VOA - E paper 05-29-20

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

FRIDAY, May 29 2020 l Published Weekly From Houston Vol. 34 • No. 22 • 12 Pages • 50 cents • 713-774-5140 • www.voiceofasia.news • E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

Sri Meenakshi Temple opens for worship

Pres. Trump sounds warning over Hong Kong

Vande Bharat Mission in aid of Indians stranded overseas

by Sebastian Smith

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 5/26/2020 - President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that Hong Kong could lose its status as a global financial center if a proposed Chinese crackdown goes ahead, as the territory's leader tried to reassure nervous investors.

Devotees offer prayers at the temple maintaining social distancing.

by M.K.Sriram

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s the State of Texas and the City of Houston have slowly started to re-open after the Covid-19 lockdown, it is indeed a welcome relief for the community to see the premier religious institution Sri Meenakshi Temple leading the way in re-opening with an abundance of pre-cautionary measures in place. The Texas Governor had issued the directive that houses of worship can open at a 25 % capacity from May 1st. The MTS Board had already set up four different task forces that were putting together detailed plans for a

safe re-opening. Procurement of masks, gloves, other PPE, cleaning supplies as well as equipment such as digital non-contact thermometers were already well underway. Detailed procedures were developed based on many hours of discussions among the Temple Board members.

A safety orientation was conducted for the benefit of the priests, staff and volunteers. Safety posters with clear instructions were posted at strategic locations throughout the temple.

The floors at the Main Temple, Corner Mandapams and Ganesh

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It's "hard to see how Hong Kong can remain a financial hub if China takes over," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told a briefing, saying this warning came directly from Trump.

"He's displeased with China's efforts," she said.

Trump was voicing fears expressed by many Hong Kongers, business groups and Western nations about the proposed Chinese legislation clamping down on the semi-autonomous territory.

Critics fear the law could be a death blow to the city's treasured liberties, which are crucial to making it an international financial center on a par with New York and London.

The announcement of plans for the new law -- which will be written by Beijing and bypass Hong Kong's legislature -- sparked the biggest drop on the city's stock exchange in five years on Friday.

The legislation would ban secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last year.

Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, said Tuesday that essential freedoms would remain.

She argues that the controversial law would "only target a handful of lawbreakers." However, she would not be drawn on what actions and opinions would be deemed illegal.

Aseem Mahajan, India’s Consul General in Houston (3rd from right) and Consular officials speak with Indian passengers flying to India as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.

by Shobana Muratee

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OUSTON, TX, Tuesday, May 26, 2020 – More than 2,000 people from all over the United States, stranded due to Covid-19, were taken to India from May 7th to the 15th in Phase I of the Vande Bharat Mission.

“We are open 24/7 because we have been getting a lot of emails, calls on our COVID -19 Helpline, several hundred a

The commander of China's military garrison in Hong Kong warned the law would "punish any acts of separatism."

"Garrison officers have the determination, faith and capacity to defend national sovereignty,"

day,” Aseem Mahajan, India’s Consul General in Houston told reporters. Mahajan spoke in a press briefing via video-call on May 20.

According to Mahajan, Phase II began on May 19 and was to end by May 31, covering 4000 people proportionately from all jurisdictions in the US, going to all destinations in India.

On May 25, Embassy of India, Washington DC, in its

press release stated that the Government of India has decided to operate additional Air India non-scheduled commercial flights in the ongoing second phase of operations from the U.S. to various cities in India.

Additional flights scheduled in Phase II would extend the date to June 15, 2020.

Chen Daoxiang told state-run CCTV. But Lam said fears the city's business-friendly freedoms were at risk were "totally groundless".

"Hong Kong's freedoms will

be preserved and Hong Kong's vibrancy and the core values in terms of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the various rights and freedoms enjoyed by people, will continue to be there," Lam told reporters.

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Now Enrolling for 2020-2021 Preschool - 5th grade Montessori & Traditional Program 

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Contact: 281-759-3286  Email : info@davhouston.org  Website : www.davhouston.org

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Page 2 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

VOICE OF ASIA

COMMUNITY Second Front Page

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

India House provides meals at hospitals

A Unique Elementary School in North America

DAVMES students connect with teachers in real-time with technology like Zoom and FaceTime

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he Covid-19 pandemic has had a global impact, changing the ways that people around the world work, socialize and learn. The D.A.V. Montessori and Elementary School (DAVMES) was not spared and on March 13th, the school had to close. But that did not stop the DAVMES community from making sure students continued to learn and experienced spiritual growth.

Arti Khanna, the School director, stated, “Our school has modernized and transformed as we implemented a hybrid learning model that blends synchronous and asynchronous online learning – what this means is that students connect with teachers in real-time with technology like Zoom and FaceTime and in more passive ways through email and texts”.

DAVMES is completely invest-

ed in making sure students continue to learn and follow our 5Es of instruction – Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. This means a real investment in leading digital technologies such as Stemscopes, Readworks, Flipgrid and Khan Academy.

It has been an unforgettable six weeks for the world, but after four weeks of online learning and having 100% attendance from the students, we could not be prouder of the results. Along with the academics, students enjoyed doing STEM based project like making a maze, a reading project by creating a setting from a story book and playing virtual sight words Bingo.

And birthdays – while students cann’t celebrate these occasions with their friends at schools, the kids still connect with each other on birthdays to pass along their best wishes.

Would you like to know more about DAVMES or the enrollment process?

Visit us at www.davhouston.org and https://www.facebook.com/ davmontessori/ Enrollment for 2020 -21 school year is now open. Please email your inquiries to info@davhouston.org

Hanuman Jayanthi and Sri Raja Mathangi Homam that took place simultaneously per the regular schedule. The temple was able to manage this flawlessly to the full satisfaction of the devotees who participated.

temple have been clearly marked to help the devotees practice safe distancing. The Board members did a dry run to make sure that all the safety measures are in place.

The decision was made to officially re-open the temple, at a 25% capacity limit from May 14th.

Since then, the devotees have started slowly and steadily streaming in. The West side gopuram to the Main temple is the only gate for both entrance and exit. Here, as well as at the entrance to the Ganesh temple, a volunteer or staff member checks their temperature, makes sure visitors are wearing their masks, directs them to the hand wash station to wash their hands with soap and dry them before they can proceed into the various sannidhis.

Volunteer devotee taking vistor's temperature upon The next step in entrance. the process was to

markable job during the lockdown with daily homams and pujas that were livestreamed and watched by hundreds of people worldwide.

Many believe that these pujas and the chanting of the divine Vedic mantras have protected our community from any major calamity.

The volunteer keeps a running Also, the silpis and the staff have count of the number of devotees also put in a lot of effort to keep inside the temple quadrangle, so things going during the lockdown. that the 25% limit is not exceeded.

For their own safety and for the Other volunteers or staff members keep a watch inside and around the safety of others, the priests have premises to make sure that proper been instructed to keep a safe safe distancing is being practiced distance from the devotees. No and that there are enough safety vibhuthi, Kumkum or theertham are offered by the priests directly supplies. to the devotees. On Sunday May The priests had been doing a re- 17th, there were two major pujas,

The food distribution was sponsored by India House Board member Mrs. Saroj Rungta, and catered and delivered by Aling’s Chinese Bistro.

While the new model of instruction and learning hasn’t been perfect, kids are developing some very real-world skills such as working in a virtual setting, using digital technology and working independently to complete projects and assignments. None of this could be possible without the dedication of the DAVMES staff – making sure both the students and the parents are fully engaged and learning.

Sri Meenakshi Temple opens..

Continued from Page 1

www.voiceofasiaonline.com

re-open the Temple Kitchen for the benefit of the devotees. This was done a week later, on May 22nd, with a limited selection of items.

Great care and strict hygiene measures are in place in the kitchen.

The food items are packed in ready to go boxes and there is no dine in facility at this time. The devotees, especially those coming from afar are very happy that the Temple Kitchen facility is open now.

It is the expectation that within a few weeks, there will be more relaxation of rules by the State of Texas. At that time, the MTS Board will reevaluate the situation and implement further re-opening measures.

India House provided lunch and dinner to healthcare professionals and staff at Baylor’s St. Luke’s Hospital at Medical Center, Houston.

I

ndia House continues to appreciate the hard work and dedication of Houston’s frontline medical workers at various hospitals across the city. On Friday, May 22, 2020 India House provided lunch and dinner to healthcare professionals and staff at Baylor’s St. Luke’s Hospital at Medical Center, Houston. The food distribution was sponsored

by India House Board member Mrs. Saroj Rungta, and catered and delivered by Aling’s Chinese Bistro.

India House also provided lunch to the healthcare workers at Stafford Dialysis Center on Friday May 22, 2020, which was sponsored and catered by Aling’s Chinese Bistro.

India House is grateful to our healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, and support staff, of various hospitals, who have been tirelessly working and providing selfless service for the benefit of the community.

India House has been hard at work developing ways to engage families through their online classes running throughout the week. Free Online sessions like Yoga, Zumba, Line dance, Bolly X, Meditation help the people keep physically and mentally healthy. India House is also helping the community by offering free Technology classes for seniors & Hindi Language classes online. Also, Immigration Consultations are offered by phone through the law firm Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates.

India House is also offering TeleHealth Clinic services on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

The services are free, and no insurance is required. Patients can take appointment by calling

713-929-1900.

For details visit us at www.

As we gather around our digi- indiahouseinc.org, or call 713tal hearts, we hope you will stay 929-1900 or our Facebook page: safe during these extra ordinary IndiaHouse. times.

Page 3 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS The novel coronavirus has hard-hit New York and the state's economic health has deteriorated, and it faces a difficult and painful recovery without significant help from the federal government, according to the Voice of America. New York State currently has 361,515 coronavirus cases and 23,282 deaths.

Pulitzer winning Indian-origin physician, compatriot in New York's commission on economic recovery

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EW YORK: ( PTI| May 25, 2020) -Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American physician Siddhartha Mukherjee and compatriot higher education leader Satish Tripathi have been named by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo among members of a commission that will focus on plans to jumpstart the state's economy badly hit by the COVID19 pandemic.

Cuomo on Sunday announced that the state's Blue-Ribbon Commission, chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, will also focus on improving telehealth and broadband access using new, innovative technologies.

The 15-member commission will include Mukherjee, Tripathi and other eminent leaders namely Chair of Rockefeller Foundation Richard Parsons, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker and President of Cornell University Martha Pollack and IBM Chair Ginny Rommety.

India-born Mukherjee is a hematologist and oncologist and an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.'

Tripathi is the President of University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Tripathi graduated from Banaras Hindu University and holds three master's degrees - one in computer science from the University of Toronto and two in statistics from the University of Alberta and Banaras Hindu University.

According to his profile on the university website, Tripathi is a leader in the national higher education community and serves on the board of directors for the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

India-born Mukherjee is a hematologist and oncologist and an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.'

Cuomo had tapped Schmidt to head the commission that will look into how the state's economy can recover, taking into account lessons learnt from COVID19 pandemic.

"How does that Eric Schmidt commission come up with new ideas that we can jump start to grow the economy? That is what the next chapter is going to be about. It is going to be about the government working with the private sector, with businesses to jumpstart the economy, to stimulate it, to get some big projects going that get the business sector engaged and confident and believing once again."

