VOA E Paper 12-20-19 by VoiceOf Asia

VOICE OF ASIA 1

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

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

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019 l Published Weekly From Houston Vol. 33 • No. 51 • 16 Pages (2 sections) • 50 cents • 713-774-5140 • www.voiceofasia.news • E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Mayor Turner looks ahead to next 4 years after runoff

Trump impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by Michael Mathes

ASHINGTON | AFP | Thursday 12/18/2019 President Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power in a historic vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up a Senate trial on removing him from office after three turbulent years.

Photo: Twitter

by Deborah Wrigley , KTRK

ouston Mayor Sylvester Turner was able to exit the campaign trail and reflect on his next four years in office Sunday. He easily beat his runoff opponent, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who has yet to make a traditional concession call. "It's all good," Turner said. He has set flood improvements as one of his top priorities, as well as "the things that really concern people and that impacts their lives, their street, their neighborhood, and the city as a whole. I'm excited."

Pakistan military condemns death sentence of Musharraf by Sajjad Tarakzai

xiled former Pakistani military leader Pervez Musharraf was sentenced to death Tuesday after being found guilty of treason, a verdict swiftly condemned by the armed forces which have ruled the country for almost half its 72-year history. The court's decision marks the first time a former leader of the armed forces has been convicted of treason and sentenced to death in Pakistan, where the military maintains strong influence and senior officers are often considered immune from prosecution. Continued on page 8

By a 230 to 197 vote in the Democratic-majority House, the 45th US president becomes just the third occupant of the White House in American history to be impeached. Democrats said they had "no choice" but to formally charge the Republican president, whose impeachment along stark party lines places an indelible

by Bhavna Kalyan.

OUSTON – The Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum (GHBPF) held its 28th GHBPF Annual Awards on December 10, 2019 at Houston Community College, West Loop Campus. The Indo American Chamber of Commerce (IACCGH) announced that three of its members were honored at the event. IACCGH congratulated Amrit K. Pahl, Manager, Super Building Services for receiving the ‘Professional Services Firm of the Year Award’, Nimesh Sheth, CEO, Unique Flo/Unique Valve for being awarded the ‘Supplier of the Year’ and Malla Mekala, President, Infodat International Inc. for getting the ‘Technology Firm of the Year Award.’ "The Chamber is proud of the accomplishments of its mem¬bers, for another year in a row the Greater Houston Procurement Forum has selected diverse industry/ service groups in which the Indian American community has raised the bar. Congrats to our honorees," expressed Swapan Dhairyawan, IACCGH President. The IACCGH fosters commerce ties between the United States and India and for over two decades has provided a stable platform enabling Greater Houston professionals, businesses, and corporations to grow and succeed.

stain on his record while driving a spike ever deeper into the US political divide. "What is at risk here is the very idea of America," said Adam Schiff, the lawmaker who headed the impeachment inquiry, ahead of the vote. Trump will now stand trial in the Senate, where his Republicans hold a solid majority and are expected to exonerate him. The House vote came four months after a whistleblower blew open the scandal of Trump pressuring Ukraine's president to investigate his potential White House challenger in 2020, the veteran Democrat Joe Biden.

(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

IACCGH members honored at 28th GHBPF Annual awards

L-R: Swapan Dhairyawan, Harshil Sheth from Unique Flo, Mala Mekala from Infodat, Amrit Pahl from Super Building Services, Jagdip Ahluwalia and Sam Merchant. (Photo by Bijay Dixit).

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

VOICE OF ASIA 2

By Douglas Kmiec

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

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

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

www.voiceofasia.news

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

Get your breaking news online at your Houston news source: voiceofasia.news

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

Licensed in both Texas State and Federal Court

Over 45 Years of Combined Experience

n impeachment of the president is upon us. It should not be.

Instead, now is the time for a grand gesture of healing from both sides. The president should declare that he will not run for reelection and the Democrats should abandon their paper-thin case for impeachment. A mutual withdrawal is not impossible. The Democratic candidate who has the courage to put the needs of the country ahead of vainglory will be the winner in the Democratic sweepstakes. As for the Republicans, those who share the substantive aims of President Trump, but without all of the baggage of epithet and anger, can begin the rescue of the Grand Old Party within the principled pragmatism of Lincoln. These actions will remember a time when working together was good and when our togetherness inspired more than what any one of us could do alone. This was the challenge given to the graduating classes of Notre Dame by the late Father Theodore Hesburgh. It is this particular challenge that confronts the nation on the brink of impeachment and, then, the prospect of a Senate trial. I am not a Trump supporter. Like the majority of voters in 2016, I anticipated that Hillary Clinton was destined to be our first female president — but a funny thing happened on the way to the Oval Office. Really, it was not funny at all but tragic. When I served as President Reagan’s constitutional legal counsel, the independent counsel methodology was in its infancy. Even if the law had some theoretical merit, from the beginning its application was disastrous. It was a serious misapplication of the independent counsel rubric to apply it to President Clinton, and it is an equally serious misapplication to apply it to President Trump. These misapplications have poisoned our system. They effectively criminalize the separation of powers. In doing that, they weaken the strong bones of constitutional direction given by the Founders, by depriving that lasting blueprint of governing structure of the various means of hydraulic pressure and release needed to get things done. It is the very “Ambition checking Ambition” that slows abuse and yields the competing ideas to advance the betterment

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Justice for all: Trump gives up on reelection, Democrats give up on impeachment of American life and, indeed, life around the world. But at this moment, on the precipice of impeachment, we are at a point where all but a few are incapable of hearing opposing arguments. We know only how to chastise, not how to build. We have no sense of the good work that any president intends when we always hold him in great suspicion. We have become a country that divides power — not for the sake of protecting our liberty, but for the sake of personal selfaggrandizement. What to do? Unanimously reject the impeachment articles against Donald Trump. The two articles are quite amorphous and far less serious than the matters discussed comprehensively in the Mueller report. At a proper time, with proper motivation and evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, what was found in the Mueller report may be applied to the president’s past actions once he has completed his service in office. That is what the Founders intended; the possibility of criminal prosecution after office was the compromise reached to ensure that everyone

is under the law while not disrupting the full-time attention of a president from public matters. Donald Trump is not free from legal scrutiny, in office or upon leaving office. That said, disagreement over policy, over perspective, is not a basis for removal or indictment. It is, as the president has opined, a stark distortion of constitutional intent. I have been in my life a Democrat, a Republican and an independent. Some of that experience was quixotic, some of it was quite practical, and some of it was idealistic. That is what makes our country great. We should not long keep a mechanism — such as the incendiary independent counsel practice — that makes impossible those conversations and the prospect of action urged out of compromise and good faith. It is time for the grand gesture: Presidential withdrawal from 2020, matched by the Democrats’ withdrawal of their relentless prosecutorial mindset — or, if you will, withdrawal from the poisonous fruit of an

ill-considered independent counsel inquiry that, if not for the wisdom of special counsel Robert Mueller, would have permanently distorted the rule of law and rendered it impossible for any president to do the people’s business. Democrats dropping the impeachment process, and identifying it as the product of an independent counsel mentality that is fundamentally at odds with what the Founders anticipated, would go a long way toward the careful interweaving of the separation of powers to make a government that is both free and workable. Douglas Kmiec served as the U.S. ambassador to Malta from 2009 to 2011 and headed the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He is the emeritus Caruso Family Chair in Human Rights at Pepperdine University School of Law, and founding editor of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. - The Hill

"You Can Always Shut Up" The man who publicly decried Indian food on Twitter could have stopped there. He did not. by Madeleine Davies

witter can be a good website if you’re looking to respond to a joke that turns out to be several days old thanks to the algorithm, or if you are someone who enjoys harassing women from an anonymous account with a Pepe avatar. Fall outside of either camp, and you likely recognize Twitter as general cesspool, where good thoughts and opinions get swallowed up and human centipede’d by our unspoken collective agreement to ruin everything with our own terrible opinions. Conversation prompts quickly devolve into bad responses, which then devolve even further, sometimes even resulting in — horror of horrors — an op-ed in USA Today.

The most recent example of this comes from Tom Nichols, opinion columnist. In response to a prompt by a baseball commentator named Jon Becker — “Please quote tweet this with your most controversial food opinion, I love controversial food opinions” — Nichols tweeted, “Indian food is terrible and we pretend it isn’t.” Understandably, Nichols’ tweet was met with pushback, with critics fairly pointing out that India is a country with over 1.3 billion people, 29 states, and seven union territories — all with their own unique cuisines. “Indian” food could mean a litany of things. Some also took issue with Nichols’s use of “we,” as it begs the question who exactly “we” consists of. The royal we? His friends? Ev-

eryone? Simply meant or not, it does indeed play into a colonialist mindset that assumes Nichols’s point of view is shared by everyone. As goes the punitive justice of Twitter, Nichols was dragged for saying something ignorant. If that amounted to justice in the real world, that would be the end of it. Unfortunately, Nichols was only just revving up his bad idea vroom vroom wagon and on Tuesday published an op-ed headlined, “I tweeted that I couldn’t stand Indian cuisine and started an international food fight.” It’s clear that Nichols is proud of himself. First he recounts the initial “good-natured” responses he received from his peers and even celebrity Padma Lakshmi, who tweeted, “Do you not have tastebuds?” But how he differs between good-natured and “unhinged” seems tied to how important he deems his critics. Other well-meaning but misguided people listed dozens of dishes made in the many regions of India and suggested that if I tried them all I would see the light. I doubt it: I have been dragged along to numerous Indian restaurants in the United States, and I even went, on my own, to one of the top Indian restaurants in London on the recommendation of a friend and asked the waiter to guide me. I didn’t like any of it. Others, however, saw a darker motive behind my inclusion of the expression “we pretend it isn’t.” I was accused, in various states of unhinged fury, of playing into stereotypes about Indians and furthering a history of oppression. One woman raised Churchill and colonialism and the treatment of Indians in the British Empire. Sure, Nichols said something tremendously stupid when he tweeted, “Indian food is terrible and we pretend that it isn’t.” We all say stupid stuff every single day and I’ve probably said a dozen dumb things in this very blog. One way to get through it, however, is to learn to shut up, an ability we all have and should practice more. No one needed a follow up on why Nichols had every right to say Indian food is terrible. Of course, he did. And everyone who replied had the right to call him a doofus who — maybe unwittingly — is perpetuating a European colonialist mindset that assumes it comes from the most objective place when, in fact, it’s anything but. So it’s something good to remember: Whether you’re expressing a simple bad food opinion or running headfirst into controversy, shutting up is always an option. An option I will take right now. - Eater.com

COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Second Front Page

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

www.voiceofasiaonline.com

Rajat Gupta shares his story with Houston professionals at IACCGH Fireside Chat event

Rajat Gupta in conversation with Suresh Shenoy. Photos by Bijay Dixit of Unique Photo Images. by Pratish Kanani, IIT Roorkee Alumni “You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.”

he IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH) and the IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) hosted a Fireside Chat with Rajat Gupta at the Hess Club on December 11, 2019. The sold-out event provided glimpses of Rajat’s life from his early days to his time at IIT Delhi and then at Harvard Business School, followed by his 37 years at McKinsey & Company. But more importantly, Rajat shared his side of the story about the SEC charges, his conviction and time in prison, and the toll on his family. All of this is covered in detail in his new book, “Mind without Fear.”

The event was kicked off by Jagdip Ahluwalia, the Executive Director of the IACCGH, followed by a few words from Swapan Dhairyawan, the current president of IACCGH. Witty Bindra, President Emeritus of PanIIT USA, and who was instrumental in organizing the event, talked about Rajat’s background and introduced him to the audience. The talk was moderated by Suresh Shenoy, the president of the WHEELS global foundation. The title of Rajat’s book came from a collection of Tagore’s poems, “Where the Mind is Without Fear.” Rajat had been a fan of Tagore from his early days of growing up in Calcutta. He talked about losing his mother and father at an early age but working to keep the family together by staying with an aunt. He studied at IIT Delhi and along the way he realized that he did not have a passion for engineering and instead really wanted to pursue management. Of the

10 universities in the U.S. that he applied to, he was rejected by nine of them, with the only acceptance, along with finan-

cial aid, coming from Harvard Business School (HBS). He shared the story of how upon graduation, the only firms sponsoring students were consulting firms. At first he was rejected by McKinsey but his professor at HBS

L to R: Jagdip Ahluwalia, Suresh Shenoy, Rajat Gupta, Witty Bindra, Swapan Dhairyawan and Abhijit Gadgil

called his colleague the head of the New York McKinsey branch to reconsider. Rajat applied once again and did receive a coveted job at McKinsey & Company. His 37 years with he firm, including the last 9 leading up the firm, included several years in Scandinavia where he was the youngest partner to lead up an office. He spoke candidly about his relationship with Raj Rajaratnam, the hedge fund manager who was a donor to the very prestigious Indian School of Business that Rajat help set up. When Rajat retired from McKinsey, he created a plan to focus on philanthropic activities and spend a bit of time in the private equity and hedge fund space, including an investment with Raj Rajaratnam. Rajat discussed this investment where Raj Rajaratnam fraudulently pulled out his investment causing Rajat to lose his entire investment during the financial meltdown in 2008.

