympathizers overseas, given the many accusations by international human rights groups that the police have been using excess force in their confrontations with protesters and the public. Twitter said Monday that it pulled down 936 troll accounts, many of which pushed conspiracy theories about the Hong Kong protesters and their motivations. "These accounts were deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, includ-

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Other accounts, such as @HKPoliticalNew, were attempting to pose as legitimate Hong Kong news outlets. Facebook responded to Twitter's move by pulling down 16 pages it said were linked to the same troll operation. One post highlighted by Twitter’s public safety team read: "We don’t want you radical people in Hong Kong. Just get out of here!" A recent China-linked Facebook post compared the pro-democracy protestors to ISIS fighters. Another Twitter post said: "Are these people who smashed the Legco crazy or taking benefits from the bad guys?" (Legco is Hong Kong's legislature, which was briefly occupied by protestors earlier this month.)

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Young Life

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Dozens of US teens hospitalized with lung disease after vaping

Some of them involved "dabbing," or vaping marijuana products. US media reported several other states were also reporting cases. Thomas Haupt, a respiratory disease epidemiologist with Wisconsin's Department of Health Services, told AFP on Thursday: "We're in the process of interviewing all of our patients, to try to find out any commonalities. "At this particular point, vaping is the only thing that they have in common, but we're trying to cast a broader net and just make sure that we are not missing something as well." The findings have baffled experts, since e-cigarettes have been available in the US since 2006 and scientific research so far suggests they are proba-

1. Wheatley High School 2. Deady Middle School 3. Edison Middle School 4. Thomas Middle School 5. Fleming Middle School 6. Key Middle School 7. Williams Middle School 8. Sugar Grove Academy 9. Isaacs Elementary School A man exhales smoke from an electronic cigarette in Washington, DC (AFP Photo/Eva Hambach) bly a less toxic alternative to smoking. Their use among adolescents has skyrocketed in recent years: some 3.6 million middle and high school students used vaping products in 2018, an increase of 1.5 million on the year before, according to the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Haupt told AFP that the Wisconsin cases weren't confined to teens -- the confirmed cases included users into their mid-thirties while the suspected cases included people in their fifties. Many had to receive mechanical assistance in breathing, while imaging had revealed infiltrates, and "ground

glass opacities" that indicate abnormalities in the alveoli.

"We always encourage parents to talk to their children about this. If they do vape, it has to come from a reputable dealer," he added.

17. Ashford Elementary School 18. C. Martinez Elementary School 19. Seguin Elementary 21. Energized for STEM Academy Southeast Districts, charters and schools are given an overall rating based on the following three performance areas: -Student achievement: how much students know and are able to do at the end of the school year. Under this category, performance on the standardized STAAR test; college, career and military readiness; and graduation rate were all factors. -School progress: how students per-

Representative Garnet Coleman (DHouston) released the following statement: "I stand with my Houston colleagues in applauding the improvement Hous-

Participants in the Youth Pre-Assembly of Religions for Peace World Assembly on Aug. 19, 2019, in Lindau, Germany. (Photo by Christian Flemming/Religions for Peace)

The assembly will run Tuesday through Friday (Aug. 20-23). But before its formal launch on Tuesday, organizers hosted two special assemblies: one focused on the events for the youngest participants and one for women.

Agatha Chikelue, a nun and co-chair of the Nigeria Women of Faith Network, agreed.

The theme for this edition of the world assembly is “Caring for our common future: advancing shared

16. Whidby Elementary School

USTIN, – On Thursday, August 15th the individual school ratings for Houston Independent School District (HISD) where released.

Organizers said high-ranking officials from more than a dozen major faiths plus various indigenous groups will make the trip to the historic town of Lindau, nestled on a small island near the shore on the German side of Lake Constance.

The first Religions for Peace World Assembly took place in 1970, a generation before most of the youth representatives were born. The assemblies take place at irregular intervals at locations spanning the globe, giving added weight to the event.

14. Smith Elementary School

form over time and how that growth compares to similar schools. Academic growth and relative performance were among the factors in this category. -Closing the Gaps: how well different groups of students within a school are performing. This is the first time that all HISD schools have been assigned a letter grade of A through F under the new accountability ratings system. The release of HISD's accountability ratings comes a week after TEA investigators put forth a 34-page report into its six-month investigation of the school district. Investigators alleging misconduct recommended the state replace the HISD board of trustees. The TEA took a closer look at allegations that trustees violated state law when it made the decision to fire interim superintendent Grenita Lathan and hire former HISD superintendent Abe Saavedrawithout first holding a public meeting. According to the report, investigators found the board's decision was made in a "walking quorum" to avoid complying with open meetings laws. Investigators also found evidence of board members acting individually to influence contracts and hiring, and a violation of procurement rules "through the abuse of Job Order Contracts to avoid the $500,000 limit," the report says. In addition to a state takeover of the school board, the TEA also recommended lowering the district's accreditation and the appointment of a conservator. The school board president says the district will address the state's findings through their legal counsel. We're hoping to speak with the TEA commissioner Thursday about what might come next for the district.

Representative Garnet Coleman on HISD TEA grades

The young activists are among the 1,000 attendees, including representatives from religious groups, governments, multilateral organizations and nongovernmental groups, hailing from more than 100 countries, gathered for an international, interfaith event this week.

Santosh said it was helpful that participants from her generation come into the process with “fresh eyes” that can help them see challenging problems in a new way.

13. Rucker Elementary School

20. High School Ahead Academy

“That is what makes a forum like this so valuable,” she said. “I really only know what is happening in my country, in Myanmar. But here I can share experiences and learn and grow and make new contacts. We all come out ahead.”

12. Osborne Elementary School

"This is an eye-opening investigation for us," he said, adding that the patients had no underlying illnesses that would put them at risk for complications.

INDAU, Germany, August 20,2019 - On the eve of the 10th — and the largest and most cosmopolitan yet — Religions for Peace World Assembly, young participants in the forum said they are pushing more senior representatives to be more active in addressing issues such as global warming and terrorism.

Santosh said that while the desire to help foster positive change is common, it is difficult to know how to do it.

11. Northline Elementary School

15. Young Elementary School

by Erick Lyman

“We are the ones who will live with the consequences of the decision the world will make,” said Meera Santosh, a 25-year-old activist from Myanmar.

10. Robinson Elementary School

But they responded well to steroid treatment and were later discharged, and will receive follow-up scans a few weeks from now to determine whether there has been any permanent damage.

Young activists push interfaith gathering to act on climate change, justice

Afterward, representatives from both events gathered for an informal roundtable to discuss their goals for the coming days. For the youngest, the topics to be discussed in Lindau — peace, terrorism, climate change, sustainable development, migration — will have a direct impact on their lives for decades.

However, 21 of the district's schools received an "F" grade.

Health departments in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin have issued statements describing cases involving patients who exhibited coughs, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, symptoms that led them to hospitals where they had to be intubated.

