VOA E Paper Nov 01, 2019

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Serving Harris, Fort Bend and Surrounding Counties for over 30 years

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019 l Published Weekly From Houston Vol. 33 • No. 44 • 16 Pages (2 sections) • 50 cents • 713-774-5140 • www.voiceofasia.news • E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Bangar Reddy for US Congressional District TX-22

An H.I.V. outbreak puts spotlight on Pakistan’s health care system

Voice of Asia honors Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan with 'Lifetime Achievement Award'

After the reuse of syringes infected hundreds of children in a small city, health workers say the entire system needs to be revamped.

Bangar Reddy, Conservative Republican running for United States Congressional District TX-22.

by Shobana Muratee

B

angar Reddy, a resident of Fort Bend County for the past 22 happy years, is a Conservative Republican running for United States Congressional District TX-22.

“I'm not a career politician. I love serving America,” says Reddy who has served on-board several nonprofits over the last 20 years and is well among the community’s elite. He served as team leader at ground zero during natural disasters including Hurricane Ike, and Hurricane

Harvey and continues to be involved in various community service initiatives on education, health fairs, entrepreneurship, events showcasing cultural diversity, immigration, and women empowerment to name a few.

Reddy grew up in India in a working-class agricultural family. “I know what it’s like to be poor, dirt-poor and I know what it’s like not to have access to medical care.” Among his top reasons for running for Congress are strong family values, keeping borders safe and secured, Continued on Page 2

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pediatrician accused of reusing syringes and infecting scores of Pakistani children with H.I.V. is now practicing in a government-run hospital after his private clinic was shuttered, in a case that is raising widespread questions about the integrity of Pakistan’s health care system.

The pediatrician, Muzaffar Ghanghro, was initially the sole focus of blame in an H.I.V. outbreak that has hit more than 1,100 people — so far nearly 900 of them are children — in the small city of Ratodero.

But government officials believe he is not the only cause there, and that the bad practices he is accused of, including reusing syringes and IV needles, are so widespread across Pakistan that the entire health care system needs better regulation.

Continued on Page 2

Koshy Thomas (center) Publisher and CEO of Voice of Asia seen presenting “The Life Time Achievement Award” to Most Rev. His Grace Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan during the Silver Jubilee special service on October 27, 2019 at the Immanuel Church, in honor of his 62 years of service to the church and community.

Rev. Abraham Varghese, Chief Priest of Immanuel Mar Thoma Church in Houston is also seen on the far right. His Grace Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan is the supreme Head of the Mar Thom Church. He was accompanied by the Diocesan Bishop for North America and Europe Rt. Rev. Dr. Issac Mar Philoxenos. (Photo credit: Johnson Varghese)

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

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The sociology of violence espoused by Isis will only be defeated by a political project that transcends the religious, nationalist and ethnic schisms in the region.

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

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

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

www.voiceofasia.news

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

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

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t the end of June 2014 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced as a caliph of all Muslims in a declaration that not only proclaimed a new “caliphate”, but also warned fellow believers in Islam that they must “pledge allegiance and support”. Baghdadi, the latest leader of so-called Islamic State, had made a name for his group with a murderous reign of terror culminating in the shock fall of the city of Mosul into his hands a fortnight earlier. His claims about “crushing the idol of democracy” and defeating “agents of the crusaders and atheists, and the guards of the Jews” were followed by a campaign of genocide, slavery, rape and ultra-violence against Muslims primarily. Baghdadi’s empire-building came to nothing when the “caliphate” collapsed in March this year. The world’s most-wanted terrorist ended his life as a fugitive who decided that he would kill himself rather than surrender to justice. He came to an ignominious end; reportedly cornered

by US special forces, Baghdadi blew himself up in a tunnel in Syria, killing three of his children as well.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump could not resist the opportunity to make a series of questionable statements and promote himself. His claim that Baghdadi “died like a dog” was unpleasant, unnecessary and will cause unintended problems for the United States that will require undoing, especially in the Muslim world where canines are considered unclean. It would help first to get the facts straight, instead of shrouding them in the “fog of war”. When Osama

Bangar Reddy for US Congressional District (TX-22) Continued from Page 1 drug free neighborhoods, fair and expedited legal immigration and quality education for all.

Reddy is a staunch conservative and strongly rejects socialistic ideology which he believes is pervading Texas. He believes that, socialist ideology or socialist programs are trying to invade Texas “by promoting big government and wasteful spending”. On his conservative agenda is: strong families raising future generation with core Texan values, honest compassion, freedom and opportunity for all, supporting families and working class with low taxes, less spending, limited government, quality education in public schools, AHCA, infrastructure building, pro freedom America, safe borders & healthy neighborhoods, encourage small businesses, streamline and expedite immigration initiatives, job opportunities for all and keep economy grow strong.

Reddy has 25 years of strong IT background. He credits his successful entrepreneurship to his faith and belief in God, in the conservative values, work ethic endowed by his parents.

Reddy continued his education and received his Master’s degree and went on to start his own small business. He worked for small, medium and larger companies in energy, infrastructure and investment sectors. He values the free market American system that respects the rule of law encourages ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and hard work.

“America has been great to me. My wife and I are proud to be able to raise our two daughters in Fort Bend County, Texas. Now it’s my duty to give back to the country that made my dreams become realty. I want our children to have a good future and access to greater opportunities in life.

We don’t want to build second class America with socialist programs that divide the country into haves and have nots.

We are one America,” he says.

Learn more on Bangar Reddy at Reddy4Congress.com and Reddy2020.com

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

Baghdadi’s death: not enough to destroy Islamic State bin Laden was killed under the Obama administration in 2011, days after the event it had to offer an account that contradicted its previous assertions. There’s good reason to expect that the Trump White House might have to correct a few self-serving myths in the coming days. The fact that Baghdadi took his own life means that the policy of killing members of terrorist groups as part of America’s war on terror continues without the necessary and long overdue debate about the ethics and legality of targeted assassinations.

The US will need all the help it can get to defeat terrorism in the Middle East. The death of Baghdadi is a blow to Isis but not a mortal one. Following the loss of its citadels, it had become a loose, decentralised series of terrorist groupuscules, which allow followers to carry out its violent ideology on their own. Baghdadi

was no fighter, he was an ideologue, and under him the Isis security and military apparatus had been mainly controlled, analysts thought, by a group of former Iraqi army officers. To defeat Isis would require the Sunni community in the Levant to rise up against the organisation and its affiliates, as it did in 2007 in Iraq with the “sahawat” or “awakenings” of tribes who turned against terrorism. This is made more difficult with the chaos and instability in the region. From the protests in the streets of Iraq and Lebanon to the wars of Yemen and Libya, it seems that the “nation state” and its political system are witnessing a slow disintegration in many parts of the Middle East.

The US will need all the help it can get to defeat terrorism in the Middle East. The death of Baghdadi is a blow to Isis but not a mortal one. Following the loss of its citadels, it had become a loose, decentralised

series of terrorist groupuscules, which allow followers to carry out its violent ideology on their own. Baghdadi was no fighter, he was an ideologue, and under him the Isis security and military apparatus had been mainly controlled, analysts thought, by a group of former Iraqi army officers. To defeat Isis would require the Sunni community in the Levant to rise up against the organisation and its affiliates, as it did in 2007 in Iraq with the “sahawat” or “awakenings” of tribes who turned against terrorism. This is made more difficult with the chaos and instability in the region.

From the protests in the streets of Iraq and Lebanon to the wars of Yemen and Libya, it seems that the “nation state” and its political system are witnessing a slow disintegration in many parts of the Middle East.

SOURCE: The Guardian

An H.I.V. Outbreak ...

Continued from Page 1

Health workers say the government needs to revamp the national medical syllabus to prioritize infection control, currently a minor part of doctor training. And they say hospitals often scrimp on the sterilization process for tools.

“The only good thing about the outbreak has been that it laid bare the multiple flaws in the system that the government with support of U.N. agencies needs to address,” said Dr. Fatima Mir, a pediatric infectious disease expert working at the Aga Khan University in Karachi. She was one of the first responders to help with the outbreak in Ratodero.

“What the outbreak in Ratodero says about Pakistan’s health care is that infection control is poor or nonexistent.

Pakistan’s health care system is now trying to integrate infection control as a formal part of the system,” Dr. Mir added.

She said that Pakistan’s medical practitioners often lack the logistics and supplies necessary to prevent and contain infections. When she was in Ratodero to help, Dr. Fatima said it was a challenge finding clean water to wash her hands with while seeing patients.

“With the lack of infection control, this outbreak is not unexpected. What is unexpected is that this time, children are the main victims, and there are a lot of them,” she said.

Of the nearly 36,000 residents in Ratodero tested since late April, 1,112 of them have tested positive for H.I.V., 889 of them young children. With not even a quarter of Ratodero’s population tested, officials worry the real numbers are much higher.

The police investigation into Dr. Ghanghro is ongoing, and he has been cleared only of the charge that he intentionally spread the virus, the district inspector general in charge of the case said in an interview.

Dr. Ghanghro’s court case for medical malpractice is still ongoing, said the district inspector general, Irfan Ali Baloch.

Dr. Ghanghro has denied

that he reused syringes, which is illegal.

“A team of medical experts came and interviewed him,” Mr. Baloch said. “The medical board determined that he did not intentionally spread H.I.V., but his clinic was in such a condition that the protocols were not being maintained.”

Dr. Ghanghro still faces criminal charges, making it unclear how he is able to continue practicing, and why he was recently posted to a government-run hospital near Ratodero.

Provincial health care officials in Sindh Province, who would be responsible for reassigning Dr. Ghanghro, said that he has not been given the permission to resume practicing medicine and that his medical license was not recently renewed.

But Dr. Ghanghro said in an interview with The New York Times last week that he recently renewed his license, and was practicing in a government hospital with a stream of patients waiting to be seen by him, questioning the government’s ability to regulate the system.

“He has applied to us to start practicing again,” said Abdul Sami, an official from the Sindh provincial health care commission. “But so far, we have not allowed it.

“If he has already started practicing, it is not to our knowledge,” added Mr. Sami, who is based in the district of Larkana, where Ratodero is.