The discussion then focused on Rajat’s now infamous call right after a Goldman Sachs board meeting. Rajat said he was following up Raj Rajaratnam to resolve the investment issue and did not share any confidential information from the Goldman Sachs board meeting. It turns out that Rajatanam was in the cross hairs of the SEC for financial irregularities. From Rajat’s perspective, he was an easy scapegoat for prosecutors who weaved a false narrative that ended up with him being convicted of three counts of securities fraud that cost him $60M in legal fees and $26M in fines. Rajat shared how he resolved to become stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally and how in jail he helped other prisoners. A particularly emotional story was when he talked about the guards throwing him into solitary confinement for seven weeks. The guards were angry that Rajat was

making other less fortunate inmates happy through little things like medicines that he bought. He convinced them to allow him to have two books including the Bhagavad Gita, which he read multiple times during those seven weeks. Rajat’s recollection of the guards looking to break the human spirit was raw and moving. During his time in jail, Rajat came face-to-face with Raj Rajaratnam. After serving his time, Rajat was released from jail and wrote his side of the story in “Mind without Fear.” After that talk, he signed copies of the book for the audience. As Abhijit Gadgil, the president of IITAGH closed out the evening, he along with Witty Bindra thanked Rajat for coming to Houston to share his extraordinary story. Rajat graciously signed copies of his book with all proceeds going to the WHEELS charity. The book is available on Amazon and at other leading booksellers.

Custom manufacturer and Designer Houston . Mumbai . Hyderabad . Hongkong . Dubai

General Contractor JAY

832.877.6564 profs789@aol.com COMMERCIAL  NEW CONSTRUCTION  REMODELING GRACECONSTRUCTIONTX.COM

SONY KOHLI - YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

Residential & Commercial Call Now

832-766-6662

Your Realtor for Home Buying & Quick Sell We Have a Team to Assist with Credit Issues

. . . . . . . .

Super Quality diamonds GIA Certified diamonds Hearts and Arrows precision Cut diamonds E-F Color VVS Clarity Certified diamonds IGI Certified Jewelry Transparent Pricing Best Price Guaranteed 22KT Unique Gold Heritage collection Handcrafted Jewelry 3300 Kirby Drive,Suite 5A, Houston, Texas, 77098. 713-524-3333 www.jiannajewelers.com

VOICE OF ASIA 4

Section 2

Family Health

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Three tips to work off holiday eating Baylor College of Medicine by Kaylee Dusang OUSTON – (Dec. 11, 2019) – Make sure you don’t land on Santa’s naughty list for overindulging in all of your favorite holiday foods. A Baylor College of Medicine family physician says staying active is the best way to counteract holiday calories, plus he offers some more expert advice. “On average, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s people can gain about 1 to 2 pounds,” said Dr. Irvin Sulapas, assistant professor of family and community medicine and primary care sports medicine physician at Baylor. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can make a difference five years down the road.” Sulapas offers three essential tips on how to get an early start on your New Year’s resolution and work off holiday eating.

Remain active Although the holidays may seem too busy to fit in a workout, there are ways to stay active during the season so you can enjoy holiday foods while also burning some calories. “In many parts of the country, the weather is a lot nicer for being outdoors,” Sulapas said. “This is the time of year where there are a lot of fun runs and 5k walks. People’s kids are

also home for the holidays so it’s a good time to be with family, be outdoors and get a little movement.” If the weather is not conducive to being outdoors, Sulapas recommends finding time to visit an indoor gym for resistance training or cardio. He adds that walking through the local mall or shopping center to holiday shop is another way to burn extra calories. “Walking is a great form of exercise,” Sulapas said. “I have patients who say their goal for exercise during the holiday is just walking for an hour-and-a-half through the mall.” Sulapas recommends trying to fit in exercise sometime before or after you have your holiday meal. “Enjoy the holidays with family and try to find some activities where you can all be active together,” Sulapas said. “Go walk in the park or to the mall for holiday shopping together so everyone is getting out and getting some exercise.” Portion control You do not have to miss out on all your favorite foods to avoid gaining weight during the holidays, Sulapas said. He recommends portion control all year around, even during the holidays so you can enjoy your meals without the guilt. “Holiday foods are delicious

but things that you can do when you have a holiday turkey, for example, is to try to eat a serving of turkey breast instead of dark meat or just pair it with small portion of dark meat, which will save you some calories,” Sulapas said. “The most important thing is to eat everything in moderation.” If your portions are going to be bigger than normal during the holidays, Sulapas said the key is to stay active through any kind of exercise. Stay consistent It’s just as important to stay consistent and motivated when it comes to exercise and being healthy throughout the year. Sulapas recommends regular exercise and eating everything in moderation before and after the holidays as well. When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, Sulapas recommends aiming for shorter, smaller health and exercise goals. “Consistency and staying motivated are always big factors,” Sulapas said. “What I usually recommend when someone is trying to lose weight is aim for shorter goals like aiming to lose 1 pound versus 5 to 10 pounds per week. If you aim for 1 to 2 pounds a week, I have seen people lose 20 to 30 pounds in a span of six months.”

www.voiceofasia.news

Tel: 713-774-5140

Senior Living

VOICE OF ASIA 5

Section 2

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Red Cross says data misuse 'life and death' matter for vulnerable by Nina Larson

ENEVA, Switzerland | AFP | 12/13/2019 - The Red Cross has warned that data misuse is a "life and death" issue for people in need. Aid groups are gathering increasing amounts of information about the people they help in order to streamline their work. But Massimo Marelli, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross's Data Protection Office, told AFP the consequences of the information going astray needed to be taken much more seriously.

Illicitly obtained details about the ethnic or religious make-up of a population in a certain area or camp could even expose entire groups to attack. "The profiling and traceability of people who might be of interest to parties to a conflict is something that is highly problematic," Marelli said. "The huge."

consequences

are

Red Cross and Red Crescent delegates along with officials from around the world took a step during this week's conference towards creating a digital safe-space for humanitarian data.

It could be a matter of "life and death", Massimo Marelli, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross's Data Protection Office, told AFP.

They agreed to tighten procedures and strengthen protections for data gathered in efforts to reunite families torn apart by conflict and natural disasters.

He and others in the international aid field are urging the creation of a "digital humanitarian space", in which data gathered for humanitarian purposes would be given the same level of international protection as hospitals and ambulances.

But the level of protection was subject to heated debate.

During a Red Cross and Red Crescent international conference in Geneva this week, experts pointed out that while abuse or misuse of personal information is a concern across society at large, the consequences of a humanitarian data breach can be particularly dire. In a conflict situation, data gathered by aid groups to help find missing people, for instance, could be used by one faction to label them enemies who should be detained or killed.

- 'Danger and opportunity' According to a source familiar with the discussions, the United States especially baulked at an original demand that states formally commit to not request access to data gathered by the Red Cross "for purposes incompatible with the solely humanitarian nature of the work of the movement." Instead the final text adopted by consensus late Thursday merely "urges" countries to avoid such requests. ICRC communications chief Ewan Watson told AFP in an email the organisation saw the resolution as "an important step

forward in the critical debate on the protection of the humanitarian space for personal data." The issue is controversial, with approaches to data protection varying widely in different countries, and with some states eager to mine the massive amounts of personal data gathered by humanitarians, in the name of national security or to deal with migration woes. Catherine Andersen, a senior advisor at Norway's foreign ministry, who had a leading role in the efforts to find a consensus on the issue, said Norway was "pleased" with the outcome, but acknowledged the negotiations were "very challenging". Others stressed the urgency of creating an airtight space around humanitarian data, to avoid causing harm and also to ensure that trust in aid workers gathering the information is not dangerously eroded. "We are at a moment of immense danger and opportunity," said Nathaniel Raymond, a lecturer at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and advocate for digital security in human rights and humanitarian work. - 'Space of war' The soaring ability to gather data across a host of connected mobile devices, as well as an explosion in computing power to quickly make sense of the information compiled, is helping increase efficiency and accountability across the humanitarian field. The increasing use of direct

cash transfers, through digital cards or by SMS, instead of food and other hand-outs to help displaced people and survivors of disasters cope, for instance, is seen as a more transparent form of aid delivery that also helps local businesses. But the data generated with each transaction also provides information that could potentially be analysed to determine a person's religion, political affiliation and medical conditions. Humanitarians' widespread embrace of highly personal biometric data to reliably identify aid recipients and keep track of what assistance has been given to whom is raising particular alarm. Raymond warned that the opportunities for dangerous abuse of humanitarian data were "endless", with potentially horrific consequence. "Say you are a commander in an army, whose child soldiers have been removed to be demobilised, and you want to know where they are to get them back, or say you want to target an ethnic group and want to know where a group resides," he said. "This is a battle space, it is a space of war," he said, stressing the need for creating a safe humanitarian space for such data on par with the protections accorded to aid workers and facilities. But the question remains, he said: "How do you put a Red Cross or a Red Crescent on a server?"

Tel: 713-774-5140

Are You Getting All Your Vitamins? Revamping Your Diet in 2020

etting all the vitamins and nutrients you need each day is one of the most important things you can do to feel your best. The good news is that you don’t need to devote hours each week to meal prep to ensure you’re healthfully getting essential vitamins. As you make your 2020 plans to revamp your diet, here are a few things to keep in mind:

per serving.

• Don’t follow fads: When it comes to your wellness, it’s best to rely on basic science, not the latest fad diets or sports drinks and supplements that rely on added sugars, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, sweeteners, dyes, and negatives. Look for products that transparently list all their ingredients.

• Refuel wisely: If you hit the gym frequently, you likely have tried one or two sports drinks and know how important it is to refuel quickly and wisely after a workout. For optimal high performance, consider upgrading your drink of choice. With double the electrolytes of leading sports drinks, Liquid Nutrient has a potassium-to-sodium ratio intended for high-quality hydration, as well as amino acids for mental focus and muscle repair.

• Drink your vitamins: Did you know that liquids are the most bioavailable form for your body to absorb nutrients? For complete health on-the-go, consider drinking your vitamins. One effective solution is Drink Nutrient, which offers single-serve stick packs that make it easy to get the essential vitamins you need. Among its offerings is Vitamin Coffee, a natural sustained energy booster made from 100 percent Colombian Arabica coffee that offers 50 percent of your daily essential vitamins in each serving. Served hot or cold, it’s a good choice for anyone who needs a caffeine boost without the crash. Or, to get 100 percent of your daily essential vitamins and 610 mg of electrolytes in one go, consider Vitamin Booster+, which contains real fruit juice, less than one gram of sugar, and is only 15 calories

• De-stress: Too much stress can compromise your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. So, take steps to relax and unwind. Whether it’s through meditation, journaling, cooking or jogging -- discover what hobbies and wellness activities help you reduce your stress levels and be sure to make time for them.

• Maximize meals: To maximize meals, make sure the bulk of the calories you consume are not “empty.” Empty calories, such as added sugars and solid fats, contain little to no nutritional value. Fill up on dark leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds and good-for-you fats like avocado and salmon, while avoiding chips, cakes and other junk foods. Don’t let your busy lifestyle get in the way of ensuring you’re getting all the nutrients you need to feel your best. This new year, resolve to revamp your diet for optimal nutrition. - StatePoint

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

Dr. Ratna Kumar

An Icon of Art and Culture

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Indian-American entrepreneur Krishna Bansal to run for Congress

YLDP Batch of 2019 with guest speaker Dr. Ratna Kumar. by Monisha Yerram November 16, 2019

Krishna Bansal. (Image: Ballotpedia)

trailblazer is a person who makes a new track through unknown territory. There isn’t one word that could describe the most remarkable and distinguished Dr. Ratna Kumar who we had the opportunity to listen to her moving words, but her becoming a trailblazer made her who she is today. Dr. Kumar is an esteemed dance teacher and the founder of Anjali Center for Performing Arts, the very first Indian dance school in the United States. Not only is she a wellknown dancer around the world, but she also teaches/ taught well over a thousand students, regardless of ethnic background, while still staying true to hers. She had the tenacity and strength to travel to a new country and pave her own path by becoming a dance instructor, and by doing so, she followed her dreams and vision despite every single obstacle that was thrown in her path. How do we find our capabilities in life but also be in conformance with the traditions and ideas of other people? Dr. Kumar described her struggle with this perpetual

Bansal, who will enter the race from 11th Congressional District of Illinois from the Republican Party, launched his campaign, which among others was attended by more than 20 elected officials, eminent IndianAmerican leaders.

question throughout her entire life as she had to constantly morph into the expectations that were set in front of her, while still trying to keep her Indian customs intact. It is the balance between individuality and adaptability, the ability to find that unique compromise, that unequivocally creates a leadership quality within us. As a former student of hers, I have seen firsthand the confidence and certainty she carries herself while being one of the most humble and devoted people I have had the chance

to meet. This further proves how the harmony between two opposite characteristics blend to play a cohesive and beautiful melody. One of the many essential qualities that Aunty enforces in her life is authenticity. She stressed that the only way we can fulfill our necessary responsibilities is to be more aware and honest about who we truly are inside to ourselves before we can even think to understand the thoughts and feelings of the

Virtual Reality Lab celebrates grand opening

HCC Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence grand opening.