"How do you improve the mass transit system? How about new technology for education? How about new telemedicine? We talk about a new health care system that can do testing and tracing and has surge capacity and hospital beds. Let's build that new public health system and let the government get ahead of it and let the government lead the way," Cuomo said.

The United States, the worsthit country by the coronavirus, has over 1.68 million infections and 98,024 deaths. New York State currently has 361,515 coronavirus cases and 23,282 deaths.

Despite high number of cases in the New York State, regions across the state are gradually beginning to re-open as daily hospitalisations, ICU admissions and daily death numbers slow down.

"Total number of hospitalisations is down, that's good news.

The rolling average of hospitalisations is down, that's good news. The intubations are down and the new cases are up a little bit on the rolling average, but all part of the decline. That's all good news. Number of deaths ticked up, which is terrible news, but the overall line is still good," Cuomo said, adding that 109 New Yorkers lost their lives on Sunday due to COVID19.

On Saturday, New York reported 84 deaths from the novel coronavirus, the first time since March 24 that fewer than

100 people died in a single day from COVID19. At the peak of the outbreak in April, more than 1,000 people were dying daily from the deadly disease in New York.

Cuomo recalled a conversation with a healthcare professional who had told him that if the state got to the point where fewer than 100 people were dying daily in the pandemic, he can "breathe a sigh of relief."

"It's not official. I don't even know if it was 100 per cent accurate. But in my head I was always looking to get under 100.

And under 100 doesn't do any good for those 84 families that are feeling the pain. But for me it's just a sign that we're making real progress and I feel good about that," Cuomo had said.

The novel coronavirus has hard-hit New York and the state's economic health has deteriorated, and it faces a difficult and painful recovery without significant help from the federal government, according to the Voice of America.

In April, Cuomo said that,"We are at a point financially where we have a USD 10 (billion) to USD 15 billion deficit. We have real financial problems right now."

The northeastern state of 19.5 million people has seen a record 1.2 million unemployment claims filed in April, since the virus started spreading rapidly and the state "paused" its nonessential businesses and and workforce to contain the outbreak, leading to a drying up of revenue, the report said.

On March 25, the US Senate passed a USD 2.2 trillion stimulus package to address the negative economic impact of the coronavirus. New York, which leads the nation in confirmed cases and hospitalisations, received only USD 3.8 billion, the report added.

Vande Bharat Mission in aid of Indians stranded overseas Continued from front page

The updated schedule of flights as below:

Aseem Mahajan, India’s Consul General in Houston (2nd from right) and Consular officials speak with Indian passengers flying to India as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.

Note: This is a dynamic list and may undergo changes based on operational, technical and other considerations. The list should not be considered as final and is only for the purpose of information.

This list cannot be quoted for any legal claims. All visitors are advised to counter-check with Air India for confirmation of the flights, timings, dates, destinations and other details.

List provided by Emabassy of India -USA In Phase II, Air India's repatriation flights will take off New York, Chicago and San Francisco and Washington, D.C. to destinations in India that include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar adding Chennai and Kolkata in the updated schedule.

The Vande Bharat Mission is tied to the hub-and-spoke model, which requires all the passengers in the America continents be connected to these hubs from where they are flown to fixed destinations in India.

Since the number of seats on the flights would be limited, passengers with the compelling cases such as those facing medical emergencies or requiring return due to bereavement in the fam-

ily, students, pregnant women, elderly or those facing expiry of visas will be given priority, and identified through an electronic random selection method.

Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders with minor children born to Indian nationals abroad and holding OCI cards, OCI cardholders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies like death in family, couples where one spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national and they have a permanent residence in India and University students who are OCI cardholders (not legally minors) but whose parents are Indian citizens living in India will be considered.

The release noted that the OCI cardholders falling into one of

the categories mentioned above will not require any fresh emergency visa.

Further, it notified that: The cost of travel from designated airport in the USA to the designated airport in India will be borne by the passenger.

All passengers will be required to undergo medical screening before boarding the flight and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel.

Before boarding, all passengers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days as stipulated in the Ministry of Home Affairs order dated 24 May 2020. https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/ default/files/MHAOrderDt-

24052020forspecifiedpersonstotravelabroad.pdf All passengers on arrival in India will be medically screened and would have to download and register on Arogya Setu app.

All passengers will have to follow the protocols and procedures including Health Protocols issued by the Government of the USA on departure and by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities of Government of India before, during the journey and on arrival in India.

All passengers will be required to sign an Undertaking which will be collected from them at the airport before boarding the flight.

For information on registration visit with the Embassy/Consulates websites.

Visit https://cgihouston.gov. in/ or https://indianembassyusa. gov.in/reg_indian_nationals &: https://indianembassyusa.gov.in/ reg_oci_indian_nationals

Relaxation in OCI Guidelines till 31st December 2020 WASHINGTON DC, May 25, 2020 The following OCI guidelines have been in force since 2005: OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years.

OCI card is required to be re-issued once on acquiring a new passport after completing 50 years of age.

The Government of India has decided to grant further extension in time till 31st December 2020 to get the OCI cards re-issued in accordance with above guidelines.

As and when the current prohibition on international air travel is lifted by the Government of India and the status of OCI card as a lifelong visa for travel to/from India is restored, such OCI cardholders may be allowed to travel on the strength of existing OCI cards bearing old passport number. However, this will be subject to the condition that the OCI cardholder will have to travel along with old and new passports and the OCI card having an old passport number.

Embassy of India - USA

Page 4 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

Family Health

Section 1

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Immunotherapy, steroids had positive outcomes in children with COVID-related multi-system inflammatory syndrome

www.voiceofasia.news

Tel: 713-774-5140

Millions of Seniors May Face COVID-19 Treatment Out-Of-Pocket Costs Low-income seniors who do not have supplemental coverage or Medicare Advantage could face out-of-pocket healthcare spending.

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ore than six million seniors would face COVID-19 treatment out-of-pocket healthcare spending if diagnosed with the coronavirus, a Patient Assistance Network (PAN) Foundation issue recent brief.

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ALLAS, May 18, 2020 — Treatment with antibodies purified from donated blood – immune globulin therapy – and steroids restored heart function in the majority of children with COVID-related multi-system inflammatory syndrome, according to new research published yesterday in Circulation, the flagship journal of the American Heart Association.

presented with fever and unusual lethargy (asthenia) lasting approximately 2 days, and 83% of patients (n=29) presented with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was present in all patients in association with low systolic blood pressure. Almost all patients required respiratory assistance (n= 33). Left ventricular function recovered in the majority of patients discharged from the intensive care unit (n=25). Ten patients treated with ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for 3-6 days were successfully weaned.

(ECMO is a process whereby the blood is sent through a machine to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. The oxygen-rich blood is then returned to the body.)

Physicians around the world have recently noted that a small number of children exposed to COVID-19 have an emerging condition with features overlapping toxic shock syndrome and similar to a heart condition known as Kawasaki disease, together with cardiac inflammation. The symptoms most commonly observed are high-spiking fever, unusual lethargy over several days (asthenia), digestive signs including severe abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea, The majority of patients reswollen lymph nodes (adenopa- ceived intravenous immune thy) and skin rash. globulin treatment (n=25), and 12 patients were treated with intravenous steroids. Three chilIn this small study, “Acute dren were treated with an interheart failure in multisymptom leukin 1 receptor antagonist due inflammatory syndrome in chil- to persistent severe inflammatodren (MIS0-C) in the context of ry state. 23 patients were treated global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic,” with a therapeutic dose of heparesearchers in France and Swit- rin. No deaths were observed. zerland retrospectively collected and analyzed clinical, biological, therapeutic and early outcome “The majority of patients redata for children admitted to the covered within a few days folpediatric intensive care unit from lowing intravenous immune March 22 to April 30, 2020, with globulin, with adjunctive steroid fever, cardiogenic shock or acute therapy used in one third. Treatleft ventricular dysfunction with ment with immune globulin apinflammatory state. pears to be associated with recovery of left ventricular systolic function,” researchers reported.

This analysis included 35 children (ages 2 to 16; median age of 10 years). Thirty-one The researchers’ key findings (88.5%) children tested positive are: for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and none of the children had underlying cardiovascular disease.

Multi-System Inflammatory Secondary conditions were lim- Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) ited, and 17% of patients were is a new syndrome that appears overweight (n=6). All patients to be temporally related to pre-

Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage cover nearly all of the same coronavirus-related services, including testing, in-person office visits, and telehealth visits. Tradivious exposure to SARS-CoV-2. tional Medicare and Medicare MIS-C shares similarities Advantage will also cover the with atypical Kawasaki disease, vaccine when it comes out. but prominent clinical signs are But coverage does not mean largely different. that patients are free from outMyocardial involvement with of-pocket healthcare spending. acute heart failure is likely due For Medicare Advantage, outto myocardial stunning or ede- of-pocket costs largely depend ma rather than to inflammatory on private payer policies. For myocardial damage. those with traditional MediWhereas the initial presenta- care, supplemental coverage tion may be severe with some would be required to cover patients requiring circulatory treatment costs. and respiratory mechanical asFor traditional Medicare bensistance, rapid recovery with the use of immune globulin and ste- eficiaries, testing and the future vaccine have no attached roids is currently observed. cost-sharing, but any treatment Early diagnosis and manage- after a positive diagnosis— ment appear to lead to favorable from telehealth visits to hosoutcome using classical thera- pital admissions—could result pies. in out-of-pocket costs. This Additional study is needed to includes medication that is not determine the full spectrum of a vaccine, PAN Foundation the illness and whether long- added, such as anti-viral and term cardiac complications may pneumonia medications which are currently being used to treat arise. coronavirus.

Authors are Zahra Belhadjer, M.D.; Mathilde Méot, M.D.; Most beneficiaries on tradiFanny Bajolle, M.D., Ph.D.; tional Medicare do have supDiala Khraiche, M.D.; Antoine plemental insurance to cover Legendre, M.D.; Samya Abakka, some other out-of-pocket costs M.D.; Johanne Auriau, M.D., related to coronavirus treatPh.D.; Marion Grimaud, M.D.; ment, whether through MedMehdi Oualha, M.D., Ph.D.; icaid, Medigap, or an employMaurice Beghetti, M.D., Ph.D.; er-sponsored health plan.

Julie Wacker, M.D.; Caroline Ovaert, M.D., Ph.D.; Sebastien In the past several years, Hascoet, M.D.; Maëlle Selegny, however, employers started M.D.; Sophie Malekzadeh-Mi- dropping their supplemental lani, M.D.; Alice Maltret, M.D.; plans, pushing seniors toward Gilles Bosser, M.D., Ph.D.; Medicaid or Medicare AdvanNathan Giroux, M.D.; Laurent Bonnemains, M.D., Ph.D.; Jeanne Bordet, M.D., Ph.D.; Sylvie Di Filippo, M.D., Ph.D.; Pierre Mauran, M.D., Ph.D; Sylvie Falcon-Eicher, M.D.; Jean-Benoît Thambo, M.D., Ph.D.; Bruno Lefort, M.D., Ph.D.; Pamela Moceri, M.D., Ph.D.; Lucile Houyel, M.D., Ph.D.; Sylvain Renolleau, M.D., Ph.D.; and Damien Bonnet, EW DELHI, India | AFP M.D., Ph.D. The authors have | Tuesday 5/26/2020 no disclosures.