Tel: 713-774-5140

21 HISD schools receive "F" in annual Texas Education Agency report OUSTON (KTRK), Thursday, August 15, 2019 - The Texas Education Agency released its 2019 accountability ratings for schools and school districts, including for HISD, which received a "B" rating overall.

ASHINGTON | AFP | Thursday 8/15/2019 - US health officials are investigating the cases of dozens of people, mainly teens, who were hospitalized with severe lung injuries in recent weeks after vaping, though the precise cause of their illnesses remains a mystery.

Officials in the three states, which have reported at least 30 confirmed cases and 22 under investigation, said it was too early to say whether the illnesses were connected, but were working with each other and the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention to investigate further.

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

well-being.” Organizers said that process includes religious representatives “confronting their own moral and social responsibilities … to pave the way for peace on the basis of common values.” According to Uruguayan Marcelo Leites, 33, another youth representative, the goal means striving for innovative, cross-border collaboration on the world’s biggest challenges. “We’re looking to create a movement,” Leites said. “It’s a movement of collaboration and dedicated to longterm thinking.” Activist Ela Gandhi, a former member of the South African Parliament and the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of modern India, said the goal of working with the young activists participating in the assembly is not to hand the problem off to a new generation. “Our intention is to help prepare a new generation while we are still working for justice ourselves,” said Gandhi, trustee of Gandhi Development Trust and a co-president of Religions for Peace. “They have to do

better than we do. They have to learn from what we do and move forward.”

“These things we learn, they are not for us,” Chikelue said. “I did not come here for myself, and what I learn from this conference will not reside only in me. What we learn has to be shared. This is how we grow.” Another participant in the women’s assembly, Layla Alkhafaji, a former member of the Parliament in Iraq, said events such as the Religions for Peace World Assembly were invaluable for shaping a new generation. “This is not about handing something off. It’s a gradual process,” Alkhafaji said. “I hear people say, ‘They are not ready yet, they are not ready.’ But we can always say that. How will these young people become ready? They have to gain experience and sometimes they will fail. But that is what this process is about. People learn by doing. It’s the only way.” - Religion News Service

Read more Young Life stories. Visit us online : voiceofasia.news

ton ISD made this year in the TEA's A-F rating system. There is still room for improvement but, the current students, teachers, staff, administrators, and board have proven that they are willing to put in the work and are capable of building upon the success of last school year. A state takeover of HISD would put at risk all the improvement we have seen at HISD over the last few years."

Federal data shows youth marijuana use isn’t increasing under legalization

espite prohibitionists’ oftenexpressed fears that legalization would lead more young people to use marijuana, new federal data released on Tuesday shows no such trend. Reports of past-month cannabis use among those 12-17 remained stable from 2017 to 2018—and they’re significantly lower than in the years prior to when the first states began legalizing for adult use. That’s according to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual report produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “The percentage of adolescents in 2018 who used marijuana in the past year was lower than the percentages in 2002 to 2004 and in 2009 to 2013, but it was similar to the percentages in 2005 to 2008 and in 2014 to 2017,” SAMHSA said. Recent studies that have used NSDUH data and other sources also demonstrate that youth marijuana use is not increasing post-legalization. In fact, research published in JAMA Pediatrics in July found that states with recreational cannabis experience a decline in underage marijuana use, with the study authors stating that regulated markets appear to deter illicit use. Indeed, on a national scale, the percentage of adolescents who reported using marijuana began declining at a greater rate in the years after states started implementing legal cannabis systems. In 2018, 12.5 percent of those 12-17 said they used cannabis in the last month, compared to 13.5 percent in 2012, according to the NSDUH results.

Colorado and Washington State became the first U.S. states to vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use in late 2012, with legal sales commencing in 2014. Between 2002 and 2018, the highest rate of adolescent marijuana use took place in 2002, when 15.8 percent reported past-month consumption. “The survey results suggest that marijuana use among youth has remained stable and low in recent years, even as more states legalize medical and adult use,” Sheila Vakharia, PhD, deputy director of the Drug Policy Alliance’s Department of Research and Academic Engagement, told Marijuana Moment. “Rather than encouraging increased use, it is possible that legalization has limited access and deterred youth use. We find that these results strengthen the case for legalization in the interest of public health and protecting our nation’s young people.” What’s more, the report found that cases of cannabis use disorder declined again for the 12-17 group in 2018, marking the seventh year in a row that fewer young people seem to be misusing the substance. Interestingly, these trends are developing even as people’s perceptions of the risks of casual marijuana consumption are dropping. That seems to contradict an argument from reform opponents who claimed that legalizing cannabis would normalize it in such a way that underage individuals would feel more emboldened to experiment with marijuana. Overall, marijuana consumption increased across age groups by about one percentage point over the past year, to those over 26. - Yahoo! News/MM

VOICE OF ASIA 15

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

August is Suicide Prevention Month

August is Prevention of Underage Drinking and Driving Prevention Month

Section 2 Tel: 713-774-5140

Malaria expert warns of need for malaria drug to treat severe US cases by University of Maryland School of Medicine

ach year there are more than 200 million cases of malaria worldwide, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite that brings on fever and body aches and, in some cases, more serious conditions such as coma and death. While the vast majority of these cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the U.S. each year sees more than 1,500 cases, and currently there is limited access to an intravenouslyadministered (IV) drug needed for the more serious cases, according to a top malaria researcher at the University of Maryland School Medicine (UMSOM). Treatment for severe malaria cases is an intravenous-administered (IV) form of quinidine gluconate. However, there is no longer a widely available supply of this drug in IV form in the United States, warned Mark Travassos, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMSOM and scientist at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), in a commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine today. Oral doses of quinidine are available, but they are not typically effective in more serious malaria cases, he said. "Severe malaria is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment with IV medication to reduce the risk of death," said Dr. Travassos, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist and malaria expert in UM-

SOM's Malaria Research Program within the CVD. Dr. Travassos cited 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics showing more than 1,500 malaria cases in the U.S., of which 259 were serious and needed IV treatment. Now, with increased global interconnectedness, the rate of U.S. malaria cases is indeed rising steadily over the past 40 years, according to the CDC. Dr. Travassos notes that while oral treatments for malaria are available in the U.S., often times these are not effective in more serious cases. "Severe malaria patients can have brain involvement or repeated vomiting and may not tolerate oral medication, placing them at high risk for complications," said Dr. Travassos. Since 1991, quinidine has been the only Food and Drug Administrationapproved (FDA) treatment for severe malaria. However, since April of 2019, remaining supplies of IVadministered quinidine have expired, leaving U.S. physicians with no readily available treatment. Without a broad supply of the IV drug, physicians treating serious malaria cases must on a case-by-case basis request IV artesunate, a nonFDA-approved drug for severe malaria that is only available from the CDC at ten different airports in the U.S. The CDC will then ship the drug to the airport closest to a requesting hospital. Delivery times will take on average eight hours, but they could be as long as 24 hours.