Officials from the governing Tehreek-e-Insaf party blamed the outbreak on the poor governance and corruption of the local government of Sindh Province.

Other observers said the outbreak is more about systemic failure.

Zaigham Khan, a development expert who writes a column for The News newspaper, noted that Pakistan spends less than one percent of its G.D.P. on health care, and that only one doctor is available for every 6,000 people, mostly concentrated in urban areas.

“Pakistan is facing a fullblown public health crisis, mainly rooted in ineffective governance and dominance of special interests,” Mr. Khan said.

“Pakistan is one of the two countries in the world where polio persists, the other being Afghanistan” and treatable conditions like rabies and dengue contribute to dozens of deaths annually, he added. “In rural areas, most people are treated by quack doctors. As if that was not enough, even doctors often administer expired medicine.

Doctors are hardly ever made accountable for these practices in the legal system.”

Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai, the program manager of the central government-run National AIDS Control Program, said that Ratodero’s conditions were not unique, and that much of Pakistan was struggling to combat the spread of H.I.V., which causes AIDS. Unregulated clinics were continuing to operate, he said, and used syringes are frequently repackaged to sell as new, although they are supposed to be incinerated after use.

From 2010 to 2018, the number of H.I.V.-positive people in Pakistan nearly doubled, to about 160,000, according to estimates by U.N.AIDS, the United Nations task force that specializes in H.I.V. and AIDS. During that time, the number of new infections jumped 38 percent in those 15 to 24. And only about 10 percent of people thought to be H.I.V.-positive are being treated.

“With the help of U.N. agencies, a state of the art AIDS control center is being established,” Dr. Achakzai said. “It will ensure that contaminated syringes will not be used and all medical waste would be put in the incinerator.”

With the exception of the capital, Islamabad, medical laboratories across Pakistan are not under any regulatory framework, Dr. Achakzai said.

“There is no check and balance,” he said.

SOURCE: The New York Times

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FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church Consecration and Parsonage Dedication

His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan, Rt. Rev. Dr. Issac Mar Philexinos,and Vicars grace the occasion The souvenir to be published in commemoration with the church consecration was inaugurated by the Mar Thoma Metropolitan.

by Saji Pullad

H

OUSTON - The Consecration of the Sanctuary of the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church and the Dedication of the Parsonage was held on Saturday October 26th 2019.

The Senior Vicar General, Very. Rev. Dr. Cherian Thomas, Rev. Manoj Iducalla, (Diocesan secretary), Rev. Jacob Thomas (Trinity Mar Thoma Church), Rev. Abraham Verghese (Immanuel Mar Thoma Church) delivered felicitations.

His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan, The Supreme head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church was the Chief Celebrant.

Church Choir members and the Sunday School students sang melodious songs on this occasion.

The Metropolitan wished, “The St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church reach new heights of achievements, and it’s growth this far be an example for other new Ma Thoma Parishes around the world”.

Several clergy members and about 300 people attended this blessed ceremony.

St. Thomas MTC is the Third Mar Thoma Parish in Houston under the North American Diocese.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Issac Mar Philexinos, Diocesan Episcopa was the co- celebrant.

The Diocesan Bishop congratulated members of the St. Thomas Mar Thoma church, the third and the newest Marthoma Parish in the greater Houston area for their hard work and the commitment that resulted in growth achieved since it’s humble beginning one year ago.

The Vicar Rev. Saji Albin, Secretary John Thomas and ll office-bearers express their heartfelt gratitude for all the participants who made the occasion grant success.

His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan, Rt. Rev. Dr. Issac Mar Philexinos,and Vicars during the Dedication ceremony

Shelin Varghese was the Emcee for this meeting. The Senior Vicar Rev. M.P. Yohannan concluded with the prayer.

A section of the congregation

His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan lighting the lamp

Church members during the ceremony

Church choir

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Section 2

Family Health

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Eating yogurt and a high-fiber diet could lower the risk of lung cancer

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ew research has found that eating a diet which includes yogurt and is rich in fiber could help reduce the risk of lung cancer.

“This inverse association was robust, consistently seen across current, past and never smokers, as well as men, women and individuals with different backgrounds,” she added.

Carried out by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA, along with Seoul National University, South Korea, the new study looked at more than 1.4 million adults who took part in studies in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Dietary fiber is a main source of prebiotics (indigestible compounds in food that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract) while yogurt is a good source of pro-

The participants were divided into five groups according to the amount of fiber and yogurt they consumed, and followed for a median period of 8.6 years.

The findings, published in JAMA Oncology, showed that both fiber and yogurt intake appeared to reduce the risk of lung cancer. Consuming both appeared to bring the biggest benefit, with the participants who had the highest yogurt and fiber consumption together showing a 33 percent reduced risk of lung cancer compared to the group who consumed no yogurt and the least amount of fiber, which the researchers said suggests a potential synergism between the two foods.

The findings also held true after taking into account all known risk factors for lung cancer such as smoking status. The associations between lung cancer risk and yogurt and fiber intake were also consistently found across males and females and the different ethnicities included in the study.

“Our study provides strong evidence supporting the U.S. 2015-2020 Dietary Guideline recommending a high fiber and yogurt diet,” said senior author Xiao-Ou Shu, MD, PhD, MPH.

biotics (live microorganisms that are thought to improve or restore the natural balance of bacteria), both of which have been linked to improved gut health and improvements in various health conditions.

A diet high in fiber and yogurt has also been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal cancer. AFP

Juul shipped 1 million contaminated products: lawsuit

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ashington, | AFP | 10/30/2019

strate the leadership qualities needed in his role.”

(Graphic Content & strong language in par 6)

But Breja’s suit claimed that the company had a culture of disregarding health and safety concerns, and was led in a “dictatorial manner” by its ex CEO Kevin Burns who stepped down last month.

E-cigarette leader Juul shipped around one million mint-flavored pods that were “contaminated,” and then failed to inform customers or issue a recall once it realized the problem, according to a lawsuit filed by a former executive.

It comes as the vaping industry is facing tough scrutiny amid a mysterious epidemic of lung conditions linked to e-cigarette use that has killed 34 people and sickened around 1,500 in recent months.

In the lawsuit filed in a federal court in California on Tuesday, ex-senior vice president for finance Siddharth Breja’s legal team wrote he was sacked for “whistleblowing” by objecting to the contaminated pods shipment and other unsafe conduct like selling expired or near-expired products.

The claims were termed “baseless” by the company, which told AFP that Breja was terminated “because he failed to demon-

Breja said he had brought up concerns over a lack of expiration date labeling to Burns, who in an expletive-laden reply said half the firm’s customers were “drunk and vaping like mofos” and would not even notice the quality of its pods.

The suit added that in March of this year, Breja learned that approximately 250,000 “Mint Refill Kits,” or the equivalent of one million pods, had been contaminated, though the nature of the contamination was not specified.

Overriding his concerns, Juul refused to issue a product recall or issue a public health and safety notice -- despite the fact that Breja was asked to recover approximately $7,000,000 from the supplier of the eLiquid as a refund.

Poor evidence cannabis improves mental health: study

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ARIS | AFP | 10/28/2019 - People with psychiatric disorders may want to pass on the joint -- at least until further research is done, a new Australian study suggests.

The paper, published Monday in The Lancet Psychiatry, looked at 83 previous studies conducted over almost four decades on medical cannabinoids, including products from the cannabis plant, such as leaves, buds and oils, as well as pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids.

The authors found insufficient evidence that the products were safe and effective in treating six common disorders: depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.

Cannabis and cannabinoids are increasingly being made available for medicinal use in North America, Britain and Australia without being subjected to the standard process that includes testing and scrutinising by government regulatory bodies, lead author Louisa Degenhardt told AFP. “One of the most striking things about the spread of legislation in multiple countries permitting cannabis/cannabinoids for medicinal purposes is that this is in many instances happening outside of the regulatory frameworks that medicine development typically occurs within,” said Degenhardt, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

The study found that after chronic non-cancer pain, mental health is one of the most common reasons for using medicinal cannabinoids.

But no reviews have considered the varying effects of the different types of cannabinoids or their safety, and the only

Cannabis and cannabinoids are increasingly being made available for medicinal use in North America, Britain and Australia without being subjected to standard testing processes (AFP Photo/Philippe LOPEZ) studies into long-term effects were conducted on individuals using cannabis for recreational use.

In most randomised-controlled trials of the effects of cannabinoids on depression and anxiety, the use was related to another condition, like chronic pain or multiple sclerosis.

Some studies showed improvement in anxiety symptoms, but it was unclear if that effect was due to improvements in the primary condition.

In one small study of patients with psychosis, pharmaceutical THC -- the active substance in cannabis -- actually worsened symptoms.

- Safety risks There are safety concerns as well.

“There are risks of developing dependence upon cannabis,” said Degenhardt. “There are also risks if someone drives while intoxicated, and there [is] evidence that people who use cannabis regularly may be

at increased risk of developing depression and psychotic symptoms.”

Also, getting the drugs via the illicit market “carries risk of prosecution as well as unknown product content, quality and safety,” added Tom Freeman, of the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath.

Medications that are proven to be effective and aren’t addictive already exist for many of the conditions for which cannabis is being used, said Deepak Cyril D’Souza, of Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, who wrote a commentary on the study.

A large study -- with a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial -- is the gold standard for determining the balance between a drug’s efficacy and its side effects, D’Souza told AFP. Until that is completed, “one cannot have confidence in attributing any beneficial effects observed in a clinical trial to cannabis.”

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

Tel: 713-774-5140

Health Insurance Open Enrollment for under 65, under Affordable Care Act now started

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ore insurers are participating in Af-

fordable Care Act plans and premiums are lower going into open enrollment for 2020.

For a 27-year-old, the average premium for the second lowest cost silver plan on HealthCare.gov will drop by 4% and 20 more issuers will participate in states that use the federal health insurance exchange in 2020, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In total, 27 out of the 38 states on the federal exchange are seeing decreases in the benchmark premium.

The number of insurers in the market is 175 compared to 132 in 2018. This is an increase of 20 issuers from 2019. Only two states have a single issuer this coming year, compared with five states last year.

The average enrollee will have 3.5 issuers available in 2020, compared with 2.8 issuers in 2019.