- India's top biomedical research body on Tuesday - Circulation Journal Report

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This awareness campaign is made possible through Clear Channel Outdoor’s donation of the space on its billboards and a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

“Without the support of partners like Clear Channel Outdoor and Texas Bar Foundation, an awareness campaign of this magnitude would not be possible,” stated AVDA CEO Maisha Colter. “Unfortunately, the public health crisis of family violence is still viewed as a private matter by many,” continued Colter. “Not only will the billboards provide information for those in need to get the help they deserve, the billboards will build community awareness of the epidemic utilizing the most visible means possible.”

AVDA’s mission is to end family violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, promoting accountability for abusers and fostering a community response to abuse.

Since its founding in 1980, AVDA has provided free advocacy, safety planning and legal representation for more than 100,000 survivors and group counseling for 10,000 abusers

When those who turn to Medicaid and Medicare Advantage are removed from the equation, six million Americans on traditional Medicare are left behind who do not have supplemental coverage. These seniors could be exposed to higher out-ofpocket healthcare spending if they have to face coronavirus treatment.

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

organization went on to share how a monthly cap would allow seniors to expect the bill and know how much money they would need to set aside Seniors in this category also for it. may be low-income. ThirParts of this strategy have ty-seven percent of traditional been suggested in the Senate Medicare beneficiaries who are without supplemental coverage and by the Trump Administramake less than $20,000 annu- tion. Among the prescription ally. These lower income indi- drug spending proposals that viduals may struggle to afford policymakers hammered out toward the end of 2019, the coronavirus treatment bills.

Senate Finance Committee “Even before COVID-19, approved one that caps benefilow-income seniors had a ciary out-of-pocket healthcare heavier chronic disease burden, spending at $3,100. The Trump and they spent a greater portion Administration’s 2020 budof their incomes on healthcare get included an out-of-pocket compared to older adults with spending cap on the Medicare more financial resources,” the Part D catastrophic phase. issue brief stated.

Over 90 percent of coronaviTo ensure that low-income rus-related deaths in the US— seniors do not face exorbitant as of April 30, 2020—have hit healthcare spending and sur- the older demographic, with 92 prise billing due to coronavirus percent of coronavirus fataliand lack of supplemental cov- ties occurring amongst people erage, PAN Foundation recom- 55 years of age and older. Givmended that CMS move to cap en these realities, evaluating out-of-pocket prescription drug Medicare’s ability to provide costs. The organization also affordable coverage is critical suggested spreading the costs as Medicare forms a safety net for these populations. Source: across the benefit year.

PAN/Xtelligent Media.

This is not a new stance for the organization, nor is it alone in advocating for this strategy.

To choose right Medicare In January 2020, the PAN Foundation set forth its position as number three in its 2020 position statement, a cap on annual out-of-pocket costs. The

Advantage Plan, Medicare Supplement Plan, or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900

India backs hydroxychloroquine for virus prevention

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AVDA Announces billboard campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2020 OUSTON – AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse), in partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor, announces a major, victim-centered billboard campaign to be launched in October 2020 for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Anticipating a spike in domestic abuse survivors seeking legal aid and trauma counseling following the COVID-19 pandemic, the billboards will promote AVDA’s free legal representation for victims of domestic abuse in the Greater Houston area.

tage plans to fill gaps in coverage. In particular, middle and low income workers saw their Medicare plans stripped of supplemental benefits.

focused on personal change to end the cycle of abuse.

A United Way of Greater Houston agency, AVDA provides free legal representation to victims of domestic abuse for protective orders, divorce, child custody, child support and adoption (in cases of parental fatality) in Austin, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Waller and Washington counties plus emergency funding, safety planning and trauma counseling for survivors and their children.

AVDA also works with perpetrators to help change their abusive behavior through its Battering Intervention and Prevention Program in Harris, Galveston and Montgomery counties. As part of its efforts to build community awareness, AVDA provides adult education and programming for youth across the region to prevent abuse by focusing on healthy relationships.

For more information on AVDA, visit www.avda.org

backed the use of the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine as a preventive against coronavirus, after the WHO suspended clinical trials of the drug over safety concerns.

The endorsement from the Indian Council of Medical Research came a week after US President Donald Trump said he was taking the drug as a preventative measure.

Observational and case control studies in India showed there were "no major side effects" of taking the drug as a prophylactic, ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said.

Cases of nausea, vomiting and heart palpitations were noted, he added.

Last week, the ICMR -which is leading the government's response to the virus -- expanded its advisory for the use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure.

The body said all healthcare workers in hospitals and some frontline personnel could now take the drug for up to several weeks under strict medical supervision.

"We recommended that for prophylaxis, it should be continued, because there is no harm. Benefit may be there," Bhargava told reporters.

Bhargava added that when the ICMR weighed the risks

A pharmacy technician pours out pills of hydroxychloroquine at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 20, 2020. (George Frey / AFP - Getty Images)

and benefits of the drug, it decided that "we should not deny it to our frontline workers and healthcare workers."

But he stressed that personal protective gear should still be worn.

The previous ICMR guidelines for hydroxychloroquine stated that only asymptomatic healthcare workers caring for suspected or confirmed patients, or household contacts of confirmed patients, could be given the drug.

On Monday, the WHO said it was halting testing of the drug as a COVID-19 treatment after studies questioned its safety, including one that found it

actually increased the risk of death.

Under India's clinical guidelines for coronavirus treatment, hydroxychloroquine can be administered, but only to patients "with severe disease and requiring ICU management".

India -- which accounts for 70 percent of global production of hydroxychloroquine -- on Tuesday reported 145,380 cases of the virus including 4,167 deaths.

The country ramped up output of the drug amid increased demand, after Trump pushed for hydroxychloroquine as a potential shield or treatment for the virus.

Page 5 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

COMMUNITY

TiE Houston Webinars - Energy Series

H

OUSTON - The energy sector has begun 2020 with a state of heightened volatility. The global spread of the Covid-19 virus has created both supply and demand shocks to the global economy, with an accompanying shock to the oil & gas markets. TiE Houston is hosting a series of webinars on the Energy Sector . Our panel of leaders from the energy sector will be discussing the state of energy macroeconomics in 2020 and the technology/innovation challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs.

TiE Houston’s first discussion was on April 16th with Hossam El Badawy , Managing Director, SCF Partners. He has over 27 years’ experience in the energy sector, technology development, and commercialization.

The discussion was moderated

by TiE Houston board member, Dr. Ram G Shenoy. Ram Shenoy is a co-founder of several companies based on different technology areas. He retired after a career in upstream oil & gas, holding a variety of roles around technology development, management and marketing. The discussion focused on storage issues and oil prices. At the time when the webinar was held, the 1.9 Billion barrels of storage capacity was about 70% full. Hossam felt the diminishing storage would lead operators to shut production.

The second panelist was Kirk Coburn on May 6th. Kirk is Investment Director, Shell Ventures. His blog talks about energy, clean energy, advice for entrepreneurs and the venture capital landscape. He believes energy is a tough business to make money, specially, in early stage investing. Shell Ventures is the corporate, venture capital arm of Royal Dutch Shell. They invest in entrepreneurs who are in the oil and gas business to make existing operations more sustainable by lowering cost and increasing production. He also addressed the question of storage stating Texas regulators have approved a new oil storage rule by opening up old reser-

Hossam EL Badawy

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

Another Indian American physician succumbs to deadly corona virus

Ram G Shenoy

Dr. Sudheer S Chauhan

Kirk Coburn

voirs to store oil underground.

He spoke about technology in energy stating with the adoption of cloud and mobile, companies have the ability and platform now to easily roll out global digital technologies.

The third webinar was held on May 13th. The guest speaker was Imran Kizilbash, Managing Director, CSL Capital Management. CSL has deployed $1.7 Billion of capital over the last 12 years. They are focused on the energy side, more oil and gas, upstream and mid- stream. They have been incubating the concept of CSL Ventures launching a venture technology effort in

Imran Kizilbash

the energy space. They are fund raising for investors who want venture technology exposure.

Speaking on storage he said the Covid 19 outbreak has led to decrease in demand for oil.

In March, it was a decrease of 5-10 million barrels. The current number is between 25-30 million barrels. According to one report the number is 28.3 million barrels. The biggest piece is road transport which represents about 16 million barrels and aviation which represents about 5 million barrels. He also said storage in the US will essentially be topped up in the second half of May.

update from TiE Houston President, Dr. Atul Varadhachary on Covid 19. He spoke on Covid testing, Emerging true infection rates and implications and drug and vaccine landscape.

TiE Houston will continue with online programming till it is safe to host in person events.

The next webinar on the Energy Sector is scheduled for June 3rd with Saad Bargach.

TiE is the world’s largest entrepreneurship organization.

Founded in Silicon Valley in 1992 it has grown to over 15,000 members in 61 chapters across The webinars ended with an 14 countries.

Survivor recalls horror of Pakistan plane crash that killed 97

by Ajay Ghosh Dr. Sudheer S Chauhan, a kind hearted physician of Indian Origin, who had dedicated his life at the service of his thousands of patients in the New York region, succumbed to the deadly corona virus on May 19th.

Dr. Chuhan, an Internal Medicine specialist in South Richmond Hill, New York, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and battling for his life for the past few weeks, died of complications from the illness.

Dr. Priya Khanna, 43, another Indian American nephrologist died in a New Jersey Hospital last month. The deadly virus also took the life of her father Satyendra Khanna (78), a general surgeon, after being in a critical condition in the intensive care unit in the same hospital for several days.

“We have a proud moment, it is (also) a scary moment; it is a mixed feeling, but this virus

is a deadly virus” Dr. Suresh Reddy, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), describing the situation under which the physicians of Indian Origin serving people infected with the virus. “They tend to work disproportionately in areas that are medically underserved like rural and inner city areas taking on a heavier workload with patients who are more ill. We are definitely in the frontline fighting this deadly battle,” against the coronavirus, Reddy said.

During a recent candle light vigil and inter-faith prayer organized by AAPI, with one minute of silence with folded hands and heads bowed, the AAPI members and spiritual leaders prayed for the speedy recovery of Drs. Ajay Lodha, Anjana Samaddar, Dr. Sunil Mehra and thousands of other healthcare professionals who are in the front line and are admitted to hospital and receiving treatment.

India yogi who claimed to live without food or water dies aged 90

by Ashraf KHAN

K

ARACHI | AFP | 5/23/2020 - One of the two people to survive a plane crash in Pakistan that killed 97 people on board has described jumping from the burning wreckage of the aircraft after it hurtled into a residential neighbourhood.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane came down among houses on Friday after both engines failed as it approached Karachi airport, the airline said.

Its wings sliced through rooftops, sending flames and plumes of smoke into the air as it crashed onto a street, sparking a rescue operation that lasted until the early hours of Saturday.

