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AAPI Census Kickoff: Community leaders come together to get counted

Nabila Mansoor, Emgage Census Director addressing the gathering at the kickoff.

By Shobana Muratee

as well.

H

OUSTON, TX: Empowering Communities Initiatives (ECI) hosted a Census Kickoff Event on Monday, December 9 at the Chinese Community Center.

This event was a collective effort of ECI and its member organizations including Chinese Community Center, Emgage, OCA-Greater Houston, BPSOS and VN Teamwork that are actively working to ensure the communities they represent are counted in the Decennial Census. Community leaders and AAPI elected officials were present to support the Get Out the Count (GOTC) efforts.

Welcoming the gathering, Nabi-

la Mansoor, Emgage Census Director said the five organizations meet monthly to talk about the priorities and programs that we need to focus on in order to make sure AAPIs are being well represented whether it is legislatively on the city scene, on the county scene.

Mansoor introduced the representatives of the member organizations. On an important note Mansoor reminded guests of early voting and Saturday, December 14, 2019 being the election day for Mayoral elections and Runoff elections in the city and a few other early elections in January 2020

Speaking on the occasion, State Representative Gene Wu of District 137 said, “Asian American have been here for more than a century and we are now just getting to number five.”

Although Asian Americans are the fastest growing community in the US there is a serious lack of leadership he pointed out. “One of the reasons we are not here because we don’t have power and recognition,” he said. Further, stressing the need to participate in the census said, “Census matters.

Because if you’re not counted, you don’t exist. If you are not counted there is no power, no community.” He went on to explain that if there was Continued on page 6

Pratham Houston Holiday Luncheon raises record breaking funds for women empowerment programs

Pratham Houston Advisory Board member and Luncheon Co-Chair, Shital Patel, Pratham Houston President, Asha Dhume, Keynote Speaker Lauren Levicki Courville, President, Dress For Success Houston, Pratham Houston Board members and Luncheon Co-Chairs Dr. Bharat Pothuri and Dr. Sapna Singh. Photos credit: Deborah Wallace, Barfield Photography

P

ratham Houston’s Holiday Luncheon 2019 on Friday, December 6th at The Junior League of Houston was a resounding success in its entirety. Under the strong & capable leadership of Pratham Houston’s President, Asha Dhume, the event was truly entertaining and focused: “Give Women a Chance – Unleash their Potential.” A total amount of about $170,000 was raised towards

Pratham Women’s Entrepreneurship and Vocational Programs.

Mistress of Ceremonies, Rekha Muddaraj, TV Anchor, KHOU 11 News welcomed the guests for supporting this cause and invited Asha Dhume for her opening remarks. Asha thanked the audience for unconditionally supporting the cause and for their generosity in donating to Pratham.

Being Asha’s last term as President,

she thanked each and every supporter, volunteer and board members including Dr. Suneja, Brij Kathuria and Shital Patel who gave her their unwavering support and Pratham Houston’s immediate past Presidents, Mr. Swatantra Jain, Dr. Marie Goradia and Mr. Ash Shah, all three with whom she worked closely with, during the past eight years. She also thanked Continued on Page 3

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he past week marked a new milestone in Russia’s efforts to control the Eurasian landmass. With the inauguration of the “Power of Siberia” natural gas pipeline, Russia has taken another step towards luring China into a strategic dependence. The pipeline is designed to carry 10,000 gallons of liquid natural gas (38 billion cubic meters) a year for 30 years from its Russian origins to Chinese customers 1,865 miles away.

This represents approximately one-sixth of Chinese natural gas consumption in 2018. Gazprom plans to start with deliveries of 10 million cubic meters a day and reach peak capacity in 2025. Even more Russian gas may be delivered in the future through Mongolia.

Power of Siberia is the result of a $400 billion deal signed within days of the United States placing sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. Beijing and the Kremlin had been negotiating for several years to build two pipelines but could not agree on a price for the gas deliveries. When sanctions were imposed, the pricing question was resolved for the first pipeline. American use of economic coercion had backfired, providing an incentive for the two countries to draw closer together.

by Joe Kumbun

M

yanmar’s de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi— once internationally feted as a human rights champion—arrived with her delegation in The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday. This time, her trip is not for diplomatic, ceremonial or business purposes, but to face the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Republic of The Gambia, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has submitted a lawsuit that invokes the 1948 Convention for the Punishment and Prevention of Genocide.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can never have imagined she would have to face the ICJ. She started her political struggle in 1988 leading student protests against the Ne Win regime. In 1991 her status as a democratic and human rights champion was affirmed when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. So defending her country against charges of genocide before the World Court is a kind of personal “Black Swan” event, as some theorists refer to events that are largely unforeseen or

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

Sanctions encourage SinoRussian cooperation Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated the opening of the pipeline with a joint teleconference. Putin commented the pipeline would help realize the goal of $200 billion in bilateral trade by 2024, doubling the current level of $100 billon.

By contrast, over the course of 2019, Chinese imports of American goods have decreased by 26.4 percent, while exports to the United States are down 10.7 percent.

The increased trade highlights the close ties that have developed between the two countries since the United States began using sanctions.

In June, Chinese state media commented that Putin and Xi met 28 times since 2013, with the most recent meeting taking place “when the international order is challenged by unilateralism and protectionism and the global economy is dampened by the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies.”

Xi has been ebullient over his close ties with Putin, calling the Russian president his best and

bosom friend: “My engagement with President Putin is built on a high degree of mutual trust. That is the solid foundation of our close friendship.”

By its imposition of tariffs and other punitive measures on Russia and China, the United States has created a vacuum that is enabling the spread of Russia’s affect. Former Ambassador Chas Freeman wrote, “Narcissistic nationalism is not an effective antidote to foreign distaste and disapproval.” The effect on Russia and China has been counterproductive from an American strategic viewpoint.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-Idaho) testified, “While U.S. financial preeminence makes sanctions an easy and somewhat effective tool, I have serious concerns about the consequences of their overuse, particularly in the absence of a larger strategy. More sanctions don’t make us tougher on Russia. … More general sanctions actions, when not connected to specific goals, can be counterproductive.” As for China, Henry Kissinger wrote, “A pol-

icy that is perceived as having designated China as the enemy primarily because its economy is growing and its ideology is distasteful would end up isolating the United States.” With access to countries that want to trade with America limited, Beijing has turned to Russia’s waiting embrace.

A Nixonian trilateral balance of friendly relations with Russia and China could increase American influence in East Asia while using the two countries to limit the growth of the other’s influence. Russia and China are historic competitors, and Russia long has feared the growth of Chinese influence in Siberia. China is aware of Russia’s nuclear arsenal on its borders. If America opened itself to better relations with these countries, instead of increasing the speed of its descent into autarky, it would eliminate the need for these two rivals to cooperate with each other.

James J. Coyle, Ph.D., served in a number of positions in the U.S. government, including as director of Middle East Studies, U.S. Army War College.

- The Hill

A Black Swan for Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (center) arrives in New York. (YouTube) unpredicted but which go on to shape history.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s stated political aspiration is to build a democratic country where individual and human rights are fully protected, political tolerance is upheld and even international laws are respected.

This political vision has been espoused by her legions of ardent supporters, including the remnants of the “8888” uprising, political activists, former political prisoners, ordinary citizens and even ethnic minorities who have yearned for justice, equality and peace for many decades.

That is why Daw Aung San

cess is deadlocked despite her efforts to resolve the nation’s ethnic conflicts by initiating the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference. Gains in economic prosperity have been disproportionally distributed among the elites. The goal of building a federal Union is a long way from being achieved; even the devolution of powers from Naypyitaw to the states has not happened.

Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were swept to power in the 2015 general election.

Her election campaign slogan, “Time for Change”, echoed across the country and even the international community.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s main promises were to amend the 2008 Constitution, end the country’s armed conflicts and revive the economy.

Furthermore, freedom of the press, assembly and expression have actually declined, with many journalists and political activists arrested and imprisoned.

Three and a half years later, none of those promises has been kept, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is struggling to realize her vision. Instead, she has become bogged down in tit-fortat fighting with the military over amending the Constitution. Achieving peace seems a forlorn hope, as the peace pro-

Indeed, only time will tell whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can endure this tumultuous period and survive such a “Black Swan” event.

And even as she grapples with these lingering domestic challenges and the resultant criticism, international pressure has mounted on the Nobel Peace laureate.

Joe Kumbun is the pseudonym of an analyst based in Kachin State.

-The Irrawaddy

COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

Second Front Page

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Pratham Houston Holiday Luncheon raises record breaking funds for women empowerment programs Continued from Page 1 her husband Pankaj and their two children for their encouragement and support. As she remarked: “Education is truly the biggest game changer that enables success in life for those who have the ability, but don’t have the resources. At the heart of Pratham’s amazing success, is the passionate desire to unleash the potential of every underprivileged child and youth in India.”

Asha mentioned how Pratham USA was started over 20 years ago with the initial support of visionary & philanthropist, Mr. Vijay Goradia and has now grown into a large organization helping millions of underprivileged children in India. This 20th anniversary year honoring Vijay has truly been very special with the fund raising history being created with a record raise earlier this year. Asha also emphasized that Pratham USA has earned the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years.

Asha extended a heartfelt gratitude to Pratham Houston Advisory Board member, Poonam Mittal. Her family foundation, namely, the PANI Foundation, is single handedly funding two beauty schools this year, one in Assam and the other in Chattisgarh.

Asha introduced the incoming President of Pratham’s Houston chapter Dhiren Sethia, a highly successful entrepreneur. “Dhiren and his wife Anila have been passionate supporters of Pratham since its inception. I am very confident that in his own unique style, Dhiren will scale Pratham to much greater heights,” said Asha.

Keynote Speaker Lauren Levicki Courville, President, Dress for Success Houston, gave a powerful and enlightening talk that truly kept the

audience engaged.

Lauren said that over the past 21 years, Dress for Success Houston has grown to 20 plus programs and more than 3700 women have been served so far this year.

Through these programs, “We have the distinct honor of letting the women know that they are valuable, that they are seen and heard,” she said.

Courville said that once a woman lands a job, she is invited to join the Professional Women’s Group (PWG) at no cost. “It’s an ongoing career education but most importantly it’s a networking support.” Just like Pratham’s programs empower women to be self-reliant, the Financial Literacy Course enables women to make financial decisions.

“The 13week financial literacy course seems intense and overwhelming but I promise the value will be there at the end,” Courville said. She continued: “Like Pratham, we are not government funded and is run by the support of individuals, corporations and foundations that invest in our women”. In conclusion, Courville read an excerpt from Melinda Gates book ‘The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World’ that captures the essence of need to empower women as a way to impact and uplift a community.

wonderful afternoon included a basket of Guerlain cosmetics from Saks Fifth Avenue, a handmade special necklace using clay, coral & freshwater pearls by Dr. Amita Bhalla and a wooden hand crafted clutch by Simran Kapoor of Treasure Trunk. The afternoon ended with President Asha Dhume handing out plaques to the key note speaker Lauren Levicki Courville and Emcee Rekha Mudduraj as a token of appreciation as also to the Cochairs of the luncheon, Shital Patel, Dr. Bharat Pothuri and Dr. Sapna Singh.

Fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue

The volunteer team did an outstanding job to make this event another success.

Please mark Saturday, April 18, 2020 on your calendars for Pratham USA’s annual Houston gala at Hilton Americas.

It promises to be another elegant, entertaining and amazing event. Please reach out to Vikas Bahl at vbahl@prathamusa.org for sponsorship opportunities.

To learn more about Pratham and the organizations work please visit www.prathamusa. org.

Lto R: Past Presidents of Pratham Houston: Swatantra Jain, Dr. Marie Goradia, Sonu Anand, (Board member), Ash Shah, Asha Dhume and Incoming President, Dhiren Shethia.

The Co-Chairs of this successful Luncheon were Shital Patel, Dr. Bharat Pothuri, Dr. Sapna Singh and Anuradha Subramanian.

Dr. Sapna Singh conducted a very impactful pledge drive in her convincing and compassionate story style strongly urging guests to donate generously.

The event’s grand finale was a spectacular fashion show produced by Lenny Matuszewski for Sak’s Fifth Avenue featuring exquisite Jewelry

by Dr. Amita Bhalla. Exciting raffle prizes enhancing this

Pratham Houston Board members with spouses. Photo credits: Deborah Wallace, Barfield Photography

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VOICE OF ASIA 4

Section 2

Family Health

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

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Influenza Vaccination Texas A&M professor invents National Week is in December, Learn How personalized brain medications Medicare covers Part B vaccines

F

lu vaccination is especially important for people 65 years and older because they are at high risk of developing serious complications from flu.

Flu vaccines are updated each season as needed to keep up with changing viruses. Also, immunity wanes over a year so annual vaccination is needed to ensure the best possible protection against flu. A flu vaccine protects against the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

2019-2020 flu vaccine has been updated from last season’s vaccine to better match circulating viruses. Immunity from vaccination fully sets in after about two weeks.

vaccinated. Be sure to check your plan’s coverage rules and see where you can get your vaccine at the lowest cost. Typically, you will pay the least for your vaccinations at:

shows that the increased neuroprotection in females is indeed due to the presence of δGABA-A receptors, because differences in neuroprotection were only observed when the receptors were present. Finally, the Reddy lab group examined the receptor distribution of δGABA-A receptors in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that is important in memory and plays a crucial role in the development of epilepsy.