WHY THIS MATTERS This is the second consecutive year of improving market conditions, CMS said, crediting the improvement to the Trump Administration’s new flexibilities around the law, such as state-based reinsurance programs through Section 1332 waivers.

Beginning in 2017, states could apply for a Section 1332 waiver to modify key parts of

the ACA to offer a new coverage system within certain guardrails at lower premiums.

At least 12 states have approved reinsurance programs resulting in lower premiums, CMS said.

Of the six states experiencing double-digit percentage declines in average secondlowest cost silver plan premiums for 27-year-olds, three received authority from CMS for reinsurance waivers. These states are Delaware, North Dakota and Montana, which have declining premiums of 20, 15 and 14%, respectively.

The three other states are Nebraska (15%), Oklahoma (14%), and Utah (10%).

In 2018, the Trump Administration allowed waiver authority for broader changes, including the sale of non ACA-compliant plans such as short-term, limited-duration plans and association health plans.

Neither has proven to undermine the ACA, as some critics have claimed, CMS said.

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

Barack Obama, who as president signed the bill into law.

The Health Insurance Exchange 2020 Open Enrollment Period is November 1, 2019 to December 15, 2019, with coverage beginning on January 1.

THE LARGER TREND The implementation of Obamacare’s main regulations in 2014 severely upset the individual market as per CMS.

Most recently, the Administration also finalized a new policy to allow employers to fund individual market premiums for their employees through health reimbursement arrangements.

Premiums in states using HealthCare.gov more than doubled by 2017. As premiums rose, enrollment declined, especially among those who didn’t receive premium subsidies. Source: HealthCare finance.

In fact, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said, President Trump has done more to strengthen the ACA than his predecessor,

To enroll in any Health Insurance Plans including Medicare plans contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

Read more HEALTH articles . Visit us online : voiceofasia.news

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Section 2

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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Tips to Support Alzheimer’s Caregivers During the Holidays

Tel: 713-774-5140

Monotheistic faiths sign joint paper against euthanasia social and cultural association.

The idea came from Avraham Steinberg, co-president of the Israeli National Council on Bioethics.

holiday errands or engage in an activity that helps he or she recharge.

4. Check in regularly: It’s easy for people to lose touch during the holidays. Calling to check in, sending a note or stopping by for a visit can make a big difference in a caregiver’s day and help them feel supported.

5. Tackle holiday to-do lists: Caregivers are often overwhelmed by the demands of caregiving and it can be hard for them to find time to complete simple tasks that others may take for granted. Offer to tackle a caregiver’s holiday to-do list – cooking, cleaning, gift shopping or wrapping.

Stock Photo

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ore than 16 million family members and friends are serving as Alzheimer’s caregivers in the U.S. As families approach the holiday season, there are easy ways to support caregivers that can ease the burden of caregiving and help make the holidays a joyous time for everyone.

“Holidays can be stressful for all of us, but they can be especially demanding for caregivers,” says Ruth Drew, director of information and support services at the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but little gestures can go a long way and can be easier

than you think – just one hour of help can make a big difference for a caregiver.”

An Alzheimer’s Association survey reports that many caregivers are not getting the help and support they need – an overwhelming 84 percent of caregivers say they would like more support in caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, especially from family members.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers tips for families that can help ease the burden on caregivers this holiday season: 1. Build on traditions: Caregivers may feel overwhelmed

by maintaining traditions. Experiment with new traditions that might be less stressful or a better fit for the caregiver. For example, turn the traditional holiday dinner into a lunch.

2. Adjust expectations: The stress of caregiving responsibilities layered with holiday traditions can take a toll. If a caregiver has traditionally hosted family celebrations, offer to host instead.

3. Give them a break: Make a standing appointment to give caregivers a break. Offer to spend time with the person living with Alzheimer’s to allow the caregiver a chance to run

6. Adapt gift giving. Caregivers often neglect their own wellbeing. Select gifts that can help them take care of themselves and provide some relief. For example, gift a household chore service or meal delivery service.

To learn more and access resources, visit www.alz.org, the website of the Alzheimer’s Association or call its 24/7, free Helpline -- even during the holidays -- at 80 Caregiving needs will intensify and become more demanding as Alzheimer’s progresses.

While it’s important to check in and support caregivers throughout the year, offering additional help during this busy time of year can ensure that caregivers have a reliable and flexible support network.

- StatePoint

File photo of a demonstrator against assisted suicide in a protest outside Parliament in London Sept. 11, 2015 (Photo: Reuters)

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OME | AFP | 10/28/2019 - Christian, Jewish and Muslim envoys signed Monday and submitted to Pope Francis a joint document that denounced euthanasia and assisted suicide as “inherently” wrong acts that should be forbidden.

“The three Abrahamic monotheistic religions share common goals and are in complete agreement in their approach to end-of-life situations,” the document said.

“Euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide are inherently and consequentially morally and religiously wrong and should be forbidden with no exceptions.

“Any pressure upon dying patients to end their lives by active and deliberate actions is categorically rejected,” it added.

It was signed at the Vatican by David Rosen for the American Jewish Committee, Vincenzo Paglia for the Vatican, a representative for the Orthodox Church, and Samsul Anwar from the Indonesian Muhammadiyah, an Islamic

“I think it’s by itself an historic event that the three major religions come together, talk to each other, agree on something and even sign on it,” Steinberg told a press conference

Paglia, who is president of of the Pontifical Academy for Life, added that while death could not always be avoided, “we don’t want to help it on its dirty job.”

Finally, Marsudi Syuhud, secretary general of the influential Islamic association Nahdlatul Ulama, said: “Protecting life is one of the purposes of Islamic law, that’s why we don’t stop protecting life until the end of our life.”

The document urged medical personnel to listen to their conscience, saying: “No health care provider should be coerced or pressured to either directly or indirectly assist in the deliberate and intentional death of a patient through assisted suicide or any form of euthanasia, especially when it is against the religious beliefs of the provider.”

“Moral objections regarding issues of life and death certainly fall into the category of conscientious objection that should be universally respected,” it added.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

Leonetti Elementary, Thornton Middle School receive LEED certification for energy-efficient design

Fort Bend ISD Board members, District leaders, along with Jeanna Sniffin, Principal of Thornton Middle School and Joy Schwinger, Principal of Leonetti Elementary.

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ORT BEND ISD (October 30, 2019) – Donald Leonetti Elementary and Ronald Thornton Middle School have been deemed LEED-certified buildings, and representatives from the campuses and the District were recognized at the October 21 Fort

Bend ISD Board meeting.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification program that provides comprehensive third-party verification on resource efficiency for building projects. Buildings are assessed in the following areas:

Baylor Medicine recognized for patient care strategies

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OUSTON - (Oct. 30 2019) – Baylor College of Medicine has received a Gold TMF Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award for improving patient outcomes in high-priority clinical areas while applying innovative strategies to advance quality healthcare.

The team from Baylor Medicine, the clinical operations arm of Baylor College of Medicine, is among 41 healthcare organizations in seven states and the territory of Puerto Rico to receive the award. The TMF Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award is based on the four categories of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System: Quality Measures, Promoting Interoperability, Improvement Activities and Cost/Utilization. Practices were assessed on clinical outcome measures for the 2018 calendar year.

“Baylor Medicine is dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients,” said Dr. James T. McDeavitt, senior vice president of clinical of affairs at Baylor College of Medicine. “Delivering quality care requires an ongoing commitment to assessing, testing and improving processes, and we’re honored to be recognized for our commitment to our patients and profession.”

TMF Health Quality Institute and Texas medical associations collaborated to introduce the

award program in 2012 to recognize top-performing practices. TMF has since extended the program to include practices in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico.

The award criteria aligns with national health priorities established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve patient care and satisfaction and promote effective care management.

Award recipients demonstrated how they have actively incorporated health information technology and strategies to promote patient engagement and improve the patient experience.

“Physicians and their clinics hold critical front-line roles in healthcare delivery,” said Dr. Gary W. Floyd, chair of the TMF Board of Trustees. “Improving healthcare involves multiple strategies – from applying new technologies, to developing programs that promote healthy living. Through coordinated and data-driven strategies, these physicians are making a difference in the lives of their patients and their communities.”

For more information about the TMF Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award, and to view the complete list of award recipients, visit https:// award.tmf.org/.

Get your community stories online at your Houston news source: VoiceofAsia.News

Sustainable Sites; Water Efficiency; Energy & Atmosphere; Materials & Resources; Indoor Environmental Quality; Innovation and Regional Priority.

Leonetti Elementary and Thornton Middle School are the District’s fifth and sixth LEED-certified campuses.

HOUSTON 80-20 Asian American PAC Endorses Candidates for November 5, 2019 Elections

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

Nirmal Purja:

Nepali climber carving mountaineering history

A picture released by Nirmal “Nims” Purja’s Bremont Project Possible shows the climber on the summit of Gasherbrum II earlier in his quest to climb the world’s highest 14 mountains This handout photo taken on July 3, 2019 and released by Nepali climber Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja and his “Bremont Project Possible” team shows Purja standing at the summit of Nanga Parbat.A Nepali mountaineer on October 29 smashed the speed record for summiting the world’s 14 highest peaks, racing up all “8000ers” in just six months and six days, organisers said. (AFP Photo/Handout)

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ATHMANDU | AFP | 10/29/2019 - Such was the determination of Nepali climber Nirmal Purja to climb the world’s 14 highest mountains, that he had them tattooed across his back, complete with swirling clouds and Tibetan prayer flags.

Now the ex-British Gurkha can make the dizzying claim of being the fastest person to conquer every mountain on Earth over 8000 metres -- from Everest in the eastern Himalayas to K2 in Pakistan’s Karakorum mountains -- taking just six months and six days.

Climbing all fourteen “8000ers” is considered the epitome of mountaineering aspirations since legendary Italian climber Reinhold Messner first completed the feat in 1986, taking 16 years to do so.

Fewer than 40 climbers have followed in his footsteps, with South Korean Kim Chang-ho holding the previous record for speed, taking seven years, 10 months and six days -- although unlike Purja, he did not use supplementary oxygen.

“It has been a gruelling but humbling six months, and I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief and positivity,” Purja said in a statement after his summit of the last “8000er” on his list -Shishapangma in China.