The 97 victims had been on the plane, the provincial health ministry said, while four people on the ground were injured after earlier reports on Friday suggested some residents had been killed by the crash.

Pakistan's deadliest aviation accident in eight years came days after commercial flights resumed ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Planes had been grounded during a two-month lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"After it hit and I regained consciousness, I saw fire everywhere and no one was visible," passenger Mohammad Zubair, 24, said from his hospital bed in a video clip circulated on social media.

"The cries were everywhere and everybody was trying to survive. I undid my seat belt and I saw some light and tried to walk towards it. Then I jumped out."

Zubair had suffered burns but was in a stable condition, a health ministry official said.

The airline named the other survivor as the president of the Bank of Punjab, Zafar Masud.

PIA chief executive Arshad Mahmood Malik told media late

Prahlad Jani. Image Credit: AFP

A

HMEDABAD, India | AFP | Tuesday 5/26/2020 - An Indian yogi whose claims he spent decades without food or water earned him a band of devotees and the scepticism of doctors died Tuesday, his neighIn this photo released by the Sindh Press Information Department, Pakistani provincial minister Saeed Ghani, bour told AFP. second from right, meets Mohammad Zubair who survived a plane crash, at a hospital in Karachi on Friday,

Saturday that authorities had also recovered the plane's black box and had handed it over to investigators.

At least 19 bodies had been identified, while 47 relatives had come forward to provide DNA samples for tests.

The first funerals were also underway, with many more to come.

At a burial, Jehanzeb Baloch explained how his nephew, Major Shaheryar Baloch, "was supposed to come last Friday but had to postpone" and had died on the flight along with his wife and two children.

The family had been returning to Karachi for the Eid holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Several members of the armed forces were on the plane, the military said.

"Eid has become meaningless not only for Karachi but the whole of Pakistan," said Zia ul Huq Qamar, who lives near the crash site.

Shahbaz Hussain said his mother, who was also among the victims, had been flying back to Karachi after becoming stranded by the lockdown in Lahore while visiting her daughters.

- Mayday call A PIA spokesperson said air traffic control lost contact with the plane travelling from Lahore to Karachi just after 2:30 pm (0930 GMT).

The pilot made a desperate mayday call after announcing "we have lost engines", according to an audio recording confirmed by the airline.

PIA's chief executive Malik described the Airbus A320 as one of the safest planes.

"Technically, operationally everything was in place," he said, promising to work with investigators.

On board the aircraft were 91 passengers, six cabin crew and two pilots.

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the captain, Sajjad Gull, had been described by the airline as a senior A320 pilot with extensive flight experience.

"The pilot did his best to bring the plane to the runway and tried hard to contain damages," Khan said Saturday.

"There will be fair inquiry to put forth facts immediately before the public and parliament."

The plane first entered service in 2004 and was acquired by PIA a decade later, Airbus said in a statement. It had logged around 47,100 flight hours.

The long-haired and bearded Prahlad Jani -- who dressed in red and wore a nose ring in the fashion of Hindu goddesses -- hailed from Charada village in the western state of Gujarat, where he spent his life in a routine of yoga and mediation.

He was 90 based on his claim that he was born in August 1929.

"He died early Tuesday morning at his residence due to old age," Sheetal Chaudhary, who lived next door to Jani, told AFP. "He was rushed to hospital after midnight, but was declared dead on arrival by the doctors there."

Jani's body was taken to Ambaji, a town renowned for its temples and where he had built a small ashram and was known as "Mataji" (goddess).

"The body will be kept at the ashram for the next two days for people to pay their last respects," Chaudhary said, adding that Jani would be cremated on Thursday.

Jani's tale that he was blessed by a goddess when he was a child which enabled him to survive without sustenance won him a small group of followers -- despite the doubts of medical professionals.

He told AFP in 2003 he got the "elixir of life from the hole in my palate, which enables me to go without food and water".

There was no way of verifying Jani's claims, but doctors have said a person cannot go for long periods without food or water without organ damage and the body breaking down.

Nevertheless, Jani's claims attracted the interest of India's medical community.

In 2010 a team of military doctors studied him for two weeks at a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's biggest city.

Jani was watched with cameras and closed circuit television. Doctors took scans of his organs, brain and blood vessels, and conducted tests on his heart, lungs and memory capacity.

They said he did not eat, drink or go to the toilet, and his only contact with fluid was during gargling and bathing periodically.

Page 6 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

Page 7 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

BOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Pakistan goes wild for blockbuster Turkish drama

www.voiceofasia.news

YouTube will host screenings for "We Are One: A Global Film Festival" beginning May 29 and including feature films, shorts, documentaries and round tables.

The festival will benefit the World Health Organization, and encourage viewers to donate to COVID-19 relief efforts, organizers said.

They have not yet announced a precise program for the digital event.

Earlier this month organizers of Cannes, the premier festival held each year on the French Riviera, indicated that glittering event would be difficult to put on "in original form" due

to the coronavirus pandemic.

Initially planned for May 12-23, the festival was postponed to late June, but the French government then banned all large festivals until mid-July at the earliest in a bid to stem the outbreak.

The highly contagious and potentially fatal novel coronavirus has stalled cultural events worldwide, shuttering theaters and museums and forcing the cancellation of spring pro-

by Zain Zaman Janjua Africa for more than SLAMABAD | 600 years.

AFP | 5/22/2020 "The response has Dubbed the Muslim been incredible, it's re"Game of Thrones", a ally great to see how the drama about the makings show is resonating with of the Ottoman Empire Urdu speakers around has sent Pakistan wild the world," said Riyaad this Ramadan, smashing Minty, digital director television records but ex- of TRT, which proposing the country's lack duced the series. of original content.

PTV said viewership The Turkish-made se- has been unprecedentries has earned praise ed, with the drama for its focus on histor- fetching ratings five ical figures from the times higher than averMuslim world who age. have been framed as - 'Cheap re-run' role models for Pakistani youths, and the Featuring heartthrob Urdu-language version heroes, westernised

chael Kugelman from the Wilson Center think tank.

"There's strong backing among many in Pakistan for pan-Muslim solidarity, which translates in many cases to support for strong Muslim leaders from Malaysia to Turkey and many places in between," he said.

Turkey has backed Pakistan on the international stage, particularly in the dispute with New Delhi over Kashmir, and the two nations have enjoyed strong re-

Hollywood producer arrested in alleged $30 mn fraud scheme

of the show has racked up more than 240 million views on YouTube alone.

"I prefer to watch it with kids, so they can have real-life superheroes instead of fictional ones," said Hassam Mustafa as he settled down at his Islamabad home to watch the series with his nieces and nephews after breaking his fast.

Resurrection: Ertugrul has gripped audiences with its daring protagonist, cliffhangers and high production values since it began broadcasting on the first day of the Islamic holy month, which is due to end Sunday or Monday.

Usually state broadcaster PTV fills its Ramadan programming with live charity fundraisers, quiz shows and religious content.

But with the virus stifling television studios, Prime Minister Imran Khan issued special instructions to the broadcaster to air the series in a bid to boost Islamic culture and values among young people.

"Over here, we go to Hollywood then Bollywood and back again -third-hand culture gets promoted this way," Khan told a group of YouTubers recently, referring to the influence of foreign shows.

The five-season series tells the story of Ertugrul, the father of Osman I who founded the Ottoman Empire, which ruled parts of Europe, Western Asia and North

lations.

Egypt, however, fearing Turkey holds a desire to revive the Ottoman Empire and rule the Arab Muslim

world, quickly issued an Islamic legal ruling against the hit show.

Saudi Arabia stopped its state broadcaster from airing all Turkish

I

L

OS ANGELES | AFP | 5/22/2020 - The ousted chairman of a movie production and distribution company was arrested in Los Angeles on Friday for his alleged role in a nearly $30 million fraud scheme and for bilking a COVID-19 fund set up to help businesses.

William Sadleir, 66, of Beverly Hills, was taken into custody by FBI agents and other law enforcement following complaints filed both in California and New York.

Prosecutors say Sadleir, the former head of indie distributor Aviron Pictures, fraudulently filed bank loan applications seeking more than $1.7 million from a federal scheme set up in the wake of the pandemic.

Sadleir allegedly made false statements claiming he still had a In this picture taken on May 9, 2020, a family watches a Turkish drama series role at Aviron in order 'Dirilis: Ertugrul' telecasted on Pakistan's state-run channel PTV Home during the to obtain the forgivable loans. holy month of Ramadan in Islamabad. (AFP/Aamir Qureshi) heroines and picturesque scenery, dozens of Turkish soap operas have made it onto Pakistani television channels since 2012.

But a dependence on imported content is a source of frustration for some Pakistani artists, producers and directors who bemoan primetime slots being given to a foreign show.

PTV once used to produce the subcontinent's best soap operas but has suffered in the face of rising competition from private channels.

"It is a good opportunity for PTV management to look at themselves, shake their conscience and wonder how they are unable to produce a prime-time drama," Aehsun Talish, a Pakistani drama producer, told AFP. The channel has profited from advertising breaks during the broadcasts but experts warn it is on shaky ground.

"It's a cheap re-run, a temporary filling. If we truly want PTV's revival we will have to bank on local talent," Samina Ahmad, a veteran television actress, told AFP. - Turkish soft power Turkish television has become a major vehicle of soft power, with viewers in the Muslim world becoming voracious consumers of the country's soaps.

Resurrection: Ertugrul is another strategic asset for Turkey, said South Asia analyst Mi-

"Immediately upon receiving the funds, a significant amount was diverted to Sadleir's personal accounts and used for personal expenses," the California complaint said.

Some of the money was used to make payments to American Express cards belonging to Sadleir and his wife, as well as to pay off a car loan, according to the charge sheet.

A separate criminal complaint filed in New York charged Sadleir with engaging in multiple fraudulent schemes relating to investments in Aviron Pictures and its affiliated entities.

Prosecutors accuse Sadleir of illicitly transferring $25 million in Aviron funds and using much of the money -- $14 million -- to purchase a private residence in Beverly Hills.

"He allegedly even went so far as to pose as a female employee soap operas in 2018.

But Pakistan is set for more Turkish dramas, with the prime minister already lining up another show for screening.

Disney, CBS sued for 'rampant' sexual harassment on cop show

L

OS ANGELES | AFP | Tuesday 5/26/2020 - California sued Disney and CBS for allegedly covering up 14 years of sexual harassment against male crew members on the set of television cop series "Criminal Minds," officials said Tuesday.

A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles alleges Gregory St. Johns abused his position as cinematographer to repeatedly grope crew members, and retaliate against those who spurned his advances.

St. Johns touched multiple men on their genitalia and "kissed or caressed their necks, shoulders and ears" in a pattern of behavior that was "rampant, frequent and in the open," it alleges.

"The lawsuit further alleges that the executive production team knew of and condoned the unlawful conduct, firing over a dozen men who resisted St. John's harassment," said a Department of Fair Employment and Housing statement.

St. Johns was removed from the show

Tel: 713-774-5140

Virtual film festival to feature Uggie the star of work from Cannes, Venice 'The Artist' wins greatest movie N mutt award EW YORK | AFP | 4/27/2020 The globe's top film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto and Berlin will participate in a free 10-day virtual cinema program starting next month, New York's Tribeca festival announced Monday.