OUSTON (December 13, 2019) – HCC celebrates grand opening of new virtual reality lab. Houston Community College is in elite company with the grand opening Dec. 5 of a new virtual reality lab at the HCC West Loop campus. While some colleges nationwide have virtual reality programs and courses, a much smaller number have dedicated VR labs, said Sean Otmishi, dean of HCC Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence. “This puts us in an area where few other (educational) institutions have gone,” Otmishi said. “We’re at the forefront. We are the global leaders.” The $175,000 facility is a collaboration between HCC Southwest and MACE Virtual Labs, a Houston-based IT firm that provides Extended Reality (XR) hardware and software nationwide. The six-month project has converted the college’s former motion-capture lab into a virtual reality center with VR stations, flat-screen

YLDP Board members with Dr. Ratna Kumar.

monitors, Telsasuits, VR headsets and motion-activated car driving simulators. “Higher education has always been at the cutting edge of new technologies, driving development and creating the next generation of scientists, developers and entrepreneurs,” said HCC Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado. “Virtual and augmented reality technologies are at the front of development right now and change is happening at a frenetic pace.” The new technology is also being embraced by industry as a cost-effective way to train employees who work in dangerous jobs, such as firefighters, electrical power line installers and repairers, aircraft pilots and flight engineers, and construction equipment operators. Until recently, firefighters were required to undergo training at a live blaze that although controlled, was dangerous to their safety. In a VR training scenario, firefighters wear a full haptic feedback

suit that allows them to feel heat sensation and resistance through the Telsasuit’s interface with their muscle groups in a safe environment. “This is the equipment of the future,” said Josh Bankston, a partner in MACE Virtual Labs. “It makes really good sense, both philanthropically and businesswise, to create a partnership with HCC that puts this equipment in the hands of the students and the faculty which will benefit everyone, from education to the workforce and beyond.” Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, president of HCC Southwest, said the new lab is a plus not only for HCC but also the Houston-area business community. “This VR lab brings to Houston companies access to the latest technology for professional development of their incumbent workers,” she said. “Through this partnership with MACE Labs, HCC can provide customized training using the latest VR technology available overseas until now.”

people around us. After being criticized by many, including her father, for choosing dance over a more respectable career in India, Dr. Kumar still persevered in pursuing the one thing she cannot live without, which a truly inspiring life story we can all learn from. She discovered her inner courage, like a phoenix, rising from the ashes.

ASHINGTON | PTI | Dec 17, 2019 - Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Krishna Bansal will run for the US House of Representatives. Bansal, who will enter the race from 11th Congressional District of Illinois from the Republican Party, launched his campaign over the weekend, which among others was attended by more than 20 elected officials, eminent Indian-American leaders and community members of his constituency.

"I am running for Congress because I love our country. I will promote and defend her against the threats from socialism, career politicians, and out of control taxes and spending," Bansal, who is from Chicago metropolitan area, said announcing his Congressional campaign for the elections to be held next November. "I believe in this great nation, its values and its constitution in the entirety. This great nation has given me a lot, made my dream real. Now I want to work to keep this American dream real...for all of us," Bansal said. He said his major policy issues are free enterprise, fiscal discipline, family values and a firm foreign policy. Former Naperville State Rep. and 2018 Illinois State Comptroller Republican nominee Darlene Senger, said that this was a winnable race for Bansal.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Maha Kumbhabhishekam Two million free eye of Sri Meenakshi Temple surgeries and counting… Devasthanam

Report by M.K.Sriram Pictures by Setty, Thiru Arumugam

ri Meenakshi Temple had a supremely grand celebration of its Maha Kumbhabhishekam from December 1st till the grand finale on December 8th, 2019. Throughout this period it was remarkable that the weather stayed perfect and comfortable right in the middle of winter. Kumbhabhishekam is the joyous celebration of each phase of the growth of a Temple. Sri Meenakshi Temple had its first Kumbhabhishekam in August

Priests pour holy water over the Kumbham at the top of the temple.

very year brings new challenges and new goals for all of us at Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) as we make progress towards our mission to eradicate curable blindness. Since inception in 1998, a lot has changed and we have seen unprecedented growth in terms of our reach and goals achieved. 2019 has been a remarkable year in many ways for SEF; we reached a momentous milestone by performing over two million free eye surgeries, we launched partnership with other eligible eye care providers, including building a new hospital with Akhand Jyoti in Bihar, and we have taken challenging goals to raise $4M by end of this year to meet these ambitious milestones. We are

tion May/June 2020) • (2021)

Hyderabad and Bihar

We are now on the path to Vision 2030 - A Million Free Eye Surgeries per year. SEF has updated its goals to perform one million free eye surgeries per year. Our current free surgery rate is 200,000 per year and our goal is to take this to one million per year by 2030. This will tremendously arrest the growth of blindness in India. To realize this enormous goal, SEF, USA has started to partner with other eligible eye care hospitals and getting support from like-minded organizations such as IIT-IIT (IITians for Influencing India’s Transformation). By the year 2030, Sankara Eye Foundation, India

goals, we have maintained the coveted 4–star rating from Charity Navigator once again. This makes it the seventh time in a row and a total of ten times since 2005. Charity Navigator is the independent organization that appraises charities based on their financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that SEF exceeds industry standards and demonstrates accountability and trustworthiness. SEF has been fortunate to have many supporters and generous donors help us with our journey. We will need that continued support as we march towards these ambitious goals. This holiday season, please help SEF reach the remaining

Devotees climp atop the vimanas (temple top) for a view (darshan) of the Kumbhas 1979 after the first installation of Prasanna Ganapathy was completed and consecrated. The Maha Kumbhabhishekams, are performed only once in 12 years. This year 2019 marks the 4th such time it is conducted, previous times being 1982, 1994 and 2006. Ashtabandhanam is the process of affixing the idol to its pedestal using a red claylike organic paste made with 8 ingredients of herbals with ancient acclaimed values. A new layer is laid before the Kumbabhishekam and is

Sankara Eye Foundation centers in India. (Image provided by SEF) happy to announce that the construction for the four upcoming hospitals is well underway and two of them will be inaugurated in the first half of 2020. • Indore (Inauguration January 30, 2020) •

Mumbai (Inaugura-

will perform 500K free eye surgeries per year and SEF USA will work with selected partner eye care hospitals to provide an additional 500K free eye surgeries per year, making it a total of one million free eye surgeries per year. With all the challenging

fundraising targets for Indore, Mumbai and Bihar and spread the magic of light to the lives of many more brothers and sisters who are needlessly blind. Please join us on this journey to eradicate curable blindness. Please visit www.giftofvision. org or call 1866-SANKARA

Idols of the Deities being carried in procession led by the priest.

Hundreds of devotees gathered to partake in the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Meenakshi Temple. believed to rejuvenate the idols for 12 years. Rajathabandhanam is using pure silver strips around the base over the Ashtabandhanam. The 2019 Kumbhabhishekam is very special because for the very first time the Rajathabandhanam is installed for the main deities. The preliminary pujas and homams were conducted from Dec 1st till Dec 4th, mainly at the Ganesh Temple. From Thursday, Dec 5th onwards the rituals were started at the two large Yaga Sala tents that were specially built within the main temple quadrangle. The divine power of the five main deities i.e. Ganesha, Sundareswara, Meenakshi, Venkateswara and Padmavathy were temporarily invoked in Kalasams. These kalasams were then installed at the Yaga salas. An array of highly learned priests from various parts of the US complemented the resident temple priests in performing the six kala pujas starting from Thursday, Dec 5th evening till Sunday Dec 8th. Very powerful veda mantrams were chanted during each of the six kala yagams. At the end of each session, the devotees were treated to a divine experience when the priests performed Shodasa upacharams. This included chanting vedas, mantras, de-

votional songs and hymns. The music of the traditional pipe and drum (nadaswaram & thavil) created an extraordinary ambience, and it felt like being transported to the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. At the culmination of the final yaga sala homam on Sunday Dec 8th, the divine power for the various deities were transferred back to the idols. Under perfectly blue skies with the temperature in the 70’s, the kalasams were then taken to the vimanams and holy waters, also infused with water from Manasarovar was poured over the Kumbhams, simultaneously on six vimanas. These waters were sprinkled on the devotees. Following this, abhishekams to all the five main deities were performed with the holy waters in the kalasams. The celestial wedding for Lord Sundareswara and Sri Meenakshi, as well as Lord Venkateswara and Sri Padmavathy was conducted in the main temple. This auspicious day also happened to be Kaisika Dwadasi, so very talented local musicians performed and the whole temple was awash with divine vibrations. The essence of Hindu philosophy is that one’s own body

and mind is a divine temple where the supreme Brahman resides. When the holy waters are poured over the Kumbham at the top of the temple Vimanas, it also permeates and saturates our body and spirit and reinvigorates the bhakti, removing ignorance from us. Hundreds of devotees waited patiently in line to climb to the vimanas for darshan of the kumbhas, following strict safety precautions. The concluding part of the event was the grand procession where all the deities were taken on their respective vahanas including the silver ratham. This was followed by the final arathi. More than a thousand devotees were treated to a grand lunch prepared by temple staff and volunteers. The whole event was organized to near perfection by the temple Board under the leadership of Chairman Dr Padmini Nathan. They were ably supported by the priests, the staff, the talented silpis and the dedicated volunteers. All in all, this was a most remarkable event that occurs only once in 12 years, so whoever were fortunate to be there will always cherish their experiences during the festival.

Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) provides quality free eye care for the needlessly blind Has performed over 2 million free eye surgeries to date. Today, SEF is the largest FREE eye care provider in the world!

With $360 you can Open An Eye a Month For $1,000 you can Become a Founding Donor Have your name or names of your loved ones inscribed on the “Wall of Founders” at one of the upcoming hospitals in Indore, Mumbai, Mastichak (Bihar) or Hyderabad.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT... PLEDGE TO ERADICATE CURABLE BLINDNESS IN INDIA Donate Today:

www.giftofvision.org/donate

www.giftofvision.org 1-866-SANKARA

US/WORLD

VOICE OF ASIA 8

Protests against citizenship law spread in India

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

On impeachment day Trump rages against fate

by Aishwarya Kumar, with Ammu Kannampilly in Mumbai

EW DELHI, India | AFP | Wednesday 12/18/2019 - Protests against India's controversial new citizenship law were expected to attract large crowds in major cities Thursday, one day after large gatherings were banned in key regions and parts of the capital in an attempt to clamp down on the demos. The rallies against the law over the past few days have often turned violent, with six people killed in the northeastern state of Assam, where police have fired tear gas and arrested hundreds of people. The law allowing New Delhi to grant citizenship to nonMuslim nationals from three neighbouring countries follows other policies from the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that critics say are designed to marginalise Muslims in the Hindu-majority nation. Modi says the measure is meant to protect persecuted minorities, but critics see it as part of a master plan by him and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to define India as a Hindu nation and move away from its secular foundations. Police refused a march permit for one of two major Thursday demonstrations in Delhi, officials said. Organisers said they planned to march anyway. Delhi authorities on Wednesday even imposed a ban on gatherings of more than four people in some of the city's Muslim-dominated districts. A crowd of mostly young people rallied outside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia university to protest the law, defying the ban on large gatherings. "We are really very angry with the BJP government... They have taken racism to the extreme point," Taiba Hadis, 18, told AFP at the rally. "They are questioning our existence, and it is high time for us to speak up."

US President Donald Trump will be in his element when he addresses a rally in Michigan at the end of a long impeachment day (AFP Photo/Saul Loeb) by Sebastian Smith

A crowd of mostly young people rallied outside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia university to protest the law. (AFP Photo) In the financial capital Mumbai, hundreds of people under tight security carried placards with the words "India is Ours" and chanted "We Are All One". "We just cannot go along with this bill. I can't believe we now have to prove our citizenship after living in India for so many years," Tabeer Rizvi told AFP as the Mumbai crowd burst into a Hindi version of the US civil rights movement anthem "We shall overcome". "I am not surprised to see people of all religions come out to protest this bill." Rallies were also held in other states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. There were sporadic clashes between police and demonstrators in some cities as well as

small counter-protests. The latest round of protests came as the Supreme Court rejected pleas for an immediate stay on the legislation, but deferred the case to January for extensive hearings. Petitioners have said the legislation is unconstitutional and counter to India's cherished secular traditions. In Washington, the US State Department earlier urged New Delhi to "protect the rights of its religious minorities in keeping with India's constitution and democratic values." At least 21 people, including 12 policemen, were injured in the Delhi clashes in Seelampur district on Tuesday, with police firing tear gas after thousands of protesters threw stones and set fire to buses and a police outpost.