When he first told others about his quest to break the record “everyone was laughing at me,” Purja told AFP in a recent interview in Kathmandu.

The 36-year-old kicked off his “Project Possible” in April with an ascent of Nepal’s Annapurna, moving along the Himalayas to climb five others in the Himalayas, including Everest, before targeting the five “8000ers” in Pakistan’s rugged Karakorums.

He was not alone on Everest, reaching the summit on May

22 with 320 others and snapping a photo of a traffic jam of climbers on the world’s highest mountain that went viral.

Purja began his final push for the remaining three peaks in September, with 8,031 metre Shisapangma -- the smallest and final mountain on his list -- proving unexpectedly tricky.

China had closed off the mountain for the season and only granted Purja a permit after intensive lobbying.

Once on the mountain, Purja had to battle high winds, an avalanche and even a toothache.

-’Breaks for mountaineering’But the adventurer said he was never fascinated with mountains as a child when even a pair of flip-flops were a luxury.

Born in a village in western Nepal, Purja joined the Gurkhas -- a brigade of Nepalis in British army famous for their fearlessness -- in his teens, later serving in the elite special forces as an extreme cold weather warfare specialist.

His tryst with mountaineering began on a trek to Everest base camp in 2012 when he summited the 6,119-metre (20,075 feet) Lobuche.

“If you are from Nepal, everyone asks you about Everest.

So I then used my breaks for mountaineering,” he said.

In 2014 he climbed his first “8000er” -- Dhaulagiri in western Nepal.

A period of leave following a deployment to war-torn Afghanistan in 2016 coincided with the climbing season, and he used his R&R period to make his first ascent of Everest.

Next year he was back on the mountain, leading a successful Gurkha climbing expedition and was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen for his work in high altitude mountaineering.

Orange alert in 4 districts in Kerala The Orange alert, indicating heavy to very rainfall of between 6 CM to 20 CM, was for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts for October 31, while the other 10 districts were issued a yellow alert for tomorrow.

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HIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PTI|Oct 30, - An orange alert was issued on Wednesday for four districts in Kerala by the Met department following formation of a deep depression in the Arabian sea.

The Orange alert, indicating heavy to very rainfall of between 6 CM to 20 CM, was for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts for October 31, while the other 10 districts were issued a yellow alert for tomorrow.

The Met department said the depression over Maldives- Comorin and Lakshadweep area has “intensified into a deep Depression over Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and Maldives area.”

A cyclone warning and a red alert has been issued for Lakshadweep Islands, where extremely heavy rainfall has been forecast .

The State Disaster Management Authority has warned the

public and officials to exercise caution as squalls are likely to blow along the Kerala coast.

An official said that the cyclone, which would be named Maha, was expected to have wind speeds of 30 to 50 km per hour, going up to 75 km per hour.

It would be the fourth cyclone in the Arabian Sea after ‘Vayu’, ‘Hikka’ and ‘Kyarr’, he said.

The Met Department said the sea conditions would be “rough to very rough” over Comorin-Maldives area and along and off the Kerala and Karnataka coasts in the next 48 hours.

It has warned that the sea conditions will be very rough to high over Lakshadweep area during the next 48 hours.

Fishing operations over the Comorin-Maldives and Lakshadweep area and along and off the Kerala-Karnatakacoasts have been suspended for the next 48 hours.

Protests in Bangladesh over ban on cricket hero Shakib

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HAKA | AFP | 10/30/2019 - Hundreds of supporters of Bangladesh’s cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan protested on Wednesday after he was banned for two years by the sport’s governing body for not declaring attempts to bribe him.

The ban on the 32-yearold superstar was announced Tuesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which suspended one year of the punishment after Shakib “accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code”.

Shakib made a public appeal for support after being banned, unleashing a flood of angry anti-ICC social media posts from his fans.

Police said about 700 people took to the streets in Shakib’s hometown of Magura, demanding the ICC revoke the ban which came on the eve of Bangladesh’s departure for a tour of India.

“The protesters shouted slogans and marched along a highway. They also formed a human chain as part of their action against the ICC decision,” said Saiful Islam, police chief in the western town.

Protesters carried placards saying that Shakib was the victim of a “conspiracy”. Smaller protests were held in the capital Dhaka, police said.

The Test and T20 captain accepted charges that he had failed to disclose details of approaches made over a trination series between Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 2018 as well as the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shakib will be eligible to return from October 29 next year but he is ruled out of the T20 World Cup in Australia which starts October 8.

- ‘Shocking’ decision “Those who have supported me over the years, I hope they, the fans, Bangladesh Cricket Board, the government, the journalists will continue to support me in my bad and good time,” Shakib told reporters after the ban was announced.

“I am hopeful I will come back to cricket soon. I will be stronger and will perform my responsibilities with more sin-

Cricket fans gather and shout slogans in front of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on October 29, 2019, after Bangladesh national cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) attended a press conference. (AFP Photo) cerity,” he said.

since 2009.

one-day internationals.

Shakib, who has played 56 Tests, 206 ODIs and 76 Twenty20 internationals, is Bangladesh’s biggest sporting hero and has regularly topped the ICC rankings for all-rounders

At this year’s World Cup in England, Shakib scored more than 600 runs and picked up 11 wickets. He also became the fastest cricketer to reach 5,000 runs and 250 wickets in

After the ban, Shakib stepped down from the MCC World Cricket committee, which said it was “sorry” to lose him but supported his resignation, which was “the right decision”.

WORLD/US

VOICE OF ASIA 8

Fed : interest rate cut was ‘insurance,’ policy now in ‘good place’

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

New IS leader could replace Baghdadi in weeks: US official

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ASHINGTON | AFP | 10/30/2019 The Islamic State group’s leadership has a “deep bench” and a replacement for deceased chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could surface within weeks, the US government’s top counter-terrorism expert said Wednesday.

Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Russ Travers did not predict which IS figure would take over after Baghdadi, cornered in a weekend US military raid, killed himself in a Syria.

But he said the group has a number of people who could take the helm, with the ability to command some 14,000 fighters who have dispersed across Syria and Iraq.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that crosscurrents such as trade tensions and concerns about global growth have been weighing on the U.S. economic activity and outlook.

(Photo by Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty)

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ASHINGTON | AFP | 10/30/2019 - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday the latest interest rate cut was designed to buoy the US economy but he confirmed that the central bank is unlikely to move again unless the situation deteriorates.

The FOMC lowered the policy interest rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 1.51.75 percent, as expected, pulling back another of the four interest rate increases it implemented in 2018.

“We took this step to help keep the US economy strong in the face of global developments, and to provide some insurance against ongoing risks,” Powell told reporters.

Following the Fed’s third consecutive rate cut this year, Powell said, “we believe that monetary policy is in a good

place,” adding that it was “likely to remain appropriate.”

Added to a key change in the language of the statement issued by the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, the comments cement the view the Fed is for now unlikely to cut rates again in the final meeting of the year.

Pressed to explain under what conditions policymakers would favor another dose of stimulus, Powell said, “if developments emerge that cause a material reassessment of our outlook, we would respond accordingly.”

He pointed to trade tensions and Brexit as factors crimping business investment and manufacturing, but “overall we see the economy as having been resilient to the winds that have been blowing this year.”

But with signs of a possible “phase one” trade deal with

China and the diminished risk of a no-deal Brexit, though “there is plenty of risk left but I would have to say the risks seem to have subsided.”

“There’s no question that the losses over the weekend were significant to ISIS,” Travers told the House Homeland Security Committee, referring to Baghdadi’s death as well to the killing of IS spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir.

“The United States and the coalition overall has had tremendous success in eliminating leadership over the years in both Al-Qaeda and ISIS. And yet the bench tends to rise to the top.”

“My guess it that... somewhere between a couple of days and a couple of weeks, we will see a new leader of the (caliphate) announced.”

He suggested a new leader might be able to build relations with Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of rival extremist group Al-Qaeda.

“There will be eulogies.

Those eulogies will come even from Al-Qaeda,” he predicted.

“I suspect al-Zawahiri will play elder statesman and issue his own.”

“We will see calls for attacks

against Western interests. And then we will see requests for the branches and affiliates to swear allegiance to the new leader.”

In the near term, Travers did not see IS being able to muster any significant attacks.

But any planning underway for a major operation will continue, barely interrupted by the death of Baghdadi, the group’s intensely secretive leader and spiritual guide.

Travers said that, aside from the IS fighters in Syria and Iraq, the group has some 20 branches and affiliates around the world, and who number from the hundreds to the thousands in its Afghanistan arm, Islamic State-Khorasan.

“This tells us that the insurgency has a lot of options,” Travers said.

“At the same time, it’s a deep bench,” he said.

Russians slam US video game Call of

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OSCOW | 10/30/2019 - The latest version of the popular US video game “Call of Duty” met with widespread anger and calls for a boycott in Russia on Wednesday for depicting Russian troops as brutal sadists.

fessional gamer Ilya Davydov, known as Ilya Maddyson, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

Since its release last week, state media and gamers have railed at what they see as antiRussian “propaganda”.

A news anchor on Channel One state television complained that the game depicts Russians as “real sadists” who “bomb, burn and destroy everything” and kill innocent people.

“They have shown our men as scumbags,” influential pro-

“You have to be a complete monster to play a blatantly criminal game that says directly that the army of our country are terrorists,” Maddyson tweeted, suggesting it should be banned.

Russian state media and gamers have railed at what they see as anti-Russian “propaganda” in the US video game “Call of Duty” (visitors wait for “Call of Duty - Modern Warfare” during Gamescom in Cologne, western Germany, in August 2019) (AFP Photo/Ina FASSBENDER) Published by US company Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty is a highly realistic “firstperson shooter” game.

In one section, a young girl called Farah witnesses her fa-

ther’s murder by a Russian soldier in an imaginary country in the Middle East called Urzikistan tbat closely resembles Syria.

- AFP

WE HAVE A PLAN FOR

TRAFFIC.

500 miles* of travel improvements whether you ride or drive.