In this picture taken on May 9, 2020, a family watches a Turkish drama series "Dirilis: Ertugrul"

Criminal Minds was joint produced by CBS and Disney-owned ABC (AFP Photo/ANGELA WEISS)

after trade publication Variety published an article in 2018 detailing allegations.

The DFEH began investigating in March last year. The department, which enforces California's civil rights laws including on workplace harassment, is now seeking damages for any victims.

As well as suing the giant Hollywood studios, the lawsuit also names several individual producers as defendants.

Director Kevin Kish warned that "companies and leaders who protect harassers and retaliate against those who complain violate the law."

Neither Disney nor CBS immediately responded to AFP request for comment.

"Criminal Minds" was a long-running FBI police procedural whose cast included Mandy Patinkin, Paget Brewster and Jennifer Love Hewitt, among others.

It was jointly produced

by Disney-owned ABC and CBS. Hollywood has been hit by a string of sexual harassment allegations in recent years. Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's 23 year sentence for rape and sexual assault in March capped a landmark case for the #MeToo movement.

of the sham New York based company he created to further his illegal activity," said William Sweeney Jr, the FBI assistant director for New York.

Prosecutors said Sadleir also illicitly sold and refinanced $3 million in assets that had been used as collateral to secure loans to Aviron.

Sadleir founded Aviron and was removed as top executive late last year.

The company has only five titles to its name, including "After," its most successful project, "Serenity" and the sequel to the horror franchise "The Strangers."

If convicted on the four fraud charges in California, Sadleir faces up to 82 years in prison.

The New York charges -- two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft -- collectively carry up to 42 years in prison.

by Fiachra Gibbons

P

ARIS | AFP | Friday 5/22/2020 - Uggie the adorable terrier from the Oscar-winning film "The Artist" was posthumously awarded the Palm Dog of Palm Dogs Friday for the best canine performance ever at the Cannes film festival.

With the film world in mourning after Cannes was cancelled because of the coronavirus, the ceremony was conducted virtually, with Dash -- Uggie's old friend and understudy, who also appeared in the 2011 silent comedy -accepting the diamante-encrusted collar on his behalf.

Uggie passed away five years ago aged 13 but not before charming the world after making his first big splash at Cannes.

The Palm Dog is the doggie version of the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, and almost as sought after, with Quentin Tarantino, Noah Baumbach and Jim Jarsmusch among a galaxy of top-dog directors who have emerged from the pack with the highly-prized collar between their teeth.

Cannes would have reached its climax this weekend had the coronavirus not struck, completely overturning the movie calendar and now even calling the Oscars into question.

- Cans of tinned rat Palm Dog founder Toby Rose told AFP that he decided to honour Uggie not just for being the greatest Hollywood hound in the Palm Dog's two-decade

history, but for proudly wearing the collar on his worldwide publicity tour for the film.

"Every single year a journalist will pose the question, 'Is there going to be a year with (films with) no dogs?"

We been doing this 19, coming on 20 years and dogs and directors never fail to come up with the goods," he added.

Indeed Tarantino admitted that he had his eye on the collar last year for "my wonderful actress Brandy", a pit bull who liked to chomp cans of tinned rat and who savaged the baddies in the gory final scene of "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood".

"I'm not going to give this to her -- it'll go on my mantelpiece," he proudly told AFP after the dog who very nearly upstaged Brad Pitt won the award.

Uggie's trainer Omar Von Muller, who also worked on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", said winning the Palm Dog was the launchpad for "The Artist" and its fairytale Oscar success.

"At the time we really didn't know how the movie would do and that's when the whole thing started going everywhere," he told AFP from his home north of Los Angeles, which is festooned with portraits of Uggie.

- 'He loved the attention' "Uggie was a very, very special friend. He was a family member...

He loved to work and the attention he got on set. He will be in our hearts forever," Von Muller said.

'Real Lord of the Flies' shipwreck to become Hollywood movie

L

OS ANGELES / HOLLYWOOD, AFP | 5/22/2020 - The remarkable story of six boys stranded on a remote island that has been dubbed the "Real Lord of the Flies" is to become a Hollywood movie, it was announced Friday.

Dutch historian Rutger Bregman pieced together the true tale of how a group of Tongan teenagers ended up shipwrecked together in the Pacific for 15 months, after stealing a fisherman's boat in the 1960s.

A newspaper article Bregman penned to promote his book "Humankind" went viral two weeks ago, sparking a fierce bidding war among Tinseltown studios.

"The Real Lord of the Flies will become a movie!! The last two weeks have been a crazy rollercoaster," tweeted Bregman Friday.

"Lots of Hollywood studios suddenly wanted to buy the rights to the story of Sione, Luke, Mano, Tevita, Fatai and Kolo," he added.

Unlike in William Golding's classic nov-

el "Lord of the Flies," the real-life boys peacefully co-operated during their time on the uninhabited rocky islet of 'Ata. "The kids worked together in teams of two, got a fire started and never let it go out, and stayed friends this whole time," Bregman wrote in an earlier tweet.

They survived on fish, coconuts, birds and eggs, drew up strict rosters for their duties, and even created a makeshift gym and badminton court.

Rutger's article published by The Guardian describes how the author tracked down an Australian ship captain who miraculously spotted and rescued the boys.

It has reportedly received 8 million views.

After interest from "a lot of studios" who "bombarded" him with inquiries, Rutger spoke with the captain and four surviving castaways on a Zoom call.

They decided to sell the rights to "The Revenant" and "12 Years a Slave" producer New Regency, and share the proceeds, Rutger

wrote.

Hollywood trade publication Deadline said "a low seven-figure deal" was being negotiated amid competing bids from the likes of Netflix and MGM. New Regency did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Speculation had been mounting in Hollywood over a possible movie version.

Maori filmmaker Taika Waititi ("Thor: Ragnarok") earlier tweeted that any film should "prioritize Polynesian (Tongan if possible!) filmmakers."

Rutger said New Regency had promised to "do everything to strive for cultural authenticity and work as much as possible with local crew/filmmakers," and would hire the castaways and other Tongan consultants.

"Finally, after 50 years, the survivors have reconnected and the world will hear their story," said Rutger.

He added: "And we all look forward to the day we meet on the red carpet!"

Page 8 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

Section 2

Business

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Cleaning crews ready for reopening in post-pandemic US

by Julie Chabanas

W

ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 5/24/2020 - Tables, chairs, counters, doors: reopened US businesses and restaurants will have to focus on thorough disinfecting if they want to lure customers, and cleaning companies are preparing for an explosion in demand.

With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid easing of lockdowns even as the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continues to climb, managers face new challenges as they rethink their approach to hygiene in public gathering places.

"For each building that is open, the demand is materially higher than it was pre-COVID," said Josh Feinberg, president of the Cleaning Coalition of America, comprised of seven commercial cleaning companies that banded together in late April to address the new issues facing the sector.

In the post-pandemic world, cleaning is a serious business. Rather than a simple dusting, businesses will need deep cleaning several times a day to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces.

"As more and more buildings open, the demand will continue to grow," Feinberg told AFP. "We are cleaning much more frequently... instead of just, you know, cleaning dirt."

Hospitals, nursing homes, schools and daycares all want to avoid contamination. Bars, restaurants, shops, hair salons need to reassure customers that it's safe to come in.

Robert Albrecht runs a small company in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and was contacted by the owner of a small pizzeria to set up a disinfection protocol prior to reopening, highlighting the need for "building the consumer confidence to come back in and sit down and eat."

- Empty offices and airports The cleaning sector, which employs a million workers, expects to see activity jump by a third compared to the pre-pandemic level.

Trump, who is running for a second term in the White House, is anxious to

see economic activity recover with less than six months until the presidential election.

Some US states have allowed restaurants and shops to open their doors, including Texas and Georgia, but others worry that a premature return to normalcy could lead to a second wave of infections and an even worse hit to the economy.

More than 90,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, and testing still lags many European countries though has surpassed Canada.

Like other industries, demand for cleaning services fell drastically amid the nationwide lockdowns.

As they tried to stay afloat, and in anticipation of a spike in the need for their services, the companies worked to keep their employees and find new contracts to replace those they lost.

To help their new customers, they had to quickly train workers to clean and disinfect hospital rooms, supermarket shelves, and even a logistics warehouse, all places deemed essential that remained open amid the lockdowns and had to be cleaned with much more care than before.

However, these new clients only par-

tially compensated for the 40 percent drop in activity.

- School buses, retirement homes "You can imagine if you shift from an office building to an airport or an airport to a hospital, it's very different," Feinberg said.

In Boston, for example, where the airport is largely deserted since most flights have been grounded, maintenance workers have shifted gears and are now preparing meals for hospital staff in the region, he said.

Albrecht's company, Infection Prevention Systems (IPS), also suffered a big hit due to the lockdowns: training, which represented half of the firm's income, disappeared, in favor of cleaning and disinfecting.

"We are extremely busy, obviously, but we are not in the field where we want to be," he said.

Its ultraviolet disinfection devices are particularly successful, and new sectors such as retirement homes now make up 45 percent of the company's business, compared to zero a few months ago.

IPS is even cleaning iconic yellow school buses, and has provided advice to paramedics to disinfect vehicles used to transport COVID-19 patients.

by Marlowe Hood

From Wall Street to Bethlehem, iconic sites reopen from virus

by John Biers

N

EW YORK | AFP | Tuesday 5/26/2020 - Iconic world sites from the New York Stock Exchange to the Church of the Nativity reopened their doors Tuesday from the coronavirus pandemic, but new alarm bells rang in Latin America over a spike of infections.

In a symbolic return of a high altar of capitalism, the New York Stock Exchange -- which had gone exclusively virtual for two months -- allowed a limited number of traders to return to the trading floor, wearing masks to reduce the risk of infection.

The reopening boosted the mood as the benchmark Dow Jones index surged more than 2.2 percent, casting aside grim predictions that the world could be entering a new Great Depression after millions of job losses.

Visiting Wall Street, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for swift work on long-mulled mega-infrastructure projects such as subway extensions in the hard-hit metropolis.

"Let's do something creative, let's do it fast. Let's put Americans back to work," Cuomo told reporters.

There were also signs of hope at some

EW YORK | AFP | Tuesday 5/26/2020 - Further easing of coronavirus lockdowns pushed global equities higher on Tuesday, with optimism stoked by the reopening of bars, cafes, pools and beaches outweighing China-US tensions that have hurt the dollar.

While countries including Brazil, Chile and Russia are enduring rising death tolls and infection rates from COVID-19, an increasing number of governments are seeing figures tail off.

"Once again, the markets embraced an optimistic outlook... setting aside fears over the long-term economic impact of the pandemic and the ever-growing tensions between the US and China to focus on another round of global easing "A truly healthy economy will not allow pollution to continue to cloud the air we measures," said Connor Campbell, anabreathe and the water we drink," organizations representing 40 million health workers lyst at trading group Spreadex. said. (AFP Photo) Adding to the broadly positive outlook was optimism about progress on a possible vaccine, which would allow the shattered global economy to start bouncing back.

But Chris Iggo at AXA Investment Managers warned, "That does not mean we should ignore the risk of second waves, prolonged weak growth and geopolitical issues."