The histological findings showed that there was a higher expression of the extrasynaptic δGABA-A receptors in the hippocampus of females than in males.

This confirms that women are genetically endowed with a larger number of receptors, which confers greater tonic inhibition with the use of neurosteroid therapy.

People 65 years and older should get a flu shot and not a nasal spray vaccine. They can get any flu vaccine approved for use in that age group with no preference for any one vaccine over another. There are regular flu shots that are approved for use in people 65 years and older and there also are two vaccines designed specifically for people 65 years and older: High dose flu vaccine and adjuvanted flu vaccine.

When you are vaccinated in either of the above settings, you should only need to pay the plan’s approved coinsurance or copay for the drug and vaccination process.

When you get a vaccine at your doctor’s office, ask the provider to call your Part D plan first to find out if your provider can bill your Part D plan directly. If this is possible, you should not have to pay the full out-of-pocket cost and later request reimbursement from your plan.

These findings ultimately indicate that neurosteroid therapy has the potential to serve as a sex-specific, personalized treatment for epilepsy for both men and women. This key piece of the puzzle has the potential to improve the treatment of epilepsy in individuals who do not adequately respond to typical anti-epileptics.

These findings may have broader implications in designing personalized, sex-specific therapies for other conditions such as migraine, depression, and excitability disorders.

The amount you pay for your vaccine may vary depending on where you get

Dr. Samba Reddy

T

EXAS, Dec. 6, 2019 - Dr. Samba Reddy identified a key neural mechanism for sex-specific treatment of epilepsy and brain disorders It is well-known that genetic differences between men and women can play a key role in susceptibility to disease. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to these differences are unclear. Currently, a major concern for researchers and physicians is the difference in the incidence rate and severity of epilepsy between males and females. A key player in many of these differences is the variation in hormone levels and receptor types between the two sexes.

Clinical research has shown that men are more likely to have epilepsy than women, but women have epilepsy that is harder to treat. These differences have made it increasingly difficult to find therapeutic interventions for epilepsy, because physicians often prescribe the same medication to patients, regardless of sex.

“You can't just ask women to take the same epilepsy medication that a man is taking,” said Dr. D. Samba Reddy, Professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “Lots of times they will complain: ‘Hey doc, it's not working.’ So, the doctor will increase the dose, but then the women start experiencing adverse side effects. Physicians should understand that the female brain is different and responds differently to medication.”

Dr. Reddy and his team

recently published research in the journal Epilepsia that has served as the missing puzzle piece in the overall picture of using neurosteroid therapy to treat epilepsy in men and women. It is the final product of 15 years of research on receptor distribution, neurosteroid therapy, catamenial epilepsy, and mechanisms for extrasynaptic δGABA-A receptors. This latest paper has indicated that the difference in extrasynaptic δGABA-A receptor levels between men and women is responsible for the difference in response to neurosteroid therapy for epilepsy. Essentially, this means that designing personalized, sex-specific treatment is critical for treating epilepsy.

“Women tend to have more extrasynaptic δGABA -A receptors than men,” Dr. Reddy said. “These receptors are sensitive to neurosteroids and play a crucial role in mediating tonic inhibition in the brain, which keeps the electrical activity at a safe level.

Without tonic inhibition, the brain can get overexcited and fire when it should not, which causes seizures. This higher number of δGABA-A receptors in women is why they react much better to neurosteroids and are more protected from epilepsy with neurosteroid treatment. In men, there are fewer δGABA-A receptors, which means they have a lower level of tonic inhibition, so they are more prone to seizures.”

The study took a threepronged approach to demonstrate that women react more potently to neurosteroid therapy than men. The elegant series of pharmacological and electrophysiological studies

• It Follows Proven Principles: Following the proven principles of the low-carb/ good-carb, good-fat, healthyprotein approach of the original South Beach Diet, the keto-friendly version layers in science-backed elements of the keto diet’s higher fat intake, ultimately allowing for more variety in the diet than strict keto in the form of nutrient-dense carb choices like non-starchy vegetables and beans.

C

hances are you’ve heard of the keto diet. Its popularity has soared in recent years, adding it to the list of diets many people try, especially in the New Year. The keto diet is founded on the belief that when your body is in a state of nutritional ketosis -- a metabolic state in which fat provides most of the fuel for the body -- you will lose weight. But what if you could take a less drastic approach?

In-network pharma-

• that

A doctor’s

office

• coordinates with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan for the entire cost of the vaccination process (the drug and its injection) • or, can bill your plan directly for the vaccination process using an electronic billing system

You may end up paying more for your vaccination if your provider: • cannot coordinate with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan for the entire cost of the vaccination process (the drug and its injection) • and/or, cannot bill your plan directly for the vaccination process using an electronic billing system In these circumstances, your provider will bill you

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

for the entire cost of the vaccination (the drug and its injection). You will have to pay the entire bill up front and request reimbursement from your Part D plan. It is important to know that your provider may charge you more than the Part D approved amount for the vaccination, but your plan will only reimburse up to the approved amount— and you will not be refunded for any amount you pay the provider above the Part D approved amount.

If you have Extra Help, you can go to any provider or innetwork pharmacy to get vaccines. You will be covered for your vaccination and will only be responsible for the Extra Help copay. However, if you get your vaccine from a provider who does not directly bill your plan, you may need to pay the entire bill up front and then request reimbursement from your plan.

To learn more about Medicare plans and choose a suitable Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Prescription plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

“This proves beyond doubt that it's the delta extrasynaptic receptor numbers that contribute to the effect of neurosteroid therapy,” Dr. Reddy said.

Simple ways a Keto-friendly diet can set you up for success

In his newest book, “The Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet,” world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston explains that you can follow a low-carb, high-fat, qualityprotein keto-friendly diet without having to reach and sustain a state of ketosis -and still reap the weight loss benefits.

• It Takes You into Fat Burning Mode: “When a person eats too much sugar or quickly digestible carbs, their insulin levels increase. If this happens over time, the body responds by going into fat storage mode, making it very difficult to burn fat and lose weight,” says Dr. Agatston.

The keto-friendly approach shifts your body from “fat storage mode” into “fat burning mode,” leading to weight loss.

Here is how this approach can set you up for weight loss success:

• It’s Flexible: Trying to maintain any strict diet for the long-term often makes

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

If your doctor recommends that you get a vaccine, in most cases it will be covered by your Part D plan.

Part D plans must include most commercially available vaccines on their formularies, including the vaccine for shingles (herpes zoster).

The only exceptions are flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccinations, which are covered by Part B of Medicare.

• cies

New UTMB Center to focus on violence prevention

G

ALVESTON, Texas – Suicide and homicide are two of the top three causes of death for Americans under 25. Violence alone accounts for approximately 750,000 annual emergency room visits for those between the ages of 10 and 24 and costs the American taxpayer an estimated

$16.2 billion in combined medical and work loss costs.

people stop dieting and regain weight. Because of the highly satisfying foods and the lack of required adherence to specific ketone levels, the Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet allows for a variety in food choices, which may be more sustainable over time compared to stricter keto diets.

keto-friendly lifestyle more approachable,” says Courtney McCormick, registered dietitian and manager of Clinical Research & Nutrition for South Beach Diet.

• It Offers Structure: For those looking for a bit more structure, South Beach Diet offers a keto-friendly version of their meal delivery plan that comes with fully prepped chef-inspired foods that nourish and satisfy.

As you head into the new year, remember, the first step to losing weight is finding a plan that works for you.

A keto-friendly diet can set you up for success in a way that’s friendly, flexible and achievable.

“Structure can make the

Those are just some of the reasons that violence is considered a public health emergency that can be found at all facets of modern life. To help research the causes of violence and find practical, usable tools to reduce its bur-

For more keto-friendly insights and keto-friendly recipes, visit palm.southbeachdiet.com.

- StatePoint

den, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has established the Center for Violence Prevention.

“Although these violence statistics are scary, the good news is that violence can be prevented,” said Dr. Jeff Temple, founding director of the Center. “Researchers with this critically needed center will work on evaluating, implementing, and disseminating prevention programs that reduce the burden of violence on Texans.”

The Center will offer cutting-edge education, training and research and will serve as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of violence prevention information through research, training, and technical assistance for schools and communities throughout Texas and the nation.

To ensure that the violence prevention research gets in the hands of those who need it, the Center will provide training workshops related to violence prevention for Continued on Page 5

Senior Living

VOICE OF ASIA 5

Section 2

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Hidden factors that may contribute to weight gain

S

UGAR LAND – (December 1, 2019) — You’ve tried everything from dieting and calorie counting to exercise boot camp and weight loss apps — but the numbers on the scale just won’t budge. Could there be something else sabotaging your efforts to lose or maintain weight?

Let’s uncover some factors that could be holding you back. Although you have the power to change a few of these factors, some are beyond your control. Either way, finding out why weight loss is challenging can be helpful, especially when coming up with a plan or deciding when to seek help for weight loss.

LACK OF SLEEP Your health suffers when you’re sleep deprived, and lack of sleep can affect your chances of losing weight, too. Research has shown that sleep deprivation can lead to increased cravings for high-carb foods and junk food. When you’re overtired, you may be more likely to reach for high-calorie beverages or a sugar fix for quick energy. You may also lack the energy and initiative to make healthy food choices.

“At the end of a long day, you may not have enough energy to go for a walk or make a healthy meal, and the choices you make when you’re tired and hungry can derail your efforts to lose weight,” said Nabil Tariq, M.D., board-certified surgeon and medical director of bariatric surgery at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Take control: Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep at night so you can function at your best during the day.

YO-YO DIETING Yo-yo dieting (a cycle of losing

thing else,” Tariq explained. Exercise is good for your overall health and longevity, but it’s only a small component of weight loss. The majority of weight loss comes from making dietary changes and consuming fewer calories than you can burn in a day.

Take control: By spending 30 minutes preparing a healthy meal, you can avoid consuming an extra 700800 calories compared to eating fast food or takeout. When you combine a healthy diet with exercise, it’s a winwin!

AGING Dr. Nabil Tariq, bariatric surgeon weight and gaining it back) can take a toll on your health and make it harder to lose weight. You may lose weight rapidly on a fad diet, but you’re not just losing body fat. You lose lean muscle as well, which in turn decreases your metabolism. The problem with yoyo dieting is that it’s not sustainable.

“When you stop the diet and start eating normally again, the metabolism is lower than before, and the weight you regain is mostly fat,” Tariq explained.

Take control: Modify your diet in a way that’s sustainable for the long term. You want to find solutions for managing your weight that will work for the rest of your life, not just dropping pounds for a special event or a few months.

BALANCING GYM TIME WITH MEAL PLANNING TIME Have you been toiling away at the gym without losing any weight? If this sounds all too familiar, it may make sense to spend more time and energy on meal planning. “Weight loss is about food intake more than any-

Controlling your weight can be an uphill battle as you age. Even if you’re exercising and eating right, the pounds can still creep up. “As you get older, your metabolism decreases and your body doesn’t burn as many calories,” Tariq said. In addition, you may lose muscle mass with age, and the problem is compounded if you’re less active. It all adds up to a recipe for weight gain.

Take control: Cut back on portion sizes of higher calorie foods and increase portion sizes of lower calorie foods like nonstarchy vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and okra, etc. Try to exercise for 30 minutes every day — going for a walk is a great way to start.

MEDICATIONS Did you know that weight gain is a side effect of certain medications?

Some medications taken for depression, inflammation, thyroid disorder or other conditions can make it difficult to maintain or lose weight.

These medications may cause you to feel hungrier, burn calories slower or retain extra fluids. It’s important to continue taking your medications

Tel: 713-774-5140

New UTMB Center...

Continued from page 4

educators, healthcare professionals, and the general public. The main emphasis will be to educate participants about effective approaches for violence prevention and on how to implement these approaches in their own communities. The Center will also host a prominent annual speaker to propagate the importance of violence prevention and injury control at an annual conference.

“There aren’t many formal injury or violence prevention centers in Texas or in nearby states,” Temple said. “By strategically placing our center in the Houston/Galveston region, we can capitalize on the region’s large, diverse, and rapidlygrowing population. This will result in substantial and immediate public health benefits.”

as directed by your doctor, but don’t hesitate to ask about alternatives.

Take control: Talk to your doctor if you have questions about how your medications may be affecting your weight.

GENETIC INFLUENCES Genes can influence appetite, metabolism, body-fat distribution and more, but genetic influences don’t tell the whole story. Environmental factors including eating habits formed in childhood, family and social connections, ways you cope with stress and other psychological factors can have an even greater impact on your weight.

Take control: Even if you’ve been overweight for most of your life and struggle to lose weight, you can fight back. It starts with making the decision to get help for losing weight.

The Center was established by funding provided by the UTMB Provost office and the Department of Ob/Gyn. In addition to providing training and workshops, this funding will be used to hire new faculty and to provide seed funding for new research on violence.