75 miles of new METRORapid bus

21 new or improved suburban Park &

service that operates like light rail, including an extension to Bush Airport

Rides and transit centers

16 miles of light rail, with a

110 miles of a Regional Express

METRORail extension to Hobby Airport

Network including two-way HOV Lanes

290 miles of BOOST and Signature bus service, plus accessibility and usability improvements for the disabled and seniors

It's in the MOVING FORWARD PLAN. Find out more at:

METRONext.org *Approximate mileage; pending final implementation

Fort Bend View

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

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FBISD hosts ‘Kelsey-Seybold Night’

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ICHMOND - KelseySeybold, a medical provider for employees of Fort Bend ISD, recently joined the district as it held the first “Kelsey-Seybold Night” in October.

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Interactive booths engaged attendees who had an opportunity to visit with Kelsey-Seybold providers.

Pictured from left at Fort Bend ISD’s Kelsey Seybold Night are Lea Barksdale, Dalia Rivera, Arsenio Coleman, Kara Hatfield and Kelsey Bear, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s mascot. (Photo: Kelsey Seybold Clinic)

High-ranking Stafford MSD officials accused of nepotism

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TAFFORD - An area school district is facing a state investigation following allegations of nepotism by an administrator and board member.

Both the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Rangers

have been forwarded information regarding the allegations involving Stafford Municipal School District Superintendent Robert Bostic and the longestserving Stafford MSD school board member, Greg Holsapple.

The allegations were first brought to light by the school district’s former CFO, George Flores, who left the district after claiming a “hostile work environment” had developed after he reported the problem.

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ugar Land City Manager recently appointed a Complete Count Committee to ensure an accurate and complete count of Sugar Land residents for the 2020 Census.

The Census count provides the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support state, county and local community programs impacting education, transportation, employment, health care, public policy and more.

Sugar Land’s Complete Count Committee is responsible for education and outreach with an emphasis on informing residents about the importance and benefits of an accurate

count. They will work to: • increase Sugar Land’s Census response rate through a focused, structured community campaign; • design and promote a Census awareness campaign targeted to the demographically diverse communities across the city; and • encourage prompt selfresponse to the Census, eliminating the time and federal tax dollars spent sending Census employees door-to-door to collect responses.

The Census’ address canvassing operation has begun, and it is possible residents may see workers in the community.

The Census Bureau needs the address and physical location

The award recognizes strong financial leadership, transparency initiatives and financial resiliency - including fiscally conservative budgeting and proactive responses to economic conditions - that ensures the continuation of quality city services while maintaining one of the state’s lowest tax rates.

“We have continued to maintain the second lowest tax rate in the entire state for cities our size and offer a tax rate that is significantly lower than similar peer cities in the Houston region,” said City Manager Allen Bogard. “This means that residents save money by living in Sugar Land while also enjoy-

Nepostism, the hiring of relatives, is a misdemeanor criminal offense in Texas for public officials.

The concern is self-dealing.

Census planning begins in Sugar Land of each living quarter in the United States to conduct and tabulate the Census. An accurate list ensures that residents will be invited to participate in the Census and that the Census counts residents in the correct locations.

Census workers can be identified by their official identification badges with their name and photo. They will also be carrying an official bag that displays the U.S. Census Bureau seal. To confirm Neighborhood Canvasser Employment, visit http://www.census.gov/ staffsearch or call (972) 5101800 or toll free at (800) 5826159.

Learn more about Sugar Land’s Census activities at www.sugarlandtx.gov/Census2020.

Bostic’s wife was hired by a third-party staffing firm that contracted with Stafford MSD to provide skilled workers to fill various positions. Ellen

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ing high quality city services and amenities provided in the Sugar Land Way.”

improvement programs are online at www.sugarlandtx. gov/1767/Budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by the city, representing the commitment of the City Council and staff to continue to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting and transparency.

“I am proud of all of our outstanding budget and finance staff who contributed to this accomplishment,” said Bogard.

“This award is yet another example that our staff is providing for the needs of our citizens in a financially responsible and transparent manner.”

In order to receive the award, the city met nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentations designed to assess how well the city’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communication device.

Independent evaluators ensured Sugar Land’s budget was “proficient” in all four categories and met or exceeded 14 mandatory criteria to receive the award.

The fiscal year 2019 and 2020 budgets and five-year capital

Bostic was initially hired as a part-time reading tutor. Pay stubs obtained by Channel 2 Investigates, through a public information request, indicate a pay rate of $67.50/hour.

Holsapple’s daughter also gained employment through the Sterling Staffing Solutions as a career specialist and office clerk.

There are more than 20,000 GFOA members across the United States and Canada, with about 1,500 entities receiving the distinguished budget award. The mission of GFOA is to advance excellence in state and local government services.

The association produces publications, training programs, services and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management.

Channel 2 Investigates took a closer look at the firm that contracted with Stafford MSD. The CEO of the firm attended college with Bostic. The $31,000 contract was later canceled, after a law firm working on behalf of the district deemed it was procured outside of state guidelines.

- KPRC

Fort Bend ISD awarded grant to fund campus mental health centers

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ORT BEND ISD (October 24, 2019) – Fort Bend ISD has been awarded a grant from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division to establish eight schoolbased mental health centers at campuses in the Hightower, Marshall and Willowridge high school feeder patterns. The nearly $1.5 million grant was awarded under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) and will be used to cover the cost of the mental health clinics startup as well as for the therapeutic services the clinic staff will provide.

All District students, parents, and staff who have been victims of crimes, including victims of domestic violence, witnesses to a crime, those impacted by crime and victims of bullying, can receive counseling and therapeutic services from licensed clinicians at no charge.

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Budget award recognizes financial resiliency, transparency UGAR LAND - The Government Finance Officers Association recently awarded the city of Sugar Land with its 23rd consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Budget.

Among the events showcased for Fort Bend ISD employees

by Kelsey-Seybold were chair massages, health screenings, fantastic raffle prizes, food and games.

Four raffle prize winners walked away with two $100 HE-B gift cards, an iPad mini and a cruiser bike.

•

Section 2

Individuals who have not been victims of crime may use

Medicaid or their private insurance to cover the cost of service.

Like with physical health, providing for students’ mental health needs is important we want to make sure all our students are mentally and physically healthy so they are ready to learn.

In establishing good academic habits and developing attributes associated with the District’s Profile of a Graduate, this initiative aligns with the District’s goal to support the whole child in healthy development.

“Mental health is a growing challenge that our students,

teachers, campuses, and families are facing. It impacts academic success, attendance, and social functioning at school and in the home. The campusbased mental health services will remove barriers to provide direct support for those in the most need,” said Steve Shiels, FBISD’s Director of Behavioral Health and Wellness.

This exciting opportunity will be lead by district staff, in collaboration with, community partners.

The District hopes to make these services available on campuses in early January 2020.

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VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD Section 2

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Saand Ki Aankh’ review: A film that talks about women empowerment and celebrates womanhood

Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha attends the trailer launch of her upcoming film “Dabangg 3” in Mumbai. (Image Credit: AP)

‘Dabangg 3’, Sonakshi at launch the film’s trailer in style in Mumbai

Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar in a still from Saand Ki Aankh.

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Bhumi Pednekar and Taapsee Pannu are the backbone of the film.

EW DELHI: October 24, 2019 -The trailer of the much-awaited film Dabangg 3 released on Wednesday evening. Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Saiee Manjrekar launched the film’s trailer in style on Wednesday evening in Mumbai. Salman Khan, who plays the popular cop Chulbul Pandey in the film, arrived at the trailer launch, dressed in a casual outfit. The actor topped a pair of denims with a blue t-shirt. Sonakshi Sinha, who plays Rajjo in the film, opted for a white

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isters-in-law Chandro (Bhumi Pednekar) and Prakashi (Taapsee Pannu) are used to a patriarchal way of life and the chauvinistic men of their household. They take up shooting in their 60s after having spent several decades working in the fields, bearing babies, and performing neverending household chores. With the help of their shooting instructor Dr Yashpal (Vineet Singh), Chandro and Prakashi hone their skills.

The shooter daadis manage to keep the men at home in the dark. But when they begin to pass on their knowledge to the next generations, they realise that nothing has changed for women all these years. The men in the household are still vehemently opposed to accepting the talent of their women.

‘Saand Ki Aankh’ tries to be more than just a sports movie, making a socio-cultural comment on women empowerment and gender equality.

But the trouble is that the storyline os-

‘Saand Ki Aankh’ poster. cillates between the present and flashbacks, and it takes too long to tell its tale and state its message.Pednekar and Pannu are the backbone of the film, portraying the role of two grandmothers who will do anything to inspire and help their daughters and granddaughters. They capture the feistiness of the sharpshooters. But what lets them down is the prosthetic make-up, which

is quite an eyesore.

Prakash Jha essays a fine portrayal as the antagonist, Sarpanch Rattan Singh Tomar. Kumar as Dr Yashpal is another notable performer. ‘Saand Ki Aankh’ is a film that talks of women empowerment and aims at celebrating womanhood, and attempts to hit the bull’s eye.

saree, while Saiee picked a pink gown for the big day. The film’s director Prabhu Deva was also present at the trailer launch. Salman Khan’s brother and the film’s producer Arbaaz Khan was also present at the event.

The film marks the Bollywood debut of Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter Saiee Manjrekar and it features Kiccha Sudeep as the antagonist.

Other than Hindi, Dabangg 3 will also release in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada on December 20.

Shela crowned first Miss Universe Bangladesh

- Economic Times

Film-maker stirs Pakistan #MeToo debate with rape allegation

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SLAMABAD | AFP | 10/24/2019 - Acclaimed Pakistani film-maker Jamshed Mahmood Raza has added new momentum to the country’s fledgling #MeToo movement after airing allegations that he was raped by an unnamed media tycoon.

The director, who is popularly known as Jami, rocked Pakistani social media over the weekend after he published several tweets describing the alleged assault that happened 13 years ago.

“Why im so strongly supporting #metoo? cuz i know exactly how it happens now, inside a room then outside courts inside courts and how a survivor hides confides cuz i was brutally raped by a very powerful person in our media world,” he wrote Sunday evening.

The tweets were in response to a backlash online after a professor in the eastern city of Lahore committed suicide after allegedly being falsely accused of sexual harassment.