Buzz off: breakthrough technique eradicates mosquitoes by Sara Hussein

OKYO, Japan | AFP | Wednesday 7/17/2019 -A breakthrough technique harnessing two methods to target disease-carrying mosquitoes was able to effectively eradicate buzzing biters in two test sites in China, according to research published on Thursday. The mosquitoes targeted are a type that is particularly difficult to control called Aedes albopictus -- more popularly known as the Asian tiger mosquito -- which are a major vector for diseases including Zika and dengue. The study "demonstrates the potential of a potent new tool", wrote Peter Armbruster, a professor at Georgetown University's department of biology, in a review of the work. Researchers harnessed two population control methods: the use of radiation -- which effectively sterilises mosquitoes -- and a strain of bacteria called Wolbachia that leaves mosquito eggs dead on arrival. They conducted a two-year trial at two sites on river islands in Guangzhou, where Asian tiger mosquitoes are to blame for the highest dengue transmission rate in China. The results were "remarkable", wrote Armbruster: the number of hatched mosquitoes eggs plunged by 94 percent, with not a single viable egg recorded for up to 13 weeks in some cases. And the average number of female mosquitoes -- which transmit disease to humans when they bite -- caught by traps fell by between 83 and 94 percent. In some cases, none were detected at all for up to six weeks. The results were also borne out by a decline of nearly 97 percent in bites suffered by locals -- which in turn shifted attitudes among residents, who were initially sceptical of the project's plan to release more mosquitoes into the local area. - Radiation and bacteria The research builds on two existing methods: radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) and incompatible insect technique (IIT). SIT works by releasing radiationsterilised male mosquitoes into an environment to mate with wild female mosquitoes, reducing the size of the population over time as females fail to reproduce. But irradiation of male mosquitoes tends to reduce both their mating competitiveness and their survival rates, undermining the technique's effective-

Controversial study links fluoride in water to lower IQ

ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 8/19/2019 - A study published Monday links exposure to fluoridated tap water during pregnancy to lower IQ scores in infants, but several outside experts expressed concern over its methodology and questioned its findings. Fluoride has been added to community water supplies in industrial countries to prevent tooth decay since the 1950s. Very high levels of the mineral have been found to be toxic to the brain, though the concentrations seen in fluoridated tap water are generally deemed safe. "We realized that there were major questions about the safety of fluoride, especially for pregnant women and young children," Christine Till at Canada's York University, senior author of the paper published in JAMA Pediatrics, told AFP. "We know that decisions need to be based on evidence, and we had no evidence on whether fluoride in pregnancy was safe, and regardless of the outcome, that knowledge was really critical." The study looked at 601 motherchild pairs across six Canadian cities, with 41 percent living in communities supplied with fluoridated municipal water. The researchers said fluoridated water is supplied to around two-thirds of US residents, just over a third of Canadian residents and three percent in Europe. After controlling for other toxins in their analysis, they found an increase in concentration of fluoride in pregnant mother's urine of one milligram a liter was associated with a 4.5-point lower IQ score in boys -- but not girls -- at age three or four. When estimating the daily maternal fluoride intake instead of fluoride in urine, they found a one milligram increase in intake was associated with a deficit of 3.7 IQ points for both boys and girls. Anticipating controversy, JAMA Pediatrics took the unusual step of issuing an Editor's Note that said the decision to publish the article was "not easy."

Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are a major vector for potentially deadly diseases such as Zika and dengue (AFP Photo) ness. The IIT method involves a bacteria called Wolbachia. When males infected with it mate with female mosquitoes that aren't infected, their eggs don't hatch. The technique doesn't work if the female mosquitoes are infected with the same Wolbachia strain, and successful mating by mosquitoes that both carry the bacteria undermines the technique by producing more female mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia that are resistant to the process. Preventing the release of Wolbachia-infected female mosquitoes is difficult, with sex-sorting techniques usually resulting in a "female contamination rate" of about 0.3 percent. To overcome that, researchers decided to subject their Wolbachia-infected lab-reared mosquitoes to lowlevel irradiation, which rendered the females sterile but left the males able to reproduce. This allowed the team to avoid the onerous sex-screening process and meant they could release significantly more mosquitoes at a time: in some cases more than 160,000 male mosquitoes per hectare, per week. - 'Striking results' Lead researcher Zhiyong Xi, a professor at Michigan State University's department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, compared the technique to "producing insecticide". "Our goal is to use this technique to build a protected area that is disease vector-free," Xi told AFP. Armbruster, in a review commissioned by the journal Nature that published the research on Thursday, said the study produced "striking results". That the trial "almost eliminated notoriously difficult-to-control vector mosquitoes from the test sites is remarkable," he wrote. The results weren't a universal success -- populations in areas with more

"Given the nature of the findings and their potential implications, we subjected it to additional scrutiny for its methods and the presentation of its findings." But experts in fields ranging from statistics to toxicology to neuroscience expressed serious reservations. "The key words in the paper are 'higher levels.'" said Oliver Jones, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, RMIT University. "The authors state that an increase of one milligram per liter (1 mg/L) increase in fluoride was associated with a 4.49 point lower IQ score but fluoride intake appears to have been below 1 mg/L for most people in the study, even for those with fluoridated water." Stuart Ritchie, a psychologist at King's College London, added that it was "inconsistent" that the first analysis only found a significant result for boys not girls while the second analysis found an overall effect with no sex differences. "I think the findings here are pretty weak and borderline," he said. "They might be interesting as part of a larger set of studies on this question, but alone they shouldn't move the needle much at all on the question of the safety of fluoride."

traffic, near construction or roads, shrank less than those in isolated zones, likely as mosquitoes migrated in from elsewhere. But Xi said the technique still holds promise if "natural barriers" like highways are used to limit the arrivals of outside mosquitoes. And he said it could be used against mosquitoes that carry disease, including malaria. The next steps will involve developing a "highly effective and practical release strategy" suited for urban settings."