“We are very pleased to open and house this new center at UTMB,” said Dr. Ben Raimer, interim president of UTMB. “The work being done by Dr. Temple and his team is vitally important to understanding and, ultimately, preventing violence in our schools, workplaces and communities.”

A formal unveiling of the Center will be held on Dec. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the 6th floor of the Administration Building on the Galveston Campus.

WEIGHT LOSS SEMINAR Join Nabil Tariq, M.D. on Thursday Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. for a weight-loss seminar to learn about the different programs offered at the Houston Methodist Weight Management Center, get tips on grocery shopping and meal planning, and speak with a dietitian, exercise specialist and bariatric surgeon. Registration is required.

Visit events.houstonmethodist.org/weightloss-sl or call 281.274.7500 for more information or to register.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

The Genie is Out of the Bottle for the Fort Bend Education Foundation’s Annual Gala!

Join Gala Underwriters to make a wish for education! Sitting L-R: Charles Carter, UnitedHealthcare; Manmeet Likhari, Co-Chair Mindy Cabble, Co-Chair Gena Horak, Lina Sabouni, AUTOARCH Architects and Fahim Farhat, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. Standing L-R: Josh Santana, Sewell Audi Sugar Land; Clarence Stephens, Durotech, Inc.; Shefali Jhaveri, Qeturah Williams, DLR Group; Mike Siwierka, Title Sponsor Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP; Heidi Obie, JACOBS; Morgan Powell, Johnson Development; Ray Aguilar, Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land and Dillon Brady, Prime Contractors, Inc. Not pictured: Gallagher Benefit Services, Paradigm Consultants, Bass Construction, Bracewell LLP, CHI St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital, DBR Engineering Consultants, E Contractors, GoldStar Transit, Jamail & Smith Construction, MD Anderson Cancer Center, PBK, Rangeland Energy, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P., Stantec, Thompson & Horton LLP. Photo courtesy of Mary Favre and Jasmine Raziuddin

by Jessica Kij

T

he Fort Bend Education Foundation’s Gala, “Majestic Morocco – Your Magic Carpet Awaits”, presented by Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP, celebrates the mysteries of majestic Morocco. The Gala occurs on February 29, 2020, at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square.

Discover Moroccan lights shimmering in the Moroccan nights. Let the sights, sounds and flavors envelope you as you board your magic carpet for an intriguing evening with

Fort Bend’s finest in support of our children’s education.

Show your Moroccan spirit through your Moroccan stylings. Don beautiful dresses with embellished brocade and bejeweled head pieces. Sport colorful kaftans with flowing scarves. Then dance to the get-yourself-moving sounds of the band Password.

Meander over to the Silent Auction Market Place and the Bid Board Bazaar for the most mesmerizing finds.

The much-anticipated Live Auction will be monumental! Bid often and bid high

on a myriad of items. Place a bid yourself or join a band of Moroccan moguls for better bidding power. The Live Auction emcee is City of Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmermann and the auctioneer is former Commissioner James Patterson.

The genie is out of the bottle so make a wish! Let that wish be one of generosity in your contributions to a mystical evening for the teachers and schools of Fort Bend ISD. For table sponsorships, individual tickets or auction donations, please visit www. fortbendisd.com/foundation

AAPI Census Kickoff: Community leaders come together to get counted...

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

“One can travel the world for love.”

Hindu Social Mixer draws singles from far and near

Standing left to right: Sangeeta Dargan, Sanchali Basu, Deepak Bhatti, Abha Grover Sitting left to right: Mallika Dargan, Dharminder Dargan, Shelly Bhatti, Sahil Tomar and Vinay Chandrakar.

by Sanchali Basu

H

indu Shakti organization was successful not only in drawing singles from the greater Houston area, but also the rest of the country to mingle at its Social Mixer event on Dec 7, at Kirby Ice house.

The event consisted of a round robin meet-up of bachelors and bachelorettes of age 26 to 36. A brief one-onone tete a tete was arranged only for Hindu participants, followed by a mixer.

The turnout was respectable and it was interesting and encouraging to see participants from Illinois, Michigan and Florida proving, “One can travel the world for love.” Incidentally the gender ratio was equitable.

Hindu Shakti is an off shoot from Hindu Vivah organization. This is the 4th event being held after two in Austin and one in Dallas. These events were held in top class golf course clubs and upscale restaurants. This time around the organizers picked a sports bar which turned out to be an ideal central location for everyone.

Hindu Shakti (www.hindushakti.org) is a US based community support organization whose charter is to facilitate the meeting of Hindu singles for the purpose of matrimony.

It is engaged mainly in the arranging of meetings where Hindu singles get a chance to mingle with like-minded suitors who are implicitly ready for marriage.

These meets help break the ice and introduce Hindu singles to each other, at which point HinduShakti’s work is done, and these singles are left to explore and select a life partner from amongst the singles they meet at the events.

HinduShakti requests Hindu singles to not use these events to date for dating sake. The services are meant to be used by those that are serious and contemplating marriage.

A nominal fee was charged to all the attendees. Light refreshments of pizza and chicken wings and a drink were provided. Participants seemed to enjoy the format and several exchanged phone numbers for future communication. Research shows that in-person meets have a much higher chance of connecting with a suitable partner for marriage; than do online matching/dating sites based strictly on pro-

fessed personal profiles.

HinduShakti is planning on holding more such events in Dallas, Atlanta and New York in the upcoming months and one in Houston on February 15.

The event was very well organized and many participants stopped by the Volunteers’ desk to compliment the event coordinators. They were all praise for the wonderful efforts put together by a great team of volunteers. One participant who just moved from Canada even mentioned that he has not seen anything like this in Canada.

Organizers who helped make this event possible are Dharminder Dargan, Sangeeta Dargan, Mallika Dargan, Deepak Bhatti, Shelly Bhatti, Abha Grover, Sahil Tomar, Disha Jhangiani, and Vinay Chandrakar, and Sanchali Basu.

HinduVivah (www.hinduvivah.org) is a US based nonprofit organization which will also keep holding events in future. Stay tuned for all upcoming events. Please check the website www.hindushakti. org and www.hinduvivah.org for updates and notifications of future events. the allocation of funds for programs. There are 55 federally funded programs and $675 billion available is distributed based on the population data.

A study by George Washington University estimates a loss of $1,000 each year for every Texan missed. This means a loss of $10,000 over 10 years for every person undercounted. In Harris County, it was estimated an undercount of approximately 35,000 from 2010 census. This is a loss of $406 million for the region over the course of the decade.

Texas could lose $3.3 billion over the next ten years.

(Source: January Advisors)

Empowering Communities Initiatives (ECI) and member organizations including Chinese Community Center, Emgage, OCA-Greater Houston, BPSOS and VN Teamwork gathered to ensure a proactive approach to engaging the community in the upcoming census.

Continued from the front page no community the likelihood of electing a person of choice would be not be a possibility.

“This event is the celebration of a continued collaboration and the start of major community efforts in an area where it’s greatly needed,” said Sobia Siddiqui, Emgage Census Organizer. “We are ready to do everything we can to ensure our communities are counted and get their fair share.”

Malissa, Senior Partnership Specialist, Census 2020 illustrated the methods of responding to the census questionnaire. The newest way of filling out the form was Online she said. Other methods would be over the phone, filling out the paper questionnaire as well as filling out with census representative that will going door to door. She also pointed out that the website address to fill out online is not available yet.

State Representative Gene Wu of District 137 spoke of the need for Asian Americans to participate for power and recognition.

There are 13 languages (including English) that have 13 assigned phone numbers for census 2020. The Census Bureau will mail a form in March or April 2020.

Tazeen Zehra, Senior Partnership Specialist, also spoke on the importance of participating in the census because it impacts healthcare, education and most importantly impacts

Later, Mansoor presented a video and slides providing more information on why the Census was important.

There is at least 50,000 jobs available in Harris County alone for Census 2020 and can be applied to online (2020census.gov)

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

Grand Celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj's 98th Birthday in Mumbai

M

UMBAI - On December 4, 2019, over 60,000 devotees, well-wishers, and invited guests, 750 BAPS Swamis, and 10,000 volunteers witnessed a spectacular 98th birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan at the DY Patil Stadium, Nerul, New Mumbai, India.

The celebration featured the contemporary challenges society faces and the solutions provided by Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921–2016).

Swamiji’s life and Herculean spiritual and philanthropic works guided countless individuals throughout the globe away from the vice-grip of addictions and depression, acts of violence and family disharmony, perils of ego and aggression, and inspired faith in God as the lasting solution to all these societal and personal ills.

His peaceful and inspiring personality touched all. In his presence, one’s worries and burdens got dissolved.

He strived for the benefit of all, regardless of gender,

H

ouston Durga Bari Society (HDBS) presented a magical musical evening as a part of its annual fundraising event and 20th year of existence, the evening of December 8 at

race, or religion. Today, he lives through his works like Akshardham and the wide spectrum of social services he

Swamiji lived these sentiments 24 hours daily. He strived for the good of others and never cared for his

750 BAPS Swamis and congratulatory local officials were in attendance. (Photos courtesy of BAPS) initiated. Furthermore, we experience his presence through his successor, HH Mahant Swami Maharaj, who is taking his spiritual legacy forward by his tireless efforts.”

At the conclusion of the event, the current spiritual leader of BAPS, Mahant Swami Maharaj, blessed those in attendance, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s credo was, ‘In the joy of others lies our own.’

own physical body. Pramukh Swami’s humility was monumental!

"He possessed many other countless virtues, and yet, to be egoless is a great thing. All who came in his contact were touched by his humility. May we live his words and become a receptacle of his virtues.”

The celebration witnessed a maha arti performed in unison

H

OUSTON — Houston Community College, Houston Community College Foundation, and LiftFund have partnered to create and launch The HCC Dream Makers Fund, an evergreen small business loan fund to foster entrepreneurship and small business economic growth in the community.

by all in attendance.

Under the auspices of the year-long 98th birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Mumbai, BAPS volunteers of Swaminarayan Mandir, Dadar, conducted various social welfare programs. Children, youths, and volunteers conducted antiaddiction drives during their visits to 125,000 homes. Spiritual assemblies in the suburbs of Mumbai were organized to impart Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s motto, ‘In the joy of others lies our own.’

Since 2017, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birth anniversary celebrations have conveyed his exemplary life and inspired thousands to lead a pure and spiritual life. The grand finale Centenary Celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj will be held in Ahmedabad in 2021.

Bank of America is the inaugural donor of the HCC Dream Makers Fund, with a seed grant of $20,000, which in perpetuity will be revolved to support entrepreneurs in the Greater Houston metro area.

“Bank of America is committed to supporting small businesses and encouraging economic growth, and the new HCC Dream Makers Fund allows us to invest in a meaningful collaboration with established partner organizations dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship and leadership in the Houston area,” said Hong Ogle, Houston Market President, Bank of America. “Being an inaugural donor to the fund is another demonstration of that commitment and we look forward to seeing what program participants accomplish for years to come.”

www.hccsfoundation.org.

About LiftFund:

Pictured from left to right: Richard Gianni, Sr. EVP of Microlending, LiftFund, Maya Durnovo, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, Houston Community College, David Regenbaum, Chairman of The Board Of Directors, Houston Community College Foundation. ues in perpetuity. The initial goal for the Fund is to raise $500,000, which will support 60 small businesses with a total of $1.2 million in small business loans over three years.

“The HCC Dream Makers Fund, in perpetuity, will support Houston small business owners, startups and students with critical funding to propel their business dreams.”

“We are thrilled to expand our support of small businesses through the HCC Dream Makers Fund and our partnership with LiftFund,” said Maya Durnovo, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer for Houston Community College. “These funds will enable our HCC entrepreneurs to build economic growth in our community and make a difference!”

To learn about the HCC Dream Makers Fund, and join the movement visit: https:// w w w. h c c s f o u n d a t i o n . o rg / dreammakerfund

For nearly a decade, LiftFund has participated in many of the entrepreneurship initiatives provided by Houston Community College, including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, HCC Business Plan Competition, and a variety of Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) trainings and events.

The Fund furthers the organizations’ joint efforts and commitment to make life-changing dreams come true through education and entrepreneurship.

How it works: Once a loan is repaid, 100% of the funds will go back to the HCC Dream Makers

“We are excited to partner with Houston Community College and the Foundation to deepen our impact and support for deserving and committed small business owners in our community,” said

Fund to support another HCC graduate, and the cycle contin-

Richard Gianni Sr. EVP of Microlending of LiftFund.

About Houston Community College: Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of higher education offering a high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development, and lifelong learning to prepare individuals in our diverse communities for life and work in a global and technological society. HCCS's service area is Houston Independent School District, Katy, Spring Branch, Alief Independent School Districts, Stafford Municipal District, and the Fort Bend portion of Missouri City.

About Houston Community College Foundation: The HCC Foundation is a philanthropic force supporting high quality educational experiences for HCC students of all backgrounds to help them improve the trajectory of their lives. The HCC Foundation empowers HCC student success through philanthropic support,

Shreya Guhathakurta and a number of world-class accompaning players delighted the audience.(Photo: Manas Saha) its Sur auditorium. The event was titled “Ek Sandhya, Eka Shreya.” The event featured a solo program by renowned Rabindra sangeet exponent, Shreya Guhathakurta who prides in calling Houston home, currently.

often compared with Kanika Bandyopadhyay for her style.