Pakistan military condemns death sentence of former chief Musharraf Continued from Page 1 Musharraf has been in selfimposed exile ever since a travel ban was lifted in 2016, allowing him to seek medical treatment abroad. The 76-year-old has lately spent most of his time between Dubai and London. Several Pakistani media sources reported the verdict and sentence handed down by a three-member special court, while a senior judicial official confirmed the rulings to AFP. Pakistan's military denounced the special court's ruling, saying in a statement that the armed forces were in "pain and anguish" over the decision. "An ex-Army Chief, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over 40 years, fought wars for the defense of the country, can surely never be a traitor," the military said in a statement. It added that the legal process "seems to have been ignored". The trial began in 2013 and is one of several involving Musharraf. It centred on his decision to suspend the constitution and impose emergency rule in 2007, according to his lawyer Akhtar Shah. The move sparked widespread protests against Musharraf, ultimately leading to his resignation in the face of impeachment proceedings. Musharraf's lawyer said the former general was currently ill and remained in Dubai. He said no decision had been

made on whether to appeal. The nation's current top prosecutor, Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, said the judgement was "against the constitution". "If the person who is accused is not getting justice this government will stand against that injustice," he said. The court ruling came more than a week after Musharraf dismissed the treason case against him in a video message showing the former general in a hospital bed appearing ill while complaining of dizziness and blackouts. "I think this case is baseless. They are not listening to me and they are not listening to my lawyer... It is a big injustice," Musharraf said. Retired general Talat Masood, now a security analyst, called the court's decision "extraordinary" and "bold". - 'Revenge' Musharraf was born in India's capital Delhi in 1943 but moved with his family to Pakistan after partition. He took power after ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless 1999 coup. A cigar-smoking, whiskydrinking moderate, the general became a major US ally in the "war on terror" after the September 11 attacks on the United States. He escaped at least three AlQaeda assassination attempts during his nine years in office. His rule faced no serious challenges until he tried to sack the chief justice in March 2007, sparking nationwide

protests and months of turmoil that led to the imposition of a state of emergency. After the December 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the national mood soured even further. He was left isolated by the crushing losses suffered by his allies in February 2008 elections. Musharraf finally resigned in August 2008 in the face of impeachment proceedings by the new governing coalition and went into exile. When Musharraf returned in 2013, aiming to contest elections, he was barred from taking part and from leaving the country. A barrage of legal cases mounted.

ASHINGTON | AFP | Wednesday 12/18/2019 - Donald Trump, a man used to getting his own way, raged with frustration Wednesday in a White House haunted by the ghosts of impeachments past. Officially, this was just another day. "The President will be working," press secretary Stephanie Grisham said. She even suggested that the famously television-obsessed Republican would skip live coverage of the House of Representatives, where by evening he was likely to become only the third US president ever impeached. He "could catch some of the proceedings" and otherwise "will be briefed by staff," Grisham said. Many will doubt the message of coolness. As the handful of other White House occupants facing impeachment discovered, the crisis turns a president's world upside down. Andrew Johnson was beside himself with anger in 1868. Richard Nixon reportedly wept and drank in front of his secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, before resigning to avoid impeachment. He was "curled on the carpet like a child" and "striking

his fist on the carpet, crying," wrote legendary Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their book "The Final Days." As for Bill Clinton, he pretended to stay above the fray in 1988 but in reality "was obsessed," veteran New York Times reporter Peter Baker, who wrote the book "Impeachment: An American History," told PBS television. "He was consumed by it. He was filled with rage and grievance and anger and unhappiness and resentment." - 'Chopper talk' Trump appears to be little different. Even before legislators opened their historic session at 9:00 am, he'd fired out more than two dozen tweets. "I DID NOTHING WRONG!" he pronounced. "ATROCIOUS LIES," charged a few hours later.

That was just the warm-up. Later afternoon, a huge pack of journalists was due to see Trump off onto his Marine One helicopter, which will fly him to the airport for an evening rally with supporters in Michigan. One of Trump's epic, chaotic impromptu press conferences, dubbed "chopper talk," appeared likely to ensue.

And then comes the rally in the appropriately named town of Battle Creek. The event was planned well before scheduling of the impeachment vote but by a twist of fate fell not only on the same day but could practically coincide with the moment of legislators' final decision. If there's ever been a time when Trump will want to let loose -- and he usually needs no encouragement -- this will be it. - Losing the golden touch Trump's entire life has been based on having things his way. As a real estate magnate, he cultivated a reputation as the ultimate high roller, a cliche of 1980s glamor with private jets, fancy apartments and strings of girlfriends. Anything he wanted to buy, he did, and as ostentatiously as possible. As a reality TV performer, his brand was Trump the decider -the boss who with a mere point of his finger could change a person's life. Anyone he wanted to fire, he did, as dramatically as possible. Even if much of that persona was fiction, Trump seemed to prove his own legend in 2016 by triumphing in his first ever attempt at electoral politics -- as president. But now he finds himself thwarted by opponents he cannot fire.

Miss South Africa wins 2019 Miss Universe crown

TLANTA | AFP | Monday 12/9/2019 - Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Atlanta after a lavish ceremony filled with glitter and heartfelt speeches about female empowerment. Zozibini Tunzi, 26, finished first ahead of the Puerto Rican and Mexican finalists in a flashy televised event, hosted by American comic turned TV personality Steve Harvey.

Tunzi earned cheers during her closing speech, a new segment of the competition, in which she talked about wanting to empower young women to feel confident. "I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful," she said. "I think that it is time that that stops today," she said to thun-

Atlanta's Tyler Perry Studios. Of the two favorites ahead of the competition, Miss Thailand Paweensuda Saetan-Drouin made it to the final 10, but Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados did not. The Philippines' Catriona Gray, who presented Tunzi with the crown, took home the Miss Universe crown in 2018. Although she did not make

The treason case was first launched against Musharraf by his old foe Sharif in 2013. The case went on for years, repeatedly delayed, until Tuesday's surprise announcement. The treason ruling is the latest case to target Musharraf since he has been in exile. In 2017, a Pakistani court pronounced him a fugitive in the murder trial of Bhutto -- the first woman to be prime minister of a Muslim country. The anti-terrorism court also branded Musharraf an absconder and ordered the confiscation of his property. Musharraf is alleged to have been part of a broad conspiracy to have his rival Bhutto killed before elections. He has denied all charges. Following the court's decision Tuesday, Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted: "Democracy is the best revenge".

Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe. (AFP Photo) Television personalities Vanessa Lachey and Olivia Culpo served as backstage commentators, and a panel of seven women determined the winner.

derous applause. Tunzi beat more than 90 contestants from around the globe in the 68th instalment of Miss Universe, which was held in

the finals, Miss Myanmar Swe Zin Htet made waves last week when she came out as the competition's first openly gay contestant.

VOICE OF ASIA 9

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

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

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

•

www.voiceofasia.news

Champions Mortgage receives 2019 Best of Sugar Land award Sugar Land award program honors the achievement

These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Sugar Land area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winner in each category. The 2019 Sugar Land Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based

Champions Mortgage, Broker/Loan Officer, Joel Mathew with the Sugar Land Award Program honors. on the information gathered both internally by Sugar Land Award Program and data provided by third parties. About Sugar Land Award Program The Sugar Land Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Sugar Land area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to gen-

erate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Sugar Land Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Their mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy. - (Source: Sugar Land Award Program)

Katy mom says RV stolen had family dog's ashes inside

ATY, Dec. 17, 2019 A mother of two small children is asking the public for help finding her family's travel trailer that she believes was stolen. "Our family's RV has been stolen while we were in the process of moving," read a post by Kelley Hurley. "It was last seen behind the Vineyard Apartment off of Provincial and Mason

Tel: 713-774-5140

Savko leaves lasting legacy for future generations

UGAR LAND - Long-time Director of Aviation Phillip W. Savko, 63, recently died after complications from a prolonged illness. Savko was a 21year veteran of the Sugar Land Regional Airport. He led an unprecedented expansion of the facility that resulted in the airport's frequent recognition by aviation professionals as one of the top corporate facilities in the world.

UGAR LAND – September 24, 2019 – Champions Mortgage has been selected for the 2019 Best of Sugar land Award in Mortgage Broker category by the Sugar Land Award Program. Each year, the Sugar land Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category.

•

Creek on Sunday evening." The woman's family has fallen on hard times, she said, and asked a friend to move the trailer from Sealy to the Katy area. It was parked along the street off of Mason Creek Drive just north of Provincial Boulevard On Wednesday, the trailer was no longer there and Hurley filed a police report. She tells

ABC13 she checked several towing companies and had no luck. Inside the trailer were one-ofa-kind baby items and her dog's ashes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harris County Pct. 5 Constable's office. - KTRK Channel 13

Section 2

His visionary leadership included the firstever airport business plan in 1999 that out- Phillip W. Savko lined plans for the airport's role as a corpo* the airport's inclusion in rate business executive airport the Contract Towers Program supporting the local communi- in 2001 (the first in Texas to be ty's needs for general aviation. included in the program); and During the course of the next * ongoing relocation of a two decades, Savko executed parallel taxiway -- the most rea plan that transformed the cent phase finished in 2019. airport from a grassy field to "We are all mourning the loss an economic powerhouse that now attracts international trav- of Phil, and there really are no elers and businesses by offering words to fully capture what Phil state-of-the-art amenities and has meant to our organization concierge services. The plan and our community," said City outlined capital improvements Manager Allen Bogard. "From largely funded through fed- the beginning, Phil saw a vieral and state grants, revenue- sion for the airport and worked generating facilities, corporate tirelessly to not only grow the lease site development and airport, but to also leave a lastother airport services. Accom- ing impression. His attention to detail and commitment to plishments include: excellence for the airport was * the addition of an Air the driving force behind every Traffic Control Tower in 2001 enhancement and accomplishwith state-of-the-art radar and ment." weather reporting software; Through professional rela* renaming "Sugar Land tionships, Savko completed Municipal Airport" to "Sugar several projects with coopLand Regional Airport" in erative efforts of multiple 2002; agencies, including the state * the opening of a new of Texas, the Federal govern20,000 square-foot terminal in ment, engineers, architects and private-sector professionals. 2006; One of his greatest accomplish* completion of a new gen- ments was securing $100 mileral aviation complex in 2009 lion in grant funding for airport that included 99 new T-hangars improvement projects. This and the only general aviation could only be accomplished airport in Texas with taxiway through his continuous efforts bridges over water; with the Texas Department of * establishment of the Glo- Transportation Aviation DivibalSelect FBO brand in 2010; sion; the Federal Aviation Ad* the addition of on-site ministration; city management; and elected leaders at the local, U.S. Customs; state and national levels. * new corporate lease sites;

A recent Texas Aviation Economic Impact Study reported that Sugar Land Regional Airport supports the local economy through 692 jobs and $32.5 million in wages and benefits. The economic output generated is $93 million. Under Savko's leadership, the airport: * became a major economic development asset supporting Sugar Land, Fort Bend County and the entire Houston region - minimizing "chair to air" travel time for corporate executives and being cited as a factor in site selection decisions by companies selecting the Sugar Land area as their headquarters location; * attracted use by more than 100 Fortune 500 companies on a regular basis; * played a major role in regional air traffic accommodations during Super Bowls XXXVIII and LI in 2004 and 2017; * earned the designation as the "reliever airport" for George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby airports in Houston -- reducing corporate and general aviation traffic at Bush Intercontinental and allowing Hobby to further concentrate on commercial air travel; and * operated as a self-sustaining enterprise with no subsidy from ad-valorem taxes. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Savko is survived by his brother Randy Savko and two sisters, Sue Morotto and Amy Filakovsky, as well as multiple nieces, nephews and grand-nieces. "Phil's legacy speaks for itself and goes far beyond what a list of accomplishments can capture," said Bogard. "There is no doubt that he changed our community for the better, and his legacy will be recognized and remembered not just today, but always. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Phil's brother Randy, his entire family and all of the Sugar Land Regional Airport employees who truly lost a family member." - City of Sugar Land

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD Section 2

•

www.voiceofasia.news

•

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Return of Shilpa Shetty to films after 13 years with 'Nikamma' Shilpa Shetty, who will be back on the big screen after a hiatus of 13 years with Nikamma, announced that the film will be out on June 5, 2020.

UMBAI - Shilpa Shetty has announced that her comeback film, Nikamma, will hit the theatres on June 5, 2020. She also shared the first look, featuring Abhimanyu Dassani and debutante Shirley Setia, on her Instagram account. The Dhadkan actor wrote, “Super excited to announce that #Nikamma is releasing on 5th June, 2019. Have had such an amazing experience working with @sabbir24x7, @abhimanyud & @ShirleySetia, and now, I can’t wait for you guys to watch it! Mark the date! See you in the theatres!” Directed by Sabbir Khan, Nikamma marks Shilpa’s return to the big screen after a sabbatical of 13 years. Her last major Bollywood release was Anil Sharma’s Apne in 2007, though she has been active on the small screen.