CMS to display the star ratings for Affordable Care Act Exchange Insurance plans CMS is Bringing Health Plan Quality Ratings to All Exchanges for the First Time Consumers will have improved access to health plan quality information for the 2020 Open Enrollment Period IFor the first time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require the display of the five-star Quality Rating System (or star ratings) available nationwide for health plans offered on the Health Insurance Exchanges beginning with the 2020 Open Enrollment Period. This step builds on the Trump Administration’s overall commitment to increasing transparency and empowering consumers to make informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. Beginning with this year’s Open Enrollment Period, consumers will be able to compare health coverage choices using a five-star quality rating of each plan on Exchange websites, including HealthCare.gov, similar to other CMS star rating programs, such as the easy to understand Nursing Home Compare website and Medicare Advantage. “As part of the Trump Administration’s broader quality initiative, I am pleased to announce that we are expanding display of star ratings to the Exchanges,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Knowledge is power, and for the first time, consumers will have access to meaningful, simple-touse information to compare the quality, along with the price, of health plans on Exchange websites, including HealthCare.gov. This addresses our strongly held commitment to equip consumers with the tools they need to find the best choice possible. Increasing transparency and competition drive better quality and cost, with consumers benefitting the most.” Under the five-star Quality Rating System, Exchange health plans are given a rating on a 1 to 5 scale, with 5 stars representing highest quality. Star ratings are based on a number of important factors, including how other enrollees rate the doctors in the plan’s network and the care they receive, how well the plan’s network providers coordinate with enrollees and other doctors to give members healthcare that achieves the best results, and the overall administration of the plan including customer service and availability of information. In some cases — like when plans are new or have low enrollment — star ratings may not be available in all areas of the country. The lack of a star rating does not mean the plans have a low quality rating. The overall star rating is based on three categories: Medical Care, Member Experience and Plan Administration. Medical Care is based on how well the plans’ network providers manage member healthcare, including providing regular screenings, vaccines, and other ba-

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900 sic health services. Member Experience is based on surveys of member satisfaction with their healthcare and doctors and ease of getting appointments and services. Plan Administration is based on how well the plan is run, including customer service, access to needed information and network providers ordering appropriate tests and treatment. During the 2017 and 2018 Open Enrollment periods, CMS conducted a limited pilot and displayed star ratings on HealthCare.gov in two states, Virginia and Wisconsin. The pilot was expanded to include three additional Exchange states – Michigan, Montana, and New Hampshire – during the 2019 Open Enrollment period. The display of Star ratings will now be expanded to every state during the upcoming Open Enrollment period making it available to consumers around the country this fall. As part of today’s announcement, CMS is posting star ratings and quality measure level data from the 2019 Plan Year in a Public Use File (PUF). The agency is making this data from last year available to the public, researchers, agents, brokers, states, health issuers, and consumer groups to allow them to use and analyze the data. The star ratings data for the 2020 Plan Year will be released closer to Open Enrollment. One of CMS’s primary goals is to offer Americans who choose to enroll in the Exchanges the best consumer experience possible. Displaying health plan quality information makes it easier for consumers to pick a plan that best meets their needs.CMS is also further advancing its commitment to improve the accuracy and value of the information available to consumers and promoting quality improvement in the healthcare industry. The 2020 Open Enrollment Period is November 1, 2019 to December 15, 2019 Source:CMS To enroll in Health Plan, individual or small group, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Drug plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

Chlamydia vaccine shows promise in early tests

ARIS, France | AFP | Monday 8/12/2019 - Although clinical vaccine testing for chlamydia is in its infancy, this trial suggests optimism for the future."

to infertility.

Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex, chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD in the world, infecting some 130 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.

Globally, 4.2 percent of women 15 to 49, and 2.7 percent of men in the same age bracket, are thought to be infected, making them more susceptible to other STDs such as gonorrhoea and HIV.

For one in every six women afflicted, the bacteria causes a painful condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can in some cases lead

Infection during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm birth.

All of the vaccinated women -- 30 out of 30 -- showed an immune response.

VOICE OF ASIA 16

Section 2

Senior Living

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

LONG-DISTANCE CAREGIVING

How to share caregiving responsibilities with family members

aring for an older family member often requires teamwork. While one sibling might be local and take on most of the everyday caregiving responsibilities, a long-distance caregiver can also have an important role.

Agree in advance how each of your efforts can complement one another so that you can be an effective team. Ideally, each of you will be able to take on tasks best suited to your skills or interests. - Consider Your Strengths When Sharing Caregiving Responsibilities When thinking about who should be responsible for what, start with your strengths. Consider what you are particularly good at and how those skills might help in the current situation: Are you good at finding information, keeping people up-to-date on changing conditions, and offering cheer, whether on the phone or with a computer? Are you good at supervising and leading others? Are you comfortable speaking with medical staff and interpreting what they say to others? Is your strongest suit doing the numbers—paying bills, keeping track of bank statements, and reviewing insurance policies and reimbursement reports? Are you the one in the family who can fix anything, while no one else knows the difference between pliers and a wrench? - Consider Your Limits When Sharing Caregiving Responsibilities When thinking about who should be responsible for what, consider your limits. Ask yourself the following: How often, both mentally and financially, can you afford to travel? Are you emotionally prepared to take on what may feel like a reversal of roles between you and your parent—taking care of your parent instead of your parent taking care of you? Can you continue to respect your parent’s independence? Can you be both calm and assertive when communicating from a distance? How will your decision to take on caregiving responsibilities affect your work and home life? Be realistic about how much you can do and what you are willing to do. Think about your schedule and how it might be adapted to give respite to a primary caregiver. For example, you might try to coordinate holiday and vacation times. Remember that over time, responsibilities may need to be revised to reflect changes in the situation, your care recipient’s needs, and each family member’s abilities and limitations. - How to Support a Local Caregiver from Far Away A spouse or the sibling who lives closest to an aging parent often becomes the primary caregiver. Longdistance caregivers can help by providing emotional support and occasional respite to the primary caregiver. Ask the primary caregiver what you can do to help. Staying in contact with your parents by phone or email might also take some pressure off your parent or sibling. Just listening may not sound like much help, but often it is. Long-distance caregivers can also play a part in arranging for professional caregivers, hiring home health and nursing aides, or locating care in an assisted living facility or nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility). Long-distance caregivers may find

Fort Bend Senior Expo & Health Fair to be held next week

TAFFORD - The Stafford Center, 10505 Cash Road, will host the 2019 Fort Bend Senior Expo & Health Fair from 10 a.m.2 p.m. Aug. 28.

- Talk About Caregiving Responsibilities -

Decide who will be responsible for which tasks. Many families find the best first step is to name a primary caregiver, even if one is not needed immediately. That way the primary caregiver can step in if there is a crisis.

Tel: 713-774-5140

The event is free for seniors, families and caregivers. There will be door prizes, health screenings, grab bags, entertainment and speakers.

Taking care of yourself: Tips for caregivers

As a long-distance caregiver, you can provide important respite to the primary caregiver and support to the aging family member.

Indian man with his 2 children and 2 grandchildrenFirst, try to define the caregiving responsibilities. You could start by setting up a family meeting and, if it makes sense, include the care recipient in the discussion. This is best done when there is not an emergency. A calm conversation about what kind of care is wanted and needed now, and what might be needed in the future, can help avoid a lot of confusion.