She delighted the audience with her introductory rendition of Borisho Dhara Majhe based on Rag Bhairavi, and many popular numbers including Majhe Majhe Tabo Dekha Pai,

For more information, please visit https://www.baps. org/News/2019/98th-Birthday-Celebration-of-Brahmaswarup-Pramukh-Swami-Maharaj-18098.aspx

aligned with key HCC institutional initiatives. Established in 1976, the HCC Foundation is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Internal Revenue Service has classified the Foundation as a Section 509(a)(1) and 170(b) (1)(A)(vi) publicly supported charity. To learn more, visit

This partnership, between a higher education institution and a nonprofit community small business lender, is first of its kind in the country.

The collaboration will commence with fundraising to establish a permanent loan fund for participants in HCC entrepreneurship programs and will be the first of its kind in the nation.

The highlight of the evening, Shreya Guhathakurta’s performance started with an introduction of Shreya by Sumita Basu.

A world-renowned artist with performances all around the globe, Shreya hails from a family of talented musicians and is

Over 70,000 devotees, guest and volunteers were in attendance at DY Patil Stadium in New Mumbai.

Small business loan fund soars to boost local economic growth

The HCC Dream Makers Fund is a response to the everchanging economy and entrepreneurship’s role in building a resilient and strong Houston market. For decades, HCC and LiftFund have championed workforce development, financial and educational success, and invested in diverse entrepreneurs who may have had challenges along their life path.

Houston Durga Bari Annual Fundraiser with Shreya Guhathakurta exceeds expectations

By Sanchali Basu

The stage program involved performances by 3,000 children and youths, video presentations, devotional songs, traditional dances, testimonials, and speeches by senior Swamis and dignitaries.

Honorable Shri Amit Shah Home Minister of India shared his sentiments on Pramukh Swami Maharaj based upon his many personal interactions with Swami. “Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a great spiritual giant who spread India’s glorious spiritual and cultural heritage through the 1,100 mandirs he built worldwide and by initiating 1,000 youths into the saffron order.

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

LiftFund, a community small business lender, transforms lives by opening doors and leveling the financial playing field in entrepreneurship. We provide responsible capital and education to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Since 1998, LiftFund has supported nearly 3,000 Houston small business owners with over $53.6 million in capital.

Founded in 1994 in San Antonio, Texas, LiftFund has grown from serving a single community to 13 states today, including some of the most economically segregated communities in our country. To learn more about LiftFund, visit www.liftfund.com.

About Bank of America: At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with.

It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact.

Shreya Guhathakurta (center) was joined by excellent, skilled muscians Raja Banga, Biplab Samadder, Namita Raychaudhury and Bidyut Ghosh.

A social mixer with mouth watering appetizers, wine and soft drinks welcomed the guests. As the guests took their seats, Tapan Das, Trustees Chair, welcomed the audience.

Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, past President and founding trustee, started as moderator with an invocatory chant. Two past Presidents, Ganesh Mandal, one of the long-standing founding trustees, and Gopendu Chakrabarti provided a brief history of the society

Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go, Aaj Jemon Kore Gaiche Akash and ended with a beautiful rendition of Tobu Mone Rekho…

She was ably accompanied

by Raja Banga on Tabla, Biplab Samadder on the violin, Namita Raychaudhury on harmonium and Bidyut Ghosh on mandira.

She even requested dancers from the audience to participate and create a livelier ambience.

Mou Das, Piyal Sengupta and Sanchali Basu graciously complied.

Shreya Guhathakurta and thanked several who were instrumental in turning Durga Bari from a dream to reality.

Diptabhas Sarkar, President of HDBS, gave the future vision of Durga Bari and highlighted the critical projects so that the organization can flourish and serve the growing and diverse community.

Guest speakers, Elizabeth Leicht, Trust Advisor and Attorney from Regions Private Wealth and Somir Paul, President, Woodlands Financial Services, talked about thoughtful giving and planned giving.

Subhendu Chakrabarti introduced the paintings of Avik Chakravorty, that were displayed for silent auction.

Members of the executive board were recognized for their untiring efforts and hours spent towards HDBS activities. The fundraising appeals led in donations pouring in and accruing over $115,000. A scrumptious dinner was catered by Season’s Cravings with dessert from Shondesh Boutique by Mumu.

Durga Bari felicitated Smt. Bulbul Sengupta, retired Dean of Fine Arts of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.

Smt. Sengupta congratulated and thanked Shreya Guhathakurta and the accompanied artists for a beautiful rendition of pure Rabindra Sangeet.

Event was chaired by Trustee Chair Tapan Das, and two past Presidents Partha Sarathi Chatterjee and Gopendu Chakrabarti. Trustee Secretary Dhruba Ghose, President Diptabhas Sarkar, Secretary Madhumita Sengupta, Treasurer Madhuchhanda Das were key organizers, ably supported by dedicated volunteers, including Mou Das and Dibyendu Chakrabarty.

Thanks to all the effort, it was an unforgettable evening for all, with impressive funds raised for continued growth of Durga Bari.

For further information on upcoming events at HDBS please visit www.durgabari. org

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 8

Three patients die as lawyers clash with doctors in Pakistan hospital

I

SLAMABAD, Pakistan | AFP | Wednesday 12/11/2019 - At least three heart patients died on Wednesday after a group of lawyers attacked doctors at a cardiac hospital in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, officials and ministers said.

"Three patients including an elderly woman died after doctors failed to provide them timely treatment and remained engaged in averting the assault," Punjab provincial health minister Yasmeen Rashid said at a televised press conference in Lahore.

A group of more than 200 lawyers, who had ongoing issues with the doctors of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, stormed the hospital, vandalising property and damaging dozens of vehicles of visitors and setting ablaze a police van, Rashid said.

The incident was apparently triggered by video clips some doctors had made ridiculing the lawyers.

Punjab information minister

W

ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 12/10/2019 - Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump on Tuesday in a momentous step asserting that the US president abused his office and deserved to be removed.

A group of more than 200 lawyers, who had ongoing issues with the doctors of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, stormed the hospital, vandalising property. (Photo: AFP) Fayyaz-ul-Hassan who arrived at the hospital to mediate was also thrashed by angry lawyers.

"This was kind of a highhandedness which none of civilised societies can tolerate," provincial law minister Raja Basharat said.

Private television channels showed live footage of the scuffles from the scene where some of the lawyers were also

seen brandishing pistols.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who ordered an inquiry into the incident, directed Punjab provincial government to take stern action against all those involved in the attack.

"Several lawyers have been identified from the television footage and the government will deal with all those involved in the attack with an iron hand," Basharat said.

S

AN FRANCISCO | AFP | Wednesday 12/11/2019 - YouTube broadened its anti-harassment policies on Wednesday to include a ban on "implied" threats along with insults based on race, gender identity or sexual orientation.

"We will no longer allow content that maliciously insults someone based on protected attributes such as their race, gender expression, or sexual orientation," global head of trust and safety Matt Halprin said in an online post.

YouTube already bans explicit threats, but now "veiled or implied" threats will be barred as well, according to Halprin.

"This includes content simulating violence toward an individual or language suggesting physical violence may occur,"

M

ADRID, Spain | AFP | Wednesday 12/11/2019 - Swedish activist Greta Thunberg accused rich countries of "misleading" people over climate action at UN talks in Madrid on Wednesday hours before a veteran leader of the global environmental movement with whom she shared the podium was locked out of the conference.

The UN climate forum tasked with saving the world from runaway global warming has become an "opportunity for countries to negotiate loopholes and avoid raising their ambition" to act on climate, the 16-year-old told delegates and observers to vigorous applause.

"Countries are finding clever ways around having to take real action."

Nations gathered in Spain's capital are struggling to finalise the rulebook of the 2015 landmark Paris climate accord, which aims to limit global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius and to a safer cap of 1.5C if possible.

But the consensus-based talks are bogged down in politically charged wrangling over the architecture of carbon markets, timetables for the review of carbon-cutting pledges and a new fund to help poor countries already reeling from climate impacts.

Amid glacial progress in negotiations, more than 200 youth and indigenous rights activists were forcibly removed after

If the charges -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- are approved by the House of Representatives in a vote expected next week, it would make Trump the third US leader ever impeached and placed on trial in the Senate.

An angry Trump dismissed the charges as "ridiculous" but Democrats insisted presidents were not untouchable.

"We must be clear: No one, not even the president, is above the law," said House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler.

"When he betrays that (public) trust and puts himself before country, he endangers the constitution, he endangers our democracy and he endangers our national security."

Trump is alleged to have wielded the power of the presidency for personal and political gain by pressuring Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 US election.

The Democrats submitted their articles of impeachment in a formal House resolution, which is expected to be voted out of the Judiciary Committee this week before heading to a full House vote.

The articles laid out the Democrats' case that Trump committed "high crimes and misdemeanors," warning that he would "remain a threat to the Constitution" if allowed to stay in office.

Halprin said.

"No individual should be subject to harassment that suggests violence."

The changes stem in part from YouTube's July pledge to crack down on "creatoron-creator harassment," the Washington Post reported.

The platform was berated for leaving up videos from Steven

Crowder, a right-wing commentator who regularly insulted gay Vox producer Carlos Maza based on his sexual orientation and Cuban heritage.

Maza's video montage of insults from Crowder over a period of years -- including "lispy sprite" and "angry little queer" -- went viral, prompting a YouTube investigation that concluded they didn't violate its hate speech policies.

Greta slams 'misleading' climate pledges at chaotic UN summit

by Marlowe Hood / Patrick Galey

Democrats announce two impeachment charges against President Trump

by Michael Mathes

YouTube bans 'implied' threats

"This applies to everyone, from private individuals, to YouTube creators, to public officials."

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

protesting outside the plenary hall, chanting "climate justice now!" and "Shame! Shame!

Shame!".

Among those unable to access the talks was Greenpeace International executive director Jennifer Morgan, who had joined Thunberg in addressing plenary delegates hours earlier.

All accredited observers -researchers, scientists, NGOs who play a critical role in the talks -- not already in the building were also denied entry after the fracas.

- 'This is not leadership' "We are the ones who can apply pressure and hold governments accountable," Morgan told AFP outside the COP25 venue.

"I call on the Secretary General to intervene here to make sure that youth and citizens around the world can engage and have their voices heard in these negotiations."

Several sticking points remain as the two-week marathon negotiations enter the final days.

Nations are at odds over how the fight against climate change should be funded and how carbon trading schemes should be regulated.

In addition, there has been little progress over the issue of "loss and damage" -- how countries already dealing with the worst impacts of climaterelated extreme weather and drought should be compensated.

The UN's top climate body

the IPCC says that the safest way to stay under the 1.5C cap is a rapid and sweeping drawdown in the coal, oil and gas driving greenhouse gas emissions.

"The red thread in science over the past 20 years, is that we have underestimated the pace of change and the risks we are facing," Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told the plenary.

The temperature tipping point for catastrophic and irreversible changes in Earth's climate system -- once thought to be 5C or 6C -- is now understood to be between 2C and 3C, he said.

Thunberg, who was awarded Time magazine's person of 2019 on Wednesday for her environmental campaigning, told negotiators that their promises were a world apart from what was needed.

- 'At the highest level ' "Recently a handful of rich countries pledged to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases by so and so many percent by this or that date, or to become climate neutral or net zero in so and so many years," she said.

"This may sound impressive at first glance, but even though the intentions may be good this is not leadership. This is not leading, this is misleading."

Despite dozens of meetings and thousands of specialists working to implement the Paris accord, global emissions continue to rise each year.

Trump maintained a fighting posture by blasting the "ridiculous" process and renewing his familiar claim that he is the victim of a "witch hunt."

- 'President king' The White House meanwhile called the impeachment effort a "pathetic attempt" to overturn the 2016 election result.

"The president will address these false charges in the Senate and expects to be fully exonerated, because he did nothing wrong," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Trump's accusers say he conditioned vital military aid and a White House meeting on

On Tuesday, House Democrats announced two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump. (Photo: AFP) Ukraine announcing it would investigate former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner to challenge Trump in 2020.

Trump also pressed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to probe a debunked Kremlin conspiracy theory that it was Kiev, and not Moscow, that interfered in the 2016 US election.

According to the draft of the first article of impeachment, Trump carried out his scheme "corruptly soliciting" the political interference.

"President Trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal political benefit," the draft read.

The second charge focuses on Trump's efforts to block Congress from fully investigating his actions -- which Democrats see as a violation of its constitutional right to conduct oversight of executive action.

Trump has refused to cooperate with any aspect of the inquiry, and key figures in the Ukraine saga, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, have not testified before lawmakers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking at a forum in Washington, described the impeachment articles as a sad but necessary move.

"If we allow one president... to go down this path, we are saying goodbye to the republic and hello to a president king," she said.

- 'Overwhelming, uncontested' evidence The US has been sharply divided over the removal proceedings against a sitting president.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff oversaw weeks of public hearings in which witnesses including Trump administration officials and US diplomats testified about the pressure on Ukraine.