Wall Street, where the New York Stock Exchange trading floor reopened after two months of closure, finished higher, with the Dow gaining 2.2 percent to 24,995.11.

"US stock markets are gearing up for a strong start to the week as further lockdown easing and some more promising vaccine news lifted sentiment Health workers -- from cleaning crews to doctors, in hospitals and nursing homes -- have after the bank holiday weekend," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at been hit hard by the pandemic (AFP Photo/Dimitar Dilkoff) unabated climate change and deforestation, potentially unleashing new health threats upon vulnerable populations."

Promoting the hashtag #HealthyRecovery, the appeal called for removing hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies for oil, gas and coal, the main drivers of both global warming and air pollution.

It also underscored the need to boost

renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.

"Healthy lives depend on a healthy planet," said World Medical Association President Miguel Jorge. "We need a comprehensive approach, a healthy and green recovery, and we need it now."

Health workers -- from cleaning crews to doctors, in hospitals and nurs-

of the world's best-known destinations including the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built on the spot where Christians believe their saviour Jesus was born.

The church's opening "gives hope to the world that this pandemic will end," said Rula Maaya, the Palestinian tourism minister.

The illness has killed more than 346,000 people worldwide and forced most countries to mothball their tourism industries, a crucial source of revenue.

- Political controversies Controversies surrounding the coronavirus have intensified around the world.

Douglas Ross, a minister for Scotland, resigned in protest, saying of families who could not mourn loved ones during the lockdown: "I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior advisor to the government was right."

US President Donald Trump, an ally of both Johnson and Bolsonaro, has weathered a torrent of criticism for playing golf as the death toll in his country neared 100,000 on the weekend and for not wearing a mask in public.

Global stocks rise on hopes for economic rebound, vaccine

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The twenty nations accounting for 90 percent of global GDP should prioritise investment in public health, clean air, clean water and a stable climate in order to boost resilience against future health crises, said the letter.

"We have witnessed first-hand how fragile communities can be when their health, food security and freedom to work are interrupted by a common threat," the letter said, describing the COVID-19 pandemic that has sickened more that five million and claimed nearly 350,000 lives since the start of the year.

"These effects could have been partially mitigated, or possibly even prevented, by adequate investments in pandemic preparedness, public health and environmental stewardship."

The next G20 summit is scheduled for November.

A June meeting of G7 leaders was scrapped due to the global health crisis, but US President Donald Trump said last week it could still take place at the White House and Camp David, a summer retreat outside Washington DC. Backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Climate and Health Alliance, the letter highlighted the health-wrecking impact of air pollution, which causes some seven million premature deaths each year.

- 'New health threats' "Before COVID-19, air pollution was already weakening our bodies," the World Medical Association, the International Council of Nurses, the World Organization of Family Doctors and two hundred other groups said.

"A truly healthy economy will not allow pollution to continue to cloud the air we breathe and the water we drink," the letter continued. "It will not allow

Tel: 713-774-5140

Tables, chairs, counters, doors: reopened US businesses and restaurants will have to focus on thorough disinfecting if they want to lure customers, and cleaning companies are preparing for an explosion in demand. (File photo/AFP)

World needs 'green recovery', health pros tell G20 leaders ARIS | AFP | 5/25/2020 - Trillions of dollars, euros and yuan pouring into post-pandemic economies must build a "healthy and green recovery", 200 medical groups representing 40 million health professionals worldwide told G20 leaders Tuesday in an open letter.

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

ing homes -- have been hit especially hard by the pandemic.

While there is no official tally, tens of thousands have been infected with the virus, and hundreds have died.

At the beginning of May, the International Council of Nurses reported that

OANDA Europe.

Key European markets were all one percent or more higher at the closing bell, with London playing catch-up after a strong eurozone performance on Monday, though its gains were capped by a rising pound.

Earlier, Asian markets had closed higher, with Tokyo rising more than two percent, and Hong Kong up 1.9 percent as city leader Carrie Lam sought to reassure investors.

She said fears that Hong Kong's business-friendly freedoms were at risk from a planned Chinese national security law were "totally groundless".

But OANDA's Erlam warned that whatever good news may be looming on the COVID-19 front stood to be undermined by worsening relations between Washington and Beijing, which he said "will be a constant headwind for stock markets".

US President Donald Trump warned that Hong Kong could lose its status as a global financial center if the proposed Chinese crackdown goes ahead.

Critics fear the law could be a death blow to the city's treasured liberties, which are crucial to making it an international financial center on a par with New York and London.

Oil prices pushed on with their recovery, having suffered a spectacularly bad April when WTI crashed below zero.

The reopening of economies and a massive cut in output by some of the world's top producers has helped the US benchmark WTI virtually double in value this month.

at least 90,000 nurses worldwide -- possibly twice as many -- had caught the virus.

Hundreds of health professionals have died, including many during the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, the pandemic's epicentre.

Page 9 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

Section 2

LIFESTYLE

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Virus lockdowns stifle Eid celebrations as infections rise

by Anuj Chopra bureaus

Tel: 713-774-5140

Waxed chests, face masks, beard oil: Indian millennials defy gender norms

by Vishal Manve

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IYADH | AFP | 5/24/2020 - Muslims around the world began marking a sombre Eid al-Fitr Sunday, many under coronavirus lockdown, but lax restrictions offered respite to worshippers in some countries despite fears of skyrocketing infections.

The three-day festival, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats.

But this year, the celebration is overshadowed by the fast-spreading coronavirus, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions after a partial easing during Ramadan led to a sharp spike in infections.

Further dampening the festive spirit, many countries -- from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Turkey and Syria -- have banned mass prayer gatherings to limit the spread of the disease.

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, began a five-day round-the-clock curfew from Saturday after infections more than quadrupled since the start of Ramadan to over 72,000 -- the highest in the Gulf.

Mecca's Grand Mosque has been almost devoid of worshippers since March, with a stunning emptiness enveloping the sacred Kaaba -- the large cubeshaped structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.

But on Sunday, an imam stood on a podium while Saudi security forces, some wearing masks, positioned themselves between rows of worshippers who gathered before the Kaaba for Eid prayers.

- Scuffles in Jerusalem At Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina, prayers were not permitted inside, although the site is expected to reopen after the Eid holiday.

Small scuffles broke out between Israeli security forces and worshippers gathering around the mosque at dawn, although prayers eventually went ahead outside, an AFP photographer said.

In Gaza, Hamas authorities allowed prayers in mosques despite the enclave's first coronavirus death on Saturday, but worshippers mostly wore masks and placed their prayer mats far apart.

"Eid is not Eid with the atmosphere of coronavirus -- people feel a sense of fear," worshipper Akram Taher said.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a three-day ceasefire to mark Eid al-Fitr in a surprise move following months of bloody fighting with Afghan forces after the signing of a landmark agreement with the United States.

The streets of Kabul were mostly empty as part of a strict lockdown, but some people did venture out and greet each other -- some from a distance and others hugging and shaking hands despite calls for social distancing.

In Somalia, at least five people were killed and more than 20 wounded in a blast during Eid festivities, police said.

The blast occurred as a crowd of people were dancing and singing, a witness said, but the cause of the explosion was unclear.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, another troublespot, Eid celebrations were muted under the coronavirus restrictions and as authorities tightened the screws after a spate of clashes between government forces and rebels.

- Fears of 'new peak' Ahead of the holiday, Muslims across Asia -- from Indonesia to Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan -- had thronged markets to shop, flouting coronavirus guidelines and sometimes even police attempts to disperse large crowds.

"For over two months my children were homebound," said mother of four Ishrat Jahan at a bustling market in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

UMBAI | AFP | 5/19/2020 - After exfoliating his face and buffing his nails, Lakshay Narula crossed another grooming frontier -- applying hair removal cream to his chest and with it, upending India's rigid gender norms.

The Eid holiday in Pakistan began on a sombre note after a plane crash in Karachi on Friday killed 97 people (AFP Photo/Aamir Qureshi)

"This feast is for the kids, and if they can't celebrate it with new garments, there is no point in us working so hard throughout the year."

The holiday began on a sombre note after a Pakistan International Airline flight crashed Friday in the southern city of Karachi, killing 97 people including many who were travelling to see family for the holiday.

The English daily Dawn said the crash, along with the pandemic, had robbed Pakistan of "whatever little joy had been left at the prospect of Eid festivities".

In Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation -- people turned to smugglers and fake travel documents to get around bans on the annual end-of-Ramadan travel that could send infections soaring.

In the conservative province of Aceh, large groups prayed together with few masks and little social distancing as Eid began, and the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in the provincial capital was packed.

"I did feel worried but as a Muslim, I still had to perform

mass Eid prayers as a form of gratitude to Allah," one worshipper, Arsi, said.

COVID-19 death tolls across the Middle East and Asia have been lower than in Europe and the United States, but numbers are rising steadily, sparking fears the virus may overwhelm often underfunded healthcare systems.

- Frugal celebrations Iran, which has experienced the Middle East's deadliest outbreak, called on its citizens to avoid travel during Eid as it battles to control the virus.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki said Iran was focusing hard on avoiding "new peaks of the disease" caused by people "not respecting health regulations".

The United Arab Emirates has tightened its lockdown which had been relaxed during Ramadan, but that did not stop some families from planning getaways to luxury beachfront hotels.

But in many countries, Muslims steeled themselves for frugal celebrations amid growing financial distress, including falling oil prices that plunged the

Inspired by Bollywood actors and cricket superstars, Indian men are splashing out on grooming products and subverting macho stereotypes that have long defined ideas of masculinity in the patriarchal country.

"I spend 15 minutes on my hair alone and a day prior to shoots, I exfoliate my face and use traditional herbal face packs," Mumbai-based television anchor Narula told AFP. Hair removal cream did not seem like a radical step, the 29-year-old said.

"It felt fantastic," he told AFP, adding that it was time to drop the idea of men "grooming (themselves) only to impress women."

"I am a man and am doing it for myself to feel confident."

From charcoal face scrubs to beard oils to tinted moisturisers, Indian start-ups are hoping to capture the attention of appearance-conscious professionals like Narula.

With one in four Indians owning a smartphone -- the majority of them male -- social media is a key battleground for pushing products challenging symbols of masculinity from an earlier era, like the 1990s Bollywood 'action hero' covered in sweat and grime.

Today, the movies are more likely to feature stars who never have a hair out of place, even as they deploy flying kicks to beat up bad guys. Advertising styling

Cheers to 'new-age' whisky, spiked with butterscotch, tea and more

by Trisha Mukherjee

coffee.

T

he overtly masculine image of amber liquid sloshing gently on rocks of ice as gentlemen hold their glasses and clouds of cigar smoke swirl around is changing rapidly with whisky brands tapping into a diverse customer base and experimenting with flavours as diverse as coffee and tea.

he staid whisky spirit is getting a fun makeover with cocktail connoisseurs joining in too, either using ingredients to enhance the velvety smooth flavour of whisky or disguising it, to woo those who usually stayed with sweeter fruity cocktails.

Shreshta Saha, who kept away from whisky for almost half a decade, now says Whiskey Sour is her drink of choice.