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Caring for an older family member often requires teamwork. (Photo: NIH) they can be helpful by handling things online—for example, researching health problems or medicines, paying bills, or keeping family and friends updated. Some long-distance caregivers help a parent pay for care; others step in to manage finances. - How to Help a Parent Who Is the Primary Caregiver A primary caregiver—especially a spouse—may be hesitant to ask for help or a break. Be sure to acknowledge how important the caregiver has been for the care recipient. Also, discuss the physical and emotional effects caregiving can have on people. Although caregiving can be satisfying, it also can be very hard work. Offer to arrange for respite care. Respite care will give your parent a break from caregiving responsibilities. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days. Care can be provided in the family home, through an adult day services program, or at a skilled nursing facility. The ARCH National Respite Locator Service can help you find services in your parents’ community. You might suggest contacting the Well Spouse Association. It offers support to the wives, husbands, and partners of chronically ill or disabled people and has a nationwide listing of local support groups. Your parents may need more help from home-based care to continue to live in their own home. Some people find it hard to have paid caregivers in the house, but most also say that the assistance is invaluable. If the primary caregiver is reluctant, point out that with an in-home aide, she may have more energy to devote to caregiving

and some time for herself. Suggest she try it for a short time, and then decide. In time, the person receiving care may have to move to assisted living or a nursing home. If that happens, the primary caregiver will need your support. You can help select a facility. The primary caregiver may need help adjusting to the person’s absence or to living alone at home. Just listening may not sound like much help, but often it is. For More Information About Caregiving National Respite Locator Service www.archrespite.org/respitelocator Well Spouse Association 1-800-838-0879 (toll-free) info@wellspouse.org www.wellspouse.org Caregiver Action Network 1-202-454-3970 info@caregiveraction.org www.caregiveraction.org Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) https://eldercare.acl.gov Family Caregiver Alliance 1-800-445-8106 (toll-free) info@caregiver.org www.caregiver.org

aking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. Make sure you’re eating healthy, being active, and taking time for yourself. Dealing with Feelings of Frustration and Guilt Caregiving, especially from a distance, is likely to bring out many different emotions, both positive and negative. Feeling frustrated and angry with 3 older women doing yoga meditationeveryone, from the care recipient to the doctors, is a common experience. Anger could be a sign that you are overwhelmed or that you are trying to do too much. If you can, give yourself a break: take a walk, talk with your friends, get some sleep—try to do something for yourself. Although they may not feel as physically exhausted and drained as the primary, hands-on caregiver, long-distance caregivers may still be worried and anxious. Sometimes, long-distance caregivers feel guilty about not being closer, not doing enough, not having enough time with the person, and perhaps even feeling jealous of those who do. Many long-distance caregivers also find that worrying about being able to afford to take time off from work, being away from family, or the cost of travel increases these frustrations. Remember that you are doing the best you can given the circumstances and that you can only do what you can do. It may help to know that these are feelings shared by many other long-distance caregivers—you are not alone in this. Taking Care of Yourself Share this infographic and help spread the word about caring for yourself while caring for others.

Intensive blood pressure control may slow age-related brain damage NIH-funded imaging study shows link between blood pressure and white matter lesions

n a nationwide study, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the brains of hundreds of participants in the National Institutes of Health’s Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) and found that intensively controlling a person’s blood pressure was more effective at slowing the accumulation of white matter lesions than standard treatment of high blood pressure. The results complement a previous study published by the same research group which showed that intensive treatment significantly lowered the chances that participants developed mild cognitive impairment.

Your Risks website, several studies have suggested that people who have hypertension have a greater chance of accumulating white matter lesions and also of experiencing cognitive disorders and dementia later in life.

“These initial results support a growing body of evidence suggesting that controlling blood pressure may not only reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease but also of age-related cognitive loss,” said Walter J. Koroshetz, M.D., director of the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). “I strongly urge people to know your blood pressure and discuss with your doctors how to optimize control. It may be a key to your future brain health.”

“These findings on white matter lesions—primarily in the aggressive control of blood pressure—are encouraging as we continue to advance the science of understanding and addressing the complexities of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” said Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Brain white matter is made up of billions of thin nerve fibers, called axons, that connect the neurons with each other. The fibers are covered by myelin, a white fatty coating that protects axons from injury and speeds the flow of electrical signals. White matter lesions, which appear bright white on MRI scans, represent an increase in water content and reflect a variety of changes deep inside the brain, including the thinning of myelin, increased glial cell reactions to injury, leaky brain blood vessels, or multiple strokes. These changes are associated with high blood pressure, or “hypertension.” As described on the NIH’s Mind

These observations were tested in a “gold standard” randomized clinical trial, called SPRINT Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (MIND), which examined whether controlling blood pressure levels could prevent or slow white matter lesion progression and aging brain disorders. The results were published on Aug. 13, 2019 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

NIH funded study found link between blood pressure and white matter lesions. Arrows highlight examples of lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging brain scans. Scanning for White Matter Lesions NIH funded study found link between blood pressure and white matter lesions. Arrows highlight examples of lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging brain scans.Courtesy of SPRINT MIND Investigators. Launched in 2010, the NIH-supported SPRINT effort initially enabled scientists to compare the effects of standard versus intensive blood pressure control on cardiovascular health and mortality. More than 9,300 adults who were at least 50 years old and had a high risk for cardiovascular disease

received either standard treatment, which lowered systolic blood pressure, the first of two numbers measured during an exam, to less than 140 mm Hg (<140 mm Hg), or intensive treatment to lower the same pressure reading below 120 mm Hg (<120 mm Hg). In August 2015, NIH surprisingly ended the trial early after initial results showed that 3.3 years of intensive treatment significantly reduced the rates of death and cardiovascular

Taking care of yourself if one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. Make sure you are making time for yourself, eating healthy foods, and being active. Consider joining a caregiver support group, either in your own community or online. Meeting other caregivers can relieve your sense of isolation and will give you a chance to exchange stories and ideas. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Caregiving is not easy for anyone— not for the caregiver and not for the care recipient. There are sacrifices and adjustments for everyone. When you don’t live where the care is needed, it may be especially hard to feel that what you are doing is enough and that what you are doing is important. It often is.

Learn about sharing caregiving responsibilities with friends and family.

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disease. The NIA and NINDS supported substudy, SPRINT MIND, enabled scientists from 27 clinical sites to examine the effects these treatments had on the brain by measuring cognitive function and acquiring MRI scans on a subset of SPRINT participants. The researchers compared brain scans of 449 participants that were taken at enrollment and four years later. During this time, the average increase in total volume of white matter lesions on scans of the intensive treatment group was 0.92 cm3, which was less than the 1.45 cm3 seen on scans from the standard treatment participants. - NIH

THIS IS FOR YOU! Voice of Asia, has dedicated senior readers. This section on Senior Living is dedicated to health and overall wellbeing of all senior members as every day hundreds of men and women are retiring from active life due to age, sickness, disability and so on. Each week we will bring you latest information on ways to cope aging and problems related to it. We would like to invite businesses including builders that remodel homes for seniors to advertise in Voice of Asia Voice of Asia is the largest and most credible newspaper serving the community for the last 30 years! To sell your product and services, please contact 713-774-5140 Email: Ads@voiceofasiagroup www.voiceofasia.news

FASHION & STYLE

VOICE OF ASIA 17

FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Bollywood Shake Hosts Luxury Indian Fashion Tour with Neeta Lulla!