"The evidence of the president's misconduct is overwhelming and uncontested," Schiff said.

Adding to the already extraordinary Washington drama, Democrats showed they could still work with the White House, announcing a bipartisan agreement on a modified North American trade pact.

The impeachment articles also landed just as Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Washington to meet with Trump.

US intelligence has concluded Russia interfered in America's 2016 election in Trump's favor.

Pompeo also met with Lavrov and said he warned Russia's top diplomat of reprisals if Moscow take the "unacceptable" step of interfering in next year's presidential election.

Congressional Republicans meanwhile have largely remained loyal to Trump, and were quick to describe the impeachment articles as sour grapes by Democrats for losing in 2016.

"Democrats still can't get over the fact that Trump won the election and they lost," top House Republican Kevin McCarthy told reporters.

Should Trump be impeached, as expected, he faces a January trial in the US Senate, where Republicans hold a majority.

Removal from office is unlikely, given that conviction requires a two-thirds vote in the 100-member chamber, and no Republicans have yet signaled they would side with Democrats against the president.

US warns N.Korea of consequences for 'Christmas gift'

by Philippe Rater

U

NITED NATIONS, New York City | AFP | Wednesday 12/11/2019 - The United States on Wednesday warned North Korea of consequences if it makes good on threats of a spectacular weapons test in the New Year, while offering flexibility if it stays in talks.

Frustrated by the lack of sanctions relief after three summits with President Donald Trump, North Korea has vowed an ominous "Christmas gift" if the US does not come up with concessions by the end of the year.

At the UN Security Council, the US ambassador, Kelly Craft, voiced concern that North Korea was indicating it would test intercontinental ballistic missiles "which are designed to attack the continental United States with nuclear weapons.

"Missile and nuclear testing will not bring the DPRK greater security," Craft said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We trust that the DPRK will turn away from further hostility and threats, and instead make a bold decision to engage with us," she said.

and, in an unusually direct condemnation by the United States, said they violated UN Security Council resolutions.

Craft appeared to rule out meeting North Korea's demands for an offer in the year's final weeks, saying: "Let me be clear: The United States and the Security Council have a goal -- not a deadline."

North Korea denounced the meeting, accusing the United States of not offering anything.

China and Russia, which had cautiously backed pressure against North Korea after its past nuclear tests, indicated they would reject further sanctions.

But she said the United States, which used its presidency of the Security Council to convene the meeting, wanted to work toward a deal.

"The Security Council must revisit sanctions to alleviate the suffering of the North Korean people and create a fruitful environment for dialogue," said Ambassador Zhang Jun of China, North Korea's primary ally.

"We remain ready to take actions in parallel, and to simultaneously take concrete steps towards this agreement," Craft said.

Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, faulted US diplomacy, saying: "You can't reach an agreement if you don't propose anything in exchange."

"We are prepared to be flexible in how we approach this matter."

But Japan and South Korea both put the onus on North Korea. South Korea -- whose dovish president, Moon Jae-in, paved the way for Trump's outreach to Pyongyang -- urged its neighbor to abide by Security Council resolutions.

- Rising N.Korean frustration Trump has hailed his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after his breakthrough summit last year in Singapore and two subsequent meetings.

Trump, who has boasted that he prevented war, has said he would be "surprised" if North Korea acted in a hostile manner.

Hinting at further sanctions, Craft said: "If events prove otherwise, we, this Security Council, must all be prepared to act accordingly."

But North Korea -- which did not participate in Wednesday's session -- has shown frustration since February's eagerly awaited summit in Hanoi ended in stalemate.

She called North Korea's persistent shorter-range tests "deeply counterproductive"

The two countries met in Stockholm in October to start working-level talks, though

North Korea should "remain meaningfully engaged in dialogue with the United States and (South) Korea so that progress in negotiations can lead to concrete results," said its ambassador, Cho Hyun.

France and Britain, which both wield veto power on the Security Council, also called on North Korea to seize the rare opportunity offered by Trump for diplomacy.

"It is not too late," Karen Pierce, the British ambassador, said to North Korea. "You can stop this situation from worsening."

VOICE OF ASIA 9

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Surendran K. Pattel candidate for judge Grandson of George HW and Barbara of the 505th judicial district court Bush running for Congress al law.

Born in the State of Kerala in South India on May 29, 1971, Mr. Pattel earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his law degree from the University of Calicut. He started his professional career as a trial lawyer in 1996 in Hosdurg, Kerala. In 2005, he relocated to Delhi, India, where he argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court of India.

Surendran K. Pattel

F

ORT BEND - Attorney Surendran K. Pattel is an official Democratic Party primary candidate for judge of Fort Bend County District Court 505.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Mr. Pattel met with Cynthia Ginyard, chair of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party, to submit the paperwork to assure that his name will appear on the 2020 primary election ballot.

The Texas Democratic Party primary election will be held on March 3, with early voting starting on Feb.18, 2020.

In taking this dramatic step forward with his campaign Mr. Pattel stressed: “Politically, I am committed to the Democratic Party and its ideals.

Professionally, I believe that

our courts must be as compassionate and accessible as they are fair and just.” Mr. Pattel is building his campaign on the theme of Justice With Compassion, with special attention to reducing case backlogs that can result in costly inefficiency for litigants and taxpayers.

Mr. Pattel has been a practicing attorney for more than two decades, with experience in both the United States and India. A licensed Texas attorney since 2009, Mr. Pattel has been involved in cases in Fort Bend, Harris, and Brazoria counties; his Fort Bend-based practice is the PKS Law Firm PLLC. In India, he practiced before the Supreme Court of India. Mr. Pattel’s primary areas of expertise are family law, real estate, civil litigation, and internation-

Mr. Pattel arrived in the United States in 2007, the result of his wife, a nurse, having been recruited to work in a Houston-area hospital. As wife Subha Surendran began work, Mr. Pattel started to study for the Texas bar exam, which he passed on his first attempt in 2009. In addition, Mr. Pattel enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Houston Law Center, pursuing studies in international law; he completed the program in the fall of 2011. During the master’s program he published a well-received paper on crimes of aggression. Mr. Pattel’s essays and commentary on various Texas-related legal matters have been published locally.

An Indian-American community activist, Mr. Pattel has held leadership positions with the Malayalee Association of Greater Houston. He is also a member of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land. Politically, he has campaigned on behalf of numerous Democratic candidates in Fort Bend County, and was a delegate to the 2018 Texas Democratic Convention in Fort Worth.

Mr. Pattel, his wife, and their two daughters live in Rosenberg.

F

ORT BEND, Monday, December 9, 2019 (KTRK) -- Pierce Bush, the grandson of former President George H.W.Bush and first lady Barbara Bush has thrown his hat in the ring for the 22nd Congressional district.

Pierce, who is the son of Neil Bush, has served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star for more than seven years.

"I've seen what's best about this amazing community, and ultimately, I have a passion for serving people," Pierce Bush told ABC13. "This isn't about my family. It's certainly about

Pierce Bush (Photo: KTRK) dreds of people who urged him to run to replace retiring Rep.

"Washington is broken and I see it as the sheriff serving for the past eight years. And immigration, illegal immigration is one of those examples where Congress' unwillingness, not their inability, their unwillingness to secure our southern border really, really just disturbs me quite honestly," Nehls said.

"Our congress is doing very little. Our President is trying to do it all on his own. But he will have an ally with me."

Nehls will not resign from his job as sheriff. He'll keep serving until his term is up in January 2021.

Bush said he will campaign full-time, knowing Big Brothers Big Sisters needs someone who can devote his or her full attention to the non-profit.

Sheriff Troy Nehls, who has been Fort Bend County's top cop since 2013, is also running in the Republican primary. (Photo: FB Sheriff's Office) the families of the 22nd Congressional district. That's my motivation for jumping in."

Pierce said he's talked to hun-

Pete Olson. But it is a crowded race with no fewer than 21 candidates, 18 of them on the Republican side of the aisle.

Among them is Sheriff Troy

FB Pct. 3 Const. Wayne Thompson withdraws from re-election bid

F

ort Bend County Precinct 3 Constable Wayne Thompson has announced that he has withdrawn his filing for re-election and will not be on the ballot.

Thompson says he has made

Candidate Surendran K. Pattel filing for the Democratic primary election, with supporters. (Photos courtesy of the campaign)

Read more Fort Bend stories Visit us online : voiceofasia.news

Nehls, who has been Fort Bend County's top cop since 2013.

some "personal decisions" and explained a "need to return to private life."

The constable also added that he is throwing his support for the officer behind Jesse Zamaripa. (-KPRC)

The district is demographically and politically shifting, and is among the most diverse in the country. And in 2018, Olson narrowly beat Democrat challenger Sri Kulkarni.

Kulkarni is running again, and according to FEC filings, he's already raised more than $771,000 in his bid to be the first Democrat to serve since Nick Lampson served a single term from 2007 to 2009.

The candidates include Democrats Sri Preston Kulkarni, Nyanza Moore, and Derrick Reed. Republicans include Bangar Reddy, Pierce Bush, Jon Camarillo, Keli Chevalier, Douglas Haggard, Schell Hammel, Aaron Hermes, Greg Hill, Matt Hinton, Felicia Harris Hoss, Dan Mathews, Diana Miller, Clint Morgan, Troy Nehls, Howard Lynn Steele Jr., Kathaleen Wall, and Joe Walz.

VOICE OF ASIA 10

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How Arjun Das has become the new go-to villain of Tamil cinema The dastardly roles from Karthi's Kaithi to Vijay's Thalapathy 64

by Sreedhar Pillai

M

UMBAI - He is not the conventional tall and muscular villain you have seen in many films. Instead, the 29-year-old actor is lean, has a baritone, and deadly eloquent eyes. Last month, the starin-the-making was flooded with congratulatory messages. He had replaced Malayalam actor Antony Varghese of Angamaly Diaries and Jallikattu-fame as the main villain in the most popular hero of Tamil cinema, Vijay’s film Thalapathy 64.

Arjun says the chance to act alongside Vijay took him by surprise as his mentor Lokesh Kanakaraj had made no mention during the casting of the film. In an exclusive interview to Firstpost, Arjun Das says, “Suddenly, out of the blue, Lokesh called me, and just said come to the location. When Lokesh calls, you don’t ask any questions. I just boarded the next flight, and went to the location. Yes, it’s a very challenging role in Vijay sir’s film but I cannot say anything more except that I will be shooting for it in Shimoga and some other places till end of January. I won’t take up any other film till the shoot and dubbing of Thalapathy 64 is over.”

The boy, from a middle class background, studied in Pune, Dubai, and Chennai as his father, who has his roots in Thrissur in Kerala, was in a transferable job as a bank officer. Arjun had absolutely no connections with Kollywood. He was hosting a Bollywood song programme in nonpeak hours as a Radio Jockey at a Tamil FM station, before offers came his way. His baritone and looks went a long way as he was selected to play a role in Andhagaram, with the entire

The hottest and meanest new villain in Kollywood is Arjun Das. He has been making waves ever since he played the cocaine-snorting bad guy Anbu in Karthi’s Lokesh Kanagaraj-directed Diwali super hit Kaithi. (Twitter/Arjun Das) cast of newcomers, and a negative role in director Prabhu Solomon’s Kumki 2. Both the films are yet to be released.

The breakthrough came when ace director Gautham Menon, while driving, happened to hear his voice over the car radio, and decided to use it.

Arjun’s voice was used as voiceover for the teaser of Menon’s forthcoming action film Vikram-starrer Dhruva Naksthram, and it went viral. Around that time, Lokesh was looking for a person with a good voice to play one of the bad guys in Kaithi. Arjun impressed the director. Chasing his dreams to be an actor, Arjun was also doing a course at Koothu Pattarai (Tamil theatre group) and English theatre group EVAM, which also worked to his advantage.

Arjun claims director Lokesh and producer SR Prabhu, along with hero Karthi, gave him a free hand during the shoot of Kaithi. “During the dubbing, they helped me a lot to get it cor-

rect as the character was unique, silent till interval, and later, he explodes.

Yes, the voice modulation went a long way in establishing the character. I saw the film first day first show with the audiences, and when Anbu dies, there was a loud clapping, which brought tears to my eyes as it is the real acknowledgement of my onscreen performance.”

Now, will the image-conscious Kollywood allow him to play the conventional hero? Arjun says, “Good question, but I will be careful not to be typecast. At the end of the day, the script and the director will be the deciding factors. Nothing else matters.”

Meanwhile, with his current star status, Arjun is hoping his first film as the hero, Andhagaram, directed by debutant Vignarajan, will finally hit the screens soon. Till then, he plans to enjoy the ride of playing the bad guy.

- First Post

Madhuri Dixit to make her acting debut on Karan Johar's upcoming digital series Karan Johar has roped in Madhuri Dixit Nene as the lead actor for an upcoming series in association with Dharmatic.

M

UMBAI - Several actors from Indian cinema are foraying in the digital world. Many have been successful and others are looking forward to adding an OTT movie or show to their filmography.