Amid the backlash, Jami pleaded with social media users to trust victims of sexual assault and avoid ignoring their accusations.

“I told my few close friends but no one took it seriously,” added Jami, whose 2015 film “Moor” (“Mother”) was a massive hit.

story.

The #MeToo and #Timesup campaigns have gone global since allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, sparking an avalanche of accusations against other powerful men. edented in Pakistan. This kind of revelation from a man,” wrote Twitter user Khizra.

Others were more sceptical.

“Still, u cant b serious using it to square Lhr professor’s suicide & misuse of #MeToo,” said another Twitter user Razi. “Pakistan is suffering by both #metoo & misuse of #MeToo.” “No #MeToo here. Should have said No, but succumbed,” wrote Ali Raj in response to a blog about the

However, the movement has been slow to catch on in Pakistan, where women have fought for their rights for years in a patriarchal society where so-called “honour” killings and attacks on women remain commonplace.

In 2017, future Prime Minister Imran Khan was also hit with allegations of sexual misconduct by a female lawmaker who accused the famed cricketer of sending obscene text messages.

Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019 Shirin Akter Shela is crowned.

S

Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen crowned her in front of an excited crowd in Dhaka last night.

Alisha Islam and Jessia Islam have respectively become the first and second-runner up in the grand finale.

For the first time, Miss Universe Bangladesh has been organised in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The journey started when the registration began in July 2019.

He later denied the allegations.

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

“@jamiazaad I see you. I hear you.

I stand with you. Always,” tweeted popular actress Meesha Shafi -- who helped kickstart Pakistan’s #MeToo movement in 2018 after accusing a popular singer in the country of harassment -- on Thursday.

Visit : www. voiceofasia.news

The first round started with 12,000+ registrations, before the elimination process and then three months of boot camp. After these, the winner was finally chosen.

The franchise owner for Bangladesh Miss Universe is a consortium between RIZ events and Off Track & Trilogy.

Miss Universe Bangladesh will be the brand ambassador of Bangladesh as she will compete with participants from 130 countries in the 63rd edition of the competition proper in the USA this December.

-Economic Times

Bollywood rocks online!

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The film-maker has so far refused to name the tycoon allegedly behind the assault, while the allegations have unleashed a torrent of differing reactions online.

“Jami is a true ally. This is unprec-

hirin Akter Shela has become the first Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019.

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Jury recommends death sentence for ‘Hollywood Ripper’ Hollywood mogul Robert Evans dies at 89

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OS ANGELES | AFP | 10/28/2019 - Legendary Hollywood movie mogul Robert Evans, who oversaw 1970s classics “The Godfather” and “Chinatown,” has died aged 89.

A larger-than-life figure, Evans was known in Tinseltown both for saving Paramount Pictures by greenlighting a string of hits, and for his tabloid lifestyle including cocaine addiction and seven marriages.

Evans’ death was confirmed to AFP Monday by his publicist, and by a second person close to the producer. No details were immediately available.

Evans took over as Paramount’s head of production in 1966 aged just 36, ushering in a highly successful era for the studio including “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) with director Roman Polanski, followed by Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” (1972).

Coppola paid tribute Monday to Evans’ “charm, good looks, enthusiasm, style, and sense of humor.”

“He had strong instincts as evidenced by the long list of great films in his career,” said Coppola in a statement to AFP, also praising Evans’ “ultimate realization that ‘The Godfather’

could be 2 hours and 45 minutes in length.”

Evans earned an Oscar nomination -- his only Academy recognition -- for personally producing “Chinatown” (1974), again with Polanski.

He is survived by his son Joshua.

Born the son of a New York dentist in 1930, Evans was a partner in a clothing company before moving to Los Angeles where he began his film acting career.

He appeared in the 1957 movie version of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” despite the author’s protests.

Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20th Century Fox at the time, reportedly insisted that the handsome Evans remain in the film by declaring “The kid stays in the picture” -- later the title of Evans’ autobiography and a documentary about his life.

After a string of poorly received acting roles, Evans quickly switched to producing. He left Paramount in 1975, before returning to moderate success in the 1990s.

“May the kid always stay in the picture,” wrote Coppola.

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OS ANGELES | AFP | 10/18/2019 - A jury in California recommended the death sentence on Friday for a man dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper” who was earlier found guilty in the gruesome killings of two women at their homes.

Michael Gargiulo, 43, was convicted in August on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder by a Los Angeles jury.

A judge is set to sentence Gargiulo, also described as the “boy next door killer,” on February 28.

Among his victims was 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, who was found in her Hollywood home with 47 stab wounds in February 2001. On the night of her murder, Ellerin had been due to go on a date with actor Ashton Kutcher, who testified at the trial.

The second murder victim was Maria Bruno, a 32-year-old mother of four and neighbor of Gargiulo who was attacked in her sleep in December 2005 and “quite literally butchered,” prosecutors said.

Those who testified at the trial included Gargiulo’s teenage son, who pleaded with the jury to spare his dad’s life, and Michelle Murphy. She was stabbed eight times in her home by Gargiulo in April 2008 but survived.

Murphy said she woke up on that fateful night to find a man straddling her while he stabbed her in the arms and chest. She managed to fight him off and as he fled from the apartment he yelled “I’m sorry,” she testified.

‘The Annas?’: Oscar honorees target Hollywood gender equality

by Andrew Marszal

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OS ANGELES | AFP | 10/28/2019 - Hollywood’s female filmmakers set out plans to achieve gender equality Sunday as actress Geena Davis and director Lina Wertmuller collected honorary Oscars at a star-studded ceremony focused on diversity.

“Thelma and Louise” star Davis told the annual Governors’ Awards in Los Angeles how the feminist road movie had prompted her lifelong campaign for gender balance at the movies.

“It made me realize in a very powerful way how few opportunities we give women to come out of a movie feel-

Photos of the victims are displayed in court during opening statements at the trial of Michael Gargiulo, pictured on the screen, who was found guilty in the killings of two women and faces a possible death sentence (AFP Photo/Al SEIB)

Ashton Kutcher, shown testifying at the Los Angeles trial of Michael Gargiulo, had been due to go on a date with one of the victims the night she was murdered (AFP Photo/Frederick M. Brown) Gargiulo was arrested following the attack on Murphy in 2008 in her Santa Monica apartment.

Prosecutors during the trial described Gargiulo, an air-conditioning repairman, as a ruthless killer who targeted women who lived near him and waited for the perfect opportunity to attack them at night in or near their homes in “totally planned killings.”

His defense team has argued that he should not get the death sentence, describing their client as a mentally ill man who suffered abuse while growing up.

“Two and a Half Men” actor Kutcher told jurors he had gone to Ellerin’s home in Hollywood to pick her up for a date on the night she was murdered, but had arrived late and nobody had answered the door.

Geena Davis accepts the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. (AFP Photo) ing excited and empowered by female characters,” said Davis of “Thelma and Louise.”

Davis, already an Academy Award winner, received the special statuette for her work to highlight the lack of women in films. She founded an institute compiling data on gender bias in 2004.

She called on filmmakers to immediately go back to their ongoing projects and “cross out a bunch of names of ensemble characters and supporting characters and make them female.”

Director and actress Olivia Wilde said Davis “was ahead of the #TimesUp conversation by about 20 years.”

“She really bangs the drum on this issue...

She’s the real deal,” Wilde told AFP.

When his trial in Los Angeles ends, Gargiulo is set to be transferred to Illinois where he is facing charges for the 1993 murder of Tricia Pacaccio, 18, who was killed in front of her home after an evening out with friends.

He said he had looked through a window and seen what he thought was red wine spilled on the floor before leaving, assuming she had already gone out.

Gargiulo at the time lived near Pacaccio’s home in the Chicago area and was friends with her brother. Years after the murder, when Gargiulo was already living in Los Angeles, his DNA was matched to the crime scene thanks to improved testing methods.

Kutcher said he and Ellerin, a fashion design student, were acquaintances.

Wertmuller, 91, finally received an honorary Oscar more than four decades after she became the first woman nominated for best director.

She collected the statuette flanked by fellow Italian screen legends Sophia Loren and Isabella Rossellini, who translated Wertmuller’s call for the award to be given a new, more feminine name.

“She would like to call it ‘Anna.’

Women in the room, please scream, ‘We want Anna, a female Oscar!’” said Rossellini.

The origin of the nickname “Oscar” is unclear, but is thought to derive from the statuette’s likeness to a male relative of an early Academy member.

- ‘About time’ Stars at the glitzy ceremony in Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks,

Quentin Tarantino, Eddie Murphy, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lopez.

“Last of the Mohicans” star Wes Studi became the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar.

“I’d simply like to say -- it’s about time,” said Studi, to a raucous ovation.

“It’s been a wild and wonderful ride,” he added.

Studi was introduced by Joy Harjo, the first Native American US poet laureate, and actor Christian Bale, who called it a “long overdue moment.”

“Too few opportunities in film, on both sides of the camera, have gone to native or indigenous artists -- we are a room full of people who can change that,” said Bale, who starred with Studi in 2017’s “Hostiles.”

The #OscarsSoWhite protests surrounding the 2016 Oscars drew attention to the awards’ diversity issues.

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Section 2

Young Life

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Schools can play an instrumental role in empowering young leaders

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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How kids can make a difference by including others

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rom encouraging dialogue on mental health to initiating grassroots fundraising efforts for pediatric cancer, students across the country are choosing issues they’re passionate about and generating real change.

Parents, educators and community members may ask a pertinent question: how can we develop this initiative in every child?

While some might view leadership as an innate quality, new research commissioned by Lead4Change suggests that students can emerge as leaders with the right school curriculum.

The independent research study measured change in key leadership skills in middle and high schoolers who completed the Lead4Change Student Leadership Program, a curriculum that teaches students to lead, create and implement team projects to meet a need in their community. Before and after participating in the program, students completed a survey that measured several different behavioral factors.

The study found that students experienced significant changes in their growth, including leadership skills (60 percent of students improved), respect for others (54 percent) and ambition and innovation (53 percent). Fifty-six percent of participants gained greater commitment to vision -- they were more capable of describing a compelling image of what our future could look like and were able to identify milestones to reach that vision.