"Whip up a cocktail or dilute it enough with water to make the taste of hard liquor go away," 26-year-old Shreshta told PTI.

"These rare findings handpicked from diverse parts of India enhance the flavour of the single malt," said Angad Singh Gandhi, Glenfiddich India brand ambassador.

The brand has also curated celebratory cocktail recipes taking inspiration from the festive spirit and cheer of Diwali such as 'Whisof a Dewar's peg. ky by Nature', 'Drop it Like It's Going for traditional flavours Hot' and 'Passion Whisky Sour' like ginger, scotch and lemon is among others. another trick that proves to be a Jameson Irish Whiskey by safe bet for beginners.

Pernod Ricard introduced a new "New whisky drinkers usually variant - Jameson Caskmates tend to start with something light in India earlier this year. and comfortable on their palate.

The idea is to introduce people The varietal has hints of butslowly and step by step by first terscotch, cocoa and coffee due acquainting them with basics," to the whisky being finished for said Emily Thompson, also a six months in whisky barrels used to age stout beer. brand ambassador.

Whisky happened to 25-yearA sweet-n-sour concoction, a old Shreya Nanda after she reclassic Whiskey Sour mellows peatedly found herself socialising the flavour of hard liquor with the with a bunch of whisky drinkers. addition of a sweetener, a dash of But the smell continued to feel lemon and sometimes egg white. overwhelming, until she finally Leading brands are hoping to found her calling - Pure Sin. break the old school imagery of whisky in their bid to attract "It is my favourite probably non-conventional whisky drink- because I simply don't realise it contains whisky," she said. ers like Saha.

Dewar's India, a blended scotch he creamy cocktail uses a fine whisky brand owned by Bacardi, blend of Irish whisky and Irish is aiming at making millennials creme liqueur, topped with dollops of vanilla ice-cream and an aware of scotch's "versatility". assortment of frozen berries.

Ernest Reid, brand ambassador for Dewar's India, said the com- Glenfiddich's recent initiative pany is expanding on the flavours - Cocktails Reimagined - experiments with unique ingredients present in the base spirit. such as Silver Tips Full-Moon "All expressions of Dewar's tea, Castleton Muscatel second have a base line of honey," he flush, premium Kashmiri walsaid, adding that apple or cinna- nuts, bay leaf from Assam and mon would be natural extensions the Gung Giri estate's premium

The move came after they noticed a rise in demand for coffee in the country.

"Before introducing a varietal, we keep an eye on the trends of consumption in a market. Coffee in India, for instance, has been on the rise for the better part of a decade now," a brand spokesperson said.

Jack Daniel's (JD) Tennessee too launched a new spirit - Jack Fire - this year, that uses "Ceylon" cinnamon, making the drink aromatic.

The result is a sweet, hot cinnamon kick that complements the smooth and delicious taste of Jack Daniel's.

"We want everyone to enjoy JD in a way that fits their palate.

And, through the Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, we are offering existing fans and new consum-

Television anchor Lakshay Narula, 29, said hair removal cream did not seem like a radical step (AFP Photo/Indranil Mukherjee)

Mumbai-based communications executive Suraj Balakrishnan's regimen includes oils for his beard, body and hair (AFP Photo/Indranil Mukherjee)

gel, as Bollywood star Ranveer Singh has done, is a natural next step.

Veet, a Canadian brand owned

by British giant Reckitt Benckiser, turned to heart-throb Kartik Aaryan to flog its hair removal cream to more adventurous customers.

Popular actor Ayushmann Khurrana even bought a stake in beauty start-up The Man Company (TMC), whose competitors have recruited social media influencers for endorsements.

- 'Explainer videos' But creating a market for previously unheard-of products often requires extra effort.

"When we launched a charcoal peel-off mask, we made explainer videos" for men unfamiliar with the product, TMC founder Hitesh Dhingra told AFP. The firm also uses Instagram to encourage customers to share selfies with their products, he added.

The model seems to be working -- Narula says the same friends who earlier mocked his skincare regimen are now asking him for product recommendations.

Even the coronavirus pandemic hasn't deterred Narula, who says he is taking advantage of hair salons being closed during the lockdown to try new hairdos for video conferences and work calls.

As well as giving him confidence when he goes live on Instagram, "the whole process is very therapeutic amid the rising stress levels," he said.

- Big money According to research firm EuroMonitor International, India's male grooming industry grew 10 percent between 2017 and 2018, with sales topping 100 billion rupees ($1.4 billion).

Traditional consumer giants are also hopping on the banders another flavor option," said Vineet Agrawal, a spokesperson for the brand.

According to a Jameson spokesperson, the whisky-sampling audience has traditionally been "dominantly male", but admits that a shift is evident.

"With more bars offering diverse cocktail menus to cater to their audiences, we are seeing a steady increase in adoption by women as well," he said.

Gandhi added the shift was also visible in the age vertical, where whisky is becoming a preferred choice of drink also among younger audiences vis-avis the traditional "mature consumers".

wagon by investing in grooming start-ups.

India's Emami Group conglomerate purchased a 30 percent stake in TMC, while Colgate-Palmolive and Mumbai-based Marico Limited both own stakes in rival start-ups Bombay Shaving Company and Beardo.

N. Chandramouli, chief of brand insights agency TRA Research, told AFP large firms were supporting start-ups instead of trying to market their own products "because they feel that these smaller players have a sense of intimacy with the consumer".

"A lot of brands are now speaking directly to men," Che Kurrien, editor of GQ India, told AFP. "So, exposure levels are very high, and it's very hard not to get influenced."

With prices starting at 150 rupees ($2) for face wash, the products are relatively affordable and even self-described "low maintenance" men -- those who followed a soap-and-shave routine -- have switched gears.

"Grooming helps men land better jobs, have better romantic prospects or get access to nightclubs," Mumbai-based communications executive Suraj Balakrishnan, 30, whose regimen includes oils for his beard, body and hair, told AFP. "When you look good, you tend to feel good... looking wellgroomed and well-dressed gives you an edge."

Savvy entrepreneurs have also latched on to the trend by launching beauty salons targeting men and offering services from facials to manicures to waxing.

- Skin-deep change Unlike their corporate counterparts, niche grooming brands are not shy about tackling controversial issues.

A TMC social media campaign for Valentine's Day featured a gay couple, a man applying lipstick, and a father struggling with body image issues.

It garnered 16,000 likes on Instagram -- with users applauding the company for shooting down toxic masculinity norms.

Like South Korea and Japan, which boast thriving markets for male beauty products, India's grooming industry exists against the backdrop of a notoriously sexist culture.

Many wonder whether the changes it posits are merely skin-deep.

"We are still in the throes of change," said Balakrishnan.

"Grooming physically does not mean you're shifting lifelong attitudes completely. Transition takes time."

Page 10 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

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Week of May 29, 2020 21 March to 20 April While the focus is still very much on communication and connection this week, there continue to be opportunities to link up with those on your wavelength. Yet, as delectable Venus continues to rewind, you might be ready to jettison certain social connections. This can pave the way for meeting other people.

21 April to 20 May Money matters may be very much on your mind with a view toward enhancing cash flow and perhaps earning extra income. Mercury continues in the last part of your financial sector, encouraging you to sell those items you no longer want or need. With a little bit of savvy, you could make a lot of money out of items that have been lying around for some time.

21 May to 20 June The focus on your sign continues to give you an advantage because you’ll likely have more energy and confidence to move ahead with key plans. Your willpower could also increase, especially if you’re doing something that has personal meaning for you. This can also be an opportunity to enhance your image. Be ready for something that is a marked change from the usual.

21 June to 22 July The sun’s continued presence in a private sector of your chart suggests that you might naturally feel drawn to heal unresolved issues and clear out any emotional baggage.

It’s also a chance to reset your priorities and consider your plans for the coming months. Rather than engage just your head, though, listen to your heart, too.

23 July to 22 August Your social sector continues to look lively with the sun newly in this sector bringing opportunities to connect and unwind. Still, with it in inquisitive Gemini, you may find yourself involved in all kinds of activities as your curiosity leads you to explore further.

This can be a peak time to make new friends and move in new circles.

23 August to 22 Sept Are you ready to shine? With a lively array of planets in the topmost sector of your chart at the start of the week, you can thrive when you allow yourself to stand in the spotlight. The sun’s presence here suggests that you’ll draw attention to yourself whether you like it or not. Time to promote your skills and abilities.

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23 September to 22 Oct The idea of visiting new places and getting out and about can stir up a sense of excitement. With the sun moving through your sector of travel and adventure, the coming weeks may find you eager to explore new opportunities, try out ideas and beliefs, and expand your range of options.

23 October to 21 Nov The illuminating sun is in a more intense zone for some weeks yet, so this can be one of the better times to get your business affairs and finances in order. Directing your attention to those areas that may have become muddled or confused could bring clarity, enabling you to devise a plan.

22 November to 21 Dec The sun continues its journey through your sector of relating, so the coming weeks could see a lot more interaction, whether online or off. This is a time when you might want to network to reach goals that would be difficult to accomplish alone. And your social life might also get some extra sparkle if you have an opportunity to get out.

22 December to 20 Jan The presence of the sun in your lifestyle zone brings a chance to look at your wellness routines with a view toward making a few changes. If you feel that a personal trainer or health professional could assist you, it might be worth connecting with one for some in-depth advice.

21 January to 19 Feb Are you ready to indulge? The coming weeks could find you eager to explore your favorite hobbies and sports. The presence of the sun here encourages you to make use of your skills and talents. And if you’re eager to promote your artistic or creative skills or sporting abilities, this is the time to do so.

20 February to 20 Mar Home, sweet home could call out to you over the coming weeks. This is your chance to spend more time with close ones and nurture yourself if you haven’t had an opportunity to do so for a while. Taking time out to reflect on your goals and make any related decisions can leave you feeling more at peace.

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Fort Bend View

Page 11 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Judge KP George launches ‘Adopt-A-Family’ Program to support local communities New Program Helps Families Get Back On Their Feet During Pandemic

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ecognizing that a great number of Fort Bend County families have been negatively impacted due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; County Judge KP George recently announced an initiative – the Fort Bend County “Adopt-A-Family” program. This program goes a long way to help families in need get back on their feet during this unprecedented pandemic, and Judge George also recently challenged District Attorney Brian Middleton to join the program and pass it on.

to our District Attorney Brian Middleton to participate and pass it on. Those interested in adopting a family may call the Adopt-a-Family hotline at (281) 344-6116 or e-mail Socialservicesinbox@fortbendcountytx. gov.”

Many of our neighbors have been unable to work or they have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, and for the first time in their lives, they need assistance paying their rent, bills, or insurance.

Can you help a family in need?

No amount is too small; any help is appreciated. Here are some ways you can help: • Provide a monetary gift card such as Wal-Mart, Target, HEB or Kroger.

“During these trying times, we must do everything in our power to support our neighbors.

I encourage everyone to participate in the ‘Adopt-A-Family’ program administered by Fort Bend Social Services,” said County Judge KP George.

• Using a list provided, shop “In fact, I adopted a family and issued a friendly challenge for the specific needs of your

“adopted family”.