Kumail Nanjiani. (Image: Twitter)

Indian Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty attends 'Miss Diva 2018 grand finale' in Mumbai on August 31, 2018. Photo: Sujit Jaiswal / AFP)

Nikamma also marks Sabbir’s foray into production. He will co-produce the film under his banner Sabbir Khan Films along with Sony Pictures.

couple and of course the sassy Shilpa Shetty who makes a comeback to the screen after 13 years.”

The filmmaker shared the first look of his next on Instagram and wrote, “NIKAMMA ... Arriving on 5th June 2020. Get ready to meet this lovable

“Nikamma once again gives me a chance to say a big story with rank newcomers, bring their talent to the fore and give them a platform. This

also marks my first as a producer in collaboration with Sony pictures so super excited to bring this to you in the new year !!! @theshilpashetty @abhimanyud @shirleysetia @sonypicturesin,” the caption added. - Courtesy: Hindustan Times

'Star Wars' grips Hollywood with 'Rise of Skywalker' premiere by Andrew Marszal

OS ANGELES | AFP | 12/17/2019 - The final film in the epic "Star Wars" trilogy of trilogies brought Hollywood to a standstill, as a galaxy of VIPs from the space saga that began four decades ago descended on a glittering world premiere. Veterans Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) arrived Monday to bid farewell to the movies that launched their careers in style at a futuristic hangar filled with life-size X-wing starfighters in Los Angeles. They were joined by a who's who of Hollywood, with special guests from Steven Spielberg to Spike Lee. "Tonight, looking at this whole

EW YORK | AFP | Friday 12/12/2019 - With "Uncut Gems," directing duo Josh and Benny Safdie offer a pure slice of life in their native New York, with an explosive tale about diamonds, basketball, the Jewish community and gambling. Oh, and it stars New Yorker Adam Sandler, who made his name in the Big Apple as a young comedian on "Saturday Night Live." Sandler is now firmly ensconced in middle age, and drama is not his usual fare. But the film offers him a chance to stretch his acting muscles, and there is plenty of Oscar buzz. Alongside Sandler are, in no particular order, retired basketball superstar Kevin Garnett, singer The Weeknd and actress Idina Menzel, who etched her place in history as Elsa in Disney's animated mega-hit "Frozen." Leave it to the mercurial Safdie brothers to unite them on screen in a film that defies labels and takes the viewer from the diamond mines of Ethiopia to the Diamond District in Manhattan. The pair spent a decade putting together "Uncut Gems," which hits US theaters on Friday and will be distributed by Netflix abroad in January. In the interim, they made four films -- two documentaries and two feature films including "Good Time" starring Robert Pattinson, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. "Gems was our North Star for the past 10 years, and everything that we made in the journey of trying to get this made was a footnote of the film," Josh Safdie said at a screening in San-

by Raechal Shewfelt

OS ANGELES, December 16, 2019 - Kumail Nanjiani is showing off what he was hiding under those hoodies on Silicon Valley — and it’s a lot. The 41-year-old, who spent the year preparing for his role in next year’s Marvel movie Eternals, debuted some seriously toned arms and abs Monday on social media. While he joked that the post reeked of desperation, he also used it as a bookend of sorts, thanking the many people who helped him achieve his fitness goals. “I never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are,” Nanjiani wrote. “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I found out a year ago I was going to be in Marvel’s Eternals and decided I wanted to transform how I looked.” He said that he’d worked with the best trainers and nutritionists, which he noted were paid for by the studio. “I’m glad I look like this, but I also understand why I never did before,” he wrote. “It would have been impossible without these resources and time.”

Disney chief Bob Iger said the premiere "being a culmination of nine films is an incredibly important night" (AFP Photo/Valerie Macon) mise-en-scene is quite bewildering," Anthony Daniels, who has played

droid C-3PO in every main "Star Wars" film, told AFP.

Safdie brothers offer film snapshot of NY with 'Uncut Gems' by Thomas Urbain

Kumail Nanjiani awes with 'incredible' body transformation “And finally, the biggest thanks goes to @emilyvgordon for putting up with me complaining and talking about only working out and dieting for the last year. I promise I’ll be interesting again some day.” Gordon cutely wrote back in the comments, “worth it.” Others, including Ali Wong, who reacted with a bulging eyes emoji, cheered Nanjiani, too. “Dawg I thought this was photoshop,” comedian Quinta Brunson wrote. “Incredible. Amazing.” Another person asked, “Wait is this really you?!” While a third said, “I wasn’t ready.” They congratulated Nanjiani on reaching his goal, and they congratulated Gordon on having such a hot husband. The excitement over the star’s new look spread to Twitter, even though he hadn’t posted the photo there. People cheered his honesty about what it took to get him in such amazing shape and mostly they gawked.

"In fact, it's such a big experience that I'm not sure I can quite cope with it. But I do feel proud to be here and proud to be part of it."

million at domestic box offices this weekend, which would put the film among the biggest openings in movie history.

"The Rise of Skywalker" officially concludes the so-called "Skywalker saga" of films begun by George Lucas in 1977 -- a fact Disney's all-conquering publicity machine has used to ramp up hype on an intergalactic scale.

Disney chief Bob Iger told AFP that fans would get "some kind of closure, some sense of satisfaction" for their favorite characters.

Analysts predict a stellar $200-$225

ta Barbara.

"Star Wars is probably the most important, most valuable mythology of our time, of the modern time," he said. "If you just consider the global base of fans that have worshipped this storytelling since 1977, over 40 years... tonight being a culmination of nine films is an incredibly important night." - 'The final word' -

"Not to discredit any of those movies, but they were detours."

Heading the glitzy premiere were the new film's young stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac.

- Physical tension -

Plot details have been kept tightly under wraps. But director JJ Abrams has said the trio's characters -- Rey, Finn and Poe -- will be reunited onscreen, after scattering for 2017's "The Last Jedi", which divided fans.

"Uncut Gems" is the story of charismatic diamond dealer Howard Ratner (Sandler), a character inspired by a man who employed the Safdies' father. "I was very nervous. They were constantly telling me how much they loved Howard and how big of a hero Howard was," Sandler explained.

While Disney has embargoed full reviews until Wednesday, social media reaction from those inside the three Hollywood theaters blocked out for Monday night's event was broadly positive.

Howard, who leads a relatively comfortable life, gets his hand on an exceptionally rare jewel -- one that could change someone's life.

"Epic. All of it," tweeted Erik Davis, managing editor of Fandango movie website, calling the finale a "wonderful way to end the Skywalker story."

But nothing happens as expected for a man convinced he can always end up getting out of any jam in which he finds himself.

"It's amazing," wrote The Hollywood Reporter's Ryan Parker. "'Last Jedi' haters will be very pleased."

Sandler's Howard is a man in perpetual motion -- a colorful businessman, a practicing Jew, an unfaithful husband and a gambler with a problem.

The film is set one year after its predecessor, and at 141 minutes will be slightly shorter. Abrams returns after his first outing, 2015's "The Force Awakens", broke the all-time North American box office record, making him the only person other than Lucas trusted to helm multiple "Star Wars" installments.

The 53-year-old actor is best known for comedies that are somewhat lacking in nuance, such as "Happy Gilmore" or "The Waterboy." But in "Uncut Gems," he flies out of his comfort zone and even initially refused the role before finally taking it on.

But his presence has stoked controversy -- "Jurassic World" director Colin Trevorrow was initially lined up but was fired for failing to satisfy Lucasfilm bosses with his script.

"I was reading it, and I was going: this guy is kind of a bad guy, and he was a hero to these guys. I couldn't figure it out. But we just jumped in together," Sandler said. As in their previous work, the Safdies explore their characters' failings, and how society sees them.

His wife, The Big Sick screenwriter Emily V. Gordon, warranted praise, too.

With "Uncut Gems," directing duo Josh and Benny Safdie offer a pure slice of life in their native New York. (Graphic: A21 Productions)

And Abrams had to cope with the death of Carrie Fisher, whose iconic Princess Leia was set for a central role in the finale. Leia will instead appear using unused, re-cut footage from Abrams' last film.

LEGAL

VOICE OF ASIA 11

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Family Law:

One of the most heated debates in Family law is who gets to keep the child(ren). There are numerous considerations and factors outlined under Texas law for attorneys and judges to consider, however, the prevailing factor is what is in “the best interest of the child.” This determining factor requires a look at the child’s entire environment which includes each parent’s situation, living arrangements, neighborhood, proximity to loved ones and other important factors to help contribute to the child’s health, welfare, physical safety, and emotional wellbeing. Other factors include, which parent is able to prioritize the child more than the other, how much each parent has contributed to the child’s care including helping the child with school, extracurricular activities, physical and emotional development. Usually, each parent’s attorney work together to devise a “parenting plan” that best satisfies each side’s wishes. If a child is 12 years or older, the child’s preference will also be taken into consideration. If both sides are not able to reach an agreement, a Court will make the decision and must follow the “best interest” standard. However, usually, the Court’s decision may not be what each parent desires. Under Texas Law, child custody or “conservatorship” must be determined when children are involved in a separation to determine who gets to make decisions re-

About the Author: Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997 with over 42 years of combined experience. Mala is a Board of Advocates for the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association GP Solo YLD, member of the Houston Bar Association, President Emeritus of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, and prior board member of the South Asian Bar Association. Disclaimer: This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. If you require advice on any particular legal question, you may contact Sharma & Associates at 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws. net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates IMMIGRATION ATT ORNEYS

DIGNITY

COMPETENCE

ATTORNEYS

CHIRANJAYA “ CHIRO” NANAYAKKARA

GEORGE R. WILLY Principal Attorney

JAMES W. PARKER

Associate Attorney

THOMAS P. FISCHER

Associate Attorney

OF COUNSEL

THOMAS R. HUTSON

Former District Director of Immigration

STEPHANIE STUBBE

Managing Attorney

SPECIAL ADVISORS

ROGER PIPER

Former Consul General

JIMMIE BENTON

Former District Director of Immigration

Former Immigration Judge

Deportation

Skilled Worker Visas

Naturalization

Employment Based

Investment Visas

Family Based

Professional Visas

EB1 / EB2 / EB5

PAULINE APPELBAUM

Former Immigration Regional Counsel USCIS

In order to be eligible for this waiver, he must also meet all the other requirements specifically that he or she is the spouse, parent, son or daughter of a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and can demonstrate that denial or his or her admission would cause extreme hardship to the qualifying relative.

A: The only waiver for drug conviction is for a single possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana. If his conviction was for possession of cocaine, he is not eligible for the 212(h) waiver. However, there is a possibility for him to apply for a tourist visa or a non-immigrant visa at the US Consulate and to seek a 212(d)(3) wavier for nonimmigrants. Section 212(d) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides for a waiver of inadmissibility for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S Consulate abroad as well as for nonimmigrants applying for admission as a nonimmigrant at a port of entry. Section 212(d)(3)(A) covers virtually all common grounds of inadmissibility such as health, criminal, prostitution, smuggling and unlawful presence. At the time of the interview for the non-immigrant visa, the consular officer will decide whether to grant the waiver or not based on several factors – risk or harm to society if the applicant is admitted; the seriousness of the applicant’s prior immigration law or criminal law violation; and the applicant’s reasons for wishing to enter the U.S.

Q: For the 212(h) waiver for crime involving moral turpitude, the qualifying relatives are stated as ‘spouse, parent, son or daughter’ of a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. Does this mean that if the applicant needs this kind of wavier, the applicant must have either a spouse, parent, son or daughter who is a US Citizen or Permanent Resident? Also, when reference is made to ‘son or daughter’, does the son or daughter need to be under 21 years of age? Or do all sons and daughter irrespective of age qualify as the qualifying relatives? A: For most 212(h) waivers subject to a couple of exceptions (specifically for prostitution and crimes more than 15 years old), the applicant must have one or more of these qualifying relatives – spouse, parent, son or daughter – who must either be US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents. The reference to ‘sons or daughter’s refers to all children, not specifically to those who are under 21 years of age. So for example, if one needs a 212(h) waiver and her only relative is her son who is over the age of 21 years, he will be her qualifying relative for the purposes of the 212(h) waiver. Q: I was convicted for engaging in prostitution and was informed by the Immigration Judge that I will need to file a 212(h) waiver for this crime. I am applying for adjustment of status in the immigration court based on an approved I-140 Petition for Immigrant Worker and my husband and two children are not US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.

hardship to any qualifying relatives. In your case, you are eligible for the 212(h) waiver if you can prove that your admission to the US is not contrary to the national welfare and that you have been rehabilitated. Q: I was deported about 17 years ago because I had two theft offences (crime involving moral turpitude). At that time, I did not have any family members and therefore could not apply for the waiver. These two theft offences are now more than 17 years old and I have not had any other arrests or convictions after that. I just got married to a US Citizen and I am applying to receive my immigrant visa at the US Consulate. Do I need to apply for a waiver? A: For crimes more than 15 years or older which would have needed a waiver and a waiver was available, you need not show hardship to your qualifying relatives. You will just need to demonstrate that your admission is not contrary to the national welfare and that you have been rehabilitated. To apply for this waiver, the US consulate will probably give you the instructions on how and where to submit the waiver application after your Immigrant Visa interview has taken place. Disclaimer Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case.