One example of the program’s success was at Want-

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Students at Menchville High School made a positive impact on their community. (Photo:(c) Lead-

4Change)

agh Middle School on Long Island, N.Y. Following a school survey that measured students’ mental health, a young student group melted old crayons to create aromatherapy candles to reduce stress. Proceeds were donated to the Born This Way Foundation, an organization committed to supporting young people’s wellness. Students also took their story to the school board, requesting action. They led efforts in their school to create designated quiet restorative rooms.

“We learned to embrace failure and use it as a tool to get better,” says Patti Andreolas, a teacher who oversaw the project. “It became more about the journey and watching the students evolve.”

The survey also examined specific qualities integral for leaders, finding a statistically significant increase in students’ ability to engage, motivate and guide others to achieve goals that result in their desired changes. For example, after the Lead4Change program, students at Menchville High School in Newport News, Va. were united by a drive to improve their community, developing a comprehensive plan that included collecting food, volunteering for a local food bank, participating in anti-bullying campaigns and creating a “Teacher Positivity” campaign.

“As a group, we learned to incorporate everyone’s ideas and delegate work to achieve our main goals,” says Ashley Johnson, a 10th grader in-

volved in the project. “Personally, the project helped me with prioritizing, time management and learning to balance responsibilities.”

For more study results and program information, visit lead4change.org/research.

While making an impact can seem difficult due to the complexity of issues affecting communities, leadership curriculum gives students the skills to address these matters head-on. The study found that younger students and those with lower scores at the start of the program benefitted the most from participating, demonstrating that anyone can become a leader when the proper skills are nurtured.

- StatePoint

Questions your teen’s pediatrician may ask

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questions and discussion topics to address with the teen’s doctor.”

outine check-ups are essential for adolescents and young adults.

As health risks and concerns are rapidly changing during the teen years, these preventive services can help keep your teens healthy and safe. Experts say that conversations between doctors, patients and their families during these visits are very important.

“Habits formed in adolescence often continue into adulthood, making this a key period for encouraging behaviors that promote health and reduce risk,” says Dr. Elizabeth Alderman, chair of American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Adolescence. “Routine check-ups are a great time to encourage adolescents to actively participate in their own health, and for parents play an important role in this process.”

To help families prepare for their teen’s next appointment, here are some questions doctors may ask and some tips for making the most of these visits.

These tips were developed by the Adolescent Health Consortium, a collaboration among the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

• Your teen’s doctor may ask them questions like “What are your responsibilities at home?” and “What are you good at?” in an effort to gauge their emotional development, their ability to cope with stress, and assess their risk for depression, anxiety, or other concerns.

• You may be asked general questions about your home, neighborhood, and your teen’s school environments in order to help the doctor determine whether your child is eating enough, feels safe, and is getting enough sleep. This can offer an overall picture of your teen’s well-being.

• Your teen’s doctor will likely ask your teen about their sexual activity, contraceptive methods,

For more resources, visit HealthyChildren.org.

When teenagers and parents know what to expect in advance, they can get a lot more out of doctor’s visits. Remember, confidential care is good for their health.

-StatePoint

Photo Source: (c) Chinnapong / stock.Adobe.com

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy prevention, as well as about their use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription and street drugs. You may be asked about the kind of conversations you’re having at home about avoiding risky behaviors.

• Routine check-ups are also a good time to see whether a patient is at risk of developing eating disorders, so the doctor may ask your teen about their diet, exercise routine, and feelings about their body with questions like, “how do you feel about the way you look?” and “do you ever skip meals?”

• Your teen’s doctor may start discussions on topics like

puberty, sexual development, gender identity, sexual attraction and sexuality. Teens should feel safe discussing these topics with their doctor and with you.

“There is a gap between what adolescents and young adults want to discuss and what they actually talk about during doctor’s visits,” says Dr. Alderman, who points out that doctors are more likely to gather accurate information about a teen’s health when parents are supportive of confidential, oneon-one time between teens and their doctors. “Confidentiality is essential to adolescent health care, empowering teens to get the information they need to stay healthy. Teens and parents, separately, should make a list of

The sexual exploitation of young girls in Japan is ‘on the increase’

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OKYO - The coercion of young women into pornography and prostitution has become an epidemic in Japan, where the fetishization of adolescence is disturbingly common and legal protections for children shockingly lax.

Shihoko Fujiwara, founder of the Lighthouse NGO that helps victims of sex trafficking in Japan, says she took on 103 new cases last year—similar to Aroma’s—on top of the hundreds

already on her books. Ten years ago most of those she helped came from abroad, but today the bulk of cases that come before her charity comprise teenage runaways and abuse victims from Japan.

“It’s definitely on the increase,” she says. “We have also seen lots more children victimized in the commercial sex industry come to us for help.”

Although officially illegal, Continued on next page

ullying among kids continues to be the number one social issue facing this demographic, according to YouthBeat research.

This is why Cartoon Network, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and 826 National are taking action to promote inclusion, acceptance and kindness to unite communities and help keep kids safe.

One in five students report being bullied in a recent survey commissioned by Cartoon Network in consultation with the Making Caring Common project (MCC) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The good news is that the research also suggests that with encouragement and guidance, kids themselves can take action to stop bullying: among its findings -- 58 percent of kids ages 9-11 who have seen someone getting picked on or being left out say that one of the reasons they sometimes don’t help those kids is that they don’t know what to do or say. Moreover, 77 percent say it would help if there was someone who could give kids ideas about what to do or say in tough situations.

With this in mind, the Cartoon Network’s “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” initiative has joined PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and 826 National in order to inspire kids to make a difference by offering tangible strategies and resources to help everyone feel included.

This collaboration has come to life through a joint campaign, called “Include Someone, Make a Difference,” which has a goal of inspiring inclusive acts among kids in all 50 states.

To help kids get started, the campaign is sharing some ideas for including, valuing and supporting others in classrooms,

Photo Source: (c) Cartoon Network

on the playground and in the cafeteria, just to name a few: • Notice if someone is alone at recess and ask if they want to join you.

• Invite someone looking for a place to sit to join your crew.

• Start a conversation and learn something new about a peer.

• Be patient with those who do things in a different way.

• Say “good morning” to someone walking to class alone.

• Ask someone how they’re day is going and really listen to the answer.

• Introduce yourself to someone new.

• Give a sincere compliment about something well done.

One of the beliefs of the campaign is that sharing stories and amplifying ideas about the importance of including others will engage, inspire and give kids confidence to do the same.

To that end, they are encouraging kids to visit IncludeSomeone.com and share acts of inclusion and learn how it made others feel valued and supported. The site, which is tracking and highlighting nationwide participation via an inclusive map, also includes free resources for kids and educators on how to get involved.

Teachers can get a free “Include Someone” kit featuring an idea guide, poster, flyers, stickers and cards.

The reasons for bullying are complex. But students have the power to put a stop to bullying before it starts by including someone and making a difference.

- StatePoint

The average time kids spend watching online videos has doubled in 4 years

by Rachel Siegel

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ore than twice as many young people watch videos every day as did four years ago, and the average time spent watching videos — mostly on YouTube — has roughly doubled, to an hour each day.

That’s according to a survey released Tuesday by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that tracks young people’s tech habits. The report found that overall screen time among young people hasn’t changed much since 2015. On average, American 8-to-12-year-olds spent 4 hours and 44 minutes on screen media each day. And teens average 7 hours and 22 minutes — not including time spent using screens for school or homework.

But usage has surged despite

mounting concerns from parents and consumer groups about the grip that smartphones and screens have on kids’ lives and development.

Advocates worry that features hard-wired into certain tech platforms, such as YouTube’s default autoplay setting, reinforce the impulse to keep watching.

“More and more screen time is devoted to content that’s been picked for you by an algorithm,” said Michael Robb, a co-author of the study and senior director of research for Common Sense Media. “And then there’s more individualized uses of media on a personal device, rather than a family sitting together.”

For comparison, Common Sense Media found that in 2015, watching online videos

ranked fifth in terms of tweens’ preferred media activities — after TV, music, video games and mobile games. Today, online videos claim the top spot.

Limiting screen time for young people is a rallying cry not only among consumer advocates but also among global health communities. In April, the World Health Organization issued strict guidelines on how often parents should turn to videos and online games to entertain or educate their children.

The WHO’s recommendation: Infants younger than 1 should never be in front of screens. Kids ages 2 to 4, the international health agency said, should have no more than an hour each day of sedentary screen time.

- Washington Post

VOICE OF ASIA 13

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India’s IndiGo shops for 300 Airbus planes

In this file photograph taken on June 24, 2010, an IndiGo Airbus A320 aircraft prepares for final approach at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (AFP Photo/Raveendran)

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EW DEHLI | AFP | 10/29/2019 - Indian airline IndiGo has placed an order for 300 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus, making it one of its largest-ever orders from a single firm, worth over $33.2 billion (29.9 billion euros) at catalogue prices.

carrier in a short time.

It had placed orders for 530 Airbus planes between 2005 and 2015, and the latest order will take the total numbers of planes to 730.

In 2010, the budget airline overtook state-owned Air InHere are some key facts on the dia as the third-largest carrier. low-cost air carrier: It had placed an order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft - Largest airline in 2005, followed by 180 AirFounded in 2006, Indigo is the bus A320 aircrafts, in a deal largest low-cost private airline in worth $15 billion in 2011 folthe country, with around 47 per- lowed by largest deal of 250 cent domestic market share.

Airbus A320neo aircraft for Headquartered in Gurgaon $27 billion in 2015. city, near New Delhi, the airline - Falling revenue carried 46 million passengers in But high operating costs, in2017. cluding rising fuel prices and It operates nearly 1,400 flights a decline in the Indian rupee’s a day to more than 80 domestic value against the dollar, have and international destinations. hit the industry hard.

The company started with a IndiGo registered a loss of small fleet of aircrafts in 2006 be- 10.7 billion rupees ($150 milfore racing to become the largest lion, 135.9 million euros) in

Exploitation...

Continued from page 12 Japan has a booming sex industry due to numerous loopholes. On any night, the streets of Kabukicho, central’s Tokyo’s infamous red light district, teem with girls dressed in school uniforms beckoning bleary-eyed salary men into dingy bars and massage parlors known as joshi kosei, or “high

school girl,” businesses.