Chhapaak poster

Chhapaak trailer shows Deepika Padukone struggling for justice as an acid attack victim

M

UMBAI - Deepika Padukone's Chhapaak has been one of her most anticipated films of this year. Depicting the story of an acid attack victim, Chhapaak is based on true events. The makers released the film's trailer on Tuesday. Deepika, who plays Malti in the film, is seen struggling with telling the world that she was a victim to an unfair, unsolicited attack on her and how she circumvented the goings-on to come out victorious.

Vikrant Massey plays her aid in her legal battle to get justice. Even in the film, she is forewarned by her family members, that her legal struggle will erode her completely, but she carries on, determined.

Deepika Padukone's Chhapaak has been one of her most anticipated films of this year. Depicting the story of an acid attack victim, Chhapaak is based on true events. The makers released the film's trailer on Tuesday. Deepika, who plays Malti in the film, is seen struggling with telling the world that she was a victim to an unfair, unsolicited attack on her and how she circumvented the goings-on to come out victorious.

Vikrant Massey plays her aid in her legal battle to get justice. Even in the film, she is forewarned by her family members, that her legal struggle will erode her completely, but she carries on, determined.

- First Post

Bollywood Star Screen Awards dazzle in Mumbai

Interestingly, filmmaker Karan Johar had opened a wing named Dharmatic which produces digital content.

One of the first ventures was Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez starrer Drive. Now, one of the evergreen actors is all set to make her acting debut on Netflix with Dharma's upcoming series. Yes, we are talking about Madhuri Dixit Nene.

The actor will be seen in a series which will be helmed by showrunner Sri Rao and creatively produced by Karan Johar. Talking about the same, Madhuri said in a statement, "I’ve always been a fan of Netflix, which is why I decided to make my debut as a producer with 15th August.

Madhuri Dixit to make her acting debut on Karan Johar's upcoming digital series.

(Photo: Netflix)

"The reach and diversity in the audience that the global service provides are unparalleled. And of course, Karan and his team have been like family for me, so when I got this opportunity to play the protagonist in this series that’s produced by both Netflix and Dramatic - I was beyond excited... This series is entertaining, riveting, and yet heartwarming."

confluence of Netflix, Dharmatic and Madhuri Dixit Nene will be nothing

So excited to be announcing my entry into the digital space! After the success of my first @NetflixIndia film production '15th August' and doing the voice of 'Nisha' from Mowgli, here's looking forward to another stellar show!

easoned Bollywood comedian and award-winning actor Govinda will be in Dubai on December 13 for a store opening.

The actor, whose career peaked during the 1990s, will be on call to snip the ribbon of a Brands4U outlet at Oasis Mall.

Govinda is best known for his comedy and dancing skills. He was a prolific actor who worked with director Dhawan in several films including ‘Coolie No 1’ and ‘Hero Number 1’.

In the mid 90s he has also worked in hits including ‘Dulhe Raja’ and ‘Aankhen’.

“I am coming to Dubai on December 13 ... Come shop with your ‘Raja Babu,” said Govinda in a video message to promote his visit, organised by Parallel Events. Govinda was alluding to his hit titular role in the 1994 blockbuster directed by David Dhawan.

The self-made actor burst into the news recently when he claimed that he was offered a role in Hollywood scifi hit ‘Avatar’ (2009), but rejected it because he was averse to painting his body blue.

While KJo shared, "Madhuri has been one of my all-time favourite actresses, once I got to know her, I loved her even more. Dharmatic’s association with Netflix is extremely special because together, we get to tell untold stories in the way we want to. This is one such story and the

short of iconic."

-DNA

Bollywood actor Govinda to charm Dubai

S

- Gulf News

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Left: Sara Ali Khan won Most Promising Actor (Female) for ‘Kedarnath.

Right: Alia Bhatt, who bagged the award for Best Actor (Female) for Gully Boy, showed up in a colorful saree by Sabyasachi.

Bollywood Star Screen Awards Winners

Here's the full winners list:

Best Actor (Male): Ranveer Singh for Gully Boy Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt for Gully Boy Best Director (Critics Choice): Anubhav Sinha for Article 15 Best Director: Zoya Akhtar for Gully Boy Best Supporting Actor (Male): Gulshan Devaiah for Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota Best Supporting Actor (Female): Kamini Kaushal for Kabir Singh Baat Nayi Award: Lukka Chuppi Best Actor Critics Choice (Male): Ayushmann Khurrana Best Actor Critics Choice (Female): Bhumi Pednekar and Taapsee Pannu Most Promising Actor (Male): Siddhant Chaturvedi for Gully Boy Most Promising Actor (Female): Sara Ali Khan for Kedarnath Best Actor In Comic Role (Female): Yami Gautam for Bala Most Promising Debut Director: Aditya Dhar for Uri: The Surgical Strike Best Playback Singer (Male): Sachet Tandon for Bekhyali from Kabir Singh Best Playback Singer (Female): Shreya Ghoshal Ghar More Pardesiya from Kalank Best Music: Kabir Singh and Gully Boy

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Bill Cosby loses appeal after sexual assault conviction N. America box office stays 'Frozen' beneath Disney sequel

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OS ANGELES | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 In a rare show of boxoffice stasis, the top five films in North American theaters were unchanged this weekend from last, led again by Disney blockbuster "Frozen II," industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday.

The animated musical, which has Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) and the gang traveling to an enchanted forest, took in $35.2 million, boosting its overall domestic total to $338 million and its global take above $920 million.

Disney's total global ticket sales for 2019 so far were due to pass an unprecedented $10 billion on Monday, the company said -- and with "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" still to open this month.

In second again was Lionsgate's murder mystery "Knives Out," at $14.2 million for the weekend.

The film stars Daniel Craig -- a detective with a droll, overthe-top Southern accent -- Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans in an Agatha Christie-worthy tale that critics have called "deliciously entertaining."

In third was Fox's "Ford v.

Ferrari," at $6.7 million. The film, based on a true story, tells how a team at Ford built a car to challenge Ferrari's dominance of France's classic 24-hour Le Mans race. Matt Damon and Christian Bale star.

a British-born model and actor, play an African-American couple whose terrible first date turns even worse when they have a disastrous encounter with a racist cop.

And in fifth was Sony's "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," taking in $5.2 million.

The drama recounts the true story of how a cynical and distrusting journalist is befriended by beloved TV star Fred Rogers, played by Tom Hanks.

Rounding out the top 10 were: "Dark Waters" ($4 million) "21 Bridges" ($2.9 million)

Universal's "Queen & Slim" placed fourth, taking $6.6 million.

"Playing With Fire" ($2 million)

Daniel Kaluuya of "Get Out" fame and Jodie Turner-Smith,

"Last Christmas" ($1 million)

"Midway" ($1.9 million)

Panned 'Joan of Arc' film wins top French prize durance test (which) burns up much of its goodwill by the time the pyre is finally lit" by Variety when it was premiered at the Cannes film festival in May. But the judges of Louis Delluc prize, who are drawn from the creme de la creme of French cinema, hailed it as the best French film of the year.

by Alain Jean-Robert and Jean-François Guyot

P

ARIS, France | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 Maverick director Bruno Dumont picked up France's

critics.

"Joan of Arc" is the second part of his rock musical retelling of the life of the virgin French martyr.

"Bruno Dumont was already a great film-maker," said Gilles Jacob, the former head of the Cannes film festival, who presided over the jury.

"But this time he enters the Delluc family," he said, referring to the illustrious names who have picked up the prize since it was first awarded in 1937 to commemorate the French film pioneer Louis Delluc.

Beyond its hard rock score, Dumont, best known for "The Life of Jesus" and the surreal comedies "P'tit Quinquin" and "Slack Bay", took liberties with the story of the maid who helped rally the French against their English invaders in the 15th century before she was captured and burned at the stake.

While the original Joan was 19 when she was tried, Dumont cast a 10-year-old, Lise LeplatPrudhomme, in the role.

"Doing that threw a light on the power of her innocence, her determination and the fact that she was a child," Dumont told AFP at Cannes in May.

most prestigious film prize Monday for a movie which was thrashed by English-speaking

It was dismissed as "patiencetesting" by the Hollywood Reporter and an "eccentric en-

Netflix dominates Golden Globes nominations

by Andrew Marszal

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OS ANGELES | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 Hollywood disruptor

three-and-a-half-hour gangster epic also from Netflix, secured five nominations, ending tied for second with "Once Upon a

N

EW YORK | AFP | 12/10/2019 - US comedian Bill Cosby, who is serving a three and a half year jail term, on Tuesday lost his appeal against his conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years ago.

OF

PRO

The film portrays how a seemingly stable love can be ripped apart after Johansson's actress moves from New York to Los Angeles, calling in the lawyers as she separates from a self-absorbed theater director played by Driver.

Scorsese was nominated for Continued on page 13

"With this decision, it has been affirmed that no one is above the law."

The 82-year-old, who shattered racial barriers with his role as a dad and doctor on the hit TV series "The Cosby Show," (1984-1992), was found guilty in 2018 of assaulting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion.

It was the first celebrity trial and first guilty verdict for sexual assault since the advent of the #MeToo movement.

"We are very pleased with today's Superior Court decision affirming the jury’s guilty verdict ... as well as the sentence," district attorney Kevin Steele

A Pennsylvania judge sentenced the actor to a minimum

three and a half years in prison on three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

An earlier trial in June 2017 ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Although more than 60 women charged that they had been victims of sexual assault by Cosby, he was tried criminally only for Constand's assault, since the statute of limitations had expired in the other cases.

Cosby insists he was unjustly convicted, and his lawyers argued in the appeal that five women should not have been allowed to testify at the retrial.

Princess Diana's 'Travolta' dress brushed off at auction

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ONDON, United Kingdom | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 - A midnight blue velvet gown worn by Princess Diana as she danced with John Travolta at the White House got the cold shoulder at auction, the Kerry Taylor house said Monday.

Diana wore the off-the-shoulder Victor Edelstein dress when she and then husband Prince Charles attended a state dinner hosted by the late president Ronald Reagan on November 9, 1985.

Diana was photographed dancing with Travolta to the song "You Should be Dancing" from his film "Saturday Night Fever".

The Princess of Wales wowed the great and the good of Hollywood when she wore the Victor Edelstein blue velvet evening gown at the state dinner in 1985.

1986 by Katherine Cusack, also in midnight-blue velvet, was snapped up for £60,000, or £71,000 with fees, which was double the estimated maximum value.

Estimated at £250,000£350,000 ($324,000$454,000), the dress did not even attract a reserve, or minimum, bid of £200,000.

Two other dresses owned by Diana fared much better however.

A Catherine Walker navy wool day dress from around 1989, that Diana wore in private, according to Kerry Tay-

A long-sleeved dress from

lor, was bought for £35,000 or almost six times its estimated value.

The Edelstein dress was part of a collection of outfits that Diana herself sold for charity at auction in June 1997, just weeks before she died in a car crash in Paris.

Sharlene Sharmila Richards Attorney at Law

www.richardsimmigration.com E-mail: srichardslaw@aol.com

Time in Hollywood," Quentin Tarantino's nostalgic love letter to 1960s Tinseltown.

The nominations traditionally see the stars and movies destined for awards success start to break away from the competition -- the Globes are seen as a major bellwether for February's Academy Awards.

said in a statement.

Cosby had appealed to Pennsylvania's Superior Court, which issued a 94-page ruling upholding his conviction. He could now take his case to the state's Supreme Court.

Most of his cast were amateurs, including the judges who condemned her, who were played by lecturers from the university of Amiens, northern France, where part of the film was shot.

"Marriage Story" earned nominations for its stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, and for its screenplay, but Noah Baumbach missed out as director.

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in Marriage Story (Netflix)

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby, seen here after being found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, lost his court appeal

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12-year-old girl arrested in Florida after threatening post

M

IAMI | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 - A 12-year-old girl has been arrested in the US state of Florida for allegedly threatening over Snapchat to kill other students at her school on Monday, police said.

The girl, who was not identified, posted the message on Friday and she was taken into custody on Saturday night and taken to a child evaluation center, the Broward County sheriff's office said.

"The threat included a death list with student names from Falcon Cove Middle School," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

"Another threat was posted to the social media site later Friday after-

noon that indicated the students were not safe and that they would be killed on Monday, Dec. 9."

The girl was from Weston, a suburban community north of Miami that is near Parkland, Florida, scene of a mass shooting last year at a local high school that killed 17 people.

The sheriff's office said it was notified of the posting by another student at the Falcon Cove Middle School and her parent.

Police tracked the post to the girl, who confirmed she wrote it, according to the sheriff's office.

"She faces two counts of a written threat to kill and false reporting concerning a firearm," the statement said.

Young children traveling abroad aren't getting the measles vaccines they need, study finds Children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years are particularly vulnerable to measles.

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The Helsinki-born former transport minister will be the country's third female government leader, after she narrowly beat rival Antti Lindtman to take over the government's top post from incumbent Antti Rinne.

Ms Marin, an MP since 2015, has previously been the party's vice chairwoman and will become the world's youngest sitting prime minister.

The mother-of-one - who shares 22-month-old daughter Emma Amalia Marin with husband Markus Räikköne - will lead a centre-left coalition with four other parties which are all headed by women, three of which are under 35.

According to Finish media, Ms Marin was brought up in a 'rainbow family' by her mother and her female partner.