Host Ruchika Dias of Bollywood Shake with her team. Photo credit - Jasleen Kaur & Saba Design Studio

Fashion show showcasing designer Neeta Lulla’s collection.

uchika Dias of Bollywood Shake and her team hosted the first ever LIFT: Luxury Indian Fashion Tour at the Westin Galleria in Houston on Aug 17th, 2019. The event featured Bollywood celebrity designer Neeta Lulla along with other designers and vendors from India, Pakistan, UK and USA!

Hailed as the 'Czarina of Indian Fashion', Neeta Lulla’s clientele includes Bollywood celebrities such as Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukherjee, Juhi Chawla, Sridevi, Shilpa Shetty and Sushmita Sen. She has worked on over 300 films and won 4 National Awards for Best Costume for Lamhe, Devdas, Jodhaa

Akbar and Balgandharva. Houston was proud to host this ace couturier at the LIFT event. There was also a fashion show featuring her designs along with collections by designers Priyanka Singh, Huma Adnan, Kyra and Mumtaz Tejani. The exclusive handcrafted jewelry was by Anu Kochhar of Mio Mora inspired by Anu’s passion for traditional and intricate jewelry created by Indian Artisans. The fashion show was choreographed by Priti Islam and the organizing team included Bindhya Babu, Esha Shah and Ayeshah Alam Khan. Houston models got to adorn beau-

tiful outfits and jewelry and walk the ramp at this prestigious event. Blaine Ochoa (Miss Houston 2019), Rita Goebel (Miss Teen Houston 2019), Malin Pathak (Mrs. South Asia International 2019 and Mrs. Bollywood International 2018), Rutvi Chauhan (Mrs. Bollywood USA 2017 RU), Birva Shah (Miss Bollywood US South 2017), Devika Mathilakath (Miss Teen Bollywood USA 2017 RU), Himi Haridas (Mrs. Bollywood Texas 2017), Jyoti Verma (Mrs. Bollywood USA 2016) and Shruthi Bekal (Mrs. Bollywood USA 2015) were some of the models who walked on the runway. Many of the top local vendors participated in this international event including Ghungat by Anuj & Shaveta (Hillcroft), Designs by Sippy and Tulasi Arts & Crafts. The event was sponsored by Mr. Parvez Jasani, Realtor Shaneel Mitha, Righttaxmate, DECO ART, Noyan Shike of Shades of Glamour and theremyshoppe lashes. Media partners HumFM Radio and NTV Houston.

How sport and fashion collide in Sacai’s new collaboration by Sam Rogers

acai has teamed up with Nike for a second time, creating a brand new running apparel collection, fronted by Japanese tennis champion Naomi Osaka and skateboarding pro Sky Brown.

Dropping alongside the 11-piece collection will be the Sacai x LDWaffle and Blazer trainers. “By mixing two different types of Nike sneaker, we made a unique pair that features

Returning home laden with plastic bags was once the hallmark of a successful shopping trip, but that is no longer the case. In an effort to curb waste and promote sustainability, increasing numbers of major fashion brands are eliminating the single-use carrier bags from their stores.

Any Aldo clients who still want a bag will be able to purchase reusable eco-totes made from recycled plastic, whose net profits will be donated to Ocean-focused organizations such as The Ocean Legacy Foundation and Ocean Conservancy. Call It Spring's eco-tote sales will help to fund clean water and sanitation projects in Kenya through its ongoing partnership with the social enterprise ME to WE.

Where she previously teamed elegant pleats and knits with Nike’s technical sportswear, this time Abe has taken a different approach, resulting in a completely new take on Nike classics.

tember 28th and the next LIFT event in Spring 2020! For more info visit: bollywoodshake.com/

Plastic bags: no longer in fashion?

The collection (available from the beginning of September) picks up where Abe and the Nike left off in 2014. “We saw immediately that Abe is very good at mixing up sportswear with high fashion,” says Fraser Cooke, Nike’s global director of influencer marketing and collaborations. “One of the things that we thought was really interesting about working with Sacai was her way of layering and draping.”

“I strive to create from out-of-thebox ideas,” Abe says—case in point, the Nike windrunner that has been transformed into a skirt, that looks as though it is a jacket, tied around the waist.

Bollywood Shake looks forward to hosting their Bollywood/South Asia International pageant on Sep-

his month, Canadian footwear and accessories empire Aldo Group -- whose brands include Aldo and Call It Spring -- announced that it is phasing single-use shopping bags out of its stores globally. Instead, shoppers will be able to transport their new wares back home using a shoebox made from recycled cardboard, featuring a practical rope handle that helps it to double as a bag.

“As the collection includes performance-wear designed for sports, we wanted to feature the world’s top athletes,” Chitose Abe, Sacai’s designer tells Vogue. “I aimed to convey the notion that wearing clothes which are special to you will draw out your inner strength and confidence. I can relate to Naomi as a Japanese woman who now has influence on the global state, too.”

“The idea was to combine Sacai’s techniques with Nike’s sports gear to create entirely new pieces, using parts from separate items,” explains the designer, whose signature style—which she calls “hybrid splicing”—marries two separate (often opposing) ideas or garments to create a balanced (and crucially new and unexpected) whole. Her approach and resulting design language has made her an industry favourite.

Indian artifacts on show.

Aldo is far from alone in its outlook. In July, Japanese fashion and lifestyle brand Muji announced a new reusable bag initiative encouraging shoppers in the US to use their own bags by introducing a charge for reusable bags. Shoppers using their own bags will receive a five-cent discount on their purchase. "In line with MUJI's longstanding philosophy of less excess, we would like to encourage our customers to bring their own reusable bags when shopping at Muji!" the brand announced on Instagram. Spanish retail giant Inditex -- which owns Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home, and Uterqüe -- pledged last month to eliminate the use of plastic bags across its brand portfolio by the year 2020 (a benchmark already achieved by Zara, Zara Home, Massimo Dutti, and Uterqüe). And Fast Retailing, the parent company of the fashion brands Uniqlo, Theory, and Comptoir des Cotonniers, is set to switch from plastic bags to eco-friendly paper bags made using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)certified paper or recycled paper this September.

Chitose Abe (left) showcasing her designs for Nike alongside Japanese tennis champion Naomi Osaka. (Photo: Nike)

two soles, two tongues, two pairs of shoe laces and two logos,” explains Abe. “I believe collaborative work should represent the intriguing aspects of both brands equally,” she adds. “The essence of both Nike and Sacai can be seen in every piece of this new collection. The base of each item is Nike, but the resulting silhouette is

one that only Sacai can create. This collaboration proves that sportswear—generally selected on the basis of functionality—can be turned into something unique and fun through extraordinary ideas.” The Nike windrunner has been transformed into a skirt. - Vogue India

Luxury brands are also increasingly on board: back in March, the British label Burberry pledged to "reduce, eliminate and transition away from problematic and unnecessary packaging" across its portfolio by the year 2025, with a focus on single-use plastics. The label began by eradicating the plastic lamination of its retail bags and stopping the use of poly bags as garment covers. Will 2019 be known as the year the plastic bag officially went out of fashion? - Relaxnews

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VOICE OF ASIA 18

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Week of August 23, 2019 21 March to 20 April From August 23 to September 23, the confident sun moves through your sixth house of wellness, shoring up your determination to dive into an ambitious fitness plan that you’ve been mulling over for some time. The more research you can do, the better the results you’ll get once you make the plan part of your daily routine.