A: To waive the ground of inadmissibility for prostitution, you will need to apply for the waiver on Form I-601 Application to Waive Grounds of Inadmissibility. However, for prostitution, you will need to only show that your admission is not contrary to the national welfare and that you have been rehabilitated. You need not show hardship or extreme

A: If one is convicted of a single offence of simple possession of marijuana of 30 grams or less that individual may be eligible for a 212(h) waiver for marijuana possession. Your son will need to apply for the waiver using Form I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility.

My Bio

Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration Lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. If you require advice or assistance, you may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Sharlene Sharmila Richards E-mail: srichardslaw@aol.com

Masala Radio @ AM 1110

CALL US today at: 713-623-8088

Geetanjali Radio @ AM 1320

Every 2nd and 3rd Saturday: 3:00 to 3:30 pm

Andhra Mirchi @ AM 1050

Every 2nd Saturday: 1:00 to 1:30 pm •Over 30 years of practice in Immigration Law. •Member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association since 1989. •Providing representation for Canadian Immigration through our associates in Canada. •Over 16 Languages spoken by the Firm’s staff.

OUR OFFICE:

PRO

......

30 MIN FREE CONSULTATION

HOUSTON: EVERY THURSDAY (281) 265-2522 | (888) 529-5990 IMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM

Q: Is there a waiver for a drug conviction? I am a US Citizen and I am thinking of filing a petition for my husband who lives in Salvador so that he can immigrate here. He was previously deported more than 10 years ago for controlled substance violation - possession of cocaine.

www.richardsimmigration.com

Every Thursday: 4:00 to 4:30 pm

14141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 110 Sugar Land, TX 77478

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Attorney at Law

Canadian Immigration

We’ve Moved To

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT WAIVERS OF GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY

Q: My son was convicted of simple possession of marijuana about 3 grams. His wife already filed an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for him. He came to the United States with a Tourist Visa and overstayed his visa. He does not have any other crimes. Does he need a waiver in order to adjust his status to a permanent resident?

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW

INTEGRITY

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

OOF

Mala Sharma

and promote a well thought out parenting plan regarding conservatorship and more. In this way, a Court does not need to step in and order what neither parent most likely may not prefer. It is imperative to talk to your attorney and discuss all facts of your case to help you in the best manner possible. In this way, you are able to control the outcome of your case so that you are satisfied and the best interest of your child(ren) are also satisfied. This fosters a great path for the entire family to easily move forward, reduces stress levels, and helps your ability to make future holiday family plans.

Tel: 713-774-5140

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

Child custody determination and who gets the dog garding the child’s healthcare, education, extra-curricular activities, and more. Texas presumes both parents are fit to be named “joint managing conservators” each with rights to make decisions regarding the child’s education, health, and welfare instead of a “possessory conservator” who has limited access and rights to the child. Joint managing conservatorship also means no parent may make major decisions without the other’s consent, such as going forward with a medical procedure. Additionally, one parent is given primary physical custody to determine where the child lives during the week vs. weekend. However, Texas courts do not instantly grant joint conservatorship and are given considerable discretion in determining what is in the best interest of the child. External factors or special needs of the child create exceptional circumstances to deviate from the general standard possession order, which outlines the general division of not only child custody, but also child support, property, debts, and even who gets the dog if needed. Thus, joint managing conservatorship most likely will not be granted if, for example, one parent has a history of abuse, other violence, or egregiously hiding assets from the other parent. A Court may also deny joint managing conservatorship if such extenuating circumstances of one parent would affect the child’s physical and emotional welfare. Child custody battles are very contentious and difficult on everyone involved. It is highly recommended to get a qualified attorney to navigate

AD PR

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

GRWPC.COM

HOUSTON • ATLANTA CANADA MUMBAI - INDIA

ATLANTA: EVERY 1ST & 3RD MONDAY (404) 937-6868 | (888) 529-5990 ATLANTAIMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM

4151 Southwest Freeway, Ste: 600, Houston, Texas 77027

• • • •

Relative Petitions Citizenship Green Cards EB1, EB2, EB3, NIW

• • • •

Removal or Deportation Defense Consular Processing Extensions / Change of Status Asylum

Other types of cases such as removal of conditions on residence, E, H-1B, L, O, P visas, PERM Labor, Appeals, Waivers etc. Our business is rated A+ by the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

IMMIGRATION Call Now for Your FREE Consultation

Read other legal articles by our

columnists. Visit: voiceofasia.news

VOICE OF ASIA 12

Section 2

Young Life Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Malala Yousafzai on Education, Islamophobia, and the New wave of youth activism To mark the 21st Century making it through its teen years, the #20teens is a series from Teen Vogue celebrating the best in culture, politics, and style from the last decade.

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Tel: 713-774-5140

Garcia Middle Schooler Pavit Thakur is going to the MidWest Clinic in Chicago

Malala Yousafzai. (Photography by Delphine Diallo) by Samhita Mukhopadhyay

ONDON - DECEMBER 16, 2019 - At the age of 11, Malala Yousafzai took to blogging for the BBC about living in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan, under occupation by the militant group the Taliban. Her chronicles of her day to day were shot through with comments about her fears of going to school and living with the constant threat of violence. Three years later, an armed member of the Taliban tried to kill Malala and two other schoolgirls in retaliation for bringing awareness to what was happening in the region. She suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the head. She survived. And went on to become one of the most famous teenagers in the world, if not in history, building a global movement to demand girls’ right to an education. As we close out the #20teens, it has become clear to us that the defining characteristic of the last 10 years has been the rise of youth activism. Rooted in public actions, protest and

good ‘ol grassroots organizing, movements like Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, the Fight for Fifteen, March for Our Lives, Slut Walk, Youth Climate Strike, and others— have all been youth-led. They have spoken truth to power and opened our eyes to the many injustices young people are facing around the world. The last decade was a decade of youth activism, but the next one is going to be about youth change-making And these are not your grandparents' organizers — they are intersectional; they are aware of class and race dynamics and binary gender systems' they are inclusive and “woke AF.” They also grew up with Twitter accounts, armed with the tools to build broad-based support like no other generation before them. And while they will all argue that it is not about them personally, their ranks include many teen girls who have led the charge: Greta Thunberg, Emma González, Mari Copeny, Edna Chavez, Xiye Bastida, Jamie Margolin, and Naomi Wadler, to name only a few.

And in many ways, first among them was Malala. After recovering from the attempted assassination, she went on to become a global activist, with the goal of securing girls’ access to education. She cofounded the Malala Fund. She wrote a book. At 17 years old, she was the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. And after having done all that, she was accepted to Oxford University, where she is studying philosophy, politics, and economics. She turned her trauma into an opportunity to position herself as arguably the most famous citizen activist in the world. Malala is now 22 years old. Saying her life has been incredible feels understated; there is a quality to her that is beyond what words can describe, a profile in courage unmatched. As we put together our final package for the decade rooted in the brilliant, world-changing demands of teens across the world, we knew there was no better person to sit down and reflect on this wild decade with.

Use these tips to talk to your student about how to build a financial resume to be proud of, so he or she can confidently take steps toward financial freedom and flexibility. • Help build credit history early: It can be challenging to get started on your own without previous credit history. As a parent, you can help start building your child’s financial resume early by adding him or her as an authorized user on your credit card. Just be sure you always pay on time, because your child will inherit that part of your credit story. Set clear guidelines about card usage before adding anyone as an authorized user. Then, monitor your young adult’s card use and always pay on time, because all reported account activity, including negative information, will impact both your credit. • Explain the importance of on-time payments: It’s essential to consistently pay all bills on time to build credit health and a story of trustworthiness on your child’s financial resume. If your young adult is renting,

avit Thakur is a 7th grader at Garcia Middle School in Fort Bend ISD and has been selected among 40 other Chamber & Varsity students that were invited to play the at the 73rd Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December 2019.

It is quite an honor for FBISD to have been selected to play at the Midwest Clinic. The clinic is the oldest and the largest international music educator convention on the planet. Over 18,000 people attend every year, from all 50 states and over 30 countries. Out of hundreds of submissions, only 3 middle school string orchestras in the world are selected every year. In being chosen, the Garcia Middle School orchestra program is not only representing Garcia Middle School, but also the City of Sugar Land and FBISD on a large national platform!

-Courtesy: Teen Vogue

How to prepare young adults for financial independence s you prepare your young adult for college and beyond, it’s important to talk about the road to financial independence, which includes building healthy credit. This is vital for big life moments like getting a car, apartment, house or job, and your child’s credit report will be the financial resume necessary to help him or her achieve these goals.

Pavit Thakur, 7th grader

Pavit Thakur is in his second year at

BU DHABI, December 4, 2019 - Seeing his mother struggle with home chores, Putsala Harshith made a small robot to clean rooms. That was the start of many other inventions - one of which is now being showcased at Expo 2020 Visitor Centre in Dubai.

the landlord may report rental payments to the credit reporting agencies, so ensure he or she always pays on time. Talk about putting your student’s name on phone or utility accounts, and then maintaining good standing with on-time payments. Timely student loan payments can also help build credit health. Explain that if accounts go into collections or delinquency, that information will hurt credit health. • Monitor credit reports regularly: Those building credit for the first time should understand what financial story they’re telling creditors. Young adults who move often should confirm that their current address is on their report, along with accurate, up-to-date information for everything else on file. Inaccuracies can negatively impact credit health and ability to get credit. Everyone is eligible for one free credit report from each of the nationwide credit reporting agencies each year. Have your child take advantage of this opportunity at annualcreditreport.com. • Carefully consider a credit

card: When your young adult is ready for it, discuss opening one credit card in his or her name, to start building credit length -- another important credit score factor. A student credit card may be a good choice because they generally have lower limits. But be sure your young adult does some research to find the best fit for his or her situation. Opening a card, keeping the balance low and making on-time payments can help young adults build their financial resume’s story of responsibility, which could lead to more creditworthiness in the future.

Pavit's love for playing the Viola can be credited to his wonderful teachers at Garcia Middle School, Ms. Frances Weberpal & Mr. Giovanni Fuentes and also a special mention to his tutor Mr. Omeed Manshouri. All of his teachers have had a big hand in his success today. Congratulations and good luck to Garcia Middle School Fort Bend ISD.

UAE-based whiz kid's eco-robot to be showcased at Expo 2020 by Ashwani Kumar

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) monkeybusinessimages / iStock via Getty Images Plus

the GMS orchestra and plays the viola. This school year he made it to the Chamber & Varsity. The best of the best students gets selected to be part of the Chamber & Varsity Orchestra. He is an all “A” student and enjoys playing the Viola for fun. He plays it to relax and destress. At 13 years old, Pavit has been played at many school and non-school orchestra concerts. He is currently also involved in playing the Viola at Chinmaya Mission Houston.

Nine-year-old Harshith is a Grade 4 student of Bright Riders School Abu Dhabi. His project, called 'Robotic waste segregation to organic composting', was chosen to be part of Expo 2020 Young Innovators programme. "My robot, Wsegrebot, segregates waste into green, wet, metal, paper, wood and plastic. The wet and brown waste, like paper and wood, will be shredded. Then the waste is converted into organic compost, which turns into soil when mixed with sand," Harshith said. By turning waste into something that would be useful for farming, he seeks to "turn the desert into a garden".

For more tips on how to build credit health, follow @ TransUnion on Instagram and download the TransUnion parent toolkit at transunion.com/ pathtocredit.

"My vision for the project is to make the UAE green, and promote chemical-free agriculture," the little eco-warrior said wearing the Expo 2020 badge given to him by officials.

The college years can be a critical time for young adults in many ways. Parents should encourage students to use these years to get started building the credit health they’ll need to achieve their financial goals. (StatePoint)

"I make my projects from waste materials. I had to buy a motor, sensor, micro-controller and other equipment." He has also made a cleaning robot using old cars, cardboard and motor. "I had made a smaller robot to help my moth-

His project is mentioned in the startup kit of Young Innovators programme.

Nine-year-old Harshith is only a Grade 4 student. er. Now I have made a bigger one to help with cleaning."

brilliance at an early age, his parents said.

'We must act to save our future'

"When he was three years old, we used to make him solve math question papers of KG1 and KG2, which he would do quickly. It was an eye-opener for us," said his mother Sirisha, a homemaker.