She lived in Espoo and Pirkkala before moving to Tampere, where she became the first person in her family to go to university.

Ms Marin is certainly a politician who will appeal to the millennial 'Instagram generation'. During her rise to success in the political field she has charted her pregnancy journey on her Instagram page, sharing selfies of her pregnancy bump and even a candid breastfeeding shot.

In 2015 Ms Marin told the Menaiset website that as a child she felt 'invisible' because she was unable to talk openly about her unconventional family.

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any young children traveling abroad aren't receiving the vaccines they need to protect them from measles, a study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics finds.

Kids are more likely to be exposed to measles when traveling internationally than when they are at home in the United State, said study co-author Dr. Emily Hyle, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Worldwide, measles cases have risen steadily in recent years.

But children in the U.S. generally aren't slated to be fully vaccinated against the highly contagious virus until at least age 4. That means kids traveling overseas may need the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, before it's usually recommended in the U.S. Many of those kids aren't getting it.

Hyle and colleagues analyzed data on more than 14,000 kids whose families took them to health clinics specializing in international travel in advance of trips abroad between 2009 and 2018. Some travelers had emigrated from other countries and were visiting family. Others were on mission trips, or simply vacationing.

The study found that the vast majority of babies — 92 percent — qualified for the protective shot. But 44 percent of those infants did not receive it. Neither did nearly two-thirds of the 60 percent of preschool-aged kids who also qualified for the vaccine.

Researchers said it was the doctors themselves who often failed to recognize the children could or should get the MMR vaccine early.

"This underscores the knowledge gaps that exist about MMR vaccination, even among clinicians with expertise in travel medicine," Dr. Regina LaRocque, another study author and an infectious disease investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a statement.

In the U.S., 1,276 measles cases have been reported this year alone.

That's the highest number of cases in this country in nearly three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

International travelers are the source for outbreaks in the U.S., Hyle said.

"The outbreaks are triggered by either foreign visitors, or returning U.S. travelers who bring the virus back with

them."

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. "Let's say somebody who is ill with measles walks through a room," said Hyle, who is also an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. "For the next two hours, anybody who walks through that same room, who's not vaccinated, has a 90 percent chance of becoming infected."

In general, the CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first after a child's first birthday, and the second between the ages of 4 and 6. But the recommendations change when kids travel out of the U.S., given the increased risk for measles exposure.

In that case, the CDC says any child over 6 months old should get an MMR dose in addition to the two standard recommended doses for extra immunity. And children over a year old should have two doses before traveling, as long as they're separated by about a month.

The new findings underscore the need for additional education among doctors, Hyle told NBC News, particularly when it comes to traveling infants.

Babies are born with a certain level of immunity, thanks to antibodies passed from their mothers. But there's a period of time when older infants may be particularly vulnerable to measles exposure. A study published in November found that newborns' immunity to measles, which is passed on from their mothers, wanes much sooner than previously thought — perhaps within three months.

Anti-vaccine groups take dangerous online harassment into the real world Cases of measles have been increasing globally in recent years, mostly in areas with low vaccination rates. The World Health Organization estimates more than 140,000 people died from measles last year, worldwide.

Most deaths were among children under age 5. Babies are particularly at risk for complications from the virus, including pneumonia, encephalitis and lasting brain damage.

But the MMR vaccine has been proven to be safe, as well as highly effective. Studies have shown one dose provides 93 percent protection against measles. The second dose boosts immunity to 97 percent.

- NBC News

Tel: 713-774-5140

inland is set to have the world's youngest prime minister after 34-year-old Sanna Marin was chosen as the new leader of the Social Democratic party.

And Ms Marin appears to have a sweet tooth, having shared fun photos of her tucking into ice cream and candy floss.

by Erika Edwards

A politician for the Instagram generation: World's youngest prime minister Sanna Marin

She's also shared poolside shots from a romantic holiday to Italy in July 2017, during which she and Markus travelled to Portofino, Rome, Sardinia and Veneto, and snaps from Pride events, where she showed her support for same-sex unions.

Photo: iStock

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

'The silence was the hardest,' she said. 'Invisibility caused a feeling of incompetence. We were not recognised as a true family or equal with others. But I wasn't much bullied.

Even when I was little, I was very candid and stubborn. I wouldn't have taken anything easy.'

She also admitted that she never expected to get into politics, telling

Photo: Instagram/@sannamarin the publication: 'When I was in high school, I felt that the people who make politics are quite different and come from different backgrounds than I am.

At that time, I didn't think it was possible to get involved myself.'

Ms Marin, who spent her teenage years working in a bakery, added that her mother has always been very supportive and made her believe she could do anything she wanted.

Speaking after her appointment, Ms Marin said she has 'never thought' about her age or gender, adding: 'I think of the reasons I got into politics and those things for which we have won the trust of the electorate.'

She told reporters: 'We have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust.'

The mother-of-one was elected to the City Council of Tampere in 2012 and became its chairperson in 2013 - a role she held until 2017, when she was re-elected.

In 2014 she was elected second deputy chairperson of the Social Democratic Party and in 2015 she was voted into the Parliament of Finland from the electoral district of Pirkanmaa.

She became the Minister of Transport and Communications in June earlier this year.

Finland, which has a population of 5.5 million, currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency until the end of the year. MPs are likely to approve the appointment of Ms Marin and her new government quickly so she can represent Finland at next week's EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

The current youngest world leader is Ukraine's Oleksiy Honcharuk, 35, followed by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, 35, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, 38, and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern, 39.

- The Sun

Austin aims to be first U.S. city to end youth homelessness With the right resources, Austin groups aim to bring the city to "functional zero" for youth homelessness by the end of 2020

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USTIN (KXAN) — As the City of Austin continues to carry out difficult discussions about the best ways to address homelessness, policymakers may be able to take notes from organizations in Austin who have had success on a smaller scale. LifeWorks, a nonprofit in Austin which focuses on supporting youth and young adults, believes that with the right support, it could be possible for Austin to end recurring youth homelessness by the end of 2020. This would make Austin the first city in the country to do so.

The way this potential achievement is referred to is “ending youth homelessness,” but LifeWorks CEO Susan McDowell explained how that actually works is making sure that the number of young people entering homelessness is equal to the number of young people who are being housed.

McDowell calls the state they’re trying to achieve “nonrecurring youth homelessness.”

“Austin has a very good shot at being the first major urban area to reach rare, brief and nonrecurring youth homelessness,” McDowell told the city council at a work session on Tuesday.

“We have an exquisite hold on the data on youth homelessness in our community,” she explained.

LifeWorks has identified 425 youth as experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness in Travis County as of September 30. That’s around 6% of the approximately 7,000 people who intersected with homelessness in the Austin area at some point in 2018. When service organizations refer to youth experiencing homelessness, Lifeworks is talking about unaccompanied minors or people under the age of 24.

McDowell explained that Austin’s 2019 Point in Time Count by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition showed a 25% decrease in youth experiencing homelessness and a 56% reduction of unsheltered youth homelessness.

Who are the young people experiencing homelessness in Austin?

Out of the 425 youth experiencing homelessness, 31.64% have a partner or a child in their household.

LifeWorks collaborated with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago for a study and found that 76% percent of the youth experiencing homelessness in Austin had experienced the foster care system, the juvenile justice system, or both.

“So it is essential that those systems are at the table when we’re developing solutions for ending youth homelessness,” McDowell said.

She also noted that a disproportionate number of Austin’s homeless youth are LGBTQ individuals and a disproportionate number of Austin’s homeless youth are also people of color.

How Austin has targeted curbing youth homelessness McDowell explained that in 2016, Austin effectively ended veterans’ homelessness in the city after a challenge in 2014 to create systems that would ensure veterans had support as they got back on their feet. During that time, more organizations in the city began talking about how they could end youth homelessness as well. McDowell explained that LifeWorks soon began participating in federal initiatives to help end youth homelessness.

LifeWorks and partner organiza-

tions underwent programs like a 100day challenge, aimed at housing 50 youth over that period of time.

Austin has also received grant funding that helped the city close the gap on youth homelessness. In 2017, the city was selected as one of 10 nationwide that would serve as a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program site for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

LifeWorks has also been awarded grants from ECHO, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other groups that have helped them try out new strategies to learn what works and what doesn’t.

At the council work session, ECHO explained the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program funding will be rolled into a funding source that will soon be available year after year.

That’s something the federal government did once the success of the LifeWorks program had been proven.

At the beginning of the summer in 2019, ECHO and LifeWorks got a team together to study the data related to youth homelessness in Austin.

They worked to track the housing status of as many homeless youth as they could and then launched a “targeted assertive outreach.” The outreach means that LifeWorks is pushing to get in touch with every single young person experiencing homelessness.

Staff will send an email, make three phone calls, mail a letter, attempt to physically get in touch and contact service providers for each homeless youth they have data on.

“If we’re going to say we’re ending youth homelessness, we’re going to have to really mean it,” McDowell told the council.

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US arrests three in alleged $722 mn cryptocurrency fraud

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EW YORK | AFP | Tuesday 12/10/2019 - US authorities arrested three men in an alleged fraud that raised $722 million from investors lured by fake bitcoin mining earnings, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Prosecutors described the scam as a "high-tech Ponzi scheme" run by the "BitClub Network," which took money from investors and rewarded them for recruiting new shareholders.

From April 2014 through December 2019 the group attracted unsuspecting investors using fraudulent earnings purported to come from the network's mining pool, according to the statement.

The scheme was orchestrated from Passaic, New Jersey and constituted a "worldwide fraudulent scheme," according to an indictment signed by US Attorney Craig Carpenito of New Jersey.

In messages with his co-conspirators, defendant Matthew Brent Goettsche referred to investors as "dumb" and said he was "building the whole

model on the backs of idiots" as he directed others to manipulate the figures, the Justice Department said.

Defendants "are accused of deploying elaborate tactics to lure thousands of victims with promises of large returns on their investments in a bitcoin mining pool," said Paul Delacourt, assistant director with the FBI's Los Angeles office.

"The defendants allegedly made hundreds of millions of dollars by continuing to recruit new investors over several years while spending victims' money lavishly."

The Justice Department charged Goettsche and Jobadiah Sinclair Weeks, both of Colorado, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The two men were also charged with conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities, along with the third defendant, Joseph Frank Abel of California.

Justice Department officials said two other defendants remained at large and their identities are being withheld.

Hong Kong unrest causes ‘worst ever’ retail decline, with thousands of stores threatened

FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

Tel: 713-774-5140

US, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing trade agreement, replaces NAFTA

by Joshua Howat Berger

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EXICO CITY, Mexico | AFP | Tuesday 12/10/2019 - The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations.

However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the trade pact until next year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the new additions to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) -- which notably toughened the deal's labor enforcement provisions -- made it the "best trade agreement in history."

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador looks on next to Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer during a meeting in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo: Carlos Jasso)

The path to ratification in all three countries now looks clear for USMCA -- first signed in November 2018 to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US.

Lighthizer signed the annex to the deal in Mexico City along with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexico's top negotiator on the accord, Jesus Seade.

USMCA's ratification initially got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the United States, where opposition Democrats questioned whether the deal would really force Mexico to deliver on labor reforms meant to level the playing field between Mexican and American workers.

But US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- the Democrat needed to move the agreement forward -- and American labor unions gave their blessing to the final deal.

Pelosi said it could win Congressional approval, seeking to claim a victory over Trump by calling it "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration."

- 'Mission accomplished' -

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.

Lopez Obrador thanked Trump for his "respectful treatment" during the process, while Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard declared: "Mission accomplished."

Freeland said the deal was the product of a "long, arduous and at times fraught negotiation."

"We have accomplished this together at a moment when around the world it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done," she said.

Mexico, which became an export powerhouse under NAFTA, was the

The main US labor federation, the AFL-CIO, also called the deal a "vast improvement" over the original USMCA text.

The city’s retail sector has been reeling amid ongoing political protests.(Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)

H

ONG KONG - More than 5,600 retail jobs could be lost and thousands of stores shut down over the next six months, as pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue to disrupt sales during the crucial festive period.

About 30% of respondents in a survey by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association said they’ll cut jobs while 43% said they can’t continue to operate beyond six months.

“If cash flow doesn’t improve and landlords don’t help, there will be a wave of layoffs and business shutdowns,” Annie Tse, association’s chairwoman said in a press briefing Monday. “This will be the worst ever in history.”

The poll, which was released on Monday, interviewed 176 retailers, covering 4,310 stores and 89,700 employees.

The anti-Beijing demonstrations, which started in June, have seen both peaceful mass marches as well as violent actions. Radical protesters have shut down transport networks, vandalized mainland-linked businesses and seized university campuses. Hong

Kong’s economy has slid into a recession and the pain has rippled across the retail, tourism and hospitality sec-

Over 10% of retailers in Hong Kong - thousands of stores - could shut down in the next six months, with more than 5,600 jobs set to be lost, as the city faces its “worst ever” wave of store closures and layoffs amid ongoing protests that continue to disrupt Hong Kong’s economy tors.

- Retail Catastrophe More Hong Kong retailers are likely to take drastic measures to survive Even the month of December -- typically a busy shopping season with the Christmas and New Year holidays -- is

Golden Globe noms...