21 April to 20 May While relationship-oriented Venus moves through your fifth house of romance from August 21 to September 14, you’ll be fantasizing about enjoying plenty of lighthearted, flirtatious time with your significant other or someone who has the potential to be a long-term partner. Your best bet for making your dreams a reality: shrugging off any instinct to land on concrete plans.

21 May to 20 June On August 23, when the moon in your sign squares off with action-oriented Mars in your fourth house of family life, you could experience irritation or anger but want to hold yourself back from expressing it. But talking about it in a measured, grounded way could prove more productive. You’ll want to prioritize quality one-on-one time with relatives, with mental and emotional energy toward beautifying your home.

21 June to 22 July

Time and money are precious resources, yes, but creative intelligence is even more precious on Monday. The ideas you come up with at work are extremely valuable right now -- so make them good! On Tuesday, you become something of an idea machine, spitting out one after the next. Not all of them will be used, but that’s okay. See how much fun it is to see things through.

23 July to 22 August Your ability to learn -- your openness to what other people have to say, the way you show you’re listening -- is very attractive. At the beginning of the week, you meet someone who has quite an effect on you. This is most likely not a romantic thing, but your chemistry is undeniable. Wednesday and Thursday aren’t very romantic either, though they seem like they should be.

23 August to 22 Sept On August 23, the Virgo sun means birthday ahead. It’s goal-making time. On the twenty-ninth, Virgo Mercury increases efficiency (could it get any better?). Friday is a blast: The energy is off the charts and work feels more like a party -- a party with a purpose. It’s natural to crave more time with your S.O. or a potential partner. Express your desires, then go for it!

astrology.com

23 September to 22 Oct While the confident sun moves through your twelfth house of spirituality from August 23 to September 23, you may want to press pause on your usually packed agenda in order to spend more time on your own, reflecting and reassessing personal goals, and just generally recharging from an especially social season.

23 October to 21 Nov The sun enters Virgo’s critical sign on August 23, but you can use its detail-oriented energy to make improvements in your love life now. Turn your constructive criticism inward to figure out what positive relationship changes you can make. Single Scorpios: Getting things in order now will help make room for when you find that someone special.

22 November to 21 Dec The sun enters Virgo’s critical sign on the twenty-third, causing you to look at people with a very discerning eye. Single Sagittarians might decline an invitation from someone simply because their outfit doesn’t match. Attached Archers can be overly analytical, which can get old. Accepting your partner for who they are will make you happier.

22 December to 20 Jan You get flashes of insight here and there during the sun-Uranus trine on the twenty-ninth, hopefully enough to lead you to an important revelation. If it’s been a while since you had an “aha” moment, you might not recognize it at first. This transit improves your sense of perception. You’re still attracted to beautiful people; you’re more interested in looking at love from a commonsense view now.

21 January to 19 Feb The organized Virgo sun shows up on August 23, just in time to help you do a little tidying up. Will you find some romantic memorabilia while you’re cleaning out your closets? Undoubtedly. Will there be a song that reminds you of an ex while you’re deleting old playlists? Of course. Remembering the good times doesn’t mean you want to relive them, though. Make that clear to a current partner if they get jealous.

20 February to 20 Mar The sun enters Virgo’s practical sign on the twenty-third, freeing you from emotional attachments you’ve been hanging on to. You’ll be amazed at what you can let go of when you take an “out with the old, in with the new” approach. Tasks that involve you sitting at your desk and coming up with things suits you best.

ACROSS 1. Patsy, e.g. 6. Olden-day aerosol can propellant, acr. 9. Between generations 13. Reduction/oxidation portmanteau 14. ____ Tsu 15. Page or Grable 16. Out in the open 17. Legal org. 18. Often-missed humor 19. *"Nowhere man, the world is at your ____" 21. *"...love was such an easy game ____ ____" 23. *"____ time at all, all you gotta do is call..." 24. *One more than The Beatles 25. 2019, Year of the ____ 28. Shell and its contents 30. Showing on TV 35. Mars, to the Greeks 37. "On a ____" or carefree 39. Rock bottom 40. Asian weight unit 41. Gladiator venue 43. Site of Leaning Tower 44. Zero calorie sweetener 46. Arab ruler 47. Zac Brown Band's 2008 hit 48. Tight-____ 50. H or O in H2O, e.g. 52. ____ the season! 53. Word type 55. Booking photograph 57. *"...take a sad song and make it ____" 60. *"...____, it's been a long cold lonely winter" 64. 2 halves of a diameter 65. Sis' sibling 67. Sign of a saint, pl. 68. Financial backer 69. Summer mo. 70. *"..., but you can ____ how to play the game" 71. Pressure inducer 72. Born, in society pages 73. Synchronizes, for short

SOLUTION: THE

BEATLES, Page 19

DOWN 1. Gator's cousin 2. To the left, prefix 3. Footnote word 4. Norman Bates' Mother 5. Opposite of extinct 6. Decked out 7. *Like The Four 8. Raccoon's South American cousin 9. *"...listen to my story all about the ____ who came to stay?" 10. Dwarf buffalo 11. Small and weak 12. Stratego piece S 15. Deliver via Keystone 20. Spiral-horned African antelope 22. Spermatozoa counterpart 24. Supervisor 25. *"Yesterday" star 26. Baghdad resident 27. "Faster!" to a horse 29. *"...and if she's beside me I know I need never ____" 31. Wholly engrossed 32. "The ____," Dostoyevsky's novel 33. One born to Japanese immigrants 34. *"Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California ____" 36. Dueler's blow 38. Opposite of purl 42. Something in the air 45. Dal seed 49. Anonymous John 51. Street artist's masterpiece 54. City-like 56. Sticky 57. Misery cause 58. U2 guitarist 59. Wedding cake part 60. Venetian magistrate 61. A Flock of Seagulls' 1982 hit 62. Narcotics agent 63. Singular of gentes 64. Drake's genre 66. Parisian way