For the past few years, Harshith is also leading a campaign against plastic use. He makes paper bags to replace plastic bags in baqalas and other shops. "I was inspired by a session in my school on the ill effects of plastic. I have removed as much plastic possible from my home. I have urged my parents and others to use tetra packs, instead of plastics. If we change, our parents will act, too." He will continue and expand his drive when he returns to his native city of Srikakulam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh during vacation. "I have taken my campaign to 20 schools in Srikakulam. I want to reach out to schools in Abu Dhabi, too." - Brilliant start Harshit showed sparks of

"Harshith likes reading and has photographic memory. He will read books for the new academic year during April holidays. So that for the rest of the year, he can find time for extra-curricular activities like robotics, karate, swimming," she added. Thanooj, his father who is a software consultant, was hopeful that Harshit's project would be featured at Expo 2020. "His project is now mentioned in the startup kit of Young Innovators programme. He wanted to learn robotics as a birthday present. He continues to learn new things. His sister Haasini, Grade XI student, is his support base," Thanooj said.

Business

VOICE OF ASIA 13

www.voiceofasia.news

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

China deal lifts US stocks into record territory

EW YORK | AFP | Monday 12/16/2019 - Wall Street on Monday set records for a third straight day as investors absorbed a new US-China trade deal and Beijing released upbeat economic data.

Chris Low of FTN Financial told AFP the markets' jubilance may not be entirely justified. "The best you can say is that it eliminates some of the negative scenarios people were worried about," he said. "I think the market is rallying simply because the worst case scenario of US-China trade plummeting is off the table."

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) iStock via Getty Images Plus

And the Paris CAC 40 won 1.2 percent, briefly breaching the 6,000 points level for the first time in 12 years. The eurozone's economy meanwhile remained at a near standstill in December, extending the worst quarterly performance since 2013, according to a closely-watched survey compiled by IHS Markit research group. While the removal of uncertainty surrounding Brexit -- following the Conservatives' commanding victory in

Officials in Beijing released data showing China had had a better-than-expected pickup in the retail and industrial sectors in November, a spot of good news at the close of a difficult year for the world's secondlargest economy. London's FTSE 100 which benefitted from continued post-election optimism and a dip in the value of the pound. In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index climbed 0.9 percent to close just shy of a record high.

ASHINGTON | AFP | Thursday 12/12/2019 - A US court has suspended a law banning makers of vegetarian substitute meals from using the word "meat" to describe their products, as trendy plant-based food companies push back against a wave of restrictions.

The southern state of Arkansas introduced a law in July that fined manufacturers $1,000 per violation for using words like "sausage," "roast" or "burger" to describe vegetarian or vegan foods, even if packaging clearly shows the

Burger King offers a veggie version of their classic "Whopper". products are plant-based.

of speech.

Tofurky, a maker of turkeyflavored tofu snacks, filed a complaint the same month, saying the law infringed on its constitutional right to freedom

A federal court in state capital Little Rock sided with Tofurky on Wednesday and agreed to temporarily suspend the law ahead of further hear-

iPhone sales dropped 30% in China last month, report states

AN DIEGO, California, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 - iPhone sales are shrinking big time in China, causing a wave of production cuts for Apple, according to Rosenblatt Securities. Demand for the latest iPhones is plummeting in China, leading Apple to cut back production. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has seen a 30 percent drop in sales year-over-year, according to a note by Rosenblatt Securities, citing channel checks. The report cited the cheaper iPhone 11 as hurting the sales of the more expensive iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, predicting that production for the entire 11 line will be scaled down 60 percent beginning in March. “We expect more production cuts in March as Apple will see increasing headwinds from aggressive 5G smartphone launches in China and 5G service promotions in China begin in March,” analyst Jun Zhang wrote. The Rosenblatt report comes just days after a Wall Street analysis that shipments of iPhones in China were down more than 35 percent last month — their second straight month of double-digit declines. Apple’s share of the Chinese smartphone market slipped to 5 percent from 7 percent last month as it struggled to compete with Chinese juggernaut Huawei, which captured 42 percent of its local market last month, according to Credit Suisse.

Apple iPhone sales dropped 30% in China last month, (File photo)

Google's answer to iMessage is finally here

OS ANGELES Google has rolled out RCS messaging on Android phones in the US that many are comparing to Apple’s iMessages, but with the same iconic green bubbles. The messaging protocol has an 8,000 character limit, read receipts, typing indicators and can use WiFi to send messages. Users just have to make Google’s Messages app their default texting app in order to take advantage of the new RCS messaging. RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is now available for all Android phones regardless of your carrier. Users just need to get the latest Google Messages app and make it their default method for texting. The service is said to be similar to Apple’s iMessage, complete

with an 8,000 character limit, typing indicators and more. Google has only released the new messaging protocol in the US, but has plans to launch if globally before the new year. In 2018, Google unveiled a different messaging system called Chat, which was designed to replace SMS messages – a texting service that has been found to be vulnerable to hacks. Experts have recently warned that SMS is not is not encrypted and messages travel through multiple steps before reaching its final destination, allowing cyberthieves lurking in the shadows to intercept the information. They are now urging users to drop SMS and adopt over-thetop (OTT) applications, such as WhatsApp, as they conceal data by converting it into a code and follow internet protocols. - Bloomberg News

Tel: 713-774-5140

US lawmakers fault regulators on T-Mobile-Sprint tie-up

However the company said it currently has no plans to lay off or furlough workers as a result.

US court suspends naming restrictions on fake meat firms

Livestock farmers have seen the rise of meat substitutes as a threat to their bottom line, and have successfully pushed for labeling restrictions in several states.

Boeing says to halt 737 MAX production next month ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 12/16/2019 - Boeing said Monday it would temporarily suspend production of its globally grounded 737 MAX jets next month as the company struggles to get the beleaguered aircraft back in the air after two crashes.

US and Chinese officials on Friday announced a partial trade deal, with Washington cancelling and reducing tariffs in exchange for Chinese pledges to increase purchases of US exports and reform its trade practices. All three main US stock indexes finished at records, joining the upward drift in Europe where Paris, London and Frankfurt all posted strong gains.

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

"We have previously stated that we would continually evaluate our production plans should the MAX grounding continue longer than we expected," the company said in a statement. "As a result of this ongoing evaluation, we have decided to prioritize the delivery of stored aircraft and temporarily suspend production on the 737 program beginning next month." American regulators have said they will not be able to approve the jets' return to service before 2020. Though the jets have been grounded worldwide since March following deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, Boeing had continued to produce 40 of the planes per month, raising a dilemma was to where to store them. The company said it would continue to pay its workers despite the temporary production stoppage, but the decision immediately raised questions for the future of parts suppliers which contribute to the jets' manufacture.

The T-Mobile-Sprint merger would merger the third- and fourthlargest wireless carriers in a tie-up challenged by Democrats and consumer activists (AFP Photo/Alastair Pike)

ASHINGTON | AFP | 12/16/2019 US Democratic lawmakers on Monday criticized the process for approving the merger of wireless carriers T-Mobile and Sprint, saying regulators downplayed the competition implications of the $26 billion deal. House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler and Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Frank Pallone expressed their concerns in a letter to Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai. The two lawmakers cited a "troubling lack of transparency, and an apparent lack of appropriate process" by the regulatory body. They questioned whether an original analysis drafted by the FCC's merger task force may have been supplanted later with one that downplayed the competitive risks of merging the third- and fourth-largest carriers.

"The failure to seek additional public comment after the parties entered into a consent decree with the Department of Justice raises additional procedural concerns." Nadler and Pallone also expressed concerns about private or "ex parte" conversations between representatives of T-Mobile and FCC commissioners which could violate the agency's rules. The FCC last month cleared the deal on a contested 3-2 vote following approval by antitrust officials at the US Justice Department. The approval is conditioned on the divestment by Sprint of its prepaid division Boost Mobile to the satellite broadcast group Dish, which will begin building a new national wireless network. Backers of the deal say combining T-Mobile and Sprint will create a strong number three US wireless carrier behind Verizon and AT&T, with the resources to invest in 5G, or fifth-generation, networks.

Boeing's travails since March have weighed on the US economy, holding down US manufacturing output and sales of durable goods while damaging the company's performance on the DJIA.

"We are particularly concerned that the underlying analysis drafted by the merger task force based on the evidence submitted into the docket was altered by the commissioners and replaced with an analysis that downplays the competitive harms of the merger," Nadler and Pallone said.

ings.

and animal rights activists.

Institute.

"Tofurky has satisfied the Court that it will likely suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction," said judge Kristine Baker.

"We're glad the court blocked the state's blatantly unconstitutional effort to stifle competition by censoring speech," ACLU lawyer Brian Hauss said after the ruling.

Companies have used increasingly sophisticated techniques to mimic the taste, color, smell and texture of animal meat as closely as possible.

Legal challenges against similar laws in Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana are also underway, spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union, vegetarian advocacy group the Good Food Institute

Sales of meat alternatives in the US rose 23 percent last year on the back of concerns about the environment, animal welfare and personal health, according to the Good Food

Critics claim, however, it will reduce choices for American consumers and ultimately lead to higher prices. The companies anticipate a closing sometime next year.

Burger King has offered a veggie version of their classic "Whopper" sandwich in the US since April, made with a plantbased burger patty the chain says tastes just as good as the original.

SMALL BUSINESSES

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTANTS M.D. Associates LLP A full service CPA firm

2 Locations to serve you Houston 713-774-6533 Spring 281-251-2205

visit us at: www.mdassociatescpas.com

Selling Your Business? We can help you get faster results though our online listing. Call 713-774-5140. Email Obituaries to us at: voiceasia@aol.com Deadline for publication: Tuesdays by 5pm.

RESTAURANTS India’s Restaurant & Catering For special parties and corporate events. Preferred Wine list, authentic vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes, finest Indian cuisine with chef’s special dishes

Ph: 713-266-0131/0805

We cater from 10 people to 800 people for all occasions. We deliver to your venue.

Madhuram Mirch Masala 10758 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070

281.955.9878 216.338.3940 (cell)

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

Selling Your Business? We can help you get faster results though our online listing. Call 713-774-5140.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: YEAR-IN-REVIEW

List Your Business CALL TODAY 713-774-5140

Week of December 20, 2019 HOROSCOPE.COM

21 March to 20 April With travel and adventure options showing up, you may feel justified in getting away from it all and enjoying new faces and places. Even a short break can be enough to boost your spirits. Check the details regarding your plans, though, especially around Friday.

21 April to 20 May The desire to get involved in something new or perhaps something bigger than yourself could inspire you to reach for new opportunities. And over this week, as the sun moves into Capricorn, you might be ready to explore the possibilities that are out there for you.

21 May to 20 June Your sector of shared assets and deep-seated emotions dominates your chart at this time, and it could be the reason that the idea of change seems so important. Perhaps the only thing holding you back is fear of the unknown, and this is something you can work on.

21 June to 22 July The sun moves into Capricorn on Saturday to add emphasis to your relationship sector. The sun here can give you a fresh perspective on what is going on and what you should do next. Getting your priorities organized in this respect can be very helpful.

23 July to 22 August You might begin to feel you’re getting a handle on your current workload and responsibilities, especially as upbeat Jupiter in Capricorn can help you feel more optimistic. With the sun moving into Capricorn on Saturday, you’ll be able to locate those key areas that need further attention.

23 August to 22 Sept If you have creative projects going, you could be especially busy this week and over the coming weeks. With key planets in Capricorn and the sun moving in on Saturday, your focus may be on getting organized and moving ahead with your plans.

23 September to 22 Oct As the focus on a more personal zone increases this week, home and family matters could take priority. With upbeat Jupiter now in this sector, you may feel a renewed sense of optimism that can build over the coming weeks and months.

23 October to 21 Nov You may be doing a lot of plotting, planning, organizing, and arranging, and this could all come to a head this week and next. A powerful focus on your sector of talk and thought could encourage discussions, brainstorming, and making great strides.

22 November to 21 Dec Issues around resources, finances, business affairs, and marketing your skills and abilities could be very much in focus. Despite this being a time of celebration, your attention may be on more material or mundane plans.

22 December to 20 Jan The focus on your sign is enhanced further this week as the radiant sun moves in on Saturday. Until then, you still have a full house and plenty of motivation to get things done. This is a great opportunity to aim high knowing that you have the skills.

21 January to 19 Feb You may have various activities going on, each involving a different aspect of your life. With feisty Mars in your sector of goals and career, you could be eager to forge ahead with key plans. But as dynamic Mars links with prudent Saturn, it also helps to listen to your instincts.

20 February to 20 Mar You could be heavily involved with group dynamics, whether this links to your social life or an organization. However, since last week, you may have a more optimistic view on life, and this could have a positive effect. Changes could happen sooner rather than later.