Japan has some 300 cafes— the ones in Tokyo fill a whole street—where teenage girls in school uniform chat to older men for about $50 per hour (including all the beer you can drink). Men pay to hold hands, go for a walk or even snooze on a girl’s lap. Some then arrange “dates” away from the café. An estimated 5,000 teenagers earn cash this way. - Time Magazine

the last quarter ending September, four billion rupees more than in the previous year.

IndiGo chief executive officer Ronojoy Dutta on Tuesday sought “support” of its employees to deal with the growing losses, hours after signing a deal with Airbus.

“We will be dealing with the weakening revenue environment with a sharper focus on cost for which we seek your support,” Dutta said in a statement.

- Slowdown The airline is competing with several other carriers in the low-cost segment, with India’s aviation industry registering tremendous growth in recent years.

India recorded an increase of 18 percent in the numbers of flyers in 2018, with nearly 140 million people flying domestically.

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

Tel: 713-774-5140

Wells Fargo names new chief executive

Charles Scharf, chief executive officer of Bank of New York Mellon Corp., speaks during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on April 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Seven CEOs of the countrys largest banks were called to testify a decade after the global financial crisis. Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images/AFP (AFP Photo/ Alex Wroblewski)

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EW YORK | AFP | Friday 9/27/2019 - Wells Fargo on Friday named Charles Scharf as its chief executive, making good on a promise to appoint an outsider as it tries to pivot from a number of scandals.

Scharf, who has been chief executive of Bank of New York Mellon, will move into the top spot at Wells Fargo on October 21. Prior to Mellon, Scharf worked as chief executive at Visa and in senior roles at JPMorgan Chase.

His top priorities will include persuading the Federal Reserve to lift a cap on its balance sheet growth imposed after a number of regulatory messes, especially a fake accounts scandal

But a slowdown in the economy has forced customers to cut back on costs, putting sudden breaks on the industry growth that is pegged to remain in single digits.

in late 2016 that was a factor in the departures of the last two CEOs. He also comes as large retail banks invest more heavily in mobile technology programs for banking and payments that have altered the role of bank branches.

“This company obviously has a series of extraordinary franchises,” Scharf said in a conference call with analysts. There are clearly challenges. The company is clearly focused on those challenges and putting them behind us.”

Currently the third largest US bank by asset size after JPMorgan and Bank of America, Wells Fargo is among the big-

gest US retail banks and a major player in mortgage finance.

The company launched a search for a new CEO in March after Tim Sloan stepped down.

Sloan, who had been president of Wells Fargo prior to being named CEO, faced skepticism on Capitol Hill over his response to the fake accounts scandal and other problems.

Wells Fargo Chair Betsy Duke had from the start signaled the company sought an outsider as the next leader. She praised Scharf as a “proven leader” with a “strong track record in initiating and leading change, driving results, and innovating amid a evolving digital landscape.”

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CLASSIFIED

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

CRIME Harris County Sheriff’s office investigators seeking the public’s help identifying two men

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CSO Investigators are releasing photos and video of two men attempting to break in to an ATM using an improvised explosive device (I.E.D.).

Simply call 713-774-5140 or email request to: voiceasia@aol.com

On Tuesday, October 29, around 3:30 a.m., HCSO deputies responded to a Wells Fargo Bank located at 8808 Spring Cypress Drive.

Deputies arrived before the suspects detonated the device.

The device would later be determined to be an I.E.D. Deputies quickly set up a perimeter around the scene. Members of the HCSO Bomb Squad deactivated the device and rendered it safe around 6:15 a.m. Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, Klein Fire Department, Cypress Creek EMS and Harris County Precinct 4 Constables were also on scene.

Surveillance video shows two light-skinned men with their faces partially covered, approach the ATM and remove its cover. They are then seen attaching the explosive device, and then driving away in a newer model BMW. Anyone with information is urged to call the HCSO Violent Crime unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of the suspect in this case. Information may be submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous.

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HCSO Investigators released photos and video of two men attempting to break in to an ATM using an improvised explosive device (I.E.D.). Image :Harris County Sherif

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FRIDAY, November 1, 2019

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RESTAURANTS India’s Restaurant & Catering For special parties and corporate events.

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Shiva Indian Restaurant & Catering Specializing in North Indian Cuisine, office & Corporate catering 2514 Times Blvd, Rice Village Ph: 713-523-4753 Visit us online: www.shivarestaurant.com

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Week of November 1, 2019 Horoscope.com astrology.com 21 March to 20 April With a potent focus on the sign of Scorpio this week, your attention may be drawn to issues involving shared assets, business matters, and deep soul bonds. This is a great time to clear the air, find closure on difficult issues, and do whatever you can to release those blocks that are preventing you from being and doing more.

21 April to 20 May As emancipated Uranus begins to work its magic in your sign, you may find you’re less worried about security, particularly when it comes to your relationships. As a Taurus, you can have a reputation of being a tad possessive, but with this restless planet at work in your sign, you may begin to feel the benefits of being your own person and valuing your individuality.

21 May to 20 June This is a week when you can get along with co-workers and perhaps forge a stronger connection with them. Going out to a meal or social event could help you bond, and this could lead to greater productivity. It’s also possible that romance will flourish at work this week. A tie between flirtatious Mercury and sultry Venus could allow you to admit you have feelings for someone.

21 June to 22 July An encounter early this week could take you by surprise because it could involve a fascinating conversation that leaves you feeling lighter and happier.

With a major focus on your romance zone, there is great potential for meeting a special someone. If it happens when you least expect it, it can be even more exciting. Synchronicity and coincidence can play a part in finding love this week.

23 July to 22 August You may be feeling especially moody and slightly passive-aggressive now.

Just do the best you can with whatever is simplest and most urgent.

Talking about your feelings can help prevent misunderstandings and ease potential worries. Take advantage of an expansive energy.

People can be supportive. The aspects can bring a powerful time.

23 August to 22 Sept This could be a period of high drama. Be as professional as possible. Some people don’t forget an injury. Avoid any excuse for an escalation of conflicts. You could do yourself a real disservice if you focus on what isn’t fair. Making points with clients or customers will help you feel more in control. This is an ideal time for any sort of social mixer to improve your business.

23 September to 22 Oct Take the time to reorganize your workspace. This will help you feel more in control. This period is ideal for any grand opening or promotional event.

It’s especially important to take the high ground in any conflict with a co-worker or client. Be the better person. Life isn’t always fair.

23 October to 21 Nov Special information that comes to you either from within - your intuitive insights - or without - information received from books, TV, or the Internet - could pave the way for career advancement and financial gain. The outlook for you is rosy, although you can expect a lot of work before you get where you want to be.

A stimulating evening with friends or romantic partner is in the works.

22 November to 21 Dec You should feel happy and enthusiastic today. Whatever you strive for should be successful, whether it’s job related or creative inspiration. Your dedication and organizing talent promise advancement. If you aren’t presently involved in a relationship, you might be soon. If you have a partner, look forward to an engagement or marriage.

22 December to 20 Jan Your personal and professional relationships should benefit from today’s energies. This is a day to strengthen all your relationships, especially friendships. You may want to gather your closest pals and plan a party. Your optimism and generally positive nature should draw others to you like bees to nectar. Professionally, your efforts should bring success.

21 January to 19 Feb A long journey to a distant place could be uppermost in your mind today. You may be getting ready to take off, or the trip might still be in the planning stages. Either way, this could be a very exciting day.

You’re feeling happy and enthusiastic. You look forward to the future. Long-term goals might finally show promise of success.

20 February to 20 Mar A lot of your time today could be spent working on financial matters on the computer, phone, or other form of technology.

This could have to do with your job or it could concern personal finances. Whichever it is, you’ll do a good job, as success in accomplishing whatever you work on is indicated. One way or another, career success is coming your way.

ACROSS 1. Kate DiCamillo’s “____ and Ulysses” 6. Blunder 9. Gymnastics parallel ____ 13. About 1.75 pints 14. Pronoun that can be singular or plural 15. Chic’s “Le ____” 16. Willow tree 17. Teller substitute, acr.

18. With ample space 19. *Only communityowned NFL team 21. *Only team with no logo on helmets 23. Greek letters on campus 24. Log splitter 25. *Traditional team ride 28. Ranee’s husband 30. ‘70s TV series “The ____ Woman” 35. Bookkeeping entry 37. Do over 39. Words to live by 40. Italy’s obsolete money 41. Fur shawl 43. Pay a visit 44. Beau’s and Jeff ’s acting dad 46. Edward Scissorhands’ sound 47. Editor’s mark 48. Port city in Alaska 50. Cozy spot 52. Store posting, abbr.

53. Bright thought 55. Bonnie and Clyde, e.g.

57. *Team that shares stadium with #29 Down 60. *Cincy’s team 64. Not taut 65. Tamari sauce ingredient 67. Kind of salami 68. Realtor’s wares 69. Bowl over 70. Unborn vertebrate 71. What outgoing tide does 72. Not no 73. Site frequenters

SOLUTION:

DOWN 1. Hit’s opposite 2. Bonet or Kudrow 3. Suffix with psych4. Does like something rotten 5. Unpaid debt 6. Unfledged hawk 7. Decompose 8. “Dancing with the Stars” number 9. Arch above eye 10. Another spelling for eon 11. *Moved from St. Louis 12. Blue hue 15. Lark about 20. Raises children 22. “____-a-dub-dub” 24. Superbowl 2012 halftime act 25. *Only team to play home games in New York state 26. Being of service 27. Asian goat antelope 29. *Headquartered in New Jersey 31. Tolkien villains 32. Poet’s “below” 33. Lazybones 34. *Their stadium hosts NFL Scouting Combine 36. She knows “Why the Caged Bird Sings” 38. Mixture or medley 42. Horace’s poem 45. John Collins and Tom Collins, e.g.

49. Banned pesticide 51. Karate-like art 54. Composition notebook entry 56. S-shaped moldings 57. Lump 58. Shakespeare’s metrical unit 59. Single pip cards 60. *Team rest weeks 61. Place one’s stake 62. Look angry 63. Back talk 64. Mother, sister or daughter 66. Be in the red

NFL TEAMS on Page 14

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, November 1, 2019