VOICE OF ASIA 19

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FRIDAY, August 23, 2019

Home&Real Estate National home giant partners with real estate firm on new program coming to Houston by Angela Gonzalez

handler, Arizona-based Offerpad is partnering with real estate giant Keller Williams to roll out a so-called iBuyer program in 10 states by the end of the year to give consumers more options in selling their homes. Keller Williams' iBuyer that had been launched in May — known as Keller Offers — is teaming with Offerpad to quickly scale the instant home offer service, Gayln Ziegler, director of operations for Keller Offers, said in a statement. The new iBuyer partnership will start in Phoenix and Dallas by Aug. 31, with plans to scale to 10 other Offerpad markets by the end of the year. Those markets include Houston; Austin; San Antonio; Atlanta; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Las Vegas; Orlando, and Tampa, Florida; and Tucson, Arizona. Offerpad expanded to Houston in January. Austin-based Keller Williams is among the largest real estate technology franchises with more than 1,030 offices and 181,000 associates worldwide. Several Keller Williams offices rank on the Houston Business Journal's 2019 Lists of the largest Houston-area residential real estate brokerages by transaction and the largest Houston-area residential real estate brokerages by sales volume. Under the agreement, consumers

can work with a Keller Williams agent when choosing Keller Offers powered by Offerpad. To leverage the partnership, KW agents will be required to become a Keller Offers Certified iBuyer agent. Once certified, agents are able to submit a cash offer request via Keller Offers. That's when Offerpad generates an offer on a home using its proprietary technology, routing the offer back to the agent, who presents it to the seller. The agent will remain the seller's consultant, helping sellers understand all their options. If the seller accepts the instant-offer path, the agent will guide the seller through the process. Partnerships appear to be key in helping iBuyers gain traction in the residential real estate market. Last year, for example, San Franciscobased Opendoor forged partnerships with Arizona homebuilders to move buyers into new homes as quickly as they close on their old homes.

Sip wine in this Japanese pagoda-inspired pavilion A California winery selects sustainably produced redwood for a new pergola-topped tasting area. by Kathryn M.

isitors to ZO Winery, a family owned farmstay winery in Sonoma County, California, have a new space to enjoy the awardwinning wine while taking in spectacular views of Dry Creek Valley. A pavilion designed with inspiration from Japanese pagodas was recently added to the property, providing an intimate area for tasting and relaxing. When selecting materials for the project, the winery looked no further than locally sourced and sustainably produced Humboldt Redwood. David Eckert, owner, winemaker, and grower at ZO Winery, recalls his

With a design inspired by Japanese pagodas, the structure of this stand-alone tasting pavilion is made of redwood, allowing it to blend in with its California location. (Photos: Dwell Magazine)

Opendoor also partnered last month with Redfin to give home sellers more choices. Some experts told the Houston Business Journal that such iBuyer platforms could eventually account for about 11 percent of home sales in town, but it’ll take several months for these companies to make a notable market impact.

At the heart of ZO Wines’ winemaking philosophy is the requirement of the 'right fruit, from the right places, grown with the right people.' The vineyard on the property, established in 1999 as 'Triple Ten Vineyard,' accomplishes this and further carries through a Japanese theme. The Japanese word ‘Ten’, means heaven or heavenly.

- HBJ

Houston home sales hit new all-time record

OUSTON, August 19, 2019 - The latest, low mortgage rates and a growing supply of homes for sale propelled Houston-area home sales to a record in July. Happy buyers closed on 8,953 single-family homes throughout the region last month, beating the previous high of more than a year ago by 568 sales, according to a monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors. Sales jumped nearly 12 percent from July 2018, one of biggest yearover-year sales increases in years. With this year more than half over, Houston is poised to beat last year's record volume, the association said. On a year-to-date basis, sales are 3 percent ahead of 2018. "It [July] was a strong month for home sales and rentals across the Houston area," Shannon Cobb Evans, the association's chair, said in the report released Wednesday. "We believe that the Houston real estate market is on track for another record year, and that is directly attributed to a healthy

local economy, low mortgage interest rates and an improving supply of homes." Months inventory -- the time it would take to sell all the properties on the market -- has been rising for most of this year. It was 4.3 months in July, a slight decline from the previous month, but up from a year ago when there was just 4.1 months of inventory available. The number of homes on the market continues to grow. There were 30,295 active listings in July, up from last month and up 9 percent from a year earlier. Inventory, however, varies significantly by price segment. The market for $1 million-and-up homes had a nearly 13-month supply in July. The segment just below that -- homes in the $750,000 to $1 million range -- had a 10-month supply. All segments under $400,000 had a lower than six-month supply, which experts generally consider a balanced market where neither buyer nor seller

“We wanted something that was just as unique as our experience,' comments Tyler Osburg-Head, hospitality and estate manager at ZO Wines Farmstay and Estate Winery. has the upper hand. At $250,000, the median price of last month's sales was up 2.2 percent from a year ago, but short of the previous month's record of $252,500, according to the data, which is based on sales handled through the Multiple Listing Service in primarily Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

New Braunfels real estate seeing rise in new residents hungry for Hill Country living

hey are coming from all over and they want to get out of the city," she said. "They are trying to escape the crowds. What I hear more often than anything else is they want space." According to Census Bureau data, New Braunfels and Comal County saw an average of 15 new people per day moved into the area between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018, making it the second fastest-growing community in the region. Aside from the traffic and the constant activity of living near a large metro area, many who seek out Hill Country living are also hoping to escape the constraints of being in a Home Owner's Association, and in some cases just being too close to their neighbors. "I think people feel a little bit restricted by HOA's and in this part of Texas, we spend so much time outdoors," Beth said. "It's hard to sit out on your back patio and enjoy nature when your neighbor's fence is right there and they can hear all your conversations on the back porch." There's plenty of space in the Hill Country, but sometimes it can be expensive, particularly if the buyer is looking for acreage. Often, acreage can range between $20,000 or higher before construction on the new home, while buying a new home can be less expensive. As a result, a move to the Texas Hill Country and the New Braunfels region may need to be carefully planned, de-

Located at 314 Westshire Lane in New Braunfels, this home is listed on HAR.com. (Photo: HAR) pending on if a buyer wants acreage to build a home later, or buys a move-in ready home. It's a procedure that Randy and Beth Bush know first-hand. The Bush's, who lived in Houston for years, moved to New Braunfels in 2014, but purchased their residential property several years before their move with a long-range plan of building their home. It's because of their knowledge and experience that the Bush Real Estate Group is able to help those seeking their great escape to find their dream home. Beth said one of the most important steps in helping potential home buyers realizing their dream of Hill Country life is helping them map out a good spending plan for either acreage or a move-in ready home. "One of the first things I do is get them with a lender. Sometimes they

thoughts when first purchasing the property in 2012: "There were a few key things missing. For one, we didn’t have a great place to enjoy views of the vineyard, so we decided to create a deck and pavilion." A large redwood deck with a pergola was first added to the historic 1906 main house, followed by the tasting pavilion, which was recently completed in 2019.

can go a littler higher than they thought," Beth said. Beth said recreation is also high on the list. Attractions such as the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, Canyon Lake, Gruene and the proximity between Austin and San Antonio are another reason people make the move to the Hill Country. "The area is at a healthy growth rate," she said. -MySA.com

"We had a vision of connecting to the vineyard’s roots, which are of Japanese origin, yet we also wanted it to match the Sonoma County aesthetics. So, when it came time to choose the materials for our pavilion, redwood was a no brainer," adds Eckert. -Dwell.com