The streamer managed three film nods last year, for Mexican black-andwhite drama "Roma."

Continued from page 11

The Golden Globes, which feature separate awards for dramas and musicals/comedies, are known for favoring star-studded movies that perform well at the box office, often with scant regard for critics' reviews.

best director for "Irishman" but there was no best actor nod for his leading man Robert De Niro. Instead, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci were selected for supporting roles.

For "Once Upon a Time..." stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt made the acting shortlists, along with Tarantino for directing. The film helped Sony to reach eight nominations and finish second overall.

- 'Not our people' Netflix's "The Two Popes," which imagines a series of debates between the strict, conservative Pope Benedict and his charismatic successor Francis, also performed well for the streamer, picking up acting nominations for Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins.

And Eddie Murphy's comeback vehicle "Dolemite Is My Name" added a further two nominations for Netflix on the comedy side.

Dark comic book tale "Joker," which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide despite polarizing critics, was nominated for best drama, best actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and best director (Todd Phillips).

But the HFPA's 90-odd members once again did not select any female directors, with "Little Women" helmer Greta Gerwig notably absent.

"These are not our people and they do not represent us," tweeted Alma Har'el, director of the snubbed childhood drama "Honey Boy." "Do not look for justice in the awards system. We are building a new world."

- Star power Underlining its supremacy, Netflix

only country to ratify the original USMCA text.

In Washington, the Democrats -acutely aware of the need to win back blue-collar voters they lost to Trump in 2016 -- insisted on greater oversight of Mexico's promised labor reforms.

In a bid to fend off US concerns about jobs flooding south of the border, Mexico has raised its minimum wage and passed laws to give unions more power and workers more say in running them.

But US labor groups and Pelosi's Democrats had voiced skepticism over the Mexican government's ability to enforce them.

That led to a drawn-out ratification process in the US, where the trade deal has been mixed up in Trump's ongoing impeachment drama and electoral politics heading into his 2020 re-election campaign.

All three countries' legislatures will now have to ratify the final version of the deal.

"For the first time, there truly will be enforceable labor standards," including inspections of factories, said Richard Trumka, the federation's president, whose support is critical to get the deal through Congress.

The changes have also toughened measures to monitor environmental provisions.

And they remove the requirement for the countries to provide at least 10 years of exclusivity for biologic drugs, which blocks cheaper generic versions.

looking glum this year, according to Tse. Retail sales for the current month is likely to be similar to the recordlow levels seen in October or slip even “We don’t feel positive about the situation in January either,” Tse said.

“We are all trying to survive. We are racing against time.”

“Hong Kong’s protests continue to darken the economic picture by deterring tourists and, by extension, sapping retail sales,” says Evan Rees, an Asia Pacific analyst with geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor. “Exacting particular economic pain, mainland tourists, who account for 80 percent of arrivals, have dropped off sharply due to reports of protesters targeting mainlanders as well as the rising Chinese nationalist backlash against Hong Kong unrest.”

- Bloomberg News also secured the most television nominations, with 17.

The latest series of royal family drama "The Crown," which features an all-new cast led by Olivia Colman, secured a joint-top four nominations.

Rival HBO managed 15, although the much-maligned final season of "Game of Thrones" earned just a single nod, for lead actor Kit Harington.

New streaming platform Apple TV+, launched last month, secured its first nominations, for flagship launch program "The Morning Show."

Lead actresses Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, who also executive-produced the series about a morning news program hit by a #MeToo scandal, were both nominated.

And Meryl Streep broke her own record to bag a 34th Globe nomination for HBO's "Big Little Lies."

Monday's nominations were announced at an early-morning ceremony by actor Tim Allen ("Toy Story") and actresses Dakota Fanning ("I Am Sam") and Susan Kelechi Watson ("This Is Us").

How much will this holiday season cost you?

Holiday shoppers everywhere take note -- there is no reason to be a grinch this year.

A

ccording to one unique and whimsical economic indicator -- The PNC Christmas Price Index -- “true loves” will find all is calm when putting the gifts under the tree this holiday shopping season.

To purchase the gifts included in the classic carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” it will cost just 0.2% more than it did in 2018, according to the 36th annual holiday economic analysis by The PNC Financial Services Group.

While Pipers Piping and Geese-aLaying are unlikely to be on your gift list, most years, the price changes of the goods and services accounted for in the PNC Christmas Price Index closely mirror those in the U.S. Consumer Price Index, making this a useful and fun way to gauge your holiday spending year-to-year.

For the full report, visit PNCChristmasPriceIndex.com.

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FRIDAY, December 13, 2019

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Personal and Business Tax Returns, Payroll Sales Tax, Income Tax Audits and Representations.

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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

COMPUTER SERVICES Networking and Computer Repair

Home & Business, on site, Microsoft MCSE & A+ certified, low flat rates, free estimates, pickup & delivery, www.PCNetworkGuru.com Call Amit at 832-971-6807

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STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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Week of December 13, 2019 HOROSCOPE.COM

21 March to 20 April Life may have been intense lately, but as chatty Mercury enters Sagittarius, you can feel lighter and brighter. It joins the sun in your travel zone, so you may find that getting away from it all boosts your energy and allows you to recharge. Beware of making any promises.

21 April to 20 May This week sees lovely Venus linking to Saturn and Pluto, which could put you in a more businesslike mood. If there is something you need to resolve, it will be easier to put your feelings to one side and make difficult decisions.

An exciting opportunity could open a door for you.

21 May to 20 June If you have a decision to make about a relationship, you will likely look at it from a businesslike perspective. The give-and-take of any relationship may be a deciding factor.

Trust your intuition over the weekend, because doing so can pave the way for a powerful opportunity.

21 June to 22 July The full moon midweek can be a call to lighten your schedule and take the opportunity to relax and unwind. It would do you good.

A powerful aspect between jovial Jupiter and electric Uranus will be in focus this week and peak over the weekend.

23 July to 22 August You might have to be very businesslike this week, particularly in your relationships with co-workers or clients, because this may be the only way to make progress. If you give your feelings priority, you could make the wrong decisions. Over the weekend, a fabulous aspect between upbeat Jupiter and electric Uranus could bring opportunities.

23 August to 22 Sept Convivial energies in your home zone can get this holiday season off to a pleasant start. If you’ve been busy getting your place shipshape in recent weeks, this can be the start of a more sociable phase. Still, there is a strong emphasis on your sector of creativity.

23 September to 22 Oct There’s a lot going on in an intensely personal sector of your chart, with four planets in Capricorn and your home zone. However, since upbeat Jupiter moved in last week, you may begin to feel more confident about finding solutions to any issues you’re facing.

23 October to 21 Nov As lively Mercury moves into your money zone early in the week, it can encourage you to get organized, and this could be the best way to avoid overspending, especially around the time of the midweek full moon.

Try not to micromanage everything.

22 November to 21 Dec As Mercury glides into your sign early in the week, its presence here can encourage you to enjoy the chance to socialize and connect. If there are people you haven’t linked up with in a while, this might be a good time to do so.

22 December to 20 Jan The emphasis on your sign could put you under pressure, and you might be doing it to yourself.

While upbeat Jupiter’s presence in Capricorn can help you to feel more confident of success, it pays to understand your motives for taking on certain goals.

21 January to 19 Feb The focus on your inner life continues for some time, and it could also redefine you. As you change inside, you may notice that your outer life begins to shift, too, and this can be a revelation. Your social life is active, and you might find that attending events helps you feel more grounded.

20 February to 20 Mar Your social life is very busy, and you seem to have a lot of commitments and responsibilities associated with it. This week, as sweet Venus aligns with prudent Saturn and radical Pluto, you might be ready to set firmer boundaries.

ACROSS 1. Taken where?

6. Vegas bandit's body part 9. Titian's Venus or Collier's Godiva 13. Indian metropolis 14. Flapper's neckwear 15. E-cigarette output 16. Galsworthy's "The Forsyte ____," pl.

17. Bovine hangout 18. UV light absorber 19. *Scrooge's late partner 21. *December 26th, a.k.a. ____ Day 23. Ideas worth spreading, acr.

24. Great deal 25. *Like Santa's suit 28. "____ Las Vegas," Presley song 30. 1/100th of a ruble 35. Pupil's place 37. *Sleigh bell sound 39. Fairytale dust-sprinkler 40. German Mrs. 41. Chose between competitors 43. Type of ballistic missile, acr.

44. Not a gregarious one 46. Castaway's home 47. Fungal spore sacs 48. Pencil end, often 50. ____-a-Sketch 52. Summer color 53. Cuckoo 55. "____ the ramparts..."

57. *Santa's call 60. *Welcoming holiday decor 63. Bird of prey's hunting tool 64. 16th birthday gift?

66. Engages the services 68. Skirt shape 69. Beehive State native 70. Bikini, e.g.

71. Bibliophile's concern, sing.

72. D.C. bigwig 73. Australian Aboriginal's war club

DOWN 1. *Do holiday ones start earlier every year?

2. Show pleasure 3. Aquarium organism 4. Navigational aid 5. *Hanukkah month 6. Competently 7. Wade's 1973 opponent 8. Not yes, nor no 9. Like Hitler's Germany 10. Second word in fairytale 11. *Ding follower in "Wonderful Christmastime" 12. *"But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight..."

15. Public opinion, in Great Britain 20. Changes to a manuscript 22. Sturdy tree 24. Telephone part 25. *Ralphie's wish 26. Trial's partner 27. Late Princess of Wales 29. IV+IV 31. Type of cotton fiber 32. Exit plus s 33. Around 34. *Macaulay's famous character 36. Takes to court 38. *Hanukkah gift 42. "Magnolia" ware 45. Not in its original form 49. Pep rally syllable 51. TV variety show classic 54. Concentrate 56. Yogurt-based dip 57. *Manger's glow 58. Dish of stewed meat 59. "____ if you...," on a bumper sticker 60. Small songbird 61. Trampled 62. In custody 63. Coca Cola's first diet drink 65. *What Whos did to roast beast?

67. Silvester Stallone's nickname

SOLUTION: HAPPY HOLIDAYS on Page 15

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CRIME Man who shot victim in head during road rage attack sought

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OUSTON, December 9, 2019 - Crime Stoppers and the Houston Police Department’s Major Assaults Division need the public's assistance identifying the suspect responsible for an Aggravated Assault – Deadly

Police sketch Weapon.

On Thursday, October 31, 2019, at approximately 7:35

p.m., the victim was shot as they were stopped at a traffic light in the 12200 block of Fondren Road in Houston, Texas.

Who murdered Andrew McNeil?

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OUSTON, December 9, 2019 - Crime Stoppers and the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division need the public's assistance identifying the suspect(s) responsible for a Murder.

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During the incident, the suspect and victim were involved in a road rage event. The suspect produced a firearm and shot the victim in the head.

The suspect (who was in a four-door, dark colored, newer model Dodge Ram pick-up truck) fled the scene headed east on West Airport Boulevard. The victim was taken to a local hospital and is still in critical condition. A forensic sketch was generated of the suspect in this case.

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 reported by calling 713-222TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous.

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Houston police arrest serial burglar who targeted Asian-American owned businesses in Southwest Houston Andrew McNeil On Sunday, April 29, 2007, at approximately 2:00 a.m. was found shot to death in the 8200 block of West Bellfort Street in Houston, Texas. During the incident, witnesses reported hearing several gunshots coming

H

OUSTON A 37-year-old burglary suspect is behind bars following a months-long crime spree targeting primarily Asian-American owned restaurants, Houston Police announced Friday.

Investigators say Jose Ledezma-Sierra is directly tied to three restaurant break-ins that happened in the 9100 block of Bellaire, the 5900 block of Hillcroft, and the 6500 block of Harwin in July and August.

He’s also suspected in nearly fifty (50) additional burglaries in and near the same area.

“Ledezma-Sierra would surveille the property on his bike, then throw a rock through the

from a parking lot. The victim was found shortly thereafter with multiple gunshot wounds.

The family of Andrew McNeil is requesting the community's help with identifying the suspect(s) responsible for his murder.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/ or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Information may be reported by calling 713-222TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crimestoppers.org.

Jose Ledezma-Sierra (Photo: Houston HPD) window,” said Houston Police Detective Khalil Johns. “He would wait to see if police would come before entering the business and stealing cash from the register.” Khalil says surveillance video from at least one business was instrumental in identifying him as the culprit.

Police estimate LedezmaSierra caused $20,000 in damages to the businesses he broke into in addition to the cash he’s accused of stealing. Khalil says officers had enough probable cause to charge him with burglary before apprehending him “in the act” on October 17th.

Police credit a close rela-

tionship with the community, businesses, and the Southwest Management District for apprehending Ledesma-Sierra.

Peter Acquaro, with the Southwest Management District, said business owners need to be proactive to help reduce crime, “What we need our residents, our patrons, and our business owners as well as our property owners to do is if there is an event or occurrence we don't need it out on social media, we need it reported.”

Ledezma-Sierra remains in the Harris County Jail on a combined $45,000 bond as the investigators try to link him to the additional burglaries in the area.

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FRIDAY, December 13, 2019