• Assist with paying a utility bill, rent, mortgage or medications. (Payments are made directly to utility, rent, mortgage or medication vendors.)

• Make a monetary donation to Fort Bend County for the use of Social Services.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can adopt a family, please call the Adopt-a-Family hotline at (281) 344-6116 or e-mail socialservicesinbox@fortbendcountytx. gov.

To learn more about the Fort Bend County Social Services Department, please go here or to learn more about the Adopt A Family Program here.

Missouri City continues to have the highest number of Covid-19 cases on record in Fort Bend

C

ity officials and staff advise citizens to follow strict social distancing guidelines and other preventative measures.

“There are still new cases being reported and it is very important for us all to continue to do our part to stay safe by washing our hands, staying home if possible and when in public, wearing masks and gloves,” said Mayor Yolanda Ford. “It is also our responsibility to properly dispose of used gloves and masks for the protection of our community and to keep our City clean.”

FREE TESTING CENTER IN MISSOURI CITY Interested individuals may call 281.238.2363 or complete this online screening tool to schedule an appointment.

Tel: 713-774-5140

FAQ: Mosquito Control Program

M

ISSOURI CITY - As rainy weather can cause an increase in mosquito populations, the City is proactively moving to help residents “Fight the Bite”.

Here's a lsit of frequently asked questions compiled

by MCTX Mosquito Control Program: Does Missouri City have a program to manage local mosquito populations?

Yes; the City has a strategic program in place that is targeted to work toward environmentally friendly control of adult mosquitoes and prevention of breeding sites.

The current contractor is Cypress Creek Pest Control and their agreement requires that four to five trucks spray every Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning each year in May through the first week of November. If there are adverse weather conditions the contractor will spray on Friday evenings or the first available good weather evening afterward.

Did City Council recently vote to select a new contractor for mosquito spraying?

Yes, at their Monday, May 18 Regular Meeting, Councilmembers voted to execute a $420,000 four-year contract for mosquito spraying services. The new contractor, Original Bug Company, LLC dba BUGCO Pest Control, is estimated to provide an anticipated maximum of 70 applications annually. If any additional applications are required, BUGCO would complete those at $100 per hour on an as-needed basis. In the Council agenda cover memo, Assistant Director of Public Works Cliff Brouhard said: “Historically, the City has averaged about 36 applications in a year during the mosquito spraying season. However, the number of applications needed may vary each year and could exceed the 36 applications due to extreme weather conditions.”

The current vendor, Creek Pest Control, will continue spraying until their contract expires on Sept. 30, 2020 and

Image courtesy of Missouri City the new contractor BUGCO will begin their term on Oct. 1, 2020.

What pesticide is used and what areas does spraying cover?

The contractor uses eco-friendly Kontrol 30-30, an industry standard insecticide which is also used by other regional cities.

Spraying covers all streets and neighborhoods within City limits, including the private streets of communities that have provided a gate code for accessibility by the spraying contractor. Also, in addition to the contractor’s cycle, City staff sprays common areas where mosquitoes swarm like parks, green spaces, and the Quail Valley Golf Course.

When the mosquito population increases, how does the City respond?

Staff closely monitors this issue, and when necessary, additional spray days are added for communities and greenspaces citywide.

Do residents and stakeholders have any input into the frequency of the spraying, location of spraying, or the product(s) used for spraying?

Yes; residents who have questions or concerns about the mosquito control program and spray schedule, may contact the City directly at 281.403.8500 or ‘Submit an Inquiry’ via this City website link: http://bit.ly/2I6CuiR. What are some preventative measures residents and visitors can take to “Fight the Bite”?

Preparedness is essential to prevention and staff encourages residents to prepare themselves by

following the 4 D’s: • DUSK/DAWN are the times of day you should try to stay indoors. This is when infected mosquitoes are most active; • DRESS in long sleeves, pants, loose and light-colored clothing when outside.

For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent; • DEFEND yourself by using an insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Follow label instructions and reapply as you would with sunscreen, after sweating and swimming; and • DRAIN standing water in your backyard and neighborhood. Make sure that flower pots, water dishes, bird baths and wading pools are properly drained.

In the event you get a mosquito bite, experts recommend the first-aid procedures below: Wash the bite with soap and water Apply anti-itch cream or use calamine lotion or an oatmeal bath for itching Place an ice pack to reduce any swelling Seek medical attention immediately if you experience dizziness, swelling of lips and throat or difficulty breathing.

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

Page 12 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

Home&Real Estate An architect turns a weathered French farmhouse into a monastic retreat for his parents

How is COVID-19 impacting Texas homes sales, prices?

by Isobella Harkrider

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ocation and timing are always important in real estate, but now timing and choices have especially large effects in Texas.

Texas home sales fell 4 percent in March but still resulted in moderate first-quarter growth, according to a report from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

The report explains that medium home-price appreciation remained stable, but the statewide stay-at-home orders caused a decrease in potential buyers and sellers.

“The coronavirus outbreak is the greatest threat to the Texas housing market since the 1986-90 recession via disruptions to buyer and seller confidence, the negative income shock, and wariness of visiting and showing homes for sale. Preliminary effects showed in the March data with more significant impacts almost certain to appear during the second quarter of the year,” the report states.

Home prices rose, but home values could erode, said Skylar Olsen, senior principal economist at Zillow Group Inc., in the Wall Street Journal.

“Demand absolutely just got a kick in

the gut, but at the same exact time, so did supply,” Olsen said.

“According to our data, people are buying, albeit at a slower pace than what we experienced in the robust atmosphere of 2019,” Cindi Bulla, 2020 chair of Texas Realtors said Tuesday.

“Interest rates are a huge factor in affordability, but just one component of the buying decision. One of the main drivers of buying decisions is employment stability. To the extent we are seeing a slower pace of market activity, we think employment and resulting consumer confidence is the main driver,” Bulla said.

Alexander W. Obregon, Houston deputy city controller said in a statement on Tuesday, “Interest rates are likely to stay low for the foreseeable future. The total unemployment rate for the United States rose to 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Depression era. So for many of us, the economy is in unchartered territory and it remains unclear when things will get back to normal.

“In Houston, the COVID-19 crisis will cause home sales to certainly fall and a lack of inventory adds to that decline. Many sellers might be unwilling to allow someone they do not know enter their home."

- ReformAustin

Local real estate firm acquires 16-building industrial park

Photo by Micahl Wyckoff

by Jeff Jeffrey

H

OUSTON - NAI Partners’ Investment Fund, investment arm of Houston-based NAI Partners, acquired the Avera Commerce Center from New York-based Raith Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount.

The 14.56-acre property is located in Stafford, southwest of Houston, and encompasses 16 buildings totaling 245,495 square feet of industrial space, according to a news release.

Andrew Pappas and Adam Hawkins of NAI Partners’ Investment Fund negotiated and closed the deal. Natalie Garza with Amegy Bank arranged the debt financing.

“This deal marks the 12th acquisition for the NAI Investment Fund platform and officially pushes our current portfolio over 1 million square feet, 327 tenants and over $125 million in transaction volume,” Pappas said. “We are thrilled to add a quality asset like Avera Commerce Center to the NAI Investment Fund III portfolio."

NAI Partners’ landlord services division will manage the property, with leasing assigned to Andy Parish and

Lesley Rice of NAI Partners’ office project leasing team.

Houston’s industrial market has experienced steady demand in recent years, despite what some real estate experts see as a surplus of available space.

However, the recent Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused some industrial brokers to anticipate an absorption boom as the virus recedes and social distancing mandates are lifted. With millions of Americans social distancing at home for the past few months, online retailers have seen a surge in demand for products that can be delivered to people’s houses.

Real estate brokers say the uptick in online shopping could drive increased demand for new distribution centers and consumer product warehouses.

The big question facing the industrial real estate market in Houston, however, is whether the anticipated uptick in demand tied to e-commerce will be enough to offset the battering many companies tied to the oil and gas sector suffered as oil prices plunged to historic lows.

- HBJ News

by Grace Miller

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n Vaucluse, where he spent his childhood summers, architect Timothee Mercier converts a dilapidated farmhouse into a minimalist home.

The region of Vaucluse—known for its small villages, lavender fields, truffles, and wine—is the pinnacle of southern French charm. And here, on a meadow at the base of a small, tree-covered hill, is where architect Timothee Mercier of Studio XM’s family has summered since the early 2000s.

"At the time, a small farmhouse sitting in the forest nearby had been weathering away for more than a decade," he remembers. "It stood on its hill, fading comfortably into the landscape…it was still soft in its ruinous state, a reminder of the qualities of its surroundings."

When his parents approached him to create a new home out of the faded structure, Timothee gladly accepted: "It was very special for me to be working somewhere I had spent most of my summers as a child. I knew the grounds well, and I visited the construction site many times."

When his parents approached him to create a new home out of the faded structure, Timothee gladly accepted: "It was very special for me to be working somewhere I had spent most of my summers as a child. I knew the grounds well, and I visited the construction site many times."

His mother, Eve Mercier, who founded Insight School of Interior Design in Hong Kong, was a strong collaborator on this project. Her tasteful eye was "instrumental in many conversations about materials, texture, furniture, and colors in the house," says Timothee. The pair communicated very closely throughout the entire construction process, and their aesthetics mix to create an alluringly austere—yet intimate—interior.

Architect Timothee Mercier of Studio XM converted a crumbling farmhouse into a residence for his parents.

‘horrible’—he will not let anything go without a good reason. Without him, the project would have suffered from many inefficiencies."

Together, the family strove to create a stripped-down retreat that would feel both monumental and quiet, and be flexible to suit changing needs. "The

original farmhouse’s footprint. The existing structure was slowly demolished in many phases, which allowed Timothee to indulge his intensely thorough consideration: "We revised the extrusions around the windows a handful of times. I even had a full one done on the southern fafade before tearing it down.

Proportions are important."

The astute design respects the site and architectural history of the region, yet brings a meditative minimalism to the interior through a monochrome color palette and open floor plan.

Most walls are finished with chaux, a local lime plaster that lends a rough, textured surface, a delight next to casework carved from regionally sourced oak.Local companies and craftspeople played a large role in the construction of the guesthouse. Each stone for the exterior walls was cut by hand, giving all four sides of the house a distinct texture. The roof tiles also nod to regionality: they are tuiles anciennes, some more than 30 In the living area, a pair of rattan chairs found at the Paul Bert flea market in Paris join a coffee table designed years old, ranging in

by Guillerme et Chambron, also a flea-market find. A custom rug by CODIMAT was made in Madagascar. color from green to red.

"Now that it is finBut, adds Timothee, "My father’s per- project tried to stay clear of fuss and ished, I stay there often when I visit sonality is [also] visible in the process." clutter," says Timothee. "I decided early family. For that I am truly lucky," says Edouard Mercier, who now heads an on to infuse the house with the monastic Timothee. investment firm based in Hong Kong, qualities of its surroundings. It had to be "Not a lot of architects can live in "is the perfect partner to have when dis- a spectacle, but a discreet one." the spaces they design for others—and cussing planning, execution, and comMA House, or House of Bees, as the munication. And by ‘perfect’ I mean project is called, keeps much of the there is so much to learn from it."

- Dwell