ACROSS 1. Pin location 6. BBQ sauce alternative 9. *Volodymyr Zelensky's capital 13. 0103 food poison 14. Between sea and shining sea, abbr. 15. Native of American Great Plains 16. Famous fabulist 17. Band performance 18. Prefix with national and pol 19. *The Mueller ____ 21. *European country declared to be no longer free 23. Ostrich-like bird 24. Fix a horse 25. Old Spice: "Smell Like a Man, ____" 28. Diva's delivery 30. Opposite of underdog 35. Seed covering 37. Share a boundary 39. Miller's product 40. Leave behind 41. *Flute playing rapper 43. Pot contribution 44. Make corrections 46. Days in Havana 47. Nomad's round house 48. Caesar derivative 50. "Fifteen Miles on the ____ Canal" 52. Mad Hatter's drink 53. Hofbräuhaus offering 55. Bard's before 57. *He got life plus 30 61. *Eurosceptics vs. proEuropeanists point of debate 64. Sweeney Todd's weapon 65. Seek damages 67. *Archie was one before he was born 69. *Bran, Lord of the Six Kingdoms, e.g. 70. "____ Now or Never" 71. *What Jeffrey Epstein had in store 72. Seaside bird 73. Volleyball divider

74. Set in motion DOWN 1. Grazing ground 2. Maple tree or laptop brand 3. Downward dog, e.g. 4. Skip the big wedding 5. Benign fatty tumor 6. Pipe problem 7. *Europe voted to ban single-____ plastics 8. Take a tubby 9. *Best Actress in Supporting Role Oscar-winner 10. Tiny bit 11. Pitcher 12. Subject to change 15. To some extent, two words 20. Not urban 22. Final, abbr. 24. More gossamer 25. *Actor in Leading Role Oscar-winner 26. Wafting pleasantness 27. One born to Japanese immigrants 29. Footnote acronym 31. Performance with acts 32. Holey confection 33. Grossly unconventional 34. *Swedish environmentalist 36. Eye contact 38. Nicholas II was the last one 42. Willow twig 45. Go ashore 49. Tombstone acronym 51. Builds 54. Fluorescent red dye 56. Make an effort 57. Formerly, formerly 58. Better than never 59. #38 Down, alt. sp. 60. Some blow their own 61. *"Green Book," winner of ____ Picture 62. Hip bones 63. Salty drop 66. Shoshonean 68. Summer sandwich?

SOLUTION: YEAR-IN-REVIEW on Page 15

CLASSIFIED

VOICE OF ASIA 15

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

VOICE OF ASIA

Get it mailed to you!

Call to Subscribe to our newsweekly: 713-774-5140

OR Click a photo of this form, email to: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com

Name: __________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ City: ______________ State:___________ Zip:___________ Ph: ______________ E-mail:_________________________ Credit Card No: ____________________________________ Name on the Card: _________________________________ CVV #: __________ Exp Date:___________ Amount: $______ Signature: __________________________

We thank you for your support! We will mail 52 issues to your home or office! Visit us: 8303 SW Freeway, Suite 325, Houston, TX 77074

One Year $50 Two Years $100 Five Years $200 $250 Best Value!!!

Get our low rates for Online advertising Visit us @ voiceofasia.news

www.voiceofasia.news

Houston company’s vehicle storage license revoked for flipping scheme

USTIN – The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation recently voted to revoke a Houston company’s towing license because of its dishonest and fraudulent conduct. Commissioners also assessed a $5,000 administrative penalty - the maximum allowed by law - reflecting an upward enhancement from the standard penalty due to the nature of the violation. “We take honesty and integrity in the towing business seriously and will continue to vigorously prosecute instances where our licensees have not treated consumers fairly,” said TDLR Executive Director Brian E. Francis. “Dishonest behavior by just a few people affects the reputations of all of our professional, hardworking towing licensees.” The Commission’s action came after an Administrative Law Judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings found that Rodolfo Meraz, who does business as FM 1960 Wrecker, had violated TDLR rules requiring that towing companies conduct all operations with honesty, trustworthiness and integrity. Meraz also violated a TDLR rule that a vehicle involved in an accident be towed from the scene directly to a licensed vehicle storage facility (VSF) or to a location designated by the vehicle owner. Although Meraz and FM 1960 Wrecker are no longer allowed to tow any vehicles, Meraz continues to operate another towing company, Sixty Wrecker, which is currently the Respondent in a pending Department case.

The revocation against Meraz and FM 1960 Wrecker resulted from the towing company’s use of fraud and deception to obtain a vehicle owner’s signature on documents after a multi-vehicle accident. The documents purported to authorize the car being taken to Meraz’s body shop, Bammel Collision, LLC. at 9950 Bammel North Road in Houston. Meraz was the sole proprietor of the towing company as well as an officer and manager of the body shop, which had the same address as the towing company. Meraz benefited financially by using fraud and deception to obtain the vehicle owner’s signature to have the vehicle taken to his body shop. (Body shops in Texas are not currently regulated.) Because the vehicle was taken to Meraz’s body shop, instead of the location requested by the vehicle owner, or to a licensed vehicle storage facility, it cost more than $1,400 to recover the vehicle, which was a total loss and incapable of repair. This scenario is known as “flipping” -- deceptive and illegal conduct by towing companies and vehicle storage facilities aiming to convince vehicle owners to waive their rights and have their vehicles taken to, or transferred to, body shops after automobile accidents. Texas law generally requires that vehicles must be taken to, and remain at, licensed vehicle storage facilities where fees and costs are regulated. Meraz’s attorney, during the hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings, and

in his presentation before the Commissioners, argued that the company could not be held responsible for the conduct of its tow truck drivers, which it characterized as “independent contractors.” Both the Administrative Law Judge hearing the case, and the Commissioners rejected this argument, and assessed penalties and revocation against the company. Consumers who have been involved in an auto accident – especially those in Harris County and the surrounding area – are urged not to sign any documents relating to their vehicle until speaking to their insurance company. This includes documents that may be presented by a tow operator responsible for removing their vehicle from the accident scene.

It’s easy to advertise in our newsletter Simply call 713-774-5140

or email request to: voiceasia@aol.com

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Anyone who has additional information on cases within the city of Houston limits, or who may be a victim of flipping, is urged to contact the HPD Auto Dealers Detail at 832-394-4800 or 832-394-4969 (after-hours) or send an email to: hpd.autodealers@houstonpolice.org. For incidents outside the city of Houston limits, but within Harris County, individuals can contact the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Consumer Fraud Division, at 713-274-555 or file their complaint on-line at: https://www. harriscountyda.com/complaintform. Additionally, consumers may file a complaint online through the TDLR website against a tow company, tow operator, or a vehicle storage facility at: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ Complaints/

Theme: YEAR-IN-REVIEW from Page 14

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, December 20, 2019

Home&Real Estate W

How to Turn Your Home into the Ultimate Staycation ‘Destination’ and light, so you can awaken when you choose to, not when the sun or neighbors intervene.

hile vacations sound like the best chance to unwind, planning a trip out of town -and getting there – can sometimes be more hassle than it’s worth.

• Create a Spa-Like Bathroom: Find your bliss by creating a spa-like retreat in your bathroom. Start by clearing unsightly clutter and using coordinating dispensers for bath products. Paint the walls in a hue that promotes relaxation -- think earthy tones, blues and greens, then add plants or fresh flowers for a pop of vibrant color.

Here’s how to turn your home into a staycation “destination” that can be enjoyed any time you feel like it: • Upgrade Bedding: Give your bedroom a five-star hotelgrade makeover so you can enjoy that quality of rest found only on vacation. Shop for percale linens and high-quality pillows and invest in window treatments that block out sound

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) RossHelen / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Looking to buy a home? 2020 may be your year

f buying a home is on your near-future to-do list, experts say that 2020 may be a good year to make it happen. Mortgage interest rates are near historic lows, providing you with the opportunity to finance a new home purchase at a much lower cost. According to a new forecast

from Freddie Mac, mortgage rates will stay in the 3-4 percent range for all of 2020 and 2021, giving prospective homeowners substantial time to plan their purchase. This, combined with modest inflation and a solid labor market, makes for good climate to buy a home with a fixed rate mortgage. For those who are already home-

Mortgage interest rates are near historic lows, providing you with the opportunity to finance a new home purchase at a much lower cost. (Photo: Getty Images/Statepoint)

owners, refinancing now may be a good idea. “For those serious about homeownership, today’s sub 4 percent mortgage rates should not be taken for granted,” says Freddie Mac chief economist, Sam Khater. “For comparative purposes, in 2000, rates averaged eight percent; and in the 80s, they spiked to 18.5 percent.” Khater stresses that while mortgage rates are an essential factor to consider in the homebuying process, there are other important items to think about as well as you lay the groundwork for your purchase. These include getting a firm handle on your finances, knowing your credit score (and taking steps to boost it if necessary) and familiarizing yourself with down payment options. For more information and tools on home buying and homeownership, visit myhome.freddiemac. Whether you are making the jump from renting to owning, or looking for a home that better meets your current needs, now may be a great time to consider making your real estate dreams a reality. Today’s low rates could save you money for years to come. (Statepoint)

2020 Interior Design Trends on the Horizon

he beginning of the new year is a natural time to think about refreshing the look of your home, and in 2020, “cozy” and “warm” are trending keywords for interior design, according to experts, with luxurious textiles, inviting color palettes, and warm mixed metals found across all design styles. While a maximalism approach is on the horizon, clean and modern design schemes continue to reign. “Use a minimalist approach, allowing patterned décor to add pops of color,” advises Eliza Alkire, trend expert and product designer for Progress Lighting. “Accent this with hanging planters and potted greenery to enhance the character of any room with an organic look.” To make the most of your space this year, consider this design advice from Alkire and the experts at Progress Lighting: - Materials, Shapes and Finishes While neutral color schemes are tried-and-true, in 2020, you’ll want to turn to an updated palette consisting of warm, earthen undertones. Choose lighting finished in mixed metals to accent the neutral scheme while adding visual interest and depth. Recent years have seen lighting combine black chrome and gold finishes. Now, warm tones of natural brass, bronze and copper mixed with silver and black will be found across lighting designs, cabinet pulls and plumbing hardware. Move over, stainless steel! Just remember to keep the look uncluttered by not mixing more than two or three metals in one space. Geometric shapes are domi-

You’ll want to turn to an updated palette consisting of warm, earthen undertones. (Photo: Statepoint) nating design trends. Adding lighting in triangle, diamond, hexagonal or combination of geometric shapes is one of the easiest ways to transform a space and add wow-factor. Make sure to balance statement-making lighting with clean, classic patterns and colors on furnishings and accessories. Create warmth with tactile elements. Luxurious, richly-textured fabrics like velvet, suede and leather work nicely with clean, contemporary interiors as well as rustic farmhouse spaces. Try vibrantly-colored velvets furnishings, pillows and throws. Wallpaper is making a comeback: use it in small areas like powder room walls, or make a splash with a floral accent wall. - Style Evolution Overall design trends are evolving. Homes that were previously traditional are now termed “new traditional” as they take on fun, youthful elements that keep the design fresh. Lighting fixtures have mixed metal finishes or are designed in new takes on classic

silhouettes, such as large lanterns and chandeliers done in linear shapes. Mountain style goes beyond a rustic, cabin look to take on a modern form with clean lines, neutral color palettes and uncluttered interiors. With open layouts and tall ceilings, sweeping views command attention. Lighting is oversized, with airy, open designs meant to cast light without obstructing views from the plentiful windows in the space. For fans of farmhouse style, this look has taken a delightful turn, with fewer rustic details and more modern charm. Subtle hues go beyond a white and gray palette into the realm of soft greens and blush pinks. Lighting is inspired by historical design with industrial details like working pulleys, but is combined with clean lines for a relaxed, casual vibe. For more tips and inspiration, visit Progress Lighting at progressltg.com/Inspiration. To stay on-trend in the new year, think cozy, warm and inviting. (StatePoint)

Made in America 2019: Texas winner showcases fresh designs

ustin design retail company Canoe Goods has made the 'Made in America 2019' list as Southwest feature designer in Dwell magazine

for December. A sample of available items are showcased in the online article and more information is accessible at dwell.com.

Dimmer switches, waterproof speakers and a waterfall showerhead with different spray settings are just a few updates offering you flexibility to create different moods, all which can connect to a smart home device that remembers your preferences. For that warm, cozy feeling right out of the bath or shower, add in-floor heating and a towel warming drawer. • Add Backyard Touches: Show your backyard some love with a little landscaping and a few touches that replicate that vacation feel. An outdoor bar and kitchen can give you a dedicated place to wine and dine without having to constantly go in and out of the house. Install a hammock for long afternoons spent with a book. • Explore Financing Options: When it comes to transforming your home into the ultimate destination, you won’t want to cut corners on what matters most to you, whether that’s opting for the superior flat screen TV or getting just the right coffee table to complete the look of your living room. Make “getting away from it all” as simple as taking a bath

Studio Visit: Canoe Goods Made In: The Southwest Products featured clockwise from top: Rocking Chair, Boyd and Allister, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Sol Pouf, Canoe Goods, Austin, Texas; Wave Bowls and assorted dinner plates, Era Ceramics, Austin, Texas; Stainless Clad 52100 Knife, Shi. han Fine Knives, Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo: Benjamin Rasmussen)

or enjoying a blockbuster from the comfort of home. With smart renovation strategies,

you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you want and need to truly. (Statepoint)